Page 112 of The Explorer
“We’ll settle for social media,” Holly chimed in. “Free travel can follow later.”
Holly received an annoyed glance from us Northlanders and Thor was quick to put her in her place. “Northlanders never settle. If the French aren’t ready to open their borders fully yet, then we want a declaration that they’re working in that direction. For now, we want to see the French ban on international communication lifted.”
Mason pointed to Victor. “If you’re willing to let your people join a social network, then you might as well let them call and mail as well.”
Victor stood and spoke on behalf of the French. “Obviously, a larger cleaning effort would be interesting to us, but it’s not just a matter of more Explorers. We would need to match them with labs and technicians who can analyze the samples they bring back. As Celeste pointed out, we don’t have what you consider appropriate accommodation for them.”
“Those are practicalities that we could surely figure out along the way,” Freya argued.
“We could help with scientists,” Lachlan said quickly.
“Yes, and maybe the Explorers could be trained to do some of the tests themselves,” Aubri added.
Victor still had his arms crossed. “I appreciate your enthusiasm and generosity, but it’s not as easy as you make it sound. There are things you haven’t considered.”
Freya angled her head and spoke directly to him. “I’m sure there are, but if we work together, we could do something truly magnificent. Aubri and Indiana are trained and understand what the job entails. Aubri has gracefully agreed to lead the training of the Explorers in the Northlands. That way we could send fully trained teams to you with drones and equipment. We will, of course, make sure they understand the basics of your culture and are ready to do their job from day one.”
Despite his impassive façade, I could tell Victor wanted the results that a small army of Explorers could achieve. “You think they could ever understand our culture?”
Everyone in the room was quiet. Even Freya had no assurances to give.
“It all sounds great. You would send strong and skilled men to clean up Europe, but the thing you’re forgetting is the destruction those same men could cost us. Northlanders have less emotional control than children.”
“Don’t you fucking compare us to children,” Mason barked and snorted, “Go snack on a snake, Victor.”
Victor kept looking at Freya while throwing a nod in Mason’s direction. “Your cousin just made my case that Northlanders are easily riled up, and it’s no secret that you’re all possessive and jealous by nature. We would love to accept your generous offer, but you would have to guarantee that we won’t have another three-hour massacre.” Victor was just about to sit down but then he changed his mind and continued. “Think about it. How would you find sixty-seven men who could live by our law of sleeping with a sex partner no more than three times?” Victor’s challenging stare wandered over each of us Northlanders until it landed back on Freya. “Tell me, Freya, could you live by that law yourself?”
She didn’t blink and stood like a queen as she tilted her head a little. “That depends who I’m having sex with.”
“Don’t let him mess with your head,” Thor warned her.
“It’s a fair question,” Simon argued. “Aubri and Indiana have lived in Old Europe for seven months and except for that one threesome they had in the beginning, I doubt they’ve slept with anyone else than each other.”
My face flamed red as I felt my cousins and brother stare at me.
“You had a threesome?” Mason asked with disbelief.
I cleared my throat but couldn’t find any words.
“Simon, how the fuck did you even know about that?” Indiana asked in a harsh voice.
Simon shrugged. “Everyone knows. It was in the News after your lover posted that picture of you two having sex.”
I was fuming and scooted further down into my seat while Freya placed her hand on Mason’s shoulder. “Indiana and Aubri are married. What happened between them is water under the bridge.”
Simon continued, “My point is that they didn’t change partners like us French but stuck to each other like Northlanders. If you send tens of Northlanders, we’re bound to have problems with them socially.”
“Maybe the time has come for you to abandon your artificial system of keeping people apart,” Freya suggested. “Why not allow people to fall in love and live happy lives?”
Victor gave a mocking laugh. “Maybe we’re the happy ones, did you consider that? We get to fuck a new person every night.”
It was almost as if Freya flinched a little, but her voice was calm when she answered, “If it’s so great, then I’m sure our Explorers will have no problem assimilating.”
“Oooh, I’m excited. I say we accept,” Celeste exclaimed.
Freya folded her hands with a tiny smile. “What about you, Victor? Do you accept our proposal?”
I couldn’t help feeling that Freya was pushing Victor’s buttons on purpose. She had used the word proposal and it seemed like a reminder of the time he had rejected her cruelly. Even though her suggestion to be with him back then had been nothing but a mind game, I still didn’t understand why she would give him the power to reject her twice.
