Colombine announced that she intended to be mysterious in Venice. To support the decision, she acquired a small cream-and-gold mask. Mea offered her a suitably serious look. Lu Cia began laughing before Colombine had even raised it to her face.
Illustrated fiction inspired by original Travel2City photographs. The places come from separate journeys, not a one-day itinerary. Characters, dialogue, props and some composition and lighting are artistic interpretations.
The mask covered Colombine’s eyes but left her smile entirely free. Mea studied her with exaggerated concentration. “A difficult case,” she said. Lu Cia pointed out the familiar hair, cardigan and way the mysterious lady stood. Colombine asked for a little cooperation. Behind them, a gondola shifted beside the bank. It alone kept a straight face, though even that was no guarantee it could keep their secret.
By Florence, Mea was carrying the mask. Colombine needed both hands to explain how a truly grand person walked. Chin a little higher, measured steps, no inspecting shop windows. She lasted until the next shop. Lu Cia caught her eye at the exact moment she forgot her own rules. Light flashed on the wet paving. Mea lowered the mask so that nothing could hide the smile this deserved.
Before the Pantheon, Colombine decided to offer no further lectures on grandeur. The competition was too strong. Mea looked up at the columns while Lu Cia rested the mask against her notebook. For a moment, all three simply looked. Then Colombine observed that she would hesitate to give this building advice about posture. Mea laughed. Lu Cia nodded and handed the mask back. It had done enough work for one day.
“Straight shoulders would not win me this contest.”
At Garda, only the mask’s gold edge peeped from Colombine’s bag. Mea rested against the wooden railing, and Lu Cia kept her notebook closed. The lake before them needed no punchline. “Well,” Colombine asked, “was I at least a little mysterious?” Mea looked at her. “Until you began speaking.” Lu Cia joined the laughter, and eventually Colombine did too. The mask stayed put. They wanted an unobstructed view of this.
“We would recognise you from behind.”
From notebook to book
The Map with No Last Page
Travel2City journeys continue between the covers of a book. Discover our illustrated travel world.
