The Wandering Island Factory Read online

  Chapter 12

  He had wanted the super prestigious position of island construction. That was the job he had applied for. But he didn't turn down the offer that came instead.

  The behemoth had been modified in his absence, and it now cranked out a continuous stream of small craft and tidal generators, in addition to the carrier-sized slabs. The corners and edges of each needed to be ground and cleaned, and the square holes intended for the pistons had to be bored as well. In addition to dozens of other mounting holes.

  Jackhammers were heavy and loud, but lucrative, and he was well used to working with them. As well as changing grinder heads on the power equipment that was everywhere around the docks. Ten hours a day, five days a week, rain or shine they worked. It was boring and dull, but it paid better than any job he had had thus far, and he had, sooner than any had thought, saved up enough for a car.

  In this case, a four-year-old Yaris.

  He pulled up in the parkinglot, popped the trunk, then got out his lunchbox and waved as his new car pulled away.

  Gina's mom needed it to run some errands today.

  It felt odd to have bought a new car, make all the payments on it, insure it, pay taxes on it, yet not be the one to drive it all the time. It felt very odd, and more than a little wrong. But it was exactly how Gina had felt all these years.

  It wasn't like it was going to do anything but sit in the parkinglot for ten hours today. Someone might as well get some use out of it. He adjusted his lunchbox, put on his badge, then walked through the security gate.

  The cutting blades used carbide teeth and were a first-thing-in-the-morning job that he dreaded, but did most of the time. This morning was no exception. The blades were heavy and needed to be precisely placed or they would wear unevenly. Unfortunately, he had gained a reputation for being fast and accurate, something the maintenance logs bore out. It wasn't uncommon for blades he installed to last a week longer than those installed by others.

  He heaved one into location and snugged it before shimmying it into alignment and locking it down. Rotating the disk to confirm it was spinning true was about as hard as pushing a golf cart uphill, but vital to a proper installation. Verified, he signed the log and took his lock off the disconnect and proceeded to the next one.

  By lunch, his arms ached, but he was done with all the heavy lifting and the docks were buzzing with constant grinder sounds.

  He barely had the strength to open his Coke and unwrap his two ham and mustard sandwiches.

  "So, Jason, uh," David said, "where's this new Yaris you've been raving about?" sitting down next to him.

  "Gina's mom's got it. Running errands I suppose." He sipped the soda then crunched a fistful of chips.

  "So, let me get this right, you bought it and—"

  He swallowed hard, "Yeah, yeah, I know. But I've been borrowing their car for the last few months. You know, what can I do? Can't say no."

  David started laughing and making whipping sounds, "And she don't even have a ring on her finger yet. You got no chance, my man!"