The blank screen on the fridge changed to wavy static lines. Babel was not sure if this was good or bad. “Great, I broke it.” After a few seconds, the screen went dark again. Then, the screen lifted and placed on the tray behind the screen was a mug of black coffee. He picked up the mug and took a sip. Perfect.
“That looks good.” said a voice from behind.
He turned and looked and saw Triana. She was naked again, this time apparently fresh out of the shower. He hadn’t heard the shower running.
He started to turn his head out of politeness but she caught his gaze and their eyes met. They kept each other’s eyes for a few moments. Triana smiled and Babel returned the smile. He let his eyes drift down her naked body. She was beautiful.
Triana laughed. “Are you going to stand there looking at me or are you going to offer me a cup of coffee.”
Babel blushed as he realized his look had turned into a stare. “Sure,” he managed, “what would you like in your coffee?”
“I take it black, the same as you.” Babel nodded and then turned and conjured a cup for Triana. When it was ready he handed it her and she took a sip. “Perfect.”
“Agreed.”
Triana smiled and walked to the couch. Babel watched her as she walked, taking her in. She sat down and looked at him and Babel again realized he was staring. “Do the Chokka not go without clothing?”
The question was very direct and took Babel a moment to consider his response. “Why do you ask?”
“You seem surprised that I am naked in front of you. Is this not your way?”
“Sure, I get naked but it tends to be more of a private thing.” Babel answered uneasy.
Triana smiled, a slight tease in her eyes. “So I make you nervous?”
“No, not nervous. Nor uncomfortable. It’s just not what I’m used to.”
Triana looked at him seriously. “It must be strange to be a Chokka.”
“Why do you say that?”
“You seem so different. You do not look different but on the inside – you are different.”
“There might be a few differences but from what I can tell overall, we’re pretty much the same.”
The answer seemed to satisfy Triana, at least momentarily. “Would you feel more comfortable if I wore clothing?”
Babel thought very carefully how he was going to answer. She was a beautiful woman. And it was not that he minded her being naked in front of him. Quite the opposite. But in the end, his chivalry won out. “It would not make me more comfortable but it would be more of what I’m accustomed to.”
“Very well.” Triana answered. She took another sip of her coffee, then went into her bedroom and came out dressed in shorts and a t-shirt. “Better?”
Babel nodded half-heartedly. Sometimes chivalry was a curse.
“So what did you have in mind for today?” Babel asked.
“Today we will go see my uncle. He is familiar with the Chokka as a professor of history. There you will also meet my family.”
“Sounds good. Will your uncle also be able to tell me more about the Keeper?”
Triana nodded. “After breakfast we will go. You haven’t eaten yet have you?” Babel shook his head. “Good. I have an egg recipe that I’d like to make for you. It was something my mother used to make for me.”
After breakfast, Babel showered and made himself ready for the day. They left Triana’s apartment and Babel observed his surroundings. In the daylight everything seemed different. It also seemed very familiar. “What is the name of this city?”
Triana looked at Babel strangely. “What do you mean? This part of the city?”
Babel realized that not knowing the name of the city he was in must seem crazy. “Yes, that’s what I meant. What part?”
“This is the Elder Quarter.”
“The Elder Quarter?” Babel questioned. “Look, pretend I know nothing about this town. Pretend I am visiting here for the first time. What can you tell me about here?”
Triana was not sure why Babel was asking her this but decided to humor him. “Very well. This is the Elder Quarter. This is the oldest part of Orleans. In fact, this is the original city. When the Chokka first came, some of these buildings were already here.” She waived her hand at one of the buildings to emphasize. “No one is sure who built these buildings or who was here before. There are no records. The first Chokka Császár…”
“Császár?” Babel interrupted.
“The elected leader of the Chokka and the world.” Triana answered, still thinking that Babel was secretly putting her through some kind of private inquiry (although she wasn’t sure why). Babel thought for a moment and then nodded for her to continue.
“The first Chokka Császár built the original Palātium…the palace of the Chokka,” she added for Babel, “right here in the Elder Quarter. The building still stands but is now used as a headquarters for the Klopph.”
Babel thought on Triana’s words as she spoke. Orleans. Elder Quarter. Now he understood why everything looked so familiar. The city was a replica of New Orleans. “And Orleans is the capital of the world?”
“Of course. It is a big job being the Császár and the ruler of the world. After all, there are over six million people in the world.”
Babel almost laughed at the thought of only six million people in the world. Atlanta alone had that many.
They continued to talk as they walked, and as they did, Babel took in the city around him. From what he understood,
