CONNECTING LIVES                                | 15

Vincendo chose to ignore the incident. “Your job must keep you busy,” he commented. “This is a very beautiful country.”

“It can be hard work, but I don’t mind. In any case, I love nature, and it’s great to be able to share all this with others.” In the gathering gloom, Vincendo could just make out the generous sweep of her arm, encompassing all that was around them.

“I can understand that.” He was listening carefully to her voice, or rather the inflections used to speak his language, and her choice of words and phrases. “You know, if you hadn’t told me otherwise, I would have assumed you were also from Ghentisland. You speak our language fluently.”

“Thank you. I’m lucky. I speak five altogether. I must have a gift for learning them. Not so much the actual language, our educational systems make that simple enough, but I have a natural ear for the sound of a language, if that makes sense.”

Vincendo nodded. “Perfect sense. I’m afraid that in Ghentisland we are very lazy about learning other tongues, always assuming that people from overseas will speak ours, or will understand us if we speak our own language loudly enough.”

His companion laughed. “I know what you mean.” Then she fell silent. A few minutes later the couple reached the first lights of the town, and as they emerged from the lakeside path Vincendo turned to Vesha.

“You’re so lucky – -“ but it was his turn to fall silent as he saw her face for the first time, by the light of a lantern set behind him. Such beauty. A face that matched her voice: gentle, yet strong. A smooth, clear skin, bright, hazel eyes, a sensitive mouth, and all surrounded by a cascade of large dark curls, resting upon her shoulders. Vincendo was dumb-struck for a moment or two, but sufficiently aware to sense something extraordinary within the depths of his being as their eyes met. “I’m sorry,” he managed eventually, “I was going to say you’re so lucky to live in such a place.”

Vesha gave him a warm smile. “Have you had a chance to see much of my country whilst you’ve been here?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Not as much as I’d like.”

“Busy tomorrow?” She paused, sounding a little disappointed when she continued. “Ah, no. Today is the last day of the conference, isn’t it? You’ll be going home.”

Yes, he was. First thing.