This is the thirty-eighth episode of the novel TwoTamas in Paradise. There are fifty episodes. This is the fourth novel in the Trace Troy South Pacific Adventure series. It may now be purchased on Amazon. It is available in paperback or Kindle digital format.
Maxwell's Awakening
Shortly after 2:30 AM, Trace checked the instrument panel for a reading. He swirled around in his chair and looked at the chart on the chart desk. As he swiveled back to the wheel, he caught sight of Maxwell.
“Can I come up?” Maxwell said.
“Not without a coffee,” Trace said. “There’s a pot in the galley. Pour us a cup and grab a scone.”
Maxwell slowly backed down the companionway. He returned with coffee and a plate with two scones.
“Blueberry,” Maxwell said, “my favorite.” He sat in the chair at the chart desk.
“Me too,” Trace said.
They began eating and sipping the coffee.
“Something keeping you awake?” Trace asked.
“Plenty,” Maxwell replied.
“Let’s talk,” Trace said.
“Are you sure?” Maxwell said.
“Sure,” Trace said, “why wouldn’t I?”
“You don’t think much of me, do you?” Maxwell said.
Trace widened his eyes and breathed deeply. “You are direct.”
“That’s the type of guy you respect, right?” Maxwell said.
“Yeah,” Trace said. “I do.” He pressed his lips. “You’re a passenger, that’s it. But that doesn’t mean I’m without opinion. Before we left port at Suva, I read an article about you. It portrayed you as a schemer and a con man. You distance yourself from that type of person. It’s like a spider’s web, you get tangled and trapped.”
“I don’t know what article you saw,” Maxwell said, “but I scheme and I con; I’ll not deny it.”
“Well then,” Trace said you’re an honest crook.”
Maxwell chuckled. “Some things have happened to me on this trip. I can’t explain it.”
“I’ve seen changes,” Trace grinned. “I’m even starting to like you.”
“And that’s without notice and appreciated,” Maxwell said. “You see, all my life, I always had the feeling people didn’t like me. It was easy for me to take advantage of them. Do you know what I mean?”
“Yeah,” Trace said, “I do.”
“But…” Maxwell said.
“That’s right, but,” Trace said. “It’s still not right.”
“I know that now,” Maxwell said, “and I knew it then. I got good at it and it gave me a rush.”
“Stollen fruit tastes the best,” Trace added.
“Those games we’ve been playing,” Maxwell said, “any other time I’d have cheated to win. I couldn’t. You guys aren’t chumps. But I won some fair and square.”
“Why did you all of a sudden go straight on us?” Trace asked.
“What you and the crew did back at Raro,” Maxwell said. “You didn’t have to do. That went a long way.”
“You guys were innocent,” Trace said. “You were being framed.”
“But I had it coming,” Maxwell said.
“I don’t know that,” Trace said. “You were innocent of that, maybe not the other things. I can’t judge those other things. All I knew is that you were innocent of that. And that’s how the crew felt, too.”
“You see, that’s hard for me to grasp,” Maxwell said.
“What exactly?” Trace asked.
“Why would you help me?” Maxwell said. “What does it mean to you? There’s no cut for you—nothing in it.”
“Why do we help an old lady across the street or carry groceries to the car for somebody?” Trace said. “Why do you hold the door open for a lady? Why do you help someone up who has fallen? Unfortunate events happen. And folks can’t get out of them without the help of friends, neighbors, relatives—and sometimes strangers.”
“Were you in the Boy Scouts or something?” Maxwell asked.
“No,” Trace said. “Those are things my dad taught me, and Coyote taught Sage, and their fathers taught them.”
“My ole man owned a used car lot,” Maxwell said. “He was slick.
“How long did he do that?” Trace said.
“Till the day he died,” Maxwell said. “We moved a lot; one side of the state to the other. Keeping ahead of lawyers, prosecutors, and dissatisfied customers. He sent me to college, ya know.”
“That’s commendable,” Trace said.
“Forged grades, loan applications, you know, the usual stuff,” Maxwell said. “By the time they had it all figured out, I had my degree.”
“What in?” Trace said.
“The world’s second oldest profession, the law,” Maxwell said. “My first client was my dad. Got him off. And he stiffed me for my fee.”
Trace chuckled.
“He said I owed him for paying my way through college,” Maxwell said. “I was at his bedside just before he passed. He made me promise. ‘Son, please promise me you’ll never go straight.’ He winked and smiled, and gave a friendly slap on the face. I left the hospital, and by the time I got back to my motel, they called and told me he passed. You’re lucky to still have your dad. He’s a good man, ya know. I’ve watched him.” Maxwell grinned. “And he’s been watching me. He’s got me pegged. Do you think he took my hair cream?”
“Not my dad,” Trace said.
“No,” Maxwell said. I wouldn’t think so.”
“We own a ranch,” Trace said, “a big ranch. It takes a lot of hands to run it. Dad hires guys who are sometimes desperate. Some are in trouble with the law. Some are just plain in trouble. When they work for him, well, they work. He respects a man who works, and that respect is paid back. Dad can size a man up by just watching him walk into the room.”
“Me too,” Maxwell said. “I can spot a sucker.”
“Were we suckers for getting you out of jail?” Trace said.
“No,” Maxwell said. “And that’s what I’ve been getting around to saying. I never saw such unselfishness and genuineness—never.”
“I’m just glad we got you out of the jam,” Trace said.
“Is this where you say, now go do good to repay the good that has been done to you,” Maxwell said with feigned piety.
“No,” Trace said, “I’ve never given that a thought. But, it is interesting that you are the one saying it, even though you are mocking it.”
“On that thoughtful note, I’m going back to my cabin,” Maxwell said, standing and taking a step toward the companionway.
“Sleep well,” Trace said.
Maxwell turned and stared at Trace. “Now, are you mocking me?” He paused. “No, no, you’re not. You really want me to sleep well.”
“For the rest of your life,” Trace said.
No comments:
Post a Comment