“I’ve rarely left Maui. Sure I’ve travelled, but I always come back to my roots.” Mak stopped for a moment. “We should go around the mountain that way and up behind the ridge. See how the path forks toward the direction of the docks? If we stay on this path, we risk running into more of those men. Come on.” Mak began walking off the beaten path and Blythe hesitated before following.
“Don’t we risk stepping on a live landmine?”
He watched as she tenderly stepped around anything that looked like a lump in the earth. “Just stick with me. Stay close.”
Chapter Fifteen
The arduous climb seemed endless. The urgency to get up and over the ridge off the beaten path without being blown to smithereens by hidden landmines inhibited idle chatter. Mak guided Blythe over the final ridge that led to a small clearing. A large grassy patch stood dead center surrounded by large boulders.
“It’s like a guarded fortress up here,” Blythe huffed, her chest heaving from exertion and altitude.
“Welcome to Lua Makika. This’ll do, right?” Mak said as he let go of her hand.
Blythe nodded and watched him circle the space, assessing the security of it.
“They’ll never see us up here thanks to these rocks. And look,” he pointed to a large rock face that leaned up and out, creating a giant lean-to. “Shelter. It’s not the best, but it’ll keep us protected.”
Everything was cast into silver silhouette now, the full moon offering enough light to see their surroundings. Looking out over the water, Blythe locked her eyes on the lights along the distant shoreline, wondering if she’d ever see civilization again in one piece. It was all so surreal. She crouched down in the soft soil and peeled her designer satchel off, letting it fall to the ground. Her entire body throbbed with an ache she’d never experienced. A cocktail of fatigue and adrenaline jostled her insides, making her want to sleep and fight all at the same time. It was exhausting. Her feet were filthy, the dust covering her recent pedicure completely.
“How long will we have to wait up here?” she asked, knowing deep down Mak couldn’t provide the answers.
“There’s no telling. Could be hours, I don’t know. We’ll have to wait until they receive their shipment. The guy at the bunkhouse said they had a few hours to kill, remember? They’re waiting for someone to arrive. Still, we’ll have to take precautions.”
Leery, she knew her next question would sound like she doubted his abilities. “Do you really know how to use that gun or were you just putting on some bravado back there?”
Mak shot her a look. “Like I said before, I was in the Armed Forces for six years, remember? I have experience.”
She liked the sound of that. He was experienced.
“I know I’m in good hands, Mak.”
Blythe had underestimated his strength. Looking sideways at his profile in the moonlight, she thought back to the earlier fight with the thug, how Mak had fought to protect them. Not once had he giving in. She’d watched the fight in awe, completely transfixed by his abilities. Now, she felt safe with him, secure. She thanked her lucky stars she wasn’t out here solo. Her skin produced goosebumps and shuddered at the thought of being alone and vulnerable, something she loathed and fought hard to avoid.
“At this altitude, we can’t chance our voices carrying down below on the wind and giving us away,” Mak said in a hushed tone. “We’ll have to keep it quiet.”
“Okay,” Blythe whispered back, her breath rising up into the now chilly night air. Looking up, the stars seemed so close she could reach up and grab them. The rush and retreat of the crashing waves in the distance encircled the base of Lua Makika, the grassy slope leading up a sharp incline to where they now stood.
“What are you doing?” she asked, watching him roll a boulder from the center area toward the others at the edge. She admired his strong muscles bunching under his tee shirt as he strained to reposition them in a way that formed a natural looking wall. The sight of his rippled arm muscles gave her an unexpected tingle.
“Don’t want the rocks too uniform or it will draw attention. We have to take every precaution.” Blythe crept closer to the line of large rocks that faced the side of a steep drop off. Looking over, she realized how far they’d come. They’d traversed the length of the entire island – twice – only to end up practically where they began. The distant docked boats and their proximity to the smugglers made everything feel far too real. Was hovering above the smugglers encampment wise?
“This place is perfect,” Mak said, as if answering her thoughts. “We can hide at this height and distance yet still see what happens below. We’ve got a bird’s eye view.”
<><><>
Mak sat beneath the rockface for a moment and took a few deep, calming breaths. He thought this might help, but it didn’t. Being forced to sit idly was the ultimate test in his patience and the tension began to mount. He found sitting still for too long difficult, especially in times of stress. His body always responded to tension by moving, staying physically active to diffuse the situation. Running, windsurfing, and doing physical labor around the station with his colleagues kept him sane and comfortable. He sprung to his feet, pacing. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed in frustration, letting all the air out.
Likewise, Blythe’s shoulders tensed. Her eyes burned with a fiery impatience Mak was sure she’d never experienced before. But he had, first hand. He’d witnessed it many times too, by people trapped but forced to sit still until help arrived. They displayed panic mixed with resolve; like being in a stressful limbo-land where the outcome is beyond anyone’s guess. Those involved hope and pray for the best, but not everything goes according to plan in each situation. This wasn’t a movie – it was real life, right now.
Blythe leaned her back against a boulder and looked up. “I can’t get over the amount of stars out here. It’s breathtaking.”
Her comment forced Mak’s attention upward. He thought about all the ancestors that had been on this very island, before it was treated so disrespectfully. He wondered how many had died here. Would dying on Kahoolawe be his same fate? “There are some ancient chants that reveal a spot on Kahoolawe called Mao’ulaiki where Polynesian ocean navigators used the stars to guide them over the Pacific. Seeing all these stars, it’s easy to imagine why they would use celestial navigation.”
“Is that the actual name for it?” Blythe asked.
“Yep. Stick with me, I’ll teach you the island ways.”
“Where’s this Mao…sorry, I can’t remember the name.”
“Mao’ulaiki.”
“It sounds way better when you say it.”
Mak laughed lightly, happy to impress her. “It’s on another peak, about 400m above sea level.”
“That would have been an even nastier climb.”
Mak shot her a look. “Blythe, we’re about 450m above sea level right now. Lua Makika is the highest peak on this island.”
“Wow. No wonder my legs are aching. You had me doing exercise outside of a gym. I’m officially an island girl now.”
Mak laughed.
“Why didn’t the ancient Hawaiians use this peak for celestial navigation then, if it’s the highest?”
“Don’t know. I guess the other one had a better view. My Kapuna told me all the ancient stories. Said not only could you see all the stars in the sky at Mao’ulaiki, you could also see the currents in the ocean. There’s a stone shrine at the summit. Had the pleasure of climbing up there and seeing it last year. Again, I was on Kahoolawe for horrible reasons.”
Blythe looked up into his face. “Right. The wildfire.”
“It seems this island is constantly calling me, but it’s never a pleasant visit.”
“The wildfire had a happy ending thanks to you. Maybe this visit will too.”
“I sure as hell hope so.” Mak stood and walked toward her. “Can I borrow those?”
Blythe lifted the strap from her neck and passed him the binoculars. He knelt beside her and shuffled
up to the edge. Resting the binoculars on a low boulder, he brought his eyes to them and adjusted the focus.
“Hmm,” he said.
“What do you see?”
“In this darkness it’s hard to see much. There’s smoke near the boat. They’ve got a fire going.”
“Near our boat?”
“No, near theirs. Our boat’s about a hundred yards away.”
“How many men?”
“Two. One by the fire and the other pacing around. They both have guns, though.”
Mak swiveled the binoculars over toward their boat and then down in search of Lou’s body on the path. It had been moved. Scanning the area, he couldn’t see Lou anywhere.
“Here, want to see?” Mak passed her the binoculars and got to his feet.
“They look ready to spend the night. Are they waiting us out?”
“My guess is they’re still waiting for the shipment. The reason they’re here in the first place.” Mak walked around the area and collected a dozen or so smaller rocks to build a rudimentary ring.
“Wait,” Blythe brought the binoculars down, “what are you doing?”
“Making a fire pit. It’s getting colder now, we’ll have to keep warm.”
Blythe’s panic rose visibly. “But they’ll see a fire, won’t they? They’ll at least smell it.”
“They have their own fire going. They won’t know a thing.”
“Is this a good idea?” she asked.
Mak didn’t answer. His mind was on other things as he looked around the ground. He walked away from the area, disappearing into the darkness. Blythe hugged herself, rubbing her arms for warmth yet careful of her throbbing wound. Out of the darkness, he came back carrying an armload of small branches and dried brush. “Kindling,” he said, laying it down beside the small rock-ring. Piling and manipulating the kindling into his desired ‘tee-pee’ formation, he then pulled out a pack o waterproof matches from his pocket. “Lifted these from the CB shack. Good thing.”
The small fire crackled and popped as the branches finally caught, creating a tiny inferno. Sitting back on his haunches, Mak admired his handy-work before leaning in and fanning the flame to with a hand to sustain it.
Blythe inched closer and sat beside him, holding up her cold hands. “What if they see sparks?” She inhaled the smoky char. “Or smell it.”
“Don’t worry, we’re upwind. They won’t see or smell a thing.” Mak placed a few more branches on top like a Boy Scout – or an experienced Fire Chief.
“But what if the fire spreads by accident?” she asked innocently enough.
Mak paused, staring her down. “I think I know what I’m doing. You want to be warm, don’t you?” He looked at her arm, noticing its condition in the firelight. He pointed, “Gonna have to fix that.”
Blythe looked at the bandage.
“Here, I have another strip of material from my shirt.” Mak pulled a long rectangle from a cargo pocket. “I want to redress your wound. With all the walking we’ve done, it looks loose and the blood’s coming through. The last thing we want is an infection to set in. Come here, let’s treat it tighter this time.”
She nodded and inched even closer, creating a cozy proximity that Mak appreciated. Unweaving the material, he threw the bloody used fabric into the fire and it ignited with a tiny woosh. She sucked in hard as he brought her arm out.
“Still bad?”
“Pain all the way to my fingertips.”
Hesitating – his fingers hovered over her creamy skin as the days heat radiated off her. He ripped his gaze away from her protruding breast at bicep level. She was quite the distraction.
“This is going to hurt as much as before. Hold still.” Mak applied more antiseptic cream to the now clotted wound. Blythe winced, but kept her arm as still as possible while he rewrapped it firmly. “That should do it.”
She rose from her knees and brought her arms around her in a self-hug. Sauntering away from the fire, she paced along the boulders before coming back again as Mak boldly stared. Blythe put her hands out over the flames. She rubbed them together, generating warmth.
“Better?”
“Much.”
Her hair was now wild and unruly since the clip fell out during her fall over the gully. The humidity gave it volume too, like after sex hair, though far from deliberate. Mak moistened his lips as he devoured her figure with his eyes. How was he going to hold himself together? It was asking the impossible.
<><><>
Glancing around, Blythe was struck by the beauty of the view – despite their hair-raising circumstances. Bringing her eyes dead center, she stared at Mak over the fire. He leaned back against the rockface with his arms crossed under his head. Since his eyes were closed, she ventured a longer look, holding it, admiring him from a safe distance. They’d shared a kiss. Was it more than just an adrenaline-packed mistake or had he really meant it? With each passing moment they spent together, admitting who she was and what she’d done became impossible.
Because of that cold, hard fact, her anonymity gave her the freedom to imagine the possibilities with him. Her loins ached at the thought of his touch, but she suppressed her urge to pounce. Didn’t want to give him the wrong impression. She would have to wait him out.
Mak suddenly opened his eyes, catching her stare. Then again, he was staring at her too. His face held a sadness that worried Blythe, as if his positivity was waning. He was evasive, distant, staying far away from the fire – far away from her.
“You’re still in pain over losing your girlfriend so long ago, aren’t you?” It was almost a whisper, but she instantly had his full attention.
“Why do you ask?”
“You’re distant. A woman can tell when a man’s hurting.”
“It’s complicated.”
“How so?”
Mak sat up, half slumping against the rock face. He closed his eyes in thought before reconnecting with her gaze. “I was never really allowed to grieve for her publically without people blaming me for her death. How can you grieve someone when you’re the one who took their life away?”
“When Lou told me what happened, my heart went out to you. You’re not to blame for her death, Mak.”
“Yes, I am,” he said shamefully. “It was a long time ago now, but it still feels like yesterday. Probably always will. It was the darkest, lowest moment of my life.”
“That’s awful. I’m so sorry you had to go through that, Mak. It’s in your past and we all make mistakes. I think you’ve paid dearly for yours. I think you’ve punished yourself more than anyone else has punished you. Can’t you talk to the elder? Apologize? I’m sure you’ve paid your dues in her eyes by now. You lost someone you loved too. That’s too much for anyone to live with. Your sorrow is like an anchor, but I can tell you put on a brave face. You shouldn’t have to anymore.”
Mak shook his head, inspecting his calloused hands. “Not that easy. I’ve had a hard time seeing the elder. She doesn’t acknowledge me.”
“Maybe it’s time you tried again. Maybe you have something to fight for now.”
Mak held her stare. “Yeah, what’s that?”
“Love.”
There was an unmistakable sensual pull going on between them, a genuine tug-of-war of the heart. And as with any game, someone had to win. Mak’s heart slammed into his ribcage whenever he looked at her. It was an overpowering magnetism he couldn’t quite explain, but deep down he sensed this was all part of the master plan. To hook up with Blythe and either soar to great heights or go down in a blaze of terrifying glory. Bottom line, it would be together…and it would be fun. Something had changed inside him. He knew it, couldn’t deny it. Life was too short to live in regret and not have what you wanted. And right now, all he wanted was the hot mainland reporter.
“Do you think they’ll leave soon?” she asked in a whisper.
“Do you want the truth or a lie?”
“I always expect the truth.” The phrase deepened her guilty conscience.
>
“They won’t chance leaving until they know we can’t talk. We’ll have to stay hidden until help arrives. It could be hours, it could also be days, Blythe.”
Chapter Sixteen
Roland practically collapsed with the weight of Sanders’ heavy frame wrapped around his shoulder like a python. The big dumb Neanderthal had gotten himself beaten up by the very two people they were trying to capture. It had taken hours to half-drag Sanders semi-conscious body back to the drop-off point, and many times along the way he’d wanted to leave the stubborn ass for dead or find the closest landmine and throw him on it. But that was something Sanders would do if their roles were reversed. Not him. He was different from these guys, so he told himself repeatedly.
Roland viewed arriving back at the boat in one piece as a sign. He knew it was time to count his blessings and abandon this group once and for all before it was too late. He would leave after this last shipment, break it off clean and make a fresh start.
The path wound around a high slope. With his last resources of strength, Roland heaved Sanders onward until he spotted Blunt and Pax sitting close to a fire. “Hey, help me out!”
Seeing Roland’s struggling silhouette through the darkness, Blunt and Pax rushed over to unload his burden. Together, the men laid a moaning Sanders down beside the small fire as Roland collapsed from exhaustion in the nearby grass.
Blunt straightened and rushed toward him. “Where the hell have you two been? I’ve been calling that damn walkie-talkie for hours!”
“The walkies were out of range. Couldn’t hear a thing, couldn’t call you for help either. Sanders got ambushed. They took his gun.”
“What do you mean they took it? Where were you?”
“I was checking a couple of the other military buildings. Guess Sanders picked the right one.”
“Or the wrong one judging by what happened to him,” Pax added.
Blunt sneered in Pax’s direction before turning his eagle eyes back to Roland who swallowed hard in nervous anticipation of Blunt’s wrath. “So that’s it? You two just gave up, decided to stroll back here all lazy like? I told you to find those two and you failed me.” Blunt threw his hands up and paced around the fire, grimacing in frustration. “And now the shipment’s going to be late. We just heard from our contact, Wood. Says there was a suspicious boat snoopin’ around the barge when they were leaving. Thinks the powerboat’s being followed. They had to take a detour and throw ‘em off, so we’re stuck here another few hours at least.”
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