Ahmed didn't see his wife, only another brown face with dark hair. He was looking for someone different. Sidi had been so vague, but as Ahmed understood the situation he was to show up at the Village's coffee house and meet a member of the group, Katir, who would give him the disc. He wondered if Katir would lay down conditions before handing over the disc.

"Can I help you?" asked a fat Indian.

"I'm meeting someone."

"Who?"

Ahmed looked about the room, then answered in a lowered voice,  "He's from a music group."

The large man nodded. "I'll show you to his booth."

Ahmed followed the Indian. He looked about the room. Just about everyone who lived in the Village was Darkling, but he found it hard to tell by looking. They seemed the same mix he saw in most cities in Pakistan; a majority of Indian Mulims, some Arabs, a minority of immigrants from other continents, and a lot of mixed people. In fact, he believed the latest demographics showed that it was increasingly difficult to find anyone purely descended from any one ethnic group. Well, so much the better if there were less small wars fought between ethnic groups. Ahmed barely thought of himself as a quarter Punjabi.

The host showed Ahmed to a booth, where he slid onto the bench seat. He looked up as the curtain fell, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. Tall and blond, yes, but he soon realized that he knew this face. Ahmed felt bile burn his throat. How could he have not seen it before? Had the blindfold disguised so much?

"But you're Orchid!" Ahmed said.

"And you're Ahmed Ali Jinnah. We were both in the club, only I was on stage and you were in the audience, among other areas."

Ahmed took off his glasses and scarf. He used the scarf to pat his brow; it seemed too hot. This was definitely the man across from him. Katir, who was also Orchid. His neighbor. The scandalous singer. The Vampyre. The man his wife was such good friends with! Ahmed hadn't even considered the consequences of his wives seeing the video.

"Can I have the disc?" Ahmed rasped.

Orchid slid the disc across the table in a small jewel case. "It's the original, there are no copies. I'd destroy it if I were you."

Ahmed pictured himself taking the disc home to make sure it was the right one, getting caught up in watching it, one of his wives coming in and seeing it. He took the disc from its box and snapped it in half.

"Can I order you anything to drink? To eat?"

"No, thank you."

"Don't worry, I won't tell Victoria." Orchid smiled and there was a flash of pearly fangs.

"Why do you do it?"

He laughed. The booth smelt of sweet smoke. "Because we can," Orchid said.

Ahmed pretended he understood and nodded. It occurred to him that he was sitting across from one of the old Vampyres. One of those creatures closely related to the ancient Vampyre living in Alexandria, whom they called High Lord, and who was the leader of the Union of Darkland Nations of which the Arabian States was part.

There was no denying allegiance to the Union now, especially after the war, which that alliance of European Nations had lost, and failed in their secession. Ahmed wondered what he would do if elected governor. There would be many Darkling who were residents of his state. They would want their interests pursued just as every other group did.

Ahmed felt Orchid's eyes on him. He looked up and was lost in the cobalt irises and the darkness within the pupils. He blinked then and looked down at the table between them. Orchid laughed again.

Ahmed felt an awkward silence. "You know those cloves are worse than regular cigarettes," he said.

"Mmmn, the clove oil doesn't effect me, so they're just about the same. I do cough up some nastiness every once in a while. They help us remember to breathe, the cigarettes, and it helps us stay awake during the day. Plus, these leave a nice taste on your lips...."

Ahmed nodded. "I'll go then?"

"If you like, Ahmed." That bothered him, the Vampyre calling him by his given name when the Vampyres were so good at keeping their true names secret. "You're going to Islamabad soon?"

Ahmed looked up at Orchid. "Yes," he said, and continued slowly, "There's a debate scheduled."

"Oh, yes. You'll have to open by announcing your platform." Orchid smiled with closed lips. "I wonder; where does Jinnah stand on Darkling issues? Does he want to legalize public sale of blood instead of forcing Darkling residents to go through pharmacists, or does he maybe wish all the bhuta would go to America where it's sold in supermarkets and newsstands? Does Jinnah support the teaching of Darkling history to all school age children on the ed-net, or does he think it's enough that they can get the lessons from private systems?"

Ahmed was silent a long moment. He thought of leaving. This public sale of blood-- some even wanted human flesh and blood --in supermarkets was controversial even in The United States of North America, where it was legal, though some chains refused to stock the items. In the Asian Confederation sale of any animal blood was legal but never human blood or flesh, no mater how well documented or inspected. And in the new European nation of Goth any type of blood could be sold including Vampyre blood, but no human flesh was allowed.

As for education, Ahmed suspected this was a question Orchid personally wanted answered. Ahmed had read about the lobbying Orchid, Keeper of the Haven near Karachi, had done in the past to get the Arabian states to universalize their education system. When they had gone through with it, he had then been on the committee that set up the system. It was well known that Orchid worked with those who developed programs to teach Darkling History, and who made the curriculum available to educators and students.

"You know that the legal sale of human flesh or blood would never pass the state congress in any Islamic state."

"I know. But, when the states joined the Union agreements were made. We don't prey on you, so long as you treat us fairly and accept us as citizens. Have you seen the crime statistics in the US?"

"All violent crimes dropped, with the exception of racially motivated hate crimes."

"That's because after the last Jewel was voted out of the White House, laws passed that lessened the punishment for hate crimes. There are parties in the American government often conspiring against its people. That's why I have made my home here. Do you know, any candidate who can convince the Darkling population he or she is going to make an effort to legalize public sale of commercially bottled animal blood will win the Darkling voters just for that one concession? But, if he or she should also include on the platform teaching of Darkling History to children, and pass laws to punish discrimination and hate crimes against all peoples more severely, well, he'll be sure to get all their votes."

"The Darkling are a minority."

"The Darkling are a classic underdog. Every rich philanthropist wants a cause to help, and we're a cause. And some of us are very rich. We give parties and invite all the social climbers, and we tell them the latest thing is rallying for Darkling rights."

"And you are saying that I should do this or you will cause scandal?"

Again he laughed. "No. I'm only telling you what any politician could do. I'm making no threats. Ahmed, I mean to tell Hakim Affan the same thing when I see him."

"What? You are meeting with Affan?"

"I get around," Orchid said.

"They you will be going to Islamabad?"

"Yes. And I'm going to make sure all the candidates know what it is we are looking for in a governor. By the way, Zulfi will be going with us."

Ahmed put his glasses on. "Then you are performing in Islamabad as well?"

"Yes. It's something we like doing. We may be sinister sleazy, but we don't do anything considered illegal where we perform.  Even if we should be exposed some day, I don't really care. Most residents of the Village know about us already."

"I see," Ahmed said, understanding this as a warning to him. "The disc you gave me could only ever hurt me."

Orchid smiled. He looked like one of those fashion dolls when he did.

"I think I will be going now."

"There is something else," Orchid said.

"What now?"

"Victoria came to see me today." He sucked at his clove as he appeared to watch Ahmed for a reaction.

Ahmed sank back in his seat. It hadn't even occurred to him that Victoria would run to him. "You didn't do anything to her?" Ahmed asked.

"Well, I'm not one to kiss and tell, Ahmed. But, she did come to see me."

"I will go now," Ahmed said, firmly this time. He pulled back the curtain and slid out of the booth. He hung his scarf about his neck and left the coffee house. It was an ink black night when he exited onto the street. Ahmed walked up the street to his car.

He saw a man and woman standing over a silver Rey and then realized the woman was his wife. He had two thoughts: one that he might walk by her in the shadows, or second he might appear to rescue her. Ahmed chose to rescue her and approached the Rey. He saw the young man was filling its tank from a metal container. He was in midst of explaining that it should be enough to get her to the station, maybe even get her home.

Ahmed touched the man's shoulder. They both turned to face him. "Excuse me, I am this lady's husband, Ahmed Ali Jinnah." He took his card from the inside of his jacket. "Let me pay you for the petrol, and your trouble. If you drive this car to your station, I'll take her home. Have the car checked out. Tomorrow someone will come for it."

The young man nodded. He took the card and ran it through the portable reader on his belt. "Very good. I'll make sure the car is checked."

Ahmed looked at his wife. "Come home now, Victoria," he said firmly.

She said nothing but followed him. They came to the car Ahmed had brought, it was a sporty sleek all-terrain vehicle. He owned a own car, but as he lived out in the country, he seldom took the other car. He opened the door for Victoria and closed it after she had climbed in. Ahmed walked around to the driver's side then.

Victoria said nothing on the drive home. Ahmed wondered what she had done at Orchid's house. He still found it hard to believe the person he had watched dance on that small stage, had seen writhe and twist about almost naked, was the same man he left his wife alone with in their own house, and he was also the same person that kept the Darkling's Haven going, and lobbied politicians for their rights. A very interesting figure, and the very archetype of an eccentric American, Ahmed thought, though Orchid had clearly been in this region for years.

They walked into the house together. Ahmed sent Victoria off to her room. He went to the kitchen and told his cook that he would have supper in his room.

He went into his room. Ahmed called up his assistant and instructed it to connect to the local Haven's network, and then to retrieve the programs on Darkling History.

Ahmed got out of his suit and put some more casual clothes on. He stretched out on his bed and rested a while. Later, when his search had retrieved the files, he thought he would give Sidi a call and ask his opinion on the Darkling. But, Ahmed wasn't sure he could trust Sidi's opinion; his new girlfriend was a Vampyre.

The only other person to ask was Victoria.

Ahmed didn't want to see her yet. He didn't like that she'd fought with him and run straight to Orchid.

Ahmed decided he'd go look in on his children before supper. They were in the nursery: Sharif, Azim, and Brittany Leigh, with their nanny who was one of Majnun's young cousins. His children were still young, toddlers. Perhaps Sharif could be called a young boy. Ahmed played with them a while, following them around their world. He was given the grand tour by Azim, show all the best toys to play with and the pictures they had drawn in their computer's painting program. Brittany Leigh spent most of her time sitting before flickering monitor, her hand on the screen, giggling at whatever new interactive and educational children's program she was watching.

Ahmed asked his oldest son. "Sharif, can you tell me what a Vampyre is?"

The boy just stared blankly.

"Leigh, Leigh, sweetie, can you tell Daddy what a Vampyre is?"

"Um...bambires have sarp teef an dey don get old."

"That's very good. I wonder why they don't get old. Do you know why they don't get old?"

The little girl shrugged.

Majnun came into the room and said that it was time for supper. The two boys ran out into the hall, their mother calling after them and telling them not to run. Brittany Leigh had to be torn away from the flickering screen.

Ahmed gave Majnun a kiss as he passed her and went back to his room. He sat in front of his computer and looked over the screen. The Assistant was transferring the programs to Ahmed's computer.

It was Majnun who came with Ahmed's supper. She asked if she could stay, and he let her. But he didn't talk to her. Ahmed was kept busy monitoring the transfer and installation of several Darkling History programs.  When installed, he looked through the syllabi.

It was almost morning when Ahmed decided he couldn't stay awake any longer. He quickly sent message to Sidi asking for his most honest opinion on the Darkling issues and reminding him that they would be going to Islamabad that week. When Ahmed turned to go to bed he saw Majnun had fallen asleep waiting for him to say something to her. He fell asleep beside her.

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Secret: Some of the names of these fictional nations I just make up on the spot. Goth, USNA, and Union of Darkland Nations do exist in other works, though.