Chapter 24: Ch 024: Group distribution
Simbi and Dave stepped into the meeting room, joining the other executive members who were already seated and engaged in hushed conversations. As they entered, multiple gazes swung their way, and Dave felt a familiar sense of unease wash over him.
Just like the first time he had walked into a room full of strangers, he sensed that all eyes were on him, their gazes lingering on his face as if trying to read his thoughts. It was a strange, discomforting feeling, but he steeled himself to endure it, at least for the time being.
Simbi, seemingly oblivious to the attention, led him to an empty seat at the back of the room, where the two of them sat together, nestled in the relative anonymity of the rear row. Dave felt a twinge of gratitude toward Simbi; with her by his side, the number of curious glances he would receive might decrease, allowing him to blend in more easily. It seemed that Simbi, too, had noticed the glances and had purposely chosen the back seat, perhaps to spare Dave the discomfort of being the center of attention.
As Dave settled into his seat, he took stock of the room, his eyes scanning the familiar faces of the executive members. However, he couldn’t help but notice the absence of some people, particularly those he had interacted with in the past few hours.
Anthony, the leader of the base, was noticeably absent, and Dave couldn’t help but wonder if he was running late or attending to some urgent matter. Tasha’s absence, on the other hand, didn’t come as a surprise to Dave. Given her recent outburst, it was understandable that she might want to avoid the meeting, or at least, lay low for a while. Her behavior had been erratic, to say the least, and Dave suspected that she might be feeling embarrassed or vulnerable after her emotional display.
Gunther, the third absent member, was someone Dave hadn’t had much interaction with, but he seemed like an important part of the executive team. His reserved demeanor and thoughtful expressions had left a positive impression on Dave, who wondered what insights Gunther might bring to the meeting.
Just as Dave was starting to feel a bit concerned about the absent members, the door swung open, and a group of people walked in. To Dave’s relief, Anthony and Gunther were among them, and they quickly took their places at the front of the room. Anthony, in particular, seemed to exude an air of confidence and authority as he made his way to the whiteboard, where he began to set up his presentation.
With a few swift motions, Anthony started hanging up cardboard sheets and papers, creating a makeshift display that seemed to be a mix of notes, diagrams, and maps. He scribbled some key phrases on the board, using a marker that squeaked as he wrote. The sound was familiar, and Dave found himself watching with interest as Anthony’s presentation began to take shape.
"Alright, all done," Anthony announced, clapping his hands twice to signal the completion of his preparations. With a confident smile, he turned to face the members, his eyes scanning the room to ensure he had everyone’s attention. "For tomorrow’s expedition, we’ll be dividing into a separate group, distinct from the original main group. We have a vast amount of ground to cover, and it’s essential we work efficiently."