The Best Book in the World

CHAPTER 3

A Star Publisher Enthuses


Titus wakes up in the back seat of his car in the festival parking area. He is dripping with sweat. The sun is already high in the sky and you could fry an egg on the car bonnet. It is stuffy. He opens the car door and falls out into the cool Swedish summer morning. The birds are chirping and all around him he sees misted-up windows of cars full of other festival-goers. He goes to the shower building, which is still fairly quiet. He stands under a jet and lets his head clear, gulping water to try and flush out his body.

The idea still feels good. Almost even better. This is exactly what he needs. A big project into which he can channel all his energy.

He buys a squashed cheese roll from a stall and goes towards his car. Wonder where Eddie got to? They had been drinking a long time and then Eddie had suddenly just disappeared. Somebody said that he thought that Eddie had got a lift home to Stockholm already, in the middle of the night.

Titus gets behind the wheel and bounces out from the field that has become a temporary parking place during the festival. When he is back on the road, he picks up his telephone and rings his editor at Winchester Publishing.

‘Umm, hello? Astra Larsson here.’

‘Hi, Astra, it’s Titus. Sorry to phone you so early on a Sunday.’

‘Oh, it’s you. Hi, Titus. And yes, I am feeling a bit groggy. I was out dancing until three last night. We had a girls’ dinner which became… well, something completely different…’

‘Sounds like fun. Astra, I have had a great idea that we have to talk about. When can you see me?’

‘Err, I don’t know. I don’t exactly keep my diary with me in bed. Sometime next week?’

‘No, no, no! It is much more urgent than that. You’ve got to hear this. Can I come over this evening?’

‘No, I don’t know. I’m going to dinner at Evita Winchester’s. The will of the boss is law, you know. She has invited all her editors so that we can talk about next year’s list.’

‘Well then, that’s perfect!’ Titus shouts. ‘I can get to you before the dinner! What time are you due there?’

‘Five,’ says Astra. ‘You are making me really curious, Titus. What has happened?’

‘Let’s talk it about later. I’ll be at your place by four o’clock latest. Then I’ll give you a lift to the Winchester Villa on Djurg?rden. Okay?’

‘Okay, let’s do that.’

‘Thanks, Astra. Thanks.’

‘See you.’