Stopping at a clothing shop, she bought a new jacket, stuffing hers into the shopping bag. She also bought a beret, and a matching scarf. Teren debated with herself as to whether or not she should keep her old jacket. It wasn’t one of her leathers, and although she did like it, it would be a hindrance should she need to move quickly. Finally, with a sigh, she slipped into an alley behind a sausage shop, and dumped the package into a dumpster. After donning her new hat and sunglasses, she came out of the alley on the other side. With a stop at a corner newstand she bought a newspaper and a couple of magazines, and headed to the Striecker Cafe.
“Excuse me, ma’am, do you speak English?” Alex was in a small used bookshop, where she had stopped to make one last purchase.
“A little. You vould like to purtzase zese?”
“I would. And I think one of those books on the Alps, the one on display in the window.”
“Of course.” The woman found the book, and added it to the small stack in front of Alex. “You are American tourist?”
“Yep. I’m here with a friend of mine on a short vacation.”
The clerk began slipping the books into a bag. “You read German?”
“No, but my friend does, and she promised that when we get home she’ll teach me.”
“So, ze books are for her?”
“Well, yes and no. If she’s going to teach me, why not teach me on stuff that I want to read?”
The woman looked confused. “It is a good idea, but how did you know vitz books you might vis to read?”
Holding up a tiny book, Alex chuckled. “First stop today, I got myself an English-German dictionary. It’s been helping, a lot.”
They shared a laugh, and Alex paid the clerk. “Could you do me a favor and put this,” she pulled a book out of the stack, “in a different sack? I’m meeting someone for lunch, and wanted to give this to him.”
“Him? You have a boyfriend?”
“No. He’s just someone I met last night. A really nice guy.”
The clerk smiled. “Vell, I hope you have a nice time viz your young man.”
Alex couldn’t help but smile. “Oh, I think it’ll be a very interesting time indeed.” She added the two bags to her growing collection, and left the store.
Making her way to the corner, Alex tried to juggle her packages in such a way that she could look at her map. She thought she had a handle on things, but two bags started to slip from her hands.
They were caught before they hit the ground, and Alex looked up to see Meinhard.
She greeted him with a big smile.
“Herr Meinhard! I’m very glad to see you.”
He smiled. “It is nice to see you, Ms. Reed. Will you allow me to help you?”
“That would be great. I was just trying to find my way to the cafe.”
“Then follow me. It is across the street, and down a few shops.”
“Thank you.”
He relieved her of half of the packages, and led her across the street to the opposite curb. Together they walked to the cafe.
Meinhard held the door for her. “Will you trust me to order for you this afternoon?”
“Absolutely.” She stopped for a moment. “As long as it’s not cow tongue.”
He laughed and followed her in.
*******************************************************
Teren was seated at a table close to the door, facing the street, and she surreptitiously watched the other patrons of the restaurant. She was nervous, but she didn’t know why. After all, there’d been no sign of anyone watching their hotel room, and no one had been following her. Besides that, the most suspicious act she had seen in the restaurant was a waitress that cheated a customer. Even that didn’t seem to be on purpose.
So why was she still so jumpy? She mentally chastised herself, and focused her gaze, if not her full attention, on the newspaper that she’d spread out in front of her. She wasn’t reading it really, but it was a decent cover.
Moments later she glimpsed the silly white tassel attached to a blue cap as it passed in front of the window. She forced herself to not look up, even when Alex and Meinhard came through the door laughing. She waited until they were seated, then she glanced up, taking a drink from her cup, and made eye contact with Alex.
Curiously, her nervousness vanished.
Alex sat back in her chair, and gave a big sigh.
“Did you enjoy your Buendnerteller, Ms. Reed?”
“I did. It’s an interesting mixture of foods. In the US you really don’t see a salad mix of meat and melon.”
“That is because Americans are not as adventurous. They do not know good food.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that, Herr Meinhard. I think American food is the best.”
“I have heard, and please, forgive me, I mean no offense, but I have heard that there is no such thing as American food. It is only a mixture from many different nations.”
“That’s true, but I think that’s what makes it so wonderful. We Americans think nothing of taking a dish and adding our own touch to it. It is our way of paying homage to the cuisines of the world, and putting our own stamp on them.”
“Ah. What is the word? Assimation?”
“Assimilation. And, for good or bad, it’s what Americans do.” Alex reached out and patted Meinhard’s hand. “Okay, I think I better be going. I’ll have to see if my lazy friend back at the hotel is ready to do anything.”
“Your friend — she is alright?”
“Fine. She had a little headache, and she doesn’t like cold weather.” From the corner of her eye, Alex saw a half-smile cross Teren’s face. “But, I’m hoping to coax her out of the room sometime today.”
She snapped her fingers. “By the way, I have something for you.” Alex reached amongst her bags and pulled one up to the table. “Here it is. It’s that book I told you about. You know, the German translation of Tom Sawyer?”
Meinhard raised an eyebrow, but accepted the bag. “Oh, yes, thank you. I thank you for that very much. And,” he reached for the bag on the chair next to him, “this is for you. The magazine we discussed.”
He handed the bag to her very carefully, and she opened it just enough to see a thick folder.
Alex nodded. “Great. I’m glad you found it for me. I was looking for this at the bookstore I visited, but didn’t see it.” She set the bag carefully inside one of her other parcels. “Well, I do believe it’s time I went back to the hotel. I need to make sure my friend hasn’t overdosed on chocolate.” She smiled and held out her hand. “Thank you for lunch, Herr Meinhard. It’s been very nice.”
“It was my pleasure, Ms. Reed. I hope your friend is well, and perhaps we shall see each other again?”
“Of course. The next time we’re in town, we’ll call, I promise.” Alex slipped her coat on, and pulled the hat over her head. Meinhard helped her gather her bags, and then picked up his own.
“You will be alright going back to your hotel?”
“Oh, sure. Just point me in the direction of the tram, and I’ll be just fine.”
Meinhard chuckled. “The nearest tram station is just two blocks from here. Go back up the way we came, and then turn left after two blocks. It will be on your left.”
“Thank you, Herr Meinhard. You have a wonderful day.”
He bowed slightly. “You as well, Ms. Reed.”
Alex left first. Teren watched Meinhard leave the restarurant. After that she made a great show of looking at her watch, and gathered her things. She walked out of the cafe just as Alex turned the corner. Teren hurried, wanting to be on the same tram car as her friend.
*******************************************************
When Alex reached her tram stop she carefully maneuvered her way off the car, lugging her purchases with her. She began the walk to the hotel, and was startled when someone came up beside her. A quick glance and she noticed that under the beret and glasses, it was Teren. They didn’t speak to each other, but merely walked next to each other.
When they got closer to the hotel, Teren veered off. Alex watched as she entered by a side door. She herself went in the front door, dropping her packages into a comfy chair in the lobby. She stood next to them, watching for her friend.