Between Sky and Earth by Timothee de Fombelle

Author:Timothee de Fombelle [Fombelle, Timothée de]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781406344684
Publisher: Walker Books
Published: 2013-06-27T04:00:00+00:00

18

THE THREE BATHERS

Johanna Eckener had hung back in the shadows and was watching Hugo with an amused expression on her face.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Forgive me, young lady. I have a very urgent message for my husband.”

Eckener was completely paralysed.

“Good evening, Hugo.”

He couldn’t even open his mouth.

“Tell me, is this your university friend Moritz, the one you’d lost touch with, a psychologist … and bald?”

Ethel was wide-eyed.

Hugo Eckener, who was unaccustomed to this kind of pantomime, was on the verge of agreeing that yes, Moritz had indeed changed a great deal, to tell the truth he hadn’t recognized him straightaway either … but he returned to his senses just in time:

“Johanna…”

She was deliberately not saying anything to make him flounder.

“Johanna, I don’t know why…”

The reality was, he knew perfectly well why he had lied.

Because he hadn’t been out for a romantic dinner with his wife in a restaurant for seven or eight years, because he knew this was something that she dreamt of doing, because he spent his life between his balloon and his crew, and because he hadn’t wanted to tell her that he was going to dine with a young lady who’d only had to write him three lines for him to rush to reserve the best candlelit table in the finest restaurant.

“I promise you that…”

Johanna smiled wanly. She knew how obsessively loyal he was and didn’t believe him capable of anything more than this dinner. But this dinner was crime enough.

She had always believed that she’d grown more mature over time, but she had to admit she was jealous. Not of Ethel, but of this moment, of the stars, of the peonies between them, of the white melted wax on the tablecloth.

“I’m sorry, I know this is nothing to do with you,” she said to Ethel, her voice breaking up a bit. “This is between me and my husband. And I hope you’ll forgive me for making you witness it.”

“No, it’s my fault,” said Ethel, standing up. “I didn’t know that…”

“Please don’t get up. It will only take a moment.”

Johanna turned to Eckener and spoke in a hushed voice.

“Hugo, I just came to tell you that someone appeared at the house. He needs to see you urgently and discreetly.”

“Who is it?”

“I don’t know.”

She hesitated, glancing at Ethel.

“You can talk in front of her.”

“He mentioned Violette…”

The word struck Eckener like an electric charge.

“Where is he?”

“I told him to wait in front of the beach hut opposite the island.”

“And what am I supposed to do about this lot?”

He indicated the three or four shadows waiting on a bench, ready to start tailing them again at the slightest sign of movement. They blended in about as well as ducks in a tea-room.

“I’ll take care of them,” said Ethel.

“Me too,” agreed Johanna.

Eckener looked sceptical.

“Get your car,” Johanna ordered. “Young lady, are you coming with me?”

“Gladly.”

And Johanna took Ethel’s arm.

Eckener wondered what they were scheming. But knowing their characters, he decided it was better simply to trust them.

The three of them made a show of leaving the restaurant together, waving at the head waiter on their way out.

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