She stood up again, desperate and proud and defiant, ready to go on
without him.
But she had forgotten his wilderness senses. He had heard her crying
before Kataya was out of sight, and realized with crushing finality and
self-reproach how much she loved him, and how deeply he had wounded her.
He stood now just a few feet away, and committed his second great
mistake of human psychology.
Because whatever rash promises she might have made to herself in the
depths of rejection and spiritual agony, so long as they
remained within her they might still have softened with time,
leaving the heart open to forgiveness and return. But by
confronting her then and allowing the volcano to erupt, spewing
forth its rage upon him, the hateful words solidified and became
a reality unto themselves, a spoken curse that foolish, endless
human pride would then have to live up to. He stood before her,
pale and shivering, neither explaining nor begging forgiveness.
His simple heart would only say. 'I have never loved anyone
else. I never could. This was not love, in the way that you
and I---' Her open hand struck across his face with the fury
of all women scorned. 'I hate you!' she cried
hysterically.
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