Page:Plunder (Perlman).djvu/32

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
26

took them for granted and went to them to have my baby--

HAROLD

Your baby!

PRETORIA

Indio told me they had left South Africa because father had been in a racial riot. I never believed him! I thought he was making it all up because he hated me for leaving. Oh how I hated him! I hated all of them!

DARIUS STARK

For heaven's sake, Pretoria! You should have told us. We could have brought your kid up decently.

PRETORIA

How easy it is to be generous fifteen years later! But what was I then? A light-skinned African girl your son picked up on his travels--and with an illegitimate baby!

DARIUS STARK

It's nothing to be ashamed of Pretoria.

PRETORIA

You would have thrown me into the street! Oh please forgive me! You've done everything for me. But you see, they--they took me, and though they had nothing they took my baby when I left them.

EDWARD

You bitch! You mean you had someone else's baby and then came back and married my brother?

PRETORIA

Harold! What is he saying? It was his baby!

EDWARD

My kid! You're out of your head, Pretoria. First I beat her father and then I gave her a baby.