‘This is a bit awkward but would it be possible to change my accommodation?’
‘Your accommodation? There is a problem? I apologise. We were assured it was a very good apartment and it’s in a very good area.’
‘No, no, the … the apartment is fine. It’s lovely. It’s just that … well, if there was an alternative, I’d be very grateful.’
Jirí’s forehead concertinaed in a dozen lines as he looked towards Leo. ‘You both want to move?’
‘No, just me.’ Anna winced, hoping she didn’t sound like a spoilt diva.
‘Is it because the apartment is unfurnished? I am sure we can help with that.’
‘No, nothing like that.’ Anna hated to sound so ungrateful or even difficult.
The other man’s mouth firmed, unhappiness shadowing his pale face. ‘I will speak to the office manager but it might be difficult.’
‘I’d be really grateful if you would ask.’
Worry lines deepened on Jirí’s forehead. ‘You know, this apartment in Košíre is very convenient for the tram to the brewery where you will be working. And it is a very green neighbourhood.’
‘It is but it’s for … personal reasons,’ she said with quiet emphasis.
Jirí stared at her with incomprehension for a moment and then shrugged rather fatalistically. ‘I will see what I can do but it might…’ He spread his hands out without finishing the sentence.
While they’d been at the counter a few other people had arrived, gathering in small groups around the table and making inroads into the pastries. Leo, Anna noticed, was of course chatting away to a very pretty blonde woman.
Jirí rushed over to an imposing-looking man. From his sudden deferential demeanour, Anna guessed this must be his boss. Then, like a persistent sheepdog, the young man began rounding everyone up.
‘Welcome to Prague and to theSdílená Kulturacultural exchange. I am Jaroslav, the Head of the Cultural Office for Europe here in Prague. It is our wish to extend the hand of friendship through one of our biggest exports to our fellow Europeans. We are very happy that you have come here to learn how to make what we all know is the best beer in the world.’
Everyone laughed at that, although Anna wondered at the pomp, given there appeared to be only two of them on the scheme.
‘As you are aware we are delighted to be able to invite our British friends to spend some time in two of our very fine breweries so that they can share the wonder of Czech beer among their compatriots. I’d like to thank the Šilhov and Crystal breweries for their generous sponsorship of the scheme and for offering each of them a placement. Thank you also to the trade attaché at the British Embassy, the Czech Beer and Malt association and The Brewers of Europe, who will be judging the final presentations of our two young brewers, Anna Love and Leo Knight, to decide which of them will win our grand prize, kindly sponsored by Heinmann Brew Tech, who will be supplying the brewing equipment for the winner. In addition, the winning beer will be presented at a new Czech Christmas Beer festival, which will take place in the Malé námestí.’
There was a polite round of applause. Anna looked over at Leo and he glanced back at her, raising his eyebrows. They hadn’t talked about the fact that they both wanted to win. Although the odds were much lower than Anna had first assumed, thinking ’d be far more people on the placement scheme, why did she have to be up against bloody Leo Knight? She really wanted this and she couldn’t believe that he was as hungry for it as she was. He had a rich and generous family who would back him.
After a further five minutes, Jaroslav wound up his official spiel and left them ‘to talk among themselves and get to know each other a little’ – which was rather ironic, given that there were only two of them and they actually knew each other rather well. Anna knew, for example, that Leo was incredibly messy, leaving an untidy trail of possessions in his wake like a tornado ripping through. Although, to be fair, so far she hadn’t tripped over any shoes or found abandoned underpants or soggy towels on the floor of the bathroom. She sighed. There was still plenty of time.
The pretty blonde laughed loudly and everyone turned her way as she patted Leo on the arm, leaning into him and smiling up into his face. ‘You are so funny.’
Anna felt the familiar curl of resentment. She wasn’t jealous – there was nothing to be jealous about. It was more disappointment that he was still the same.
‘Anna, this is Jakub.’ Jirí interrupted her thoughts. ‘He runs the Šilhov brewery here in Prague. He is going to be your host.’
‘Hello, it is a pleasure to meet you. I’m very honoured that you have travelled all this way to come and learn about Czech beer.’ Jakub’s face creased into a well-worn wrinkled smile. ‘What do you think of Prague?’
Anna swallowed and smiled into his homely face with its very whiskery sideburns. ‘I haven’t had much chance to explore yet, but I hope to very soon.’
‘And try lots of our very fine beer.’
‘Of course,’ she said, warming to him.
She sneaked a quick look Leo’s way and noticed that he’d been joined by a young man wearing trendy dark-framed glasses and sporting a very sharp haircut.
‘That’s Karel from the Crystal brewery,’ said Jakub with a stony expression, noticing her quick interest. He shook his head, his mouth turning down at each corner. ‘Too consumed by new ideas. Everything has to be different, novel, innovative. Whereas some of us prefer to build on the base of history and custom. Beer has been brewed for hundreds of years; I think some of us know what we’re doing.’ He pursed his lips. ‘You will learn how real beer is brewed. Why make changes when the product is already perfect?’
‘Your English is very good,’ said Anna.
‘My grandfather was a pilot for the RAF in the war and he married an English woman, my grandmother. After the war he came back to run the brewery. Then the communists came. I was lucky to work there but we were no longer allowed to own it.’ Jakub’s lips twisted. ‘Luckily when it was handed back I had the proof to make a claim that it was my family’s. I have preserved many of the traditions that have been in place for hundreds of years. Of course there have been some changes but I don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. I think you know this saying?’
