by Mirren Hogan
He shivered as he walked through the dark, quiet carpark toward the hospital. The rest of it was well-lit, but the only vacant spot he could find was beneath a lamp with a broken bulb. He glanced behind him as he stepped quickly. I’m getting paranoid, he told himself. Small wonder after the last few days.
A dark shadow flew overhead, the faintest sound of wings flapping making him jump. He froze and looked skyward until he saw a tiny bat winging away.
He walked faster until he reached the sanctuary of the lit entrance and the sterile, sickly-sweet scent of the hospital. Why did they all smell the same? His running shoes barely made a sound on the linoleum tiles. He moved around a nurse pushing a cart and slipped into Makani’s darkened room.
Makani didn’t move when Flynn came in. In fact, she was snoring softly, curled into a ball on her side.
He smiled and lowered himself into a chair. Even if she couldn’t eat just now, he was starving. He opened the bag and pulled out a burger. His diet lately left much to be desired, but it tasted delicious. He ate the whole thing in about three bites and sucked the juices off his fingers. He’d brought bananas from home; he ate one of those now and tossed the skin away before putting the bag onto the table for Makani when she woke.
The chair didn’t fold out into a bed, as he’d hoped, but he found a spare pillow and blanket on a shelf beside the bed. They did little to make the chair more comfortable, but he curled up as best he could and fell into a fitful sleep.
***
Sleep. Sweet, blessed, dreamless sleep that only involved darkness and silence. One never really felt rested until they had that perfect darkness in their mind.
By the time the dreamless sleep dissipated, the sun had started to rise. Her entire body hurt. Every muscle screamed in agony as she shifted to get comfortable. Her eyes trained on Flynn, and Makani smiled. She’d fallen asleep not knowing if he was really going to come back. But there he was, and the poor thing was going to have a crick in his neck when he got up. Reaching a hand out, she wrapped her fingers around his forearm, needing to feel his skin against hers, just for a few moments.
His eyes shot open. He looked startled and disoriented at first. After a few seconds he relaxed and smiled. “Sorry, I thought you were going to eat me, and not in a good way.” He yawned and looked at his watch.
Seven AM.
“Your burger would be cold and congealed by now, but there’s a banana in there.” Or hospital food, if the rattle of the trolley in the corridor was anything to go by.
“I can eat.” In fact, Makani was starving now. And she had to pee, but hunger outweighed that imperative. Easing up, she reached for the banana and started peeling it, her mouth watering at the smell. “I’m surprised your sister didn’t have you declared insane and shipped back home.” She spoke around a mouthful of food.
“Don’t discount that possibility,” he said dryly. “The US has an extradition treaty with Australia, doesn’t it? Maybe I should start hiding now rather than in five months, when my visa expires.” He was only half-joking.
“It would be hard to hide, considering the cops know where to find me. And Asa knows most of my hiding spots.” A nurse came in and took Makani’s vitals, handed her real pain killers and antibiotics, and waited for them to be swallowed. Leaving the breakfast tray and a stern order not to move too much, the nurse left them alone again.
“Maybe we could find another island to hide on.” He lifted the lid on the breakfast tray. Pinching a piece of egg, he swung the table over so Makani could reach it. “Scrambled rubber, my fave.”
“The food isn’t so bad here. I’ve had worse.” But she picked gingerly at the ersatz eggs and hard rice. She mulled over Flynn’s words for a moment, before her expression brightened up. “If you’re serious about hiding on another island . . . ”
“I’m listening.”
“Maybe we can hide out at my brother’s coffee farm on the Big Island?” She sipped her coffee, her smile showing her mind warming up to the idea of going. “They need the extra hands, and the foreman pays cash under the table. Gives us lots of time to explore, I’ve still got my Ninja up there . . . whadda ya say?”
“Is that legal?” Did it matter? Maybe getting away from Oahu would mean any remaining monsters would be gone by the time they got back. “Would he mind if I took pictures? Maybe I could write an article about life on a coffee plantation. That’s the sort of thing they publish in Geographic.”
That could lead to more work and a longer visa.
“That’s the idea! Not everyone gets to see coffee plantations. By the way, that job took us to the pagoda.” She shuddered at the memory. “The pictures are safe. And some are really good. You might want to see if the guy still wants them?”
“I already did,” he said. “I rang him while I was waiting for the plane. My relatives are on their way home, by the way,” he added as an aside. “Anyway, I sent the photos to his email last night. I’m hoping there’s money in the bank this morning. And you’re a genius.” He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “How would we get there?”
She shrugged, “There are flights going out to Kona all the time. Whenever they let me out, we can just pack up our crap and go. Maybe you can get your deposit back on your place?”
He smirked. “I think I’ll need you with me when I ask, so you can translate. You’re not going to get me to the airport and get me dragged onto a flight back to Sydney?”
She looked at him with an eyebrow raised, although she couldn’t blame him for being a little bit paranoid.
She lowered her eyebrow and spoke assuringly. “I won’t ship you home! Not yet, anyway. We’ll see how I feel after living on a plantation with you, though.” She pushed the tray away, “Are you sure, now? This is gonna be rustic! Like . . . wood stove and outhouse rustic. They have a bath house like I’ve got, though.” She smiled suggestively.
“I’m sure, even if there wasn’t a bath house,” he said, taking her hand and giving it a light squeeze. “It’ll only take me a few minutes to pack. I travel light. Except my camera, which is safely at my house, under the bed.”
He cupped her cheek with his hand and caressed her skin with his thumb. “There’s no point being an intrepid photographer if I run away the first time I get to do anything intrepid. Besides, it’s not like it’s the middle of the Amazon jungle. Which I’d also like to photograph someday.”
“The Amazon might be less work. But if you’re sure, I’ll call the foreman and he can have someone pick us up from the airport when we get there.” She leaned forward and kissed him, before shrinking back in chagrin. “Any chance you can help me up so I can brush . . . y’know, my teeth and stuff?”
“You’re that bad?” He put out his arm. “I can shower you if you like?” He smiled. “And then maybe I can go out for real food? With no spam in it.”
“Don’t knock it! Spam is the unofficial state food. It’s salty deliciousness—” She managed to get up under her own power and gingerly settled her feet on the floor. “Go and get your ‘real food.’ I can do this part.” She gave him another chaste peck on the cheek, and hobbled over to the bathroom.
“If you’re sure . . . ” His stomach rumbled. “Right, I won’t be long.” He watched her for a few moments and then walked out of the room on stiff legs, rolling his neck to get the crick out.
***
Having to actually sit and pee was something Makani had never considered an inconvenience. But with a cracked rib, it was fairly difficult. The shower was much better. Clean water had never felt so good. Washing her hair was rough, but she managed to do it without ripping the line out, or getting the plasters on her back too soaked. She toweled off and got dressed, only to open the door and find herself staring into the face of a glowering nurse.
Apparently, the medical staff didn’t appreciate a patient dragging around their fluids, nor did they appreciate her taking a shower without telling someone, especially when the resident physician wanted to take a look at the damage on he
r body. But, after a quick check and the doctor warning her to sit still for the perturbed nurse to conduct a bandage change, he cleared her to leave as soon as the paperwork was done.
Flynn was walking in as the doctor was walking out. He came bearing Styrofoam boxes containing pancakes and little packets of maple syrup flavored sauce. “Hey, do you have room for some health food?” he asked cheerfully.
“Sure! But good thing you got that to go. We’re getting the hell out of here.”
“Good, because we need decent coffee to go with these.”
She could smell the pancakes as he put them on the table. It made her move more quickly, motivated by the idea of syrup on her tongue. She started to search for her clothes, closing the curtain around the bed before grabbing her things from the drawers.
It took her a moment to get into her shirt, and she didn’t bother with a bra . Sliding her shorts on was painful, but nothing she couldn’t manage. At least they were clean. Flynn had ducked back to her place while she slept and brought back things which actually went together. Makani grabbed her shoes from him after he fished them out from under her bed, and slipped them on her feet just a few minutes before the nurse came back with the release orders and paperwork. After signing her name in about a dozen places, she stood up with minimal grimacing, and grabbed the bottles of pain meds and antibiotics. “Thank God. Let’s get out of here!” She grabbed Flynn’s hand, and picked up the takeout boxes with the other.
“I suppose you’ll be on top for a while,” he remarked, his expression deadpan. They walked slowly and carefully to where he’d parked the jeep the night before.
“Maybe, but are you going to complain about that?” She thumped the hood of the jeep, glad to see it still in the state she last saw it. Leaning down to hot-wire it was painful, but Makani was learning to breathe through it. The painkillers would help to make it bearable for most of the day. Hopefully they wouldn’t be running from nightmare creatures any time soon.
“Hell no. Are you sure you don’t want me to drive? I haven’t run into anything with it yet. I almost ran over a chicken, but you know them, they’re always crossing the road at the wrong time.”
“You’re still not licensed, remember? Besides, driving relaxes me.” She shot a grin at him before pulling out of the stall, nearly running over a mid-shift nurse. “My bad! Sorry!” Makani pointed them east toward Flynn’s place. “Let’s get things settled at your house, then we can check in on mine, and make arrangements to leave from there. How’s that sound?”
“Sounds cozy,” he replied. “Not renting will save me a fortune.”
She nodded. “That’s the idea. And if we come back early, you can stay with me until one of us wants to kill the other.” Makani doubted that would happen, but the option had to be there, just in case.
The drive was peaceful, and the sky was clear and bright, a welcome change from the gloom and halogen lights of the hospital. Pulling into the driveway, Makani got out, stretching herself. “Which way to the landlady’s?”
“It’s the house directly behind mine.” He pointed. “I could put coffee on while you talk to her?” He looked hopeful, but more or less resigned to her saying no.
Actually, she surprised him with, “No, I think I got this. Pack your stuff, and make that coffee.” She smiled over her shoulder and started back.
“Yes.” He grabbed the pancakes and bolted inside before she could change her mind.
The exchange was rather brief. The landlady was sad to see Flynn and the regular rent go, but she understood. There was always another tourist looking for a place to stay, so he could be replaced. She gave up the deposit readily enough, but kept the rest of the month’s rent. All things considered, it was a fair deal. With a, “Thank you, Manang!” Makani waved at the older woman, and started back to the rental house. “Flynn, I got your deposit money back!”
“You’re my hero.”
She swapped the deposit for a cup of fresh coffee. “Thanks.”
“Does that make us even again?” He looked questioningly at her.
“For now.” She sipped at the hot coffee and sighed in very real pleasure. “Can we check flights going out on your tablet? See if there’s anything leaving this afternoon? We can see the Kona coast at sunset, if we’re lucky.” Makani just wanted to get off the island and away from the last weeks’ worth of bad memories.
“Sure, let me get it.” He put down his coffee and disappeared into his room, returning a few moments later with his tablet. “There’s a flight at 12:04, one and 1:45 one at . . . I guess that’s a yes. The sooner the better, I assume?” He glanced up from the screen, his hand paused in mid-air over the tablet.
“If I can get my stuff straightened out, yeah. The good thing about being your own boss—you can close up shop any time, and no one can say a damn thing!” That had been her whole reason for setting up as a tour guide. When the surf was up, or she had other things to do, she didn’t have to work, unless the client wanted to tag along.
“So, should I book the earlier one? There are later flights.” He shrugged. “Or you could rest today and fly out in the morning?” And yet, he looked excited to head out as soon as they could go.
“Go for the 1:45. Give us time to get through TSA. I’ve got the worst luck with those guys! They always think I’m carrying drugs, or something.” Makani started picking on one of the pancakes. “I’d better tell Aunty and my oldest brother that I’ll be gone, so they don’t worry.” She picked up her own phone and started sending messages out.
“And Annie.” Flynn put the tablet on the kitchen bench and tapped at the screen with one hand, while sipping his coffee from the other. “Is she going to be okay?”
“Annie’s like a cat. She always lands on her feet. Besides, her place is rigged with more security than Fort Knox.” But Makani started shooting an email out to her, as well. It wasn’t uncommon for her to disappear for a little while. Although if everything went well, they would be gone a long time.
“Good, because three’s a crowd. There, booked. I even got us seats in front of the wing, so we can look out a window. Much better than sitting in the hold.”
“Well—” she drained the last of her coffee and stood up slowly “—let’s get you packed and get to my place.” Makani picked up his mug and started for the kitchen.
“If you’re going to wash the dishes and pack them away, I’ll grab my stuff. It won’t take long.” He walked back into his room. The sound of doors and drawers opening and closing filled the small house, along with the sound of Flynn humming off-key.
She threw out the takeout box and pulled the trash up, leaving the bag by the door. While scrubbing the last few dishes in the sink, Makani wondered exactly how much time they would have to enjoy each other without something happening. Admittedly, this was not the longest Makani had stayed with a man. But this was probably the most involved she’d ever been.
Leaving the dishes on the rack, she closed the windows and drew the curtains around the house, careful to make sure everything looked untouched. Except for the extra-clean spots on the carpet and bare spots in the paint, no one would know someone had been there. She poked her head around the bedroom door. “Hey! You need help in there?”
He was just pulling the zipper around the dark blue suitcase he’d put on the bed. “No, that’s it.” He clicked the flimsy lock closed, swung a backpack onto his back and his precious Nikon around his neck. Pulling the suitcase by a long handle, he followed her out the door. “Do I look like a tourist again now?”
“Only a little. At least you’re not wearing that ridiculous shirt from the first day we met.” That brought a smile to her face as she followed Flynn. Closing the door and making it to the jeep, Makani settled herself into the driver’s seat and began the process of starting it.
Flynn lifted his suitcase into the back of the jeep, threw his backpack in beside it and slipped into the passenger seat. “So, what’s wrong with that shirt? It’s colorful.”
“I
t’s—yeah, you only wear a shirt like that when you’re trying to be ironically hip in a dorky way.” She gunned the engine and backed out, nearly running over the same two boys they’d seen days before. “Brah, for real! Go to school!” This time, she literally scared the pants off one of them.
Flynn chuckled. “Nice Spiderman underpants,” he called out. “So anyway, are you saying I can’t pull off dorky-hip?”
“I’m sure you can!” Makani flicked her eyes over at Flynn, with what could only be termed as a kolohe smile on her face. “I just see you as a bow-tie and suspenders, pocket protector and high-tops, kind of dorky. I mean that in the best way possible!”
“There’s no good way to say that,” he retorted cheerfully, “unless I’m Marty McFly.”
“Huh? Who’s Marty McFly?” She looked over at Flynn and the jeep swerved to the side, nearly hitting the median divider.
He turned to her. “Seriously? What kind of geek are you?” he teased.
“The kind that doesn’t even have basic cable or a PlayStation. I read comic books!” She grinned cheekily at Flynn.
“At least you play Angry Birds.”
“And Cut-the-Rope! The monster is cute.” She turned north onto the road to her house, not sure what they would find. For all Makani knew, there would be nothing left but rubble. Or worse, monster shit in her yard. At least the cats were nice enough to bury their messes.
But, to her surprise and relief, there was nothing wrong. Maybe the porch light had been left on for a couple days, but that was negligible. Parking at the top of her driveway, the stray and feral cats came mobbing her, rubbing against the humans’ ankles and herding them toward the house. “Looks like you guys missed me, huh?”
“And the bacon.” Flynn scratched a scruffy ginger cat on the back of its neck. “They don’t look any worse for wear.”
