The Book of Firsts

Thirty-Three

Lethargy and aching bones fought a battle for my consciousness for most of the week, but there at least was not much more vomiting. Carr and Lania avoided catching whatever I had, and so I didn’t interrupt their exams. My own would be delayed until school recommenced, and I could only be glad I’d decided to be sick in the middle of the school year instead of during the finals.

Once the first couple of days were past, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Nichols. Mrs Nichols worked from home for the week, brushing off my embarrassment by telling me she was glad of the excuse, and refusing to allow me to go back to my apartment once I’d gotten over the worst. Mr Nichols kept baking cookies. Lania’s clone younger sister and studious younger brother spent their afternoons trading victories with me on a series of racing games. In the evenings I coached Lania on some of her weaker subjects. Most of the time I slept.

I was ninety percent recovered by the time we were due to fly to Québec, and Mrs Nichols dropped by my apartment for packing before driving us to the airport, since we were taking an evening flight. Lania could hardly sit still, and finally went to grab us a couple of juices rather than try to keep her seat in the waiting lounge any longer.

"She’s so excited," Mrs Nichols said, smiling. "Arcadia’s the furthest she’s ever been before, and I think this feels far more grown up than a school trip. And it will be her first real white Christmas, since the snow here is mere garnish."

"Having now seen Helios weather in December, I properly appreciate the mass exodus."

"Dreadful, isn’t it? It’s one of our busy times, so Michael and I never travel at this time of year, which is particularly hard on the kids because so many of their friends go away. While it sounds like you’ve never spent Christmas in the same place."

"My mother’s work usually falls outside the end of year season, so we visit my grandmother quite often, and stuff our year’s accumulation of things we want to keep into her garage. Being in one place for so long, I’m going to have to be careful or," I smiled and raised my voice a little, "I’ll end up with as much Lego as Lania."

"When I have my own house, I’m going to have display cases for it all," Lania said, poking her tongue out at me. "Well, for the ones that took forever to put together, like the Falcon."

"What would you put in your house, if you had one long-term, Mikaela?" Mrs Nichols asked.

"Paintings I like on the walls. Pot plants. I’ve never really been able to keep plants. Probably some architectural models."

"Mika’s doing this amazing model of the Sunseeker Bridge, Mum. She built up the lake banks first and we recognised where it was even before she started on the actual bridge."

"That bridge is the main reason I want to go to Helios U," I said. "Or, rather, Maya Tremaine, the primary engineer. She’s brilliant, and I want to study under her more than anything in the world."

"The only time Mika sounds really passionate is when she talks about Maya Tremaine," Lania said, pretending to pout from jealousy. "Are you going to sit there with those stars in your eyes during her lectures?"

"Probably. Isn’t there anyone whose feet you’d like to worship at, Lania?"

Lania went bright red, and I laughed, then patted her shoulder. "I’ll spare you my guesses. Let’s hit the bathrooms before boarding."

At such a peak time of year, there were lines for everything, and by the time we were back we were ready to get into another.

"I’ll let Sorenson know you’ve boarded," Mrs Nichols said, after giving Lania a final hug. "Have fun, both of you."

My mother and Lania’s were well on the way to becoming firm friends, having several chats after Mum called to thank Mrs Nichols for hosting me. I still texted to confirm we’d boarded, which was a long-standing requirement, and then settled down to read books and play games, knowing I wouldn’t be able to sleep. Lania, in the window seat, planned to stay up with me, but passed out soon after the cabin crew dimmed the lights, and only woke when the lights came back up for breakfast.

"Why didn’t you wake me?" she asked.

"You’ll enjoy it more if you’re not too tired," I said. "It’s apparently a clear day, so we should get a good view on landing, and on the drive in."

Since travelling costs don’t come out of my daily living expenses, I had no qualms taking a taxi all the way to the apartment my parents were using, which was in Québec City’s old town. While not overly large, it was warm and nicely appointed, and currently filled with the scent of the coconut curry that had become a tradition for my homecoming on the occasions when I’ve lived in boarding schools. My dad, wearing a flowered apron, answered the door, hugged me aromatically, and shook hands with Lania before dashing back to the kitchen.

"He frets over that curry more than he does any book," my mother said, looking over from the lounge. "They’ve just arrived Rachel. Have a great Christmas."

"This is my Mum, Sorenson Niles," I said. "And my dad, Gareth Teyrn. This is Lania, who I am alphabetically next to in Home Room. One of the two biggest pieces of fortune I’ve had since going to Corascur."

My mother laughed. "If Mika’s sweet-talking, it means she likes making you blush. Come on, let me show you two your room."

It was a twin-bed room with a dormer window that looked toward Château Frontenac, currently beautifully backlit by a sunset.

"It’s like a dreamland," Lania sighed.

"One of the best views we’ve had," my mother agreed. "All paid for by the company I’m working for. I’ll leave you two to recover. Food will be half an hour, best guess."

Lania spent some time taking photographs, and posted the best shot to her Instagram before hastily washing up for dinner.

"Dad’s curry is the best," I said, as we sat down at a table before a wall of windows with an even better view of a snow-covered city crowned by a chateau. "One of his fans gave him the recipe years ago and he’s been perfecting it ever since."

Lania was immediately struck speechless, as I knew she would be. My mother leaned over and rapped me with a spoon.

"Stop teasing the child," she said, and smiled at Lania. "I take it Mika’s been boasting of her dad’s career at Corascur?"

"Best test," I said. "Super effective."

"It really did work at spotlighting people I wouldn’t recommend," Lania said, gulping a little. "But now you have half the Rose Court low-key mocking you."

"Yes, it’s so much fun." I sighed happily, then added to my father: "Lania’s actually a fan of yours too. I saw a copy of Blue Sky, Steel Sky in her room."

"Oh, a hard science fiction fan?" my dad said. "I’ve never quite taken off with those, so it’s relatively rare to meet a reader."

"Wait—you’re Atherton Mullahy? Really?" Lania almost sprang out of her chair. "I’ve read all of your books! Mika, why didn’t you tell me!"

"Dad has, like, ten identities. If I ran around reeling them all off to everyone, I’d look super strange."

"I was thinking you looked familiar, Mr Teyrn. I must have seen an author photo in one of your books."

"I don’t think Mullahy has an author photo," my dad said. "Probably, it’s my extreme resemblance to Martin Freeman that’s making me seem familiar."

Lania looked dubious. "I…maybe?"

"Almost certainly," my dad said, nodding with great seriousness. "Just picture me with hairy feet, making eyes at Thorin Oakenshield."

"Picture him eating this curry before it gets cold," my mother suggested.

Lania, looking a little relieved to change the subject, sampled the curry and smiled. "It’s really good!"

"Isn’t it?" I said, approvingly. "It has about a million steps, so I can only get it on special occasions. So worth it. And cold weather just makes it even better—this is a great view, Mum."

"What kind of company are you working for, Mrs—um, Ms Niles?"

"A mine. An unusual request, and one I had to do some ethical soul-searching to take, but I think I can bring in a positive result on several levels."

"They want you to make the mine more efficient?" I asked.

"Yes, though the primary aim is to reduce the amount of theft and sabotage they’re experiencing."

"Sabotage?" Lania’s eyes were like saucers. "So, you’re going to go in like a detective?"

"Not strictly. This is a risk minimisation task, to identify points of weakness and improve processes to prevent opportunity. I’ll review historical CCTV first, and won’t actually see the mine for some time, and certainly aren’t here to hunt thieves. In such a large operation, theft isn’t possible to eliminate entirely. The goal is to put into place methodology that makes it very obvious when items are out of place, or lower in stock than expected."

My mother’s job can sound dull, but she’s brilliant at it. It was a lot of fun to see Lania fall deep into the rabbit hole of tiny changes that saved millions for the hospitals, airports, and other large-scale operations that compete to hire her.

"Your parents are both the coolest," she said later, when we were preparing for an early night.

"I like them a lot," I agreed, carefully drying my hair. "I like your parents a lot, too."

"Accountants who never go anywhere?"

"Really funny, and warm, and nice. And your Dad makes great cookies. And you wouldn’t swap them for mine for the world."

"You’re right. But your parents really are super cool. Though, with the books he writes, do people ever think your dad…"

"He’s bi," I said, smiling at her. "But very monogamous. He thinks my mother is super cool as well." I paused to yawn hugely. "I’m not going to be able to stay up much longer."

"I knew I shouldn’t have slept on the plane. Will it keep you awake if I read?"

"Only if you read out loud."

"Okay." She settled on the second bed with a thick fantasy novel, but still hadn’t started reading until I’d changed into a sleeping shirt and pants and slid under the covers. "Mika?"

"Mm?"

"What’s the other big piece of luck you had since starting at Corascur?"

I laughed. "Finding a good spot when looking for somewhere to have lunch."