‘What? This? No.’ Niilo laughs. ‘I don’t really come to bars. You could say my work is also my hobby. I look after the herd, see to the tourists, grab a sauna, drink beers with Stellan, then I sleep.’
‘And that’s it? Your routine? Your life?’
A panic that feels like heat building in his chest grips Niilo.
‘I work hard, I try to lighten Stellan’s burden, I try to keep my mind occupied. There’s little else to tell about myself. My life’s nothing like your world full of adventure and new experiences.’ Realising there is one more thing he could divulge, Niilo suddenly smiles. ‘I write songs too,’ he offers with sudden shyness.
‘You’re a musician, I knew it! I could tell. What sort of songs do you write?’
‘Joik, mainly.’
‘Joiks?I read about those researching this trip. Traditional songs. Sámi songs, right?’
‘Yeah. I like to adapt old tunes and I write my own lyrics. Eachjoiktells the story of something’s spirit, orsomeone’s.’
‘I’d love to hear one.’
‘I’d love to sing you one.’
A moment’s silence follows as Nari shifts expectantly in her chair, turning her body fully towards her companion.
‘What? You want me to singnow? Oh no, I’d have to prepare first.’
‘Oh, OK,’ she says, flustered.
Their drinks arrive, bringing a moment of much-needed respite, and Nari immediately takes a long draught of her Guinness. As he sips his water, Niilo succumbs again to the creeping despair. This date is not off to a good start.
‘How do you think the others are getting on?’ Nari asks, dabbing her mouth with a napkin.
‘Stellan and Sylvie? I think they’ll be enjoying themselves. He was so excited about seeing her this morning. I really shouldn’t say this, but I called in at his cabin for breakfast and he spent a lot of time in front of his mirror scrunching stuff in his hair.’
Nari grins, bringing her hands together in an excited clap. ‘I sent Sylvie off wearing my red lipstick. She looked so cute! Oh, I hope they like each other again.’
‘I know Stellan has suffered without her.’
‘What do you mean?’
Worried he’s said too much, Niilo attempts to shrug away the question, but seeing the curiosity on Nari’s face, he relents.
‘I remember what he was like when I first met him, constantly nursing a dark heart. In those days we used to drive the tourists back to the airport ourselves in the transfer coaches. One time he told me he had to fight with himself to resist the urge to just jump on the Manchester flight.’
‘But he never did.’
‘No. He threw himself into working here. We both did. Nari, please don’t tell anyone this. I gave Stellan my word I wouldn’t speak of it. I don’t usually break my promises.’
‘Sylvie’s my best friend. I tell her everything. Don’t you think she deserves to know this? She really liked Stellan, and I think she likes him now.’
‘He must be the one to tell her,ifhe still feels this way.’
Deep in thought, Nari nods. She’d seen her friend devastated by Cole, the last thing she wanted to do was encourage Sylvie to think Stellan was still interested in her, only for him to be cold and distant, like she’d seen him yesterday.
‘You’re right, I don’t want her getting her hopes up. Besides we’re leaving in two days.’
Hurriedly reaching for their drinks, a little frisson of tension passes between the two again. As she sips, Nari thinks about her flight to Manchester on Boxing Day, and her date with Stephen at New Year. Her thoughts lead to sudden strained, panicked feelings that she can’t account for, and she grasps for a new subject.
‘Didyouever want to just hop on a plane and get away? What’s stopping you and Stellan doing a lads’ tour of Europe?’
‘Lads?’ Niilo laughs, thinking this a strange term. ‘No, we’re working men. We work.’ He shrugs as though this explained everything.
