Homeward Blows the Wind by John Lane

Author:John Lane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: New World Books/johnlanebooks
Published: 2014-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

‘Como estás, Señorita Zaphirita? How are you today?’

Señor Mauricio continued examining the roses on the tray. Difficult; he was undecided between those super peachy-orangey ones and the yellows, which seemed to have more scent. Then he looked up, raising his eyebrows.

‘I didn’t expect to find you here,’ he said, conversationally, as though they were taking tea together in the antiqued drawing room of the adjacent Park Hotel, and Zaphira thought of the etiquette course. Milk in first. Or was it second? Difficult to remember. One lump or two?

‘Not in the concrete jungle of Lima,’ continued Mauricio seamlessly, ‘standing in the street in the shade of this fine Brugmansia bush. Truly a lost angel, far from home. Pensively beautiful, as always. These roses – exquisitely fragrant and divinely formed – they suit you.’

Mauricio studied the young flower-seller thoughtfully.

‘Qué tal? How are things?’

‘Gracias, Señor. Fine, thank you. Everything’s fine.’

Zaphira smiled the slow smile of the forest. The smile of her father.

Same old Señor Mauricio. Immaculate. Cool. She was happy to see him again.

‘There was a problem,’ she told him, thinking of the heat haze over the glowing embers of Amadeo’s house. ‘Well, two actually.’ She thought of the Sacha-Shaman shouting after her in the dark as she ran through the rain and his threats of vengeance. ‘But all has passed. I am here now.’

Out of habit she re-arranged the roses on the tray that hung from the string around her neck. ‘And you?’

‘Times have changed. I miss the boat, the old PROSPERO II. Those carefree days on the river were good.’

Mauricio made up his mind, and helped himself to a buttonhole, one of the Lady Marmalade peachy-orangey ones to brighten the lapel of the white suit.

‘Things move on,’ he said. ‘No more gold, no more farming. Well, not directly. Just exports. And still travelling. Of course. Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia. All over the place. Anyway, that’s by the by. I have an envelope for you.’

He put his finger to his lips. And then to hers.

‘No words,’ he cautioned. ‘Just take it. Open it when you get home.’

He kissed her on the cheek. Softly. Like a bee brushing a lily.

Zaphira shut her eyes tight and dreamt of sweet nectar and wild honeycomb in the forest. She remained motionless, holding her breath.

‘Giorgio will be wondering where I’ve got to.’

Mauricio raised the Panama hat that came from wherever it was, clicked his heels and gave half a bow.

This is surely the moment for a curtsey, thought Zaphira. She was still thinking about it when Mauricio spoke again.

‘Hasta la proxima, Señorita Zaphirita.’ Until the next time. ‘Did I ever mention that your fluttering eyelashes put me in mind of dew-splashed orchids and hummingbirds?’

Then he was gone. And with him went the toquilla straw hat from Catacaos.

Same old Mauricio. Busy, busy.

Almost the same, anyway.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.