Fidelity

It is pouring heavily when Julie returns. Outside, it is rain. Inside, it is confusion. Noel is at first happy to see her back safely. Then his happiness turns to anger as she carries on about what an exciting time she had. Finally his anger succumbs to her gentle hugs and love rules their world ...

     Julie shoots out at first light.

     "I've got to see someone urgently, Noel-dear."

    Noel-dear, that is my name now, Noel laughs to himself as he shuffles off to the construction site where he manages to earn a few bucks. On his way into the main yard, he ducks out of the way of a fast-moving four-wheel drive vehicle driven by an expatriate.

Cursing lightly, he looks back to see the driver giggling with a woman with luxuriant hair.

     "No wonder he nearly killed me!" Noel spits out. "Early morning and he's already--"

     His mouth remains open but the words dry up like the water taps of the city. The woman with the expatriate turns momentarily, perhaps to pick up something from the backseat. In that instant, Noel sees clearly the woman for whom he had left his first wife and forsaken his family and people ...

     But he does not see the earthmover in front of him. Neither does he hear its powerful horns. And the driver of the earthmover does not see Noel ...

     By the time someone notices the crushed figure lying by the roadside, a blackening pool of blood has begun to seep into the earth.