‘Yes, I am Todd Fremde,’ I said.

So wrapped up against the cold was the figure that at first I had no idea if it was a woman or man. A long scarf and a tightly closed hood contained all but a small circle of face, itself mostly hidden behind protective glasses.

‘Welcome to Dearth.’ The voice, closer now, revealed its owner as a man. ‘I am Soradauy Wendow, from the Historical Society.’

‘Yes! We exchanged letters – you invited me.’

‘I’m pleased to meet you at last, Dr Fremde. I hope you had a good journey.’

We made an effort to shake hands, but our thick gloves made it almost impossible. My teeth were suddenly aching from the cold, and breath was a drifting cloud of vapour around us.

‘I’d like to go to the hotel before anything else,’ I said.

‘We might be able to take a taxi. But it’s better we should walk. We can go straight to the venue.’

‘I’d prefer to drop my luggage at the hotel first.’

‘Not much time for that. You can leave your bags in the office.’

‘You said you were going to meet me with a car.’

‘That’s generally in use by department staff at this time of the week. It’s not too far to walk.’

‘I’d prefer to hire a taxi,’ I said. ‘I will only be a few minutes at the hotel.’

‘As you wish, Dr Fremde. But I think you’ll find there’s a long queue for the taxis outside.’

We made our way with difficulty across the concourse, having to step several times around groups of other heavily weather-insulated people.

Once we were outside the main part of the station there was indeed a queue, but I was determined not to yield. I did not want to walk an unknown distance in this freezing place, in these bulky clothes. After about five minutes a small group of taxicabs turned into the station yard, and we were able to hire the fourth one. We piled into the small passenger compartment, dragging my luggage in with us.

He gave the driver directions to the Plaza Hotel.

I said to Wendow: ‘If you don’t mind waiting I really will be only a few minutes. I just want to freshen up after the journey, and collect my thoughts before I deliver my speech.’

‘Of course.’ Wendow was peering ahead through the grimy front screen of the vehicle. ‘As a matter of interest, Dr Fremde, we were wondering about your university career. Which is your alma mater, and where exactly did you gain your doctorate?’

‘I’m an author, a writer. I’m not an academic. I write thrillers and mysteries.’

‘Yes. We did rather gain that impression. Even so, you must have studied somewhere.’