Page 71 of In Darkness and Dank

“Always.”

“Kitty stay?” Shu asked shyly. “Stay with me?”

“Yes,” Kittisak promised. “I’m going to stay.”

“That… okay?” Shu frowned.

“Yes, don’t worry.” Kittisak kissed him again. “Browning is gonna help me figure it out, and hey, he’s the smartest guy I know. If he can’t figure out a way…” He snorted. “Well, we don’t have to worry about that because he totally will.”

“But if he can’t?”

“They’ll have to drag me away from you with wild horses.”

Shu’s eyes widened.

“Okay, maybe not literally, but what I mean is that I’m not gonna give up. What I want is to be here with you, and I won’t quit fighting. I’ll do anything to stay with you.” Kittisak hugged him close.

“Anything, meh almae?”

“Anything.” Kittisak grinned. “I’ve already survived buckets of rain, nearly being eaten by giant bugs, and being shot.”

“Twice.”

“See? Exactly! What else could possibly happen?”

Epilogue

Four months later…

Getting a job is what happened, to be precise.

Once Bio-Minex confirmed that Professor Browning had found a species of bacteria that would forever change the face of the copper industry, they moved quickly. They made a generous deal with the local government to turn the Rife’s home in the rainforest into a protected sanctuary.

After all, it was the Rife’s natural habitat that had created the perfect habitat for the bacteria Browning had been searching for, and its preservation was key. Despite Browning’s many attempts to create a suitable growth medium, he could not replicate the exact conditions of the blackwater lagoon even with the residue from the Rife’s eggshells.

Any bacteria samples had to be transported in water from one of the many lush pools, but the results in laboratory testing made the extra hassle of shipping gallons of water worth it to Bio-Minex. The special bacteria could bioleach its way through copper and any other kind of ore two or even three times faster than the previous species the company had been using.

Browning and Hutte were given accolades, endless praise, and the unique honor of naming the new bacteria.

They called it Acidithiobacillus kittyoxidans.

Shu was very pleased, and Kittisak was just grateful they hadn’t decided to name anything else after him. The lagoon was called Shu’s Lagoon, which made him laugh as he said that was only half a name. He still seemed to like it anyway, and he was quite proud that his home was named after him, nickname or not.

Browning was going to retire from teaching college to work with Hutte at Bio-Minex to continue studying the bacteria with him. Somehow, Paiva got involved and had decided to leave his life of boating out in the Amazon to work as their assistant. He had no applicable lab experience that Kittisak knew of, but Hutte and Browning both vouched for him and insisted on him being hired.

Eager to please their new star scientists and keep them happy, Bio-Minex agreed.

Denninger and Bissell were reported as having run off after attacking the research team to never be seen again. It was more or less the truth, and it helped keep the Rife safe. The last thing they wanted was anyone thinking that Shu and his family might be dangerous, and no one was going to miss the real monsters.

Zimm also got a new job as the official warden of the Rife’s sanctuary. He worked with local agents to keep the area safe and patrolled twenty-four hours a day. The new sanctuary encompassed millions of acres, and it was quite a daunting task. He knew all too well that there would be others like Denninger who would want to hunt the Rife, and he was relentless in keeping the sanctuary protected.

His dedication was personal as his relationship with Shu’s sister, Kula, had blossomed into a very passionate romance. The pair stayed in a newly constructed bungalow not far from the lagoon. Bio-Minex was in the process of building an additional laboratory and research facility, and it was expected to be a fantastic joint effort with scientists from all over the world.

Some wished to come study the plethora of unique bacteria and plant life. Others had their eyes set on the strange healing powers of the lagoon’s mud, and then there were those who wanted to learn about the Rife themselves. Shu and his family didn’t seem to mind the curiosity, and they were happy to talk to the scientists and share their culture.

Dr. Ricou Gill, the famed anthropologist, did indeed come to meet the Rife, and he claimed a permanent residence at the new research facility before it was even done being built. He was happy to put up a tent and camp out by the lagoon while he waited for a proper room, and he spent every second he could with the Rife from dawn until dusk.

Bal was fascinated with Dr. Gill—well, with his big beard anyway. She enjoyed petting it with her claws, and even little Hue liked to wrap his fingers around it and give it a tug. They were both heartbroken when Dr. Gill shaved it, and Bal refused to speak to him until it started to grow back.

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