Page 24 of France Face-Off
Alex shook her head. “I’m only required at the summit meetings.”
“Why don’t you sit with me?” Natalya asked. “We can compare notes on what it’s like to be an interpreter.”
With no real excuse on the tip of her tongue, Alex nodded. “That would be nice.” They followed the crowd into the banquet hall where tables were laid out beautifully with charger plates, fine China, and seven pieces of silverware at each place setting.
Natalya led her to a table where the Saudi energy representative sat with Hikosaburo Kono, the Japanese delegate. The other interpreter’s choice immediately put Alex out of her comfort zone. She spoke no Japanese and no Middle Eastern dialects. Fortunately, Richard Wedington, the UK representative took the seat beside hers.
Natalya leaned forward and addressed the UK delegate. “Richard, it’s good to see you again.”
He nodded. “And you too, Natalya.”
Their use of first names indicated a close familiarity with each other, and Natalya turned to Alex. “Richard, have you met Ms. Sokolov?”
He shook his head and held out his hand. “I have not had the pleasure.”
Alex took his hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Wedington.”
“Nice to meet you too, Ms. Sokolov. You’re interpreting for Mr. Hans Sutter, the German Minister of Energy?”
She nodded.
Wedington’s lips pressed into a thin line. “He appeared quite angry leaving the summit conference room.”
She gave a tight smile rather than a response.
Another interpreter sat between Richard and the Saudi. The Saudi spoke to the interpreter, and the interpreter turned to Richard Wedington and introduced the Saudi. A conversation ensued between the UK representative and the Saudi representative, thankfully leaving Alex out of the conversation.
“So, Ms. Sokolov, or may I call you Alex…?” Natalya asked.
“You may call me Alexa.”
“I detect an American accent. Where did you learn to speak Russian and German so well?”
“In school,” she said. It was her canned answer for people she didn’t want to know her background. Her parents’ secrets were her secrets.
“And where might that school be? I’d like to recommend it to others who might pursue careers in interpretation.”
“Sorry, but the school is no longer in business.” Another lie she’d grown used to using.
“Such a shame, especially when they did such a good job.”
“What about you, Ms. Zotin?”
“I grew up in Moscow, and my parents moved me around quite a bit when I was young. We spent time in Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and even in Saudi Arabia.” She smiled and nodded at the Saudi delegate.
He nodded in return.
“I became quite adept at picking up different languages and have made friends all over the world,” Natalya said with a smile.
“How many languages are you fluent in?” Alex asked.
“Eight, and I’m able to adequately communicate in another six.”
“That’s amazing,” Alex said.
Thankfully, the meal was served, and Alex wasn’t required to talk while they ate. Alex picked at her food, pushed it around on her plate and finally set her fork aside.
“Is the meal not to your taste?” Natalya asked.
