Storyville

by Caldon Mull

  “Ah, Running Deer.” Black Bears’ voice pressed into my mind from far away “You have come to see the new livestock. You must be proud of your shelter, it is doing good.”

  “Yes, I am.” I heard myself whisper.

  “Ah.” Black Bear moved into my vision as she turned to look at me with the smile she had for Black Bear still playing on her lips “You have met Moon Shadow? She is the daughter of my daughter, the cousin of White Eagle and Grey Wolf.”

  “No... I ummm... no, I haven’t.” I stuck out my hand stupidly and let her touch me. I felt a shock all the way to my elbow as her dainty fingers touched my skin. She smiled, staring me in the eyes before dropping her gaze to her feet.

  “Running Deer?” her voice was melodic and a lot deeper than I would have expected “I have heard about you from my cousins. It is you who found my Mother’s Brother for us and brought him back.”

  “Ummm... ah, yes.” I looked at my feet to make sure they were still there.

  “Moon Shadow is our new Vet; she studied at NC State in Raleigh.” Black Bear smiled innocently “She’s just graduated and is helping us with your program.”

  “Alum ‘96, so I’m still a fairly green vet.” Moon Shadow smiled, her whole face just lit up. “Before then it was shelters and conserve work, so I’ve been doing this for awhile.”

  “Alum ‘91, I know how it is when you just start out.” I grinned, trying desperately to regain some composure.

  “Oh, where?” she smiled again “Not a vet, obviously?”

  “Nah.” I shrugged and rubbed my scalp “Berkley U, Computer Studies and Astrophysics... I… uhhhnn... I like machines… and stuff…”

  “Runs like one, too.” Black Bear chuckled “I think we should take him out of the sun, my granddaughter, he looks like he’s going to be sick.”

  “Tank is fixing the jenny for the incubators and ... Shane, his name is Shane, not Tank...ummm I... but we call him Tank because he’s as big as one... ummmm...” inwardly I was screaming to myself ‘Make a witty comment! Say something! Anything!’ but all that came out of my mouth was “... and I’m here now... with him... now.”

  “Eh!” Black Bear grunted “I’m going to take the paleskin inside to the shade, my little papoose, and maybe you two can speak later.”

  “I’d like that, Running Deer looks like he can be very interesting, Astrophysics?” She grinned again and walked off towards where Shane was lifting off the Jenny cover by the new buildings.

  “Space... spaceships… and stuff.” I finished weakly, watching her walk away, hips undulating slowly with her calm, measured strides, her bare feet scarcely dusting the ground.

  “Come inside my son, and let me get you and your Tank friend a soda.” Black Bear’s eyes followed mine and he grinned suddenly, his weathered face unfolding to reveal his even, white teeth “I think you have been struck by the sun today. I’d forgotten what it is like for the young. Sit with me while we sign these papers, initial on the bottom of each page, please.”

  “Ummm… yeah…” I sat down and watched Shane wrestle the huge metal generator. He knew exactly what he was doing, watching him check each working component methodically, replacing a part, cleaning up an oil spill and then starting the machine and listening carefully, his brows crunched in concentration. My mind just spun around and around in a loop and all I could think of was… “…Moon Shadow.” I started, realizing I had said it out aloud.

  “Oh, Running Deer.” Black Bear walked over to the crate where he put his and my empty soda bottles in, and the sheath of papers we had been signing into a leather satchel on top of the cooler box “You got it bad. I think what you should do is to see if she will allow you to visit more often, to check in on her animals.”

  “Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.” I turned as he brought three soda’s over to the table.

  “No, I don’t think your big head is thinking at the moment.” Black Bear smiled and put the Soda down “For the Summers boy on the house, its hot work out there.” He sat down and grinned again “Actually, I think your little head has been making all the decisions the last half hour.” He pointed at my crotch.

  I looked down at the half wood in my jeans and actually felt myself blushing in front of a man who had not only seen me naked, but had also looked deep into my soul “Damn. I hope she didn’t…”

  “Hmmm, Running Deer.” Black Bear shook his head slowly “It was there from the moment you said hello. I don’t think you could be more honest, and I don’t think she minded at all. Don’t be too paleface about it, up here, we think it’s a good sign.”

  “Uhh… okay.” I licked dry lips “If I were… ummm… is she seeing anyone?”

  “She has two eyes and they both work.” Black Bear chuckled to himself “She sees many people each day.”

  “No!” I groaned “Does she have a man-friend? Could… I… uhhhhh… Is she…?”

  “Running Deer.” Black Bear sighed “Very seldom has it fallen to me to put someone out of their misery, but I will do so now. It pains me to see such a clear-headed and determined young man become like this. She has no-one she is seeing at the moment, she is healthy and clever, and as her grandfather, I can attest to her virtue, her honesty… and in fairness, I will say nothing of her temper. That should be all you need to know. The rest is up to you, Running Deer. We can all see you are powerfully attracted to Moon Shadow, it is up to you to see if you can woo her.” Black Bear sipped on his soda, lost in thought “Mind you, no matter how awkward the process would be, you have allies in White Eagle and Grey Wolf. They are always able to list your good points, in case you are too clumsy to have them show through.”

  “Dean and Cain? Well, I guess... ummm...” My thoughts unraveled again. “Moon Shadow... ah... I forgot what I was going to say. Tell me Black Bear... this ever happen to you?”

  “Heh!” The old man grinned again. “Oh, yes. This is why I give you this advice, my son.”

  “Ah.” I shook my head, trying to clear it. “The soda is not drugged with big mojo?”

  “Nope.” Black Bear guffawed and rocked back on his chair “What you are feeling is nothing like that. I wish you well, my son. In the following weeks you will provide me with much amusement, and with all my heart I wish you well.”

  “Yeah... thanks a heap, old man!” I mock-scowled at him. He roared with laughter once more as I stood to take the spare soda to Shane.

  “Nearly done.” He accepted the soda gratefully and swigged it in a single gulp. “I’ll jes’ run it down an’ put the covers back on it, and we can go.” He stood in the sunlight, a bronzed god, his muscles glinting with his sweat, his fair hair shimmering like a halo. “I’m glad you came through with me today, I didn’t even know this place was up here… I mean, we all knew… but I didn’t think it would be this… organized.”

  “I’ve had a lot put in lately.” I grinned at him “There was only the store and the Shaman’s hut a little while ago. The Animal Hospital, the pens as well as the Office building there, I put in when we built the Lodge.”

  “Yeah, the log-work looks like most o’ the stuff at Bobby’s place.” Shane’s white grin flashed. ‘Those telephones?” The jenny spluttered into silence. He nodded at it.

  “Nah.” I looked towards the Office where he was pointing “Those are Satellite phones, buddy. I got them up here to monitor the Game Restocking Project.”

  “Wow!” Shane man-handled the jenny cover, and bolted it back down to the cement slab

  “Hi-tech there, Andy. You got any other plans? Knowin’ you… oomph… you gonna be building a regular village up here.”

  “Yeah, pretty much.” I watched his back muscles twitched while he worked with the T-Bar on the bolts. “… a regular village, which thanks to you, has regular power for all my hi-tech stuff.”

  “You’re welcome… but wait until you see my bill.” Shane packed up his tools and toted them to the truck before returning and flicking the jenny switch. It purred into life.

  “H
eh! You know I’m not worried ‘bout that.” I picked up his empty soda bottle while he made tidy around the jenny slab.

  “C’mon, let’s get back to the Lodge, I could use a shower.” Shane looked the area up and down and picked up a clipboard and scratched on it with a pencil stub, his tongue sticking out, before looking at it and beaming “That’s what I like.” He crowed.

  “Mercenary.” I mock-grumbled as I walked to the truck. “You’ll bleed me dry, you will.” “You wanna build something on top of a mountain from nuthin’… you gotta throw cash at it. Live and learn, buddy… but cough up first.”

  “Heh!” I smirked at Shane “Wait till you see my bill for takin’ you up here. Remember, I consult…”

  “Awwww… Andy!” Shane grinned at me as he inched the truck down the trail “No fair!” “Tell you what, you buy me dinner an’ we’ll split my part.” I slapped his massive thigh. “What you know that I don’t?” Shane grinned hugely.

  “Two of the best Texan steak that Meat could get in such short notice.” I laughed easily with him, and did so now out of old habit.

  On the way down the trail I found myself looking in the rear view mirror, hoping I could catch a glimpse of Moon Shadow watching us go. A fluttering started in my gut, my palms started to sweat, what if I didn’t get to see her again… or if she thought me repulsive…

  “Hell, yeah! Y’know my good buddy has the best Texan Steak in the whole county. I guess that’s why they call him ‘Meat’ don’cha think?”

  “No, you lunk, they call him ‘Meat’ ‘cause his surname is Butcher!” I chuckled again. “Thas’ your story, an’ you better stick to it.” Shane threw back his head and roared with laughter “‘Cause I ain’t convinced, Big Guy… no siree, not convinced.”

  “So, about that shower, Tank… you plannin’ on doing it alone?” I grinned at him “‘Cause it’s getting pretty close in here an’ I got a hard-on for some time, now.”

  “Heh! I noticed that.” Shane grinned as he rolled into the switchback “You gonna woo the vet lady? I hope so, ‘cause she’s miiiiiiighty fine lookin’.”

  “She’s Dean’s cousin, buddy.” I spluttered. Inwardly I groaned because within minutes of me walking around with a hard-on, everyone would know what I wanted to do.

  “Havin’ the Kid as an in-law? Wha’s wrong with that? You guys get on fine, don’t cha?” Shane looked at me with those cornflower eyes, brow wrinkling in confusion.

  “Ahhh… yeah?” The fluttering in my gut died away, my mind was making itself up.

  “I reckon you got the goods too, so what’s the problem?” Shane dropped the gear lower to ramp up a curve. “You chicken? You in love with me? What? You think she might be a psycho- killer? What??”

  “I… I…” I burst out laughing, feeling better suddenly than I had in months “I… got no problem Tank, startin’ tomorrow I’m gonna woo the Lady.”

  “Tha’s my Big Guy!” Tank high-fived me “So I guess I gotta have that Shower with you today, then. Don’t want you walkin’ around with one in the barrel tomorrow…” He grinned hugely “Honest, it’s good to see you all fired up again, buddy. It really is. The best part of the last year, you ain’t been yourself... but I guess your Mom and Kyle... this is the first time I actually seen you, well... excited.”

  “Well, I guess. In October they gonna launch my satellite design... can’t talk ‘bout it much, but I managed to squeeze out some concessions. I formed a private company to monitor it, so all the Space Agencies don’t get so hung up about which country has control of it. Much better to let the runnin’ to proper Business. The Lodge Franchise is really takin’ off, the two we now have open are already fully booked into the next year. My friends and family are all happy and nice to each other, and all of them are successful, ‘cause everything they touch turns to gold...”

  “Yeah, buddy what about you, eh?” Shane smiled gently “Have you got somethin’ out of it? I mean, not to be too nasty about it... but you got enough to keep you goin’?”

  “Y’know... I’m not sure.” I frowned “I got visitin’ rights with Mano and Bobby... not that I use that much, I got Fabby to keep me interested in the outside world, bro... you be amazed at what kids find interesting, what they do to keep you on your toes.”

  “I’m really lookin’ forward to comin’ through.” Shane turned right as soon as he hit the tarmac. The new dam loomed above us as we drove up towards Storyville. It really was nothing more than a whole lot of concrete poured over the rockfall, so it wasn’t going anywhere... but at least it no longer posed a random chance that it would burst again. New trees, oak and aspen waved new greenness on the hill that used to house the Mill... now that it had been dismantled.

  A mini-mall was going up there. Red-haired Steve and Mandy had married last year and were busy developing the area. Got the property for a song, apparently.

  “Ah, man.” I grinned “It’s gonna be boss havin’ you up there. I know everyone is real keen to see ya, ya big lug.”

  “You ain’t answered the question, Big Guy.” Shane shook his head, serious-like.

  “Yeah, I’m happy.” I grinned at him “More so when everyone else is. But even so, there’s enough in it for me to make it all worthwhile. Soon... maybe I’ll have a special someone all to myself to share it with.”

  “Your vet Lady?” Shane smirked.

  “Yeah, Moon Shadow.” I tried the name on my tongue “Moon Shadow Finch.”

  The town crawled by and we passed the turn to my old house and headed out the road to The Lodge. I grinned as the breeze caught my short hair and ruffled it through the open window. What a beautiful day, I thought to myself. Not perfect... just beautiful. The rest of the day turned out just as good. My shower with Shane, dinner with Meat and Lizzie, Bobby and Shane and ended with the four of us ex-football stars sitting on the deck by the jetty, watching the sun sink below the hills, casting an orange-gold sheen on the Lake and coating the backs of the waterbirds with pure liquid gold.

  In the gentle familiar hubbub in the background of water noises, birds honking and friends talking, I looked up at the edge of the Park and saw a Deer watching me over the water. He was an eight-point Stag, with a white throat, and big. At his side was a speckled deer, his doe. I smiled to myself as I watched the two take water, one watching while the other drank. About five minutes later, they melted into the thick tree growth and were gone.

  “Sometimes, Running Deer need to stop running...” I whispered to myself

  “...sometimes Running Deer runs long after the danger is past...” I looked up and saw Bobby smiling at me affectionately. He had seen me watching the Deer. He winked and whispered “And sometimes Running Deer’s brothers need to tell him when to stop running...” He took a slow sip of his bourbon, totally relaxed, his long legs draped over the arms of the cane chair “... I think that time has come, my brother. You can stop running, now. None of us is going anywhere, we’re at your side and all of our dangers are past.”

  “Yeah, and my life is good.” I grinned at him, winked and nodded towards Shane, with that look. Bobby looked over towards him sitting, scrubbed and preppy, with Meat and his hands weaving in front of him in a particularly animated discussion. He grinned impishly and nodded back slowly.

  “Yeah.” He whispered “You must stop running, my brother.”

  Shane looked up from his conversation with Mark while we were talking softly, grinning “You two gonna whisper? What you talking about?”

  “You.” Bobby grinned at him lazily.

  “Eh? What?” Shane blushed, then looked suspicious “What about me?”

  “Oh, just stuff.” I shrugged and looked as innocent as I could.

  “So, you think he would?” Bobby kept his gaze on Shane, while he sipped his Bourbon

  “Dunno. Might.” I smiled at Shane.

  “What?” Shane’s eyes darted from Bobby to me, his agitation levels rising “What I done?”

  “Nothin’.” Bobby looked down and away. He was pla
ying Shane like a master.

  “Oh, yeah. Right. Nothing.” I nodded and looked away from him, out over the Lake. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Mark putting his hand over his mouth, trying to hide the grin from Shane. He knew we were fucking with his mind, like we used to.

  “What nuthin’?” Shane spun to face us, his hands wringing in front of him “Sumthin’ I done?” his anxiety showed clearly in his open face.

  “Tell you later.” I shrugged, deliberately not looking in his direction.

  “Nah, C’mon guys… tell me now.” Shane leaned forward “I wanna know what I done.”

  “Uh-uh. Later.” Bobby turned his head and looked in the same direction as me. I could see the small tick in the corner of his mouth indicating his amusement. “Guys…” Shane pleaded “If it’s something…”

  “Tank, ya lunk!” Mark burst out laughing, unable to hold back anymore “They fuckin’ with ya…” Bobby and I couldn’t hold back anymore, and joined him in the laughter, our sounds ringing over the open water, echoing off the hills on the other side of the lake.

  “Fuck!” Shane blurted, relief evident on his face “You guys got me good!” his laughter soon joined ours and we laughed for the sake of laughing.

  The lights winked on in the grounds as the sun became a thin slice of scarlet in the deepening gloom of the Park Hills, waterfowl splashed contentedly under the cover of the jetty deck and Mark used a zippo on the Citronella oil lamps on the side tables.

  “To think all this…” Bobby stood and spread his arms and turned slowly around “…used to be the Hoskins Farm.”

  “What would’ve been here, Cappy?” Mark looked around “The sheds?”

  “Nah. This would’ve bin…” Bobby’s frown crinkled his forehead “My Barn. We would be standing under the kitchen. Over there by that duck would’ve bin my hot-tub.”

  “I miss that hot tub.” I grinned up at Bobby “At least over there is still wet, so the place kinda has a …synergy.”