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My Kind of Town Don Chapman |
Separated at birth
>> Big Island
Daren Guy's first impulse when the blue Jeep drove out of the kiawe jungle and onto the rocky ledge above Pele's Bath was that this was the absolute worst possible timing.
But then three guys got out of the Jeep, and he recognized the bald one.
Amazing, the fates were smiling on him and delivering -- same time, same place -- the two people who needed to die for him to become incredibly wealthy.
The two people he'd named as beneficiaries in the policy he took out just after winning the Lotto and just before dying by shark attack. His cousin Virgil Root and his fiance Sonya Chan. Family values? His family had value, about $5 million worth, if they were gone.
But which one first? Once again, his plans were changing on the fly. And once again, Sushi Leclaire was playing conductor.
"OK, let's get everybody off the boat!" he called to Sonya and his 12 Filipinas aboard the yacht Wet Spot anchored 40 yards out in the bay, waving from the beach for them to come ashore. "Let's go! Lava's coming!"
Sonya helped six of the Filipinas into the yacht's Zodiac, and with a spear gun in one hand ferried them to the beach, where Sushi welcomed them with hugs and kisses. Sonya had to admit he did seem genuinely glad to see them, and the girls were happy to see him.
The smoke was thicker now, she noted, the streak of black lava had completely descended the hillside above Pele's Bath, and had apparently entered the kiawe jungle.
She was returning to Wet Spot to get the last of the girls when Virgil Root, the bald guy, his cameraman Jim Birdley and their local guide Kimo Velez walked down through the lava to where Daren waited beside Pele's Bath.
"Jeez-loo-weez, like you two was separated at birth, eh?!" Kimo said, noting the resemblance between Root and this new guy -- shaved heads, angular chins, both lean and muscled.
It was eerie for Root, who had no idea who this guy was, but felt like he was looking at himself.
"Virgil Root," he said, stuck out a hand, introduced his companions.
"Yeah, I saw you on TV." But Daren still had not come up with a new name for himself. "Uh, folks just call me the Skipper."
"We were just going to do a little snorkeling," Root said.
This is the place. As good as it gets."
"What's with all the smoke?" Root said.
"New lava flow is heading this way."
"We better get the camera," Root said.
Camera? No that would be a terrible idea, Daren thought, and followed the trio as they headed back to the Jeep.
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Don Chapman is editor of MidWeek. His serialized novel runs daily in the Star-Bulletin. He can be e-mailed at dchapman@midweek.com