The War Chamber by B. Roman Read Free Book Online

little heavy handed with the chili and curry. Perhaps in honor of your arrival?” She lifts a knowing eyebrow at the two mischievous siblings. Maati and Sokar shoot a guilty, but smug, glance at each other.
    “No. It's great,” David says, meaning it. “Hotter than a jalapeno tostada, but some of the best food I ever ate.”
    “What is a tostada?” Maati asks.
    “Oh, it's kind of a - well - it's got a tortilla, like the stuff the roti is wrapped in, but it's flat with meat, cheese, refried beans and other stuff on top. It's Mexican food.”
    “So you're from Mexican,” Sokar concludes.
    “Mexico,” David corrects him. “Mexican food is from Mexico. But I'm not from there. They have it in America, too, where I'm from.”
    “What's it like in this America?”
    “It's - well - it kind of looks like here, in a way. Depending on what part of the country you live in. I live near the ocean, like you, but our houses are different. Your houses look more like a tract in the suburbs.”
    “What is the suburbs?” Sokar's curiosity is almost hostile.
    “Let David finish his meal, Sokar,” Bianca admonishes her nephew then cautions David, “Sokar will ask you questions for the rest of the night if you let him.”
    “Oh, that's okay,” David says agreeably. “I have a lot of questions myself, about your city.”
    “In that case, perhaps you would like to take a tour of Coronadus.”
    “That would be great. When?”
    “What about now? We still have a few hours of daylight, and a walk will help us digest our dinner. Sokar will be happy to clean up the dishes.”
    “Me?” Sokar balks. “It's Maati's turn.”
    “I did them last night,” Maati whines.
    “In that case, you will help each other,” Bianca decides firmly. “The work will go faster.”
    Maati and Sokar are still bickering as David and Bianca leave the house. On the way out, Bianca selects a beret-type hat from the foyer closet and hands it to David.
    “What's this?”
    “It's Sokar's cap. It will keep you from looking too obvious.”
    “Too obvious? What do you mean?”
    “The fewer people who recognize you as a stranger, the better.”
    David shrugs, not at all understanding Bianca's vague explanation. “Okay, if you say so. I don't want to cause you any trouble.” David places the soft fabric cap on his head and Bianca adjusts it to cover his hair completely. David is just about to ask her why she did this when he spies an elegant blue touring car parked in the side yard, covered with the dust of non-use. “Is that your car?”
    “It was left in my care by someone a long time ago,” she answers.
    “I don't recognize the model. Is it a foreign car?” Realizing what a dumb question that was, David stammers, “Of course it's a foreign car. To me, anyway.”
    “It's foreign to me, too. I've never driven it.”
    “Why not?”
    “The engine doesn't go. Besides, walking is much better. You'll see our city from a more personal vantage point.”
    David shrugs and follows Bianca out of the yard, taking a backward glance at the car. At the end of the street, Bianca and David turn westward and enter a village square filled with quaint little shops and restaurants. These, too, are white buildings with red trim. Strolling musicians, magicians, and mimes, and sidewalk artists give it all a renaissance quality.
    Excited to see such a place, David peeks into each store window, then stops and lingers at the expansive Emporium window.
    “Would you like to go inside?” Bianca asks.
    “Yeah, I would.”
    The inside of the shop is as bright as daylight, illuminated by the sun shining through rolled back panels in the ceiling. The Emporium is unusually busy for this time of day, and David and Bianca skirt their way through the aisles to avoid a traffic jam.
    Shoppers browse leisurely at each and every counter, select their merchandise and place it in their personal colorful fabric shopping bags, then leave the store without paying.
    “Hey, did you see