Page 24 of Dark Destiny: The Turning Of The Loom

"If you get the same crew from China that built the rest of the village and use the prefab walls that we used in Safe Harbor, we can do this in a month. If you want to build something nicer, it will take three months. I can have the plans ready by tomorrow, but we need to settle on the location, and you need to check the grader's availability."

Building without permits and inspections was fast and efficient, so even a structure built from scratch could be completed quickly.

Kian looked at Robert, who had supervised the build when Kalugal put up his own section of the village.

"As soon as I have the material specs, I can shop for them and give you a more accurate estimate." Robert turned to Gavin. "Spec everything standard and nothing custom-made. That will be the easiest."

Gavin chuckled. "You don't have to remind me. That's how everything Kian develops is built. Only Kalugal's house had all the fancy items we had to wait months to get. The front door alone took forever." He cast Kalugal an accusing look.

"I love that red door. I smile every time I return home."

Gavin let out a breath. "Then it was worth the wait." He turned to Kian. "What about the Chinese contractor? Did you check with him?"

"He's booked for the next two years, but since this isn't a big project, he can send me a small crew."

Kian was paying a premium for the service, but there were advantages to having a crew from China that no local crew could offer. They stayed on site until the job was done, didn't venture into the village proper, and, other than the supervisor, none of them spoke English. When they were done, thralling their memories of the project was easy.

Ross cleared his throat. "Can I show you the spots now?"

Kalugal nodded. "Let's do this."

The first spot was a narrow, flat shelf of land a few hundred yards past the last house, fifty feet down the slope. It was marked with Ross's little red flag.

"Can we enlarge the building pad?" Kalugal asked.

Ross shook his head. "The slope is too steep, but the house you planned will fit. It's long and narrow."

As Kalugal paced the area, Kian stood at the edge and looked back the way they'd come. They were downhill from the village, so only treetops were visible from here.

"It's too narrow," Kalugal said. "Once we put the house up, there will be no room left for even a small yard."

"The view is good," Ross said. "What is she going to do with a garden?"

"She told me she used to take walks on the harem grounds."

Ross shook his head. "None of the proposed spots is big enough for a garden like that. She can have a patio with a rocking chair overlooking the mountains."

Kalugal nodded, but he didn't look happy, and Kian had a feeling it had nothing to do with a garden.

The whole situation was unsettling to him, and he shared his cousin's discomfort. They were letting a poisonous snake into their community.

Gavin was looking up the slope where Ross had left another of his little flags to mark the spot. "I think that one will work better. There's a bend in the hill higher up. The ground levels out inside it."

The second spot was tucked into the fold of the hillside, where the slope rose behind it on two sides, and the ground ran flat between. Robert pulled out his phone and was taking measurements with an app while Kalugal dropped small stones where he wanted the corners of the residence to go. Gavin stood in the middle and checked the light.

"Here," Kalugal said. "The hill covers the back and the left. The fence only needs to work on two sides. One approach, one gate, and the guard house sits there." He pointed.

"Drainage is good," Ross said. "Bedrock's shallow on the hillside, so the footings will be easy."

Gavin nodded. "I can work with this."

"Robert?" Kian asked.

"We'll need to build a path first for deliveries, and that alone will take a couple of weeks." He turned to Ross. "Did you check the soil? Can we grade for a proper road?"

Ross nodded. "As long as it's not more than ten feet wide, we are good."

Kalugal looked at the hillside. "The yard is still going to be too small, but I guess it's as good as it's going to get. What I like about this location is that it's easy to guard. I'll get my mother her own golf cart so she'll have an easier time visiting the village proper."