Subduction by Todd Shimoda

Author:Todd Shimoda
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chin Music Press Inc.
Published: 2012-05-14T00:00:00+00:00

16

Thinking of Mari, in all kinds of ways, admittedly most of them erotic, I walked around the island looking for her. My hangover was a distant dull throb, something I could deal with. I would have to ask Yoshi to cut me off when I’d had enough, even though that’s not his job. I was an adult and should know my limits.

I clearly remembered the bar owner’s story, as unbelievable as it was, but I only vaguely remembered the rest of the night, including stumbling home. I knew I was stumbling because a bruise on my left knee was now making itself known through the rest of my pain. I remembered tripping and landing on a knee. Or was I pushed?

My paranoia flared like a rash. Aki had pushed me.

And again, I had no evidence. But from his reaction in the workshop, Aki had something going on about Mari in his scientist’s brain. He was carrying around guilt related to his wife, that much seemed clear. I didn’t know what he really was feeling, about his wife, about his work, about Mari. Of course, none of that really mattered to me, except that I was stuck on the island with him and with Mari, and all I wanted to do is survive my four years with my sanity intact. At least somewhat intact.

It would drive me crazy, I thought, not to enjoy Mari as much as possible as long as she was on the island. Aki really had no right to interfere in that. Mari and I seemed to get along, at least in my mind. No, she didn’t seem overly enthusiastic about being with me, and she seemed distracted often. But, if she didn’t want to hang around me and wanted to be with Aki, then I was sure she would tell me.

Maybe I didn’t need to worry about Aki. My imagination might be pushing my paranoia. That’s what I didn’t need to happen. What I needed to do was forget about Aki and do what I wanted.

I found Mari, or rather she found me, when I stopped in the clinic to see if anyone was looking for a doctor.

“Need my services?” I asked her.

“Not medical. I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind being interviewed for my documentary.”

That made me laugh.

She smiled. “What?”

“I’m flattered, but from what you’ve told me about your film, I wouldn’t have anything of interest to say.”

“Let me worry about that.”

“All right. How is your project going?”

“I’ve found out more of the islanders’ stories, if you'd like to hear.”

“Please,” I said.

In the fishing cooperative office, Nishio stared into his mug after Ouchi finally spilled his story about seeing Kubo’s wife and Furuta. How many times had Nishio wished he could steal through the night to Sachiko Nagano’s house, have her welcome him into her bed, and wrap her legs around his waist? Now all he wanted to do was run from the co-op, so he wouldn’t have to look in the eyes of her husband, Eiichi, because he knew the fisherman would see his lust.

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