Chapter 50

Pierre got out of the car first. He opened the door for him overly nonchalantly. The gesture upset him. He was about to make a blunt comment on what he thought about it when he felt a gentle breeze of cool wind and aromatic air. He was speechless.

He was breathing deeply such that he could feel every molecule of the fresh air reach his individual cells. He sucked in the air slowly through his nose to be able to enjoy the scent of the surrounding vegetation.

After a while, in a multi-species mixture, he could distinguish the smell of oleanders, lavender, jasmine, roses and violets. Looking around for plants, he saw only pink geraniums in large, clay pots, typical of this region.

Pierre opened the heavy metal entrance door. He carried his suitcase inside, and then without saying much, took him to a room on the second floor at the very end of the hall and left him there alone.