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.His barrel chest was all puffed out and his teethvery white against a face darkly weathered by working outside in the vineyard gnashed before bitingout the words again. What am I doing here?He was starting to sound like a Greek chorus but Merlina knew this was venting in the Italian style,building up to the storm where hail stones would rain on her head. You don t usually drop in without warning, she slid in quickly. How can I warn you when you do not answer your telephone? His dark eyes flashed furious accusationas he wildly gesticulated to punctuate every point he made. Not on Saturday.Not on Sunday.Nottoday.And when we ring your workplace we are told you are not employed there any more.Told by astranger.No news of this from our daughter. I would have got around to telling you, she excused, shrugging off the necessity for instantcommunication about everything her family s favourite pastime. Why were you calling me? Issomething wrong at home? And look where this precious independence of yours has got you! he lashed out with a sweepinggesture of disgust at the clothes on the floor.Merlina unclenched her jaw, took a deep breath and persisted with her question. What s happened?What s brought you here? Is Mamma okay? No, your mother is not okay, he retorted fiercely. She is worried sick about you.All day she is saying,something bad has happened to Merlina.I feel it here. He slammed his hand over his heart, play-actingher mother s distress. I cannot bear it, Angelo, she says.You must fly to Sydney, find her.And what doI find? What do I find? His arms flew up in outrage again. My daughter his eyes raked down her redsilk dressing-gown a scarlet woman!Merlina couldn t help rolling her eyes.He d have her painted as a prostitute next.Banned from hishousehold forever.The modern world and her father had no meeting ground.The big problem was& shedidn t want to lose her family.Somehow she had to fight this, but how? You ve got that wrong, Mr Rossi, came the calm statement from behind her.Jake!She spun around.He was coming down the hall, a white bath-towel tucked around his waist, but the rest of him stillflagrantly naked.Didn t he realise that his appearance would enflame her father s rage? Her heartpitter-pattered in a frenzy of fear over what might happen next. So! You ve come out of hiding, her father jeered contemptuously, drawing himself up to match Jake sheight and look down his Roman nose at him. I wasn t hiding, Jake corrected him. I d gone to the bathroom and I couldn t help overhearing whatwas going on out here.Seemed to me I should step in. He curved his arm around her shoulders in aprotective hug. I won t have Merlina abused, Mr Rossi.Her father glared at him. It is you who has abused my daughter, stripping her of her virtue. Papa, please Her plea for some temperance was cut off, her attempt only serving to bring her father s wrath down onher again. Who is this man? Did I not teach you to save your virginity for your husband? My name is Jake Devila& Devila? Enlightenment struck. Is that not the name of your employer, Merlina? I don t work for him any more, Papa. What? He sacked you from your job because you let him seduce you into going to bed with him? No, Papa& He ignored her denial, attacking Jake again. You are a man without honour.Using your position ofpower over my daughter to turn her mind. He didn t, Merlina cried.She d simply given her mind a rest and followed her heart for once.Her father s finger went up in victorious argument. He forced you to have your hair cut.And Sylvanatold us he insisted you wear immodest clothes to work. There were good reasons for that, Merlina almost shouted in her urgent need to be heard.Sylvana s bigmouth should have been zippered at birth! No.Your father is right, Jake chimed in. I was flexing my power.Merlina closed her eyes in despair
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