The Night Of The Bulls

Louise’s eyes clouded. ‘Grand’mère gets very few visitors,’ she said sadly. ‘But why are you here, Dio

Dio

Louise shrugged. ‘But of course,’ she said, with typical continental inconsequence. ‘I recognized your voice on the telephone. It was I who told Manoel you must be here.’

Dio

Louise grimaced and kicked at the scrub grass beneath their feet. ‘Oh, non, not everyone. Just Manoel and me.’

Dio

‘Papa is dead!’ Louise spoke regretfully. ‘He died two years ago. Manoel is in charge of the manade now. This is his farm, these are his bulls.’

Dio

Louise nodded. ‘Of course. And Yvo

A knife twisted in Dio

Louise stared at her for a long moment. ‘You are looking thi

Dio

‘Manoel wants to send me to a school in Switzerland, but I don’t want to go. I love it here. I can see no possible reason for him to send me away. Just because he finds life so impossible.’ She flicked a glance in Dio

Dio

Louise shrugged. ‘She was gored by a bull. She is paralysed from the waist down.’

Dio

‘But how terrible!’ Dio

Louise shrugged again. ‘Soon after you left, I suppose. Is it important?’

‘You don’t think so?’ Dio

Louise played with the reins of the bridle. ‘Yvo

Dio

Now Louise touched her arm lightly. ‘It’s good to see you again, Dio

Dio

Louise sighed. ‘Did you come out here to see Manoel?’

Dio

‘Actually he is away today,’ replied Louise, frowning. ‘At the vineyards.’ She stared at the other girl for a long moment. ‘What happened last night?’

‘What do you mean?’ Dio

‘Between you and my brother? Dio

Dio

‘And Grand’mère? Do I tell her I’ve seen you?’

Dio

‘Oh, Dio