They say those were the peaceful years. Houses and galvanized worked together to create a united front, to settle the unrest, to rebuild the world. The first gathering was held, displaying the prowess and advancements achieved by the Houses and their galvanized.—2175
—from the journal of L.U.C.
Welton wore a yellow T-shirt, this one imprinted with the image of a snail with laser beams coming out of its eyes, torn blue jeans, and a smile.
“Saved you a seat at the game, Bram, my friend,” he said, “and I plan to rob you blind.”
“How did that plan go last year?” Abraham asked.
“Poorly. You cheated.”
“You couldn’t prove that.”
“This year,” Welton said, “I will be winning back my money. Plus interest.”
Abraham must have noticed my discomfort. He reached over and gently squeezed my arm. “He’s family.”
“Mostly because we can’t get rid of him,” Dotty said, setting a plate of pie and a mug of tea down on the kitchen counter for me. “Annoying boy that he is.”
“Please,” Welton said. “You love me most of all.”
“Well, you have your moments. Like when you’re losing at poker.”
Welton’s gave her a self-satisfied smile, then looked back at me. “Matilda Case. How was the coffee at Jangle?”
“Fine, thank you, sir.”
The corner of his mouth quirked up and he leaned forward, resting his elbow on the table, his smooth dark bangs falling to the edge of his heavily lidded eyes. “Here I’m a friend. I suppose you should address me bysiranywhere else. But not here. Not at all.”
“All right, thank you . . .” I didn’t know if I should use his first name.
“Welton,” he said slowly, as if I hadn’t heard him the first time. “And you . . . you are the mysterious new old. The modern stitched. I’ve heard more than a few things about you. Come”—he patted the table—“have a sit. Let’s talk.”
“I promised Abraham a game,” I said.
“No rush,” Abraham said.
Manners, Matilda,I reminded myself.
I picked up the pie and tea and walked over to the table. I took a seat across from Welton. At the other end of the table, Helen was shuffling cards, but not dealing, and watching me like I was something she might need to tackle.
Vance and Bede were curled up on a couch, talking quietly and Clara, January, and Wila sat on the other couches, rolling dice and scribbling on paper. Beyond them, Buck and Loy were arguing over something that involved throwing coins into shot glasses.
But the figure who drew my eye was Foster First, who moved to stand at the far side of the room, his back to the window, staring at me, or maybe at Welton’s back.
Even in this large space, he towered over everyone. From his complete stillness, one might just assume he was dead. But his eyes flicked as he took in all those in front of him, his stony expression unchanging.
“If House Gray hadn’t found you first, I would have offered you a place at House Yellow, you know,” Welton said.
I drew my gaze away from Foster. “Oh?” I took a bite of pie: apple, cinnamon. Delicious. “I am happy to be with House Gray.”
“Why?”
“It seems like a good choice.”
“So you can find your brother?”
I was surprised he knew about that. But, then, he was Technology. If anyone could find information, it would be him.
