Ninety Degrees Out

Arimina handed her little brother her beloved rifle. It was his sixth birthday. She didn’t get the twins she wanted, but she had two more sisters now too.

“Here’s where I learned to shoot, and so will you, Yona.”

His big brown eyes were wide.

“I’ll be careful.No finger on the trigger until you know your target.No pointing at anybody, even if you know the gun is safe.And always check the chamber as soon as you pick up any firearm.”

She smiled as he recited the rules. It was so much a part of life to see people with rifles slung over their backs. The last two years brought colder weather, and they moved the tropical trees into a huge greenhouse.It stood where the hangar used to be. The airplanes were all up at Homestead now.A steady supply of avgas kept Kanti and Grandpa Dasan flying regular supply missions, and Harry was learning to fly Dad’s Cub.

Olivia set up a school service on their local Wi-Fi repeater, and she was helping. University was online as well. The resilience of Star-Link and the other cell phone providers proved to be the turning point in the return of education.Two more weeks until her dissertation defense for her Master’s in mechanical engineering.Two more and her second one in microbiology.

Arimina smiled.She was going to beat her mother to her double doctorate.But maybe some time off would be nice.Helping with Mom’s study of the emerging polar bear Kodiak cross cubs proliferating across Alaska sounded like more fun than writing another thesis.

“Show me how to clear the chamber,” she requested.

Yona slid the bolt back and turned the rifle upside down after he looked inside.He shook the gun and a bullet fell out.

“Can I put it back in now?” he asked.

“Of course.Did you load the magazine?”

“I did, the new spring you put in there makes it harder to close though.”

Yona was just as interested in how the guts of his weapon worked as she was.The new design for her dream rifle flashed through her mind’s eye as she watched him load the bullet into the chamber and flip the safety on.

“Let’s set up the targets.I like the colored water in the old plastic bottles.They’re leaking anyway, so might as well shoot them,” Yona said.

Arimina peeked over her shoulder to see who was on the other side of the corral.

Chay Stargazer nodded at her, holding her newest sister.The number of children born in the last two years boggled the mind. Log cabin extensions to most houses accommodated the growing population. Uncle Jett’s twins were three-years old now.

“Do you remember what I told you about how to aim?”

“Yup, it’s simple really.”

“Then show me.” Arimina didn’t doubt he would. Yona was a natural, she was sure of it.His ability to throw rocks accurately was legendary already.

Yona turned to look around. He nodded his head and said, “No one between me and the targets.”

He settled the rifle against his left shoulder.

“Range is hot!” Arimina shouted.

Five bottles of water went flying, one after another.

Applause sounded from Alicia and from the barn loft.

Was she really only twelve?It seemed like she was older to Arimina.

“Hey, Ari!”

She turned to look into the barn.

Angel stepped out. Trim in her uniform, she smiled. Her worst enemy was her best friend now.

“Congrats.I hear Hakan has you teaching all the littles.”

“Sort of. Someone has to.”Arimina felt her face flushing.It wasn’t all that hard to do.

“Well, here’s Janice’s gift. A little early for your masters thing, but she thought you might want to use it for bear control when you’re out with Alicia this winter.”

The Herrera AK-50 automatic was almost as long as she was tall.

“No way!” Arimina could barely lift it to her shoulder. “I’ll have to start lifting weights to get strong enough to use it.”

“Then that’s what you’ll do.It’s only for emergencies anyway.” Angel said.

“Best surprise ever.I’ll make sure to call Captain and thank her.”Randy was going to drool.

Life was good. The world was recovering, total loss of population over 4 billion after flooding stopped and began to recede with new polar caps forming quickly when Yellowstone finally spewed ash in a continuous two month eruption along the northern edge of the caldera.

They would survive and thrive. Now to tease Angel about Harry.He wasn’t even interested in her. Horses and airplanes were all he cared about, but she could blame her friend for her crush. If she was older then maybe she’d go for him too.