'So you should be. But we need you to carry on doing what you're doing, for now. Afterwards we'll send you home. Probably quite soon.' He gave a half smile. 'I expect that will be a relief, eh?'

PILAR BROUGHT IN the main course: a paella, mussels and prawns and anchovies on a bed of rice. She set the dish on the table and withdrew, avoiding everyone's eye. Barbara scooped portions onto their plates.

'It's a treat getting fresh fish,' Sandy said, seeming to come to life at the smell of food. He smiled at Harry. 'There's less of it around than ever.'

'Why's that?'

'The fishermen get a petrol allowance to run their boats, but the black-market price of petrol's so astronomical they just sell it on for a huge profit and don't bother going to sea. That's what our blockade's doing, you see.'

'Can't the government make them use the petrol for fishing?'

Sandy laughed. 'No. Even when they do make laws they can't enforce them. Half the ministers have their noses deep in the trough anyway.'

'How's this project going that you're investing in?' said Barbara. She gave Harry another strange look.

'Well-'

Sandy interrupted. 'Slowly. Nothing happening just now.'

She looked between them for a moment.

'I had a letter from Will yesterday,' Harry said. 'He's enjoying being in the countryside now.'

'His wife'll be pleased to be away from the raids,' Barbara said.

'Yes, it's been too much for her.' He looked at her seriously. 'Have you heard about Coventry?'

She took a long drag of her cigarette. Behind her glasses her eyes were tired, little rings around them Harry hadn't noticed before. 'Yes. Five hundred killed, the reports said. The city centre flattened.'

'Those reports in Arriba are exaggerated,' Sandy said. 'They always make the bombing sound worse than it is the Germans tell them what to write.'

'It was on the BBC.'

'It's true all right,' Harry agreed.

'Coventry's only fifteen miles from Birmingham,' Barbara said. 'Every time I listen to the BBC I'm frightened of hearing about more raids there. I think my mother's feeling the strain, from her letters.' She sighed and smiled at Harry sadly. 'It's strange when your parents suddenly seem like frightened old people.'

'You should go and visit them,' Sandy said.

She looked up at him in surprise.

'Why not? You haven't been home for years. Christmas is coming up. It'd make a nice surprise for them.'

Barbara bit her lip. 'I just I don't think it's the right time,' she said.

'Why ever not? I could get you a place on a plane.'

'I'll think about it.'

'Please yourself.'

Harry looked at Barbara. He wondered why she didn't want to go. She turned to him. 'What about you, Harry, will you be getting any Christmas leave?'

'I shouldn't think so. They like to keep the translators on tap in case there's an emergency.'

'I expect you'd like to see your aunt and uncle.'

'Yes.'

'Sandy says you've got a girlfriend,' she said with an effort at brightness. 'What does she do?'

Harry wished again he hadn't told Sandy that in the car the day they'd visited the mine. 'She she works in the dairy sector.'

'How long have you been seeing her?'

'Not long.' Harry thought back to the previous evening, which he had spent at the Carabanchel flat. Sofia had revealed, quite unexpectedly, that she had told her family they were going out together. Harry had wondered how they would react. Sofia's mother and Enrique had welcomed him effusively though Harry guessed they were pleased Sofia had found someone rich, even though he was a foreigner. Paco had seemed more at ease and had spoken to Harry for the first time. He had felt strangely privileged.

'You'll have to bring her round to dinner,' Barbara said brightly. 'Make a foursome.'

'That's why you're not going home for Christmas.' Sandy pointed a finger at Harry. 'You sly dog.' He wiped his mouth with his napkin. 'Where's the pepper? Pilar's forgotten it.'

'I'll go and get it,' Barbara said. 'Excuse me.'

She left the room. Sandy looked at Harry seriously. 'Wanted to get rid of her for a minute,' he said. 'I'm afraid there's a problem with the mine.'

Harry's heart began thumping. 'What is it?'

'Sebastian's got cold feet about a foreigner investing. I'm afraid it's no go.' He looked downcast.

'That's a shame.' So there would be no reports for Hillgarth after all. 'I'm surprised, I thought it was Otero that was suspicious.'

Sandy toyed with his crystal wineglass. 'He's afraid this supervision committee won't like the idea of an English investor. They're putting us ' he paused 'under pressure.'

'General Maestre's committee?'

'Yes. They've a closer eye on us than we thought. They know about you, we think.'

Harry wanted to ask about Gomez but he dared not. 'You'll still have problems with funding, then?'

Sandy nodded. 'The committee are talking about more or less taking the project over. Then bang go our profits. The people on the committee will make a mint of course.'

'I'm sorry.'

'Oh, we'll make something out of it, I suppose. I'm sorry to let you down.' He looked at Harry, his brown eyes sad and liquid like a dog's. How quickly their expression could change.

'It's all right. Maybe I'm better off out of it. I'm not sure it was my type of thing.'

'Good of you to take it like that. Pity, I wanted to do something for you, for you know, old times' sake.'

The telephone rang in the hall, making Harry jump. He heard footsteps and Barbara's voice speaking English. A moment later she returned, her face anxious.

'Harry, the embassy want to speak to you. They say it's urgent.' She looked at him with concern. 'I hope it's not bad news from home.'

'You gave them our number?' Sandy looked at him sharply.

'I had to, I'm on call tonight. I have to go in if there's something needs translating urgently. Excuse me.'

He stepped out into the hall. A little brasero set under the telephone table warmed his feet, casting a yellow glow over the floor. He picked up the phone.

'Hello. Harry Brett.'

A cultured female voice answered. 'Oh, Mr Brett, I'm so glad we were able to reach you. I've got a caller holding, a Miss Sofia Roque Casas.' The woman hesitated. 'She says it's urgent.'

'Sofia?'

'She's holding now. Do you want to take the call?'

'Yes. Please, put her on.'

There was a click and for a moment Harry thought he had lost the connection, then Sofia came on. It seemed strange, hearing her voice there in Sandy's hall.

'Harry, Harry is that you?' There was panic in her voice, normally so composed.

'Yes. Sofia, what is it?'

'It's Mama. I think she has had another stroke. Enrique's gone out, I'm alone. Paco is in a terrible state, he saw it. Harry, can you come?' He heard tears in her voice.

'A stroke?'

'I think so. She is unconscious.'

'I'll come at once. Where are you?'

'I walked two blocks to find a telephone. I'm sorry, I couldn't think what else to do. Oh, Harry, she is bad.'

He thought a moment. 'OK. Go back to the flat, I'll get there as soon as I can. When's Enrique back?'

'Not till late. He has gone out with some friends.'

'Listen, I'm in Vigo district. I'll try and find a cab and get there as soon as I can. Get back to your mother and Paco.'

'Please hurry, please hurry.' It was frightening to hear the panic in her voice. 'I knew you'd come,' she added quickly, then there was a click as she replaced the receiver.

The salon door opened and Barbara put her head out. 'What is it? Did you say someone's had a stroke? Is it your uncle?'

He took a deep breath. 'No, it's Sofia's mother, my my girlfriend.' He followed Barbara back into the dining room. 'She rang the embassy and they put the call through here. She's alone with her mother and a little boy they look after. I have to go there now.'

Sandy looked at him curiously. 'Can't they get a doctor?'

'They can't afford one.' He must have sounded snappy because Sandy raised his hand.

'All right, old boy, all right.'

'Can I call a cab from here?' Harry had taken a tram to the house.

'It'll take ages at this time of night. Where do they live?'

He hesitated. 'Carabanchel.'

'Carabanchel?' Sandy raised his eyebrows.

'Yes.'

Barbara's voice was suddenly decisive. 'I'll drive you. If this poor woman's had a stroke, I might be able to help.'

'Sofia was a medical student once. But you could help. Do you mind?'

'It's not safe taking the car down there,' Sandy said. 'We can call a cab.'

'I'll be all right.' Barbara stepped to the door. 'Come on, I'll get the keys.'

Harry followed her. In the doorway he turned back. Sandy was still sitting at the table. His expression was angry, petulant. He had always hated being ignored.

THE NIGHT WAS cold and clear. Barbara drove fast and well, through the city centre and into the dark narrow streets of the working-class districts. She seemed relieved to be out of the house. She looked at him curiously. 'I didn't realize Sofia was from Carabanchel.'

'You were expecting someone middle class?'

'I suppose I was, subconsciously.' Barbara smiled sadly. 'I should know it's unpredictable who we fall in love with.' She gave him another searching look. 'Is she special?'

'Yes.' Harry hesitated. 'I wondered for a while if it was oh, I don't know, guilt or something, wanting to experience how ordinary Spaniards live.' He gave an embarrassed laugh.

'Going native?'

'Something like that. But it's just it's just love. You know?'

'I know.' She hesitated. 'What do the embassy think?'

'I haven't told them. I want some part of my life to myself. It's here, the next street.'

They parked the Packard outside Sofia's block and hurried inside, running up the dark staircase. Sofia had heard them coming and stood in her doorway, weak yellow light shining into the hall. The sound of a child's hysterical crying came from inside. Sofia looked pale and her hair was lank and uncombed. She stared at Barbara. 'Who is this?'

'Barbara, she's the wife of a friend of mine. We were all having dinner together. She's a nurse, perhaps she can help.'

Sofia's shoulders slumped. 'It is too late. Mama has gone. She was dead when I got back from telephoning you.'

She led them in. The old woman lay on the bed. Her eyes had been closed and her white face looked still and peaceful. Paco lay on top of the body, clinging to it tightly, sobbing, a wild keening noise. He looked up as the three of them came into the room, eyeing Barbara with fear. Sofia went over and stroked his hair.

'It's all right, Paco, this lady is a friend of Harry's. She's come to help us. She is not from the Church. Please, come away now.' She lifted him gently from the body and held him to her. They sat on the bed, both crying now. Harry sat beside them, putting his arm round Sofia.