The Blood-stained Belt by Brian H Jones Page A

sudden?’
    ‘It’s the
truth, Jina. And the matter only came up later, after I met
you.’
    ‘Oh, yes?’
    ‘Yes. It’s the
truth. I’m telling you the truth, believe me.’
    We walked
towards the town. Dana took my hand but when I showed no response
she let go of it. When we came to the place where our ways parted,
Dana stretched up to kiss me but I turned my head away. She said
angrily, ‘Jina! Don’t be like that!’
    I shook my head
and walked away. The freshness of the day had faded away.

CHAPTER SIX:
AMBITION?

    Torn between
desire and jealousy, in the days that followed I kept away from
Dana. I couldn't get rid of the suspicion that Dana had hooked me
only as a means of arranging a meeting with Sharma. Also, I was
jealous of Sharma. I imagined how he would sweep into Dana’s
affections if she met him. He’d be all over her in no time while
she … damn it, I hated myself for thinking these things as much as
I hated the thought that they might be true.
    Four days later
I went to the temple, having decided that, Dana or no Dana, I’d
better stay in Zabrazal’s good books. Although I sat at the back of
the congregation and tried to make a quick escape after the
service, Dana anticipated my move. She left early by a side door
and was waiting for me when I emerged from the main entrance. She
rushed up to me, asking, ‘Jina! How are you?’
    ‘Oh, I’m all
right, I guess.’
    Dana was
wearing a bronze band across her forehead with earrings, a belt,
and shoes of the same colour. Her floor-length robe was of a silky
material that made me want to caress the shape that was enhanced by
its soft folds. Dana looked at me with her ever-luminous eyes and I
felt my resolve weakening. It weakened even more when she stretched
up and kissed me on my lips. In fact, it weakened so much that I
almost capitulated entirely. However, I just managed to get a hold
of myself before the point of no return. I pushed Dana away,
averted my face, and mumbled, ‘I don’t think that we should see
each other any more.’
    ‘But why
not?’
    ‘Oh, you know,
I just don’t think it’s a good idea. I mean, I have to concentrate
on my training and – well, as I said, I don’t think it’s a good
idea.’
    Dana put her
hands on her hips, faced me squarely, and said, ‘You’re jealous,
aren’t you?’
    ‘Jealous!
Me?’
    ‘Yes, you!’
    I mumbled, ‘No,
I’m not.’
    Dana clicked
her tongue and said, ‘Jina, can you truthfully say that you don’t
like me?’ She looked at me closely, sniffed in disbelief, and
clicked her tongue again. ‘You see, you can’t say it!’
    'I can.'
    'Well, then,
say it! Come on, Jina, let me hear you say it.' Of course, Dana was
right. I couldn't say it. Dana said more gently, 'That’s what I
mean. That’s why I say that you’re jealous.’
    She was driving
me into a corner and I didn’t know how to get out of it. I
muttered, ‘Look, Dana, if I say that we shouldn’t see each other
again – I mean, isn’t that enough to --?’
    ‘No, it’s not
enough for anything. I don’t believe you!’ She laid a hand on my
cheek and said softly, ‘Jina, don’t be jealous.’
    My resolve
began to crumble. I muttered, ‘Well, you know, maybe I did
over--react.’
    ‘Oh, Jina, you
did!’ Dana stroked my cheek and murmured, ‘There’s nothing to be
jealous about.’
    I mumbled,
‘That’s good.’ Dana eyes were moist. I said, 'I’m sorry – you know
– if I upset you –’
    Dana snuggled
her head against my shoulder, wiped her eyes, and said, ‘It’s about
Sharma, isn’t it?’ I nodded. She said, ‘I told you the truth. A
friend wants to meet Sharma. That’s the truth, really it is. But if
it makes you jealous then let’s forget about it.’
    ‘I’m
sorry.’
    ‘That’s all
right. Just forget about it.’
    ‘Well, maybe I
could arrange it.’
    ‘No, let’s just
forget about it. It’s not worth getting upset about.’
    By now, my
resolve had weakened so much that the crumbled