Hiding Under The Ninth Earth
Book Four : A Two-Edged Sword

Part None : Glossary of Hawaiian Terms (Not necessarily in this part.)

Alua Au : a deliberate mis-naming of a Hawaiian advocacy organization which provides 'court support' such as marriages, record home-births and Hanai family adoptions for native Hawaiians. Any documents they issue are considered legally binding in the local state courts.
brah : friend
da kine : Catch-all word used for just about anything.
go bust/get busted : break or crush
Good grinds that : lit. Good food that
humbug : bullshit/crazy/stupid/a problem
kiawe : mesquite
okole : ass/derriere
Opihi : a rock limpet one usually eats raw
Pass-o-guava : Passion fruit mixed with guava juice
slippers : flip-flops
streamers/whizzers/gunrolls/blackcats : loud, banging firecrackers
t'ing : thing
you stu : you stupid idiot

Part I : To The Hilt

2 July 2004

The board's violent wobbling was Perrin's only warning before he tumbled off its smooth surface, splashing head-first into the warm, salty water. Again. As he sank beneath the surging waves above him, his mouth firmly closed against the briny taste, he swore he could hear the others laughing at his less-than-stellar performance. Again.

Comfortable for the moment, he thought it might be far better to stay down here with the fishes swimming curiously around his legs; peaceful and quiet it was, without the mocking teasing the others gave him over his awkwardness. Well, Sarah wasn't so bad, but even she would get that shining light in her eyes that meant she really wanted to laugh even if she was too kind to do it. Yes, it was good here. Warm and floaty. Silent.

His lungs starting to burn, he envied the fish their gills. Surely there was something he could use to let him stay in this magical place for just a while longer--like the whole summer? He'd only been here a couple of weeks, but...

A swirl of turbulent water pressing on the top of his shoulders heralded another presence as a strong hand threaded through his longish hair, roughly pulling him out of his speculation. Up and up it tugged him through the shifting shafts of pale turquoise light towards reality's brightness above. Cleanly breaking the ocean's surface, he took several deep, penitent breaths before turning to face his 'rescuer'. Water dripping into his eyes, Kalani shook his head, the flying droplets flashing and sparkling in the late morning sun. As one powerful arm repetitively swept the water, keeping him afloat, the other--holding the leash to Perrin's loaned board--remained outstretched towards Perrin, ready to steady him if need be.

Treading water, Perrin looked behind Kalani, noticing that the others were already well on their way back to the black-sand shore, some riding the waves with an ease that made him sigh, the others lying on their boards paddling lazily in the mild swells. Kalani didn't say anything, but Perrin could tell from the sharpness in his gaze that he wasn't fooled by Perrin's failure to appear immediately after falling off the surfboard. Uncomfortable and embarrassed, he focused on the others' progress.

"Gillyweed," Kalani said after a long while.

"Huh?" Perrin asked, his startled glance swinging to the older man.

"A magical herb. I grow it out back. It's what Ben and I use when we go deep sea spear-fishing. When you're old enough and a better swimmer, we'll take you."

"Spear-fishing," Perrin repeated dumbly.

"Or when we just want to... escape," Kalani added. "It's... nice down there, isn't it?"

Perrin looked away to stare longingly at the Hana children his age, half of whom were already checking their gear on the beach. He felt distinctly out of place with them, stiff where they were loose and easy, pale and--English where they were brown and--local. Worlds apart separated by a common language--and magic. Remembering their recent not-so-gentle ribbing, he shivered and sighed. "Yeah. It's quiet."

Kalani followed his gaze. "They don't mean to be unkind; it's just their way. Their laughter is a good thing, maybe not the same as where you're from. It means they accept you; it's their silence you need to worry about." He smiled when Perrin snorted. "Trust me, they like you, so they treat you the same as anyone else. How well you take it and how you respond will determine if it continues that way. They'll accept your... silence and... shyness, but not if it's sullen or arrogant, nor will they tolerate boasting. You're doing fine."

Perrin threw him his best, 'Yeah, right,' grimace. He groaned and took the old wooden board's leash from Kalani when he handed it to him. "I'm never going to get this right."

Kalani chuckled. "You're trying and that's all that matters. Hey, at least you stood... for a few." He grinned. "If it helps any, Sarah and Kumo and the others have been riding the waves almost since they could walk. You wouldn't believe how many times Kahea' fell off this same board before she 'got it'. But--"

They bobbed up as a large swell caught them, raising Perrin high before knocking him below the water. Blowing air as Kalani had taught him, he pulled on the board's leash against the press of water pushing him down. Breaking the surface, he gulped in air as he grabbed the board's edge, his whole body feeling suddenly drained and tired. Kalani spit a mouthful of water to the side and smiled. "And that's why you need to use the leash; this training board is an old hand with novices and will keep you from... sinking too far," he lightly teased, raising a brow. "Come. Tide's coming in; it's time to go back to shore. You'll not learn this in a day and Harry will skin me alive if you're burned."

Somewhat reassured, Perrin let Kalani help him back on the board; at least he could paddle fairly well. Following Kalani's swimming form back to the beach, Perrin smiled at the thought of Harry 'skinning' anyone. Now Severus, though...

3 July 2004

Even during the days when he'd not been free to say so, watching Harry chase a Snitch had always held a certain appeal for Severus. Drawn as he was to anything of beauty, Harry's fluid grace and quick daring could make him hold his breath for the sheer splendour of it. Next to him, the other players--surely as skilled--had appeared clumsy and inept, their efforts paltry when unavoidably compared to his excellence.

Today was no different as he stood at the window in the dining nook, his eyes eagerly consuming each dive, each twist, each length of stretching speed. Harry was in his element, a fey creature of the wind, his wild hair streaming behind him, every lean inch of him extended fully over the broom as he played with the practice Snitch he kept handy for exercise. Watching him now, Severus felt his body tighten in response to the picture Harry made; his husband was a beautiful man and he couldn't help but envy the broom. Were it his body Harry gripped with such passion, such finesse... He shook off his fancy; he well knew how those things felt, for Harry gave them to him whenever he wanted.

He smiled. He was such a lucky man.

And a most regretful one as well; he had to leave to meet with Albus. Which was probably why Harry had chosen this time for his play for, of course, Harry knew how much he enjoyed watching him, the little tease. Almost to the limits of acceptable tardiness when it came to matters with the old man, he was about to close the sash when Harry suddenly stopped. Just stopped. Hovering in place hundreds of feet in the air, as the Snitch danced around his head just out of reach, Harry leaned forward, his back tense. Uneasy, Severus half-climbed in the window seat, following his apparent line of sight.

Someone was coming towards Hogwarts via broom, a tiny speck at first, growing ever larger until the man's dark hair and almost-familiar stocky build was visible, but not his face. Or at least not to Severus, but Harry, so much closer and facing the man head-on, obviously had a much better view. Drawing nearer, the man stopped short, much as Harry had, and quicker than thought, he turned the broom around and sped away. With a shout, Harry and his old Firebolt leapt after him.

"Accio Broom," Severus shouted; Harry's touring broom slammed into his hand almost immediately. It wasn't as fast, perhaps, but it would get him there. Mounting the newer broom, he soared out the window, following them both. Pushed to its maximum speed, Severus kept the two specks in clear sight as they flew over the Forbidden Forest. Saving time, he cut across the zig-zag path created by the man's evasion of Harry's pursuit. He didn't question the urgency making his heart pound so painfully against his ribs, nor his little nagger whispering that Harry needed his help; something was very wrong.

Over the lake, he drew close enough to get an idea of what that something was. Harry and his target were duelling. Rapid sparks of light and spell energy flashed between them; Harry had obviously hit something vital for they were slowing appreciably, enough so he should be able to catch them up in a few minutes. His heart in his throat, he watched Harry reach out for the other man's broom as if it were just an over-sized Snitch. He never made it, for his quarry cast a spell not at Harry, but at his broom. An instant later, Harry started losing altitude and, leaning desperately to his right, he headed back to the shore.

"No, Harry!" Severus shouted even though he knew Harry couldn't hear him. Damn it, if Harry crashed, Severus had a better chance of rescuing him unharmed out of the lake than the forest, but like all land creatures Harry's instincts were taking him away from the water. Nearing the spot they'd been, he dared take his eyes off of Harry long enough to glance at the man slowly retreating as Harry fell. A split second was all he needed for the man's bulky shape to register: Mendino! His blood boiling in frustration, there was no choice as to whom he would follow.

His heart heavy with dread, he dropped into the trees where he'd last seen Harry enter the silent forest.

3 July 2004

Sometimes, Perrin thought, silence was the best course of action. It wasn't earning him many friends, but it did have its uses and it was something at which he was fairly skilled. Like yesterday when he heard about the party tomorrow. A lu'au they called it. When they were discussing how many people and how much food and fireworks! on the beach, he'd stupidly thought it was because of him. As he'd said nothing, he'd been spared the embarrassment when they'd also said it was for something called "Independence Day," an American holiday that just happened to coincide with his twelfth birthday.

And, surrounded as he was by a large group of sweaty, swearing local men and older boys, each the size of a small horse, silence still seemed his best recourse. Especially considering one of them, the biggest man Perrin had ever seen, had an axe slung casually over one shoulder--a big axe, the blade of which was easily as wide in inches as Perrin had in years. He paused in his digging to watch them wrestle with something in the bed of a pick-up truck.

"Ho, Chan! How soon that imu done?" one of the men called in their direction.

Sweating profusely, Ben paused in his labour to shout back, "At least an hour before I light the fire... unless you want to come help?"

The man, Charlie, Perrin thought his name was, laughed easily, his yellowed teeth flashing against brown skin. "Nah. You make them bettah than anyone I know."

"Must be magic," Ben murmured to Perrin, nudging him with a smile. "Eh, back to work or they'll notice the sand's flying without us digging."

Perrin didn't say anything, but bent back to his task, which consisted of placing his shovel in the hard-packed sand and throwing it over his shoulder to a growing pile behind them, which masked the fact that four times more sand came off the shovel than went on it. His back to the other men, he nonetheless could follow their actions.

"One hour to fire? Plus six more? Eh, Charlie, it can't stay on the truck that long."

"No kidding. We'll have to ice it."

"Eh, good t'ing you bring your beer tub."

"Yeah, shame for the beer," Charlie replied, then shouted, "No, no! The other way, you stu. Back legs gotta go first."

"No way, man. You do it dat way, the head go bust."

"So? I'm gonna cut it off anyway."

"So, brah. Mina have my okole that head get busted. She wants it for the pot next week."

"She making da kine again?" There was a pause of silence. "Good grinds that."

"Get that rope. Is the ice ready?"

"Steady... Steady... No! Left! Left! What? Fucking buggah--your mom drop you when you was one baby?"

"Hey! That's my foot!"

"Fuck, man. Dis buggah's big."

"No, no, NO! Not dat way. Fuck, you trying and--OOF!--kill me?"

"This is so humbug."

Perrin hazarded a glance over the growing mound of sand and just as quickly wished he hadn't. Almost losing his hearty lunch, he watched in horrified fascination as the men manoeuvred a huge, bloody boar hanging by its front legs off a tripod winch, set over the back of the truck's bed, onto a piece of plywood set flat on the hard sand. Its head tipped back at an odd angle, exposing a pair of wicked tusks, Perrin realised its throat had been sliced through, all the way to the bone. Gulping some air, he hastily returned to his task, desperately trying not to be sick.

Glancing at him sideways, Ben spared him some sympathy; dead pig was not the prettiest sight at the best of times, even if one were inured to it. Muttering, "Finite Incantatem," he leaned on his shovel. "There, I think that's deep and wide enough. Big pig Mano caught; should be enough to feed everyone tomorrow."

Gratefully setting the shovel aside, Perrin nodded. "What's next?" he asked quietly, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard several times.

Ben smiled in sympathy. "We add rocks and wood." At Perrin's raised brows, he chuckled. Pointing with two fingers to Perrin's left, he said, "See those piles over there?"

Perrin's eyes followed until they rested on a large pile of lava rocks, each about the size of his fist and a small mound of cut gnarled logs as thick as his arm. His eyes widening in dismay, he asked, "We have to move all of them?"

"Yeah, but I have ways of making it easier. Besides, they're only the beginning of the things we need to put in there after the pig's wrapped and the bottom stones are hot."

Confusion marred the boy's features as Ben absently noted he was finally getting a hint of healthier brown to replace his winter pallor. "I don't understand."

"Didn't Kalani tell you what an imu is?" When Perrin shook his head, Ben sighed and muttered, "Eh, love, teach the boy to surf, but not how to build an imu?" He chuckled at Kalani's skewed priorities. "C'mon. Digging's thirsty work. Let's go to the house and get something to drink and I'll explain."

Urgency made him hustle the boy quickly to the front of the house; he didn't think him ready yet to see them cut off the head. Sure enough, Perrin almost jumped out of his skin when they heard the shouted, "Eee-yah!" followed by a massive thunk as the axe Charlie wielded so well bit deep into the plywood. Given his wild eyes and shaking hands, Ben was hard-pressed not to give Perrin a hug, but suspected how well that would be received. So instead, he settled a friendly arm across the boy's shoulders as he led him across the lanai, surprised when Perrin leaned into him. Well, maybe a hug would have been okay, and Ben filed the information away for later use.

Leading him to the far side, they entered the outdoor storage room. When Perrin pulled away and made another noise of confusion, Ben explained, "Severus doesn't like sand in the house and we're both loaded. So I installed this old second-hand fridge for them--" he opened the door and rummaged inside, the cold almost painful on his hot skin "--last month so we could get drinks and such without having to go inside." The seal squeaked tiredly as he closed the rust-spotted door. "Not much to look at," he said, handing Perrin an icy Pass-o-guava, "but it works great."

He twisted the top off a Bud Light and chugged half the bottle down in one long throat-working pull. Sighing with pleasure, he watched incredulously as Perrin polished off the whole can of juice in three long gulps. Belching lightly, he held up the empty and asked, "Where do I put this?"

"Blue can on the side," Ben said, tugging the fridge door open again. The seal gave way with a reluctant slurp and Ben captured another juice and bottle of beer before wrestling it closed again. He sighed in affectionate frustration as he watched Perrin cautiously peek around the side of the house before setting off to put his can in the recycling bin. Poor kid, Ben thought, he's still feeling his way around. He wished Perrin would ask for help more; it would make things so much easier for him, but he could understand the boy's reticence since he'd been living with someone like him for years.

Deciding not to wait on Perrin, Ben walked around to the front lanai to the bench by the door and, flipping his slippers to the side, put his bare feet up on a nearby stout table. By the time Perrin returned, he'd finished the first beer and had popped the second. Sipping it slowly, he gazed out over the ocean rather than stare at Perrin taking the second juice and sitting next to him.

Sipping thoughtfully, Ben began, "An imu is a steaming pit. We'll line the bottom with kindling and kiawe, a kind of wood used for smoking, then we'll pile those rocks on top. Then we'll light a fire and let it burn to coals; takes about six hours until the rocks get white hot from the fire. Once the rocks drop onto the coals, we'll lay chopped-up banana stalks across them and..."

"Why banana stalks?"

"They don't burn easily and provide a support for the food, keeping it away from direct heat." When Perrin nodded, Ben continued, "On top of the banana stalks we'll layer about a foot of Ti leaves--they provide the moisture and steam when they get hot. By this time the pig will already be gutted and dressed, with chunks of meat wrapped in Ti leaf 'packets'--or at least that's how Aunty does it--some folks just put the pig in whole, but..."

Ben almost laughed at Perrin's scrunched-up face. "Yeah, that's what Aunty thinks, too." He took another pull on the bottle. "Anyway, they'll place the food on the Ti leaves and then layer another foot on top followed by a shallow layer of banana leaves--they're bigger and you need fewer of them to cover the whole pit. Then..."

Perrin eyes were wide. "There's more?"

Ben did laugh then. "Just a few more things. After banana leaves comes a layer of wet burlap, a thick tarp and then we get to shovel all the sand back on top to seal it. Then we go home."

"Seems a lot of work for a meal," Perrin groused.

"Maybe," Ben noted with a snort, "but it's sooo ono when it's done." Perrin stared. "Good--ono means good or delicious."

"O-no," Perrin whispered and Ben knew he'd commit it to memory just like he had all the other words he'd learned, even if he'd not actually used a one.

"Actually, we get the easy work. Others have to watch the imu overnight to make sure it doesn't leak steam." Of course, most of them would stay up all night talking story and be so drunk by sunrise, they'd probably sleep through the meal. "And we won't have to dig it back up tomorrow to get the food out, nor clean it up."

Hearing Perrin heave a sigh of relief, Ben changed the subject. "If it's okay with Severus and Harry, you can help shoot off fireworks tomorrow night. After all, you'll be twelve tomorrow." Well, that certainly sparked some interest.

Sitting forward eagerly, Perrin asked, "Really? What kind? How high do they go? What shapes do they make?"

"Whoa, there," Ben said, raising his hand with a laugh. "The big aerials--" Perrin's face went blank "--the big fireworks that explode high overhead?--" Perrin's eyes lit with bright understanding "--are done only by the experts in the fire boats off-shore." Perrin quickly schooled the disappointment out of his face and Ben thought sadly no child should know how to do that.

Taking another sip of his warming beer, Ben struggled to find a way to explain that wasn't too foreign; with the few minor misunderstandings they'd had in the last two weeks over American terminology, he'd learned to be careful. An idea forming, he set the beer aside on the lanai and glanced to both sides to make sure they were alone. Drawing his wand, he thought, if you can't explain it, show it. Inscribing a circle, he murmured a spell he'd not used since he'd taught Kahea'. Slowly the memories in his head formed within the circle, images of a much-younger Kalani setting off streamers and whizzers and gunrolls and blackcats and a whole slew of banging, flashing, exploding, sparkling firecrackers and small fireworks--enough to delight any boy's pyro-manic heart.

A wide grin lighting his whole face, Perrin exclaimed, "Wow! When do we start?"

Ben chuckled. "Just after sundown, and only if your guardians say it's all right."

Perrin's face fell. "Severus will never let me..."

"Eh, you don't know that. I wouldn't be surprised if Severus isn't already an old-hand with explosions." Ben smiled at Perrin's knowing giggle. "Don't worry, they'll be here tomorrow morning, so I'll have plenty of time to talk them into it."

Ben was sorry he'd have to interrupt the first genuine smile they'd seen on Perrin in a couple of days, however... "Well, sitting here's not getting the job done," Ben said, standing with a sigh. He picked up the empty beer bottles and tossed them into the recycling bin as they passed it, Perrin tossing in his can as well; they'd separate it later with a handy little spell Kalani had devised years ago. No sense getting messy when you didn't have to.

In the same vein, he taught Perrin the spell to make the rocks lighter as they shifted them into a huge wheelbarrow, a small, surreptitious twist of his wand making its bed big enough to take all they needed in one trip. Trundling it back was hard work, but they soon had it at the side of the hole they'd dug earlier. Several trips later, they had all the materials they needed and set to work.

"Bugger!" Perrin swore when he dropped a rock on his foot, his face flushing when he realised what he'd said. Rubbing the sore spot briefly, he picked up the next batch of rocks, handing them to Ben. As the older man carefully lined the pit, Perrin said quietly, "Sorry. I guess I didn't think this through when you asked me to help. I don't know why I thought this would be better."

"Well, you could be up in the mountains gathering Ti."

"Yeah, I suppose, but that seemed so..."

"Sissy?" Ben supplied, highly amused, but striving not to show it. Perrin looked away. "And this seemed more... manly?" Perrin shrugged. Ben gazed back at the mountains far off. "Harry helped the Aunties and Kalani collect the Ti."

Perrin blinked. "What did Severus do?"

"He stayed here and helped with the pig."

Perrin tilted his head in question. "Helped do what with the pig?"

"Slaughtered, gutted, and dressed it. He's not really all that squeamish."

Perrin privately thought of some of the more disgusting potions ingredients and wasn't very surprised to hear it. "Severus is much braver than me."

Ben's kind gaze held him captive. "I don't think that's true, but he is better at hiding his fear... and revulsion than most of us."

Perrin glanced again at an old bathtub Charlie had placed in Severus and Harry's sideyard, shuddering as he eyed the hoof poking out of the mound of melting pink ice.

Ben said teasingly, "Don't worry, you're too young to work with that monster. When the others get back you're welcome to go with them to gather crabs and Opihi at sunset; they'll need all the hands they can get down at the tide pools. Charlie and I can finish the pit. Maybe you can have your chance at the boar next summer."

"Or maybe never," Perrin muttered firmly. Finally meeting Ben's eyes, he straightened his shoulders and said, "No, I said I'd help, and I'll stay until we're done." He glanced at what they'd accomplished so far. "Do you need more rocks?"

When Ben smiled and nodded, holding out his elegant, yet work-worn hands, Perrin felt something impossibly tight loosen inside him and smiled back.

4 July 2004

"Breathe, damn you, Harry! Breathe!"

Severus didn't know where to start. Harry's breath hissed wetly with each feeble rise of his chest, the most obvious cause of which being the ragged broom handle speared through his chest; he suspected he would find the other end peeping out the back. Or maybe it was the awkward twist Harry's spine had assumed over the tree root beneath it. He didn't want to even contemplate the numerous broken bones, two of which were protruding through the skin of his left shin. He shook himself; now was not the time to panic.

"Breathe, Harry. Breathe with me."

His hands shaking, Severus took several deep calming breaths of his own before lowering his hands to Harry's temples. Entering the Sanos pathways, he flinched past the internal injuries he couldn't repair, concentrating on finding any curse damage that might prevent him from transporting Harry. Dimly, he could detect something there, something foreign and possibly harmful, but buried so deep, his limited skill proved insufficient to determine what it was. He would just have to chance it. Warily he withdrew.

"Please, Harry. Breathe. That's it... In... Out... In... Out... Good."

The stabilising spells were simple; he knew better than to remove the broom handle and the other injuries merely needed strong cushioning charms to hold them in place. He'd already staunched the bleeding; he vaguely recalled that had been the first thing he'd done. Levitating Harry and securing him across the broom in front of him with a spell was easy; placing the warding shields to protect him in flight proved more difficult, but after several heart-stopping moments, they were ready. Slowly rising, he soon manoeuvred them above the trees. Setting his sight on the far distant castle, he set the 'Always-on-Course' charms and they headed home.

Halfway there, Harry started choking. Severus immediately turned him to his side facing slightly downwards, and tried to remain dispassionate as a sporadic stream of foamy blood and mucus flowed out of Harry's mouth. His hand firm on Harry's hip, he scooted back a bit in the seat to avoid the nub of the broom handle in Harry's back now pointing at his groin.

Breathe, love, breathe.

Near the castle, he circled to the front. With a thought, the doors opened for him and he flew Harry through the castle as fast as he dared, the walls moving for him to make a straight path all the way to the infirmary. Those doors opened for him as well and he heard himself shouting for Poppy.

We're here, love. Breathe, just one more... and another... Breathe.

They were moving. Someone was removing his shields around Harry, but he couldn't see them, his concentration wholly centred on the chest rising less and less with each passing second.

Breathe, love, breathe.

"Severus. Severus? Let go of his hand. Severus! Oh bother, just move him to the side, we'll not get him to leave."

Breathe, love, breathe. Please, don't stop.

TBC