“It’s very precious, then,” I said. “Are you sure you want me to have it, Teraj?”

He reached towards me, put his hand behind my neck and rested his forehead against mine, gently. “I love you, Elsha. If you take my dolphin, then you will carry a part of me with you always.”

“I shall always do that,” I said, “in my mind and in my heart.”

He kissed me tenderly, and then with fervour. He lay me down on his furs, kissed me, caught me in his fire, lifted me up into the awesome dark-light spaces of his love, drew me, moved me, till I was lost, found, sobbing, joying And his hands, his hands–

“Teraj!” I cried. “Teraj! We cannot do this thing!”

He moved off me and lay beside me on his back, his eyes closed. We were both half-undressed, and I don’t remember how we got that way. Slowly our breathing grew calm, and he turned to me again and held me quietly, his hand caressing my face. I became aware of the dolphin pressed into my side, and I picked it up and held it before me, and could not see it for tears.

“I’m sorry, Teraj. I have a vow to fulfil in Kasimarra. I can’t give you all of myself, and then walk away tomorrow. I would never–”

“You don’t have to explain, love. I know. I’m sorry for going so far.” He kissed my cheek, and his breath was warm and calm. “I’ve waited all my life for you, Elsha. I can wait again. I’ll continue to wait, even knowing that you might not come back. If this time is all I ever have with you, it will be enough.”

I tried to smile, and swam the dolphin in the firelit dark above our heads. “I’ll come back, Teraj,” I said. “But I might be old by then. The world might be warm again, and dolphins might swim in the seas.”

“And I will wait until then.”

I sat up, pulled my dress on over my shoulders, and roughly did up the silk ties. He sat up with me, and we stayed there awhile, side by side. He held my hand and lightly stroked my inner wrist, and did not kiss me again.

“Teraj,” I said, very low, “Teraj, I can’t have covering from you, but may I sleep alongside you tonight?”