Zulu by Caryl Férey Page A

birds soared, turquoise waves crashed on the immaculate beach below, a little corner of paradise that had ended up in the wrong place. Judith, still in shock, collapsed onto a folding chair, where she could cry more freely.
    There was a moment’s silence, broken only by the sound of the rollers. Dan was as delicate-looking as Montgomery Clift, with a gleam in his eye that was only for his wife. He peered down at Judith. She was pretty, he thought, no more than that.
    â€œYou have to help me,” he said. “O.K.?”
    Judith did not reply. She was gathering her tears. “What happened?” she sniffed.
    â€œWe don’t know yet,” Dan replied. “Nicole’s body was found in Kirstenbosch Gardens this morning.”
    Judith looked up, incredulous. Her father’s fingers had left Paleolithic marks on her cheeks.
    â€œYou were Nicole’s best friend, from what I’ve been told.”
    â€œWe’ve known each other since we were kids,” Judith said, her throat tight with emotion. “Nicole lives in Camps Bay, on the other side of the hill.”
    She made a movement with her head, which went no farther than the green plants on the terrace.
    â€œDid you often cover for her?”
    â€œNo . . . No.”
    Dan looked into her moist eyes, saw only shame and sadness. “Tell me the truth.”
    â€œI . . . I have a studio apartment in Observatory, near the university. Nicole used to tell her parents that she was going to sleep over at my place so we could go through our course together.”
    â€œAnd that wasn’t true?”
    â€œIt was just an excuse to get out of the house. I don’t like lying, but I did it for her, as a friend. I tried to tell her our parents would find out in the end, but Nicole begged me and . . . Anyway, I didn’t have the heart to refuse. I feel terrible about it. It’s awful.” She hid her face in her hands.
    Dan turned to Deblink. “Were the two of you with her last night?” he asked.
    â€œNo,” the blond boy said. “We were at Strand diving in a cage with the white sharks. The excursion was due to start at seven this morning, so we spent the night in the guest house that organized it.”
    That would be easy to check.
    â€œAnd Nicole?”
    â€œShe had a duplicate key,” Judith said. “That way we were freer.”
    â€œDid she tell you where was going, and who with?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI thought you were friends.”
    Her expression changed. “To be honest, we haven’t seen much of each other lately.”
    â€œYou’re in the same faculty.”
    â€œNicole hardly ever attended anymore.”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œShe wasn’t that crazy about law.”
    â€œShe preferred boys.”
    â€œDon’t put words in my mouth.”
    â€œBut she slept with boys.”
    â€œNicole wasn’t a tramp!” her friend protested.
    â€œI don’t see anything wrong in her liking boys,” Dan said. “Was Nicole seeing someone?”
    Disarmed, Judith shrugged. “I think so.”
    â€œYou think so?”
    â€œShe didn’t tell me in so many words, but . . . I don’t know. Nicole had changed. She’d become evasive.”
    â€œHow do you mean?”
    â€œI don’t know,” she said softly. “It’s just a feeling. We’ve known each other a long time but something had changed in her. I couldn’t say why, but Nicole wasn’t the same anymore, especially lately. That’s why I think she was seeing someone.”
    â€œStrange she didn’t talk to you. You were her best friend.”
    â€œYes, I was.”
    A wind of sadness swept the terrace.
    â€œDid Nicole often change boyfriends?”
    â€œOh, no. She wasn’t a collector, I told you. She liked boys but like everyone, you know—in moderation.”
    Deblink didn’t bat an eyelid.
    â€œBen Durandt,” Fletcher said.