The Women Who Ran Away by Sheila O'Flanagan

Author:Sheila O'Flanagan [O'Flanagan, Sheila]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472254801
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2020-07-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Pamplona to Alcalá de Henares: 357 km

‘Todos nuestras locuras proceden del estomago vacio y una cabeza llena de aire’ – he was right and he was born here. Enhorabuena (congratulations) on getting this far. Your reward letter is A. Now I want you to upload a photo of his most famous character – you’ll find him near his house. Also, how old was Sister Iñez when she died? It’s easier than you think. And what month was it when Sister Julia joined her? Seven guesses. Good luck, Hippo.

‘What on earth does all that mean?’ asked Deira.

‘I said he was showing off, and he is,’ said Grace. ‘It’s from Cervantes and he used to quote it all the time. It means that all of our craziness comes from having an empty stomach and a head full of air.’

‘He might be right.’ Deira laughed. ‘I always make my silliest decisions when I’m hungry. I’m glad you understood it. OK, there must be a statue – or a sign, like Hemingway’s – around somewhere. But Sister Iñez and Sister Julia? Obviously they’re nuns. Have you any idea what that’s all about? Is there a convent in the city that’s associated with Cervantes?’

‘There’s certainly a monastery,’ said Grace. ‘But I don’t know if he’s linked to it in any way. Or if it has anything to do with a convent.’

‘Perhaps Iñez and Julia were done for hopping over the convent wall and fraternising with the monks.’ Deira grinned.

Grace raised an eyebrow. ‘I hope that wasn’t what led to their demise.’

‘I hope so too. Anyhow,’ continued Deira, ‘I know we have to figure out the nuns bit, but overall I think the clues are getting easier.’

‘You do?’ Grace looked doubtful. ‘We nearly didn’t get Pamplona, even though Ken said it was easy.’

‘But we did,’ said Deira. ‘And we didn’t need all those guesses. We’re a good team.’

‘I’m glad you think so.’

‘No doubt about it.’

‘Like I said before, it’s about four hours to Alcalá de Henares, allowing for a stop.’ Grace studied Google Maps. ‘Pretty direct, though.’

‘And after that, no more than an hour to Toledo,’ observed Deira.

‘And then about three and a half hours to Granada.’ Grace added it as a destination and followed up with the address of her apartment, a further three and a half hours away.

‘You know, we’re doing so well on the clues, we could probably finish it all in a couple of days,’ said Deira. ‘Then you could get to your apartment quicker.’

‘But we wouldn’t get to explore the various cities,’ said Grace. ‘Ken and I talked a lot about travelling through Spain and staying in out-of-the-way places. I guess this is partly his way of making me do it.’

‘To be fair, none of these places is particularly out of the way,’ said Deira.

‘Well, no,’ agreed Grace.

‘Though we could add a more secluded destination if you like.’ The thought had been in her mind ever since Charlie had given her the business card.

‘Where?’

Deira took the card out of her bag.

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