Page 110 of The Explorer
“We have a moderated version. Most speech is allowed, but nothing that is aggressive, demeaning, or hurtful. You know that.”
Mason stood up and stretched for a second. “So, are you saying that if we were all on the same network, I couldn’t insult Victor?”
“You would be warned if you did,” Holly answered.
“Ahh.” Throwing a dismissive hand gesture, Mason scoffed. “That would never work for us. Insulting Motlanders and Europeans is our national sport.”
“Well, now that you’re bringing it up.” Oliver and the other Motlanders exchanged glances that warned me they were about to get as confrontational as Motlanders could. “We are concerned about the political tension between your countries.” Oliver forced a polite smile. “With the threats from Monsieur Moreau to not send a delegation this year, we worried that there might not be a summit this year. We’re relieved to see that the bonding our three delegations have done over these years is paying off now. Here we are, communicating despite the conflict that lingers between the Northlands and Europe.”
Victor leaned forward and placed his hands on his thighs. “What’s your point, Oliver?”
Holly stood up next to Oliver and placed her brown hand on his white shirt. “What we’re trying to say is that your countries are like two bubbles and everyone within those bubbles agrees that people in the other bubble are wrong. You’ve surrounded yourself with the likeminded for so long that you have a low tolerance for people with other opinions or values.”
“At least we’re not fucking keeping our citizens hostage,” Mason exclaimed.
The five French kept their stoic calmness, but their down-turned mouths and creased foreheads revealed that they didn’t appreciate Mason’s outburst.
“Mason, we understand that you’re personally invested in this subject, but let’s keep this debate civil and constructive,” Holly pleaded. “And unless you’re presenting, please sit down.”
As Mason sat, Thor stood up again. “A shared social media platform is fine and all, but what we should be talking about is open borders.” He looked straight at the French. “Do you like being prisoners?”
“Thor, be constructive please,” Holly pleaded with a disapproving tone.
Turning to her, Thor spread out his hands. “Just because you’re afraid of pointing out the obvious doesn’t mean I can’t do it. They said they would be open to a social media network, so why don’t you ask them what their price is?”
Holly took a second and then she asked in a level voice, “Victor, as the leader of your delegation, can you share with us what it would take for your government to agree to a worldwide social network?”
Victor raised his chin. “At last, a relevant question. In order for us to consider such a thing we would need to be compensated with substantial resources to clean our lands and build housing for our people.”
“You should add a few drones as well,” Celeste whispered to him.
Holly folded her hands. “Please define what substantial means to you.?”
Victor tapped his fingers on his thigh. “We want to double the current speed of the cleaning efforts and we want resources to build units above ground to house ten thousand people within the next two years.”
“You want us todoublethe speed?” The Motlanders looked disturbed by the outrageous price.
My gaze went to Freya, who hadn’t said much. Her expression was passive as I waited for her or Thor to share the plan that we Northlanders had already brewed this morning. When Freya rose from her chair, I saw Aubri bite her lower lip and hold her breath. What Freya was about to say could change Aubri’s future.
“I suggest that we take a break. It will allow the French time to search for the sanity they seem to have lost. In the meantime the rest of us can discuss with our delegations what resources we can offer Old Europe at this time.”
Victor scowled at her, and Aubri looked disappointed, but Freya’s suggestion was accepted.
“Let’s take a break and meet back here in twenty minutes,” Lachlan said.
As we walked out of the tepee, Aubri whispered to Freya, “Why didn’t you present the plan we talked about?”
“Patience, Aubri, patience.”
CHAPTER 28
Negotiations
Aubri
When we resumed the meeting, the tension in the tepee was thick. The body language of the French was closed off and defensive and it occurred to me that this was similar to a physical fight where the parties were prepared for a hard battle.
Each country had their own agenda and in the last twenty minutes, the five of us Northlanders had strategized about how to sell our plan and make it look like we were presenting a gift to the French.
