Episode 34 – ‘Rosalinda’
322 Words
Episode 34 – ‘Rosalinda’Saint-Tropez, France, 29 December
We park the car at the Passage du Port and head to the port where the yacht of Monsieur Moreau is anchored. Though, ‘port’ is too grand a word for this place. To me, it looks more like a small harbour, crowded with all sorts of boats and yachts. Perhaps, it's the Tropeziens, proud of their fishing village, where painters and writers used to seek inspiration, had nick-named it a 'port'.
Following Monsieur Moreau, I try to imagine what kind of yacht he might have. Judging by his car, it should be something of a Robinson Crusoe brig.
'Here we are, mon ami,' Monsieur Moreau says, stopping before a masterpiece of modern shipbuilding, a white Princess V72. On the side of his yacht the name ‘Rosalinda’ is written in huge letters.
Stunned at the sight, I freeze.
'Monsieur Moreau! Good day to you!' I hear a hoarse greeting, uttered at us.
'And a good day to you too, Monsieur Gaspard,' he replies, turning to a tanned man in a bright wind-cheater.
'What, came to check on your beauty?' Gaspard asks.
'Yes. Decided to take my young friend out on a little excursion,' Monsieur Moreau responds, introducing me to Gaspard.
We shake hands.
'I see. And I've been called to check on that yacht,' says Gaspard, waving in a direction of a black yacht, anchored on the other side of the boardwalk, right opposite ‘Rosalinda’. 'The owner is going to throw some grand New Year's Eve party on it in two days, you know.'
His mobile rings. Glancing at its display, he nods us a quick good-bye, then presses his phone to his ear and runs up the gangway of the black yacht.
Monsieur Moreau gives me a smile, then puts his hand on my shoulder and steers me towards the ‘Rosalinda’.
- Writer
