She looked Russell Wade in the eyes as if seeing him for the first time. Behind the look of amusement, she saw him as someone who was used to being on the margins, and she wondered if, after a certain point in his life, it hadn’t been something he’d chosen for himself rather than having it imposed on him by the world.
‘How about if it’s on me?’
Russell made a desolate gesture with his head. ‘I’m in no position to refuse. I admit I’m so hungry, you just need to give me a jar of mayonnaise and I could eat the tyres of this car.’
‘Come on, then. We still need those tyres. And standing you for lunch will cost me less than replacing them.’
They crossed the parking lot to the seashore. There was nobody on the beach, apart from a few people walking their dogs and a few indomitable joggers. The reflection of the sun and clouds on the water made for a magical interplay of air, light and shade. Vivien stopped to look at it, her face to the wind, the same wind that moved the waves and flecked them with foam. There were occasional moments in her life like this. Moments when, faced with the indifferent splendour of the world, she would have liked to sit down, close her eyes and forget everything.
And hope that everyone would forget her.
They continued along the boardwalk until they came to a stand selling hot dogs, souvlaki and hamburgers. The smell of the grilled meat, carried on the wind, had preceded and guided them. Next to it was a canopy with a wooden table and chairs under it, allowing customers to eat in the shade when the weather was hot and look out at the sea.
‘What would you like?’
‘Maybe a cheeseburger.’
‘One or two?’
Russell gave her a sheepish look. ‘Two would be great.’
Again, Vivien found herself smiling. There was no reason to, but this man seemed to have the ability at times to bring out her lighter side, in a way that could triumph over any mood.
‘Okay, little orphan boy. Sit down and wait for me.’
She went up to the counter and gave the order, while Russell sat down in the shade of the canopy. Vivien soon joined him, holding a tray with the food containers and two bottles of mineral water. She pushed the cheeseburgers towards Russell and ostentatiously placed one of the bottles in front of him.
‘I got this to drink. I assume you would have preferred a beer. But seeing as how you’re with me, we can both consider ourselves on duty, so no alcohol.’
Russell smiled. ‘A period on the wagon won’t do me any harm. I think I may have overdone it a bit lately…’ He left the sentence hanging, with all that it implied. Suddenly his expression and tone of voice changed. ‘I’m sorry about all this.’
‘What?’
‘Forcing you to pay.’
Vivien replied with a nonchalant gesture. ‘You’ll be able to pay me back with dinner. My choice. If this thing works out the way we hope, you’ll have a great story to tell. And great stories usually bring fame and money.’
‘I’m not doing this for the money.’
He had uttered these words in a low voice, almost casually. Vivien was sure he hadn’t spoken them only for her. In his mind, he was talking to someone else. Or maybe lots of people.
For a while they ate in silence, lost in their own thoughts.
‘Would you like to know the truth about The SecondPassion?’
Russell’s words had come suddenly, out of nowhere. Vivien raised her head to look at him. His face was turned towards the sea, his dark hair blowing in the wind. From the tone of his voice, she realized that this was an important moment for him. It was the end of a long journey, like coming home and at last seeing a face in the mirror you’re happy to call your own.
Russell did not wait for her to reply. He launched straight into his story, following the thread of a memory.
‘My brother Robert was ten years older than me. He was a very special person, the kind of person who makes everything he comes in contact with his own.’
Vivien decided that the best thing to do at a moment like this was to listen.
‘He was my idol. He was everyone’s idoclass="underline" the school, girls, his family. He didn’t try to be, it was just the way he was. I don’t think I’ve often heard in anyone the kind of pride my father had in his voice whenever he talked about Robert.’
He paused, and in that pause was the fate of the world and the meaning of his life.
‘Even when I was around.’
Indirectly, words and images started to crowd into Vivien’s mind. As Russell continued with his story, voices and faces from her own life slotted right in beside his.
… and of course Greta has been made head cheerleader.Not because she’s my daughter, but really I don’t see whoelse, apart from her, could have …
‘I tried to copy everything he did, but he was inimitable. And he was crazy. He loved taking risks, putting himself to the test. He was very competitive. Looking back now, I think I know why. It’s because he was competing against himself.’
… Nathan Green? Greta, you mean that Nathan Green iscoming to pick you up tonight? I can’t believe it. Of all theboys at school, he’s the most …
‘Robert was unstoppable. He always seemed to be looking for something. And I think he found it when he became interested in photography. At first, it seemed to be just another of the thousand things he’d tried out, but it wasn’t long before he showed that he had a real talent. He had this innate ability to get to the heart of things and people with his camera. Looking at his photographs, you had the feeling he saw beyond the surface, that his eyes went further than most people’s.’
… you’re beautiful, Greta. And I don’t think there’s everbeen a more beautiful bride around here. In the whole world, I think. I’m so proud of you, my dear…
‘The rest is well known. His love of extreme situations led gradually to his becoming one of the best-known war reporters. Wherever there was a conflict, he was there. Anyone who questioned why the heir to one of the richest families in Boston was risking his life going around the world with a Nikon in his hand just had to look at the results. His photographs were published by newspapers all over America and around the world.’
… Police academy, you say? Are you sure? Apart from thefact that it’s a dangerous job, I don’t think…