“Chickens?”
“Yes, some have them. But no safe places to keep them.”
He nodded. “What else?”
The smile she gifted him almost took away the ache in his head.
“You gonna help me?”
“That’s why I’m here, making good on my promise.”
Her expression clouded, and he regretted his words. With a sigh, he shifted. Then he reached for her plate. “Let me clean these up.”
She nodded and pointed toward the pump. “There’s our water.”
He climbed down her ladder and was immediately surrounded by children. Their curious smiles and giggles made him laugh.
“Hello!”
“Hello. Hello. Hello.” They imitated his accent and followed him to the pump.
He washed off the dishes and took in what Gianna called her village. Basically it was a few rows of bamboo huts like hers around him. He assumed her school and orphanage were nearby. And a small shop. He handed the plates and forks to a cute little boy who grinned. “Could you take this back to Gianna?” He pointed.
The boy nodded and ran back to her hut.
Could they clear a spot in the center of the trees to garden? A sheltered spot? Or perhaps they could build a fence around it? He didn’t know. Flooding was a real problem in most islands. During a rainstorm, they could be walking around in water up to their knees for several hours. Any garden would be destroyed. Except sugar cane or rice.
What else? Caribou? His mind kept spinning, going through ideas. And his feet carried him along the line of houses toward the sea.
Fish. What if they stocked a pond?
His feet carried him all the way to the edge of the ocean. The water and the sky were grey. The sun was hazy, which was a blessed mercy because when it rose fully and burned off the clouds, it would be oven hot with a heavy dose of humidity.
Already the air felt thick.
He stepped into the shallow water. The smaller pools spread for a mile out into the ocean before the actual drop into the deep blue water. It made for a stunning green and grey. The water tickled his bare feet. He rolled up his pants and stuck his hands in his pockets.
The air shimmered, and he knew Gianna stood beside him before she said anything. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
He turned to her. “This is a beautiful place.”
“Yeah. It is hard for the people who live here, but everywhere you look there’s something beautiful to see. Especially in the people.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, they’re just good. They’re kind to each other. They have hard lives. But they just take it, make the most of it, and keep a smile on.” She shrugged. “I’m changed forever.”
He studied her. She did seem different. More solid. Or something.
He kicked around in the water. “Is the water always this perfect temperature?”
“Yeah, most of the time.”
“Maybe we can go for a swim later.”
“What?” She frowned and looked away. “I can’t really just—”
“After we dig canals to collect the fish.”
Her mouth tugged up. “You’re gonna do that?”
“Can I get some help?”
“Yes! Of course! And some shovels, I think. And rocks and sticks and things.”
“We’re going to be digging trenches with rocks and sticks?”
“And shovels. We can ask at the store.”
He shook his head. “Whatever we have. Let’s get started.”
She skipped off at a run.
“Wait!”
She turned back. “What?”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m getting you a shovel before you change your mind.”
He laughed, watching her lithe form run as though she were floating.
And she wasn’t kidding. Before long, he had a team of workers, shovels, and other various forms of handmade tools, and they’d mapped out where to create their new fish pond. Perhaps they could develop something more permanent where they actually farm the fish. As his muscles strained against the soft and heavy mud, a great satisfaction filled him. It felt nice to do something for the people he’d thought of for so long.
After a couple hours, his head started to pound. He wiped at his sweat and winced as he accidentally brushed against his wound. It was still wrapped, but obviously the gauze needed to be changed. He felt eyes on him.
Gianna watched him with a look he wanted to remember forever. She came forward with a bottle of water, his Advil, and a sealed bag with fresh gauze. “Let’s get you taken care of.”
Chapter 6
Dex took a break from digging. They’d made some real progress, and he was proud of the villagers working together on this effort. Eventually, they would need a way to line the bottom so that the pond would be permanent, but with the water table so high and the constant influx from the ocean, he had little worry about lack of water. They could capture fish and eat them to sustain life in their village.
He went to find the orphanage. As soon as he stepped into the pavilion-like area, he spotted Gianna. She stood in front of a group of around thirty children, teaching them letters. It looked like she was using sign language. And the children were responding. He left her there and wandered to a back room that was fully enclosed. A kitchen. He nodded. And it was clean. A woman approached, young, smiling. “You must be Dex Callison.” She held out her hand.
“Yes, I am.”
“I’m Rosamie. I’m the manager here.”
“Good to meet you. I saw Gianna was busy, so perhaps you can tell me what a pair of hands and some muscle can do for you here?” He grinned.
“Just the kind of question I love to hear.” She waved. “Follow me.” She led him to a partially walled in platform. “We need a place to shelter when there are storms. Or a safer place for the children to sleep if they don’t have a place to go home to.”
He nodded. Piles of bamboo lined the walls and filled some of the platform flooring. “Well, let’s get started.” The larger space was supported by two different foundational areas with a ladder on two sides. He nodded.
Soon he was lost in lashing together bamboo and attaching it to the structure. Gianna had a remarkable life here with these villagers. It was simple. It was basic. Uncomfortable, but not terribly so. He could see the pull. But he could never just shut out the world like this for such a long time. He was just getting Top Flight started. It was successful. Colton, Amanda, and Ridley were counting on him. They were a team. In fact, he should really give someone a call. He pulled out his phone, set up the satellite connection. It rang twice, and then Colton answered. “Dex?”
“Hey! Flyboy! How’s your mission?” He was off in Antarctica somewhere, and right now, with sweat falling off himself, Dex could use a little ice.
“Ace, are you crazy!”
“Uh. No.”
“But you’re down on Panau. Right now?”
“Yup. I won’t reveal my precise location on an open connection, but we’re hoping for an extraction. Hey, just wanted to touch base though. I’m well. No imminent danger.” The pause felt thick. “Gianna’s here.”
“Okay, dude. There’s so much to unpack with that statement. But first. You are in danger. They’re literally searching for you.”