“Don’t you find it somewhat disturbing?” Snake asked me. “They take over the world, treat our people like animals, and still use all the nice little gadgets and technology that man invented.”
We had traveled by way of car to an airport and flew in a pretty decked out plane to the City of the Ancients.
Snake whistled. “I’ll be damned,” he said as we flew over and prepared to land. “So this is where they went. Nice flight”
I was too engrossed in the fear of being so far off the ground to pay attention. After we landed, we boarded a long black car with another Ancient. A medical man named Alfred.
When Snake made his comment about them using the technology, Alfred finally had enough. I guess he had heard Snake rambling on the plane.
“How do you know man invented all these things?” he asked.
“Because you were stuck underground while we made them,” Snake snapped.
“Not all. There were some who managed to say above.”
“Yeah, Dracula.”
“I am nice to you because I was instructed to be,” Alfred said tightly. “Use a derogatory term again, and I won’t be so nice.” He looked down to this watch. “And don’t say a thing about my timepiece, we invented the means to keep track of time,” he said arrogantly. “And I do hope they hurry. I do not want to miss the Intention ceremony and feast. Nor, I gather, do you. Although I hope they dress you better.”
“Intention ceremony?” I asked.
“Like a marriage,” he replied.
I laughed. “Why wouldn’t I want to miss it?”
He smiled. “Because, I believe the person you are looking for is…what do humans call it? Oh yes, the bride.”
My heart plummeted. “Vala? Vala is getting married?”
His only response was a smile.
Snake saw my panicked expression and said, “No worries. We’ll get there.”
Like Alfred I wanted the driver to hurry as well, though my reasons for getting to the Intention ceremony were completely different than his.