Claude Simon
When he reached the building, there was no one yet waiting. The afternoon sun was blazing the street, but fortunately the entrance was on the shady side. He heaved a sigh of relief and sat on the cool stone steps. He knew he was meeting someone here but the heat and his walk through the busy dusty streets had muddled up his mind and memory. He hoped that some rest in the shade would bring him back to his full senses. He was still daydreaming about his condition when he heard her voice close to him. - Hi, my name is Deborah Highbridge, glad you could make it. - Hi, no problem. Pleased to meet you, Miss Highbridge. - You can call me Deborah. - OK, then you can call me Anthony. He got up to shake her hand. He was startled but pleased to see a young energetic woman, when he had expected to meet some typically dull fat elderly real estate dealer. Yet he disliked the touch of her hand on his. It was cold and rough, such a contrast with her appearance, as if it belonged to another person. Especially in the midst of summer. She was elegant but not flashy, with hazelnut eyes and auburn hair. A very melodious and unusual combination, he thought. As he was pondering on his first conflicting impressions, an odd and troubling word came to his mind : “ reptilian ”. He thought it was ridiculous to judge someone from her appearance at first sight. She might well have some blood condition or skin problem, after all. Then a spark of memory made him remember speaking to a man on the phone, that man he expected to see. Did they deliberately send her instead of that man to meet him ? But to what purpose ? No doubt, it was more pleasant to be with her than with a grim old businessman. But what was she supposed to get out of him ? Should he be wary of her ? Could he trust his first intuitive reaction ? But why would they do this ? She dialled the digit code to open the front door and they entered. The action put an instant end to his drifting thoughts. The lobby was huge, like the entranc
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