Finally they had composed the invitation. It had taken two hours and
they couldn’t stop laughing.
Dear. . .
You are hereby invited to a philosophical garden party at 3 Clover Close
on Saturday June 23 (Midsummer Eve) at 7 p.m. During the evening we shall
hopefully solve the mystery of life. Please bring warm sweaters and bright
ideas suitable for solving the riddles of philosophy. Because of the danger of
woodland fires we unfortunately cannot have a bonfire, but everybody is free
to let the flames of their imagination flicker unimpeded. There will be at least
one genuine philosopher among the invited guests. For this reason the party
is a strictly private arrangement. Members of the press will not be admitted.
With regards,
Joanna Ingebrigtsen (organizing committee)
and Sophie Amundsen (hostess)
The two girls went downstairs to their parents, who were now talking
somewhat more freely. Sophie handed the draft invitation, written with a
calligraphic pen, to her mother.
“Could you make eighteen copies, please.” It was not the first time she
had asked her mother to make photocopies for her at work.
Her mother read the invitation and then handed it to Joanna’s father.
“You see what I mean? She is going a little crazy.”
“But it looks really exciting,” said Joanna’s father, handing the sheet on
to his wife. “I wouldn’t mind coming to that party myself.”
Barbie read the invitation, then she said: “Well, I must say! Can we come
too, Sophie?”
“Let’s say twenty copies, then,” said Sophie, taking them at their word.
“You must be nuts!” said Joanna.
Before Sophie went to bed that night she stood for a long time gazing
out of the window. She remembered how she had once seen the outline of
Alberto’s figure in the darkness. It was more than a month ago. Now it was
again late at night, but this was a white summer night.
Sophie heard nothing from Alberto until Tuesday morning. He called just
after her mother had left for work.
“Sophie Amundsen.”
“And Alberto Knox.”
“I thought so.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t call before, but I’ve been working hard on our plan. I
can only be alone and work undisturbed when the major is concentrating
wholly and completely on you.”
“That’s weird.”
“Then I seize the opportunity to conceal myself, you see. The best
surveillance system in the world has its limitations when it is only controlled by
one single person ... I got your card.”
“You mean the invitation?”
“Dare you risk it?”
“Why not?”
“Anything can happen at a party like that.”
“Are you coming?”
“Of course I’m coming. But there is another thing. Did you remember