Mike Dixon

he phone rang on Kirstin‟s desk in the university li-
T brary, where she worked as a volunteer. The work
kept her active. Australia has a system where people of old
but robust years can give their skills to the wider community
and not expect to be paid.
She heard the receptionist. „I have a Ms Manning here.
She‟s a travel consultant and would like you to do some
translating.‟
Kirstin often did translating jobs – mainly Chinese but
sometimes Danish. She said she would meet Ms Manning in
the entrance hall and took the stairs to the ground floor. The
young woman waiting for her was dressed in the sharp-cut
attire fashionable in business circles and somewhat alien to
Kirstin‟s generation. She wore tinted glasses and spoke with
a North American accent.
„Mrs. Hansen, a mutual friend suggested that I contact
you.‟
A manicured hand tendered a business card.
Kirstin took the card and affected a strong Danish accent.
„Janice Manning … you wouldn‟t be one of the Pulnitz-
Mannings, by any chance?‟
Janet removed her spectacles.
„How did you guess?‟
„I smelt you.‟
„Don‟t joke, Kirstin. We‟re fellow professionals. I want to
know how you recognized me.‟
„Well, my dear.‟ Kirstin smiled. „If I hadn‟t previously met
you, I probably wouldn‟t have suspected that you weren‟t
who you claimed to be.‟
„Really?‟
„Yes.‟
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