IV.A Última Hora (At the Last Minute)

Kike wakes up and goes outside to find the sky darkened by the first tail of clouds Marco is lashing out. The winds are beginning to pick up and the first gusts begin to crash against the shelter. The day is a complete opposite to yesterday’s clear and calm day. By late afternoon, the recurring monster of each North Atlantic summer would begin slugging across Puerto Rico once again. Kike checks the shelter to assure everything is in place for the storm. As he makes his way up to the roof, he contemplates Isa's situation who remains asleep inside recovering from yesterday’s ride to La Parguera.

Kike makes his way back inside and proceeds to contact his old colleague Mark in the states to get the final updates on the storm. Once the storm got over the shelter, internet service would cut out and Kike would be flying blind for the rest of the storm. Internet service had been mostly cut off to people in Puerto Rico as demand dropped with the exodus of its residents. Most of Puerto Rico’s citizens moved to the United States over the last forty years. This provoked the companies to charge exorbitant amounts to continue providing lackluster service at best. Typical. Thankfully, Mark made sure he could keep contact by providing Kike with access to satellite internet via his government access. They use these channels to communicate from time to time, especially when it comes to La Temporada.

“I’m sorry to say buddy, but it’s up to category 4. Clocking speeds of 150 miles per hour. It’s also reduced its traversal speed to a few knots so it’s definitely going to be a sitter,” Mark informs Kike. Fantastic. “This means this is your worst one of the season. Hopefully the last as well, but we’re still tracking strong cyclone formation off the Cape Verde Islands.” Very reassuring, Mark.

As Mark continues explaining, Kike looks down at the torn, uninhabited buildings of La Parguera, once the site for hotels and restaurants. He focuses on one building, in particular, a restaurant where he would eat with his dad when he accompanied him on boat trips between La Parguera and Guayama. He remembers overlooking the bay one night and how happy this community was. He thinks about how being out on the water used to be a recreational activity he and his dad shared. Now, going out on the water was about his survival. Now, that same restaurant has seawater at its doorstep. Now, La Parguera is about to become the site of another brutal smack of torrential rain and wind. Now, this, is reality.

“Hey, Kike!” Mark yells over the phone as he tries to regain Kike’s attention.
“Yeah, sorry, I’m here,” responds Kike. “I appreciate the info. I’ll be sure to call when we’re in the clear.”

“All right. Stay safe out there,” responds Mark. “I’ll never get why you wanted to go back there,” Mark says quietly as he hangs up. Clearly, to get his tan back Mark. Kike walks back inside.

Isa remains in bed, awake yet immobile. She keeps thinking of how this whole situation would work. So far, so good, but would following abuelo’s advice really pay off? Or would it have been better to ride this out alone back in Ponce? Either way, it’s time to get up.

“Buenos dias,” Isa says as she lifts her arms for a stretch.

“Morning. Hope you were able to get some rest because you’re going to need it,” Kike replies. “We’re in for a long few days ahead of us.”

“Is Marco looking bad?” Isa asks as she peers out the window. She could see the darkness of the clouds and the trees being pushed by the wind. “Has it gotten worse than what you told abuelo earlier this week?”

“Yeah. El condenao Marco ese is now stronger and moving at a slower speed than we were expecting yesterday,” Kike explains. “Listen, I’m going into town really quick to see if I can scrounge up a few more supplies for the both of us. Want to come with? Could use an extra hand.”

“Sure,” Isa replies.

As Kike grabs his bag, Isa searches for some fresh clothes in the backpack she had brought with her. After changing, Kike and Isa head into town. They first go to Alejandro’s shelter. After Kike explains the situation and Isa introduces herself, Alejandro is more than happy to oblige. He grabs some of his leftover root vegetables and wraps them up in a bag for Kike and Isa. The same he would’ve traded for a fish yesterday if Kike had found an extra Mahi.

“Thanks, I owe you one man,” says Kike.

“Hey, kid, make sure to remind him that his first fish after this shitstorm has my name on it,” Alejandro yells back as Kike and Isa leave to make their way to Mariana’s house.

After the same explanation and introduction at Mariana’s shelter, she goes inside to see what she could spare. She is willing to split a tarpon she had caught recently at one of her own shallow water spots. Having their newly acquired food supplies, Kike and Isa make their way back to Kike’s shelter.

“They both seem nice,” says Isa.

“Maybe hold that thought until you’ve played dominoes against Ale,” Kike remarks.
Isa laughs in response. “So, abuelo never really mentioned much about how you guys knew each other. How’d you meet? You guys seemed to talk a bit every now and then, didn’t you?” Isa asks.

“Hernando was an old colleague of mine. When I was still a climate engineer back in Florida, he was one of the researchers I worked closely with. I’d also make sure to get the most recent climate projections for Puerto Rico from him,” Kike explains. “It was a way to track what my parents might have to go through. Even after he retired and I returned to Puerto Rico, I made sure to keep in touch.”
“And, your parents?” Isa asks.

“Well, Mom passed back in 2046 and dad in 2050,” Kike clarifies.

“I’m sorry,” says Isa.

“Don’t worry Isa, my parents and Hernando are definitely in better places now,” says Kike. “Us though, we still got to deal with a hurricane, so let’s make sure to stick together. You with me?” Kike asks as he extends his fist.

“I’m with you,” Isa responds with a fist bump.

As Kike enters the shelter, Isa stands at the door looking at her new surroundings and starts to imagine how much more this landscape will change as a result of Marco. The hillside is mostly laid barren from the first hurricane that hit Puerto Rico during this Temporada. The waves are starting to crash inland and flood the old plaza that lay next to the restaurant Kike had gazed upon earlier. Isa takes one look up at the sky and sees the dark cyclonic clouds enveloping the coast. The gusts of wind are becoming stronger and striking the walls of the shelter. Marco has arrived. It’s time for step four.