The Guest Who Disappeared Into The Night
The last-minute guests
CHAPTER 19 - THE LAST-MINUTE GUESTS
Hotel reception, 15 July, 4:29 p.m.
Stanley Daniels walks impatiently back and forth in front of the hotel reception.
Stanley Daniels
Come on, come on, come on...
Stanley Daniels
Where is everybody when you need them badly?!
???
So you have also a complaint, don't you, Americano?
The young man turns around, suddenly standing face to face with Lucas Costa.
Stanley Daniels
Hey man, I don't want any trouble.
Luca Costa
Says the one who was against me earlier during lunch.
Stanley Daniels
That was because you were indeed in the wrong!
Stanley Daniels
What do you want, Mr. Costa?
Luca Costa
I'm not here looking for a fight.
Luca Costa
I'm just taking a walk, blowing off some steam.
Luca Costa
I'm allowed to do that, right?
Stanley Daniels
Yeah, yeah, just keep your distance, please.
Luca Costa
*Raises both arms in the air*
Luca Costa
Okay, chill out, "man".
Luca Costa
I'm not doing anything.
Stanley shakes his head and sighs.
Suddenly, both hotel guests see a middle-aged man with gray hair walking towards them.
Dennis Freeman
Good day, gentlemen!
Stanley Daniels
Hello, sir!
Stanley Daniels
Are you also a guest of this hotel?
Dennis Freeman
I'm one of the staff.
Dennis Freeman
Well, soon anyway.
Luca Costa
You mean, you're one of those volunteers who the hotel owner has talked about?
Luca Costa
*Turns around and shakes his head*
He can't believe that Luca Costa would have the nerve of showing his dissatisfaction that clearly.
The young African American turns his head from the rude Italian to the middle-aged fisherman, looking anxiously.
But Dennis Freeman only smiles.
Stanley tries to change the subject.
Dennis Freeman
My name is Dennis Freeman.
Dennis Freeman
Pleased to meet both of you.
Stanley Daniels
I'm Stanley Daniels.
Stanley Daniels
And this---
Luca Costa
Il piacere è mio. (= My pleasure.)
Stanley Daniels
<It seems Mr. Freeman wasn't offended by Mr. Costa at all.>
Stanley Daniels
<Let's keep it that way.>
Dennis Freeman
What a lovely weather today, isn't it?
Stanley Daniels
<What the...!>
Stanley Daniels
<Is he going to bring the subject about the storm up?!>
Luca Costa
Aren't we getting a cloudy sky right now?
Luca Costa
A cloudy weather that will turn into a storm tomorrow?
Stanley Daniels
<Oh, boy...>
Dennis Freeman
I see Signor Costa is already informed about the weather.
Luca Costa
*Is getting amused*
Luca Costa
Have you been to Italy, Signor Freeman?
Dennis Freeman
Ma certo! (= Of course!)
Dennis Freeman
I've been to Rome, Venice, Naples and even Sicily.
Dennis Freeman
Quindi sì, posso parlare un po' di italiano. (= So yes, I can speak a little Italian.)
Luca Costa
Bene bene. (= Good, good.)
Stanley stares at Dennis Freeman in awe.
Stanley Daniels
And I thought you were just some---
Dennis Freeman
---Hillbilly who doesn't know anything about the outside world?
Stanley Daniels
I'm so sorry!
Stanley Daniels
That's not what I---
Luca Costa
But you did, Americano.
Luca Costa
Don't you try to deny it!
Dennis Freeman
It's alright, it's alright!
Dennis Freeman
I'm fully aware of the prejudices, and stereotypes "outsiders" have about us who live in desolate areas.
Dennis Freeman
So no harm done.
Stanley breathes a sigh of relief.
Now, when there's a potential staff member who has something in common with Luca Costa, will the Italian guest be friendlier now?
Dennis Freeman
Anyway, Signor Costa.
Dennis Freeman
What do you think of the storm tomorrow?
Dennis Freeman
Are both gentlemen worried?
Stanley Daniels
<I thought Luca Costa would have snapped by now.>
Stanley Daniels
<He's awfully calm despite everything that has happened earlier today.>
Dennis Freeman
And what about you, Mr. Daniels?
Stanley suddenly awakens from his short but deep thoughts.
Stanley Daniels
No, no, no!
Stanley Daniels
Not at all!
Stanley Daniels
I think I can manage a storm coming here.
Dennis Freeman
So, gentlemen.
Dennis Freeman
Since I'm going to be one of the staff soon, is there anything I can help you with?
Luca Costa
I don't need any help at the moment.
Luca Costa
I was just taking a walk when I saw Signor Daniels standing at the reception, so I just wanted to keep him company.
Stanley Daniels
I'm actually good, thank you.
Stanley becomes impatient by Luca's question.
Stanley Daniels
Come on...
Stanley Daniels
What's it to you, anyway?
Stanley decides to leave the area at once.
He turns around and begins to walk away from the reception.
Luca Costa
See you at dinner, Signor Daniels!
Stanley Daniels
*Is annoyed*
Stanley Daniels
Yeah, yeah, whatever...
As soon as the young American leaves Luca and Dennis, a group of three people is arriving at the reception.
The group consists of a thirty-something year old woman wearing a headscarf, a man with black hair of approximately the same age as her, and a child.
It's without any doubt that the group is a family of three.
Laila Akkari
It should be here...
Laila Akkari
Have we arrived at the reception?
Dennis Freeman
I certainly think so, ma'am.
Luca Costa
I got my keys here in the morning.
Samir Kefi
I was worried that we wouldn't make it in time!
Abdel Kefi
Baba, are we going to have dinner soon?
Samir Kefi
Very soon, habibi.
Laila Akkari
Be patient, Abdel.
Laila Akkari
We aren't registered guests yet.
Dennis Freeman
Ma'am, there is no one at the reception yet.
Dennis Freeman
But I can fetch the hotel owners, right away.
Luca Costa
<What a really bad hotel...!>
He can't believe that he actually gives this hotel a chance when he could just have left it.
Luca thinks of earlier today, when a hotel guest suddenly had a severe allergic reaction after lunch.
The Italian voiced his criticism of the hotel's management because of this, and almost got into trouble.
Because one of the hotel guests - a mere "boy" - criticised Luca, and he lost his temper.
Luca attempted to hit this young guest in the face, and what was the result?
He was thrown to the floor by another guest, a young woman, who turned out to be a private investigator!
What was her name again...?
Luca Costa
<What did Gregory Harris call her?>
Luca Costa
<"Miss Pan"...>
Laila Akkari
Are you alright?
Luca Costa wakes up from his thoughts and discovers that everyone is looking at him.
Laila Akkari
Is something the matter?
Luca Costa
*Quickly thinks up of something*
Luca Costa
Just a little stomach ache, that's all.
Abdel Kefi
Well, Monsieur, you look kind of funny.
Samir Kefi
*Looks sternly at his son*
Samir Kefi
*Looks quickly at Luca*
Samir Kefi
Please forgive my son.
Samir Kefi
He's just a child.
Luca Costa
Nessun problema! (= No worries!)
Luca Costa
Aren't you worried about the upcoming storm?
Laila Akkari
We read about it in the newspaper this morning.
Laila Akkari
We're lucky that we arrived at this hotel in time!
Laila Akkari
This building should be able to last a storm, shouldn't it?
Luca Costa
Everything is so new here, even for the hotel management, so...
Samir Kefi
What did you just say?
Samir Kefi
"Even for the hotel management"...?
Luca Costa
You guys don't know?
Luca Costa
This hotel just only opened this season.
Luca Costa
And we're the hotel's very first guests.
Luca Costa
So because of that, things don't work flawlessly here.
Luca Costa
We already have problems with the food.
Laila Akkari
*Looks worried*
Luca Costa
Well, there's only enough food for the main meals.
Samir Kefi
I wouldn't call that a problem.
Samir Kefi
The food is included in the price, yes?
Luca Costa
Yes, but don't expect any fancy meals.
Abdel Kefi
No pizza and hamburger?!
Luca Costa
Never say "never", kid.
Luca Costa
We got Swedish meatballs for lunch today.
Laila Akkari
That's alright.
Luca Costa
But snacks aren't included, and can't be bought here.
Luca Costa
From what I've heard from another guest, there's a village that sells homemade products.
Luca Costa
It takes around 45 minutes to walk there.
Laila Akkari
That will take too much time...
Samir Kefi
You don't seem to be too satisfied with this hotel, do you?
Luca Costa
But I won't leave the hotel.
Luca Costa
At least, not yet.
Luca Costa
But in the meantime, I'll need to go back to my room.
Luca Costa
See you later at dinner!
Luca can hear the intense discussion between the two spouses behind him.
Even if he doesn't understand French, he can guess that they aren't satisfied with the choice of the hotel.
What will the hotel management do now with the food?
Besides Ronni Mogensen who is currently at Gloxmouth's Hospital because of his allergic reaction, they're now eleven guests.
And who knows how many volunteers, besides Dennis Freeman, will be added to the hotel staff?
Will the food be enough for everyone?
Luca Costa
Signor Harris...
Luca Costa
I hope, for your sake, that you know what you're doing...
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