Page 61 of In Darkness and Dank

“Wanting to stay here with him…” Kittisak hesitated. “It’s crazy, right?”

“Matters of the heart often are.” Browning laughed.

“But would this even work? I mean, I can’t exactly bring him home, and I can’t really stay here, can I?”

“You know, there were moments that I didn’t think I was going to make it out there after Denninger and those goons abandoned me, but here we are. That tells me that anything is possible. If this is what you want, dear boy, I promise that I will do everything in my albeit limited power to help you and together we will find a way.”

“Thank you, Professor.”

“Of course, dear boy.” Browning beamed. “I will gladly give you a recommendation to whomever leads the next trip down here and tell them what a great assistant you are.”

“Wait, really?”

“No, you were a terrible assistant,” Browning said flatly. “You constantly cross-contaminated samples, and I didn’t have the heart to tell you—”

“No, no. I mean, you think there will be more people coming here?”

“Oh, I know it. There will be anthropological teams down here in droves once word gets out about the Rife. Dr. Ricou Gill, one of the world’s most revered and respected anthropologists in the world, finished his doctorate at our humble little college. I would be surprised if he’s not the first one here.”

“Shit.”

“What is it?”

“I didn’t think about that.” Kittisak frowned. “People coming here, I mean. Tearing everything up to get a look at Shu and his people.”

“Don’t fret yet. We have the advantage for now as we control the flow of information. No one else knows except us. We’ll make sure it goes to the right people to keep Shu’s people here safe.”

“Right.” Kittisak fidgeted. “Okay.”

“One problem at a time, all right?” Browning waved Kittisak off again. “Now go. Shoo. This old man wants to rest.”

Kittisak went to the water, his pulse quickly rising with excitement and a splash of trepidation. He had a whole new plethora of worries now, but he knew in his heart that he wanted to be here with Shu. He didn’t care if he ever saw a television or even a toilet ever again. This was where he wanted to be more than anywhere else in the world.

He wanted to keep Shu safe and protect him and his family. He wanted to wake up every day with him and fall asleep every night listening to his sweet purrs. Nothing would make Kittisak happier than a lifetime of dancing and caris and cooking and endless laughter.

Now he just had to find Shu and tell him.

It took Kittisak a few minutes to track Shu down. Shu was a much faster swimmer, and he’d already made it to the other side of the lagoon by the waterfall. Kittisak spotted a flash of Shu’s bright blue skin as he ducked behind the rocks at the waterfall’s base, and he swam over to join him.

“Hey!” Kittisak groaned as he climbed out of the water, his thighs still complaining from last night’s intense exercises. “Shu?”

“Thought you leaving,” Shu grumbled. He was sitting behind the rocky ledge, his knees pulled up to his chest and scowling miserably.

“Hey, I’m not going anywhere right this second,” Kittisak argued. “Can we talk, please?”

“We are talking.”

Kittisak groaned. “Look, the professor didn’t know that stuff was gonna upset you, okay? He says he’s sorry. Really. And he doesn’t speak for me, by the way. I am capable of making my own decisions.”

Shu studied Kittisak carefully. “Decision?”

“Yes. My choice is my own. I don’t have to leave you.” Kittisak reached for Shu’s hands. “This is exactly why people say assuming makes an ass out of me or however it goes.”

Shu’s eyes widened in alarm. “Assuming does what?”

“Please just listen.” Kittisak squeezed Shu’s hands and stood, trying to pull him up with him. “Come here, dammit.”

Shu growled, but he finally stood, frowning at Kittisak. He glanced at the waterfall and then scooped him up into his arms. Carrying him down to the shore away from the roar of the waterfall, he finally deposited Kittisak by the edge of the deep pool. “Here. I listen.”

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