Previously On The Maya...
While Lilith Sutton leads Amara Barclay, Eugenio Stavros, George Kirkegaard and Paloma Reyes back to her table, Tuscon Sutton II goes to collect Secret Service Agent Lance Simmons and Haley Talford from her father's table, the President of the Isle of Use. President Talford let's Sutton know that Amara is under watch by the Island Protection Bureau.
Meanwhile, The Maya takes in the proceedings, and makes mental inventory of all of the different DNA samples she has already collected from Sutton. Her plan is to blow up the fertilizer plant tonight while The Eastern Star continues upriver.
The Maya—a living legend covert operative-for-hire that no one she encounters can remember.
George Kirkegaard—a former newspaper owner forced out of business by state government.
Eugenio Stavros—a shipping magnate on a trip to the mysterious Isle of Use to renegotiate a steel contract.
Amara Barclay—a savvy, independent multi-millionaire entrepreneur and socialite with unparalleled beauty.
Mr. Tic and Mr. Snake—two U.S. government officials running off-the-books dark ops involving The Maya.
And now...the next installment of The Maya.
After a short but powerful invocation and blessing, dinner was served. A choice of chicken or beef, then prawns, cooked asparagus and spinach, leafy salads with fruits drizzled in pomegranate vinaigrette, baked potato and a whipped fruit gelatin comprised the main courses. Water or a blend of mango, orange and pineapple juice were available to drink.
Servers appeared from four different doorways pushing carts and carrying trays of food. In less than ten minutes, everyone in the ballroom was eating and working through the courses. A few minutes after that, Sutton appeared at the podium and began his speech.
"Friends, family, colleagues, honored guests. Welcome to the fifty-sixth annual Isle of Use dinner and ball. I am Tuscon Sutton II, and along with my wife Lilith, we are your hosts for this evening. We hope you enjoy the food, the music, the conversation, and the company.
"Every year, Lilith and I reminisce about our years here. Our family has blossomed and continues to spread over this land. We are indeed blessed with Divine bounty, more than we deserve. For that purpose, have we sought to share what was given to us, that we might give back a measure of what we received. In doing so, however, we've again been blessed, through the wonderful associations of so many of you, along with your insightful and important contributions to the quality of life we all enjoy here.
"We realized early we would not be able to do this alone. Not and do it right. Not and do it the way it was intended. That required others, with different ideas, philosophies, and dreams. Because of these differences, things did not always go smoothly. There were mistakes made, and lives were adversely affected. I've tried to atone for my part in it, and I believe, over time, those wrongs have been righted, their wounds healed, and the tragedies caused through trial and error have been swallowed up in the triumph of forgiveness, love and loyalty.
"I am happy with our progress here. Do I wish things would move along at a quicker pace? Always. I won't live forever, you know. I need to see what we can do as fast as I can." There was laughter from the crowd at this juncture, but for the most part, rapt attention. "Please, partake, imbibe, enjoy the moment, and the company. Cherish those daily associations, wherever they are found, and celebrate the little things in life. For they are what make life rich, blessed, and worth living. May Providence smile down upon you and yours, as it has on me and mine. Thank you."
To thunderous applause and a standing ovation, Sutton ended his speech with a smile, a wave of the hand and a quick bow. Then, he was off the podium and back with his wife at their table.
"Now, I can finish my food," he said, rubbing his hands together.
"Don't you think he's had enough?" Lilith asked Amara, with a poke of her elbow.
"I'm not getting in the middle of this," Amara said, holding up her hands.
"That would be a first," Stavros said.
Amara gave him a slap of the shoulder, feigning offense, but she couldn't stop smiling.
Amara's in her element, Kirkegaard thought. She was not a pauper, and along with Stavros, was used to hobnobbing with the rich and famous. If Kirkegaard's suspicions were correct, Sutton was probably the richest man in the world, and by a wide margin. With no taxes to report, no shares publicly traded, and no authority to answer to, his wealth was all private. Still, Kirkegaard could get a good idea of what Sutton was worth by asking Layton some holdings questions and gathering information from others.
Which meant Amara was right where she wanted to be. Kirkegaard still didn't know what Smith thought she might be up to. Some kind of business scam? A theft of some kind? If so, it must have been preordained, because the Suttons had sought her out, not the other way around. Yes, Amara started a conflict which was sufficient to draw the Sutton's attention, but she couldn't have known her spat for a seat next to Kirkegaard would get her invited to the Sutton's table. If anything, it should have led to the exact opposite. She was lucky she wasn't thrown out for her impetuousness.
But then, Kirkegaard thought, things don't work the same way here.
Over the next half hour, as the dinner courses were consumed, followed by desserts—cakes, pies, cheesecakes, puddings, etc.—the conversation at the Sutton table was wide ranging. It started out rather subdued and polite, as the newcomers felt each other out, but then, thanks to Amara, it opened up and became varied and wide ranging. Most of the questions were directed to the Suttons, who answered each one with a casual air, giving in most instances considerable detail, though the probing veered into personal territory, none more so than when Amara, apparently unable to contain herself any longer, blurted out:
"How much are you worth?" She was looking straight at Sutton when she asked, her chin resting on her hands. She asked it as casually as the Sutton's were answering.
Sutton gazed at her for a moment, a smile frozen on his face. Kirkegaard tensed, and he could see Stavros was similarly uncomfortable. Was it ever appropriate to ask a man his worth? There might not be a law, unwritten or otherwise, but it sounded overreaching, even coming from Amara.
As a moment then two passed, Lilith turning to look at her husband, Sutton said, "To tell you the truth, my dear, I've lost track. Like most well off people, we do have accountants which handle such things, and we get quarterly reports. It's been two months since the last one, and at that time, our combined holdings were bordering on seven hundred billion dollars."
'The Maya' publishes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Copyright © Glen Anthony Albrethsen, 2014-2018. All rights reserved.