Page 9 of The Artist
“No, but your gigantic brain was sending out complaints so loud that I could hear them.”
“My gigantic brain wants to get this hellish trip over with.”
“Then why don’t you exploit your influence with the Prime Minister to get him to buy a better drone? Maybe you could shop this week when we’re in the Northlands. They have the best drones in the world.”
“Celeste, shut up and get into the machine.”
She signaled for me to go first since my seat was in the back. “It’s ridiculous that we have to travel in this uncomfortable thing. The Motlanders don’t have nice drones either, but at least they have heated seats that work.”
“What’s your point? Don’t you think we all are frustrated about this painful journey? Would you rather stay home?” Victor asked Celeste with a hard expression.
“No, I don’t want to stay home. My point was to share how irritated I am that our country is too poor to buy a decent aircraft.”
I shared Celeste’s feeling but kept quiet. None of them cared what I thought anyway.
Victor looked straight at Celeste. “Old Europe might be a poor country for now, but just you wait and see. One day soon we’ll reap the rewards of all our hard work. Then we’ll live like kings. Things are happening that you don’t know about.”
Celeste didn’t look convinced. “Will thosethingsinclude a new and better drone?”
Victor shrugged. “We’ll see.”
CHAPTER4
Winter Summit
The Northlands – December 2465
Mason
Eleven years after the first summit, it was our turn to host the summit in the Northlands for the fourth time. Thinking it was a chance to show them how beautiful our country was in winter, we moved the summit to December instead of August.
Of the fifteen original participants thirteen of us had met up every summer while two of the French were replaced between the second and third summit. Officially Oscar had died in a boating accident and Sophie from a bad case of food poisoning. We knew better though. Freya and Aubri had made close friends with Belle, who admitted to them that she had heard rumors of suicide. It was something she attributed to the immense pressure of their strict hierarchical society that valued academic performance above all else.
Now the French delegation consisted of Victor, Simon, Belle, Celeste, and Isaac.
“Are we ready for the arrival dinner?” my mother, Laura, asked. She was forty-eight, fit, and beautiful with her long ginger-colored hair that I had inherited from her.
“We’re ready,” Freya said behind me. “We even made a seating plan.”
“Where am I sitting?” Laura asked with a wink, knowing full well that the arrival dinner was for participants.
“Sorry, Mom.” Aubri gave her a side-hug.
“I’m just envious, that’s all. I wish we had friends visiting from overseas when I was young. It would have been an adventure to listen to their tales and make friends with someone who wasn’t a Northlander. Of course, things were different then.”
“Actually, when you were our age you had lived in the Motherlands for months, so you did have friends from the other side of the border,” Freya pointed out.
“Yes, yes, but let’s not make this about me. I promised Pearl that I wouldn’t snoop because she says that you five are old enough to host without our interference, but you know how curious we all are.”
“Then why don’t you take part in showing our guests to their rooms?” I suggested.
Brushing her hair back, my mother chuckled and walked to the door. “Nah, it’s okay. We’ll see them all tomorrow at the opening reception when Khan welcomes our guests as per tradition.”
The Motlanders were the first to arrive and as always, they took our hands in warm greetings. As children, Holly, Doreen, Harper, Oliver, and Lachlan had all been chosen as future council members for their high level of integrity and low level of ego. My Aunt Pearl had served on the Motherland Council for many years before she moved to the Northlands and they always asked about her well-being when we met.
“Aunt Pearl is doing great. She’s excited to meet you all tomorrow. How was your journey?” I asked.
“Everything looked so pretty from above.” Holly flashed her bright white teeth that contrasted with her dark skin and gray sweater. “We don’t get snow where I live so it’s a thrill to be here during winter. I hope I brought enough warm clothes.”
