XII. LOST

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WANDERING THE WINDWARD SIDE OF OAHU

DEEP IN WAIKANE VALLEY, WITH THE MENEHUNES & THE NIGHT MARCHERS

Evil Spirits Mislead, Misguide, Misdirect

(Part Twelve; Part One is HERE.)


Holly grabbed the cab's steering wheel with one hand and held on tight. Kris tried to knock her hand loose, but she wouldn't budge. She was a tough little thing, he thought. She let him steer, but she kept her hand on the wheel as they rolled down Kam Highway through Laie and Hauula, barreling along the dark wet road at fifty miles an hour in the big Cadillac.

"Come on, let go of the wheel. What the Hell's wrong with you? You wanna get us killed?"

"Yeah."

"What for? What the Hell is with you?"

"Prove you're not gay."

"How do I do that? And why should I?"

"Ho, you don't know? You like I show?"

"Not while I'm driving, thanks."

"So, pull ovah."

"Not here."

"You scared? You no like me? Eh, if you gay, dat's OK, I no boddah you."

"Why is this so important to you?"

"Everybody wants me, unless they're gay. So, you want me or not?"

"Arrogant little thing, aren't you?"

"Not little. You like, or no?"

"I like a lot."

"Den wot?"

"It's complicated."

"So, uncomplicate 'em. Kiss me. Then I know."

"So, everybody has to kiss you, so you know how they feel about you?"

"Not everybody. Just you."

"Why me?"

"Maybe I like you too." She took her hand off the wheel and put it on his leg. She slid her hand up and started rubbing him.

"Come on. I can't drive while you do that."

"So pull over."

"Not here."

"Where, then?"

"I know a place."

"Like that old sad song." She started singing the song.

"Yeah, something like that."

"What place?"

"It's just a few more miles."

"OK. But then you better show me. OK? For real."

"For real."

The wind was whipping the waves right up onto the roadway as they headed toward Kaneohe. The other side of the two-lane highway was covered with sand from what little remained of the beach. There were no big tour-buses on the road at this hour, but there were still a few big SUV's speeding towards them or roaring past them as they drove toward civilization.

Some of the streetlights were out and it was very dark. Every few miles they would pass a landmark Kris recognized: The Polynesian Cultural Center, the Crouching Lion, Kualoa Ranch. He was looking for Chinaman's Hat, a small conical island just off the coast. He knew that Waikane Valley was somewhere near there. He would turn off there, and head to the back of the valley, a rather desolate State Park. It should be desolate enough, all the way back there.

Holly was dancing in her seat, singing along with the music on the cassette player. It was all 80's dance music, a tape left behind by another girl. Kris wondered what had ever happened to her. These girls just seemed to appear and then disappear without rhyme or reason. How long before Holly was history?

It was too dark to see Chinaman's Hat, so Kris had to slow down after he passed Ka'a'awa, trying to read the street signs on the few side streets he passed. He had only been back here once, with another girl. He probably shouldn't be back here again, with yet another girl. But he'd never heard anything about that girl. One of the ones who had disappeared.

"What's that?"

"What?"

"Looked like a bunch of guys walking right along the side of the road."

"I didn't see anything"

"You blind, eh? Was right off the side of the road. Whole buncha guys marching along."

"Hey, I'm watching the road, not the scenery. Prob'ly the Night Marchers."

"No way. Better not be. I never see da kine."

"Well, they're out there. You want to get out and go find them?"

"No f**king way, man! Those guys can kill you and eat you right up, take your soul, whatevahs!"

"So could I."

"Hah! You? Nah. I not scared 'a' you, braddah."

"Maybe you should be."

"You just trying scare me, you. Can not."

"Nothing scares you, hunh?"

"Those Night Marchers scare me. I no like get eaten up."

"I bet you'd be delicious, with some fava beans and a nice Chianti. FF-sss-sss-hhhh."

"Wot, you Hannibal da Cannibal, now, you? Go 'head, eat me. Eat me right dere!"

"I will. I'll eat you all up, even the bones. Mmm-num-num-num."

"Hah!"

"Here's our turn. Oh! Look! Menehunes!"

"Where!!!???"

"Right over there, in the darkness. Here, I'll pull over. You go get 'em!"

"Not!"

"Buk-buk-BAWK! Afraid of a leetle menehune?"

"I'm not afraid."

"Are too. BUK-BAWK-BAWK!!!"

"OK, look, I'll go get 'em! Then we see who's scared!"

Holly got out of the car and walked off into the darkness. Kris drove away, leaving her to the evil spirits in the black cold rainy night.


[ PART THIRTEEN TOMORROW copyright 2008 Cosa Nostradamus.]
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