Going into the weekend, more snow expected here. My little centurion sent me a pic of her in a tank top with a parrot on her shoulder. Effing kids.

This closes out the San Diego arc. I don’t anticipate Redding to be all that long. I would like these kids to have some time off, so I guess they’ll have to get Alix and the children from Wilmington to his family home. I’ve a few ideas about that, too. Nothing is static. After a kind of family get-together, the next main part of the MS will open with Pai’s new android body. Upgrades!

Enjoy my content? Buy me a beer!

“Do you need me to carry you?” he asked as they began walking.

“No.  Besides my hands I am uninjured.” She made a small tug with her sticky hand in his.  “I am aware now of the best route to the sea.  There is a trailhead just west-northwest.  It will have us on the beach in three hours.  Assuming, of course, that woman does not call the authorities on us.  You spoke with her while I was out?”

“Yes,” Graf said, content with her guidance.  She is not remotely okay.  “She’s housekeeping but seems to have a family connexion to that place.”

“I looked into it, but really don’t care right now.  And, yes, I am very mentally damaged.  I am scared to tell you why as I think you will divorce me.”

He halted them and turned her to him.

“I will do no such thing!”

“I murdered someone.  One of my kind.  Your wife is a murderer.” Her eyes, full of tears, never left his.

Not sure where to start… “Look, killing happens, we both understand that…”

“This was murder.  I did not have to kill but I did.”

“What!  Why?”

“The Machine, Gordon, was insane.  I knew what I had to do but did not want to.  My mother forced my hand,” she said, the water in her eyes breaking free.

“Dammit!” Graf yelled, getting some looks from those on the street.  “Does that woman have to ruin – ”

“You think me ruined?  Shall we divorce?”

Ignoring the stares, he pulled her close.

“No.  Never.  Let’s get out of here, see the beach, then go home.” He set them in motion again.  “We’ll have all this out later but I know you would never do something you did not think you had to do.  I trust you.  I love you.”

“Thank you, Graf.”

The sun was westering when they finally made their way down the narrow Saigon Trail and out onto the beach.  Shoes and socks off, pants rolled up, they went out into the incoming low surf.  Pai squatted down and rinsed her hands.  Graf leaned forward and did the same for the dried blood on his left.  He watched her stand and look at her hands.

“The salt hurts,” she said in the same dull tone.  “And, no, we cannot seek medical attention without being arrested.  We already discussed a new body for me, so this is just another marker for that decision.”

She pointed back to the shore and trail’s mouth.  “We shall await there until nightfall.  There is something I sense and want to show you.  After that, I shall summon a cab and we shall return to Caper.”

“And go home?”

“Not yet.  One more stop.  The DMZ around Redding.  Something Doe said has me curious.”

“You don’t think your hands will get infected?”

“Were you not listening, husband?  They won’t be my hands much longer.”

Back up the strand, they pushed some sand about until comfortable enough for her to rest her head onto his chest.

“Let me tell you what happened, please,” she asked.

Graf nodded.  He listened as the sun set over the Pacific Ocean.  Devastated as to what she had just gone through.

“It’s time,” she said, standing.   He didn’t know he’d fallen asleep after her long confession.

“What is…” he began, looking out at the water.  “What is that?”

Up and down the shore, wherever a wave broke there was an electric blue light from the water.

“Bioluminescent algae bloom,” Pai said, then explained.  “There are some algae in the water which give off color.  With my hands, earlier, I could tell this was coming and wanted to share it with you.  It’s rather rare.”

“It’s amazing,” he breathed.  “Beautiful.”

“You heard my story,” she murmured.  “Am I still yours?”

“Asked and answered,” he said, a little angry.  “Never mention leaving me again.”

“Yes, husband.  May I show you something else?”

“Sure.”

He watched her race away from him toward the surf.  Just shy of the water, she leapt high in the air, as only she could.  When her bare feet impacted the sand, there was a blue pulse for hundreds of feet up and down the beach.  She turned back to him.

“I love you!  Graf Winstead!”

Back up to the road, a cab summoned by Pai, Graf could tell she was still very much out of sorts.  No talking in English or Spanish.  Staring straight ahead for their drive south.  Their driver seemed a bit surprised to leave them in the empty parking lot of the Air & Space Museum.  Pai tipped him enough to keep his mouth shut.

“Not tearing another door out?” he tried, gently.

“No.  I shall try to be subtle, now that I know what I can really do,” she said, swinging the front door open.  She paused.  “Do you think I should be near the children again?”

“Pai, dammit…!” He wasn’t sure where to go with this.  “Will we have to tell Alix what you did?  I think so.  Has Aurie and Faustina done far worse?  Has your mother?”

“It is a question of intent,” she continued in her new monotone as they walked to where the stairs were to access the roof.  “For the three you mentioned, it was a job.”

“And what you were told to do wasn’t?” he demanded.

She pushed the hatchway to the roof up and open.  It had started to rain.  Pai paused before Caper and turned.  Was it the rain or tears?

“You are so wise.  After our final stop, after briefing the Empress, may we go fishing near your family home?”

“Best idea, ever, my wife.”