Henrik was a middle aged man, a first class office worker and thoroughly dependable. David had come to rely on his judgement and advice in the months they had been working together. He was waiting in the office as David entered.
’Good morning. Did you enjoy our midsummer celebrations? I saw you at a bonfire, and later in a boat with someone.’
’Yes I did, Henrik. I can’t pretend to understand it all, but there seem to be some attractive traditions. We have bonfires in England too, but that’s not until November. It’s a bit cold and wet by then. I like the idea of bonfires at midsummer when it’s warm enough to enjoy them.’
Henrik gave a slow smile. ’We have bonfires at New Year too. It can easily be minus twenty five then. Sometimes colder.’
’Oof,’ said David. ’Not so warm after all. Still, it’s very pleasant at this time of the year. I like these celebrations.’
’There is more to it than fires, and grilling fish, you know.’
’So I’m led to suppose. What customs do you have, then, apart from fires and fish?’
’Well,’ said Henrik slowly, gathering his thoughts. ’Young girls like to gather flowers, twelve different kinds I think, and put them under the pillow at night. That’s so she will dream of the man she is going to marry. My daughter does that, although she is only fifteen, though perhaps that’s the best age to do it.’
’Yes, I saw several people collecting flowers. Any other?’
Henrik looked at David impassively. As so often, it was impossible to tell what he was thinking, but there was the distinct impression that his mind wasn’t exactly blank, as though he knew something that was hidden to his employer.
’If a girl lights a candle in between two mirrors, she is supposed to see the face of her future husband reflected there.’ He shrugged. ’Nonsense, of course. My daughter likes to do that too. Still, it’s a harmless deception, especially if you are careful about the company you keep at the time. No worse than reading your horoscope, I suppose.’
’No, I suppose not.’
Civilities completed, they bent over the papers David had come to see. As he had known it would be, everything was in perfect order. It only remained to give instructions for the near future, and leave them in capable hands.
’Good work, Henrik. I could wish you worked in one of my English offices sometimes.’
’It wouldn’t help. I understand the Finnish system. I would be lost in England.’ He spoke shortly, but looked pleased at the compliment.
There came the sound of footsteps on the staircase. David checked the time. Exactly ten o’ clock. He smiled, put on his coat and went to meet his visitor.
’Dead on time. Good. I like punctuality. As you see, I’m finished for the day. In fact, I’m finished for the rest of the week. To make it perfectly clear... ’
He took his mobile phone out of his pocket, and placed it on the table.
’I’ll let you look after this, Henrik. I’ll call in for it just before I leave. Satisfied?’ he asked Laura.
She nodded. ’Almost I believe you. Do you have another somewhere else?’
David shook his head. ’No. Well, yes I do, but it’s in England. Honestly, I can’t be reached at all now, not unless Henrik runs after me, and if he does, I’ll give him the sack.’
’I wouldn’t like that,’ said Henrik with a broad grin on his face. ’I wouldn’t like that at all. My wife would beat me half to death if I lost my job. I promise I won’t disturb.’
David grinned back. He had met Henrik’s wife, a quiet woman, half the size of her husband. The idea of her beating him was ludicrous. He turned to Laura.
’All right, my time is yours. Show me the delights of this lovely town.’
Laura led him outside and they started walking along the edge of the lake, shimmering in the bright sunshine, light sparkling like precious stones from the surface of the wind rippled water. Boats rocked gently to and fro. It looked a good day for a row, but no, he was led away from the landing stage. In companionable silence they sauntered through a grove of trees that led to an open area on the edge of the town. Laura sat on a large rock and gazed out at apparently nothing.
’It’s very peaceful here,’ said David.
’It is now. It hasn’t always been. This is the site of one of Finland’s battles. Did you know that Finland has fought over forty wars?’
’No. I know very little of Finnish history.’
’We lost every one of them.’
’I see. Yet you manage to live in peace just the same.’
’We know how to stop, a hard lesson, but one we’ve learned from necessity. It doesn’t look like a war zone, does it? Yet people have died here, fighting for what they believed was right. In the end, everything is probably just the same as if they hadn’t fought. As you say, we manage to live in peace. I suppose that when your country is as small as mine, you have to learn to be polite to your bigger neighbours. Imagine that, polite Finns. It hardly seems possible, does it?’
’I agree, you don’t seem to have the same passion for queuing as we do in England, and there is a certain lack of please and thank you, but there are different forms of politeness,’ David reminded her. ’I can’t complain. Finns may be straightforward to the point of rudeness at times, but there’s a refreshing honesty of purpose. I always feel I can trust people here.’
She slid off the rock, skirt lifting momentarily high, giving David the same flash of suntan he had seen earlier.
’That’s enough of - what is the word? - introspection? Is that right? Come on, it’s time for a look at our outdoor museum. There’s nothing very much in it, but it will show you what this area looked like in agricultural times.’
’That wasn’t very long ago,’ said David. ’That’s one of the few things I do know about Finnish history. Your industrialisation came later than most places in Europe, as a result of paying off war reparations, the only country to do so, in fact.’
She looked at him, surprised. ’Then you know more than most foreigners. To many people we are ignorant, undeveloped peasants, under the Russian yoke.’
’Not everyone is like the people you met in England,’ he reminded her.
’I know. It just hurt, that’s all.’
It didn’t seem worthwhile reminding her that he wouldn’t, indeed couldn’t have operated in Finland in a fog of ignorance, that the high level of education was one of the reasons that had brought him here in the first place. He felt she probably understood that already.
Clambering around the old wooden buildings of the outdoor museum was an interesting experience. It gave David a dim insight into the country, or at least into this part of it, an insight which had been missing. As Laura explained in fine detail how people used to live, and the harsh and rugged conditions under which they had survived, David came to realise that perhaps Henrik’s wife was quite capable of managing her husband after all.
’Are you hungry?’ Laura asked, after some time.
’I wouldn’t say no to a meal. The cook went on strike this morning and I got no breakfast.’
’The cook?’ Laura looked puzzled.
’That’s me. Because some people don’t know when to stop, it was so late when I got to bed last night, or rather this morning, I didn’t have time to eat.’
’There’s food ready at home. You are expected, though I’m not sure you deserve anything after throwing my own words back at me.’
’At your home? That’s a very generous thought,’ said David. ’Thank you, I’d like that. It’s ages since I had any home cooking, apart from my own, and as a cook, my skills are only indifferent. I eat in too many restaurants. It can’t be all that good.’
’It’s nothing special, just plain, ordinary Finnish food. I hope you like it.’
’If I want something special, as you call it, I can go to another restaurant, and stay awake half the night with indigestion. To me, plain ordinary food is special.’
They walked back along the lakeside, where the rippling, glinting surface reminded David of something. He put his hand into his pocket and withdrew a small package, wrapped in coloured paper and fastened with a blue string bow.
’You’ve been so kind and helpful I brought you a present from England,’ he said. ’I’m not sure now if it is really the right thing to give you. Maybe it’s a bit personal after all, but perhaps you don’t mind.’
Laura opened the package. There was a small box inside, and inside that was a delicately worked brooch. Small blue semi precious stones winked and sparkled at her in the strong sunshine. She gazed at it in enchantment, then fastened it on to her dress.
’David, it’s beautiful. Thank you very much.’
On impulse, she lifted herself high on her toes and kissed him on the cheek, a gentle kiss as soft as a down feather. Confused thoughts ran through David’s mind. For once in his life he was uncertain as to what to do next. Fortunately, a group of chattering children passing by saved him from deciding on a suitable response to Laura’s action. Already she was walking on, and he felt a sense of relief mixed with other, indefinable emotions.
There was a different sort of relief too. Laura had accepted the gift with readiness, accepted it in the spirit in which it had been given. Stella had not accepted the gift he had offered, though in fairness, there was a considerable difference between a brooch and an engagement ring. A brooch committed a man to nothing, it was simply a gesture of friendship, no more than that.
The meal was over, served directly from pans on the top of a large wood burning stove. Plain and ordinary it was, yet David considered he had eaten better than he had done for years, and was not slow to compliment his hostess. She had muttered something incomprehensible when Laura translated David’s words, and had simply bustled out to the kitchen. Just the same, there was a broad beam on her face. Coffee was served and drunk. David wanted to ask what came next, but controlled the impulse with an effort. The answer was likely to come without the aid of the question. Sure enough, it came.
’Are you ready for a row on the lake again?’ asked Laura. ’It’s a bit early, but we could take fishing lines and see if we eat tomorrow.’
’Yes. Yes please. That sounds like a good idea.’
’Well, it’s one way of making sure you stay in the same place for more than five minutes,’ Laura said, with a sidelong glance at her companion.
’And I was thinking you just enjoyed my company.’
’First, I must hold you still for long enough to find out,’ she said lightly. ’Come on, you can help me with the fishing tackle. Take these two rods and that bucket there in the corner. I’ll fetch something for the fish to eat - what do you call that?’
’Bait.’
’Yes, that’s right. I’d forgotten the word. You don’t mind handling worms, I hope.’
’Not in the slightest. I’m accustomed to worms. I know Rupert, remember.’
Laura laughed delightedly. ’I can’t think of Mr. Marshall as a worm. A slug, perhaps. He’s fat enough.’
’Perhaps you’re right,’ said David, catching her mood. ’I do believe any self respecting fish would throw him back on land if he was used as bait.’
The mood stayed with them until they reached a point which Laura said was a good place to fish, although to David it looked just like any other open stretch of water. The lines were baited, lowered over the side, and they sat back to wait.
’There’s one thing I don’t know about you,’ said David. ’What do you do for a living? I mean, what sort of work do you have, now that you no longer chase after strangers with lost property?’
’At the moment, nothing. I’ve only finished my studies recently, you see, and I haven’t found a job yet. I should have started last Autumn, but I wanted to travel a bit first and see something of other places before settling to work. That’s why I went to England. It could have been almost anywhere, but I could speak English quite well already, so it was an obvious place to go to.’
’There’s America,’ said David. ’You could have gone there. I believe they speak a variant of English. Sometimes I even half understand half of it myself. My sister married an American, so I’ve had to get used to an odd use of the language, you see. It’s not really so difficult.’
’I couldn’t afford America. England is a lot closer. As an au pair, I thought I could manage financially for one year. Not that it paid so much, but it was better than average, and it proved to be enough. I’ve never had so much money to get used to anyway.’
’But you didn’t finish the year. For good reasons, of course.’
’For very good reasons. The only thing is that jobs are not easy to find, not in this area. There were one or two available half a year ago, but I was in England then. Now there’s nothing.’
’What were you studying?’ asked David.
’I’m an ekonomi. I’m sorry, I’m not sure of the English word for that.
’Economist, perhaps,’ David said.
’Probably, although I don’t think it is quite the same qualification. It means I can work in a bank, or some other place where general office work is needed.’
’School secretary?’ suggested David.
’Yes, I could probably do that, or something in the education office.’
’There’s not likely to be much call for that here,’ said David thoughtfully. ’It’s not such a big town.’ An idea began to form in his mind.
’It isn’t. That’s the problem. I may have to leave and go somewhere bigger.’
’You said you don’t want to leave here,’ said David.
’I don’t, but there’s not a lot of choice. There have to be very strong reasons for me to leave my home. Unfortunately, employment is one of them. I can’t expect my parents to support me for ever. They have little enough as it is. Well, it can’t be helped. When the summer is over, I shall start looking around.’
One of the floats dipped under the water. David grabbed the rod and pulled up sharply, then lifted the short line into the boat, coiling it neatly as he did so. He looked in dismay at the fish he had caught, barely as long as his thumb. He could hear Laura giggling alongside him.
’That’s not going to feed us tomorrow,’ she said.
’It’s hardly worth keeping. I’m sure the worm was bigger than that. Shall I let it go?’
’Perhaps you had better. It’s always possible to go back with nothing, but you’d be laughed at if you showed that.’
She unhooked the creature with practised ease and dropped it over the side, then replaced fresh bait on the hook and threw it into the water.
’There, try again,’ she said. ’You’ll have to do better than that if you want to come for dinner tomorrow.’
’Am I invited?’
’Of course. You come every day. If you want to, that is. My parents like you.’
’The feeling is mutual,’ said David. ’I’m only sorry we can’t hold much of a conversation. I only have half a dozen words in Finnish, and I’m sure I mispronounce those.’
’I’ve heard you,’ said Laura with bland innocence, an innocence that didn’t fool David for a moment. ’Were they Finnish words you were using? No, don’t answer that. Tell me, how strong are you? Are you afraid of hard work, physical work, that is?’
’Yes, very, and no, in that order,’ returned David. ’Why do you ask?’
Laura’s eyes went momentarily blank as she worked out what David had meant. ’Those trees that overshadow the summer cottage should be cut down, or trimmed back at least. It’s not a job I can do on my own, but now there’s a self confessed strong man available, perhaps you would like to help. My father can’t do it, not any more. It’s not the best time to be cutting wood, but I can’t be sure when I’ll have you trapped here again for a week.’
’Now who was it telling me I should learn to slow down? That sounds like extremely hard work to me. It also sounds interesting. Of course I’ll help. It would make me feel better about all the hospitality I’ve been receiving at the hands of your parents. Somehow, I can’t see them accepting money.’
’Not if you want to visit again,’ said Laura. ’They may be poor but they are very proud. Cutting the trees down makes a more than adequate payment, if that’s what you would like to do.’
Interesting it was, as David soon discovered. He watched in admiration as Laura wielded a heavy flame orange coloured chain saw as though it was a toy. He had offered his help with that, but Laura had refused.
’No David. This is a dangerous tool. It’s not something to practice with. I know how to use it. You don’t. I wouldn’t like to send you home in several pieces. Besides, you need protective clothing, and what I’m wearing would hardly fit you. We’re not exactly the same size, are we?’
He looked at her slim form with appreciation. Even with an overall pulled over her skirt, she displayed a fine figure. There was no doubt he couldn’t get inside those overalls. At that point, imagination started working overtime, and he tried to keep his mind on the task ahead.
’Come on, you pull on the rope while I cut. Make sure the tree doesn’t fall on the house. Then you can trim the branches off with the vesuri when the tree is down.’
’The what?’ he asked, bewildered.
’The vesuri. This tool here. I don’t know the English word for it.’
She indicated a long sharp blade, with an almost equally long handle, and a wicked looking hook shape on the business end.
David shook his head in bewilderment. ’For your information, neither do I. Billhook? Machete? I’ve no idea. I’ve never seen anything quite like it before.’
Two full days and part of a third was the time they spent before the job was finished. After it, David felt as though he had been pushed through a wringer, although Laura looked as fresh as the moment they had started. She may be small, he thought, but she’s certainly tough.
’There,’ said Laura in satisfaction. ’There’s enough wood now to keep the cottage warm for half the winter. Once it dries out, that is. Not this winter, but next.’
She kicked the heavy boots from her feet and stripped off the overalls rapidly, folding everything into a neat parcel, ready to take back to the main house. There was a sizeable bruise high up on her right thigh, but David swallowed the comment he was about to make concerning it, feeling a sudden need for tact. Too soon for his liking, Laura’s skirt covered the damage.
The rest of the week was spent mainly in fishing or simply relaxing, doing nothing very much, just as Laura had promised. Even so, the days were never long enough, sliding by with increasing rapidity and all too soon it was time for David to return home. Laura went with him to the airport and waited patiently until his flight was called. She fingered the brooch she had worn the entire week.
’Thank you again for the present,’ she said. ’I’ll always wear it.’
’The pleasure is all mine. I’m glad you like it. I thought at first the colour of the stones matched your eyes, but I see now that nothing could actually do that.’
Laura blushed. Her lips parted slightly and the tip of her tongue came out briefly, but she said nothing.
’I’m only sorry to be going back,’ said David. ’This is the first real holiday I’ve had in years. Thanks to you, I have some idea of how to stop.’
’You didn’t stop working altogether though, did you?’
’That’s your fault,’ he said, protestingly. ’Who was it who dragged me out to a lonely island and set me a mountain of wood to cut, without even a dog to keep company and give an excuse to stop occasionally? I’m still stiff after all that.’
’Oh, that’s no place for a dog. You’ve seen how she behaves. Wood cutting is hard enough without having to wonder if Musti is out of the way of the saw. Besides, that was only a little job. You’ll have to come back in the spring and cut fifty cubic metres if you want to know what real work is. Seriously though, David, my parents are grateful to you for helping out. It’s relieved their minds enormously. I know it was worrying them. Anyway, I wasn’t talking about that sort of work.’
’Meaning?’
’Well, in spite of your claims, you did go to see Henrik again during the week.’
’Only very briefly,’ he protested.
’Only very briefly,’ she repeated. ’Well, I saw Henrik only very briefly myself. To be exact, he came to see me. Do you know what he wanted?’
David shook his head. ’I can’t begin to guess.’
’I think you can. Henrik offered me a job. Was that your idea?’
David shook his head again. ’Nothing to do with me. I only run the business side of it, set the policies and so on. Henrik has the responsibility of hiring staff as he needs them. I leave that entirely to him. That’s what I pay him for.’
She regarded him steadily. ’I think we might agree to have our own viewpoints about that.’ She smiled suddenly. ’I took the job. It means I can stay here now. I don’t believe you had nothing to do with it. I believe you did this for me.’
’I’m admitting nothing, but would you object if that was the case?’ asked David.
’No, not if it comes from you. Why do you bother with a grubby little peasant anyway?’
’I don’t really know. Maybe I’m just getting rather fond of you.’
Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears. She took a step towards him. Time seemed to stand still. David looked at her upturned face and felt an almost overpowering urge to do what he knew he wanted to do. Being the sort of man he was, he allowed the moment to slip away. A bell sounded, heralding a flight departure announcement. David cursed audibly. Laura looked up at him and giggled.
’Now that’s another word I have to pretend I didn’t know,’ she said, and sighed. ’Oh dear, airports are supposed to bring people together. In our case, they seem to do nothing else but separate us. Well, I know you have to go, David, and I’m not complaining. No doubt you will be returning from time to time. Perhaps I’ll see you then.’
’Now that I know where you live, yes. If I’m welcome, that is.’
’You’ll always be welcome, David,’ she said, with a slight catch in her voice. ’It’s not even necessary to cut fifty cubic metres of wood.’
He turned as he walked the short distance across the tarmac and gave a wave before climbing the steps into the aircraft. Laura waved back with an expression on her face that was a curious mixture of exasperation and what might very well have been tenderness.
She whispered something, but what it was remained unheard by anyone.
David settled in his seat on the first stage of his journey home. He smiled mechanically at the stewardess, refusing all offers of refreshment, wanting to be alone with his thoughts. Stella featured prominently in them, to his disgust. Why couldn’t he lose her in this way, when he had lost her in every other way? She was by now a fading figure, but still the ghost that disturbed, the glitch in the computer, the extensions conflict. Any other man with an atom of commonsense or compassion would not have treated Laura as he had done. He cursed the day he had met Stella, not for the first time in his life.