The Wandering Island Factory Read Free Page B

backhoes modified with grinders instead of buckets chiseled away at the imperfections, kicking up clouds of smoke and compounding the noise.
    It was the other reason they were always located so far offshore. Noise pollution was very real. He hadn't seen a fish in these waters since they started.
    Each assembled slab was perhaps six or more acres, not that he was particularly good at guessing what an acre was. A hundred acres, the size of their first order, would be completed faster than he could imagine.
    It was impressive, but it also gave him a powerful thirst to be anywhere but in the bowels of the ship while all this history was in the making.

    Two weeks later, he was on the mainland again, waiting at the beachside outdoor café like before. Gina approached across the sand with her board. "Sorry, I got tired of waiting," she said, water still dripping down the front of her swimsuit.
    "I didn't get in line for the first boat early enough, had to catch a later one."
    "Well, at least they have you staying on the same island as me. It's still a long drive, but it's been worth it so far."
    He tried to smile, but slumped a little deeper in the chair. "Sorry, I probably should have told you. I thought I could handle all this, but they shifted me to nights. I'm like on no sleep right now." He tried to sit upright, but slouched almost immediately. "I thought I could tough-guy it out for you, but I can't."
    She put her damp hand on his, "It's alright. Caught some primo waves. I can get back to them while you get some shuteye."
    He slid her the spare room key. "I ordered a burger and some fries, but I don't think I can stay awake to eat them. Especially as slow as this guy is going." He pulled out some money and handed it to her. "You can have it, if you want it. Shouldn't go to waste." He headed for his room.

    When he opened his eyes, the shower was still running and a strange duffle bag was by the TV.
    A few minutes after the water stopped, Gina emerged with a towel around her head and some fresh clothes on. "You awake?"
    "Yeah," he said, closing his eyes and leaning back in bed.
    She sat on the corner of the bed, "You sure? Because, you did this once before, and about five minutes later you were dead to the world."
    "Yeah, I'm sure."
    "I was thinking there's this awesome club that isn't too far from here."

    "Jason?" she said again. "Jason!"
    He sat up, startled.
    She laughed, "Jason, you've already fallen asleep on me three times today. I think I'm going to just go home. It's already ten at night—"
    "Oh, I'm sorry." He rubbed his eyes. "I'm being a bad host. I must have been more worn out than I had thought. I thought I was a night owl, but it's just slam— I'm sorry, I'm not holding up my end of this, am I? Stay, we'll get an early start tomorrow."
    She smiled, but went to the bathroom instead of climbing in bed.
    She came back without the towel.
    He staggered to the dresser as she settled in at the chair. "The uh," he said, "the worst part of night shift is switching back to days." He shook a bottle of melatonin, "I'm going to take two of these right now and sleep soundly until morning. I'd love it if you were still here when I got up, but I understand completely if you're not." He swallowed two dry, then went to the bathroom where he wet his toothbrush. "Look, Gina, I really like you, but I totally understand your past. Well, as much as a guy can. I'm really not going to make the first move. We can go at whatever pace you feel comfortable with, or not go anywhere at all.
    I loved chatting with you over the last few years and, I think we could have something. Getting this job and getting this assignment was the only way to find any of that out." He put some paste on the toothbrush, "In about an hour, the worst I'll be able to do is snore on you."
    She relaxed while he brushed in the other room.

    He woke well rested and ready for the morning, now that he was back on days. Well rested or not, he still woke alone.
    He sat up