I kekahi mau mahina i hala aku nei, e hana pū ana me ka mea kākau weliweli ʻo Rob E. Boley, ua hoʻokūkū ʻo iHorror i kahi hoʻokūkū. E loaʻa i ka mea lanakila o ka hoʻokūkū i kahi moʻolelo weliweli pilikino e paʻi ʻia ma aneʻi ma kā mākou pūnaewele. Eia ka manawa ma aneʻi! ʻO kā mākou mea hoʻokūkū hoʻokūkū, ʻo Ian Murphy, i pane i nā nīnau e pili ana i kona ola a me kāna mau manaʻo pilikino e pili ana i ka weliweli, a ua hana ʻo Boley i moʻolelo e kūpono i kāna mau pane. Ua hauʻoli wau i ka hōʻike ʻana aku i kēia moʻolelo Lovecraftian no kā mākou poʻe heluhelu a pau. Hoʻomaikaʻi, Ian!

Lā Kaulana Haahaa

e,

Rob E. Boley

Ke hele nei ka pouli o ke ahiahi i ka wā e hele mai ai ka Faithful e pepehi i ke kanaka i ʻike ʻia ʻo Murphy. Kū ʻo ia ma kahi kokoke i ka hopena o kahi lālani balota lōʻihi e holo pono ana mai ka Theatre Hou a i nā ʻaoʻao o Lunar Acres — ka hale paʻa lana e waiho ana i nā koena hope loa o ka lāhui kanaka. Nānā ʻo ia i loko o ka wai, i komo i loko e ke aniani o ke koko uila a noʻonoʻo i ka pali o ka wā i hala a me kēia manawa.

Ua lohi kā lākou wāwae wāwae squishy. Ke pivots a kiola ʻo ia i kahi kuʻe lima, ua luʻu kahi pahi palaoa i loko o kona poʻohiwi. ʻĀwīwī loa ka ʻehaʻeha i loko o ka ʻeha. ʻUnhū ʻo ia a hou i kona mau lima i ka maka o ka mea hoʻouka kaua. Paʻi hope kona poʻo hanohano i hope.

ʻĀlohilohi ka ʻōmaʻomaʻo ʻōmaʻomaʻo o Dusk i kona alo maka wīwī. Uhi nā maka i nā maka. Hāʻalo ʻo ia i ka hose e holo ana mai kona mau puka ihu a i nā ʻāʻī o kona ʻāʻī. Hoʻopili ke koko ʻulaʻula ʻōmaʻomaʻo i ka lewa. Hoʻolei ʻo ia i kāna pahi kaua a hoʻohana i kāna mea hoʻouka me he pale kaua. E like me kāna i manaʻo ai, ma ka liʻiliʻi he ʻelua mau uku i mua. Pākuʻi hao me ka hao.

Hāʻule hope kāna pāpale ponoʻī i hope, e hōʻike ana i kona pāpālina ʻākau makaʻu a me nā kaula lōʻihi o nā ʻumiʻumi e uhi ana i ka hapa hema o kona alo.

“ʻO Halfbeard kēia!” ʻūʻē kahi keikikāne.

Nui ka poʻe o ka ʻaha kanaka i ʻākoakoa. Hoʻāʻo kekahi e hoʻomaka i kahi oli, akā e like me ka lapalapa ʻana o ke ahi e nau ana i ka wahie pulu ʻaʻole ia e lawe. Nānā nā keiki i kāna hana grisly, nā maka i piha i ke kahaha. Hoʻopili ko lākou mau mākua i nā ʻeke ʻili i hoʻopiha ʻia me nā unahi.

Puhi huhū kona mau lima a me kona mau wāwae. Kui a ʻoki ʻo ia i kāna poʻe hoʻouka kaua. Hoʻopili kāna pahi kaua i ka ʻāʻī o Faithful. Hāhū ʻo ia a hisses. Uwē kona poʻohiwi i kona wā e huki ai a ʻoki i kekahi. Mālama ʻo ia i ka ʻāʻī o ka mea hoʻouka mua — ke kahe nei ke koko mai nā ʻeha hou he nui — akā ʻaʻole ia e hoʻokuʻu i ke kino e hāʻule. ʻO ka manawa e hāʻawi i ka lehulehu i kā lākou makemake - a hāʻawi iā ia iho i mea hoʻowalewale. Hele ʻo ia i hope ma hope o kāna mea i hōʻeha ʻia, he wahine. He mea 'ole. ʻOi aku ka maʻalahi o kona umauma e paʻa kū i luna. Kūleʻa ʻo ia i kāna pahi ma lalo o kona ʻōpū. Pali ka hao i kahi kokoke i ke kiaʻi, a ʻoki ʻo ia i luna.

Puka mai nā unahi kala ʻoluʻolu mai ka ʻōpū o ka wahine, e hōʻike ana i ka ʻiʻo pale i lalo. Pāleʻa ka unahi i ka pae lāʻau, a lele ka lehulehu i mua me ka hauʻoli a me ka hōʻino ʻana i ka manawa hoʻokahi. ʻOki ʻo ia i ʻelua mau manawa hou ma mua o ka waiho ʻana i ke kupapaʻu i huki ʻia i lalo. Ke pani nei i kāna pale a hoʻopaʻa i kāna pahi kaua, hele aku ʻo ia mai kahi ʻino e ʻākoakoa ana.

Pā ka ʻeha ʻoi i kona umauma.

A laila hou.

Nānā ʻo ia i lalo.

ʻElua mau ʻāpana mānoanoa mānoanoa i kāna mau mākala pectoral. Pana aku kekahi iā ia ma hope. He mea hoʻowalewale ka mea ʻoiaʻiʻo no ka hoʻouka kaua maoli, kahi ala e hoʻokuʻu ai iā ia i waho.

"Motherfucker," i ʻōlelo ʻo ia, nā huaʻōlelo i hoʻomākaukau ʻia me ke koko.

ʻEkolu mau ʻanuʻu kūlia i hope, kū ʻo ia i ka pae a pīpī i ka moana. Iā ia e poho ai i lalo, heluhelu ʻo ia i ka hae pena i hohola ʻia ma luna o ka papa hele wāwae i ka manawa hope loa. I kēia pō: Kuhina Nui o ke Ao o ka Legend of Halfbeard!

Hoʻopuni ʻo Bubble iā ia. Hele ʻo ia i ka wai a hāwanawana i nā ihe e puka mai ana mai kona umauma mai, e holomua iki ana me kekahi. Huki ka moana putrid iā ia i lalo.

***

Ma mua o kahi mau makahiki i hala aku nei, ua ala ʻo Murphy me kahi mea paheʻe a manoanoa e wīwī nei i kona ʻōpū. Pā ka lewa i ka paʻakai ma kāna alelo chalky. ʻAʻole ʻo ia i hoʻomanaʻo i ka inu ʻana i kēlā mea nui, akā eia naʻe ʻo ia ma ka moe a ʻaʻole ʻo kona moena e komo ana i ka lole wale i haehae ʻia a kahi mau peʻe ke nānā aku me ka pīhoihoi i kēia lā hou ʻano ʻē. Kū aʻe ʻo ia i nā wāwae paʻa ʻole, a leha ka papahele ma lalo ona. ʻEha ka lalo o kona mau wāwae me he mea lā hele ʻo ia i ka aspphalt wela. Kehena?

Hele wāwae ʻo ia i lalo i ka hale. ʻO kāna puka o kona lumi moe - ma ʻō aku o ka lua. ʻO nā ʻōlelo aʻoaʻo o ka pō nei mai ka pā mai e hiamoe ana a hoʻopuehu ʻia ma ka papahele e pili ana i kāna pahu kīkiha lepo. Ua hoʻohuli ʻia nā ʻeke o kāna jeans i loko o waho me he mea lā e hoʻolei ana ka denim iā "whatchagonnado." Ua luliluli ʻo ia i kona poʻo. ʻO kēlā mau bila a me nā ʻāpana kālā e pono e hānau ma kahi panakō ma kahi o ka heʻe ʻana i kona mau manamana lima. ʻAʻole maikaʻi ʻo ia me ke kālā. Inu nui ʻoe a mālama liʻiliʻi loa, ʻo ia kāna i ʻōlelo ai ma mua o ka haʻalele ʻana no ka manawa hope loa. I neʻi nei aia ʻo ia ma Kaleponi a ʻo ia paha kekahi honua aku. ʻO ia mau makahiki i hala aku nei, a hoʻomau naʻe kāna mau ʻōlelo iā ia.

Hoʻokahi wale nō puka i loko o ke alaloa i pani ʻia, ʻo ia a me kāna mea hale me Keith i hāʻawi aku ai i kahi kanaka a lākou i kapa malū ai ʻo Shut-In. Hoʻomanaʻo ʻo ia me ke kāhāhā o kona pūʻiwa ʻana i ka wehe ʻana o ka puka i kona hoʻi ʻana mai i ka hale i ka pō nei.

Wincing, hoʻololi ʻo ia i loko o ka lumipaku a hoʻāʻo e kia i ka hana o ke kakahiaka i mua-e nānā ana Hōʻike Hōʻikeʻike, e ʻai nei i kahi pola o Special K, a e heluhelu ana i nā kākau o nehinei. Ua manaʻo kokoke ʻo ia i kēia pakuhi o kēia wā. ʻO kēia paha ka mea e uku hope aku - ka mea e waiwai ai a kaulana ai a loaʻa iā ia kahi hale pono ma ka moana. ʻO nā mea āna i makemake nui ai e ʻike i kekahi o kāna mau moʻolelo ma ka pakuhi nui. ʻAʻole hōʻeha ke kālā. He hale kahakai. Makemake ʻo ia e ala aʻe me ke kai ma kēia puka.

Luli hou ka papahele. Hopu ʻo ia i ka paia. Pākuʻi ʻia ka ʻeha dull i kona poho lima.

"Motherfucker," i ʻōlelo ʻo ia, pūʻiwa i ka grit o kona leo.

Ua hoʻohuli ʻo ia i kona poho lima. Ua hāmama ka iwi ā. Lawe kāna puʻuwai i kahi mele punk jagged. Ua pehu aʻe ka ʻiʻo palupalu o kāna mau pālima me he mea lā ua loaʻa iā ia kahi peʻa hou, koe wale nō ka ʻole o ka inika - ka wela wale a me ka ʻeha. Ua hihi ʻo ia i nā lima ʻelua a hopu paha i kahi ʻike iki o kahi hōʻailona haole maʻalahi. ʻO X a i hōkū hōkū paha. Ke hilinaʻi nei i ka paia, nānā ʻo ia i lalo o kona mau wāwae. ʻO lākou pū kekahi, he palupalu kūpilikiʻi like a hoʻāla i ka ʻiʻo. Ua ʻū kona ʻōpū. Kehena?

Ua hele ʻo ia i ka lua i ka lua a pīpī ʻo ia, ʻo ka ʻūlū wale ʻana me kona manamana lima inā he maʻi lele ka pilikia. Ma hope o ka pīpī ʻana, hele ʻo ia i ke aniani, me ka makaʻu o ʻike ʻo ia i ka ʻiʻo i hāpai ʻia i kona mau maka. Mahalo, he mau lā wale o ka mauʻu ʻōpala i hōʻino i kāna mau hiʻohiʻona.

ʻO nā mea i hana ʻia i kona mau lima a me kona mau wāwae, pono paha e hoʻomaʻemaʻe. Huli ʻo ia i ka ʻauʻau. Ua ʻala iki ka wai a ʻaʻole wela iki, akā pono nō e hana. Piʻi ʻo ia i loko a holoi i nehinei mai iā ia, hilinaʻi i nā wā āpau i ke tile. ʻAʻole hoʻomaikaʻi kāna vertigo akā e hoʻi ana nā hoʻomanaʻo o ka pō nei.

Ua hoʻi mai ʻo ia i ka home me ka noʻonoʻo ʻole a ua aloha ka Shut-In iā ia me kahi ʻōmole aniani hoʻonani — ʻaʻohe lepili. Ua koi aku ka Shut-In e inu ʻo ia i kēlā me kēia pana me ke ala like, kūlou ma luna o ka pākaukau a lālau i ka pahu pana lāʻau ma waena o kona mau niho - ʻo nā lima i kīkoʻo lima - a laila lele i luna a haʻalele ka wāwae i ka honua. I ka waena waena, ua pahu ka ʻona i kona puʻu. Ua hoʻopau ʻo ia i ke kī ʻana i ka pana, kau nā lima i ka lani, a kuha i ke kīʻaha lāʻau.

"Ahoy," i ʻōlelo ʻo ia, no nā kuhikuhi a The Shut-In.

Hoʻomanaʻo ʻo ia i nā pana like, a me kāna sub-leaser haʻihaʻi e kani ana e pili ana i ka piʻi ʻana o ke kai a me nā helu helu honua a me nā waiwai kanu a me nā ala ala maikaʻi ʻole.

"Ahoy," i ʻōlelo ʻo ia i kēia manawa. "Dammit."

Ke hilinaʻi nei i ke tile, ua pīpī ʻo ia i kahi pēpē o ka kirīmiʻumi i ka hope o kona lima a hohola ʻia i kāna mau kaha a me kona ʻāʻī. Ua ʻoki ʻo ia i kahi kaula kū i lalo i kona pāpālina ʻākau. Ma hope o kekahi mau ʻōniʻoniʻo, kuʻu ka hale i ka ʻaoʻao.

ʻAneʻane ʻo ia i hina akā ʻo ia i lālau i ke koʻokoʻo pale uha, i haki mai ka paia a hāʻule ʻo ia i loko o ka pale o ka ʻauʻau. Pā ka papahele i kona poʻohiwi.

"Kehena?" Ua ʻōlelo ʻo ia.

Ua kuhi ʻo ia ia he ōlaʻi ʻoiai ke neʻe nei ka neʻe a keʻa hoʻi. Hoʻokumu ka papa papahele i kahi mele kaumaha a ke koholā. Kū aʻe ʻo ia i ka wai ʻole a ʻōlohelohe. Ua kekee hou ka hale, ʻoi aku ka paʻakikī i kēia manawa. Pākuʻi ʻia kekahi mea ma luna o ka hale. Ua nakinaki ʻo ia i kona ʻaʻahu a holoi i ka kalima kahiumi i ka hapalua o kona alo i waiho ʻole ʻia.

I kona wā i lele ai i ka puka, lele hou ka hale a kikeke iā ia i hope. Ua hāʻule kahi papa ma ka lumi o ka ʻohana. ʻO ka aniani i pīpī ʻia i ka papahele. Ua hele wāwae ʻo ia i ka pāpaʻi. He puka aniani ko ka lumi Shut-In e kū pono ana i ka backyard. Kāwili ʻo ia i hope i nā palima a me nā wāwae ʻehaʻeha a hiki i ka wā e kī ai kona poʻohiwi i ka puka paʻa.

Ua kokolo ʻo ia i loko a honi. Ua pilau ka lumi i ka hou o ka hou a me ka ihoiho kukui a ma lalo o ke ʻala paheʻe o kahi mea make. Ua lawa ka ʻā ʻana o ka lā i loko o nā makapō i kau ʻia ma luna o kahi moe e hōʻike ai iā ia i kahi palapala ʻāina kahakai, nā kiʻi, a me nā mele i kākau lima ʻia e uhi ana i kēlā me kēia ʻīniha o ka paia. Kaha nā māka ʻulaʻula i nā kiko ma kahakai o ke kai ma nā palapala ʻāina. Ua hōʻike ʻia nā sketches i nā mea ʻano ʻē e kū mai ana mai ke kai — nā holoholona nunui me nā halelewa a me nā maka he nui a me nā unahi spiky a me nā ʻeke i hāhā. Kupu aku kekahi. ʻO nā mea ʻē aʻe i hoʻohana i nā ʻōpae kuʻi lōʻihi. Ua hāʻawi ʻia nā paʻi paʻi mai nā lumi kūkā kamaʻilio i nā ʻōkuhi no nā hana ʻē a me nā loina ʻē.

ʻO ka pilau o kona ihu, piʻi ʻo ia i luna o kahi moe e wehe i ka puka aniani. Uhu ka moena. I ka wā i huki ai ʻo ia i nā makapō, haʻalulu kona puʻuwai.

Uwili kona lolo i kona iwi poʻo.

ʻAʻohe ʻāina. ʻAʻohe hale. ʻAʻohe kaʻa. ʻAʻohe hoalauna.

Ua lana manuahi kona home i ka moana. I ka lani, hoʻoweliweli ka ʻōwili ʻino e ʻō mai i ka lā haʻahaʻa haʻahaʻa.

Ma hea i hele ai ka honua?

Ua hina ʻo ia i ka ʻaoʻao, e kuʻi ana i kahi mea ʻoʻoleʻa i uhi ʻia e ka pale. Me he mea lā — he kapu hemolele — he wāwae.

ʻOi aku ka paʻakikī o kona puʻuwai, me he mea hiki ʻole lā. Ua huki hou kāna lima haʻalulu i ka pale mānoanoa. Ua hoʻonui ka pilau o ka make. Nānā ʻia ke alo o Keith i luna me nā maka ʻōniʻoniʻo i ke kaupaku. Ua lālau ʻo ia i ka poʻohiwi o kāna hoaaloha a me kāna mau lumi i hōʻike ʻia i waho a wili a lalo i lalo. Ua hina ʻo ia mai kahi moe a lele i ka papahele.

I ka manawa like, hāʻule kekahi mea i loko o ka lumi lumi, a ukali ʻia e nā kapuwai kaumaha. Nānā ʻo ia i lalo o ka hale i ka manawa e ʻike ai i kahi silhouette hōʻino ʻole i ʻike ʻia. Ua hoʻololi nā leo malihini i nā ʻāpana e like me nā mele kohola ʻona. Ke wili poʻo nei ʻo ia i hope ma lalo o kahi moe.

Ua hele wikiwiki nā wāwae wāwae i ka hale. ʻElua mau wāwae wāwae ʻē aʻe i hele a maka i ka nānā ʻana — hoʻopili ʻia nā kāmaʻa scaly i loko o nā paheʻe lāʻau. Ua hāʻule nā ​​mea o ka papa i ka honua. Mele kohola hou.

Hele ākea nā maka o Murphy. Ua hoʻāʻo ʻo ia e hoʻolohi i kona hanu ʻana, akā ʻo kona mau māmā he mau pistons ahi. Hoʻopili ʻo ia i kona mau lima i ka lima. ʻO ke kiʻi ʻino o ke kupapaʻu o Keith e hoʻomau mau ana i hope o kāna mau maka.

Kau ka lima maikaʻi i ka hope o kona ʻāʻī. ʻAneʻane ʻo ia e walaʻau.

Ua ʻōlelo ʻia kahi leo ma hope ona, “ʻAʻole pono. ʻAʻole hiki iā lākou ke hoʻolohe iā ʻoe. He kuli lākou ma aneʻi ma luna o ke kai. ”

Ua pīhoihoi ʻo ia i kēlā me kēia huaʻōlelo, ke manaʻo nei i nā moʻo e ʻūlū i ka moena i luna a ʻokiʻoki iā ia e like me ka iʻa. E like me Keith. Akā inā lohe nā mea i ka leo, ʻaʻole lākou i hōʻike.

"ʻO ʻoe anei?" 'ōleloʻo ia, e hakakā nei e hoʻomanaʻo i ka inoa o Shut-In.

“He aha ka mea i koe iaʻu.”

“Ua aha ʻo Keith? He aha kēlā mau mea? He aha ka hewa? ”

"Ua hāʻawi wau iā Keith iā Gwanvobitha. Pono e hoʻopau i ke kāhea ʻana. Ua hoʻopōmaikaʻi ka Haku Undying i ko mākou ao me kona helehelena. Minamina, he hoa paio ko kāua akua. ʻAʻole wale kā kā mākou Kāhea ʻana. Pau ke kaua. Ke kali nei mākou i ke ala hou ʻana o ke akua, no ka mea ʻaʻohe akua e make maoli. ʻAʻole hiki i ka mea hānau ʻole ke make maoli. ”

ʻOiai ʻo Rut-In ranted, huli ʻo Murphy i kona poʻo — ka ʻili a me ka iwi ā i waena o ka puna a me ka papahele. ʻAneʻane ʻoi aku ʻo ia i ka pīpaka ke ʻike ʻo ia i kāna hoa hale. Ua ninini ʻia nā kala āpau mai kona alo, a ua hoʻi hou mai iā ia i mua ona me nā maka i komo i loko o ka iwi poʻo. I kāna kamaʻilio ʻana, hāʻule nā ​​niho mai kona waha a pīpī i ka papahele.

"He aha ka mea i hiki iā ʻoe?"

"E hana hou ʻia wau i ko mākou Undying Lord kiʻi, akā i kēia manawa pala nā kiʻi. He ʻinoʻino wau, akā ʻo ʻoe, e holo maikaʻi ʻoe i kēia ao hou. ”

"He aha kāu i hana mai ai iaʻu i ka pō nei?"

“Aloha maikaʻi.”

"He aha kau i hana ai iā Keith?"

"Aloha maikaʻi," i hoʻōho ai ka Shut-In.

"E hāmau," i hāwanawana ai.

ʻO ka mea hoʻolele subanged hoʻolei i lalo o ka moena i luna a hoʻi i ka papahele. Ua hoʻi hou kona mau lehelehe mae i ka minoʻaka rictus. Ua hoʻokuʻu ʻia kahi incisor. Pākuʻi ʻia nā wāwae Flipper ma luna o ka papahele.

"Aloha maikaʻi," wahi hou a kona hoa hale.

Hoʻokomo ʻia kahi halelewa paheʻe i ke kuʻekuʻe wāwae o Murphy. Ua paila ka weliweli i loko o kona umauma. Ua hoʻāʻo ʻo ia e kīkuʻi akā hoʻi ʻia i hope. Ua hele ʻo ia i ka hapalua o ka moena mai lalo o kahi moe. I kēlā me kēia manawa, manaʻo ʻo ia e hou ʻia kāna mau wāwae kū i waho, ʻoki ʻia, a wāwahi ʻia paha. Ua hele a makaʻu i kona iwi poʻo. Ua lālau ʻo ia i ka lima o ka Shut-In. ʻO nā iwi i loko o ka ʻiʻo kuni e haki ma lalo o ka lima o Murphy.

Ua hina ka minoʻaka o ka Shut-In i kahi minoaka hoʻomāʻewaʻewa. Ua ʻakaʻaka paha ʻo ia a uē paha, ʻaʻole hiki ke haʻi aku i ka mea hea.

“Aloha maikaʻi.”

"Damn you," wahi a Murphy. "Kōkua iaʻu."

"Ua loaʻa iaʻu."

ʻOi aku ka paʻakikī o Murphy. Paʻa ka pale ʻē aʻe i kona kuʻekuʻe wāwae ʻē aʻe. Huki nā mea ola. Hoʻopili kekahi mea i kona iwi ʻaoʻao, a lele ka ʻeha i loko ona. Ua hina ka pūlima o Shut-In, i kēia manawa ʻaʻole i ʻoi aku i ka lālā. Ua paheʻe ʻo kāna paʻa i lalo i ka lima o ka lima, a kahi nā iwi nāwaliwali i pā a lele.

“Aloha maikaʻi.”

ʻAnk hou hou nā mea ola. Ua lilo kāna paʻa. Hāpai lākou iā Murphy i ka lewa. Ua lele ʻo ia a pale i mua, i kēia manawa he alo a he alo me kekahi o nā mea ola. ʻO kona helehelena kahi mosaic wīwī o nā pūpū i paʻa i loko o kahi kīʻaha kīʻaha poepoe disko i piha i ka wai kai. Ua lana nā lei Seaweed ma nā ʻaoʻao a ʻelua o kona alo. ʻO nā pūpū a me nā mākala ʻālohilohi i hana i kona kino, e kau ana ma luna o kahi mea e like me ʻelua huelo ula nui. ʻEono mau lima chunky i puka mai kona mau ʻaoʻao, e paʻa ana kēlā me kēia pahi mai i nā pahi lōʻihi a paʻa i ka pale i hana ʻia me nā koʻa a me ka iwi. Ua pilau ka iʻa a me ka lepo.

Hoʻokele lākou iā ia i ka puka o mua, kahi i hoʻokau ʻia ai kahi moku holoʻokoʻa. Pākuʻi ʻia kekahi mau kia e like me nā kakalaioa mai kāna mau papa he nui, me he iwi lā a me ka lāʻau a me ke one paʻahau. Holo aku nā peʻa ʻili mai nā kia.

ʻAʻole ʻo ia e ʻike hou i ka lā no kekahi manawa lōʻihi.

***

I loko o ka ʻōpū o ka moku, ua nakinaki nā mea ola iā ia i kahi pākaukau a kaomi i kahi hao hao ʻulaʻula i ka ʻāpana ʻākau o kona alo.

Ua lele ka wela i ka papalina ma ka papalina, ua puana ʻia e nā peʻa ʻike ʻole e lele ana i kona mau lima a me kona mau wāwae. Ua kī ʻo ia a ʻuwā. I ka wā i huki ai ka mea ʻoiaʻiʻo i ka hao, pili nā ʻāpana o ka ʻiʻo kuni iā ​​ia. ʻO ka ʻaʻala o ka ʻili i puhi ʻia i hou i kona mau puka ihu.

Hāʻalo lākou iā ia i kona ʻōpū, a hoʻokau akula i ʻeke ʻili ʻino ma luna o kona poʻo, a nakinaki nā lima ma hope o kona kua. Ua paheʻe kahi mea pulu a paheʻe hoʻi ma luna o kona pinky hema, a makaʻu ʻo ia kekahi ʻano foreplay malihini. Hāʻalo lākou i ka mākū, haehae i kona kui kui a waiho ʻia i ka moena kui weluwelu a me ka ʻeha nui. ʻUā ʻo ia i loko o kāna ʻeke.

ʻO kahi walaʻau kani e ʻike ʻo ia e like me ka ʻakaʻaka ʻana i kū i ka pouli.

Ua paheʻe ka paheʻe ma luna o kona manamana lima hema.

"E ʻoluʻolu," i ʻōlelo ʻo ia. “Mai hana.”

Hoʻokahi lākou, haehae lākou i nā kui mai kona mau manamana lima a me nā manamana wāwae. I ka wā i pau ai, hāpai nā halelewa a me nā palaka iā ia i ka lewa hā. Ua kaniʻuhū ka lāʻau a me ka hao a kaomi a puni iā ​​ia. ʻAʻole hiki iā ia ke ʻike i kahi makani a manaʻo ʻo ia iā ia iho i loko o ka ʻōpū o ka moku weliweli.

Kiola nā holoholona iā ia i mea ʻole. Ua wili kona poʻo. Wili kona ʻōpū. Ua pae ʻaoʻao ʻo ia ma luna o kahi mea paakiki a palupalu hoʻi. Ua ʻū aʻe kekahi ma lalo ona. Ua pae ʻo ia ma luna o kahi puʻu kino, ola kekahi a me nā mea ʻē aʻe e ola ʻole e like me nā ʻeke laiki. Ua hoʻokuʻu ʻia ke kaniʻuhū mai ke kanaka āna i pae ai. Ua lālau ʻo ia me kona mau lima i hoʻopaʻa ʻia, e lālau ana i ka ʻōpū mua palupalu a laila palupalu ka umauma. He wahine. ʻ grhū ʻo ia a wili.

"E kala mai iaʻu," i ʻōlelo ʻo ia.

Pane wale ʻo ia me ka namunamu a me ka uē ʻana. Hele ʻo Dread i loko o kona mau uaua i kona noʻonoʻo ʻana i ka mea a lākou e hana aku ai iā ia. Uha ka iwi ā? ʻOkiʻoki i kona alelo? ʻOi aku ka nui o nā kaniʻuhū a me ka uē i ka pouli. Kāwili ʻia ka makaʻu a me ka nausea i loko o kona ʻōpū a huʻi i kāna ʻāʻī. Ua maloʻo ʻo ia i loko o ka ʻeke e uhi ana i kona poʻo.

***

Holo ka moku.

Nā minuke i hohola ʻia i mau hola i loko o nā lā, kikoʻī wale ʻia e ka puka e hāwanawana ana. I kekahi manawa, hou ka mea nāna lākou i hopu iā ia i ka iwi kuamoʻo me kahi mea ʻoi aku ka wela. Me he mea lā he hoʻomāinoino ia i ka wā mua akā ma hope ua hoʻoholo ʻo ia he ʻanoʻai pono kēia. I nā manawa ʻē aʻe, ua hoʻokuʻu nā moʻo i nā pio hou i ka puʻu. Ua hiki nō i kekahi ke ʻōlelo.

"Ua hoʻomaka me ke kī ʻana i kahi hale makua i Seattle," wahi a kahi ʻinikua mai Kansas City mai, "a laila ua haki ka nūhou no ka luku pū ʻia ʻana o nā luku ma Iapana. A laila ʻo Pokukala. Ua kapa ʻia ka poʻe kūkala nūhou he mea hoʻokūkū. ”

"Ua lohi wau i ka pāʻani ʻana iā Mortal Kombat ma ka pūnaewele," wahi a kahi kumu wahine pani no Denver, "i ka manawa i nalowale ai koʻu hoa paio ma waena o ka pāʻani. Kū wau i luna e inu inu a nānā wau i ka nūhou. Ua hoʻokuʻu ʻia nā kiʻi kelepona paʻalima mai kahi hanana hewa ma Charleston. Nā kiʻi weliweli o nā pentagrams koko a me nā hōʻailona ʻē aʻe. ”

Ua hoʻāla ʻia kahi limahana o ka hale ʻaina mai Hickam Air Force Base ma Honolulu e ke kāhea a kāna ipo kāne. "Ua ʻōlelo ʻo ia ua makaʻala ke kahua holoʻokoʻa, ua ʻike ʻia kekahi haunaele ma ka Pākīpika a me ka Moana ʻAkelanika. I ka lilo ʻana o kaʻu kelepona, ua huli au i ke kīwī a ʻike e pili ana i nā pepehi kanaka a pau. A laila ua kiʻi ʻia nā kiʻi mai ka Moana ʻAkelanika. Piʻi ʻia i luna ka māiʻu pilikua. Aia nā ʻōlelo aʻo kai eʻe. A laila e lana ana koʻu keʻena i loko o ka wai. ʻO nā mea kilokilo hoʻi i kāohi ʻole i ke kai e holo pū nō hoʻi ka wai. ”

I kēlā lā i kēia lā, noho nā paʻahao i ka pouli dank. Ua ʻū ka pololi ma ka ʻōpū o Murphy. Ua hele a hoʻololi nā paʻahao i ka hiamoe ma luna o kekahi i kekahi ma ka lua hāiki. ʻAʻole i ola nā mea āpau i ka huakaʻi. Ua lawa nā moena kupapaʻu kūpono inā haki pono ʻoe i nā iwi.

***

Ma hope o nā pule i hala he mau pule, kuʻi ka moku i ka moku holoʻokoʻa. Ua hāmama ka puka o luna, a hoʻomākaukau ʻo ia no kekahi paʻahao e hāʻule ana a i ʻole ke kī ʻana i ka iwi kuamoo. Ma kahi o kahi mea wīwī a lōʻihi i hoʻopuni iā ​​ia a kau iā ia i luna.

“He aha ka hana?” Ua ʻōlelo ʻo ia. "E ʻoluʻolu e kū."

Ua hāʻawi aku kona mau hoa paʻahao i nā noi like a me nā pule. Lawe ʻia ʻo ia i mua, ma waena o ke kiko anuanu — ea hou — a laila i ka wela wela.

Hoʻopaʻa nā lima Slimy i kona mau lima a hohola ākea i kona mau lima. ʻUā kona mau mākala. ʻO nā mea nāna i hopu iā ia i kau aku ma luna o ka paia ʻino. I ka lōʻihi loa, ua wehe ʻia ka ʻeke mai kona poʻo.

ʻAneʻane e kau nā maka o ka wī i ka mālamalama. Ua ʻoni ʻo ia i ka maka o kahi moʻo nui, koe wale nō kēia e ʻaʻā i nā aniani a ʻaʻole i kahi pola aniani. Holo nā ohe ʻeleʻele mai kona mau puka ihu e paina i kona ʻāʻī. Uhi ʻia nā unahi huali i kona ʻōpū i pohō.

Ke ʻaʻa mau nei ʻo ia i ka mea i koe o kona mau ʻauʻau, a ua nakinaki lākou iā ia i ka paia o loko o kahi lāʻau āpuni. ʻO ka moʻo nui i mua ona e kū ana ma luna o kahi catwalk lāʻau ʻākiki e hoʻopuni ana i ke anawaena o ka lāʻau. ʻO nā catwalk ʻē aʻe i heleuma i lalo a ma luna, a ʻoi aku ma kahi o ke kakini kānaka — kahi olohelohe, a ʻaʻahu ʻia kekahi - kau ʻia ma nā paia i kēlā me kēia pae. Hana ʻia nā catwalks i ka lāʻau i hoʻopakele ʻia a me ka mea hiki ke hoʻoheheʻe ʻia, akā ʻano palupalu a ʻono hoʻi ka paia o ka lāʻau e like me ke elelo o ka pōpoki.

Ua heleuma nā moʻo i nā kānaka ʻē aʻe i ka paia i kāwili ʻia ma nā ʻaoʻao ʻelua o ia. ʻO ka hapanui o nā mea i hana i nā poepoe aniani ma ko lākou mau poʻo, akā kau kekahi i nā maka aniani a me nā paipu. I ka wā a lākou i hoʻopaʻa ai i ka pio hope loa, huki kēlā me kēia mea nunui i kahi kaukā loloa ma waho o ka paia a kamaʻilio i loko o lākou, paheʻe a paheʻe ko lākou mau leo ​​a hoʻonui ʻia i loko o ke keʻena.

“Welina mai i ka ʻenekini ʻeha. ʻO ʻoe ka mea ʻaʻole i waena o ka Pono e ʻehaʻeha nei no ko mākou Haku Glandrictial. E hoʻāla hou ʻoe i ka mea hiki ʻole ke pepehi ʻia, ka mea hānau ʻole ʻole a laila mau loa. "

"Kali," i ʻōlelo ʻo ia. "E 'oluʻolu."

Ua nānā ka ʻoiaʻiʻo ʻole iā ia. Ua paʻa ka paipū i mua ona. Puka maila kahi pahu ʻoi mai kona wēlau, e like me ʻekolu mau lawaiʻa lawaiʻa i hoʻopaʻa ʻia e ka popo.

"ʻO kou pili kēia i kou Akua hou," i ʻōlelo lākou. "ʻĀnō e hoʻomana ʻoe ma ke kuahu o ka ʻeha."

Ua kīkī ʻo ia iā ia i ka ʻōpū a hāwanawana ʻo ia. Ua kipaku ka mea ʻoiaʻiʻo i ka pahu ma waena o kona mau niho. Ua hoʻāʻo ʻo ia e nahu, akā ua haʻalulu ia i lalo i kona ʻāʻī me he ʻenuhe mānoanoa. Ua ʻalalā a ʻāwili ʻo ia a lele i ka puka o loko ona a wili i loko o kona ʻōpū. ʻO nā mea a puni iā ​​ia, ʻūlū a wili a gagged kāna mau hoa paʻahao.

Pau ka neʻe ʻana o ka paipu. Kau ʻo ia i ka malo a me ka hou i ka paia. Hele pū nō hoʻi kona mau hoalauna. ʻO ka walaʻau wale nō e ʻūlū ana i nā pae pouli ma luna a ma lalo.

"Mai ka lehu wai o kou honua, e ola hou kou akua hou a mau a mau," i ʻōlelo ʻo Faithful. "E hāʻawi piha iā ʻoe iho i kēia hoʻomaikaʻi laʻa." Ma hope o ka paʻi ʻana, ʻōlelo lākou, “ʻĀmene.”

Ua komo koke i loko ona kahi ʻino o ka ʻehaʻeha, kahi mea hui e haki ana i kona ʻaoʻao a me ka nau ʻana i kāna mau wahi huna a me kāna mau moʻo. Uwau ʻo ia a puni ka pahu. Ua hana lākou āpau, a ua hoʻonui nā paipu i ka ʻuwā i loko o ka lāʻau a ʻoki ka leo i kona lolo. Kulu ke koko mai kona mau pepeiao.

***

Ua hoʻomau ʻia ka ʻeha i kēlā me kēia lā. Ua hiki iā ia ke ana i ka manawa ma ka mānoanoa o kona ʻumiʻumi, a kupu iki aʻe wale mai ka hapalua o kona mau helehelena.

Pono ka paipu hoʻowahāwahā i loko o kāna ʻōpū i hoʻolako i kahi ʻano o ka meaʻai, no ka mea ʻaʻole ʻo ia i make i ka make wai, ʻoiai ua hiamoe mau ka pōloli ma lalo o nā ʻāʻī ʻoi e hou ana i loko ona. ʻO ka maʻamau ʻo ka Hurt — ʻo ia ka mea āna i hele mai ai e kāhea i ke kaukini — noho i kona ʻōpū. I nā manawa ʻē aʻe, komo ʻo ia i loko o kona mau ʻūhā a ʻokiʻoki ʻia paha kona mau māmā māmā a i ʻole probed i loko o kāna ʻūhā. Ua like ia me kahi mea miner e ʻimi mau ana i nā ʻeke uncharted o ka ʻeha.

I ka wā a ka Hurt i hoʻopā aku ai iā ia i kahi ala hou kūikawā, ua koʻikoʻi ka iwi kuamoʻo a ua walaʻau ʻo ia a puni ka paipu a kūpikipiki kona mau pepeiao a ʻōpala hoʻi kāna ʻōpelu i ka mea liʻiliʻi e paʻa ai. ʻAʻohe ka Hurt e ʻae iā ia e hiamoe, e mālama iā ia ma nā ʻaoʻao o ka lunacy. Ua kamaʻilio pū ʻo ia me nā holoholona hānai lōʻihi. Ua ʻike ʻo ia i ka ua ma kahi o ka ʻole — nā pulu momona momona o ka wai ʻālohilohi.

I ka manawa a kona ʻumiʻumi ʻumiʻumi e hoʻokalakupua ai i kona umauma, ua kīloi ʻo Faithful i ka ʻeha mai kona alo. Ua hoʻāʻo ʻo ia e hōʻino i kāna mea hoʻomāinoino akā hiki ke ʻūlū wale i kekahi mau ʻāpana.

ʻO ka poʻe nāna i hopu iā ia i huki iā ia a me nā paʻahao ʻē aʻe mai ka paia. Ua hāʻule nā ​​mea ʻē aʻe i ka catwalk e like me nā ragdoll. Loaʻa iā ia ka ikaika e kū akā e hoʻokuʻu iā ia iho. Ua kau ka poʻeʻoiaʻiʻo iā lākou ma luna o ke kaʻa a i ko lākou kaʻa huila, ua kī ʻia nā mea kūʻiʻo ʻē aʻe i lalo i ka paia nele.

Ua hoʻolei lākou i ka poʻe paʻahao i loko o kahi auwaha hohonu a komo i loko o kahi auwaha hohonu o ka pala. Ua kolo ʻo ia ma luna o ka ʻiʻo ʻana i nā ʻiʻo a me nā iwi nāwaliwali, a makehewa nā kuʻekuʻe a moa ʻole a me nā iwi ʻaoʻao ʻole.

"E hoʻopau iā ia," wahi a ke kumu wahine pani no Denver, ua haʻalulu kona leo i kēia manawa. “Ka make ʻana.” Ua ʻike ʻo ia iā ia e uhaʻi i ka lima o kona hoanoho i make - kahi haʻihaʻi hui e hoʻohana ai ʻo ia i ke kālai ʻana i kahi gash i loko o kāna puʻu ponoʻī.

Ma hope, ua hoʻohana ʻo ia i kona ʻōpū ma ke ʻano he uluna a hāʻule i loko o ka hiamoe nui a hiki i kahi tentacle e hoʻāla iā ia mai ka ʻauwaha. Ua hoʻokaʻawale ka poʻe ʻoiaʻiʻo i nā paʻahao i ʻelua puʻu — e ola ana a make. Aia ʻo ia i waena o ka poʻe e ola ana, a hoʻolei ʻia i luna o ke kaʻa nona nā huila e ʻū e like me nāʻiole.

Ua hāpai ʻo ia iā ia i ka paia me ka poʻe i pakele a me kahi pūʻulu hou o ka poʻe koa.

"Welina i ka ʻenekini ʻeha," i ʻōlelo ai ka Faithful.

***

Ua hohola ka manawa i luna. Ua ulu aʻe kona ʻumiʻumi i kona mau mākala pectoral i kupu nui ʻole ʻia. Me he mea lā e hānai ana ka Hurt iā ia, akā ʻo kāna mau peʻapeʻa a me nā wāwae i ke kiʻi ʻana i ka ikaika.

I kēlā me kēia kipa hou i nā ʻauwaha, ua ʻike ʻo ia iā ia iho e hoʻopuni ʻia e nā kino wīwī a ʻoi aku naʻe kona ikaika ʻana, ua ikaika nā lima i kēia manawa a paʻakikī e like me ke kaula wai. ʻO nā pio āna i hōʻea mua mai ai, ua pau i ka make.

I loko o nā ʻauwaha, ua hoʻāʻo mua ʻo ia i ka ʻiʻo kanaka. ʻO ia ka hauʻoli mua āna i ʻike ai mai ka wā mau loa, a ale ʻo ia i nā waha o ka ʻūhā a ʻeha ka ʻōpū. Ma hope, ua lawe ʻo ia i nā leʻaleʻa ʻē aʻe mai kona mau hoa paʻahao. Ua hauʻoli kekahi mau wahine iā ia, ʻoiai ʻoi aku kona makemake ke pale aku lākou. Hoʻopili ʻo ia iā lākou me nā lāʻau ʻūlū a ma hope ua uē ʻo ia no kāna mea lilo kanaka.

Ua makaʻu ʻo ia e ʻike ka Faithful i ka lōʻihi o kona hoʻomanawanui ʻana a me kona ikaika i lilo ai, akā ua ʻike koke ʻo ia he pipi wale nō ia na lākou — kahi cog helehelena hou ʻole i loko o kā lākou mīkini hana akua.

I ka hiki ʻana o kāna ʻumiʻumi ʻumiʻumi i kona ʻōpū hulu keʻokeʻo, ua hana ʻo ia i kahi hoʻolālā naʻaupō. ʻAʻole ʻo ia i ʻimi i ka ʻiʻo a i ʻole i ka moekolohe i loko o nā ʻauwaha. ʻAʻole, i kēia manawa makemake ʻo ia i ka ʻōpū.

Ua haehae ʻo ia i nā ʻōpū o ke kanaka me ka hae mokuʻāina ʻo Ohio i kā ʻia ʻia ma kona lima. Ua kīloi ʻo ia iā lākou ma nā lāʻau kū manoanoa e uhi ana i kahi lua kahe a haʻalele i ke ʻōpū i huki ʻia i hoʻopaʻa ʻia i ka ʻauwaha.

Ua hala kekahi pōʻaiapuni.

Ua wili ʻo ia i nā kaula o ka ʻōpū e hana i ʻeono mau kaula lōʻihi a anai ʻia me ka puʻuwai kanaka.

Ua hala kekahi pōʻaiapuni.

Ua kūkulu ʻo ia i mea kani liʻiliʻi e hoʻohana ana i ka hipbone a me ka iwi kuamoʻo. Ua hoʻokaʻawale ʻo ia i nā iwi he nui o ka lima o ka wahine e ʻimi ai i kahi ʻohi koho kūpono.

He ʻelua mau puka o ka ʻenekini Pain — kahi e alakaʻi ai i nā ʻauwaha a me kahi e komo ai nā pio hou. Ua wehe hāmama wale kēlā puka no ka lawa o ke kaʻa hou o nā pipi hou e komo i loko - he puka hāiki o ka manawa kūpono.

Kū nā puka ʻelua i nā ʻaoʻao ʻaoʻao o ka lāʻau. Pono ʻo ia e hakakā i ke ala āpau, a ʻaʻohe mea emi ma lalo o ke kakini ʻoiaʻiʻo ma ka lima.

No laila, ʻo ke Gore Guitar.

***

ʻO ka manawa hope loa a ka Faithful i lawe ai iā ia mai nā ʻauwaha, ua hoʻokomo ʻo ia i nā ʻāpana o ke alelo i loko o nā pepeiao ʻelua a hoʻopaʻa ʻia i ke kika i loko o kona ʻaʻahu haehae. Kiola lākou iā ia ma ke kaʻa. Ua huehue nā huila ma lalo ona i kona haʻalulu ʻana i lalo o ke ana. Ua hāmama ka puka o ka Pain Engine. Ua hele i loko o ke kaʻa. Ua kali ʻoi aku ma kahi o ke kakini ʻoiaʻiʻo e kau i kā lākou ʻiʻo ma ka paia.

ʻO ka manawa e hoʻoluliluli ai i kēia mau makuahine.

Ua hoʻopaʻa ʻo ia i ke Gore Guitar a lele i ke kaʻa. ʻUhū nā kiaʻi. Ua kipaku ʻo ia i kahi kanaka paʻahao i kahi ʻo Faithful kokoke loa. Ua heleleʻi lākou i kahi ahu. Ua hoʻokuʻu ʻo ia i ka Hurt mai ka paia a kī i ka pahu i nā kaula kika.

Koho ka iwi i ka lima, hahau ʻo ia i kahi mau nota — kahi screech hoʻonui ʻia e haʻalulu nā paia. ʻOiai me kāna mau earplugs kuikawa, komo mau ke mele ʻōniu i kona lolo. ʻUā ka poʻe pio. Ua hāʻule nā ​​kiaʻi e kau ana i nā ʻāpana iʻa i nā lima a me nā kuli. ʻO nā mea me nā makaaniani i hoʻopaʻa i ko lākou mau poʻo.

Ua hoʻomau ʻo ia i ka strumming. ʻEha kona mau lima. Ua puhi kona manamana lima. ʻAʻole i liʻuliʻu ua paheʻe ke koko o ke kika.

Kūlia nā kiaʻi a kokoke, ua ʻaʻa nā maka.

Ua hina ʻo ia i hoʻokahi kuli a strummed me kona ikaika a pau. Ua ninini ka hou i kona helehelena. ʻO ke kiaʻi kokoke loa i wehe i ka pahi kaua. Ua alualu kokoke aku ia, ʻo kona aka e paheʻe nei ma luna ona. E 'oluʻolu. E 'oluʻolu. Pulu kona lima ʻākau me ka neʻe nui. Ua ʻōniu kona mau manamana lima hema a kaomi i nā kaula, me ka lana o ka manaʻo e loaʻa ka memo e hoʻopakele ai iā ia.

Hāpai ke kiaʻi i ka pahi kaua. Mālama ʻo Murphy i ka strumming.

I ka manawa hoʻokahi, ua haki nā poepoe honua i ka hapanui o nā poʻo o nā kiaʻi. ʻO ka aniani a me ka wai stank i pīpī i nā ʻaoʻao āpau, ke ʻalohi nei ma luna o kona mau poʻohiwi a ʻeha hoʻi ka hope o kona ʻāʻī. Hoʻokomo ka kiaʻi i kāna pahi kaua i lalo, akā ua alualu ʻo ia i ka ʻaoʻao a hoʻohuli i ke Gore Guitar i luna. ʻO ka mea hana ʻino i wāwahi ʻia i loko o kahi kaula o ke aho. Ua ninini aku ke kiaʻi i hope o ka catwalk akā ʻaʻole ma mua o ka hoʻokuʻu ʻana o Murphy iā ia i kāna pahi kaua.

Ke moe nei ka hapa nui o nā kiaʻi i ka catwalk gulping makehewa i ke ea maloʻo. ʻEhā wale nō me nā aniani i kū pololei, a kū hoʻokahi kokoke i ka puka o ka puka, kahi e hoʻomoe ana i kahi kiaʻi e hāwanawana ana.

Me ka halulu, ua hakakā ʻo Murphy i kona ala i ka puka, me ka hou ʻana a me ka pā ʻana. Ua hiolo ʻo ia i ke kiaʻi mua. Ua ʻumeʻume a hākōkō nā pio hou o ke kaʻa, akā ua paʻa a kōkua iki lākou i kēia manawa. Paʻa ka lua o ke kiaʻi i ka ihe pōkole. Ua hoʻopiʻi ʻo Murphy, e hoʻokuʻi i ka mea i loko o ka paia, a hou iā ia i ka ʻōpū a kāʻili i kāna mea kaua. Ua kīloi ʻo ia a hoʻolei i ka ihe i ke kiaʻi ma ka puka. Ua kuʻi ia iā ia ma waena o nā poʻohiwi. Ua heleleʻi ʻo ia i ka honua, e kani ana kahi mele kanikau.

Ua puhi ke koa kiaʻi ʻehā i loko o kahi iwi wili liʻiliʻi, a hoʻopuka ʻia kahi memo hohonu. Ua hou ʻo Murphy i ke kiaʻi ma ka ʻāʻī, akā ua lohi. Ua kani ka leka hoʻomaopopo ma loko o ka Pain Engine. E hiki hou mai ana nā kiaʻi.

Ua wehe ʻo ia i nā paʻahao ma luna o ke kaʻa, he luina kaʻa ʻehā o nā kāne ʻelua a me nā wahine ʻelua me ka lauoho lepo, ka maka ʻaki, ka ʻiʻo o ka lā, a me nā kaha he nui.

"E hopu i nā mea kaua," i ʻōlelo ʻo ia. "Pono mākou e hele i kēia manawa."

Ua alakaʻi ʻo ia iā lākou i lalo o ke ala, he pahi kaua i kāʻei ʻia i kēlā me kēia lima pulima. Ua hoʻouka ka nalu mua o nā kiaʻi, a ua luʻu ʻo ia i waena o lākou e like me ke kanaka i loaʻa, a ʻo ka mea ʻoiaʻiʻo ua manaʻo ʻia ʻo ia, no ka mea ua hele a wawae kona mau wāwae a me kona mau lima me ka hoʻopaʻi i hoʻoheheʻe ʻia e nā eons a pālahalaha ʻia i nā haneli mau honua, a ua ʻike ʻo ia iā ia iho he pawn i ke kaua kahiko akā hiki i ka pawn ke lilo i ʻokoʻa ma waena o ka lanakila a me ka eo. Ua ʻokiʻoki ʻo ia i kekahi o nā mea ola me kahi ʻāpana huhū o kāna lau a-e lālau ana i kāna mau ʻūlili e wili mau nei - ua hoʻohana ʻia i kona iwi poʻo he maze a hiki i ka mea he pulse lolo a me nā iwi iwi.

I ka wā i hana ʻia ai ke kaua mua, ʻekolu wale nō o nā mea pakele i koe kūpono e kū. Ua ʻeha kekahi o nā wahine i ka ʻūhā a moe i ke kahe i ka papahele. Ua hou ʻo ia iā ia i kona maka - ua koe kona maka i koe a hele ākea a haka lapuwale i ka pahi - a kēnā i nā poʻe ʻē aʻe e ukali iā ia.

***

Me ka mākaukau ʻole o nā kiaʻi no ke kūʻē ʻana, no ka mea, i kēlā me kēia manawa, hoʻokipa ʻia ʻo Murphy me nā ʻano makaʻu a pīhoihoi paha. Ua hina koke ʻo ia i kahi ʻano o ka hana a kahi kanaka hou i hōʻea ai e kuni ʻia ana a ʻeke a hoʻopaʻa ʻia a hoʻokuʻu ʻia i ko lākou mau manamana lima. Ua hoʻokuʻu ʻo ia iā lākou a ua hoʻouna aku i ko lākou poʻe hoʻomāinoino.

"E hele mai, dammit," i ʻōlelo ʻo ia, me ka inaina i ka grit i loko o kāna ʻāʻī i hōʻino ʻia.

I ka hopena, alakaʻi ʻo ia i kahi hui he iwakālua paha o nā mea mahuka ma o kahi pahu kūiki i luna o ka hale paʻahao. Ua manaʻo ʻo ia e hāna i ke ea hou akā ua honi ka ʻaoʻao i waho o ka iʻa palaha a me ka ua ʻawaʻawa. Ua manaʻo ʻo ia i ka lā a me nā lani polū akā ua loaʻa iā ia kahi hapalua mahina e kau ana kekeʻe i waena o nā hōkū ʻōlinolino ʻōmaʻomaʻo. Ua kau ʻia kahi haze ʻē i ka lewa, ʻaʻole e ʻōniu ana i nā hōkū akā e kala ana iā lākou i ke kala o ka ʻai pea. ʻO kā lākou hale paʻahao, ua ʻike ʻo ia, ʻo ia ke kupapaʻu lana o nā akua a kēlā poʻe lapuwale i koho ai e hoʻomana. Ua nunui ka mea make i hiki ʻole iā ia ke ʻike i ka laulā piha o ia mea. Inā pono e koho, manaʻo ʻo ia ʻoi aku ka nui ma mua o Manhattan.

Ma hope ua aʻo ʻo ia kēia akua kekahi o nā mea i ala aʻe mai kekahi puka ākea ma lalo o ka hohonu o ka moana. Ua hoʻopiha ʻia ko lākou kino nui i ka hona puni honua - e like me ke kāne momona momona i kī ʻia i loko o ka ipu ʻauʻau - a ʻo ko lākou mau kupapaʻu, a me nā ʻūpā o ka lāhui kanaka, i hoʻohaumia i ka moana honua ʻole.

Ua kīloi ka hale o ke akua i nā mile he nui. ʻO nā pelaha kapa kila i ka nui o nā skyscraper i komo i loko o kāna ʻiʻo hoʻoliʻiliʻi.

ʻO kahi ʻano o nā hale a me nā hale noho a ʻo kahi hale bake nō hoʻi e lana pono ʻole ana i loko o ka wai, kuʻi pū ʻia me nā kaula mānoanoa a kau ʻia ma ka ʻaoʻao o ke kupapaʻu o ke akua. Ua hele kona home ponoʻī ma waena o lākou. ʻO ka moku malihini like i hoʻopaʻa ʻia ma kona hale e lana ana ma ka lihi o kēia hui ʻē.

Ua hele nā ​​kula iʻa make i loko o ka wai, ua heleleʻi nā maka a agape nā waha. Ua lana nā manu lele ʻole i waena o lākou, hohola nā ʻeheu a weluwelu e like me nā ʻānela lele ʻole.

"E hoʻi ana mākou no nā mea ʻē aʻe," i ʻōlelo ʻo ia.

Ua luliluli ke poʻo o kahi kāne lahilahi me kahi ʻumiʻumi shaggy. “ʻAʻole wau e hoʻi i laila.”

ʻ murhumu ka poʻe ʻē aʻe i ka ʻaelike. Ua puni ka huhū i loko o Murphy. I ka ʻoiaʻiʻo, ʻaʻohe ona manaʻo e pili ana i nā ʻuhane hoʻomāinoino ʻia i loko o ka Pain Engine, akā makemake ʻo ia i kahi luina ʻoi aku ka nui a ʻaʻole hiki iā ia ke hōʻuluʻulu iā lākou hoʻokahi. No laila, ua hana ʻo ia i ka mea i hana ʻoi loa - ua kākau ʻo ia iā ia iho i kahi palapala.

"Ua kokoke pau paha ke kanaka," i ʻōlelo ʻo ia. “ʻO ko kāua mau kaikaina a me nā kaikuahine i loko o kēia hale paʻahao ke waiho wale ʻia. Inā huli mākou i kā mākou kua iā lākou, e hoʻohuli paha mākou i nā kānaka āpau. ʻO kēia wale nō kā mākou manawa e hoʻopakele ai iā lākou mai kahi ola ʻeha e hānai i ke akua nona ka mea ʻoiaʻiʻo i lawe nui mai iā mākou. ʻO wau, no ka mea, ʻaʻole hiki ke ola me kēia kaumaha i kau ʻia ma luna o kuʻu ʻuhane. "

ʻAneʻane ʻo ia e ʻakaʻaka i kēia mau huaʻōlelo hope loa, no ka mea, ua ʻike ʻo ia ua haki ka ʻuhane i kahi koena palupalu.

"Hiki iā ʻoe ke lālau i ka hoe a hoe no kou kūʻokoʻa a i ʻole hiki iā ʻoe ke lawe i kahi pahi kaua a kaua no ke ola o ke kanaka." Ua paʻa ʻo ia i kāna mau pahi kaua koko. Pili ka lehulehu. Pono ʻo ia e pani ikaika. Kau ʻo ia i ka lima ma luna o kona umauma. "E hoʻopaʻa i kēlā koho i kou puʻuwai. E waiho i ka pane i kou mau uaua. "

Ua nānā ka poʻe koko a huhū hoʻi iā ia, e hoʻoluliluli ana i ke kupapaʻu nunui. Pākuʻi nā nalu maʻi i ka ʻiʻo akua e iho ana. Lele mai kahi manu o ka moana iā lākou mai ke kai pau ʻole a hāʻule i ke kahakai popopo. Ua lele a lele i mua o ka loaʻa ʻana o ka maluhia.

***

Ma ke kahua mālamalama maikaʻi o ka Theatre Hou, e lele ana kahi manu nūnū — ʻaʻole i kahi manu nūnū kikī ma luna o nā mea hana ke ʻākoakoa. ʻAʻole ia e hina akā ua lele i luna o ka lehulehu leʻaleʻa. Ke hōʻike nei ka mea hana keaka iā Halfbeard i kahi lima — Pledge of Allegiance style — ma luna o kona umauma ʻōpuʻu a ʻōlelo ʻo ia, "E hoʻopaʻa i kēlā koho i kou puʻuwai, e nā hoahānau, a waiho i ka pane i kou mau uaua."

Piʻi nā huaʻōlelo i waena o nā mea puhi pōkole i hana ʻia mai ka hao a me ka driftwood - i kēia manawa ke kau nei no kahi hui o nā mea minia akua, nā keiki, nā lawaiʻa, nā mea like ʻole o ke kūlanakauhale, a me nā mahiʻai akua.

Noho ʻo Halfbeard iā ia iho i loko o ke anaina. ʻO kona koloka haʻihaʻi e kau nui nei me ka wai paʻakai a ʻoi aku ma mua o kahi koko liʻiliʻi. Hū ka ʻeha o kona umauma me ka huhū. ʻO kona mau lima a me kona mau wāwae i pāpā ʻia e nau i ka ʻeha, e hānai ana iā ia iā ia.

Hoʻopili ʻo ia i ka pāʻani a munches ma kahi sliver o ke akua jerky. ʻO ka mea hana keaka iā ia e hana ana i kahi hana kūpono a ʻo kāna lole komo lole e like pū me ka ʻatikala maoli. I loko o kahi hanana hakakā, ua lewalewa kona ʻumiʻumi ʻumiʻumi mai kona alo, akā ua ʻike nui ʻia ka lehulehu i ka kaʻao e mālama.

Ua hāʻawi nā mea kākau o kēia leʻaleʻa iā ia i kahi hoihoi aloha-ʻo kahi wahine huhū lauoho ʻeleʻele i lawelawe i ke kāne mua i kāna huakaʻi powa kaulana. Hele pū lāua, a me kāna mau limahana kūpaʻa e luku i ka nui o Faithful a mālama i nā ola he lehulehu ʻole. Pepehi ʻia kāna wahine mare ma ka hopena o ka hana mua e kāna nemesis, kahi General Pono e aneane make iā Halfbeard me kahi pahele lawena e pili ana i nā submarines a me nā dolphins.

I ke ola maoli, ʻaʻole ona wahine i ka wahine. Ua lawe ʻo ia i mau ipo he nui i kāna huakaʻi huakaʻi — he mau makemake kekahi a ʻo kekahi ʻaʻole - akā ʻaʻole mea i lōʻihi. ʻAʻole i loaʻa iā ia kahi hoa mua, a ʻo kāna mau ʻōlima kūpaʻa i manaʻo ʻia he poʻe mālama kālā a me nā lawehala a me nā kauā.

ʻAʻole nō hoʻi i loaʻa kahi nemesis.

Ua ola ʻo ia i nā hoʻāʻo pepehi kanaka he nui, e like me ka hoʻouka kaua ʻana o kēia pō. A ke mālama nei i kahi hilinaʻi hohonu o nā iʻa. Pepehi kanaka ʻo ia i mau haneli ʻoiaʻiʻo, akā pepehi kanaka hoʻi i nā kānaka he lehulehu a waiho wale i ko lākou mau kupapaʻu e haʻi i ka moʻolelo i ka iʻa ʻana i nā iʻa.

ʻO ka hapalua o ka hana ʻelua, pouli kona ʻano. Me he mea lā e hoʻomāʻewaʻewa ka mea hana keaka ma luna o ke kahua i kāna ola weliweli. ʻO nā leʻaleʻa o ke anaina i hoʻākoakoa e lawelawe wale i ka huhū iā ia a hoʻonui i kāna hoʻowahāwahā iā ia iho. ʻAʻohe ona makemake hou, hāʻawi ʻo ia i ka hope o kāna akua i ke keiki e noho kokoke ana iā ia, paʻi ke poʻo o ke kaikamahine, a hele i mua i nā alanui ākea ʻo Lunar Acres.

“E haʻalele ana ʻoe?” Wahi a ka mea hana keaka e mālama ana i ka puka o hope, kahi ʻōpio scruffy me ka peʻa ʻāʻī a me ka ihu lou. "Akā e hiki mai ana ka hopena."

Lulu ʻo Halfbeard i kona poʻo pale. "Makaʻu wau ʻaʻole e hiki mai ka hopena."

“He moʻolelo hoʻoulu ia, ʻeā?” 'ōlelo ka mea hana. "Maopopo iaʻu he hiki ʻole ia, akā makemake wau e noʻonoʻo aia ʻo Halfbeard ma waho - ke holo nei nō i ke kai a ke hoʻopilikia nei i ka Faithful a kiaʻi iā mākou āpau."

“No ke aha hiki ʻole ai?”

"Hoʻokahi haneli paha ona mau makahiki i kēia manawa, ʻaʻohe hiki ke hōʻeha i kekahi."

"E noʻonoʻo ʻoe pēlā, ʻaʻole anei?" Wahi a Halfbeard. "Pehea e pili ana i ka hanana ma mua i kēia pō? Lohe wau i ka Mea Kūpono i hōʻeha i kahi kāne e like me Halfbeard. ”

Kaha ʻo ia. "Paʻakikī e ʻōlelo. Hiki paha i nā mea hana keaka ke alanui. ʻO ia paha kekahi o nā impbeors Halfbeard. Ua ʻike wau i nā hui kāne āpau o lākou, nā keiki ʻāʻā me nā helehelena i uhi ʻia i ka peʻa a me nā ʻumiʻumi i hoʻopaʻa i nā ʻumiʻumi ʻumiʻumi. ʻAʻole, ua make ʻo ia. Noho wale ʻo ia i loko o ko kāua puʻuwai. ”

"E haʻi mai ʻoe iaʻu, e ke keiki, he aha kāu e ʻōlelo aku ai iā Halfbeard inā ʻoe e hālāwai me ia ma kēia mau alanui loa i kēia pō?"

"Au, e paʻi wau i kona kua a mahalo nui iā ia no kāna mau mōhai he nui."

"A he aha kāu e hāʻawi aku ai iā ia?"

Hoʻomaʻamaʻa ka mea hana i kona lehelehe haʻi. "ʻO nā mea āna e makemake ai, manaʻo wau."

"ʻOiaʻiʻo."

Kuʻi ʻo Halfbeard i ke kanaka i ka ʻāʻī, ʻānai ʻana i nā ʻāpana palupalu e leo ai i ka uē no ke kōkua. Huki ʻo ia i kāna mea i hōʻino ʻia e lele ana i ke ala ʻeleʻele. Pilau nā aka o ka mimi a pala. Hoʻopili ʻo ia i kona mau lima lima kuʻi ma ka ʻāʻī o ka mea hana a kaomi. Pouli ka maka o ka lā lapuwale. Kaha kona mau maka.

I nā manawa āpau, ʻono ke ʻono o ka ʻiʻo o nā pāma a me nā wāwae o Halfbeard. Ua aʻo ʻo ia i loko o nā makahiki e pono ʻole e ʻai i nā mea ʻai e like me ka ʻīlio hae pōloli, e omo i ka ʻeha a me ka makaʻu. I ka hana ʻana pēlā, huli ʻo ia i ke ola o kēia kāne mai kahi papaʻaina i ʻahaʻaina. E like me ke kanaka kamaʻāina, hoʻohana ʻo ia i ka pahi a me ke kō.

E like me ka ninaninau ʻana o Halfbeard i nā ʻōpū me nā rusty tines, haʻalulu a kuʻi ʻia ka mea i hoʻomake ʻia. Ma kahi mamao, hauʻoli ka poʻe hoʻolohe a paʻi a paʻi lākou i ko lākou mau wāwae. Hele a uluhua kona poʻo. Hoʻoikaika ka paʻipaʻi. Manaʻo ʻo ia e lawe ana nā mea hana i kā lākou kakaka. Honi paha ke kēpau i kāna wahine i luku ʻia a kolohe paha i hoʻokahi jab hope loa i kāna nemesis.

"ʻO kēlā mau mea e like me nā koa a me nā kolohe, he mau kaʻao," i ʻōlelo ʻo Halfbeard i ka huhū koko ma lalo ona. “Ke lugks nei ka ʻino maoli i loko o mākou. Ke hāwanawana nei ia ma lalo o ko mākou mau moena a pīpī i kā mākou mau lima a me nā hulahula ma lalo o ko mākou mau wāwae. "

ʻ squpī ka pīpī i ka pane.

“Mai hopohopo. ʻAneʻane pau mākou. ”

Ma hope koke e kahe ana ka lehulehu. Pahi nā keikikāne a me nā kaikamahine i kekahi i kekahi me nā pahi kaua liʻiliʻi i hana maikaʻi ʻole ʻia e ke keaka. Hele wāwae nā kāne a me nā wahine i ka lima, e kamaʻilio pū ana me nā minoʻaka ākea. I ka hala ʻana o ka hope loa o lākou a ʻū nā kukui o ka Theatre Hou, lālau ʻo ia i ka puʻuwai o ke kāne, ʻapo maila i nā kani hope loa.

"ʻO kēia koʻu wahi e noho ai?" 'ōleloʻo ia. "Eia i loko o kou puʻuwai?"

Haʻalulu ke kāne i ka manawa hope loa. Hoʻolei ʻo ia i ka mea i koe o ia i loko o ka lau momona o ka moana, e ʻeke ana i nā ʻelima ʻelima o ka mea i loaʻa iā ia.

Hele ʻo ia ma nā alanui ʻeleʻele i kona hale kahiko, a ku ma ke kaʻe o Lunar Acres. Pākuʻi kona mau kāmaʻa ma luna o ka hale, iho i ke alapiʻi, a ma ka lānai. Mai laila aku, hohola palena ʻole ke kai i ka ʻimi ʻana i ka lani. Hui ʻelua wale nō i nā moeʻuhane.

Pilau ka hale i ka make, no ka nui o kona hoʻomaʻemaʻe. Me he mea lā e hoʻokipa ʻia ka hakahaka e ka pilau o kāna mau hana. Ua hiki iā ia ke neʻe i kahi manawa lōʻihi loa. Ua ʻike ʻo Lord hiki iā ia ke uku, akā he mea kūpono ke noho ma aneʻi. I kekahi manawa ʻoiai e moe ana i ka moena, hiki iā ia ke hoʻomanaʻo i ke kāne i noho ma mua ma mua o ka lilo ʻana o ka honua i ka hakakā a nā akua ʻē. Wehe ʻo ia i nā unahi a lawe ʻia i ka lumi kahiko o Keith. Hoʻokomo ʻo ia iā lākou i loko o kahi ʻeke lole e huehue ana a hōʻano hou i kāna palapala ledger. He moekolohe kāna waiwai, hoʻopiha i nā lumi i noho mua ʻia e Keith a me ka Shut-In.

I ka hopena, noho ʻo ia i loko o kona wahi moe. ʻO kona kapa ʻauʻau kahiko — ua hoʻololi kahiko ʻia i ka ʻie pirate a uhi ʻia me nā humuhumu sloppy a me nā patch random - kau ʻia ma ka paia.

Hoʻi koke ka hiamoe iā ia.

Ala wale ʻo ia i hoʻokahi manawa wale nō i ka pō e lohe ana i kahi ʻano squishy shuffling i ka pouli. ʻIke nā maka luhi i ke aka. Ma ʻō a puni o ka hale, kahi lilelea pale o ka ʻiʻo e ʻōlinolino i ka mahina ʻōmaʻomaʻo ʻōmaʻomaʻo. Paheʻe kokoke. Paʻa ka makaʻu i kāna iwikuamoʻo.

ʻAno a hawanawana ka mea, "E hoʻi a hiamoe. Poina. ”

ʻO ia hoʻi e hopu i kāna pahi kaua, akā hele a manomano kona mau lima a me nā wāwae, e kumakaia iā ia a hoʻokau iā ia i kahi moe. ʻEʻeleʻele kāna ʻike. Lohe ʻo ia i ka holoholona paheʻe kokoke, i kēia manawa ʻōhumu nā mele gibberish. Paheʻe kona ʻiʻo ma luna ona, anuanu a me ka aila. ʻAʻole hiki iā ia ke ʻuwā. Ke hāwanawana nei iā ia i ka pō holoʻokoʻa ke hana nei ia i kāna hana weliweli.

Ma kahi mau loa ma hope, huki ke alaula iā ia iho mai nā kihi soggy o ka honua. Noho ʻo Halfbeard a hāhā. Hele ʻo ia i loko o ka lumi a wehe i ka puka. Lick ka moana honua i kona lanai. E like me ka mau, pau ka hoʻomanaʻo ʻana o ke kipa a ka pō nei. Kokolo ka lā kau haʻahaʻa ma kona alo, kahi e hoʻomaloʻo ai kahi waimaka me ka maloʻo ma kona papalina. Haʻalele ia i kahi ala paʻakai.