Storming Love: Volcano ~ Crane & Tye by William Maltese

Author:William Maltese [Maltese, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance, volcano
Publisher: MLR Press LLC
Published: 2015-03-11T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

Papua, New Guinea

Winter 2015

The two paused and turned to lean, side-by-side, against the stern’s railing. They admired the spectacle provided by myriad stars in a pitch black sky devoid of a moon.

“So, at the end of the day, is Papua all that you imagined it would be?” Tye asked.

They’d spent the day walking the city streets, soaking up the atmosphere. Crane had bought a stick topped by a piece of animal bone that a store manager had insinuated was a native weapon, the same used to disable a victim before his head was taken for shrinking. Crane had since learned from Mr. Fortman and his wife, Mary, who seemed to know a good deal since they had been in Papua before, that it was actually a primitive farming tool once used to carve grooves in the ground, prior to planting. A very nice buy, though, in that they were becoming exceedingly harder to come by, and it was rumored the government was on the verge of refusing to allow any such artifacts to be exported.

“I’m thinking any real head hunters might be located only after a very long trek into deep jungle,” Crane said.

“You weren’t convinced by the local dance troop that their members were prepared to jump you and haul you off to the nearest cauldron?” Tye asked, and smiled. The ship’s evening entertainment had seen a troop of six men, decked in palm fronds, loin clothes, and body jewelry made out of animal bones, who had performed a repertoire of stomping, grunting, and pulling grotesque faces that was supposed to mimic what went on just before the country’s infamous indigenous head hunters headed out to raid another tribe for heads.

“We can always come back and launch an expedition inland,” Tye said.

“Thanks,” Crane said and punctuated with a laugh, “but I think I’ll pass.”

“Good,” Tye said. “While I’d be willing to comply, should you have really desired the experience, I would have hated losing either of our heads to shrinking when they can be put to such better use.”

Simultaneously, they pushed free of the railing and continued their round of the deck where they’d come for a bit of air after the evening’s show had ended. The weather was hot and humid enough to keep most people inside the ship’s air-conditioned interior. Mr. Tumble had braved the mugginess and passed them, with a friendly nod of greeting, a little earlier, but even he had disappeared by the time they pushed through the double doors that rescued them from the outside heat.

It was only a short walk to Tye’s “Owner’s Suite” which was reserved for executives when and if they ever set sail; otherwise, it was rented out to anyone who could afford it. Crane had smaller accommodations, although his outside cabin was more than sufficient, considering he spent most of his time in Tye’s more luxurious surroundings.

“Well, this seems to see us at the conclusion of yet another enjoyable day,” Tye said, turning his key to unlatch the door.

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