Dangerous Love Read Online Free Page B

gone, and there followed a tiny stillness.
    â€˜I will do the painting, I promise.’
    â€˜Okay. You know, it’s a long time since you did some real work.’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜The rainy season is nearly over now. Things will get better for you.’
    â€˜I’m happy about my drawing.’
    â€˜I’m happy for you. You have your art. I don’t have anything. Except, maybe, you.’
    â€˜Tuwo warned me yesterday. I don’t know why. He said I should be careful, especially of married girls.’
    â€˜He’s jealous.’
    â€˜Does he know we see each other?’
    â€˜I don’t know. He went after my girlfriend, Julie, the one I went to evening class with. Then he wrote me a note that he wants to see me. He has been secretly after me for a long time. He’s jealous, that’s all.’
    â€˜What’s his problem anyway?’
    â€˜He is my husband’s friend. They sometimes drink together and talk of women and gossip about other things. Let’s not talk about them.’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜You know, I saw him... no, I shouldn’t tell you.’
    â€˜Why not? Tell me.’
    â€˜Well... I saw him with your father’s wife, Blackie. They were walking together one night at Amukoko.’
    â€˜My father’s wife used to know Tuwo. They lived in the same street before.’
    â€˜Let’s not talk about them.’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜Omovo?’
    â€˜Yes?’
    There was a silence in which she stopped suddenly and held his hands. Her eyes were ardent in their liquid brightness. Omovo thought: ‘Can I find my way out of those eyes?’
    â€˜I don’t belong here,’ she said. A certain anguish had come over her face. Omovo touched her cheeks.
    â€˜Ever since I was taken from home I don’t belong anywhere any more. I hate my husband and I hate this life my family forced me into.’
    â€˜Don’t talk like that.’ Omovo’s voice was husky. He looked at her. Her face was lean, pretty, a clear coffee-brown. Her eyebrows were neat black lines. She had small firm lips and a fine nose. But it was her eyes that moved things in him. They were intelligent and hopeful. They had mysterious depths to them. He looked into her eyes and he again felt that wonderful and dangerous something rise within him.
    An army lorry drove slowly past. There were many soldiers on the back. They all carried weapons. They shouted and sang raucously. Their presence introduced something violent into the atmosphere. The tailback had built up, and the army lorry came to a stop. When Omovo and Ifeyiwa went past one of the soldiers made a comment and pointed at them. The others stared and then laughed. Ifeyiwa felt for Omovo’s hand and drew closer to him.
    â€˜Ifeyiwa.’
    â€˜Yes?’
    â€˜Nothing. Don’t worry.’
    The sky was clear and melancholy. The evening light was gay on the dusty green leaves of the bushes. A soft moaning wind that whispered of rain came and then went. The tailback eased and the army lorry drove on. The noise of the soldiers faded into the distance. There were heavy diesel fumes in the air.
    â€˜Let’s go back home,’ Omovo said finally. They turned around and walked back in silence. When they got near the mechanic’s workshop where she had met him, she said quietly:
    â€˜I’ll go first. You take another route.’
    He nodded and stared into her eyes.
    â€˜I am happy.’
    â€˜You’d better be going. He must be waiting angrily for you.’
    â€˜I am happy,’ she said again.
    Omovo smiled. ‘So am I. Really. I’m just worried about other things.’
    â€˜Will I see the drawing afterwards?’
    â€˜Yes. I’ll show it to you. I have always done that.’
    She smiled sweetly. She looked her seventeen years. But her eyes were piercing. He kissed her gently on the lips and then held her close to him.
    â€˜I am happy you