The Witch of Portobello Page 0,33

a very long time, and I was beginning to have my doubts. Would I have to go back to England having failed to achieve my goal? I'd already invested a significant amount of money in contracts with historians, in the script, in filming interviews, but before the BBC would sign the final contract, they insisted on me visiting Dracula's castle to see what state it was in. The trip was costing more than expected.

I tried phoning my girlfriend, but was told I'd have to wait nearly an hour to get a line. My interpreter might arrive at any moment with the car and there was no time to lose, and so I decided not to risk waiting.

I asked around to see if I could buy an English newspaper, but there were none to be had . To take my mind off my anxiety, I started looking, as discreetly as I could, at the people around me drinking tea, possibly oblivious to everything that had happened the year before popular uprisings, the cold-blooded murder of civilians in Timi¼oara, shoot-outs in the streets between the people and the dreaded secret service as the latter tried desperately to hold on to the power fast slipping from their grasp. I noticed a group of three Americans, an interesting-looking woman who was, however, glued to the fashion magazine she was reading, and some men sitting round a table, talking loudly in a language I couldn't identify.

I was just about to get up yet again and go over to the entrance to see if my interpreter was anywhere to be seen, when she came in. She must have been a little more than twenty years old. She sat down, ordered some breakfast, and I noticed that she spoke English. None of the other men present appeared to notice her arrival, but the other woman interrupted her reading.

Perhaps because of my anxiety or because of the place, which was beginning to depress me, I plucked up courage and went over to her.

'Excuse me, I don't usually do this. I always think breakfast is the most private meal of the day.'

She smiled, told me her name, and I immediately felt wary. It had been too easy she might be a prostitute. Her English, however, was perfect and she was very discreetly dressed. I decided not to ask any questions, and began talking at length about myself, noticing as I did so that the woman on the next table had put down her magazine and was listening to our conversation.

'I'm an independent producer working for the BBC in London, and, at the moment, I'm trying to find a way to get to Transylvania '

I noticed the light in her eyes change.

' so that I can finish the documentary I'm making about the myth of the vampire.'

I waited. This subject always aroused people's curiosity, but she lost interest as soon as I mentioned the reason for my visit.

Chapter Four

'You'll just have to take the bus,' she said. 'Although I doubt you'll find what you're looking for. If you want to know more about Dracula, read the book. The author never even visited Romania.'

'What about you, do you know Transylvania?'

'I don't know.'

That was not an answer; perhaps it was because English despite her British accent was not her mother tongue.

'But I'm going there too,' she went on. 'On the bus, of course.'

Judging by her clothes, she was not an adventuress who sets off round the world visiting exotic places. The idea that she might be a prostitute returned; perhaps she was trying to get closer to me.

'Would you like a lift?'

'I've already bought my ticket.'

I insisted, thinking that her first refusal was just part of the game. She refused again, saying that she needed to make that journey alone. I asked where she was from, and there was a long pause before she replied.

'Like I said, from Transylvania.'

'That isn't quite what you said. But if that's so, perhaps you could help me with finding locations for the film and '

My unconscious mind was telling me to explore the territory a little more, because although the idea that she might be a prostitute was still buzzing around in my head, I very, very much wanted her to come with me. She politely refused my offer. The other woman joined in the conversation at this point, as if to protect the younger woman, and I felt then that I was in the way and decided to leave.

My interpreter arrived shortly afterwards, out