New Homeport Island Part 14

Mike thought, "No clay, no water, no boar...we'd have died here." Mike realized the sail being fixed and the coconuts being gathered was about all they'd get here with the exception of more charcoal.

The swirl of the storm seemed to be closing in on the island. Atrisia looked at the cloud wall rus.h.i.+ng by and said, "Ahh...captain?" Artimus replied, "I'm standing right behind you, I see it." Milson saw the storms approach and realized like everyone else it was going to hit the island in all of five minutes.

The captain asked, "What kind of shelter do we have?" Mike replied as the others looked around, "There's a rock with Wildly behind it." Atrisia guessed out loud, "Behind a tree?" Eric made a fist and held it up in the air and headed back to the boat as he did a torrential down pour hit directly over them everyone ran back to Wildly's rock except for Eric. Eric got to the boat and climbed in and prepared to start bailing. Eric was surprised that while in the storm at sea water seemed to pour in but in that down pour nearly none got in the cabin. He decided it must have been much worse than he realized. Artimus climbed in just seconds later he had gotten to the rock and cabin boy was hysterical. He cried out, "Chief Johann was right! We make Jesus cry!" It was then that Artimus decided to head for the boat, for some reason that hysterical statement conjured the image of a flood in Dave's mind.

The down pour lasted all day and night; fresh water was now abundantly available. The Captain and Eric Milson managed to stay relatively dry and warm.

The next morning it was still raining but it had lightened up somewhat. Atrisia flew into the cabin completely nude holding pieces of the tattered sail; once she got in she started making a two piece bikini out of it right away. The captain said, "It's dryer all the way forward." Eric smiled at her and said, "Warmer too." Atrisia glared at Eric as she climbed over the captain to get to the forward end of the cabin. As Atrisia finished her knots to make the sail tatters wearable she said to the captain, "I think you need to go get your b.i.t.c.h sir, he's terrified."

Artimus said, "Ya, well I love him like a son." and Artimus dashed out to go get his crew. In that moment Artimus became the man he had ceased to be because of the corrupt conspiracies of extortion, and political rivalries he thought would get him promoted. He ran through blinding rain toward that rock without doubt or hesitation and renewed manhood resulted in him finding his way with haste.

After he reached the rock he slid on the mud around it like an expert ice skater and despite his age of forty two he swept up his beloved cabin boy in a fireman's carry and called out to the other crew members in a thunderous voice, "Follow me!"

They ran together through the rain and trees being blown down, cras.h.i.+ng with a splash. Jumping over obstacles, dodging debris of palms, brush, and even occasional chunks of mud in the gale force wind gusts the rushed gallantly toward their s.h.i.+p; the Woodenpeg.

Once aboard Smity pulled the foresail and as a tarp covered the s.h.i.+p steering pit and access to the cabin. The s.h.i.+p having been smoked and sealed with glue derived from tree sap made it more st.u.r.dy and stout than they would have hoped for.

Atrisia was dressed like jungle Jane and said, give me a few minutes and I'll get the coconuts. The Captain said, "No I'll do it." Dave warmed himself and his cabin boy with warm embrace and calming the s.h.i.+vers was a circulation stimulating ma.s.sage.

Then once again he braved the storm without benefit of rain gear or any help. In the Woodenpeg the garments made for the journey had only been sampled, now they were being pa.s.sed out and the stocking caps were dry, other articles had been burned in the fire box of the s.h.i.+ps still and what was left had been pa.s.sed around. Atrisia's jungle Jane appearance had only a stocking cap and s.h.i.+rt vest added. There was on s.h.i.+rt that Eric took and a sash Smity wore as a scarf.

Dave started throwing coconuts into the steering pit, and the came all manner of sticks and twigs as well as leaves. As Dave came back into the cabin he asked, "Mike how'd they water proof the sails?" Mike replied, "I didn't think it meant much but rubbing certain leaves on them left a waxy residue behind." Dave said, "That may even be giving more flexibility to the cloth."

They stayed in the cabin waiting for the rain to subside in near total darkness crammed together, which helped them stay warm, waiting. Normally at least three had to be topside or they just wouldn't fit. The s.h.i.+p rocked again with fury like the small boat it was. And they waited for days.

Once the rain subsided the winds did not recede. The captain went out to check on the weather and empty the chamber pot they had stowed in the steerage pit. Lifting the tarp relieved them of the smell they had slowly become accustom to. A breathe of fresh air flooded the cabin. And there individual odors became p.r.o.nounced. Atrisia emerge from the cabin and Dave said, "Don't lose you cap the winds are high, we've been blown away from the island." Atrisia took a position near the keel and braced herself with her leg. As Eric emerged from the cabin the first thing he saw was Atrisia's spread legs and the hairy mound between. He uttered, "Oh G.o.d, now I know what b.u.mping ugly's means" Atrisia just looked away over her right shoulder and pointed when Eric looked she kicked him in the face with her bare foot.

Artimus said to them, "I think that island was a part of a large atoll, or island chain; we need to put the sail up as soon as the winds recede to what we think it can handle."

After the winds subsided the next day, Smity brought out what appeared to be a roll of cloth but once in the light of day it appeared to be just some extra material. He said, "Captain I don't think they finished the extra sail." Mike said, "That's a fis.h.i.+ng net." Smity in his frustration threw it at mike and yelled "Then use it!" Mike looked at him with a homicidal look on his face and then smirked and said, "I'll tell you what..." The jumped up and lunged at him and knocked him down and beat him, and kept beating him.

Atrisia jumped back pulling her thin legs to her; due to being emaciated she had a definite hour gla.s.s appearance. They look on her face was of terror. She had been maintaining such a butch demeanor they had forgotten she was a woman.

Artimus s.n.a.t.c.hed the net and said, "I'll do it." Smity struggled in the small steerage pit and was continuously struck in the face by mike's fist. As Atrisia and the Captain unfolded and unrolled the net, Smity broke away; and crawled up to the bow and with his nose bleeding and his lip split. Mike stood there in the steerage pit, with a small amount of blood coming from the corner of his mouth. Starring at Smity like a hungry wolf.

Dave deployed the fis.h.i.+ng net and told Smity to tend the sail as they hoisted it. Mike struck below and searched the creva.s.ses of the deck and bilge for any sc.r.a.p of food.

The Captain said, "As we tow the net we should catch something!" More the once the net tugged so hard it pulled the boat off course. Eric said, "That has to have torn then net. That's the third time." Dave said, "Haul it in as though you expect fish in it." and he gestured to Mike and Smity. They hauled in the net and had caught about twenty pounds of fish. It was sus.h.i.+ time.

Dave said, "Don't eat anything that looks like a clown fish...too many colors could mean it's poisonous."

Dave said to his cabin boy, "Hey, see if you can find a way to cook this" Wildly took about ten pounds of fish below. He returned about ten minutes later and handed some to Dave with a smile. Dave said, "You couldn't scale it?" Wildly replied, "Pull the fish from the skin honey." Dave laughed and said, "Ya, I'll do that then." the look in Robert Wildly's eyes when he rea.s.sured his captain gave Dave a twinge of the heart as well as an erection.

Dave looked around the ocean with that just eaten satisfaction and noticed there were definite patterns to the water, there was apparently a shallow water ridge he was betting was the chain of the islands. He announced, "Okay see where the water is choppy and where it is smooth? I want us to follow the smooth water to the next island in the chain." George asked, "Isn't that just the wind?" Dave replied, "It's a course...follow it." Atrisia snapped, "Aye sir." and everyone repeated it after her.

As the days pa.s.sed the fis.h.i.+ng remained successful enough and they began rationing. They used the branches and twigs for fuel to distill the water and the Captain had taken some aside for a s.e.xtant. They had been so long without electricity that living in the dark and being water logged was something they became accustomed to. Sun bathing became their pa.s.s time. It was a way of briefly experiencing dryness.

In the islands history it was about at that time Hudlow was forming his hooligans to put down what had become a social tyranny of elitism on the militant side of the island. Deckly and Brosuer had a rivalry based on their social groups that at the time seemed to be based on a lot of things, but in retrospect it boiled down to chiefs and officers, referred to as khaki because of the color of their uniform, versus the E-6 and below referred to as blue s.h.i.+rt's for the same reason with some chiefs landing in the blue s.h.i.+rt category.

The majority of Hudlow's followers wandered a certain section of the beach and spent their time in a delirium of fantasy, dragons and sorcerers, kings and presidents, fairies and mermaids, unicorns and rainbow bridges, were common themes.

They discovered magical things like plants that grow and rations left out for them like dogs. They knew with the 'winningest' football coach gone the game had changed.

Hudlow started making up new games like trivia and hide and seek; and eventually whack a mole. One day Hudlow walked up with his whack a mole scepter in hand and announced, "Okay, I'm the king now" Everyone looked at him dismayed and Gillis ran up to calm him before violence broke out again and Clarkson yelled, "Shut the f.u.c.k up you idiot!" As Gillis approach Hudlow signaled for him to stop be didn't and Hudlow said as he approached, "By order of the king..." and Gillis rushed at him so Hudlow cudgeled him in the head and Gillis went down, Hudlow continued his announcement, "...I'm the king now."

They broke into fights trying to subdue Hudlow and his 'Merry men' as he called them. They pleaded with him to see how crazy he had become, "Hudlow you're out of your mind, and we're the navy!" Clarkson yelled. Hudlow replied, "Since when? Did you do something 'navy' that stopped the s.h.i.+p from sinking?" Clarkson replied in anguish, "None of that could have been foreseen!" Hudlow retorted, "Ya, you and the rest of the navy right. Okay, I'm the king now." Hauldbalm said, "Hudlow!

What are you planning on doing with McCree?" Hudlow said, "She has to work like everyone else." Hauldbalm asked, "At what?" Hudlow replied, "More stills, another fis.h.i.+ng boat with more nets and eventually a boat to get us outta here in case the one we've heard about fails." Hauldbalm was surprised and apologetically asked, "Nothing about giving b.l.o.w. .j.o.bs?"

Hudlow replied, "In a pig's eye." Then Gillis was carried off and Ebony asked, "Then why a king?" and Hudlow responded, "So you do what I say." to which chief Dotz interjected, "Why you?" and Hudlow smiled and said, "Because I'm the king...no more questions. Everyone rest." They were stunned, no one knew what the h.e.l.l he was thinking, but then the second waves of attackers came and Hudlow and his hooligans took them out as well. Monica and Francesco walked up afterward and Hudlow took a fighting stance and the said, "Ahh...king Hudlow, where do you want us? We think this probably will work better."

Hudlow replied while pointing to his hooligans, "Go over there, but stay out of the fight until I know I can trust you." They nodded and said okay and sat next to Chris Marcy, who greeted them with a, "Hey guys!" This exchange of violence and individuals and groups joining Hudlow's monarchy went on for days.

The Woodenpeg had been following patches of calm water all the while. The sun had been setting fast but on the fourth day after the storm the captain was on the deck on watched it set on the starboard side. They had been headed south. The plan when they left new homeport island was not their own; but, it was to head northeast.

Artimus stroked the till to port until his heading was now headed north, he trimmed in the triangular sheet of the sail until it was no longer filling from behind but like an airplanes wing it was using the Bernoulli principle.

As Atrisia came up from below Dave said, "Hold this course." and Atrisia took the till. The watch rotations had gone fairly smoothly which was a bit ironic since the destroyers watch rotation made it seem as though everyone had retired, and were still doing the job just for fun.

The storm clouds had dissipated, and a streak of white stratus cloud was drawn across the sky. If that cloud had eye's it would have since a wary crew upon a stout s.h.i.+p, headed into the unknown. The s.h.i.+p was lost within an island chain and headed to another spit of land uninhabited by man, that would be its next stop on the journey we call life.

Chapter Fifteen.

Recompense Three years later, on New Homeport Island the tower construction had been completed, but due to a storm the upper section had collapsed and we were repairing it. The hill top cistern had also been completed with the aid of the balloon crane.

The farm was flush with sorghum and the leeches were cultivated. Bread production had increased to full sized loaves but the quality suffered so they were reduced back to the size of two hands side by side.

King Hudlow continued to rule over the former militants on what we now referred to as the lower island. We on the upper island had established reliable systems of survival and entertainment. We were rebuilding our tower and its collapse was a slow disintegration we actually sat back laughing and cheering wondering how much would come down and what changes to make to the design.

We were planning a stone building to use as a 'temple' which would be a hospital, a school, and a vacation resort. In order to learn this type of stone building we were creating stone homes. In cutting and chipping away stone more lime stone was revealed and we need not stop until unable to make cement.

We had made a cobblestone road from the tower to our town, which was once just our camp. The perspective from our hot air balloon had shown us all the potential for the island and we still relied upon the tower to chart the weather. In truth it seems we became complacent, we just accepted our new home.

We had our own society and culture, something about becoming accustomed to a shadow puppet theater rather than television had really changed the way we thought about a lot of things. With the ocarina and drums music had been written that absolutely replaced electric guitars and scratching vinyl sounds.

We were inspired by the beautiful amongst us and felt protected by the intelligent. In Hudlow's kingdom of the lower island they seemed to feel both protected and inspired by their king, perhaps even loved.

Every full moon and new moon which we tracked on our sundials almanac circle was cause for a celebration. We launched our paper lanterns in the hopes it would reach someone. They were marked with our story and a plea for rescue.

King Hudlow was brought to tears because he understood attempting to get help by a hot air balloon that we had made on the island was little more than a ridiculous way to die.

The ranching of the boar had become stable and leather sc.r.a.ps were sewn together with leather bindings. We had reserved a section of trees and plants to ensure we didn't run out of wood; even if we ran low on everything but fresh water.

Our island way of life included the segmented sleep that our one time corpsman, now the king's royal aid, had preached for. She also advocated the drinking of urine which since, fresh water was being made, we took to be just a bizarre fetish of hers.

We expected her to be a hygienist of all sorts, personal hygiene, food hygiene, guarding against trench foot with a particular focus on our feet, instead she seemed to trend in the other direction, 'dirt don't hurt.' She believed she had magical powers and referred to herself as the king's sorceress. Simply put the king 'discouraged' this saying, 'they'll just think you're crazy you stupid b.i.t.c.h' resulting in her developing mysterious ways.

What had been the enlisted club was now a sports arena, no gatherings of that size were allowed without the king or his royal guard present. To refer to them as his 'merry men' was, by the edict of the king, a request to be regaled with stories of 'the one time.'

At sea the sail rippled in the breeze and snapped as though it were a flag in gale force winds. 'Flag Dave' was just upon the horizon. Dave wore his re-commissioning pennant of a dungaree sleeve around his neck; they had gone from island to island throughout the nearby island chain. He felt he had earned the t.i.tle 'Adventurous soul' but to the best of anyone's knowledge there was no such t.i.tle.

Atrisia's feminine masculinity had been amplified by their experiences and watching Smity turn into a whining b.i.t.c.h. Cabin boy was 'of age' now and was no longer afraid to ask for what he wanted, nor afraid to go out and get it. Eric became lord of the tree houses, and George admitted he was just in it for the p.u.s.s.y, which he rarely got. Mike found G.o.d on one of those islands, he found that 'a rewarding life is rewardingly led'...which only made sense to him and possibly an old world pirate chaplain.

They dashed brazenly across the sea as if to challenge angels to grow up and be men, in their stolen boat with their stolen fate. Atrisia sprung forward leaning in and with all the excitement of a sixteen year old boy seeing bare female b.r.e.a.s.t.s for the first time, pointed and yelled, "Is that a tower!!!???"

Dave swung around and heard a karate movie sound effect as he turned, which inspired the kung fu look on his face. Once the island was fully visible over the rolling waves they noticed the hot air balloon which was still somewhat inflated. With the net crossed the top; we found it becomes tangled if not handled right so we used the regular crane to tie supporting lines to it.

Dave lung forward and yelled out with a ferocity, "Land Ho!!" something he had never voiced and after years of navigating an island chain devoid of any human presence they had given up on the practice entirely.

Cabin boy asked excitedly, "I wonder if they have public nudity?" Artimus smiled back at him ecstatic with glee and said, "That one island sure did." Atrisia said, "I just can't wait to see a roll of toilet paper...and tampons." Eric interjected, "Me too."

As they headed in, they reminisced about all the islands they had seen and how very different from each other each was though they didn't realize it at the time. It seemed as though each had its own spirit which solicited its own mood. It was as if some were Mariachi band and others were punk rock, at least one was a La Bamba rendition.

Artimus laughed and asked, "You remember that one island with the trees?" and they all laughed. Atira asked George, "Who did you think those trees were again?" George didn't even wince but Smity interjected, "Our white ancestors." Eric asked, "How 'bout the one with the berries." Mike groaned, "We were sick for a week!" George said, "The boar were good." Wildly smiled widely and grabbed Dave in a loving embrace and said, "Ya, your my hero." Smity interjected, "Ya, once again thank you for saving my life." Dave kissed Wildly and looked over at Smity and replied, "Just don't let it happen again."

They started sing "Born to be an American", but couldn't remember the lyrics. It became a murmur of hums with some odd words thrown it. So Dave started singing a song he could remember... "Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame bun." and they broke out into a chorus until Dave rang in with the, "At McDonald's it's big mac time for you!"

As the boat closed in it was noticed. King Hudlow of the lower island, the senate and governor of the island republic were waiting on the sh.o.r.e. King Hudlow entourage were carrying stick and the King carried his 'heavy scepter' The hunters from the republic were ready in the background with slings and arrows as well as spears.

Once they were close enough we heard their chorus, the senate looked at the monarchy and the monarchy return the look of confusion. As governor I signaled our hunters to fall back and King Hudlow had his entourage reduce the size of their gathering as well as drop their sticks. He however started smacking his scepter in his palm.

The Woodenpeg ran hard a ground into the sand, and her crew deliriously happy leapt from her decks. The Captain began to speak with, "We are so glad to see you we were stranded..."

Atrisia interjected, "Where's the bathroom?" and Artimus continued, "...on an island we built this boat and anything you might have...a phone, maybe another boat? We need to get back." Ludlow raised one eye brow and looked at the way he was dressed then at his tan and asked in a strange slur of dialect, "Get back where?" Atriums replied, "Oh, umm America"

Athena was instantly angered but stopped herself from saying anything and nudged me. Hudlow's cudgel started twirling under his hand with a rotational swing. I mimicked Hudlow's accent and asked, "Is this all your crew?" George responded, "Ya, it's a small boat." Hudlow again with the same accent replied, "No one left on an island then?" Artimus said with exhaustion, "We've been on many islands in this area and there is no one."

Hudlow turned to me and said free of an accent, "I want the captain." I replied, "He's yours, after an interview we may give you all of them." Hudlow turned and said, "My merry men, take the captain." Atrisia erupted, "Bathroom! Do you speak English? Bathroom!"

I looked at her and calmly said, "Wells we have a bathroom for you alright." She snickered, "Well...good, I mean oh s.h.i.+t!"

Smity collapse into tears muttering to himself, "It's the same island, it's the same island." Wildly said, "And we just said there is no one back on any island." I looked at Wildly and he chocked a little, then he blurted out, "As f.u.c.ked up as this going to sound, the captain and I are romantically involved; Permission to go with him?" I replied, "Check with the kings guard over there." and pointed at some of the lingering merry men. Scott Strutsman was there and he replied, "A lot of weird s.h.i.+t Lyon, but ya, we'll take him. Glad you got your boat back."

I responded, "Thanks dude."

We took the thieves Johann, Wells, Smity, Milson, and Elper into custody and brought them to the courtyard.

Johann took one look around and started trembling; I stood with the senate behind me. Johann demanded, "I'm a G.o.d d.a.m.n senior chief Lyon!" I replied, "And, I am the governor and behind me stands the senate." He was holding back the tears as he asked, "Then what's this s.h.i.+t about a king?" I replied, "We were separate when you stole the boat and left two years ago.

Hudlow had to fix things down there, we're just deferent people.

But, over here it's a republic." Atrisia asked in disbelief, "What the f.u.c.k does that mean?" Athena interjected, "It means you're going to stand trial for theft of our only means of rescue..."

Mich.e.l.le interjected, "That's right you f.u.c.king b.i.t.c.h." Smity smirked and he said, "I guess things haven't changed." and looked around at his remaining crew smugly. The Jane Spayner stepped forward and said, "Things have changed a lot, and what you believed was happing over there was bulls.h.i.+t." Smity was taken back; there were commissioned officers on the 'other side of the island' now. Milson stood as though he were at attention.

I looked over at Jane and said, "Jane, because of your previous position will you please utter the word, 'Report'?" She looked away from me and at Eric Milson and said, "I order you to report."

As there story unfolded, I looked back to Tim and said, "Tim, sounds like there may be new seed on the boat." Tim jumped and ran to the boat saying, "I'm on it" as he went.

Tommi and Joseph were listening and Tommi was on josephs lap as Milson gave a sequential explanation as to what happened. Smity got a smug 'I got you' smile on his face and asked, "Should they be sitting like that?" I replied sharply, "They don't owe you any presentation, they'll sit as they like and you will avoid offending your hosts." Smity's smile fled from his face, that behavior was something he had since childhood but never questioned; now he realized he thought he had gained the upper hand on a breach of etiquette, but he had no ent.i.tlements this was not his culture or his land.

Milson and Spayner sat with the senate explaining all the islands. Tim returned and said gleefully, "Hey Rob, we got all kind of seeds no some I don't even recognize, they were just eating and s.h.i.+tting all over in there!" Time continued with a more concerned tone, "But, we gotta' clean up that boat man, I mean they were s.h.i.+tting all over the place in there. And maybe another sail or two" he paused and continued again in good cheer, "but, the thing worked!" Kim walked up and said, "I'll clean the boat." Tim responded, "Ya, but you got to find the seeds man."

Hudlow spoke with his royal council he said, "There punishment should either be death or something kingly, like some riddle they have to figure out and preform." Tinnel asked, "Like the golden fleece?" Hudlow replied with a blank look, "Ya, why not."

Jane was taking the depositions of the accused, and they seemed reluctant about their stories. A nearby island chain, all uninhabited she found hard to believe. She had still believed in the captain in station and in principle until he had left. But personally and in his social relations she found him to be a 'b.i.t.c.h'. When he claimed rescue could only be thrown off by some sort of military engagement she had believed him, and once again she suspected that might be the case. Could he have returned to find an apocalyptic h.e.l.lscape only to return and conceal it? Hiding himself and his crew from a war or a failed war?

'So how did you survive?' was a reoccurring question for her. Knowing their answers hadn't satisfied her, their answers changed. It was the way the Woodenpeg held together, it was the islands they found, it was Captain Artimus, it was G.o.d.

Eric finally answered in a narrative. Eric said, "It was the third island we had found. We saw movement in the brush and we thought we had found people. Wildly rushed in and so many bushes moved we were startled. It was like the plants were alive or something...well, of course they were alive I mean like man eaters. All down the island the plants curled and swayed like a wave; it wasn't the wind. We stepped off the boat, your Woodenpeg...sorry, and we just heard so much movement someone had to be there. But it was just the plants. Atrisia followed Wildly in and as soon as she stepped through the brush dust flew up from everywhere and the plants swayed again.

Atrisia was wrapped in thorns and just yelled out 'aww f.u.c.k'...so, I went over there. She only had on a bikini she made out of the sail that tore, not your guy's fault...but it tore, and she's wrapped in these th.o.r.n.y branches. So I was like, 'Hey, you stupid b.i.t.c.h...why'd you jump into the bushes?' you know? And she was like, 'I fell' and I was like, 'You're a dizzy b.i.t.c.h'...so you know, I got her out of the thorns and we were like both you know, 'Where's cabin boy' because that's what we call him.

And the Captain was like, 'Nothin' better be messin' with my b.i.t.c.h!' cause you know their totally together now, but anyways he runs in there and there's a big as boar in their like ready to gnaw you know?"

Jane replied, "Okay, so...let's just hit the points, like just the facts...s.h.i.+t, you've got me doing it. Avoid the word 'Like' alright?"

Eric continued, "Okay. So the Captain froze for a second, we thought. Turned out he was keeping that big a.s.s thing from attacking because it like, sorry, because it didn't know what to think. But the senior chief Johann rushes in there and is ... throwing rocks at and that just brought more of them out. d.a.m.n thing didn't even flinch. So the Captain just says Johann, 'you stupid f.u.c.king thing' and Johann just walks backward and nearly knocked the captain down. Wildly's like been tackled by this monster boar and every once in a while it runs in circles while on top of him and it's just kickin' his a.s.s, right? So, Dave forgets about all these other b.i.t.c.hes and he's just totally after his b.i.t.c.h...you know? Not like Wildly's his b.i.t.c.h, but like the boars gonna' be his b.i.t.c.h...but Wildly is totally his b.i.t.c.h, but anyways. So, the captain totally bounces one of these rocks off the boars head and it just stands there, the rock on the other hand the captain catches and does that s.h.i.+t again, and again. The f.u.c.king boar is just sittin' there and it's like those other boar are just stunned you know? It's like d.a.m.n dad's hard headed or some s.h.i.+t you know?"

Jane started feeling a little dizzy about the story and couldn't believe the chuckles coming out of Eric as he told it, he was doing such a good job repressing his laughter but the story while apparently true definitely had some humor. Her mouth hung open and her head c.o.c.ked to the side as she nodded in astonishment and Eric tried not to laugh at her reaction.

Eric broke with a moment of laughter and instantly regain his composure have remember these people might kill him for having stolen the boat. And under that pressure his eyes began to water and he choked a little as he continued the story with a cry piercing through his anxious excitement.

Eric continued his narrative, "So anyways, the captains b.i.t.c.h is getting' his a.s.s rolled. The boar is like big daddy...I'm totally like 'Oh f.u.c.k' Smity is laughing his a.s.s off, the captains still playing handball on this boars head and, and, and...then the real s.h.i.+t starts..." Eric started to faint and blacked out.

Mike added, "It smelled like a Turkish bath house and the soil was real loose, later I found out that was just, all s.h.i.+t. So, like he was saying Wildly get spun around and the captain not so much trying to knock the boar out as p.i.s.s him off to get him to chase him. So Smity sees this and runs in there..." Smity interjected, "ya, I was just going to grab the bull by the horns..."

Mike continued, "...but there's a h.e.l.l of a difference between horns and tusks. So, that f.u.c.kin' monster boar rears up and head b.u.t.ts Smity, knockin' his a.s.s to the ground and he's just seein' stars and he's just cryin'" Atrisia added, "f.u.c.k ya" Mike continued so the boar starts spinning wildly around again. First the captain asked, 'who sent dumb a.s.s in there?' then starts yelling hootey noises at this boar. And the other boar, like Eric tells it, 'ain't havin' it' and they charge and trample the s.h.i.+t out of Smity."

Eric starting coming back to consciousness and hearing the story starts laughing, "ya, ya...haha, ya...and then, and then..." and Eric blacked out again.

Atrisia picked up the story and said, "So these wild boar are kicking our a.s.ses, and we just got there. So, I start yelling 'sue- we', then the captain starts yelling it." Then Eric and Atrisia said simultaneously, "Then they charge the captain." Atrisia continued, "All of them." Eric, in and out of consciousness said breathlessly, "And we're right behind him." Mike continued, "He, no s.h.i.+t, was jumping from one of their backs to the next, running on top of them...unf.u.c.king believable."

They paused as Eric sat up and he drank some water Mich.e.l.le had given him. Eric said in a near whisper, "They broke through the brush behind us and swarmed in circles, now coming from behind us, like a stampede. Dave pulled us all over to him like a protective dad, except for George. George yelled, 'f.u.c.k you' just enraged, then climbed a tree."

Mike continued, "So there running around us and there's like sixty of the d.a.m.n things, you can't even see the ground, and it's just 'thump, thump, thump', we could hardly here each other. So the Captain throws a rock and hits one of them right in the b.a.l.l.s. That was the first squeal we heard from any of them."

Atrisia interjected, "There were grunts though." And Eric said, "The one that squealed b.u.mped into the one next to it and they all tripped over each other then they broke and went back into the brush."

Jane asked, "So, it was like that then?" and Eric replied, "That's the best example of how we survived, ya." Atrisia added with a sly grin leaning in toward Jane, "Well, there wasn't any s.e.x if that's what you mean." Jane knew exactly what she meant and replied, "You'll be happier with the king." Atrisia replied, "But Tommi's over here" Jane replied, "Tommi's not a lesbo"

Atrisia slammed her fist down and said, "d.a.m.n it!"

The Woodenpeg was being cleaned out by Kim Luds and Tim brock. I looked around at all we had done and realized leaving would be a shock, but they had been circling an island chain for two years. As the thought of never being able to leave entered my head I glanced at Athena, and then recalled what I saw in Jane, her renewed fear that maybe there was some sort of holocaust, and then I looked over at Mich.e.l.le. She had seen what I was looking at and said, "Her, not me." then turned and walked away.

Over the years we had all gotten to know each other very well, we were just transparent to each other; it wasn't hard to figure out what was on someone's mind. Our old story for two separate groups on the island was in the event of a contagious disease; one group waits for the other to get through the contagious period, and then renders aid. It seemed the new story was we are just different sorts of people, and we do what we do to get along.

King Hudlow had Artimus seated across from him at the table created for the trial which had become known as 'The Alter of Ages'. Hudlow said, "Captain...no, Artimus...wait no, thief, you stole their boat and they are our only chance of rescue." Artimus interjected, "I was and still am our best hope of rescue." Hudlow slammed his palm down on the alter and yelled, "Two years Captain! Thief!" Artimus hoped to be taken for modest when he said, "Well, we got side tracked" Hudlow rubbed his chin in a practiced way trying to approximate his mental image of King Solomon and said, "Do tell."