"Safara!" Grégoire shouts, surprised,

smiling. She aims and fires. The

anguish that spreads over his face

scares her; an electric charge runs up

her neck. He clutches his chest. "Why?"

he cries, "why?" "Your friend and his

men routed my village. We killed him."

Grégoire, hands full of blood,

falls to his knees. "He lied to me. I

never-" She dismounts, rushes to him.

"Grégoire, say you betrayed me!"

"Safara, I love you. We were to be so

happy." She shakes him. "Don't die. No!

What have I done?" She covers his face

with kisses and tears. His head flops to

one side.

She unwraps a small silken scarf, takes

a handful of manchineel seeds, stuffs

them into her mouth. She dies-her body

caressing Grégoire's from head to toe.