Page 43 of The Champion
That small display of French culture had solidified what I already knew: I couldn’t live here and be in a secret relationship with Victor. I both needed and deserved the whole package.
My low mood was improved when I teamed up with the Polo family, who were all excited to explore Europe.
As we stood outside the Blue Tower waiting for Shiva to come and meet us, Ada and her father were disagreeing about the amount of make-up she had on. I smiled when I heard her argue with him.
“What’s the point of you and Mom dragging Albert and me around the world to experience other cultures if we aren’t allowed to get inspired by them? Have you seen the French women? They are colorful and daring in their choice of make-up. Mine is subtle in comparison.”
“That’s not subtle. You look like you dumped a rainbow on your face.”
“Dad, you don’t get fashion. I guarantee that no one here will think I overdid it.”
Just then a tall and broad-shouldered man came walking toward us. I recognized him because Shiva and I had met back when he was tested for the role of an Explorer and again a few weeks ago when he danced with Linea in a nightclub. “There he is,” I said and it made Shelly address him.
“Hi there. Are you Shiva, our tour-guide?”
Shiva waved a hand and gave us a broad smile. “That would be me. I’m honored to meet you all.”
Marco lit up at the sight of a fellow Nman and immediately tried to get him on his team in the discussion with Ada. “I’m glad you’re here. Since you have lived in France for a while, would you care to settle a dispute I’m having with my daughter? I think she has way too much make-up on while she says it’s nothing compared to other women here in France.”
Shiva stopped in front of Ada and the teenage girl’s face grew crimson when he gave her a charming megawatt smile. “I think your daughter looks stunning.”
Marco groaned and shook his head. “You’re not helping.”
“Ah, who cares what color Ada’s make-up is. We’re going on an adventure,” Shelly exclaimed and turned to Shiva. “Lead the way.”
We walked through the city as Shiva explained. “I’m taking you to the Exploration Headquarters where we have our drones parked. From there I’m flying you out to visit some of the different areas that we work in. Some are deemed safe enough for us to land so we can walk around.”
“What happened to your hand?” Albert asked.
Shiva held up his hand to show where part of his index and middle finger were missing. “This? Oh, it’s a tragic story. No one had told me that some of the French women have fangs in their pussies.”
“What?” Albert gaped. “That’s impossible.”
“That’s your lesson right there.” Shiva grinned at the teenage boy. “Always finger a woman before you go all the way with her. It’s better to lose a finger or two than your dick.”
“There’s no such thing as fangs in a vagina,” Ada said but Shiva just laughed.
“There can’t be. Human anatomy is the same all around the world,” Albert agreed.
Shiva shrugged with his careless smile softening his masculine face. “That’s what I thought until I came here.”
I was amused by the way Albert and Ada looked to their parents to verify that it couldn’t be true. I could have told them that Shiva used to be a carpenter before he joined the Exploration Academy, and that his fingers had been injured before he went to France. But it was clear that Ada and Albert already thought Shiva was the coolest guy ever, so I let him have his fun with them.
“How are you liking living here?” Marco asked Shiva.
“In some ways it’s everything I dreamed it would be, but to be honest I’m not happy here.”
“Why not? If you’re living your dream, then why aren’t you happy?” Albert asked.
“It’s like you look at this great buffet of food and drool at the thought of how delicious it’s all going to taste. When you start eating, it’s paradise, but soon you’re stuck with an aftertaste that’s bitter. Once it sours your taste buds you can’t enjoy the delicious food anymore.”
“You don’t like the French food?” Ada asked with her big brown eyes locked on Shiva.
“I think he was talking about sex with French women,” Albert guessed. “Or maybe I’m projecting.”
Shiva confirmed it when he said, “At first, sleeping with an unlimited number of women was like a dream, but it’s like drinking from a cursed glass of water that never satisfies your thirst.”
“That’s because you’re longing for connection and random sex partners won’t give you that.”
