Love Is for Tomorrow Read Online Free PDF Page B

besieged Vienna and in failing to conquer it, were forced to flee. What the Austrians discovered in leftover tents from the siege, were bags of coffee.”
    “Those were different times,” Olga said.
    “But there haven’t always been wars,” Kate continued. “Around the early nineteen hundreds, people met from the East and the West to share their ideas. Some important personalities all lived here before rising to power, meeting in these very cafés before they went on and changed the course of history for better or worse. The United Nations wanted to nurture this tradition in Austria. Now we are becoming one big village.”
    Olga nodded silently.  
    “Just don’t bring fear into the village.”
    “Excuse me? ”
    “This new world order you are talking about often paints my country as a villain,” Olga said.  
    “Shouldn’t every country be judged on its actions by the international community?” Kate asked.
    “Yes and no. As we all know, you can tip the scales slightly in the direction of one or the other with subtleties,” Olga said. “What history teaches us and how the media phrases certain words, to be injected into the minds of all. For example, how come our greatest ruler is known to the world as Ivan the Terrible, when every child in Russia knows his correct name was Ivan the Thunderous? Is it only because of an unfortunate translation error?”
    “Please forgive my lack of knowledge and correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t he the one who boiled his enemies in wine?”
    “Yes dear, I will correct you, because you are wrong. Wine would have been far too expensive.”
    “But…,” Kate stuttered. “He did boil his enemies alive.”  
    Olga shrugged, slightly amused by Kate’s trying to get to the point.
    “As I said, different times.”
    Buildings passed, filling the deadly silence.  After a time, Kate broke it. 
    “Speaking of different times, what became of the ballerina?” she asked.
    Olga lifted her hands. “Well, I guess like times change, so do dreams. As I grew older, it became clear there was no future for me in ballet . I had to look for other paths and other ideals. What better way than to do the same as the leader of the country? Becoming a person who could protect the wellbeing of nations. Not by fighting wars, but by preventing them behind the scenes.” She remembered her father, who formed her into what she was now. “My father taught me a lot.” 
    The car entered the first district and they passed a lavish fountain. The sparkling drops caught the light, forming a rainbow down to the wet concrete. Behind it loomed a larger than life statue of a Soviet soldier from World War II. A remnant of the victory, liberation and occupation of her motherland, Olga recognized it proudly.
    “And I can see why he liked it here,” she said, looking out of the window.
    They arrived at the Hotel Imperial. The doorman took her luggage and followed them into the lobby. Kate led the way.  
    “I will take care of everything for you while you’re here,” she said and went over to the reception.
    Olga turned around, admiring the imperial style interior. Its huge chandelier and colorful carpet spread out beneath her.
    “Starting with dinner. The restaurant should have a view of the city, above the roofs of Vienna.”
     
    Vienna was aflame with orange lights. Olga and Kate dined one hundred-sixty meters above the ground in the Donauturm. Atop Danube Tower, the entire restaurant rotated in circles to grant a three hundred sixty degrees view over the city. The tables were decorated in the style of a traditional Viennese cafe and belied the fact that they were at the top of the world.
    Olga’s phone vibrated. Her father’s picture flashed on the screen.
    “Excuse me for a moment,” she said to Kate and picked it up.
    “Father,” she said in Russian.
    “Hello Olga. Did you arrive safely?”
    His voice was strong, authoritarian, but she was so used to it. Nothing stimulated her feelings