Chapter 138

Ivan left the bags in the large hall and announced that he would go out to start the generators. The children and I set ourselves the task of choosing a room in which we would sleep, lighting ourselves with a flashlight.

To my surprise, the penetrating aroma of varnish and impregnating agents to keep the wood shiny and mahogany-colored covered any possible smell of mold or confinement, and as we walked through the wide corridors and climbed stairs discovering rooms and more rooms, bathrooms, storage rooms, and living rooms, I was more amazed. The atmosphere was very white and, with the right lighting, it was sure to look warm and homey. There were paintings on the walls, stuffed heads of deer, bear, and other wild animals, metal shields, ancient weapons, decorated glass and metal lamps, and almost every piece or protrusion of wood on the ceiling or door and window frames was carved. I really felt like I was in the eighteenth