Shout at the Devil

Fly

And Sebastian gri

With the skill of a master tactician, Fly

It was a lance in the pride of the Oldsmiths, and Sebastian rose to the defence. By the time they returned to Lalapanzi, the discussion needed about six hot words to reach the stage of single combat.

Rosa heard them coming. Fly

"Francis is the name of kings and warriors and gentlemen!" cried Sebastian.

"My aching buttocks, it is!"

Rosa came out on to the wide veranda and stood there with her arms folded over the beautiful bulge that housed the cause of the controversy.

They saw her and started an undignified race across the lawns, each trying to reach her first to enlist her support for their respective causes.

She listened to the pleadings, a small and secret smile upon her lips, and then said with finality, "Her name will be Maria Rosa Oldsmith."

Some time later Fly

"Now, stop worrying!" said Fly

"I'm not worrying," Sebastian said mildly. "Everything will be all right."

"How do you know that? "challenged Fly

"Well..

"You know the child could be stillborn, or something."

Fly

While Fly

He rose from his chair and fell into step beside Fly

An hour later, Sebastian was hunched forward in his chair, clutching a half-full tumbler of gin with both hands.

He stared into it miserably. "I don't know what I'd do if it was born with..." He could not go on. He shuddered and lifted the tumbler to his lips. At that instant a long, petulant wail issued from the closed bedroom. Sebastian leapt as though he had been bayoneted from behind, and spilled the gin down his shirt. His next leap was in the direction of the bedroom, a direction Fly

"Don't you dare let them in until everything is ready,"

she whispered huskily, and roused herself from the stupor of exhaustion, to help Na

When at last everything was ready, she lay propped on the pillows with her child held against her chest, and nodded to Na

The delay had confirmed Fly

"Oh, thank God, Rosa. You're still alive!" Sebastian reached the bed and fell on his knees beside it.

"You check his feet," instructed Fly

"His fingers are all right. Two arms, one head," Fly

"This end is fine. just fine!" Sebastian spoke in rising relief and delight. "He's beautiful, Fly

"What's wrong?" Fly

"You were right, Fly

"What? Where?"

"There!" Sebastian pointed. "He hasn't got a whatchim-ca all-it," and they both stared in horror.