Part 27 (1/2)

Anne-Lise whispers to Tess, trying to sound surprised: Camilla Batz! Does she have curly blond hair?

Thats right. Do you know her?

Yes. How extraordinary. We were childhood friends. How is she? What is she doing now?

Tess has no time to answer, because the warm-up has begun. Anne-Lise is new to the exercises but follows them as well as she can and keeps her voice low. All the singers practice breathing with their diaphragm and are told to stand with their feet planted evenly on the floor. Shoulders and neck must be relaxed. They launch into Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton.

During the first break Anne-Lise returns to her questioning. What about Camilla what does she do now?

She works in an office that gives out information about oh, about something Im not sure. But sh.e.l.l be here next Wednesday, so you can see her then. Some of us get together for a beer afterward, so if you join us the two of you will have a chance to catch up.

It surprises Anne-Lise to realize how easy it is to lie.

Tess has a lovely voice, but its weak. One of the tenors voices rises above the rest as they sing.

Anne-Lise feels exhilarated, almost intoxicated by the combination of her own adrenaline and the sheer warmth of these people who have welcomed her so readily.

Tess leans over to whisper to her: I think its a great song too!

They must be able to see something of what she feels in her face. The women who are standing near Anne-Lise believe that it is the music that has moved her so much. When the conductor stops to explain a few changes in the rhythm to the male singers, Pernille, an alto in the front row, turns to whisper to Anne-Lise: Brigitte, does that mean youll come back?

Anne-Lise realizes these complete strangers are more sensitive to what shes feeling than the people she has worked with for a whole year.

The singing starts up again. Anne-Lise thinks of Yngves bleak view of human nature. She refuses to believe him. People arent like that. She promises herself to find out more about research into the human capacity for evil.

Its a paradox, she thinks, that in Danish at least the best brief introduction to the subject is probably two articles written by Iben and published a year ago in two consecutive issues of Genocide News under the t.i.tle The Psychology of Evil. Anne-Lise makes up her mind to read the articles again when she is back home.

They stop for a break. There are cans of beer and fizzy drinks with a box to collect the money. Anne-Lise pays for a can of fizzy orange. A large woman called Ruth, another alto, expounds on the need to hold notes for different lengths of time in their rendering of When Im Sixty-Four.

The ba.s.ses have long ones and the tenors short ones. Imagine that!

Everyone laughs. Normally Anne-Lise wouldnt find this kind of innuendo amusing, but she has been on edge all day and now she shakes with laughter and the fizzy orange drink goes up her nose. She cant swallow, but tries to keep her mouth closed. It doesnt work. The drink sprays all over Ruths blouse and the table, dribbling down Anne-Lises chin and onto her own blouse.

Oh, G.o.d, Im so sorry, Ruth. Im such an idiot If only she could run away from the whole scene. But she stays, words tumbling out of her mouth. Ill clean it up. Is there a rag anywhere? Let me buy you a new blouse One of the singers has already found a sponge.

The woman with the navy scarf smiles, deepening the laughter lines at the corners of her eyes. Ruth is too funny for her own good. I can see you agree!

Ruth is kind as well. Brigitte, dont apologize. And dont even think of buying me a new blouse. This one can be dry-cleaned just fine.

Anne-Lise stares at the floor. One thought keeps running through her head: It never ends. It never, ever ends! Where can I be the old Anne-Lise?

After a short silence Tess turns to a woman in a black skirt. Do you remember when I managed to spray you with a mouthful of c.o.ke?

The woman looks at her, mystified.

You must remember I was laughing so hard I couldnt help it.

Anne-Lise raises her head in time to see the woman realize what she is supposed to say.

Oh, yes, of course! Id almost forgotten Between them, they manage to cheer Anne-Lise up. Her mood has improved when she goes off to the ladies room. The Eric Clapton song is playing in her head.

Several women are standing in front of the mirror. A soprano called Vibeke speaks to Anne-Lise. You will enjoy having Camilla here next week. Especially since you know her so well.

I did, once. We were in the same cla.s.s up to fourth form, but I havent seen her in years. How is she now?

Silence.

What is it? Have I said something wrong?

Vibeke backs away from the mirror. I was under the impression that she had no friends in her cla.s.s.

Well, it was quite a long time ago I have no idea what shes doing now.

Were you really in her cla.s.s?

Yes, why?

What did you think about what went on?

What do you mean?

Where were you when your cla.s.s gathered around Camilla every single break time and picked on her? When they forced the weakest kids to touch her so that they would scream because everyone said she was dirty and smelly?

The others try to calm Vibeke down. Vibeke! Take it easy!

But Vibeke is on a roll. What did you think when a pupil in another cla.s.s tried to kill herself because she was so badly bullied? And the rest of you simply carried on as if nothing had happened? Would anyone have cared if Camilla had tried to kill herself too? What were you thinking? Vibeke has worked herself up into such a state that Anne-Lise hasnt had a chance to answer before she storms away, slamming the door behind her.

The others start apologizing at once. They tell Anne-Lise that Vibeke has her own problems and that she is p.r.o.ne to outbursts. She had one just before a performance in Malmo. They a.s.sure Anne-Lise that if she joins the choir sh.e.l.l find that theres a much nicer side to Vibeke. Most likely Vibeke will tell her shes sorry.

But no one says anything about the truth of Vibekes accusations.

As the women walk back to the rehearsal room, no one speaks. Tess comes to meet them. Youre in luck, Brigitte! She beams.

Really? Why?

It seems Camillas parent-teacher meeting was over sooner than shed expected. Shes decided to come tonight after all.

Anne-Lise freezes. She hopes the others wont notice.

Shes just taking off her wet things. I told her about you and she thought she could place you right away.

Anne-Lise can barely swallow. Ahaaa She turns away from them and tries to pull herself together. Oh, d.a.m.n, Ive left my eyeliner in the bathroom. You go ahead and start. Ill be right back.

Dont worry, Brigitte. Well wait for you.

At least there is n.o.body in the bathroom now. Anne-Lise knows that she must get out of there. But how?

She needs to find a different staircase that will take her down into the network of bas.e.m.e.nt corridors that lead to the exit. Then Anne-Lise remembers that her coat and umbrella are still in the rehearsal room. At least she had the foresight to bring a coat that Camilla has never seen her wear, in case the others start describing Brigitte to her. But her wallet, with her drivers license and credit card, is in her coat pocket. How can she grab it without Camilla spotting her?