Page 196 - THE ATTACK ON THE FERRISWHEEL- 200 PAGES FREE OFFER

The woman who has placed the order on a taxi makes up one half of the elderly

couple who have just arrived by lift and who now stand in front of him like a wall
of dark blue flannel coat. It may seem strange that someone is asking for a taxi

when the taxi rank is directly opposite, in front of the train station, but when you

look at that poor woman's huge corpus, it might make sense.
Ahmed and Karin have each taken a seat with their hot cup of chocolate, which

Pierre Luipon has insisted they taste. "You did not take a holiday in Munich, you

did not
and drank a cup of chocolate. "

He had said it, slapped with the lips of a certain
way that at the same time provoked laughter, but at the same time left no one in

doubt that he meant what he said.

Luipon has been out helping them with two good armchairs. Not that they could
not have easily found themselves, but today is a special day because he has to

train two new receptionists.

"Service, service, service" is his motto, and young people must learn it.
The reception's lounge area is furnished with four leather sofa groups and

associated comfortable armchairs and tables. From the ceiling hangs a huge
Italian crystal chandelier, and on the walls hang pictures with fairy tale motifs

from Grimm's fairy tales. Two beautifully carved wooden leaf holders, which

stand on each side, frame the arrangement. On the floor is a colourful Persian rug
which gives life to the classic decor.

Business travellers will have special attention to Pierre Luipon, as the hotel does

not attract guests staying for long periods of time. He believes that extra effort
must be made to keep the business people, and that the tips are looser on them

than on the family tourists, who are often busy reaching all the sights of the city.

He is known as Munich's grey hotel eminence, a man of the old school,
immaculately dressed in a white shirt, tie and vest. His moustache is always

perfect, never a hair down over the lip, styled and trimmed. Most of the time he

gets up when he is at work. He thinks it gives a wrong impression when a
receptionist is sitting down.

"Well, there you are!" exclaims Karin, as she catches sight of Tom, John and Erik,
who have arrived and have stood at the reception desk. She gets up and walks