Author's Note:
Hi all, my apologies for the delay on this one. I'm super-annoyed at whatever idiot thought a chain of text messages — no, MULTIPLE chains of texts — would be a WONDERFUL idea. Oh. Wait-a-minute... Well, in this instance, I do sorta hate myself. That was NOT a fun thing to format. I'm hoping the next submission (Ch. 12 & 13) will be a little simpler, I've already started on the formatting for it, even before the beta revision and final reviews are done. If you're reading on a phone, and the text message exchange looks weirdly wrapped, I suggest rotating your phone 90 degrees while you read through the texts. Unless the formatting gets totally messed up, in which case I'm sorry, it didn't work the way I thought it would from the Lit preview. Apologies, I only have one type of phone I can send/receive the texts to build the exchange on.
Again, mahalo nui loa to Corrupting Power (Devin McTaggert) for permitting me to play in his universe, and for putting up with my, "Yo, Dev, is it cool if let this into the wild?" Mahalo also to the other spin-off writers and our friend and beta reader for their encouragement, advice, and assistance in proofreading, and I'm sorry that the grammar of Pidgin results in so many, "Is this actually how it's said?" "Yup." comment-response exchanges. I truly appreciate your questions and assistance, cause, bumbai, I goin get sumting all hamajang sum time! So you guys forcing me to double-check helps. (
bumbai:
sooner or later, at some point |
hamajang:
messed-up, improper)
If you haven't read the other spin-off authors yet, please go do so! They've written some really great kaʻao (stories [fiction])! Oh. one last thing. There's no sex in this submission, but the next one has some. Again, this is a novel (in serial form). The sex isn't hidden away, but there are going to be chapters where the characters aren't actually getting it on.
Chapter 10
July 12, 2020
Mal was a bit puzzled as to how the rock that had damaged his fence had loosened and began to roll — the neighboring slope wasn't bare of vegetation, being covered with
uluhe
fern. Except for a crushed line along the boulder's path. From what Mal could see across the fence, erosion didn't look like a big issue, but there had been that storm recently, and minor trembler-quakes were a weekly event when you lived on the flank of an active volcano. Plus,
uluhu
fern was great at covering formerly grubbed and cleared properties, concealing all sorts of things under the spreading, yet spindly, stems and false staghorn fronds.
Mal simply chalked it up to the combined effects of weather and geology, and thought about what he'd need to fix the fence, while hoping he wouldn't be doing this again next week. And, despite what he'd assumed yesterday, when he and Kat and Callie had come up here, they'd found that there wasn't actually a
puka
— the fence was still intact, just significantly damaged, with two posts leaning and the fabric distorted and stretched. If the rock had knocked it down and rolled along, it would have been easy. Well, maybe not exactly easy, but thanks to the concrete post footings not being significantly displaced, he'd only have to cut and weld new posts in, which still meant bringing the small generator back here to run the welder before he could stretch new fencing. Unfortunately, the chain link fence had caught the damned rock like a net, and now Mal had a roughly 600-lb boulder sitting smack in his fenceline. So before he could even begin to fix the fence, he needed to finish destroying it — by cutting it to free the big rock — and then he could lever the boulder out of the way.
*Yeah, maybe. I might finish this today. Let's see. Got the grinder and cutting wheel. Maybe cut this side first, looks like the rock might settle a little more that way. Wait. Welding jacket and face shield first, Mal.*
Malcolm, properly protected, made quick work of the damaged chain link fence. As he'd suspected, the boulder settled a bit more once the tension from the fence was released. He inspected the bent posts and decided that he could probably just partly cut and straighten them, instead of fully replacing them.
He grabbed his steel
oʻo
and shoved it under the boulder, then lifted it and kicked a chunk of 4x6 under the bar as a fulcrum. "Come on, you heavy bitch-ass rock. Move!" The rock shifted, sliding down along the metal bar. "Damn it. Too much to hope for that it'd just roll away. Okay. Again. Hell, I only need to move it a couple feet for now."
Mal repositioned his tools and tried again. The rock slid a few inches further. Again. And again. Each time, the rock slid a little further. "Yeah, yeah, Archimedes. No, you're absolutely right. I am moving this earth."
Again. "Eureka!" Mal shouted triumphantly.
*Wait, did I use that right? I dunno, why are you asking me — I still think it means, 'Give me a towel!' Gods above and below, brain, you're no bloody help at all.*
Mal checked the time. "Okay, just past noon. Hope Gwen and Kat have had lunch already." He texted Gwen:
Just got the rock out of the way.
Still need to weld the posts and replace
the fabric.
You guys have lunch already?
Gwen responded:
G: Yes. Spaghetti-Os and tangerines.
Both of us. Evelyn's still sleeping. She's
stopped saying 'imprinting'. That's
normal.
We're back outside - working in the
garden. I'm horny, but fine. I'll make it.
Okay. Can I come down and get a quick
bite?
G: Of food? Yes. Maybe don't stop by us.
Can you sneak by so Kat doesn't see
you and want to show you where she
wants things to go? Please?
Er. Uh, yeah. Keep her looking south, I'll
come down along the north side and
go around the house.
G: 👍
Mal shook his head and slipped his phone back into his pocket. "She planning on avoiding me until tomorrow night? Bloody hells, this is more complex than the freaking quarantining." He set off along the north side, headed for the house. There was a 50' span of open yard he'd have to cross, but he'd be able to see Gwen and Kat before he broke cover. Fortunately, they were both kneeling in the garden, facing south, away from him.
Callie was wriggling on her back, between him and his family. Mal waited until she stopped, then got her attention, holding his finger straight up. The cattle dog sprang to her feet, her tongue lolling, then obediently sat down. Mal quick-stepped across the yard as Callie quietly held the sit command. Before he got out of the dog's sight, he gave her the release signal, while putting his finger to his lips. Callie tilted her head quizzically, but then chuffed and flopped back down on the grass again.
Mal left his boots on the porch and let himself in. He headed down the hall to the guest room — Evelyn's room, now. He tapped his knuckles against the door, then, feeling a bit silly as he recalled that Evelyn wouldn't be awake for many more hours, gently opened it.
Evelyn was still where Mal had left her. Exactly. On her back, eyes closed, face toward the ceiling. Mal sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the young woman for a moment.
*Yeah... "Still sleeping." Right. You didn't eat any strange apples, did you Evvy?*
Mal leaned over and gently kissed her lips. As he pulled back, he disturbed whatever careful balance had kept Evelyn's head in position, and her face tilted toward the pillow. A lock of brown hair, shifting with the motion, draped partly over her closed eyes, and Mal gently brushed it back behind Evelyn's ear. He remained there, sitting on the edge of the bed, for another minute, watching her sleep.
Realizing that what Gwen had said was true -- there was nothing he could do for Evelyn during this period, Mal got off the bed. He carefully tucked the blanket above his young lover's shoulders, to ward off the soon-to-come cool evening air, then quietly left the room.
Mal returned to what he thought of as the living part of the house — the part that had the kitchen, dining room, and living room. He went to the kitchen to have a quick lunch — wanting to get back to the fence repair as soon as he could.
As Mal made a hastily slapped-together sandwich,
*Gonna have to order more bread and cold cuts soon, there, boyo,*
he pondered his situation. The mental and physical activity of the morning had occupied his mind, so this was really his first chance to mull things over.
He took a bite and chewed it, staring at the kitchen wall as he thought.
*So... I cheated on my wife. Or not? No... I guess not. It's not like Gwen wasn't aware of it. And, she did say that I was free to, "Take care of my needs elsewhere — discreetly."*
Mal swallowed the bite of sandwich and grabbed a cup from the cupboard. "Damn it. How the hell was that supposed to even happen, Gwen?" Pouring some water from the pitcher in the fridge he took a sip.
*You think I can "discreetly" meet some woman and develop a relationship where I'm comfortable with having sex with them — while taking care of our child?*
Mal returned to his sandwich and took another bite, looking out of the kitchen toward the window to the front yard, but not actually seeing anything beyond his mind as he ate.
*I'm the one who took her to daycare most mornings, and picked her up in the afternoon. All those nights you worked until the pharmacy closed? What, you thought I'd have time to... I dunno, hit a bar, swipe right on Tumblr, or... no wait. Fumbler? Finder? Whatever the hell it's called. While still being home to feed and bathe Kat, then brush her teeth and read her a story before bedtime? Then you come home at 9:45 or 10pm and she bounces up wide awake. Oh. Tinder.*
*Was I supposed to go out then looking to score some pussy? Difficult for me. Pssh.*
"How about, 'fucking impossible,' Gwen," Mal muttered through a mouthful of sandwich.
Badly-faked casual commentary from his Third Thoughts observed,
*Well, but now, look, turns out you've managed to score some pussy. A very hot, very tight, very fun young pussy. And, bonus, Mal! You're going to have sex with Gwen again — probably sooner than you think, too! And, Mal, you know that it won't be like before — where you guys have sex once and then it's six months before the next time you stab her with your meat spear.*
The Thought became pointed as it continued,
*Oh, and remember, Mal. Even if you're both going to be dealing with a heightened libido, SHE'S only got one source for her satisfaction now.*
Mal hissed in frustration. "
*
Shut it, brain. Not liking the direction of this topic of conversation. I-"
*-love Gwen, prickles and all... Yeah, things'll be a little different for us now, but as difficult as it was for me before, this has got to be...*
Mal put down the remains of his sandwich as realization struck. "Aww, fuckaduck."
