Hello Hurricane {English Translation}

22. Daniel - Innsbruck - Day off

...Rudolph the red nosed reindeer – brought some corn for popping the lights are turned – Come, they told me Pa-rum pum pum pum Our newborn King to see Pa-rum pum pum pum -Of living our lives in perfect harmony A wonderful dream of joy and fun for everyone To celebrate a life where all are free...

The wind was blowing through the narrow streets of Innsbruck, where Christmas booths had been set up wherever there was room, from which different sorts of Christmas music came. Crowds slowly pushed forward, stopping now and then to buy a mulled wine or to look at the exhibitors' merchandise with glowing eyes. They were all packed thickly so as not to give the icy wind an attack surface that carried a variety of smell s to their noses. The harsh scent of sausages from the stand opposite, paired with the sweet of a fumigating candle. The aromatic smell of mulled wine, which had mixed with the gingerbread and roasted almonds. And although the night had long since arrived in the city, every little alley seemed brightly lit and spread the feeling of cozy vitality and warmth that defied the cold and dark seasons.

Daniel squeezed past an elderly man with gray hair who was handing over a cup of steaming mulled wine to his wife, while the daughter nibbled happily at her gingerbread, hopping up and down. Together they walked to one of the empty bar tables, which had been riged up everywhere on the sides, where various groups stood together and talked loudly over the music.

He followed the green jacket, which fought purposefully through the crowd and had already conceded one or the other evil eye. As the road widened a bit, Domen looked around and slowed down so that Daniel could catch up with him again.

"I mean, the competition is just too important for the wind to decide! And despite the bad forecast, you will try to carry at least one round through, "Domen continued their conversation, where they had stopped five minutes ago.

Actually, the Slovenian hadn't been silent for a minute since they left. After he had exhausted himself extensively about the weather in Innsbruck, they had changed to his eventually absolute favorite topic to speak. Daniel peek at the side. He still wondered if it had been a good idea to come along.

"And if you already know that it will probably happen again, because the competition time for Innsbruck has always been badly chosen in recent decades, then you should actually think that the FIS would be able to insist on a floodlight. I mean, what can such a bit of floodlight cost?! ", Domen continued to rebel himself and stared straight ahead. For an outside observer they had to appear as always. But did they really do that?

"Probably more than a bit," Daniel raised concerns and made Domens really ravishing monologue for a short time a dialogue. It seemed unreal to him, after all the happenings of the last days, to walk along the streets next to the young Slovenian. He didn't know how it would end. He didn't know, what Domen expected. He hated the uncertainty. It gnawed him.

"I beg you!" Domen snorted beside him. "The tournament brings so many tourists to the city! I mean, just look around! Only a few more people and they would really have to worry that the crowd doesn't get stuck in one of the narrow streets. I mean, Innsbruck could make an entry in the Guinness Book of Records for the biggest group cuddle in the world!"

Wildly gesturing, Domen went on next to him. For him everything seemed to be normal. As always. Without this confession of love. Daniel obviously didn't scare Domen. Or at least just a little. The strange behavior of the Slovenian in front of the hotel didn't slip his attention: how he had nervously driven through his hair, played with his fingers, his legs, which had squirmed away. But since then the Slovenian had acted shockingly normal. Not that his features gave the Norwegian even a hint about his inner life.