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to imagine how it had turned into the savage tide that had bounced cars and even lorries through the streets. But after dark it was different, a silent, indifferent force flowing through the centre of the city, elemental and dangerous. She was glad, even in David’s company, when they reached the other side.
    They walked a little way, almost to the Ponte S. Trinita, then drifted to a halt near one of the few streetlamps that was still working on this side of the river. There were no cars here and the street was deserted. David was smiling blurrily as he leaned forward and kissed her. His lips were cold and tasted of cigarettes and Scotch whisky. Kate closed her eyes and kissed him back, letting her lips part to receive his tongue, moving her own in response. The proper kissing technique had been much discussed in the previous two weeks, and anyway, she was enjoying herself. By the time they both came up for air, their lips were no longer cold.
    ‘Oh look,’ said Kate suddenly. ‘There’s that girl again.’
    ‘What girl?’ David mumbled indistinctly into the collar of her coat. His nose bumped against hers as he moved to kiss her again, but Kate turned her head and pulled back. Something in the way the girl was standing near the middle of the ponte alerted her to danger, clearing the wine- and kissing-induced fuzziness from her head.
    ‘The one I saw earlier. Look. What’s she doing?’ David sighed, but turned to follow the direction of her gaze. Kate was thoroughly alarmed by now. ‘She looks like she wants to jump in,’ she said.
    ‘Do you think?’ He seemed to be having trouble switching his attention from Kate to this unknown female. ‘Best not to interfere.’
    ‘But we can’t do nothing,’ said Kate. The girl was leaning over the parapet, leaning too far. She looked fascinated by the dark water. Then, as they watched, she straightened up, put both her hands firmly on the parapet and hoisted herself up, so she was sitting there, her body twisted round, at an angle over the water, so that if she just shifted her balance a fraction…
    Kate was gripped with a cold fear. She took a couple of steps in the direction of the bridge, then turned to David. ‘We have to act as if we haven’t noticed her,’ she whispered, ‘or she might get scared and—and jump. Maybe if we carry on kissing…’ She put her arm round his waist, turning to kiss him as they walked. Every now and then she broke off to glance at the elegant woman sitting on the parapet, who was leaning ever closer towards that murderous, ink-black water. As they drew near, Kate saw her put her hand to her mouth and tug off a single glove with her teeth. Then, very slowly, she stretched out her arm and let the glove fall. It vanished into the darkness long before it hit the water. An odd little smile appeared on her face. She reached out her arm again, but this time it was her bag she was holding. Then she let that go too…
    By the time they drew level with her, Kate was so tense she’d forgotten to breathe. She tried to make her voice sound light, casual even, as she said, ‘Hi, it’s Louise, isn’t it?’
    Startled, the stranger looked round. In that moment Kate noticed that she had the most incredible eyes, not beautiful exactly, but compelling. She stared at them, but didn’t answer.
    ‘Didn’t we meet this afternoon? No? I could have sworn…’ David, she was glad to see, had moved a little further ahead, so that he was on the other side of the girl, while Kate talked on. ‘Oh, well, sorry. Must be my mistake. My name’s Kate by the way. I’ve just been to the party at the consulate and was on my way for a meal. Maybe you’d like to come too?’
    By now, Kate was standing right beside the girl. If she made a move, there was a chance Kate could catch her by the sleeve of her coat.
    ‘Are you English?’ asked Kate. Eyes fixed soberly on her face, the girl shook her head slowly. ‘Oh well, at least you understand English. I’d