“I promise you I am speaking the truth.”
There was a silence and then he said,
“Close your eyes, Dominica. I think you will find it easier to fall asleep and actually there is very little of the night left. I don’t need to look at my watch to tell you that in under half an hour the dawn will be breaking over the mountains, bringing us another golden day of sunshine.”
He felt her fingers relax beneath his.
She did not move and after a very short while he heard her breathing evenly.
He had known that she had exhausted herself both by fear and with her tears and he had been certain that once she relaxed she would sleep quickly and deeply as he had seen men sleep after some abnormal exertion or emotional stress.
He did not move but sat very still, his hands still on Dominica’s until, as
