What Happened to Enos'

Little Girl?

by KayCee1951

Part One

Chapter Nine

Alien Grasshoppers?

Still August 5, 2022

When they returned from the village later that morning, François dropped Esme and her backpack at the edge of the temple grounds, then watched her disappear into the wood leading to the Hanok house.

Upon her arrival, Esme found her Lieutenant Kim, attacking the ground that had filled the pond. He looked like the rocks were getting the upper hand.

"I expected you to be home an hour ago."

Esme was temporarily stunned, not just by what he said, but how matter-of-factly, and possessively he'd said it. Okay, so it wasn't the rocks making him frustrated.

"…Did you think I changed my mind?" she asked (and she might just do that if he keeps up the proprietorial attitude).

"I considered it. Might have been the better decision…for you."

Well, that wasn't what she'd expected.

"If you keep this up, I might. What have you done with the cheeky thief who stole my bike to get my attention, then convinced me to throw caution to the wind and follow him to Shangi-La?"

"Are you saying you like the ordinary jerk?"

"Don't push it, Lieutenant," she smiled. "Now, do you need help with this or not?"

He picked up a flat-head shovel and leaned on it. "First, we have to clear all the crumbled stone that makes digging difficult…Don't you want to change into some work clothes?" Then, unable to help himself, he began to laugh uncontrollably. "Where did you get that dress? From the feed store?"

"Yes, I did. They were having a sale. I thought about buying two but I didn't want to be greedy. So, just show me what I need to do. Especially since I have a nice hot shower waiting for me."

As he didn't want to revisit the 'surprise!' debacle, he didn't take the bait, but asked instead, "Do you think you can roll the wheelbarrow full of rocks over to that little mound I started?"

She looked at him askew and asked, "You think just because I'm short I can't handle a few rocks?"

"Sorry, I forgot who I was talking to for a minute. I would be grateful for the help. Especially since I can't rely on François anymore."

"Oh, I see. I'm just any port in a storm."

"That's not what I meant."

"I know. I was just messin' with you." She said it in the thickest Georgia twang she could muster up.

Shaking his head, but smiling, Min-jun began shallow shoveling rocks that had concentrated in some areas of the area he had already stepped off and marked. He dumped a few shovels full into the wheelbarrow.

"I didn't realize how big the pond was. Unearthing it will take forever and a day by hand," Esme said while deftly lifting the rock pram. "Why don't you get some clearing and digging equipment up here to make it easier on yourself, not to mention faster?"

"Authentic restoration, remember? Getting a lot of people and equipment up here would put the temple at risk of unwanted exposure."

"And they would have to go through temple grounds to get here…right. This is the only way to go." She wheeled the ancient wooden cart to the edge of the thicket and deposited her load on the mound Min-jun had started, wondering what his plan was for those stones. It seemed Min-jun always had a plan and she wondered what would happen if someone upended his grand design.

After ten or so loads, she was perspiring and there were smudges of dirt on her cheeks and forehead.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?"

"I'm fine…" She almost added 'Min-jun' but caught herself.

"Full disclosure, I have to tell you there are bugs the size of railroad cars under these rocks and detritus."

She laughed. "Since when are you concerned about 'full disclosure?' For your information, I grew up on a ranch where my assigned chore was mucking the barn of horse manure and cow patties. I think I can handle a few bugs." She picked up a centipede and let it crawl over her hand and halfway up her forearm before tossing it at him.

"Two can play that game, you know," he said. Retrieving a huge hard-shelled grasshopper he'd found earlier, he threatened to throw it at her.

"Not fair," Esme said as she held him at bay with a flimsy stick. "It has horns and looks like an escapee from a sci-fi movie."

"How do you feel about cockroaches?"

"Not anything good," she laughed and braced herself.

"Okay. How about we call a truce," Min-jun said, holding out his hand to her.

She took it and said, "Deal."

What began as a handshake turned into hand holding…and Esme made no attempt to pull away. The only force that broke the bond was the grasshopper latching on to Min-jun's right cheek. It really did look like a movie alien.