Erik: We arrived at the town, which was more like a crowded country village than a city, and immediately began to search for a hotel. The streets were crowded with people going in both directions, on both sides, and we had trouble navigating.

Both Ann and Meg were exceptionally tired, and I saw Ann nodding off on her horse. Finally we came to a small, blue Inn with a straw-thatched roof. "How quaint" Meg said.

We each slid off our horses and tried to find a stable, until the door opened and a little boy shouted to us, "Momma just ties the horses to the trees, there isn't anywhere else. Are you three looking for a room?"

Ann smiled and replied in English, "Is your mother inside?" The boy held the door open as Meg and Ann entered. I went around back and tied our horses to a tree. There was a long trench with water, and hay strewn about.

Several other horses rested as well. I went inside and saw Ann speaking to a young woman. "Of course we don't have much else. It's just my home, but I'm trying to make some extra money." Meg motioned to me and whispered, "The lady lost her job a few weeks ago. She's offering her home as an Inn, but I don't understand the currency."

I nodded, then reached into my pocket. "Mademoiselle, can you direct me to the nearest bank so I may exchange these bills?" The lady gave me directions, and I asked how many rooms were available. Her home had seven bedrooms open with people staying in three, and two living rooms, with three outhouses in the back.

"Would you and your wife like one bedroom and your daughter in another?" The lady suddenly asked. I looked at her quizzically while Ann chuckled, and Meg coughed to hide a laugh. "Er, we're not actually...could we get three bedrooms separate?" I knew it wasn't proper for a man to be with a young widow and her daughter unless he were an uncle, brother, or cousin of sorts.

I myself was merely a strange man with two women, and I didn't want to arouse suspicion. The lady shrugged and I told her I would come back with the correct Swiss currency. Meg and Ann began to drag our luggage to the rooms.

Ann: The lady's comment had startled me, and I began to wonder just how our group might look to other people. Of course we didn't want to lie, but we also didn't want people to start gossiping.

Meg's room was next to mine and Erik's was across the hall. It was a cozy, if small, accommodation, and I rather liked having a bed with pillows again. Two months of sleeping under trees and on grass had worn me out, and I happily laid on the bed looking at the ceiling.

Meg came in and laughed. "Mother, it's nearly two in the afternoon. I'm rather hungry." I sat up and adjusted my skirt, then replied. "I suppose we could get a bite. Although I'd rather like to rest." Erik appeared in the door and quietly nodded. He did not enter but asked, "Which room will be mine?"

Meg turned and pointed to his door. "Thank you. I have new currency, would you both like to sight-see a bit and get some food?" Meg nodded but I said ,"No, I just want to sleep. Megan, you must behave if I let you go out. There will be no slyness or shenanigans. Erik, you keep an eye on her and don't let her go to those mountains. Oh, what am I saying! Just don't get into trouble, either of you."

Meg smiled but I knew her mind was going a mile a minute. "Mother, rest, and when we return you'll feel better." Erik nodded and walked away. Meg closed the door and I muttered. "I should go with them." Truthfully, I was afraid for both of them.

Erik was not a social person, and the people of Switzerland were not only many, but those many appeared to be friendly, talk-to-the-stranger type of people. I knew he would feel uncomfortable, and as for Meg, I knew her curiosity and willfulness would lead her astray.

In Italy I had been slightly comfortable, knowing that they were a civilized, quiet country. But Switzerland was crowded and barely built. All around this industrial town was forest, pure forest and mountains, with the ability to lose a person in less than two minutes. As the afternoon wore on I finally fell alseep.

Meg: We closed the door for my mother and proceeded out. Erik was walking beside me and I opened my fan in front of him. As we talked we passed many people, often bumping into them. The streets were filthy and small dogs ran amock in the crowd.

Switzerland, for all it's beauty and pleasantness, had been hit hard by the Industrial Revolution. Tiny villages had been swept up into large cities without the proper necessities to hold so many people.

Erik and I walked along, admiring the stores and street vendors, and discussing what we planned to do. I made it clear that I was not interested in some dull spa; I wanted to hike, to explore, and to experience. Erik, however, would not go against my mother's wishes, and if I wanted to do anything, I would have to discuss it with her.

We were enjoying ourselves until we turned a corner. A long boulevard stretched out and we bustled past people until we heard a shout, "Hey mister, you got a zit or what? Whats with the stupid mask?" Two young boys, not much older than the landlady's, were laughing directly at us. I took Erik's arm haughtily and we walked off, ignoring them.

Suddenly I felt a small rock hit me, and Erik whipped around, but I grabbed him before he could harm the boys. I pulled him inside a small store and he glared out the window. The boys were gone, and he looked at me. "That was unnecessary. I can handle myself you know." I shook my head, "I know how you handle yourself."

I had been worried Erik might strangle the boys, or done something equally damaging. We heard the shopkeepers voice behind us, "Can I help you?" I looked around the store and smiled. Erik began to examine the chocolates on the shelves, and I looked at the Swiss chocolates under the cabinet.

The shopkeeper smiled, "Finest chocolate store in Switzerland. If you have any questions, I can answer them." Erik had pulled down a small box of white chocolate mints, and I picked up a box of chocolate dipped strawberries. I asked the man for two pecan-encrusted chocolate bars for my mother.

We paid the man generously and he thanked us. Erik placed the packages in his cloak and I whispered, "Do you think we can get somewhere away from this crowd?" He nodded and we began to make our way towards a small park.

However, the park wasn't any less dense than the boulevards, and we continued our journey into the woods. There was a small stream along a wide rock outcropping, and we sat down. Several other people sat around us, but not too close.

Erik pulled out our packages and asked, "Would you like me to go get something more substantial?" I shrugged; chocolate was fine by me.

Erik: I never thought I had claustrophobia until I visited Switzerland. After our long journey through a barren Slovenia, the sudden pressing crowd was an uncomfortable change. Switzerland was a large country with few towns or cities, and far too many people to live in those towns and cities.

Only a handful lived out in the wilderness. Things had been alright when we'd first arrived, but after walking with Meg along the streets I had begun to get agitated.

Adding to that the incident with the young boys, and I was positively fuming. They had been no older than the boys in the gypsy camp, who used to tease and taunt me within my cage. I had wanted to strangle them, or at lease give them a good spanking; and only Meg's incessant pulling had saved them.

It was true, I was grateful towards Meg for ending my anger. I remembered the scene in Frankenstein when the young woman had cried for help and the villagers had come running, with pitchforks and torches

I did not want to start a riot in that crowd. Luckily we ran into a chocolate store, and I knew if anything made anybody feel better, it was chocolate. Meg and I made our way over to a small park, and a quiet stream.

Of course we had had nothing to eat for quite awhile, and chocolate was not an entire meal; but Meg seemed alright, and we ate while we talked. She was still adamant about not going to a spa, and I didn't know how Ann would react.

I never wanted to go against her wishes, especially those concerning her daughter. We enjoyed our time by the stream, and I realized I was beginning to feel more comfortable talking to Meg.

I began to open up, telling her about my childhood, and my cruel mother. I had never discussed it with anyone, not even Ann, and I began to feel lighter, almost as if a rock had been lifted from my shoulder.

Meg did not judge, she merely listened, and I felt better. We saved the rest of our chocolates and decided to take a walk.

We passed the outcropping into a thick undergrowth, and Meg smiled. I knew she was an adventurous sort, not the kind to stay in one place for very long, and I knew that no pampering treatment could hold her attention like a mountain expedition would.

However, I would only do what Ann wanted, even if it made Meg angry. I was not her father, and I had no right to allow her anything her mother did not want.

Unless her mother was not there.