Ⅲ
Wearing a wig, with her pipe hidden, a long dress on, and a little makeup altering her face, Malinda looked like a girl from another town, lively and restless. Even her greeting to the Smiths carried a youthful exuberance.
Arthur stood beside her with his head partly lowered. Only when he heard Malinda greeting them did he look up, then nod repeatedly at the Smiths. His awkwardness was plain to see.
"Good morning!"
The Smiths returned the greeting.
Mrs. Smith, Rachel, even lowered her voice to tell Malinda-
"You'd best get some small change ready beforehand.
That fellow is very greedy.
If you don't have any change ready, he'll give you a hard time."
Mrs. Smith discreetly pointed at the attendant behind the counter.
He was a tall, burly man with a face covered in whiskers.
"Thank you."
Malinda thanked her quietly.
The two couples then passed each other.
It was nothing more than a friendly exchange between strangers.
After paying 5 Los, Malinda easily obtained a room key and the use of a room for a week.
"20 Sol a day!
And it's only the smallest room!
It's so expensive!
Good heavens!"
Playing the small-town girl, Malinda held Arthur's hand and grumbled all the way upstairs to their room. Arthur carried the wicker suitcase and quietly reassured her-
"Lynn, it's all right. This is our honeymoon.
It's all worth it."
His clumsy reassurance might have made others laugh at him.
Yet it brought a delighted smile to the small-town girl, Lynn.
The beauty of youth and hope for the future shone through the young couple.
Standing at the bend in the corridor, the Smiths smiled together-
"You were just being overly suspicious.
Those two young people only happened to be standing behind us."
Mrs. Smith spoke softly.
"All