Myra sipped from the cup of coffee. She had classes, of course, but she didn't have to leave home for a few hours yet.
Jack was painting a model ship - some kind of Second World War carrier - with a look of extreme concentration. He was very good. Myra watched as he carefully placed the first plane on its deck.
"What kind of planes are they?" she asked, curious. Jack chuckled.
"SBD Dauntless dive-bombers. Mainstay of the Americans until the Helldiver came out. They beat the Japanese bloody at Midway."
"Uh, sure," Myra replied. Pre-Trollocaust history was not her strong suit.
Someone knocked on the door. Jack started to get up, but Myra put her cup down and beat him to it.
"I'll get it," she assured him. "You keep putting SBDs on your boat."
"Ship! It's a ship!" Jack protested.
"Whatever," Myra replied with a smile. She walked over to the door as a second knock sounded.
"If that's Mom again . . . ." Jack groaned. Myra opened the door.
Her jaw dropped.
"Good day, Miss Delfontaine," said the tall man. "May I come in?"
"Jess, someone's here to see you."
Jessica Holt leaned back in her chair. She was still in her pajamas and slippers, reading an assortment of emails from Senator Kelver down in San Diego. She glanced at Myra.
"Well, send them in!" she replied, straightening up and brushing her hair back. She idly wished she'd gotten dressed, but it probably didn't matter. It wasn't like the Prime Minister himself was coming to see her.
Myra withdrew, and there were the sounds of a few hushed words. Jess frowned.
A man stepped into the study, his blue-gray eyes twinkling with a flash of some humor, brownish hair looking freshly cut. He was so tall Jess' brother would only come to his shoulder.
"Mr. Prime Minister!" Jess cried. "I-I-I didn't expect . . . ."
"Oh, calm down, Senator Holt," Prime Minister Lighthearter replied. "May I have a seat?"
"Of course, sir!"
After the Prime Minister had taken a seat - and after Jess had strongly wished she was wearing her best dress and heels - the man spoke again.
"I'm sure you're wondering why I'm here," he said.
"Of course I am," Jess replied. "But I feel sure that you'll enlighten me."
"Ah, a sense of humor! I suspected as much from your reports on the Setting Sun exiles and all that, but I didn't know," he said, smiling. "That's the first thing I wanted to address."
"What is?" Jess frowned. "Isn't the Treasury still working out the details of the payment to Havana?"
"Not anymore," Lighthearter said quietly. "Due to the Setting Sun Empire's inability to stop provoking a conflict between itself and the formaticists, we are reinstating our embargo and I am freezing the payment process until such time as the Setting Sun demonstrates that it's not trying to start a war."
"You think it will work?" Jess asked. Lighthearter shrugged; a single gesture that conveyed many meanings.
"No," he finally said. "In fact, I'm certain the Emperor, in his childishness, will attempt reprisals. But even he can't get us way out here - not after the development plans I have in mind. But that's another matter altogether."
He produced a briefcase, then opened it, passing over several folders. Jess opened one.
She spent a moment contemplating it, and the next one, before looking up at Lighthearter.
"Madness," she said - one word, one condemnation. Lighthearter shrugged again.
"Perhaps. But I think it's our only chance of withstanding the Emperor's retribution. You'll need to get in touch with the New Englanders - we can't pay for all this alone, and I'd rather not take out a loan from someone we don't trust."
Jess slammed the folder shut. "That's why you chose me. Myra."
"Yes," Lighthearter replied, meeting her gaze. "Your patronage of the girl hasn't gone unnoticed in the circles of power, Senator Holt. I have people demanding I get her sent back home, since her arrangement was a disaster, I have people demanding that I put her in government custody, and I have people insisting that I send her on to another nation to study - say, the Shogunate."
"No!" Jess countered. "There's a war brewing in Japan, Mr. Prime Minister! I wouldn't send anyone there!"
"I know," Lighthearter placated. "I have no intention of yielding to any of these people. But I'm warning you that you have made enemies, and they are trying to hurt you through Myra. But she's also one of the most powerful tools I have for this operation. Rather, her effect on you is."
"Elaborate, please," Jess requested. Lighthearter steeped his fingers.
"Well, you've never been to New England in your life, Senator. That's about to change. Myra's given you a taste of how New Englanders live - how they think, how they act. She's a mild New Englander, by my experience, but you get the point. I advise you strongly to become involved in New Englander culture as much as you can. You're going to be flying out to Boston shortly to meet with their leaders. Surely a strong, domineering woman like yourself shouldn't struggle in the land of dominatrices?"
"Assuredly not," Jess smiled. "I'll leave Jack here. They won't appreciate his talents."
"Good," Lighthearter nodded. "Now, I have to be off to see General Clark and Admiral Rivers, but don't hesitate to send me a message if any developments occur. My staff will red-flag anything you send for my personal attention. Just make sure to add a password so it really is for my eyes only."
"I'll use 'Kathy,'" Jess informed him. "It was my mother's name."
"Ah, excellent. I look forward to hearing from you again soon." Lighthearter took the folders back. "I'll send you copies, but I need the originals for another meeting tomorrow. Good luck!"
Jess showed him out, letting Myra and Jack take over sending the Prime Minister away from the house. Slowly, she sank to a seat.
"My god," she mumbled. "The Prime Minister was in my house!"
-L