Part 1 - La Creazione dell'Erede
«Are you extremely sure they will not see us there?», Donald Tusk asked the man he was talking to on the phone.
«Donald», answered the man, with a huge Italian accent from the region of Grequia, «I know my region. If I tell you you will be good there, trust me. It is not that difficult, when have I exposed any of you? You are pretty well aware of my loyalty to them and to you. All I am asking you for is to be right once again: a mistake could mean the end of it», the man sentenced.
«I am well aware of your loyalty, yet I need you to understand we need to be careful. But I trust you. Thank you for helping us», Donald said just before hanging up the phone. The Council Speaker and Councillor for Spain was seating on his office in Europolis, preparing to leave for Spain for a few days to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. He was well aware of the news, including that summit the Government was having with the United Duchies... «He really wants to exhaust the kid», the Speaker thought to himself.
Donald then looked at the phone, again. He dialled number 1, pressing the key to make the call. After 10 seconds, a familiar voice to him was on the other side: «Any news?», he inquired. «Get your luggage ready. Rendez-vous tonight in Manarola, Nova Italia, Grequia. Bring a hat and a good coat. Oh, and get ready to dine in family on a cold bench by the sea. Tell them too, please», Donald said, then hanging up. The Speaker then took his gloves, hat and coat, his suitcase and turned the lights off, leaving the office and heading towards Europolis - Jean-Claude Juncker International Airport.
Manarola, Nova Italia (Grequia)
Donald Tusk arrived at the Grequian village at 22.00, with darkness taking over the sky for another night. He walked by the streets of the 353 inhabitants village, alone. Everything was closed, including the restaurant. «He was right, bloody Mario...», Donald thought. He then arrived to a narrow footpath by the sea, over a cliff, and took a seat on a stone bench. A slight halo of light from a spotlight aimed at the mountain was the only illumination on the path where the Speaker waited patiently for his guests to arrive.
Would they find him? Would they attend or choose to betray him? The response did not take long to be discovered. Fifteen minutes later, a 1.70 meters long man approached the Speaker, who attempted to recognise the man... successfully. He stood up and gave two kisses to the man. «Nice to see you again, my old friend», Donald confessed to his friend.
«I would have preferred this to happen at a restaurant... Where is the food?», the old man with a Germanic accent replied.
«You have got to be kidding me... You have not brought the food, Jean-Claude?», Donald questioned the former Premier Commissioner.
«The boy is bringing it, no worries», said Juncker patting the Council Speaker on the back.
«I thought we all agreed that it was to early to summon him to our private meetings», Tusk pointed out rapidly.
«Did you just think I am speaking about him?», Juncker asked before starting to laugh. «I can't- I can't- (Juncker stops laughing for a moment) I can't believe that's what you seem to think of me, Donald. I am speaking about our first boy!», commented Jean-Claude, who kept laughing for over 10 seconds.
«You ought to learn to use Spanish properly, my friend - and more precisely!», Donald answered back. «Ah, the complete absence of sense of humour... I was missing that Donald», the former Premier Commissioner striked back.
While the two European but Spanish politicians were arguing about the food and who they were talking about, the third party invited to the clandestine summit was approaching them. His footsteps were light, but echoed in the silence that enveloped the small town of Grequia. Soon the third man came up alongside the other two, a wicker basket in his left hand. The mysterious man tapped Donald on the shoulder, who jumped in fright and tried hard not to scream. «Oh Donald, c'mon. I did not know you were such a fearful little boy!», the man with a discreet Andalusian accent stated.
«You son of a... There were a thousand different ways to make your entry, and out of all of them, do you choose this one?», Tusk protested. Juncker, on the other side, was laughing. «I have loved it! You should have looked at your face, Donald! You fearful little boy!», he noted, laughing again. Juncker then approached the man and gave him two kisses, while Donald shook his hand and gave him a hug. The individual that had arrived was 188 centimeters long
«Whose idea was it to meet here? I wanted secrecy, not to be isolated from the outer world», the man protested.
«Donald proposed to meet here, Jesús», Juncker replied while looking at the Council Speaker, who quickly spoke up: «In fact, it was not my idea at all... Mario suggested this town would be silent and empty when we arrived, he told the truth as you can see. Maybe you two should be thankful for once in your lives».
«Donald, I swear to God, please don't tell me you've told Mario. Did you really?!», Juncker enquired the Councillor, visibly disturbed. «I have! But he supports us, Jean-Claude! There is no risk!», Tusk explained nervously. «Oh for God's sake, Donald, the man can't keep a secret. HE'S GREQUIAN AND NOVOITALIAN! THEY TALK NINETEEN TO THE DOZEN, THEY DON'T KEEP SECRETS! DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!», Juncker shouted. «I DO, AND I DO NOT REGRET ANYTHING I'VE DONE SO FAR!», Tusk sentenced.
«You two gotta calm down if you don't want the entire village to know», Aguilar noted. He then took a seat on the bench, left the basket over it and proceeded to open it. «I don't know about you two, but I'm hungry and there is a lot of Iberic Ham here. I have also brought some bread, wine, chorizo, Iberian spicy sausage, Iberian pork loin and other canapés, so if you want to have dinner, you better hurry up». That was enough for Juncker and Tusk to seat down and start eating together. «Look at us: The Great Three, eating together again as in the old days! Then... are we actually doing this?», Aguilar questioned his friends.
«That is our intention, Jesús. Unfortunately I cannot promise you that it will work. Mario is supporting us and who knows if we can get anyone else on our boat. The important thing is that nobody who's not supposed to know finds out, otherwise we're lost», Tusk warned the gentlemen.
«Given the fact that Donald decided to inform Mario about our special plans, we need a nickname for the kiddo. Something that we understand, but that can be misunderstood anywhere else... You guys can think on something while we eat and discuss how we are pulling the whole plan off», Jean-Claude added, serving himself the second cup of red wine.
«There goes Jean-Claude, serving him his second cup and getting drunk as the great lover of wine he is!», the Council Speaker complained. «You should drink some more, Donald, maybe you would understand what 'sense of humour' really means!», the former Premier Commissioner suggested.
«Well enough! You two are acting like five years olds on a birthday party, fighting over the last piece of cake! Jean-Claude, unless you want to return to Politics, you are retired, just like me. Furthermore, Donald, we better succeed on this plan, or you will be the next one on the retirement list. Ergo, apologise to each other now. In the light of our presence here tonight, I propose we address the kid as 'Il Predestinato'. Italian is not as widely spoken in Spain as English or Spanish is, and even if you can get the word meanings easily, who knows what that could mean if we manage to squeeze it carefully? Meanwhile, we will be known as 'The Great Three'. I've read the press and, believe me, I loved that name», Aguilar proposed.
Both Tusk and Juncker apologised to each other, and liked the idea. The only thing that was missing now was how to get Sebastián Rubio, also known as 'Il Predestinato', to become the Spanish President and, therefore, the President of the Partido Popular. The former Premier Commissioner brought up an idea: «Feijóo is still our friend, but he is not as smart as we thought he was. He is not suited for the job, but he needs a way out. Maybe a swap?», Juncker said.
«A swap? That is simply impossible, Jean-Claude», Tusk replied. «Alberto is smart and still our friend, but the only way he will be useful to the party is either in Galicia or as the Mayor of his little rural village. Of course, he could become the new Spanish Councillor and I could stand in as the kiddo's Foreign Affairs Minister, but does that even fit with my plans to continue as Speaker of the European Council?», Tusk added.
«That is our Plan B, the path we will follow if you lose the election, Donald. Knowing the many fans Spain has all around the Union, I am quite sure one of them will compete against you for the Speaker's Office. We cannot sacrifice Alfonso either, he would not agree with our plans if that were to happen. Henceforth, our current tasks should be improving Il Predestinato's popularity, reputation and the knowledge the Spanish people have about him. Meanwhile, we better start thinking on a way out for Alberto, something decent», Aguilar ordered.
«WAIT! I've got an idea... What if when that happens, we get to run him for the European Commission? I could advice him, he could become a new me... slightly younger, of course. It is not a bad destination, and we could get rid of Corinna for once and all...», Jean-Claude proposed. Donald Tusk and Jesús Aguilar's eyes lit up, nodding at the proposal Juncker had just made.
«Then, we have it. Gentlemen, we will meet again to evaluate our progress. Inform 'Il Predestinato'. And on subsequent occasions, no one should make a move without first informing the others. Discretion is key. All clear?», Aguilar questioned his friends. They nooded. «Then, let's finish our meal and enjoy this time together. Enough business for today, don't you think?», the former Spanish President added.
The Great Three then had dinner together, chatting and laughing. The mission to get Il Predestinato in the Presidency of the Spanish Government had just begun...
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