by Caldon Mull
“Nah, buddy. That’s all gone now. Where it was would be hundreds of yards of lake in all directions. There was a bore smashed everything down.”
“A what? Nah, you don’t get pigs that big, even in the hills. You pullin’ this city-boys leg...”
“Not a ‘boar’ you slackwit... a ‘bore’. Like a big tidal wave in a river.”
“Yeah, you keep tellin’ everyone and someday they’ll believe ya. Oh, listen there’s Connie now, she just pulled up. I gotta go, but I’m glad you all fine and I’ll chat again soon. I told you she’ expecting?”
“Yeah. Few months more, ‘til you a daddy. You stay special, buddy. Regards to Pete and Nancy and Connie. Miss ya. I’ll speak to Petey next week, you c’n tell him that.”
“Me too, big guy, later.”
I hung up and walked through to the garage, where all my machines were busy purring. The printer had just started another page and I was waiting for the report to finish pooling so I could double check the details, just in case. From the numbers running down the page, I shouldn’t have bothered. There was nothing wrong with the launch sequence. I knew that, the principles knew that. Paul probably knew that, but it didn’t help him in the slightest. I hope he appreciated the fact from his cold, dead-end new posting. Alaska... a fitting enough place for him.
I grinned to myself, truly a cosmic irony. I had received bulletins from my launch schedule, it had gone up without incident, except my satellite had not been deployed. Something about stuck bay doors. All that expense, all of those problems and the damn thing was in orbit, completely and utterly wasted.
If it had gone up in the shuttle, then there would have been someone to correct it, but for economy reasons they had put it up into a stage launcher. Well, there it was. Stuck up there, wasted and millions of dollars worth of space junk.
There was another cosmic irony in the sequence of events. Paul had tried so hard to push, shove, bully and violate his unwanted presence into the project. When it all went pear-shaped, he was the only one standing head and shoulders above the rest when the axe came. I am sure he wasn’t too pleased when he was told about it.
Four days before the storm broke, he had been flown out to Anchorage to his new post. A so called ‘promotion’ to an out-of-the-way station on the Alaska Pipeline. No soft, bright young things to assault, no staff to manage, no career to speak of… The Wheel Turns… cosmic, as I thought.
The drawing board was definitely bare, Michel must have taken his latest project through to courier it away. He was really getting into his work and he was damn good. Some of the projects he had completed in record time. He was actually ahead of the game, He had finished his first year and was busy on the work load for his second. Dean was fretting, he was waiting for his results for his A+ technology course. I already knew he’d passed, but wasn’t going to say anything. I wanted him to fret, because when he got his results through he would appreciate all his hard work more.
The phone rang again. It was a busy morning. I answered it, thinking how I should put some more coffee on the boil.
“Acey?”
“Yes, speaking.” I recognized the voice, there was only one person who ever spoke in those dry, measured tones “What you got for me, Parsons?”
“I have the feasibility studies done. It looks like it will work. Location, market presentation, penetration and target clientèle all show good promise. I am not happy that the site is so new, but I will give the go-ahead. Everything besides that looks perfect, too good to be true, almost.”
“Excellent. What about the lease agreement?”
“It’s unusual, normally I would prefer an outright purchase, but we do have precedent for the 99 year lease. I am pleased you thought of it because, actually, you are spreading your risks between principles and there are options to re-capitalize on the property at the end of it. Very shrewd, my boy, very shrewd.”
“Fine, you will send someone with the proposal?” Good, I was pleased.
“Certainly. You could do it yourself, you know.” Parsons was probably counting beans.
“I’d rather not. I am sure the Trust would not mind spending a travel expense voucher on something as lucrative as this could be.” I grinned in spite of myself. I envisioned a wallet being prized open with a crowbar. Something about the tone Parsons used always brought this image to mind.
“Very well, and thank you, Acey. We may speak again after I have received the Documents in case there are any other details we need to fix, but I think this is all in order.”
“Thanks, Uncle. I do appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome, my boy.” He chuckled “Stop over some time.”
Well, so here we were weeks into 1995, and everything was happening at once. It looked like it was going to be a good year. I grinned, feeling quite pleased with myself.
“I’m home.” Michel’s voice called through from the living room. “Give us a hand with the packets?”
“Be right through.” The printer stopped its run and I tore the report off and placed it on my desk. Time for that later.
“You planning a feast?” Dean puffed through under a load of tinned foods.
“No.” I picked up another parcel from the truck and balanced the bread and eggs against my chest.
“Andy? Ummm...” Dean stopped at the porch as I picked my way down the path.
“Hmmm, what kid?” I stopped as Cat bounded through the grass, finished with his exploring now there were new things to eat.
“Ah... it’s OK.” Dean went inside.
“Kid wants us to go with him somewhere.” Michel walked through, swigging a Pepsi.
“Wanted to ask you himself. Personal.”
“Ah, C’mon Stud.” Dean groaned. “I don’t know if he’ll want to, is all.”
“Well if you don’t ask, how will you know?” Michel grinned “There’s some registered post waiting for you at the store. I thought you’d best get it.”
“So, Kid. Spill it.” I put the packets down in the kitchen and put some more grounds into the percolator.
“I’ve... I got to go to a ceremony with my Dad’s Folks, an’ I was wondering... I’m supposed to... would... you go with me to it.” Dean scuffed his shoes, not able to look me in the face.
“It’s a big deal, Andy.” Michel murmured softly in my ear. “He can’t go unless he’s got us to stand with him.”
“Hmm. Look at me, Kid.” I waited until I was looking into his dark eyes. “I’ll go with you. When?”
“Full moon.” His face lit up as his grin of relief brightened all the corners. “Three days and three nights.”
“I’ll take leave.” I moved forward and kissed his forehead “Silly. Thinking I wouldn’t.”
“It’s an initiation ceremony, Andy.” Dean tugged at my collar, pressing his forehead against my lips. “I don’t have a place with them unless I go. I really want to. Cain went last year, he’s still tight enough with the tribe to get some braves to stand forward. I’ve been wantin’ to, but couldn’t find anyone to go with.”
“Well, it’s a done deal.” The percolator hissed, another pot was ready. “Hmm, coffee.” I kissed him again and went to pour a cup.
“No coffee for three days...” Michel quipped from the porch.
“I know what you doin’ Stud.” I called back over my shoulder “I’m still goin’ with him.” “With us.” Michel answered “Bobby and me. He wanted to ask you first, but I said you’d be the hard sell. Get us all on board first, we can always nag you if you said no.”
“Like I’d say no.” I walked through to where the others were sitting, Dean had his legs over Michel’s lap, leaning against the back of the bench. Michel was idly rubbing his thigh, the perfect picture of relaxation. I had to smile to myself.
“Well, you can be all contrary like.” Michel smiled up at me “Sometimes at the strangest times.”
“He means a lot to me, I’m not gonna dip out.” I leaned against the post, my back to them.
Th
at damn car was still in the yard. Grass had pushed over the wheel bays and the birds had been taking a dump on it for the last few months.
“Good.” Michel sighed. “See, I told you, you just hadda ask.”
“Yeah, well.” Dean cleared his throat “It’s a whole ceremony. I was nervous, because there are all sorts of things you gotta do.”
“Oh, really?” I was intrigued “What sorts of things?”
“I don’t know.” Dean frowned. “If I knew, it wouldn’t be quite so bad. Thing is, I’m only a half-breed. If Dad had wanted us to be brought up like that, I would know. But now they all gone and it’s only Cain and me... I want to be part of something bigger than just... me. I guess it’s like the Football Team... but bigger.”
“Yeah, I get that.” I shrugged “I’m always up for new things... whatever it takes, I’m there.”
“Thanks, Andy.” Dean’s relief shone again. I knelt next to them on the bench and ruffled Dean’s hair.
“Awhile ago, you were worried that I would never give you a chance. I ain’t never been disappointed since then. Can you give me the same chance, up there with all your kin?”
“Yeah. Thanks Andy... for everything.” Dean sighed, wiggled himself comfortable and fell asleep.
“Weird the way he does that.” Michel grinned at him fondly, idly stroking his feet. He picked off Dean’s shoes and slowly crept out from under his legs, leaving him to sleep. He took my cup and went indoors, returning with a refill and a blanket he draped over Dean.
“There’s something else, what?” Michel draped an arm over my shoulder and watched me watch the car.
“I’m getting’ rid of that wreck.” I decided. “Who can tow it?”
“Jase runs a tow service from his workshop.”
“Jase Berg from Football?”
“Yeah. Him’n Shane partners in the shop. They took it over from their Folks last month.” Michel grinned at me. “You been here two years and you still don’t know diddly from squat.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“I see. All those numbers. Your stuff?”
“Uh Huh. Just double checking I wasn’t wrong. It was a big fuck-up.” I sighed.
“Oh. Secret stuff.” Michel shrugged, uninterested in the details.
“Yeah... Michel...” I turned to face him “What’s happening with the Mill?”
“Oh man, I don’t know.” Michel groaned “There isn’t much logging up there now with all the floods. All the new fields are now under water. I don’t see how they going to keep it running. Not commercially.”
“How many work up there?” I mused “How many jobs?”
“Where you going with this?” Michel turned my head and looked into my eyes. “You got somethin’ ticking in there, I seen you do this. You gonna tell uncle Michel here?”
“How many jobs?” I grinned at him.
“Ahhh, let’s see now. Thirty permanent loggers, maybe ten more temps in high season give or take. Normally we don’t get more than four or five even though we call for ten. Most the loggers are now cleaning up, ‘cause the state grant and relief that came in. But... I reckon we don’t got anything happening after that maybe another four or five weeks. Lots of guys gonna be hurtin’ after that.”
“Hmmm. Thought so.”
“Ah. You gonna tell me?” Michel closed his eyes and shook his head. “I guess I know the answer to that already.”
“Shane and Jase. Numbers in the book, right?”
“Under ‘auto’.” Michel sighed “So you gonna tell me as soon as you’re sure, right?”
“Yup. You betcha.” I smiled.
“You a difficult man, Andronicus Caifus Finch.” Michel sighed deeply. “Lissen... Thanks for arranging me to meet up with the boys that night. I bumped into him at the store today and he told me what you did. Poppa didn’t say anything to them in the last weeks, so I guess it’s OK to do it again. You should’ve said it was your birthday that night. Stinker. I gotta find out from the post you got cards in for that day. We could’ve got free ice cream… with sparklers.”
“Guilty as charged.”
“If... if you keep helpin’ everyone you care about...” Michel blushed, looked out to where Cat was trying to stalk a bird on the lawn “... you think you’ll get around to helpin’ yourself?”
“In a way, this is helping me help myself. I gotta get used to the feeling. That way I can keep usin’ it when I need to. Do ‘y see?”
“Yeah. I do.” Michel patted my shoulder gently and moved back into the house. “Mail is on the table.”
“I’ll run to work in an hour.” I called inside to where he was putting up a new sheet for another plan. “I’ll be back in early in the morning. You set up for a new Gym season.”
“Hmm. Starting tomorrow, is that right?”
“Yeah. If they come for the wreck later, just let them take it.”
“I’ll pack a lunch for you, while you shower.”
“Thanks Stud, ‘preciate that.”
“There you are.” June jogged up behind me “You really are difficult to track down, you know.”
“Hi Honey, what’s up?” I turned and slowed down for her. She grinned as I waited. “It’s quite late, strange to see you here. Isn’t it time for you to get going?”
“No, not really. With this new post, and all the water damage, I have been catching up with the backlog. I’ll tell you there is a lot of backlog. Paul wasn’t big on paperwork.”
“Paul? You got Paul’s position?”
“Yes... Don’t you read your circulars...? Stupid question really, you never do. Yes, I’m your new manager.”
“Funny that, I never thought we were important enough to have a Manager... y’know, full time.”
“Things have changed quite a bit, actually.” June puffed, waved her face with the sheets in her hand. “That’s why I wanted to speak to you, if you’ve got the time.”
“Sure. I’ve automated most of the stuff. Charlie is about to go off, I can give you a tour.”
“Hmmm, maybe later... Oh hell, yeah show me. It’s my job now, and if I wasn’t interested before, you may as well show me now.”
“It’ll only take a few minutes. All the big changes you can’t see, I’ve spent a lot of time making sure of that. Let’s start here...”
I took her through the corridor and opened up the Security portal for her, double swiped my access card and walked her through the gleaming banks of equipment.
“Why, nothing’s dirty.” June looked around “You must’ve cleaned up quick.”
“Heh!” I shrugged “Nothing got wet. Even though we’re in the basement, I made sure everything’s sealed off soon after I started here. My plan included earthquake and fire, not just flood.”
“Really?” June goggled.
“Check the Insurance premiums.” I shrugged “You’ll notice we are paying a tenth of what we were before I started. Also, I put in batteries and we have an auto backup facility to the New Jersey Head Office, so as soon as they start to get low, all of our data is copied and sent through to them. We might have had four weeks away from work, but absolutely nothing shows from our processing that we have ever been away from work, nothing lost, no Company Down Time at all.”
“Andy... that’s amazing.” June looked around again, perhaps seeing everything in a new light.
“What was amazing was getting this all done on a shoe-string and nobody else wanting to approve the changes. It took some doing, quite honestly. But I have been proved right. If I hadn’t, then the Company would have been in some serious financial trouble. Worse, no one else anywhere would have been able to carry on with what they were doing.”
“That explains why they sent me these papers. I guess you’re hot property all of a sudden.” June shrugged quickly. “You are right. Suddenly it makes sense that you have been changing all of the processes, I couldn’t figure where all the profit was coming from. You’ve cut down your operational expenses, and you are still getting the same budget
, year after year.”
“That’s just one of the points. I’ve also upgraded Ma Bell a bit, so the communications are faster and our data gets sent and received a lot quicker.”
“How come no one ever noticed or said anything?” June frowned “You’d think you would get more recognition from what you’ve done.
“Why should they have to know?” I waved my hand, led her by the elbow into the office portion, where we could sit and watch the gleaming machines do their job. “I’m at the top of my grade, and I’m not interested in management. I get my kicks out of doing things right and because they have to be done, not for ‘recognition’. Besides... you know what it cost me to get it like that.”
June blushed “Well, I guess I never appreciated you.”
“You needn’t worry about that too much. I’m... content… with the way things have turned out. Coffee?”
“You have a percolator at your desk?” June goggled.
“Intravenous if they made them like that.” I chuckled, two sugars and milk if I remembered. I guess I couldn’t help but show off a bit, so put in some cream instead and sprinkled some cocoa over it. After all, she was instrumental in me being here in the first place. I don’t ever recall her visiting me while I was here, alone all those many months. I suppose I couldn’t blame her trying to make a name for herself in the ‘glamorous’ section of work, leaving the safety of anonymity as my province. Time for bygones to be just that... bygones. “So, what can I do for you?”
“Your leave is approved. I’m curious, you’ve never taken leave unless we forced you to, why now?”
“I have to go to a ...ceremony... at the reservation. Big Mojo, it’s quite an honour, apparently.”
“Well, you are something of a hero, no wonder they want the ranks filled out.” June sipped at her cup. Smiled suddenly. “Like Starbucks in Seattle.” She pushed the approved slip over to me.
“Kept the recipe.” I shrugged.