Death on the Danube

by Jennifer S. Alderson

  Lana could feel her group’s enthusiasm waning the longer he spoke. Great, she thought sarcastically, he really knows how to win a crowd. She hoped he had a few interesting stories to tell; otherwise this was going to be one long tour.

  He led them slowly through the complex of palatial buildings, most now home to history and cultural museums, pointing out the few remaining original details and explaining the castle’s long and turbulent history.

  Not much of a history buff, Lana did her best to listen, but in reality she was more interested in simply looking at the buildings’ exteriors than in learning why or how they had been constructed.

  Frieda did her best to challenge the guide’s knowledge, but by the end of the first hour, even she was content to just follow along and listen. Sally had attached herself to Carl and wasn’t letting go, Lana noticed. But in contrast to last night, Carl seemed happy to cuddle with her. He held her hand as he pointed to a statue or monument he liked, and she chatted easily about the paintings and costumes she admired. Maybe I was seeing things last night and Carl truly is in love with Sally, Lana thought, hoping for Sally’s sake that she was right.

  However, the snake in the grass – in the form of Jess – followed a short distance behind them, her eyes always on Carl. Several times she seemed to try to brush up against him, but each time, he eased Sally between them, causing Jess to retreat.

  Oddly enough, Lana got the impression that Tom was also keeping his eye on Carl. How did they know each other? Lana wondered. Seattle was a village of sorts, but she doubted Carl and Tom ran in the same social circles. From what she had gathered so far, Tom worked for a yacht rental company, owned by his wife. And Helen had made clear that she saw them as above the other guests. As if to reaffirm Lana’s suspicions, Helen and Tom trailed behind the group, purposefully walking a good distance behind the rest.

  The Hendersons, bless them, were right at the front, keeping pace with their guide better than most of the Fabulous Five. Lana only wondered how much of their guide’s lecture Mrs. Henderson could understand. Lana and Frieda took turns assisting Sara when she feared the path was too icy.

  After their guide finished leading them through the last of the palace buildings, he paused at the exit and addressed the group. “We are now going to walk up to Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church. It is only a few minutes’ walk; however, I advise you to button up your jacket. The winds are quite fierce today, especially on the upper level.”

  Their guide led them up the steep pathways and stairs towards the top of the hill. Luckily for Lana and her guests, someone had the foresight to sprinkle salt on the stairs and pathways; otherwise this would have been far too slippery to traverse. They soon reached a large gate and climbed another steep staircase to the top.

  Lana couldn’t help but shiver when the wind whipped through her jacket. The guide was right about the weather; the winds here were far stronger than she’d anticipated. Then again, they were so high up, the buildings on the Pest side of the river looked like dollhouses. She ignored the biting cold and enjoyed the views, before Helen’s voice broke her concentration.

  “Watch out, will you?” Helen snapped. Lana turned to see Jess had stumbled and bumped into Helen while taking a picture.

  Helen turned to Jess, presumably to continue her tirade, when her features softened. “You look so familiar. Have we met before?”

  Jess glared back at her. “You could say that. I’ve served you dozens of cappuccinos this past year. I don’t recall you tipping once.”

  Helen’s eyes went wide in recognition. “Of course! You work at the marina’s café, don’t you? Fancy you being on the same tour as us.” Helen looked at Jess’s skintight pants and stud-covered leather jacket with disdain.

  “What, lowly waitresses aren’t allowed to take a vacation?”

  “You can do whatever you want. I just didn’t expect to see someone of your age on this kind of tour. I thought someone like you would prefer to go clubbing on a beach during spring break,” Helen said curtly and turned on her heel.

  “People like me enjoy culture, too.” Jess spat out the words, but Helen was already walking away.

  Despite the obvious tension among many of the members, Lana ensured her group stayed with the guide as he led them through the upper complex of buildings. They first stopped to marvel at the flying buttresses, spires, and colorful geometric pattern of tiles decorating the roof of Matthias Church. After explaining its history, their guide pointed to a fairytale-like structure straddling the edge of the hill.

  “That is Fisherman’s Bastion. It was built to celebrate the thousandth birthday of the Hungarian state and finished in 1902. The unique style is inspired by early medieval architecture. From here, you have the most spectacular views of Budapest in the city.”

  Lana gaped at the seven white stone spires topping the series of covered passageways and balconies leading along the hill’s edge. They merged together to form a path leading to a circular churchlike building constructed from the same stone.

  From the passageway and open balconies, the panoramic views of the city were spectacular. Lana took in the forested hills touched with snow on the Buda side, the bridges straddling the river, the pattern of homes and streets far below, and the massive Hungarian Parliament Building on the Pest side.

  “We are lucky it is not snowing today. The skies are clear,” the guide said. He pointed to his left. “There you can see Margaret Island, just behind the yellow bridge named after it. If you look to your right, most of you will recognize Chain Bridge. It was completed in 1849 and was the first bridge to cross the Danube.”

  Lana half-listened, but was more interested in soaking up the glorious views from their high perch. A light layer of snow covered the many rooftops, though much of it had blown away in the strong winds. Her guests were busy photographing everything in sight. She felt sorry for the friends back home who would have to look through all those pictures.

  “Boy, it sure is cold here. I guess I can’t complain about Seattle’s winters anymore, can I, Carl?” Sally said with a laugh.

  “Let me warm you up, dumpling.” Carl stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her torso, holding her tight. Sally snuggled into his embrace and rested her head happily on his chest. Carl kissed her head as they enjoyed the views together.

  As painful as it was to be around a couple in love, Lana was glad to see them happy. She wasn’t convinced that she could ever love again, though her friends firmly believed that she should get back on that horse as soon as possible. Dotty and Willow had a long list of potential dates they were dying to set her up with, but she couldn’t imagine going out with anyone else. How could she ever trust a man again, after Ron had left her like that?

  Lana shook her thoughts loose, focusing on the beauty of Budapest instead. Suddenly she realized that Sara was still inside the enclosed passageway, leaning heavily against the stone wall. Lana had gotten so caught up in her own thoughts, she’d forgotten about assisting the older lady.

  “Can I help you?” Lana asked.

  Sara looked up at her with a grateful smile. “Thanks, Lana. It does look treacherous.”

  “My pleasure. Oh wow, would you look at that,” Lana gushed as they stepped out towards the balcony’s railing. The sunlight broke through the clouds and lit up the river, making the waves in the Danube River sparkle like diamonds.

  “It looks like a big fat snake slithering though the city, doesn’t it?” Sara said.

  Lana laughed. “It sure does have the same shape. I’m going to take a few pictures, if you don’t mind.”

  “Be my guest. In fact, would you take one of me with Pest in the background? My daughter always complains that I forget to take selfies on my trips. She likes to travel vicariously.”

  “I’m happy to, Sara. I can imagine she’ll appreciate seeing her mom enjoying herself abroad, more than just pictures of random buildings.”

  The snow made the castle, views, and Fisherman’s Bastion eve
n more enchanting than she had expected. Yet it was a struggle to stay warm. She was so glad Dotty had advised her to buy a good pair of gloves for the trip. She was especially thankful for the knitted hat and scarf that Dotty had given her. If only she had bought a warmer jacket when she was at Second Hand Love. She was shivering so badly, she figured most of her snapshots would be blurry.

  Just as Lana hoped the older guests were doing okay, she overheard Frieda grumble, “Now I know what meat in a freezer feels like” to Rebecca.

  Their guide must have heard her, too, because he announced, “Good news; it’s time to warm up. I will now take you to the National Music Museum, then escort you back down to the entrance for the conclusion of our tour.”

  9 Warming up in the Café

  “So, what did you like most about the tour?” Lana asked. This simple question was a psychological trick she had learned while working as a kayaking guide. Getting her clients to relive their favorite moments of the tour immediately afterwards was the best way to cement into their memory that they’d had fun. A happy customer was more likely to recommend her tours to their friends. Thanks to that little trick, she’d gotten quite a few referrals. Unfortunately for her former boss, it hadn’t been enough to keep the company afloat.

  Her group was inside one of the many cafés dotted around the Buda Palace complex. They were seated around a circular table positioned close to the open hearth. The fire roaring inside helped drive the cold from their bones. A glass of warm cider or hot chocolate was placed before each guest.

  Frieda looked around the table, as if daring someone else to answer first. “I expected our guide to know more about the Habsburg period. But he did seem to know a lot about the Communist era,” she conceded.

  “I loved it,” Sara said. “Walking around that palace made me feel like a princess.”

  “Jess, what about you? What did you like the most?” Lana asked. The girl was at least twenty years younger than all the other participants and seemed embarrassed to speak up in front of the group.

  “Oh, umm, I liked the pianos.”

  Helen clicked her tongue in irritation.

  “They are gorgeous. I love that you could listen to recordings of how they sound when played,” Lana replied, smiling encouragingly. Jess’s weak grin in return was a great start.

  Helen tutted and let out a small sigh. Lana decided to go on the attack, in the hopes of preventing the woman’s negativity from further affecting the group. “Helen and Tom, you’ve been pretty quiet so far. What did you think of the palace?”

  At the mention of his name, Tom stopped glaring at Carl and turned to Lana. “The view of the Danube from Fisherman’s Bastion is quite impressive.”

  Helen rolled her eyes. “She meant the palace, Tom, not the view.”

  As if anticipating Lana’s next question, Helen added, “They could have done more to restore the interiors. I had expected them to be more lavishly decorated.”

  Lana’s smile wavered slightly. “That’s a valid point, Helen.”

  “What I want to know is: How did they survive without central heating? These winters are pretty cruel,” Rebecca said, shivering violently for effect.

  “I love those dresses. Boy, those aristocrats were tiny! I swear, I could wrap my hands around the waists, they were so small!” Sally added, her tone exuberant.

  “And did you see how intricate the embroidery was? I think I would have gone blind if I’d had to do all that work,” Nicole added.

  “Seeing Matthias Church was worth the trip,” Mr. Henderson said in a loud voice, as his wife nodded along. “It’s even more beautiful than we had expected.”

  Lana excused herself, letting the guests swap impressions while she freshened up in the bathroom. Being a guide was a lot easier than she had expected, though her face was starting to hurt from smiling so much. She did facial stretches in the mirror until her cheek muscles relaxed, before heading back.

  When she returned to their table, Lana was happy to see most of the group laughing and chatting as if they were old friends. Even Jess had joined in and was chatting easily with Tom about sailing. Lana noticed, though, that she kept one eye fixed on Carl. Several times, Jess leaned over the table and tried to engage him in conversation, but Carl only ignored her and tightened his grip on Sally’s shoulder. Sally didn’t seem to notice; she was having too good a time debating the merits of sleeping in a four-post bed with the Fabulous Five. Even the Hendersons appeared to be following along.

  The only person who refused to join in was Helen. She leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed over her torso, a sour expression on her face. What is that woman’s problem? Lana wondered. How can anyone be so mad while on vacation? It’s not like the trip cost them much, at least not in comparison to the rest. Why can’t she just relax and enjoy herself?

  Lana sat at the end of the table, listening and laughing. When there was a lull in the conversation, she stood up to address the group. “Are we all warmed up now?”

  The group nodded.

  “Excellent. Our next stop is the labyrinth underneath Buda Palace.”

  “What do you mean, labyrinth? Is it a maze?” Sara asked.

  “Not a maze, per se. It is a series of tunnels that have been used to house products, prisoners, and World War II supplies. Some say Count Dracula was also imprisoned there. There are displays inside explaining the labyrinth’s history, for those who want to learn more.” Lana added, worried Frieda would test her knowledge as she did their Hungarian guide. She had just shared all she could recall about their next destination.

  “Sounds interesting,” Sara said. “I would like to take a look.” Her friends agreed.

  “And if we aren’t interested?” Helen asked.

  Lana refused to let her drag the tour down. She turned to Helen, her smile radiant. “Anyone who would rather not visit the labyrinth is welcome to stay here and have a drink on Wanderlust Tours. We will meet here in an hour, then head back to the hotel together for a two-hour break. Tonight we will be dining at a traditional Hungarian restaurant and enjoying a tour of the Christmas markets. They are the most impressive in the evening, when the lights are on,” Lana said convincingly, hoping the information Dotty gave her was still up to date. Having never seen a European Christmas market, she had no idea what to expect.

  “I’m going to skip the labyrinth. I assume wine is included under ‘drink’?” Helen asked.

  Lana smiled tightly, unsure whether Dotty would approve. Happy customers leave five stars, she reminded herself. Lana doubted Helen would leave a five-star review for anything, though; the woman seemed to be able to find fault with everything and everyone.

  “Of course, the first drink is on us,” Lana said. “Who else would like to visit the labyrinth?”

  “Not me!” Sally exclaimed. “I hate being in elevators. I don’t think small places are for me.”

  “That’s a good point. Anyone suffering from claustrophobia may want to skip it.”

  “I think we will enjoy the fire and a nice a hot toddy,” Mr. Henderson said in a loud voice so that his wife could hear him.

  She nodded in agreement. “It is rather cold out, and these chairs are so comfortable,” Mrs. Henderson answered in just as loud a voice. It reminded Lana of how her own grandmother would yell unwittingly when she had her hearing aid out, simply because she couldn’t hear her own voice.

  “No problem. I’ll send a waiter over,” Lana said, not surprised they would rather sit and rest. The snow was gorgeous, but walking around in the cold air for so long had chilled them all to the bone. And the Hendersons were in their nineties.

  “Carl?” Lana asked.

  He shrugged nonchalantly. “Why not?”

  “I’m game,” Tom said. Helen looked at him, one eyebrow raised, and shook her head. Is Helen actually forbidding her husband to join us? Lana wondered. As if to defy her, Tom slipped his coat on. Helen looked away but said nothing. Wow, she really keeps him on a short leash.

  C
arl gave Sally one whopper of a kiss before leaving her seated next to Helen. He leaned over to Lana and whispered, “I need to visit the little boy’s room first. Do you mind waiting?”

  “Of course not. I’ll help everyone into their jackets,” she whispered back.

  Sally blew butterfly kisses at Carl until he exited the room.

  “Okay, folks, let’s get our jackets back on before we leave. It’s starting to snow again,” Lana said, her voice cheery.

  As Lana helped her older guests, Sally pulled out a ball of wool and two travel-sized knitting needles, then set to work. They were shorter and narrower than the needles she used at home, with a sharper point. From the looks of it, she was almost finished with a Valentine-themed dog sweater. Two terriers sat nose to nose, their muzzles resting on a giant red heart.

  “That’s adorable, Sally. But why does Dotty have you working on this trip?”

  “She didn’t ask me to do this. It’s one of my new ideas. I thought I’d surprise her with it when we got back.”

  Helen looked over at Sally’s creation and raised an eyebrow. Lana wondered what they would talk about for the next hour. She couldn’t imagine that the two women had much in common. Helen, apparently having the same thought, began digging through her purse.

  Tom tried to peck Helen on the cheek, but she was too busy with her search to respond. Instead, he looked at Lana expectantly.

  “We need to wait for Carl, then we can walk over together,” she said.

  “Ah, here it is,” Helen mumbled. A prescription bottle marked “Valium” was in one hand. She popped a pill into her mouth and used the rest of her cocoa to wash it down.

  Lana’s eye widened at her casual use of a heavy sedative. Tom stood behind his wife, absently gazing out the window at the falling snow. Did he even notice what Helen just did? Lana wondered. The Fabulous Five definitely did not. They were all standing with their noses pressed up to the glass, oohing and aahing at the white specks, apparently forgetting that they would soon be outside in it.