NINE
It was oddly provocative when Houriya appeared before you wearing a bath towel again the next morning, water dripping from her hair and head, the nakedness of her shoulders, arms was seductive. You wondered if this appearance was related to the licence Balbo allowed her, or if it was spontaneous.
Esther the Jewess had used her licence to gain larger quantities of gold, but what could Houriya ever gain from a man like you? What could she possibly say to the Marshal if he learned she had taken liberties with a recruit who worked as a temporary driver for her? You were amazed to catch yourself thinking about this at a time when your life and future hung in the balance. Your heart filled with ire because this behaviour didn’t seem to embarrass the people involved, all the way from Balbo
