Raindrops

Quicksilvre

I would like to thank the three or four of you who have stopped (often every chapter) to review the story. I'm glad you guys are leaving comments. And, if you're reading and not reviewing–why not? It's easy and if something is amiss to you, it's a way to clear the air.

And, on with Chapter 11:

-)-)-)-)

His name, as Summer learned the next day, was Sonn. He had found her that afternoon, twitching and unconscious in the sand, and he half-dragged, half-carried her to safety.

Summer's room was in an inn by the water called Tongau Flats. Sonn was a regular there, half guest and half de facto right-hand man to the owner. Summer's trip was like the proverbial walk in the park compared to his–his journey through death was on a raft over the water, and he had twice found himself in the path of an angry shark. The first time, he got away, but the second one left an impressive scar circling around his right arm, where it had nearly been bitten off. A streak of good fortune saw him float to the coast in front of the inn, where guests found him.

The Flats had about twenty rooms, all of them tiny, mostly filled with vagrants and journeymen looking for a night's sleep and a cheap dinner. Sonn had been planning to heal, rebuild his boat, and head off–staying maybe two weeks, three tops.

Eight months later, he was still too comfortable to leave.

-)-)-)-)

He knocked on her door, a tray in one hand. "Lunchtime. You decent?"

"Come on in."

Sonn slid the door open and shuffled in–carefully; it was a tight squeeze between the wall and the bed, and he didn't want to spill anything on her. "Plantains and soup."

"Mmm, yum." It had already been four days since she found herself at the inn, and she had grown nicely into her new world.

"I'm bringing mine in too, no point for you to eat alone."

"Oh. All right." She took the tray from him. "That's not necessary, you know. I mean, if you're busy."

"Nope, nothing to do until later."

"Okay." Summer was grateful for attention. When she ran out of town, she left everything behind except for the clothes on her back. She needed the charity. Besides, it was good to be around someone her own age.

A moment later, Sonn was there with his own. He sat down on the bed next to her. "You doing better? I saw you out in the hall, walking."

"Yeah...I'm stiff and sore, but I'm getting better. I was just chasing away everyone peeking in."

"It's not every day someone comes in with the flourish you did. I mean, I was carrying you in, and everything stopped. Women were crying, all the men were circled around, looking at you...it was wild."

"I probably should have gotten stitches." Summer picked at her stomach. Scar tissue stretched over her injury, and while it looked better than it did, it wasn't pretty.

"Too late now, you're scarred over and the doctor moved on anyway."

"Yeah. It's healing, though."

"I noticed. Your face looks a lot better already." He looked at her. "You're good looking."

She blushed. "Thanks."

"No, I mean it." Sonn bit into a plantain slice. He smiled at her, and then said. "Actually, I'm here to talk to you."

"Oh." Summer felt a little disappointment within her. Sonn was no Seth, but he was a good sub. Especially the hair. Nice and thick and black and...

"The owner has been keeping an eye on you over the last few days, uh, though me actually, and, uh, now that you're starting to move around, he really want to talk to you. This afternoon."

-)-)-)-)

"It's right around this corner."

"Great." Summer grunted when she moved her back a little too much. "When you don't want to go, it seems a lot longer."

"Worried?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"It's nothing, I'm sure."

"Has he does this before to any other guest?"

"Uh, I've only been here for–"

"Yeah, but has he?"

"No. No one had to be dragged in either, so...that's different, too."

"Yeah, ow...don't remind me." She winced and leaned over suddenly.

"Need help?"

"No, you've done...too much. And it's only a few more steps."

"I've been there before. It's what I should do." He opened the door of the owner's office for her. "Here you are."

"Thanks." Summer shuffled in, too stiff to move her feet too far off the ground.

The owner of the inn was a very large Samoan man, about forty years old by Summer's guess. He wore glasses, and plain tan work clothes. "Hey! How are you doing?" He spoke in a reasonably friendly tone. Sticking his hand out for her to shake, he continued, "My name is Jai. I hope that my inn has been treating you well. Sit down, please."

"Oh, uh, yeah." She took his hand, then carefully lowered herself onto the stool opposite his.

"Doing well with guests?"

"Mostly. Sonn has been taking care of me."

"Yeah, I knew. I saw him squirreling away this and that for you. You should have seen him when you first came in." Jai put two chubby hands to his head, and spoke in an exaggerated manner. "OH, the girl needs food! OH, the girl needs bandages. OH, the girl needs...whatever. You sounded like a needy girl. But then I saw you and you looked alright."

"Heh. Yeah, I'm better." Summer shifted in her seat. "What did you want to talk about, exactly?"

"Ah, yes. Well." Jai became slightly more serious–not enormously so, but enough to notice the difference. "I'm running a business here."

"Oh, God. Yeah. Uh...I lost everything that I had back in town. See, I slept in this cart, and–"

"Yeah, I know how they are in town. It's one of the things they have here, you know? To test people."

"Yeah, and I got, like, nothing."

"That's been noted."

There was a long pause. "Do you need an extra worker? Is that what it's about?"

"Yeah, I could use on more."

"Is there any other way? I mean, couldn't I..." Summer left her voice drift off.

"We don't need you right away. Rest up and recover."

"Are you forcing me to?"

"No, you can leave...I'm greatly compelling you to." Jai took out a notepad. "So, tell me...Summer, right? Yes, it took me the longest to remember...so Summer, what are you good at?"

Another long pause. Oh, yeah, she thought. Casino dealer is going to sound sooo impressive.

"Well, all right, you're a school kid really...what are you interested in doing?"

Silence. Summer looked at the floor. Buddy, I can't hammer a nail or screw in a light bulb. Never been a secretary. I didn't drive to save my life. I can't cook or even make coffee without it coming out crappy.

After waiting a few more seconds, Jai cleared his throat. He tossed the notepad away. "Okay! Well, we'll find something for you. Next week, we'll get some clothes for you. You need some new stuff."

"You don't have to bother."

"Sure we do." He shifted. "I think that's it."

"Great." Summer hastily rose from her chair.

"Do you need help?"

"No, I'm good." She shuffled out the door as quickly as she could, not wanting to look back. She was still wobbly on her feet and Sonn was nearby, down the hall from the office, but Summer didn't want to bother him. She figured he had something to do.

Besides, she didn't want anyone to see the tears in her eyes.