by Kirsten Boie
“What?!” Nahira exclaimed out loud, though there was no one to hear her. “What kind of journalism is this, when the commander in chief of the military can go on national television and make these outrageous and unsubstantiated accusations!” Whatever the real reason for the attack on the customs officials, though, Nahira knew it was yet another public relations disaster for her and her men.
She heard a familiar sound in the distance. The TV was now showing scenes of people lining up outside shops in various towns across the country — nothing new. She turned away from the screen and went outside. With screeching brakes, her ancient pickup truck came to a halt on the weed-covered driveway.
“Nahira!” cried Lorok. The door of the truck rattled in protest as he opened it. One day it would fall off its hinges. “Nahira, I was right! We’ve got them now!” He slammed his hand down on the hood, and quickly jerked it away again because of the heat. “Criminals! But we’re onto them. We know what they’re up to with their trucks!”
No one at the party mentioned pizza to Jenna — at least not directly. After all, they knew the rules of decorum, how they were supposed to behave at such a party, and around royalty to boot. But three times, people had come up to her and nodded toward the buffet table with a smile. “Aren’t you going to get yourself a little something to eat?” they’d asked. Jenna was pretty much the only person wandering around the manicured lawns without a plate or even a glass in her hand.
The third person to ask had been Ylva’s mother, the hostess herself, and when Jenna merely shook her head and moved away — how rude! — she was almost certain that Mrs. von Thunberg’s next remark to the other guests was about her: “Well, as we all know, she’s been eating her fill, anyway.”
The buffet spread, Jenna noticed as she walked past it, was as lavish as it had always been at these parties: platters of fish, fowl, and roasted meats, tureens of summer soups, bowls of mixed greens, vegetables tucked in pastry, or caramelized, or grilled. In between were exquisitely carved ice sculptures: swans; the von Thunbergs’ coat of arms; the skyline of Holmburg with the palace in relief. And for dessert, various fruits from the south — pineapple, mango, guava — had magically been turned into strange animals by some clever chef. That is, if they weren’t already baked into the wide selection of pies.
Where had all the food, all that fresh produce, come from? Jenna wondered. What about the shortages that had customers lining up outside supermarkets? She caught sight of another guest, and turned quickly away. The man standing by the desserts, wearing a loose-fitting linen suit and holding a glass in his hand — wasn’t he the editor in chief of one of those awful tabloids? She couldn’t let him see her here, anywhere near the buffet.
After the official greetings, she had made her way through the chattering groups toward the fringes of the party. Slowly, unobtrusively. She didn’t want to talk to anybody.
Why had Mom left her standing there on her own? She was talking to someone near the broad flight of steps down to the terrace. Jenna could hear her laughing. She saw Ylva crossing the lawn, her blonde hair flowing over her shoulders, nodding to the right and nodding to the left, exchanging air kisses and passing comments to all and sundry. Oh, to be as confident as Ylva, or Malena, to feel at ease during parties, as she had back at home … Well, actually, if she was honest with herself, she had to admit that she’d never felt entirely at ease there, either.
Where was Malena, anyway? Jenna’s gaze wandered all around the grounds. It was plain to see that the von Thunbergs were among the oldest and wealthiest families in the country. Maybe that’s why Ylva hates me so much, thought Jenna. Because of the reforms, her family will lose some of their wealth, and she blames the northerners. She blames me.
Malena had to be somewhere. Malena, or maybe Jonas. All Jenna wanted was someone she could walk and talk with, someone who knew how you were supposed to behave — who would help her get through the afternoon.
It was strange that she hadn’t yet spotted Malena. She was always on time; she was obliged to be at the reception, making small talk with the important guests, as was her royal duty. But where? All the women were fair-haired, all the women were slim, and they all wore loose-fitting summer dresses in pretty pastel colors. All except her.
Where are you, Malena? thought Jenna, feeling desperate. She was now completely alone at one end of the lawn, and the voices of the guests sounded muffled, as if they came from far away. If I can’t find her or Jonas, I’ll just have to wait here till this horrible party is over — not that anyone will even notice that I’m gone.
Just a few steps away was a summerhouse of weathered white wood, with wild roses climbing up its sides to its mildewed copper roof.
As pretty as a picture-book illustration, thought Jenna. A bit like the pavilion at Osterlin where I eavesdropped on Norlin and the chief of police last year. Stop — don’t think about that, don’t think about Norlin, my horrible father — she managed to shove him out of her mind most of the time since she’d learned the awful truth. She focused her attention back on the summerhouse. I’ll just sit inside, nice and cozy, and wait out this hideous party. It had to end eventually. She could even practice her irregular verbs to pass the time: Then the afternoon wouldn’t be a complete waste.
She listened. Nothing stirred in the undergrowth. No one spoke, no one laughed. No one was there. And yet somehow she had the feeling she was not alone …
Cautiously, Jenna leaned forward and peered through one of the glassless windows. Then, startled, she pulled her head back. On the white-painted bench that ran the length of the interior sat Malena and Perry, in a close, silent embrace.
Malena! thought Jenna in total disbelief. So she is here! But how come she’s with Perry? It’s always been Jonas who she …
Her heart began to pound. She tried not to make a sound. She had to see what was going on in there! But how could a girl like Malena be with a boy like Perry?
Malena was gently stroking Perry’s face with her index finger, from his forehead down to his nose. Then her fingertip rested for a moment on his lips.
Stop looking! thought Jenna. Oh God, what am I doing? Imagine if someone did that to me! Someone watching if Jonas and I …
Jonas.
Deep inside her, Jenna suddenly felt an unbridled surge of joy. She had to stay there, at least for another moment or two. She had to be absolutely certain …
“Did you really think I didn’t like you?” Malena was whispering. Again she gently stroked Perry’s face and looked straight into his eyes, ran her fingers over his lips, and bent forward until her mouth was almost touching his.
Now Jenna was able to turn and run away.
Nahira had gone with Lorok in the rattling pickup. They’d avoided the roads and followed the forest tracks instead, and she was constantly surprised at how Lorok knew exactly where he had to turn off along the narrow paths, at how he coaxed the old vehicle and its protesting engine to get them up one slope, and then let it roll gently down another. Sometimes she had the feeling that he was even talking to it, as if it were alive.
At one point, where the tops of the trees thinned out and the undergrowth was particularly dense, Lorok let the truck coast into the bushes. Brambles scratched the dented hood, which had long since lost its polish after years of dusty roads and nights parked out in the rain.
“We’ll have to go the rest of the way on foot,” Lorok said. “It’s too dangerous to drive from here on in.”
Hunched over, they hurried through the undergrowth, never once stepping onto a path. After just a few minutes, they could suddenly hear the roar of engines — loud and steady, as if from a highway, and the farther they went, the closer it came. “The north–south beltway,” said Lorok.
He has all the road maps in his head, thought Nahira admiringly. Amazing. I need directions just to find my way to the dentist!
“Now — can you hear it?”
Nahira stopped. She could now hear the engines of powerful tractor-trailers, a
nd somewhere nearby they were pulling to a stop, with one final roar before the brakes screeched and the hydraulics wheezed to a standstill.
“What is it?” she asked.
Lorok put a finger to his lips and beckoned her to come closer. “The old concrete factory!” he whispered.
She peered through the bushes. Though it was difficult to make out from this distance, she could now see the hangars, each at least fifty feet high, with plenty of room between them for the trucks to maneuver. The factory dated back many years, to when quarters were being constructed on the outskirts of Holmburg to house the northerners arriving in increasing numbers to South Island in order to do the jobs that southerners found too dirty, too strenuous, or too low-paying. It was here that the slabs had been made for prefabricated housing projects that could be assembled like children’s building blocks. But when the influx of northerners had first been cut and then stopped altogether, the factory had been closed, and now it lay derelict, with weeds sprouting everywhere.
“So that’s what they’ve been doing,” whispered Nahira. “Stockpiling the goods of Scandia here!” One massive truck after another passed through the open gate only to disappear between the hangars. “Why did no one realize it before?”
“Maybe because no one was supposed to,” Lorok said bitterly. He turned to leave. “Because no one wanted to. Imagine how many more abandoned warehouses just like this, all across the country, are being piled high with Scandia’s goods as we speak? I think it’s time you updated your friends in the government.”
Nahira nodded. “But not from here,” she whispered.
On the drive back they did not speak. If Liron learned about this, it could change everything.
Jenna hurried across the lawn, farther and farther away from the party and from the summerhouse. Malena and Perry deserved to be left in peace. Nobody would disturb them there.
How could her mood change so completely in just a few seconds? Utter despair a moment ago, and now such happiness! Malena and Perry — their names sounded like music. Malena and Perry, not Malena and Jonas! How stupid she’d been! Malena’s not in love with Jonas at all, she thought. Malena loves someone else, so I don’t have to keep trying to get over Jonas! Malena and Perry! And Jonas and …
She stopped by a bench overgrown with jasmine. The scent was sweet and heavy. The world was a beautiful place after all.
Then a note of caution sounded in her head. She sat down. She needed to think.
Malena being in love with Perry didn’t mean that Jonas wasn’t in love with Malena, she realized. The smell of the jasmine suddenly seemed cloying. Don’t jump to conclusions, she chided herself. It wasn’t Jonas kissing her, was it? And Malena didn’t actually kiss Perry, did she — at least not while she was watching?
Oh, stop it! Stop it! Jenna thought in frustration. Why do I always have to twist everything? I have a chance with Jonas!
She stood up. She had to suppress the urge to let out a cry of joy and twirl around in circles. Why had she been so nervous about this party? I don’t care who talks to me, she thought, and walked back across the lawn toward the crowds of guests. Laugh at me all you like, snooty rich people! I’m Princess of Scandia, and no one can make me feel small. I may not be perfect, but I can learn. And as long as the things that matter work out, I’ll be fine.
Jonas.
He was standing with his back against a cedar tree, on his own. Jenna’s heart throbbed.
“Hi, Jonas,” she said. How simple it was. Maybe.
Jonas looked startled. “Oh, hi, Jenna,” he said. “I couldn’t find you anywhere.” He nodded miserably. “I couldn’t find anyone to talk to but boring old people. So I’ve been kind of blowing off the party.”
“Me, too,” said Jenna. It didn’t matter that she’d started blushing, as usual. Suddenly, it all seemed so simple. She was happy.
“And Perry’s disappeared, too,” said Jonas. “And Malena. What’s going on? I’ve been looking for both of them.”
Jenna shrugged. Would it be a betrayal if she told him? Maybe it should be Malena herself. Or Perry.
But since he was going to find out, anyway …
“They’re back there in the summerhouse,” she said softly. She looked down at the ground. She hadn’t given away too much. That was all right, wasn’t it?
“What?” asked Jonas in surprise.
Then again, maybe not.
Jenna shrugged her shoulders. Her face burned an even deeper shade of red. “They’re together, in the summerhouse,” she said.
Jonas stared at her. “Get out!” he whispered, and to her enormous relief Jenna saw a grin spreading across his face. The news hadn’t made him unhappy — not at all. “Malena and Perry?”
Jenna nodded.
Jonas punched his open left hand with his right fist. “So that’s what he’s been all hung up about!” he said. “I was wondering what his problem was! Malena and Perry — I wouldn’t have guessed that one!”
“You don’t mind?” Jenna ventured cautiously. “I mean, you and Malena …” She blushed all over again. Why did she have to keep doing that?
“What? No! It’s awesome!” said Jonas. “My two best friends! Things couldn’t have turned out better. Perfect!”
So he only thought of Malena as a friend. How could she have been so dumb? But she couldn’t let herself get carried away, either …
“I always sort of thought you and Malena …” she whispered. She must have been the color of an eggplant by now, but it didn’t matter. “You and Malena …”
She couldn’t look at him. But she didn’t have to. Jonas’s laugh was so happy that she didn’t need to see his face.
“No way!” he said. “Not Malena! She’s always been like a sister to me!” He stopped talking.
The silence between them was almost audible. It felt as if something was about to explode.
“Because …” murmured Jonas, and she didn’t know if he was looking at her, because she couldn’t bear to look at him. “… because — Malena’s not the only girl in the world. Because …” He took a step toward her.
And then the moment passed. Suddenly, Perry’s dad was standing beside them — Mom’s Petterson. Jenna hadn’t heard him, he’d approached so silently. He looked aggravated.
“Do either of you know where Perry is?” he asked. “I’ve been searching everywhere for him. When I saw you just now, I thought he might be with you.”
“Nope,” said Jonas, shaking his head and staring off into the distance.
Jenna shook her head, too.
And you can just go on searching, you pain in the pancreas! thought Jenna. Because as long as you keep looking, at least you won’t be hanging around my mother! Then she felt her shoulders drop. She hadn’t realized how tense she’d been.
“I’ve been searching everywhere,” Petterson said again. “He’s not inside, or by the rose garden, or in any of the summerhouses …”
Jenna looked up. “Really?” she blurted, caught off guard.
“No,” said Petterson. “But if you don’t know where he is, either …”
“Sorry, sir,” said Jonas. His voice sounded matter-of-fact again. “We’ve been standing here the whole time.”
“Well, I’ll just have to keep on searching,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “I’m sure I’m worrying unnecessarily.”
“Hope you find him!” Jenna chimed in, smiling. I can be just as two-faced as him, she thought. Worrying about your son? Doubtful!
Only when Petterson had hurried away across the lawn did Jonas look at her again.
“Now he’ll get his people to hunt for his own son,” he said, and cleared his throat. “Thus endeth the love scene in the love nest. Poor Perry. He’s totally avoiding his father ’cause he’s in a panic over being shipped off to military school.”
“But didn’t you hear what he said?” she asked. “Maybe Perry’s really gone.”
“Gone?” echoed Jonas. “Oh, right, because he’s not in the summerhou
se.”
It’s over now, thought Jenna. That’s how fast a magic spell can end, no matter how gently you treat it. And all because that clumsy oaf interrupted us. Malena’s not the only girl in the world, Jonas had said. And it was Jonas who had blushed. If Petterson hadn’t butted in — if they’d had just one more minute. But now it was over. Now all Jonas could think about was Perry and where he might be.
“It is kind of weird, isn’t it?” said Jonas. He didn’t look at her. “I’d better go see if I can find him before his dad does.”
Jenna nodded. “Oh, definitely,” she said.
As he went to leave, Jonas suddenly reached out his hand toward her, in a gesture of … what? Jenna didn’t know. But then he quickly drew it back, as if he’d just realized what he’d done, and began to run. After a few steps, he turned and waved to her. His face was bright red.
“See you soon!” he called, telling himself he hadn’t totally blown his cover.
After the first assault on the buffet and the first round of conversation, von Thunberg had asked them to go with him to the hunting room. The walls were covered with trophies that generations of the family had brought home from the hunt: stuffed heads of boar; a collection of roebuck horns arranged like a kind of mosaic; the spreading antlers of a fourteen-pointer; even a lion’s head with a magnificent mane, from the von Thunbergs’ safaris in Africa.
Four glass-fronted cabinets, one on each wall of the room, contained brightly polished hunting weapons dating back more than three hundred years. Between them hung paintings of traditional hunting scenes.
“Whiskey, anyone?” asked von Thunberg, opening the one cabinet with solid wooden doors. “Gin? I also have sherry for you, Your Royal Highness.”
His three guests all shook their heads in silence. Petterson, who had temporarily given up the hunt for his son, leaned on the heavy oak table in the center of the room; Liron stood by the window overlooking the garden, gazing down at the party guests and the grounds, where his son was just waving to Jenna as he left her; Princess Margareta was still standing near the doorway.