The lecturer and Vilnius guide is an almost ridiculously handsome Baltic God- tan skin, silver blonde hair, and ice-blue eyes. He resembles one of those cyborgs from the movies, developed in a secret mountain enclave laboratory who, as his wrappings are taken off, is introduced by the evil genius who created him with a portentious "Gentlemen, may I present the Perfect Killing Machine!"
Laimos! Not really a cyborg or a killing machine, but an academic who lives in Vancouver, B.C., most of the time, teaching at the university, writing books, and is a native of Vilnius who returns each year to work for the university in his birth city. His manner is warm, humorous, and smart beyond normal mortals. Everyone has fallen for him: young women, older men, young guys, everybody with a pulse.
Overhearing conversations behind me on the bus, I have heard men and women speak of his chiseled features, 'like sculpture, like marble.' When he leads us down unfamiliar streets and forest trails and cemetaries, there is jostling to be the closest to the glow that emanates from his golden presence. The only comparison I can make is that it would be similar to being in close proximity to Robert Redford in the movie, 'The Way We Were,' which I know dates me, or Brad Pitt in 'A River Runs Through It.' This may help to describe how his beauty is almost painful to be around.
In one city, I walked with him (alone!) for two full blocks. I watched the other members of our party either glare poisonously at me or whimper to themselves. I felt for a moment an almost mystical, out-of-body ecstasy at my good luck. Becca tells me he paused for a second to walk with me on this walk of joy. Of course, I was too giddy to notice this, but now I feel pride at being Chosen.
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