chapter10
Zermatt, August 1923
Edward Crowe introduced Ulrich to his wife,Agatha, and to his daughter. To Ulrich's surprise, Marianne seemed to know them already. "Now Marjorie,' said Mrs Crowe to her small daughter, 'here's Marianne again. You remember her, don't you? She's going to be with us for a few days so our father can go climbing and I can do some painting.
Marjorie smiled at Marianne and took her hand Marianne then amazed Ulrich once more by saying a few words to the little girl in English. He made some comment, in his own language, to his sister about her ability to speak this foreign language, and told him she had started learning it from a book last winter.
Edward Crowe was looking first at Ulrich and then at Marianne.
'this is my sister', said Ulrich, realising that Mr Crowe hadn't quite made the connection.
"Well, well, what a coincidence.' He laughed. "Isn't that odd, my dear?" said Edward to his wife.
Not really,' she replied. "Zermatt is a very small world Anyway, Edward, we are going to leave you now to discuss your business with Herr Grunwalder. Come along Marjorie. Marianne is going to give you your tea and put you to bed.
She shook hands with Ulrich, turned and walked across the lounge with Marianne and Marjorie following Both men watched the group disappear into the lift. said Ulrich "I didn't know you had met my sister before," to Edward Crowe Yes, indeed. My and I met her three years ago when wife we came here to the Hotel Monte Rosa on our honeymoon. And of course we met again when we arrived this summer. Marjorie likes her very much. But enough of that, let's talk about our climb next week. Ulrich and his English mountaineer discussed the route for their climb up the Gornergrat. Ulrich was pleased that Mr Crowe had had quite a lot of climbing experience. The Gornergrat was not such a high mountain but they would be climbing on a glacier and this needed great care. It was agreed that Ulrich would come to the Monte Rosa on Tuesday evening to confirm that the climb was going ahead the following day They would start very early on the Wednesday morning and be away for two days. Edward offered the standard fee for Ulrich's services which he was happy to accept, knowing that there would also be a tip at the end if the expedition was successful. They shook hands on the deal and parted. Ulrich went to find his cousin Hermann and have a beer with him in the bar used by the locals. He was curious to find out about the Crowe family and how well Marianne knew them, but decided not to bother asking any questions when the two of them were joined by some of the other local men. So, you're going to be working for Mr Crowe next week then,' said one of the older men, Gottfried "That's right. Up the Gornergrat,' replied Ulrich, smiling to himself at how quickly news travelled.