Page 15 of Ace

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?”

---