Chapter 14

"You can stay in my hut until you get your own," Targent offered eagerly. Blue had no idea what he was going to do while in the Shadowlands but it seemed like everyone else did. He really just wanted to avoid whatever Tommy was mixed up in but now he had become the central figure in a much bigger story. Too many people were interested in him for the Shadowlands to be any kind of retreat for him. Still, he wanted to kick back with Vinny. He wondered how much of a commitment his new brother was going to make to spending time together when he had Sansaa to entertain and delight him, and what about Anna Marie? Even though he had just met her, he felt as though she was essential to his well-being on this surprising new world. Blue had very little desire to spend the night in Targent's hut but he didn't know what else to do. "So, are you ready to go?" Targent urged.

Blue was about to acquiesce when Vinny showed up at the river. "Tommy, what's with the whole "free in the breeze" look you got goin' there, this isn't a nudist colony!"

Blue looked over at Targent who just stood there, naked and smiling, not even acknowledging that he did anything at all. Vinny's eyes followed Blue's,"Oh, I get it...Targent. You can't do what Targent does. He doesn't seem to have much of an understanding of what we might consider to be social norms, next time, you'd better ask me. At least nobody saw you, some of the people here are really reserved when it comes to certain things, nudity would definitely fall into the category of certain things. Anyway, you should come with me now, I need your help setting up the tent."

With those words, Targent slunked his shoulders and hung his head. He walked slowly out of the water and stood motionless, dripping on his clothes. Blue, noticing his sadness attempted to comfort him. "I want to get some time with my brother, Targent, but I really like your soap stone, thanks a lot!" Targent looked up with a smile and put his hands on his hips, proud that he could help Tommy. Blue could see as he looked at Targent how nobody would really care whether he was naked or not. It was more like looking at a living creature than a man. It was quite different looking at Targent naked than looking at Tommy naked. "So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow, Tommy said as both he and Targent put their clothes back on. Targent turned on his heels and sort of skipped away saying goodbye to Tommy, apparently content with being the provider of good soap.

"Just be glad the first thing Targent did with you was go swimming, it could have been a lot worse. Think long and hard before you try eating anything that he may suggest and as many times as he may tell you otherwise, the people of the Shadowlands do not relieve themselves wherever they feel like it then build little villages from the result." Vinny warned Blue as the two men walked in the opposite direction of Tommy's new friend.