Free Kraken by M. Caspian Page A

gestured vaguely with his hand. “It didn’t produce enough, though. It’s been abandoned for decades. No, longer; over a century, now. It’s kind of spooky. Long tunnels going into the hillside. And deep, deep holes going straight down, full of water. There was a pumping station, but it couldn't keep the sea out. The sea always wins in the end.”
     
    Abruptly they were in a large clearing, a huge yellow earthmover off to the left at the bottom of a slope of felled trees.
     
    Twenty feet away a man in a tan suit examined a tablet in his hands, picking his way absent mindedly around tree stumps. Will recognized his rescuer from Redport quay. Aiden obviously wasn’t surprised to see Will and Cy. He greeted them with an easy wave, then gestured with his thumb and pinkie to his ear, in the timeless code for a telephone call. He paused a moment, obviously listening. Even wearing business clothing in the middle of a forest Aiden seemed at home. His dark brown leather boots seemed to somehow join the suit to the rugged terrain. Will felt sweaty and ungainly, and he flushed as he remembered Aiden’s form pressed against his back on the boat. Will felt Cy’s soft, suckered arm leave his back as Aiden walked over, cradling a Bluetooth earpiece in his hand.
     
    “Nice to see you again, Will. And Cyrus too, of course. I didn’t realize you two knew each other. I’m sorry about the phone call. It’s the best reception, just here. Put up my own tower.” He nodded back in the direction they had come. “Just a small one. Can’t talk people into a place if there’s no coverage. And the freight lift, of course. That’s just down there past the earthmover, goes right down to the water’s edge. People won’t carry their supplies up this hill.” Aiden’s eyes slid off Cyrus, onto Will. “I’m glad you took me up on my offer, Will.”
     
    Cyrus looked across at him. He didn’t seem happy. Will looked down awkwardly, feeling Aiden’s gaze lingering on him. It didn’t seem right, to be wondering what one man’s lips would feel like against his, while staying in another man’s house. Even though there was nothing romantic between him and Cyrus, it was still kind of . . . slutty. Wait, no, was there something romantic between him and Cyrus? Did Cyrus think there was? Will realized he had no idea what Cy’s expectations were. And Aiden was way out of his league anyway. It was nice to imagine, though.
     
    “You in the market, Will? Might be nice having a place so close to your friend.”
     
    “No,” Cy broke in. “Will’s living with me, now.”
     
    Will opened his mouth to qualify he was only there for a week, but Cy gave his hand a warning squeeze.
     
    “Oh,” said Aiden, looking between them. Will found the courage to look up into his face, but couldn’t read the expression in his eyes. “Oh, well, you should think about it, as an investment, even. Not many new developments for sale around here. Let me show you around. Not much to actually see yet, of course. A vivid imagination may be required.”
     
    Will had no clue what to say, but Aiden didn’t seem to notice, or at least was polite enough to ignore the awkwardness. Aiden walked Will and Cy through the layout, striding through the tree stumps, drawing pictures with his words. The pool here, tennis court here, three rows of nested condos. He was good, Will had to give him that. For a moment he wished he had the cash to buy into Aiden’s island suburbia dream.
     
    “Come and have a beer, check out what the larger houses will look like. That’ll be stage two, of course. Mine’s just the prototype.”
     
    Through a picturesque scattering of nearby trees Will could see glass and aluminum, and hear voices, with an occasional laugh. Aiden paused for a moment, his body uncharacteristically still. “Cyrus, I just wanted to say how sorry I am for your loss.”
     
    Cy grunted an acknowledgement. “Nothing for me to be sorry for. He should have known