Chapter 14: Now, Jud
Jud decides to make a move with what he's discovered about plans for the Valley
Hey Reader friends!
This section, from Jud’s POV, has more pidgin dialect than others. It didn’t feel right not to have him use this with his friend and family when, in real life, he would have. Let me know in comments if you don’t understand something or if I hit a false note with it. Thanks! Your feedback matters and shapes/improves this story.
WILD GIRL
Chapter 13: Now, Jud
Jud helped the VIPs from Ali’i Land Trust out of the chopper after they landed post-flight at the Hilo airport.
He took their tips, smiled big, and said “mahalo,” like they expected him to. He’d even set out a small closed metal rubbish bin in preparation for their exit, and he flipped its lid open with his toe for the sealed airsick bag as the passenger who’d barfed exited the tail section. The man still looked green.
“Sorry you didn’t feel well,” Jud said. “I did my best to keep it stable.”
“Not your fault. That was some nice flying, and of course Waimalia is ridiculous amazing. A privilege to see it.” The passenger dropped the bag into the trash bin.
Jud held out a small bottle of hand sanitizer. He squirted some into the man’s hands. “Glad you’re aware you’re one of the very few people in the world to be able to see my family’s original home.”
Still rubbing in the sanitizer, the man’s dark brown gaze focused on Jud’s face; he was noticing Jud as a person for the first time. “Ali’i Land Trust has worked with the County of Hawaii for generations to make sure the Valley stays pristine while providing basics for the residents,” he said. “Do you live down there?”
“No. My grandfather was the last of our ‘ohana to live in the Valley. He lost his taro farm in the tsunami and decided to start over, topside.” Jud shifted his weight, uncomfortable. “I worked hard for years to get qualified to be the one to fly the Valley on trips like these. I couldn’t help but overhear you board folks talking. What are you planning to do in the Valley?”
“Do?” The man cocked his head, eyeing Jud keenly, and then slid on mirrored sunglasses. “We would never ‘do’ anything in the Valley.” He dug in his pocket and pulled out a money clip, peeling off several hundred dollar bills. He held them out to Jud, folded between his fore-and-middle fingers. “Appreciate your excellent piloting.”
Slowly Jud took the money, slid it into his pocket. “Thanks.”
“And remember, you signed an NDA with the chopper company,” the man said. “You know how things get blown out of proportion when the wrong people hear rumors about the Valley.”
Ah. Silence was what the dude was trying to buy with his tip.
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