Cirrus@Austlit

'From Geneva the road climbed into steep woods rising to the Jura Mountains and the french border. The stone chateau was set back behind trees and was not visible from the path. It was 1998, and I was looking for work during the summer break. My friends had given me Madame's number. apparently there was always gossip in the village about her true identity. Some believed she had been a spy in the last war, working for the Free French in Egypt. I was looking forward to finding out more about this elderly woman, living in seclusion. At the interview she appeared quite practical, explaining the necessary chores in a lively intelligent manner. She did seem particularly worried about my Australian accent and asked if I liked to sing, an unusual question, I thought, for a simple house-minding job. Above all it seemed I must attend to her lovebirds secreted at the top of the tower. "Come I Will show you," she smiled.' (Publication abstract)