When Merkel returned, it was as though he had brought a blast of cold air back from some distant northern land. Gotham happened to cool down that morning. When Schiller went to pick him up at the airport, he had to put on winter clothes.
Gotham's summers were hot, but its winters were even colder. The La Niña effect was on full display here. The temperature had been close to twenty degrees the day before, yet by the following morning, it had dropped to the single digits.
After getting out of the car, Schiller tied Aisha's scarf for her. But the little girl clearly disliked the thing wrapped around her neck and kept tugging it downward with her hands. Unfortunately, she had not mastered the correct technique. Even after reaching the airport terminal, she had failed to take it off.
Merkel emerged soon afterward. He smiled when he saw Schiller, walked over, and gave him a hug.
"Good morning, Professor. Long time no see."
"Long time no see." Schiller patted his arm. "How are things in Moscow?"
Merkel sighed. "At this conference, they decided to shrink the territory again. We just don't know which unlucky bastard is getting kicked out this time."
Schiller smiled and shook his head.
Strangely enough, the situation surrounding the Soviet Union in this universe was the complete opposite of how things had gone in most worlds.
Normally, the Soviet Union would have collapsed long ago by this point. But even if some accident had prevented its dissolution, it would still be in constant turmoil, with all the smaller nations in the union clamoring for independence.
But in Schiller's universe, perhaps due to the impact of two Economic Crises in a short span of time, everyone could only huddle together for warmth. There was no other