Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X, #1)(79)

Rhea was another friend of Poppy’s, one who’d been suspended after being caught in a compromising position with a teacher.

Dennis gave Tessa a nervous smile. “Sure. I’m going after school today if you want to come.”

Tessa froze, but Poppy answered for her. “Of course she does. And tell Rhea she still owes me money.”

Dennis went back to his seat, and Tessa turned on Poppy in horror. “I can’t go with him! Not alone. We need…I don’t know. A chaperone or something.”

“Are you serious?” Poppy looked her over. “Wow, you are. Look, this isn’t a date. It’s church. It’s broad daylight. Even your provincial hang-ups can’t have a problem with that. It’s not like you’re going to go make out in an abandoned building. And besides, this is Rhea’s brother. He’s cool.”

Poppy always talked about Tessa’s provincial habits as though they were cute, not primitive. Usually, Tessa conceded to her friend’s advice, but this involved a line Tessa didn’t think she could cross. It didn’t matter if it was daylight or public. Going out alone with a boy was completely unheard of in Panama. Even if Tessa knew it was fine by Gemman standards and not really that dangerous, old teachings were hard to shake.

She made herself feel better by calling Cynthia after school and asking permission.

“You want to go to church?” Cynthia was out somewhere and answered with voice only, but Tessa could imagine her incredulous expression.

“Is it okay?” Tessa hesitated before delivering the big blow. “It’s with a guy. Alone.”

“Is he thirty or something?”

“No. He’s in my grade.”

“Then go with my blessing. Learn something wholesome.”

Cynthia wasn’t exactly the authority figure Tessa’d originally believed she was. Justin had recently called his sister out on that, asking if she was doing a good job in parenting Tessa. Cynthia had been indignant. “What’s there to parent? She does her homework right after school and helps with dishes. You give me more trouble than she does. The most rebellious thing she does is walk to school with that delinquent.”

And so, Tessa soon found herself riding into downtown with Dennis. Maybe he was Rhea’s brother, but he didn’t have much in common with her—much to Tessa’s relief. Dennis seemed as shy as Tessa felt and did his part to help along their awkward small talk. He at least seemed genuinely interested in Tessa’s background and, much like Poppy, didn’t find it anything to be ashamed of.

“My parents like us to go twice a week,” he explained to Tessa, switching back to the topic of church. “They think it develops character.”

“Rhea goes too?”

“No, she just says she does, and I cover for her.” He laughed to himself. “They’re able to make her go while she’s suspended. It’s probably the worst part of the punishment for her.”

Although the Church of Humanity had worship centers everywhere, its main cathedral was in downtown Vancouver. The videos Tessa had watched of services had been in places that typified Gemman public areas: simple, clean, bright. She’d expected the same of the cathedral, just on a larger scale. So, it was a surprise to walk into the building and find that it resembled some of the churches back in Panama.

The most notable part, to Tessa, was the abundance of wood and marble, providing an aged look so different from the modernity of everything else in the RUNA. The vaulted ceiling was arched, and large windows allowed afternoon sunlight to pour into the nave and onto its ornate wooden pews. Pillars lined the sides of the room, coming together in more pointed arches. Tessa almost felt as though she’d been transported to some other country until she saw the media screens scattered throughout the space. That was more in line with what she expected. She and Dennis sat down about halfway back in the pews, allowing her to notice one more notable feature: There were no symbols or pictures of any kind, aside from the Gemman flag.

“Only about half-full today,” Dennis told her. “More people come on the weekends.”

“It’s beautiful,” she said. It might have been the most beautiful thing she’d seen since coming to the RUNA. “All of this, for no god. It’s so strange.”

“Why?” he asked, looking legitimately puzzled.

“It’s just how I was raised, that’s all.”

“You worshipped a god?”

It sounded weird when he put it that way. “My family did.”

“Which god?”

“Er, God, I guess.”

The officiant began the service. He actually wore the kind of elaborate robes she’d seen on other priests, though these were done in the Gemman national colors. Dennis leaned close to whisper in her ear, “Sometimes on the weekends, Angela herself officiates here.”

Tessa didn’t know who Angela was and mostly felt startled at Dennis’s proximity. It didn’t send any thrills of attraction through her. It was just something she had absolutely no experience with.

Everyone stood and sang the national anthem, and then the officiant urged them to take their seats again. He welcomed the congregation and launched into his talk. And that’s what it was: a talk. Or maybe “lecture” was a better term. It certainly wasn’t a sermon. In fact, as the screens lit up, showing a bulleted list, Tessa felt as though she were back in school.