. going to make love?" Becky managed to sigh.Becky was looking up at him through half closed eyes, her chest pushing against his fingers as they trace...d along the top of first one breast, then the other. Her one leg had pulled itself up onto the couch and she was leaning back into the corner, her breathing shallow and fast.The hand on her thigh slid up across her flesh a few inches, the fingers disappearing under her skirt which had ridden up. Those fingers were now only inches from her panty. “You know those things will kill you,” he said, but she just rolled the cigarette around with her tongue and winked at him.“Loosen up, kid.”The barman returned and handed them their glasses, filled with ice and amber liquid. Matt took a tentative sip, finding it smooth and pleasant, the drink warming his belly. The woman wasted no time, rolling her cigarette to one side of her mouth and taking a swig, clearly an advanced user. He took a second draw, and she leaned over to give him a hard pat on. Stall 1, closest to the house, was full of stacked firewood and a few bags of rock salt and had not needed any tidying up, she recalled.While she was still working out her bearings and considering her options, another body was dragged in and pushed down next to her. She knew, both from the smell of her perfume and her agitation, that it was Lady Barbara. She reached out with her tethered hands and pulled Lady Barbara to her, probably by her expensive cashmere coat, trying her hardest through. ‘Meanwhile, Sool’uka being her only child has not helped matters with my mother’s sister. She rarely allows Nduka to go home. As far as she’s concerned, Nduka is her son. The love between them is untouchable. As far as Nduka is concerned, too, his ‘mother’ can do no wrong.’ Augustine paused for breath, an indulgent smile on his face. Looking at him closely in the lamplight, Chidebem could see the bit of resemblance with Nduka and Sool’uka-the fair skin and fine features. ‘It must have been.