I slid down and landed in Smahil’s outstretched arms. They closed around me and I felt their muscular sinewy hardness. Instead of waiting till he released me I tried nervously to wriggle away but I was helpless. He laughed and held me closer, and I wished I’d let well alone. We were so close that I felt the laugh in his chest. I realized that his heart was thumping. He slid one hand up, under my jerkin. His fingers were warm, sliding over my thin shirt, they slid round my waist and their firm touch trembled for a moment in the fold where my shirt buttoned. For a second I felt the actual texture of his fingers, the horny reinand sword-callouses on his fine officer’s hand, scorching on my bareness.

I had been lulled in spite of myself, now I jerked away.

I stared at him. My body was weak and palpitating, as if I had been running very hard.

I saw nothing but his eyes, intent, gleaming through the rain.

“You’re very moral.” He slurred his words.

“Leave me alone.”

He grasped me, in a brief wrestling moment he had ripped off my jerkin. The great drops fell on me but his arms scorched as they pulled me against him. He was panting, his hard arms trembled about me he was in such a hurry to have my mouth, then all his mouth scorched into mine. His tongue felt much bigger. He kissed violently.

I writhed but my arms were pinioned.

Without removing his mouth he was groping for the opening of my shirt. His hand ripped up it like a paper-knife, I felt the buttons give and then the rain was fast and cold on my breasts which he grasped in his fists, though they didn’t really quite fit.

His mouth lifted for a moment. His breath was coming faster and faster.

I tried to scream but heard myself sob. My throat felt tight.

Smahil grasped me even tighter and dragged me over to the little cliff’s overhang. Here he threw me on the slope and leaped upon me, pressing against me. The gravel bit with innumerable little teeth at my back. Smahil’s hands were one each side of my shoulders, caging me, his mouth on my throat, my mouth, my breast. His vitality seemed electric to my body. An indescribable scorching languor lapped me.

In the green shadow his face approached, a feverish blur, his eyes and the white scar glaring from the blood. My nostrils flared to the smell of blood and the primeval muskiness of his armpits.