2. Beached
995 Words
2
Beached
Kuleana
Right; responsibility; stewardship.
How can I care so much, Maka thought, and Zader’s so clueless?
Is it because I live as Niuhi and he lives as human?
Is it a boy/girl thing?
Or is it because I know all about him and he knows nothing about me?
When Zader’s feet and knees dragged sand, Maka shifted from shark to human form. Flinging her hair out of her eyes and struggling a little in the shore break, she paused to reach out with her Niuhi senses.
Two human heartbeats.
One near the showers at the pavilion and the other near the rocks leading to Piko Point.
It’s too dark for them to see more than our shapes.
We’re good.
Ignoring the roiling sea foam, Maka flipped Zader onto his back.
His gills quivered and gasped.
Drowning in air.
Only Zader would make such a rookie mistake.
She pushed on his chest, forcing his body underwater. When the ragged ti leaf lei around his neck floated up, she ran her fingers along it.
Still wearing it, the i***t.
Like he needs more ties to the land.
Half in the water, half out, Maka considered her next move.
He’s heavy.
Bigger than I am and likely to be unconscious for another couple of hours.
I can’t leave him lying on the beach.
What if Kalei comes back?
She wrapped an arm around Zader’s neck and used the momentum of the waves to bring him out of the shore break and onto the beach.
I need to take him home, but I can’t do it without help.
She tugged at the lei, breaking off a water-logged leaf.
I hate this!
But I have to.
Time to hide in plain sight.
Maka filled her lungs and shouted, “Help! Somebody help! I think he’s drowning! Help! I need help! We’re in the water!”
With her Niuhi ears, she heard the humans’ heartbeats rise like the pounding call of a hula master’s drum.
Good.
I’ve got their attention.
Time to sell it.
“Help!” she screamed, “somebody help me!”
The female near the rocks started to move, but hesitated in the darkness.
“We’re on the beach, Nalupuki-side! Help! Please! I know you’re there! I have to get him out of the water or he’ll die!”
The girl hastened, but still cautiously picked her way through the rocks and sand.
Human eyes.
Useless in the dark.
How can Zader stand it?
The boy near the pavilion on the hill stepped closer to the sand’s edge, but no farther.
Waiting to see.
Typical.
It’s always up to the women to save the world.
Ignoring the salt dripping into her eyes, Maka grabbed Zader by his armpits and hauled his body the rest of the way out of the water and onto dry sand. She kneeled next to him, placing her hands over the gill slits in his neck. For a moment he struggled, then his mouth opened, sucking air deep into his lungs. Through his chest she felt his bones cracking and organs sliding as the baby shark fin bump on his back disappeared and the gill slits along his neck closed.
Now past the rocks, the girl spotted them in the starlight and started running.
“‘Alika!” the girl shouted toward the pavilion, “Come help!”
She skidded to a stop a few steps away, kicking sand all over Zader’s legs.
The boy on the hill didn’t move.
The girl was tall, sturdy, and strong in the way Aunties called big-boned and the boys called fat. With her Niuhi eyes, Maka could see a red mark high on the girl’s cheek that would morph into a wicked bruise by noon.
Good.
I can work with this.
Maka’s eyes swept Zader’s body one last time. He was still a little gray, but not so gray that he looked like a battleship. Pink slowly flushed his cheeks.
Maka brushed her hair back from her face, making sure a little sand fell into her eyes. The trick worked, and tears spilled down her cheeks. Scrunching up her face, she took a few rapid breaths and fluttered her hands.
“Oh, thank goodness you’re here! I found him floating offshore. He must have hit his head on a rock at Piko Point and fallen in.”
The girl reached into her pocket and pulled out a cell phone.
No! The last thing we need is the police!
The girl pressed a button and held the light near Zader’s face.
“That’s Zader,” she said.
“You know him?” Maka asked.
“Yeah.” The girl tuned toward the pavilion. “‘Alika! It’s Zader!”
“So?” ‘Alika called back.
“So come help!” she shouted.
“Is he breathing?” ‘Alika asked.
The girl leaned down and touched Zader’s chest.
“Yeah!” she said.
“Not my problem,” ‘Alika said.
“‘Alika!”
“You’re on your own, Tunazilla!” he said.
“Then why did you follow me?”
“I’m going home,” he said.
“You can’t! Not yet!”
“I’m not staying here. You wanna get involved, that’s your kuleana.”
‘Alika turned away from the beach, but only went as far as the parking lot.
Tunazilla waved the light over Zader’s body. After a quick scan, she held the light to Maka’s face, then turned it off.
“What happened?”
Maka shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Is he drunk? High?”
“I don’t think so,” Maka said. “He’s out of it, but breathing. His heartbeat’s strong.”
Tunazilla put her hand on her hip.
“What do you want to do?”
She waved the phone. “
You like call somebody?”
No panic.
No running to the authorities.
Interesting.
And no questions about why we were swimming in the ocean at five in the morning off Piko Point.
I think I could like this girl.
“You said you know him?” Maka asked.
“Yeah. Zader Westin. He doesn’t live far.”
“Can we get him home?”
“Carry him?” Tunazilla sized Maka up. “We probably can. I’ll make ‘Alika help.”
“The guy at the pavilion?”
“My cousin.” Tunazilla paused. “I’ve seen you around the beach.”
“I visit sometimes,” Maka said.
Tunazilla nodded. “I’m Petunia. You can call me Tuna.”
“Maka.”
Tuna reached down, and together they started dragging Zader up the beach.
“Ho! He’s heavier than he looks,” said Tuna.
“He’s wet,” Maka said.
“Not that wet. Try wait.” Tuna adjusted her grip. “‘Alika!” Tuna yelled, “You better come help! ‘Alika!”
“No!”
Tuna gave Maka side-eye.
“Fine!” she shouted, “Then I’m telling Tutu about the cigarettes you got hidden in the coffee can behind the garage!”
“You won’t.”
“Guaranz.”
“C’mon, Tuna! I followed you! I made sure you were safe.”
“Help or I’m telling Tutu.”
“Crap! Okay den, cool your jets!” he shouted, jogging down the beach.
- Writer
