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through the strangeness of the circumstances you ’ ve become important here. I ’ m less so because I ’ m a man, but they ’ re watching me too. I doubt if anyone could sway them from the hard-and-fast course. Kun Mali is venerated here; he comes from a line of sultans. ”
    She nodded, and again bent her head. “ But it ’ s not the sort of thing you can do lightly, is it? Not even in pretence. We ’ d both feel horrible frauds. ”
    “ Is your sister worth it? ”
    He would have to put it like that, of course. Terry said, “ Yes, she ’ s worth more ... much more. ”
    “ Then shall we go ahead with it? ”
    Her throat had gone dry. “ Well ... what about you. If it became known you might find things unpleasant. ”
    “ It won ’ t become known. The marriage certificate, or whatever it may be, will get us through Vinan territory, and after that we ’ ll tear it in small pieces and sprinkle them on the river. If you won ’ t accept it for your own sake, you ’ ll have to do so for mine. ”
    “ For yours? ” she echoed blankly.
    He gestured impatiently. “ They ’ re expecting me back at the rubber estate in six days ’ time. I can ’ t stay here any longer in case there are hitches on the way, and I haven t time to take you back to Shalak. I ’ m not going to leave you bucketing about in a strange country. ”
    “ But why not? I ’ m not your responsibility. ”
    There was an expression almost of distaste on his angular face as he answered, “ I ’ m not suggesting anything that any other man in my position wouldn ’ t suggest, if he were unmarried, but anxious to return to his job. If I set out without you I ’ d probably have you so much on my mind that I ’ d turn back and waste, a couple of days. ’ He paused a n d added, “ If you really want to attend your sister s wedding this is your only chance. ”
    “ You ’ re sure it ’ s ... just a sham? ”
    “ Good heavens, do you suppose I might consider accepting the old man ’ s offer if there were the least chance of it ’ s being the real thing? ”
    She shook her head. “ No, you wouldn ’ t. I don ’ t seem to have much option, do I, but I do wish I had time to think about it. ”
    Very casually, but with brutal directness, he said, “ If you ’ re afraid I might take advantage of a phoney marriage certificate, you needn ’ t be. I ’ ll have my hands full with getting us there—no time or energy for going all romantic with an English rose under a Malayan moon. ”
    She gave him a pale fleeting smile. “ I wasn ’ t thinking about that. You ’ ve just been on holiday, and probably had a surfeit of romance. ”
    “ Could be, ” he said laconically. “ You ’ d better leave the arrangements to me. I ’ ll come to the rest-house as soon as everything is settled. ”
    It was strange, but as they turned to retrace their steps she felt his withdrawal as if it were physical. He stalked at her side with his head up and his mind apparently on the organization of the trip. When he left Terry at the rest-house she went inside and stood still, with heat beating at her forehead and pins and needles in her limbs. Why, oh, why, wasn ’ t she suddenly exhilarated by the knowledge that, if all went well on the river, she would not disappoint Annette? Why did even the contemplation of this bogus marriage with Pete Sternham make her feel as if she were taking a nightmarish step with her eyes bound? After all, however lazy and arrogant he might appear, he was an Englishman and presumably chivalrous as well. She had to trust him. But trust a stranger who seemed to care so little about other people? Well, she would have gone with him without question yesterday if old Kim Mali would have allowed it—gone blithely and gratefully for the several days ’ trip to Penghu, and tried to do her share of the paddling and food preparation. That was the way she had to regard it now. The ... the mock marriage was merely to placate the old