Free The Fell Walker by Michael Wood

before. Where is it? What time? Who’ll be there? I thought I was just sitting in at a meeting with them with John Elland. Who arranged this?’
    Leni gave a rueful smile. This was typical of Yul. He loved to put on a big show. He had invited 50 government engineers to dinner in the penthouse suite of the best hotel in town, to be followed by presentations by his own company, then by Amtex, then by Hector for BNFL. And, typically, he had forgotten to tell the people involved.
    She could sense the panic in Hector’s voice. ‘Have you got anything prepared?’ she asked calmly.
    ‘No...I wasn’t expecting. I’ve just got a technical data sheet. Who’s going to be there...how many....’
    ‘Maybe I can help you prepare something,’ Leni offered quietly. She was beginning to understand that Hector was very insecure. ‘Maybe we can turn your data sheet into a speech. Is it in your room?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Let’s go,’ Leni said, and held out her hand as if to a child.
    Hector took hold, and trembled. He was actually touching her. Such softness, such warmth, so small. This was probably the greatest moment of his life. And yet, she was leading him to what promised to be the worst. Up in his room, they sat side-by-side studying the technical data sheet, shoulders almost touching. Hector could hardly breathe. Being alone with a beautiful woman in a luxury hotel in a strange country, preparing to make his first public speech, was more than his mind could cope with.
    It escaped into a dream-like state, and participated from a distance, as Leni gradually took over. She wrote down suggestions for introductions, flip chart displays, overhead projector drawings on acetate. She even ordered some food and drinks from room service. Hector simply listened and agreed and fell deeper in love with her.
    Suddenly, she was saying something reassuring as she glided out of the room, and he was left alone, staring.

    *

    The following day, John Elland and the company car reappeared, and Hector spent the day sitting beside the driver while Elland and Leni shared the back seat. They lurched around Manila visiting customers and projects. From their intervening conversations it was clear that Elland had been told about that night’s presentation at the Hyatt Regency and was well prepared, and confident as usual. In mid afternoon, Leni suggested that they call at the hotel to see if preparations were complete for the evening.
      The Hyatt Regency proved to be even grander than the Sheraton, the huge interior being finished almost entirely in cool marble. As the lift reached the penthouse suite, Hector’s stomach was churning. They walked into a vast room, its large windows providing a panorama of the city. Hector’s heart almost stopped.
    Beyond the many tables laid ready for dinner, was a raised table laid for six on which sat three microphones. On one side of the table stood a podium with a microphone mounted, and on the other side a screen and projector. On the wall behind the table, a very large banner proclaimed in red letters:

    WELCOME TO PRODUCT SYMPOSIUM
    AMTEX U.K. LTD WITH
    WAYNE INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY INC.
    SPEAKER: MR HECTOR SNODD
    CHIEF ENGINEER, BNFL.
    HYATT REGENCY, MANILA

    Hector spotted a toilet sign, dashed for it, and managed to throw up accurately into a hand basin. He was literally sick with worry. Why had nobody told him about this? He wouldn’t have come if he had known. He couldn’t possibly stand up there and deliver a speech.
    White faced, he returned to the room. Elland was engaged in conversation with hotel staff. Leni was fussing about the top table. He approached her and said quietly, ‘what is going on, Leni? I’m not the chief engineer of BNFL. I can’t do this. I can’t make a speech.’
    Leni glanced at the banner, then whispered conspiratorially, ‘It’s Yul trying to impress his guests. You will have to make a speech, Hector. It’s not as hard as you think. I’ll help you. If you put a drawing up on