Pictures of You by Barbara Delinsky Page B

which was served quite ably by Maria, as she was introduced. Eva was doubly appreciative of this information; not only did it satisfy her innate curiosity but it enabled her to subtly avoid eating any fish. A generally healthy person, she invariably suffered a violent allergic reaction when she consumed fish of any kind, regardless of its preparation. The main dish served this evening, a Brazilian specialty called feijoada, had contained many ingredients she could not recognize through the thick black gravy. Despite its mouth-watering smell, Eva hesitated to sample it until Roberto detailed its ingredients: black beans, beef, pork, tomatoes, and spices, at which point she dug in with relish,
savoring every bite. Although she carried a strong prescriptive drug with her at all times to counteract the allergy should she mistakenly ingest any fish, she didn’t want Roberto de Carvalho to know of this weakness. She knew that it would only bolster his first impression of her, which she was determined to prove wrong.
    To Eva’s surprise and pleasure the evening passed quite enjoyably, with an absence of the awkwardness that might have existed within a group such as this, coming together for the first time on the eve of a trip destined to throw them into intimate association with each other. Small talk dominated most of the early conversation, the casual talk giving each a taste of the background of the others. Eva chatted comfortably with various members of the group, finding herself most at ease with Paul. They discussed subjects that involved a minimum of controversy, such as photography; traveling; New York, which Eva knew so well; Boston, where Paul and Tom attended law school; and the relative merits of hiking boots, which Paul had brought, and sneakers, which Eva had brought.
    Eva carefully avoided Roberto’s eyes, particularly at moments when she felt his gaze burning through her. Fortunately, although he sat at the head of the table and was clearly the host, the Ivy-Leaguers, Paul and Tom, managed between the two of them to keep the level of conversation fast and the humor high. Jacques joined the discussions frequently, his voice deep and melodious with its gentle accent. Pierre, on the other hand, remained aloof, adding a word here or a grunt there, but never opening up as the others had done.
    At the conclusion of the meal and with the obligatory serving of cafèzinho, Roberto turned the discussion deftly toward what clearly excited him more than photography, traveling, New York, Boston, or footwear—namely, the details of the expedition. As the six
sat around the table, cleared now of all dishes save the tiny coffee cups that Maria continually refilled, he proceeded to outline the plans.
    â€œWe’ll be leaving at dawn tomorrow, which means that you should pack tonight. We’ve got four donkeys for use as pack animals. Each of you will have one knapsack to hold whatever personal items you will need. Remember, you carry your own pack, so beware of its weight.” This last he directed pointedly at Eva, much to her mortification. “Bring only the absolute necessities—a change of clothes, a towel, a few cosmetic items. You’ll need a sweater or jacket of some sort, since it can get cool at night. But the days will be hot as we climb, so choose accordingly. With a little luck we won’t get caught in a downpour. Although they do occur during this season, it’s not worth dragging along heavy rain gear just in case. A little rain won’t hurt any of us, especially after sweating in the heat for several days.” A faint snicker interrupted him. For herself, Eva was grateful for her tinted lenses which hid her slight embarrassment at his bluntness.
    â€œI’ve got a sleeping bag for each of you and an ample supply of food and water for the four or five days we should be gone,” he continued. “The main burden for the pack animals will be the equipment we will need