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On the table Taki had left a crumpled Greeknewspaper, second- or third-hand; a glass hadleft a wet ring round a gaunt-faced politician.Moths had begun to thud against the ceiling.She peeled off the damp papers swaddling thefish, and dropped them into the sink—two greymullet with quivering, gold-plated eyes and tinyclamped teeth. They smelled faintly of rankblood.Through the open window the nasal sobsof Yannoula's favourite singer had begun todrift in from next door. Yannoula alwaysturned the radio full on, although the Australianson the other side were always complaining.Sometimes she sang, too, her voicehoarse and nostalgic. Yannoula had been inAustralia for ten years. A gust of laughterinterrupted the song. Soula wandered into thedark bedroom. It was still too hot to startcooking. The kitchen light- shining on themirror, rimmed her short, plump body andcoarse, curly black hair. No one could possiblytell yet. It was a secret. Pleased, she smiledsuddenly at her golden shadow, and danced afew steps to Yannoula's music, now a Kalamatiano.The bed gave a slow creak. Soula, startled,leapt for the light switch. In its yellow flashTaki yawned, his dazzled eyes squeezed shut.He was still in his wet bathers, and his brownface and woolly black hair were rimmed withsalt. Curled up beside him, the cat arched herblack belly. Stretching, Taki hung his sandyfeet carefully over the end of the bed."Agapoula mou, you're very pretty tonight,"he mumbled. "Turn the light off and comehere.""I didn't know you were home." She gropedin the sudden dark until her hands found thehomespun blanket. "I thought you were stillon the pier. Aren't you feeling well?""Of course I am. I was just hungry, so Icame back early. But that's all right, I wassleepy too." He rubbed the cat's purring throat."I'm sorry, Taki. I was held up. I'm not avery good wife.""Don't worry, you'll do." He smiled in thedarkness. "Did Petro give you the fish?""Yes, two mullet. Taki?" Hot blood wasthudding in her forehead. "I want to ask yousomething.""If you want to know if I caught any myself—no."He made a wry face. "If I had, I'dthrow old Petro's back into the sea.""No, I know. Would you like a beer?" . . .In the kitchen, Soula took a frosty brownbottle from the refrigerator and levered off themetal cap. Foam spurted over the crackedfloral oilcloth. She poured a frothy glass, andtook the glass and the bottle back into thebedroom."Come on, Soula," Taki said. "You have alittle bit with me, just this once?" From behindhe put his arms around her, pressing his mouthagainst her rough black hair, his breath warmon her nape. He tilted the bright beer to herlips. Grimacing at the acrid taste, she sipped alittle. He hugged her, gulped the rest, andpressed her shoulders down on to the pillow."Taki, when I'm pregnant, I'll be fat andbulging," she whispered. "You won't love meat aU.""Silly girl. You'll be fat and beautiful, likea ripe pear. Darling, turn round." Soula turnedand pressed his head against the gold cross ather throat, then, lifting his face, kissed his darklips. He closed his eyes. Soula sat up."Taki, what would you like our first childto be, a boy or a girl?""What the hell does that matter? I want itto be Greek. I mean- born in Greece, when wego home.""Taki," she whispered, twisting sweaty hands,"it's already on the way. July, the doctor said.That's why I'm late home."The kitchen light, caught in the mirror, glimmeredin his black-olive eyes. An aeroplanerumbled over the bay. Faintly she could stillhear the metallic twanging of bouzoukis."Oh, no. How did it happen?"Soula did not answer."Soula?""/ don't know!""You know we can't keep it. How would weever get home? Even if I got another job atnight . . .""I want to go home, too." Soula's voicequavered."Well, then! And you can have a dozenwhen we get back.""But this one's already here!""Oh, heU!""Don't you dare blame me!" Soula shoutedat his back. Her eyes swilled. "I didn't wantit. Perhaps you'll be lucky and it will die. Perhapswe both wiU! Then you'll be free again!"Crimson, she rushed out into the sudden yellowWESTERLY, No. 1, MARCH, 1968 19