“I don’t understand,” Helena said.
Why doesn’t that surprise me?
“How are Fernando and Maria?” Helena asked, electing to get off the subject of rug rats. “And your grandmother?”
“All well, thank you, Helena. They send their best wishes.”
“Well, let’s go out in back—the weather is wonderful; maybe spring has finally come—and have a glass of wine before lunch,” Helena said. “Or knowing you two, something stronger. The children . . .”
“The rug rats, you mean,” Otto interrupted.
“The children normally come home about four,” Helena said, not amused by either the term or her husband, “but sometimes they go off with their friends. I’ll call and make sure they come home.”
Shit, I didn’t think to bring any of them a present. Among other things, I am a lousy godfather and sort-of uncle.
Hell, I’ll give them money.
He and Otto had just touched glasses dark with scotch when one of the servants handed him a walk-around telephone.
“Frau Schröder, Herr Gossinger,” his caller announced. “I have booked you on British Airways . . .”
“Hold one, please, Frau Schröder, I want to write this down.”
He mimed a writing instrument to Otto, who handed him a leather-bound notebook and a gold felt-tip pen.
“A journalist without a notebook?” Otto asked.
“Go ahead, please, Frau Schröder,” Castillo said.
“Herr Gossinger, I was unable to get you a first-class ticket to London . . .”
“What do you have?”
“I have a business ticket for you on British Airways Flight 907, leaving Frankfurt tomorrow afternoon at four-thirty and arriving in London at five-fifteen.”
“Fine,” Castillo said.
"I presume you have a ticket to Luanda?”
"Yes, I do.”
“In that case, Herr Gossinger, British Airways in Frankfurt will check your luggage through to Luanda if you wish.”
“Great.”
“I have made reservations for you at the Le Presidente Hotel, a small suite, in Luanda. It’s a Meridien Hotel. They will send a car to meet you at the airport and will bill us directly. ”
“Frau Schröder, you are absolutely marvelous. Thank you very much.”
“It is my pleasure, Herr Gossinger. The tickets will be at the British Airways counter at Frankfurt, and, now that you have approved the itinerary, I will inform the German embassy in Luanda that you are coming.”
“Thank you very much, Frau Schröder.”
“It is my pleasure. Have a pleasant trip, Herr Gossinger.”
[FIVE]
Heathrow Airport London, England 1915 3 June 2005