“That’s great. What’s the next step?”
“I’ll get Jack to test a unit out in a gulf. If none of the ferry passengers, yachties or fishermen see him, that’s a good sign. I need to check the unit remains waterproof for an extended time.”
“Can you calibrate it to work for us in our human forms?”
“That would be a good test, but I wouldn’t want the units to get in the wrong hands. Something like that would be invaluable to the criminal element.”
Hone considered the problem and agreed.“You probably should do the adjustments and test it in this way, but have you considered offering only rental units on the market? Get Dad to investigate those who wish to rent the units to vet them first, and have them sign an agreement to say they won’t use them for criminal purposes.”
“Hell, good point. I haven’t thought much beyond perfecting them. The last thing I want is to create problems, or even worse, some type of clandestine war.”
“I can help,”Hone offered.“I’ll talk to Dad and Jack. We’ll come up with a plan for when you want to go to market. You’ve devoted a lot of time and money into perfecting your unit, and you should profit from your investment.”
“Let me think about it,”Manu said.“I’ll need to discuss it with Ma.Let’s wander over to those hangars and in front of their main building where those people are working. I don’t want to get in their way, but we’ll venture close enough for them to see us if they’re not blind.”
“Then we head home?”
“Yup.”
Half an hour later, they touched down at the farm. Hone visualized his human form in his mind and his tired taniwha subsided without a whimper. His body quivered with fatigue yet satisfaction throbbed through him. He’d sleep well this evening.
“You look as bad as I feel,” Manu said. “You’d better crash here tonight.”
“Not gonna argue. Thank you for taking me with you. Even though I’m tired, there’s a sense of exhilaration as if I’ve had a sex marathon. Your invention…I just wanted to say I’m in awe of your talent.”
A whoosh of red rushed to his cousin’s face. So unusual, Hone wanted to make a joke. He resisted because this was a momentous occasion. Manu deserved praise. Those taniwha who scoffed at his cousin’s inventions, called him a nerd and alleged he wasn’t up to his position within the tribe would stand in line to get an invisibility unit.
“Do you have a costing available? How much will it cost to produce each unit?”
“Probably close to two thousand. A little more to make sure the unit is robust and will survive someone dropping it.”
Hone clapped his cousin on the shoulder, proud of his accomplishments. “I doubt any shifter will quibble at the expense. Which room should I take?”
Manu yawned. “Share my room. That’s probably easiest since it’s late. I’m so tired I’ll drop off the second my head hits the pillow.”
“Thanks. I’m not even gonna offer any smart-arse comments about sleeping with you,” Hone said, and they trudged the final steps home.
