Savages

80

After the bar crawl they take a walk on the boardwalk at Main Beach.

Laguna.

A gentle arc anchored by the Inn at Laguna on the north and the old Hotel Laguna on the south. Tall graceful palm trees, tropical flowers, moon sparkling on the small waves. The basketball courts, the volleyball courts, the playground.

The old lifeguard tower.

One of Ben’s favorite spots on earth and probably why he always eventually comes home.

So they walk, a little drunkenly, and talk about retirement from the dope business. What he and Chon are going to do, who they’re going to be. O is geeked by the energy idea, wonders if maybe there’s a place for her and the answer is of course. This business is different from the last business, no risks legal or otherwise, all aboveboard, transparent in the open air.

Launder the dope money, it comes out sunshiny clean as energy.

They’re happy about this.

Even Chon is happy about this now he’s thought a little and drank a lot. Might be nice to let the adrenaline level drop a little. Will take some getting used to, but it might be a good thing. Swap the hardware of guns for the hardware of turbines, blades, and panels. Shoot electricity around like streams of bullets.

Light it up.

Ben is happy.

Walking on this beach he loves with these people he loves.

The arc of the coast wraps around him like their arms.