The bird was coming out of Africa, almost two thousand miles – Swift by name and swift by nature. She’d been impatient to come. A longing that had prompted an early start before any of her family and friends were ready. She was alone. There had been no mating and now, for the first time, there would be no chicks. For some hours she’d been tracking a storm, managing to avoid the worst of it, but suddenly it was all around her. Spiteful air currents tore into her as she fought t…

1958

“Christine gave herself a rueful smile in the mirror. She opened her makeup bag, rummaged for the black eyeliner pencil and added an Elizabeth Taylor beauty spot to her right cheek. Before she could change her mind, she grabbed the bag containing one clean, folded handkerchief and left the room, closing the door firmly behind her. At the top of the staircase, she encountered George. Frank had told her all about the little bronze dragon. Lucky George, he was called, because his twi…