Toys

Chapter 74

As the very clever and alluring Chantal Dugare and I walked into the imposing dining hall of the chateau, she clapped her hands sharply to quiet the guests-about two hundred of them, from what I could see, representing many nationalities, standing in groups and talking excitedly. Waiters bustled around with trays, serving food and fine wines. It looked like a classy, but otherwise quite ordinary, party.

Except that these were reputedly the most important leaders in the free world-gathered to try to keep humankind from being destroyed by a powerful race that despised them.

“Attention, s’il vous plait,” Chantal called out in her husky and cultured voice. “I bring you Monsieur Hays Baker. We are honored that you are here.”

Before she could continue, a stern-looking military man strode forward. He saluted me, then leaned in close to Chantal Dugare and spoke rapidly. Her intelligent eyes widened with concern as she listened. Now what the hell is happening?

“We have just received distressing news that your former boss, Jax Moore, is in Europe right now,” she translated. “This is very dangerous for us. That man is the devil himself! He is a war criminal. A beast among beasts.”

“I must agree with that.” I spoke to Chantal, but also to the crowd. “I know that devil very well. He’s extremely efficient. If he’s here, the final plan is already in motion.”

“We shall see,” said Chantal, who, surprisingly, didn’t seem as alarmed as I was.

Other guests approached me, introducing themselves and thanking me for being here. More than one told me that they’d known my parents and loved them both dearly, and offered sympathy for their senseless deaths.

Chantal was at my side again. “You must eat, Hays. Please. Something tells me we will need much strength soon. We all will.”

I shook my head. “I wish I knew more about the Elite plan. I want to help you in any way I can.”

She patted my arm. “We have ways to make you talk.” She laughed. “What I mean is, there may be things you know that you aren’t conscious of. We have tests. But first-eat!”

She snapped her fingers to summon a passing waiter and took a canape of crusted bread spread with thick paste. “Pate de foie gras, with truffles. Heaven on this earth. You must have one, Hays.”

The smell of the food had been filling my nostrils since we first came in; a blend of savory aromas had my stomach on alert.

But there was a small problem. I was used to eating like an Elite, and even thinking about food like this went against my upbringing and training.

“Do you have anything… without calories?” I said.

The people standing nearby stared as if I were a crazy person. Chantal merely laughed.

“In France, you dare to suggest such a thing as fine cuisine without calories? That is an Elitist nightmare we can hardly imagine! Just try this. Open your mouth! I command it!”

She held the pate to my lips, and I reminded myself that I was, after all, in France. So I opened my mouth-and she popped in the canape.

What a glory! It practically melted on my tongue with a rich, subtle complexity that positively thrilled my taste buds. I turned to the waiter, ready to devour his entire tray. “Yes, please, I’ll have another.”

Then my hearing caught a faint sound that no one else in the room could catch-a jet, heading toward us at what seemed a low altitude.

Lucy! The idea delighted me more than I would have thought possible.