We climbed down the narrow stairs into the cellar of the National Theatre, and entered the bar where the artists meet for a nightcap after their performances. The bar itself was smoky and dimly lit, its walls a historic record of the theatre, filled with mirrors and old posters of concerts and operas. The bar itself was almost full with the musicians and guests who had been invited lo come down. Katherine and I managed to find an empty table and ordered Sarajevsko Pivo - the local beer. Shortly afterward, the conductor and a number of the musicians arrived and sat down next to our table. Then came the star of the evening, Emit Bohnenblust. I noticed him looking briefly around at the crowd and, to my surprise, he came up to me and asked if he could join us.
"Certainly." After a few pleasantries, his next remark surprised me,
"Was I married to this lady, then?"
"No."
Katherine, who did not hear this conversation, looked up and, upon recognizing Emit, expressed her delight in, and congratulations on his performance.
He was sitting between Katherine and me, but his eyes were turned completely towards her, which meant that I had to concentrate on my beer. Katherine and Emil, by contrast, did not get around to having their drinks. They talked and flirted as if they were completely alone in the room. Some minutes passed and, fortunately, I was approached by the Orchestra's Director to join him for the Festival's midnight ceremony, which was about to take place in a tram ride around the city. I interrupted the "happy couple" by asking Katherine if she wished to accompany me to the celebration but Emit quickly interrupted, saying that he had already invited Katherine, but that he would also be delighted if I wished to join them! Katherine was obviously uncomfortable, but she asked me if I would mind if she continued her discussion with Emil.
Our party drifted from the theatre to the square in front of the Dom Armije and we joined several hundred people who were gazing on what was a spectacle. Four-metro-high, iron sculptures, painted in blood red, surrounded the square. Each sculpture was lit by a small open bonfire, and young girls draped in flowing white garments danced around the sculptures to the rhythmic chanting of modem music. Through the darting flames I could see Katherine's face next to me aglow with wonder at the scene. I also noticed that Emil was gazing not at the dance, but at her.