New Homeport Island Part 7

They were irritated and hungry the water purification was going well and it would be time to deliver more to the landing soon. So I looked for a stick suitable for a spear and figured I could keep a fish on the spear or once it was killed but it in my s.h.i.+rt as I swam back; I could only hope there won't be a rip tide, we had seen any evidence of one but I had my experiences on the beaches of southern California in my childhood. Mitch brought me one of the deep cups full of water and I drank some then pa.s.sed it to Mich.e.l.le. I found a stick and tried to break it into a jagged pointed edge, after that a struck it with a jagged stone. I could see the tip itself would break off easily hopefully it would pierce the fish before it broke off. I realized I didn't have a belt for my coveralls so placing the fish in my coveralls even under my tee-s.h.i.+rt wouldn't work so I took my tee-s.h.i.+rt off and tied the sleeves into a knot the neck opening I wasn't sure about so I left it open, odds are I would only be surveying the nearby waters to figure out how far we'd have to take our pontoon boat out to successfully fish, and I headed to the water.

Tommi yelled, "Aren't you going to use the boat?" I replied, "I'm just seeing if there are any fish out there at all, but we will definitely need the net with the boat." The water was relatively clear and shadows in the water would have concerned us only if it were large enough to be a shark and we hadn't seen anything that large. Mitch asked Tommi, "You going with him?" she replied, "Well, help me get the logs out" and they headed over to the area of the beach near the rocks that divide the sh.o.r.e front . I walked pus.h.i.+ng my way through the surf it pounded my chest and the sand gave way to slippery rocks I used my spear like a rhino horn or a sword fish nose and swam without the use of my arms moving my body in a wave, it would have been nice to have some flippers. I got out pasted the surf and tried to stay stationary to make sure there were no currents I would be fighting, but we hadn't been tracking the tides.

I managed to not drift too much so I began short dives; I would float just low enough that I could feel the pressure on my ears, spread eagle as though I were dead. I griped the spear with one hand and could feel the cool water flow around my hand. I let myself slowly rise and watched for any fish. The water was very clear and I just had to risk hours of swimming to get back; I was still no further out than I had been in Pis...o...b..ach in California in my childhood so far out when I looked to the beach and I became nervous, but the pier wasn't too far away. Now there was no pier and no help if I were in distress .

Tommi and Mitch were launching our log square we were calling a boat. Mitch yelled, "This is crazy." Tommi yelled back, "This is the fun part! Having your a.s.s in Lyon's face is the scary part!" Mitch laughed. The las.h.i.+ngs held a second time and the logs held their form, it was at least becoming a boat. Mitch and Tommi both sat on the larger log on opposite ends as they searched the surface for me. Tommi's thighs in wet dungarees gripped the log firmly and her soft hands rested flat palmed on the log stabilizing herself in a forward lean causeing her round full b.u.t.tocks to prominently present atop that log as though she were a work of art on a pedestal. Mitch's dark skin beaded with sea water and glistening from the early afternoon sun shaded his well-defined muscles as he supported himself with his rugged hands upon the log and rested his hips at the end of the log leaving his legs in the water to kick. Mich.e.l.le stood on the beach shading her eyes with her hand looking as though she were saluting and pointed in my direction. Mitch waved to her showing he had seen me, she waved back and unb.u.t.toned her s.h.i.+rt and fanned her chest by billowing the cotton fiber of her tee-s.h.i.+rt just before she turned back and went to work on the net with Michael and Jennifer. Mike sat at the boilers as he replaced wood in one of the fireboxes and I floated with an occasional kick still looking for any fish with the spear protruding up in the water.

Mitch called out to me, "Hey, bro...over here!" I swam over to them and asked, "She any fish?" Tommi replied, "Just you." Tommi glanced around and then froze perfectly still and started whispering, "Over there...over there..." I looked over and saw something swimming around a silver and blue silhouette, so I slowly submerged. I allowed myself and the spear to slide under the water and tilted bring my legs up behind me the fish didn't respond. They were about a foot long and silver with green and blue fins. I laid there horizontal in the water. Tommi whispered to Mitch, "The only reason I'm not freaked out is because he sunk so slowly, because he absolutely looks dead." I struck at the fish with my spear and it swam down lower, but it swam sideways I did hit it, but only wounded it. It kept trying to swim sideways so I had to chase it, I tried to swim past it to scoop it up but its pattern of movement was unpredictable, I s.n.a.t.c.hed at it and missed as though a created a current pus.h.i.+ng it away and again I tried to scoop it up as I swam past it. The pressure on my ears was very painful and I was running out of breath so I expelled some of the air I was holding. I was at the point of no return, give up for air or risk my life and possibly miss, the pressure was too much and I knew if I went down to far I black out or get the bends so I turned upward for the surface looking back at the fish, but it was swimming upward as well, so I rested and as the fish swam past me I scooped it into my coveralls and swam up cradling our dinner.

Once I reached the surface, Tommi saw the look on my face and said, "It was just a first try we'll get one next time."

I replied, "We did get one but this method isn't good, I nearly drown." Mitch asked, "Where is it Rob?" I said, "I put it in my coveralls, you got a rope, string or bag?" Mitch replied, "No dude." I said, "We're all going to have to carry spears for this, we totally got lucky, let's take this one in and head back out again." Mitch said, "Give me the spear and you swim that one back in and I'll get some more." I handed Mitch the spear and he rolled of the log into the water and that s.h.i.+fted the balance of the log and Tommi fell in. Tommi popped up and said, "d.a.m.n it." I replied, "Grab the logs Tommi; I'm still holding this fish in my coveralls" Tommi grabbed the logs and climbed back up as I swam back.

I swam in on my back through the waves and anxiously scooted up the sand on my back, Mike ran over and looked at me dismayed, he asked, "You alright dude?" I said, "I think so, if this really is a fish in my coveralls I'm gonna faint though." Mike said, "Well check." and I said, "I need to be further up the beach." Mike responded, "You really do have a fish don't you." I coughed and said, "Either that or I gutted myself and have been hallucinating."

Once I was well up the beach I opened the zipper on my coveralls and there it was. Mike said, "That's a small fished dude" Jennifer, Mich.e.l.le, and Michael ran over, Michael saw it and turned as he cried out, "s.h.i.+t!" Jennifer looked over at Michael and then to mike and said, "That's a good foot long."

Michael said in a hush, "Ya, that's what we're thinking...it's a descent fish and that's got to feed us all." Jennifer said, "I'm sure he's going to share" and Mich.e.l.le said, "Your G.o.d d.a.m.n right he's going to share." and I interjected, "of course we're splitting it, Mitch is still out there I have to head back out and you guys have to finish the net. But this could be all we get today." I handed the fish to Jennifer and Mich.e.l.le said, "Now get the h.e.l.l back out there." I said, "I'm going...I'm going but we need more spears." Mich.e.l.le ran over to where she had been sitting and then ran back with a good long spear and said, "Take mine but I want it back" I laughed and said, "Okay" she said, "I'm not kidding and get more d.a.m.n fish." I stood up and looked out at the water with her spear in hand and saw Tommi on our boat, so I swam back out to her.

Once I swam back to the boat carrying Mich.e.l.le's spear I held onto the log and Tommi blurted out, "Don't just jump off Hackel and don't just jump on Lyon" I started to say "Okay" but Mitch spoke over me in a depressed monotone manner and asked, "Where's the net dude?" I replied, "Their still working on it" We heard whistling sounds above us like in coming mortars, or so we imagined, and then we were pelted by fish. One hit Tommi right in the face, on hit Mitch in the back, I said, "Their flying fish, catch them!" Tommi's s.h.i.+rt was open her bra was showing and the cold of the water had her nipples erect as I gazed at her chest I watched two fish fly right in to her s.h.i.+rt and she scooped them in. I laughed and said, "Your good for all kinds of things Tommi." She frantically kept repeating, "Get me back to sh.o.r.e, get me back to sh.o.r.e" Mitch groaned and rolled off the log but Tommi lunged forward yelling at him, "I'm gonna lose these d.a.m.n fish, if you don't stop f.u.c.king around!" Mitch yelled, "What fish is she talking about Rob!!?" I replied, "The two that just flew into her s.h.i.+rt" We started swimming the boat back to sh.o.r.e as Mitch said, "Those actually were fish..." Tommi responded, "Yes, Mitch"

I had Tommi float on her back holding the fish against her as hard as she could as I pulled her through the surf. Jennifer rushed up and asked, "What happened to her." Tommi ecstatically replied, "I caught two!" She started to open her s.h.i.+rt and I said, "Wait, need to be higher up the beach, those d.a.m.n things will flop their way back into the water." Mitch finished pulling the boat up the beach, grabbed my spear and ran back into the water. I handed Mich.e.l.le her spear back and she carefully inspected it for any damage. Michael started cleaning the fish and Mich.e.l.le asked, "How are we going to cook those?"

Mike said, "Ah-haha, with the fire." Mich.e.l.le retorted, "Don't burn them...went fis.h.i.+ng with my father as a kid and he burnt the fish and we couldn't eat them at all, so next time we tied them way above the fire in a smoke teepee"

Michael looked over at Tommi and said, "I know what she is talking about, do you want us to cook them?" Tommi looked around and realized they were in fact talking to her and replied, "Sure" with a shrug.

I lay resting on the beach realizing we had been out there for hours. Tonight we would need a shelter; I sat up and looked at the green reed patch down the beach. From around the corner some were visible from where we were. I got up still dizzy from the ocean so I drank some more water and headed down to the reed patch, I noticed every time someone Drank any water Mike Elper seemed to react like his trophy was being used to scratch someone's back but I didn't really concern myself, it did seem to keep us 'water conservation' aware.

The reeds where tall and straight, they looked like bamboo but some of the dead pieces and wetter pieces broke as easily as celery. The reeds had a lot of flex to them and some of the dried out reeds were fairly st.u.r.dy. I began to gather pieces that were suitable and looked for strong and flexible reeds still growing, I placed them in piles sorted by length, flexibility and width. I knew it was a hut not a lean-to I would be going for so I called it a cabana. I figured six columns and a roof and maybe the soft plant material we were taking from the palm leaves could be made into some sort of bug netting like a curtain. As I hauled the reeds over to our camp I pa.s.sed some thick bushes and Athena popped out and asked, "Hey, What happened, I saw you go out on the water." I replied, "We got some fish." Athena responded happily, "Thank G.o.d, I'm starving...What are those for?" and she pointed at the reeds. I answered, "Building a shelter." Athena said, "Okay." and went over and grabbed another pile and we walked together back to the camp carrying the reeds over. Athena and Jennifer watched as I wrapped the reeds around each other and they handed me some line that Athena had been making using more of the palm bark and I tied bundles together being as sparing as possible with the line. Once I made some thin poles I twisted them around each other and tied them together then I dug out a small hole about a foot and a half deep and set the column I had formed into it. I told them, "We'll need six of these and have to weave a roof out of these reeds." Jennifer had been helping with the fish but she sat down with Athena and started working on another column. Mike Elper saw what they were working on and said, "I'll get some more of that bark." and he headed off to the palm trees. Seeing how quickly they were able to form a column together I started making a woven reed mat that we would use as a roof.

"How many of these thin poles Rob?" asked Athena. I said, "Just use three" Mitch walked up the beach with three more fish stuck to his spear. Mich.e.l.le jumped up and said, "Awesome...so, that one works too." Mitch said, "Ya. Whats with the fake trees?" Jennifer laughed and said, "Building a shelter, dinner will be ready soon sweet heart" Athena glanced around to see what guys were looking at her in the face of that inspiration; she noticed I was looking at her, Tommi was looking at me, Mich.e.l.le was looking at Michael, Michael was looking at Jennifer, Mike was looking at Jennifer and Mitch was looking at Michael. Athena got dizzy thinking 'who's looking at who better not mean something' everybody went back to what they were doing as Mitch asked Michael, "How much longer cooking the ones you started." Michael responded, "Probably less than ten minutes" Athena leaned over and whispered to Jennifer, "Jenn, I think you're getting gang banged tonight"

Jennifer slowly looked up at her with a huge growing grin and saw the shocked look on Athena's face then Athena started to nod and pointed at the guys looking at her, Jennifer Cringed and scratched behind her ear then shook her head to get that visual image out of her mind and replied to Athena, "So who's banging you?" Athena said, "It was just Rob looking at me, but I think Tommi wants him...so maybe he's getting gang banged too."

Mike came back with handfuls of dark brown dry palm bark fibers and Jennifer said, "Thanks mike, I'll take those." and then nudged Athena's foot and whispered, "At least he took care of himself." Athena Looked up a mike with a degree of fright then back at the smile on Jennifer's face and slumped forward in hard laughter. Mike said, "What? Those not the right ones?" Athena glanced at the fiber and tried to stop her laughter as she replied, "Nope...perfect, just perfect." Jennifer interjected, "It's a girl thing." Michael looked over at mike and said, "At least they're not crying" Mike said, "I only cried a little." Mitch said, "Me too." Michael looked surprised at the change of tone and I said, "The rest of us are still in shock." and I laughed. I wove together some very flexible reeds that looked like a green bamboo in four sections of herring bone overlay as they erected the six columns.

The pattern I used left small diamond shaped holes in the four sections and one in the center, it looked like the five found on dice; once we placed it atop the columns we threaded some more line through the ceiling mat and the columns securing there fairly well. The small Diamond shaped holes allowed light to pa.s.s through like spot lights, the girls were concerned about rain getting through but in antic.i.p.ation of moonlight pa.s.sing through we all agreed we'd just cover those holes when it became necessary.

I went down to the sh.o.r.e and started gathering smooth stones from the surf and beach while the others 'tried out' the cabana, the fish would be done soon and I needed to stay busy to stave of thoughts of my hunger. I took the stones and started forming a courtyard patio in front of our cabana spreading around its sides. They sat and watched in bewilderment as I placed the stones together in a circular pattern. Mich.e.l.le asked, "What about walls?" I replied, "we'll use the soft fiber for curtains, we don't want any mildew in there." Athena interjected, "Or the smell of feet." Mich.e.l.le scoffed, "I just made Rob wash my feet!" Everyone moaned and laughed.

Athena said, "I'm gonna' make him wash my a.s.s." I interjected, "Okay a.s.s and feet was.h.i.+ng later, let's eat." Michael laughed and said, "Thought of that make you hungry?" I said, "No I haven't eaten in so long I just don't feel the hunger anymore, but the dizziness is a clue I'm gonna die if I don't eat." Mike said, "Ya, I stopped feeling hungry too, but I feel sick as h.e.l.l."

We divided up the fish and all ate from our palms. Mich.e.l.le rubbed her thigh as she eat and I recalled that being a habit of mine in elementary school which I had to stop because my friends mocked me. I guess it was a stimulation to get a starving stomach restarted. There was about two hands worth of fish for each of us and would normally been an acceptable volume of food for lunch as a fish sandwich, which in this case was a full blown thanks giving dinner. It was late in the afternoon so we all laid there resting, Mich.e.l.le put her feet on my chest, Athena used my thigh as a pillow, Jennifer used Athena's thigh as a pillow and Michael rest his head between Jennifer's thighs.

Mike and Mitch lay off to each side and feel asleep.

The sky had turned a deep deep blue, there were clouds over the distant southern horizon, and it appeared to be a rain storm with sheets of gray descending down to the ocean. The roughness of the seas on the horizon was noticeable even at the distance of twelve miles; through the sheets of gray were blue skies behind the rain storm. Looking at it was dizzying; the sands were soft and crept across the beach swarming and stalk or trunk rising from the land. The wind only whispered the threat of a howl and made the trees dance a waltz as though it were playing a sonata. The ocean swirled and the cool water lapped at the land and rolled up and around our makes.h.i.+ft boat.

The jutting rocks painted the wind with dust and powder, and flowers gave up their pollens and fragrances, bowing to the winds gentle caress and firm resolve. The breezes carried that fresh floral scent of the island once again. A puffy c.u.mulous cloud pa.s.sed over the island and gave us a moments shade. The survivors sat in a daze mesmerized by the forces of nature dangerous and majestic swirling around us.

"Well at least it's cooled down now", said Mitch. Mike replied, "Ya...and I've got to take more water over to the psycho's" Michael asked, "What are they doing over there?"

Mike replied, "They're forming small groups that attack each other...I've been making more cups...well, buckets? ...Big d.a.m.n containers for the water I'm taking over so they don't fight over it" Athena said, "They need food as bad as we did, got to get more fish." We all said simultaneously speaking over each other, "We know" But we needed the rest, and the storm in the distance would be distinctly good or bad for the fis.h.i.+ng but there would be a definite direct effect. Jennifer asked, "Was someone just snoring?" Michael said clearly, "No." and we all tensed up.

Tommi said, "I saw the hoof prints but I wasn't sure." I said, "That's what I thought too, there's a d.a.m.n cheeseburger running around here somewhere." Mike said, "Now that sounds good." as he sat up. There was a rustle of brush near us and it seemed to be running away. Athena said, "That d.a.m.n thing comes around a lot. But we were too busy to do anything about it so I didn't say anything." Mich.e.l.le interjected, "Except to me." Athena replied, "oh ya that's right, where is your spear?" Mich.e.l.le pointed to the west and said, "Right over there."

We continued to just lay there, no urgency at the moment.

We had finally eaten but only the smallest morsels maybe eight bites each, but being that it was fish the flavor lingered. Mitch asked, "What's it gonna take to get that pig?" Athena said, "Mich.e.l.le's blessed spear." Mich.e.l.le added, "Well we prayed over it." Michael said, "If that's a wild boar it'll take more than a spear." Mich.e.l.le said, "That's why I spent so much time on it...it's a javelin." Mike said as he laid back down, "Need a pig pit...er' tiger trap." I said, "I need a sling and some arrows."

Athena replied, "How about you just make that into a real boat, and we'll get the pig?" I sighed and said, "Okay, I'll focus on refining out boat." Jennifer said, "Move your head Michael, my t.w.a.t itches." Michael laughed and said, "I hope we get rescued soon."

I headed over to the log boat and inspected the las.h.i.+ngs, they had loosened a little, nails weren't an option, I looked down at the sand around my feet and thought, "I could actually make a gla.s.s bottle long before I could make a nail, metal spike, or thumb tack." I knew I would need some tools and another log so I started wandering the island looking for any material that might inspire me. I figured, 'drill a hole tack them together with a wooden peg and seal them with smoke resin', seemed simple enough in my mind just need to do it with Neanderthal tools and I had worked with plenty of them, just not so much with their tools.

I said to myself narrating my thought as I wandered, "Okay, I'll just get another log, split them both, tack them together with a few wooden pegs, and then seal it with smoke...Ya! That'll be about as big as a surf board, I'll get six more logs, split them all sand them down, peg them together and seal it with smoke. Or maybe I'll get lucky and find a boat somewhere in the bushes because both those things are equally as probable." As luck would have it shortly after I finished ranting I found a fair sized chuck of pumas stone that had washed up the beach, I picked it up and noticed some smaller ones so I pick them up as well narrating again, "Pumas and sand, okay got stuff to sand with...seriously?" My coveralls were tied down around my waist and I had put my tee-s.h.i.+rt back on I search the sand area for a little longer maybe a sea snail's sh.e.l.l could give me a mold for a ceramic drill bit? I uttered, "How about I carve some wood to an appropriate drill bit shape, melt some sand and make a volcanic gla.s.s drill bit? Or I know! I'll use my telepathy and ask NASA to drop a drill bit from the M.I.R. s.p.a.ce station!" I didn't want my mood to affect anyone else so I headed further down the beach. As I looked around there on the sh.o.r.e was a coconut washed ash.o.r.e I picked it up somewhat elated and realized it was just half a rotting sh.e.l.l and I threw it so hard my wallet and keys fell out of my pocket. As I picked them up I thought of the few dollars I had in my wallet for the soda machine or s.h.i.+ps store, and as I picked up my keys it occurred to me...I still have my keys! So, one the beach I also managed to find the drill bits I would need in the form of my keys, I had five two for my car, toe for my lockers and one from my last car. The thought of intentionally damaging or altering those keys sent a chill down my spine, 'Damage my car keys?

Why!?', not being able to get into my car without a locksmith was a very small issue; after all I was at risk to never even see it again.

Mich.e.l.le had been using her locker keys all along, it was how she had refined her javelin but for fear of the keys being used as a weapon she didn't mention it to anyone. The only other metals we had were our belt buckles and me being in coveralls I didn't wear me belt that day. During a simulation of mutiny I had actually broken a brig cell lock with my belt buckle on my previous s.h.i.+p, for which I received the extra duties of verifying that actual brig prisoners were ill equipped to affect an escape. I had met some unsavory souls amongst some that were just young, impulsive, and had made bad choices. I stood taking inventory of what tools I had, sanding equipment, drill bits, I still needed a hammer and I just couldn't get a couple of brig prisoners out of my mind, a murder suspect from another s.h.i.+p and an Iraqi intelligence agent; I felt haunted like someone was watching me.

Jennifer said, "Mike, I need to wash my hands...just a little fresh water." Mike said while distracted by his thoughts, "Go ahead. I think those guys and girls over there are just going to die or kill each other in a day or two anyways and we may never get enough fish for them." Jennifer pours some fresh water out of one of the vases into a deep cup and lowered her slender fair skinned hands into the water she pulled them out and pointed them up running her pink finger tips over the back of her hands glistening with water she caressed the inside of her palms with her thumbs bring the blood closer to the surface giving them a pink hue she rubbed the excess down her fore arms rolling up her sleeves, her dungaree s.h.i.+rt was open revealing her white cotton bra. She glanced around to see if anyone was watching and wet her hands again and ran them down the sides of her neck, rubbing the back of her neck and releasing a soft moan.

She slumped back in relief and reached in a final time and unb.u.t.toned her pants and loosened the zipper, she placed her wet fingers down her panties and let the fresh cool water flow down over her crotch. Michael had come over to use some water to freshen up as well. He wet his hands and ran them across his face then down his muscular shoulders as he shed his s.h.i.+rt, Jennifer seeing this reached into the water again and ran her pink fingers down Michael's neck and down his chest, Michael's nipples became erect and Tommi, working with Mitch on the net coughed. Jennifer wet her hands again and reached under her bra and with a swirling motion moistening her breast all the while she sat relaxed with her legs spread and her pants still unb.u.t.toned and loosened, with her head c.o.c.ked to the left and her eyes closed. Michael sat kneeling near her and started breathing heavily he wet his hands again and moistened his abdomen and pushed the beads of moisture all across his chest back up to his neck and then lay down on his side.

Mike stood astonished at the display and said, "I'm gonna be over there in the bushes...no one come over there for a while." Tommi looked at him startled and Mich.e.l.le blurted out, "Be sure you bury it." and Mike replied, "I'll bury as deep as I can as soon as I get the chance." Tommi watched him walk away, once he was gone she got Mich.e.l.les attention and did the male masturbation gesture with her hand. Mich.e.l.le said, "Oh" and started laughing with her hand covering her mouth.

Mitch said, "Gruble, Lyon, let's try this net...we'll probably catch them flying up with it anyways." Mich.e.l.le glanced down at her feet and wiggled her toes in the sand and said, "Rob's getting more materials for the boat." Michael was falling asleep so Mitch looked around and said, "Where's Mike?" Tommi gestured with her thumb in the direction mike left in and Mich.e.l.le said, "He had to go w.a.n.k it." Mitch replied, "I'll go find Rob." Mich.e.l.le rubbed the top of her feet noticing her pedicure was being sanded off slowly by the beach and she polished the nail of her big toe in a day dream as she said, "He went further down the beach." Jennifer rolled her pant legs up to just below her knee, some leg hair had grown around her ankles.

Mitch said, "Jenn..." Jennifer responded, "Ya, I'm going."

Mitch replied, "Okay." Mitch started toward the boat wondering just how hairy things were going to get as he scratched at his light beard. He Glanced back as they walked to the boat. Tommi said, "I'll leave my pant legs down." Mitch asked, "Because of that?" Tommi replied, "Ya, my hair is growing too." Jennifer said, "What hair." Mitch interjected, "Don't worry about it, I'm married and have seen it a lot worse." Just as they were launching the boat, I had dragged another log down, the last that had naturally fallen near where we were to the best of my reckoning. Michael heard the log dragging and sat up, Michael asked, "What are we doing with that." I replied, "Well...we're gonna burn the outside, hammer keys into it to spit it and find a way to plane it, the sand it with these pumas stones and sand, then drill holes in it to use peg fasteners, peg it together and seal it with smoke...but first I need to weave a long bark fiber rope with some ceramic nuggets in it to make a saw to take another tree...and eventually we'll have a real boat." Mike emerged from the bushes and said, "I'm tired just from hearing all that." I asked, "Mitch go for more fish? ...those others might die without food soon." Mike interjected, "They started drying and eating sea weed." Mich.e.l.le crossed her legs and started flipping her feet and said, "Ya, they went fis.h.i.+ng again...I want you to get that boat done Rob." I replied, "I'll do what I can."

Athena stood up in the cabana looking at the opening in the brush and said, "Hey guys." Tim brock and Tammy Melad stepped through followed by Ebony Allick, Kelly Yodal, Joseph Leos, Edward Gardin , and David Miles . "We got exiled, there's not enough sea weed and they don't want to watch us die!", said Kelly Yodal. Ebony Allick interjected, "The captain was in the pentagon and doesn't know anything about it, but does know we're ready to kill each other."

I stood there with the log I had dragged in dismay and asked, "How many more came over?" Tim Brock replied, "Just us." I said, "Okay, build another cabana and you'll need to expand this stone courtyard." Kelly Yodal blurted out, "Okay...what about food?" Mich.e.l.le replied, "Their out there now trying the net for the first time, the ones we speared were just enough for us over here." Joseph Leos said, "Cabana it is then...we seriously need food though guys." I said, "No worries." Mich.e.l.le showed them how to build the cabana while Athena supervised; I started setting up the trench fire to split the log. Ebony and Tammy started gather stones to add to our courtyard .

Mitch, Jennifer, and Tommi came back and it took two of them to hold the net; it squirmed like a sea snake. Everyone cheered, and Tommi said, "There's a trick to it." It was about three pounds of fish they had taken, and everyone was hungry but we knew we would have to ration the fish and send some over to the landing.

As they started smoking the fish tying them to sticks run horizontally across two sticks shoved in the sand, which nearly looked like a loom, I was less concerned about being embarra.s.sed over an experimental project. I took the log over to the trench we had dug for the fire to cook the mud into a ceramic and prepared to roll the log occasionally in the fire to guide how much wood was burnt off from the outside in. At the very least I needed to accomplish a squared off approximation of a four inch by four inch section of lumber, which I would hope to plain down to planks.

Tim brock offered to help and said he didn't think it was too outlandish an idea. David Miles asked, "Is there was anything other than a cabana to work on?" I replied, "There's still expanding the courtyard with the smooth stones from out of the surf and we'll need a sundial." David Miles laughed, "A sundial? I still have my watch man...and so do you." I replied, "Mine is certified to thirty meters...I went down farther than that." Dave looked at his watch and realized it had water in it and gave no display of time. He was a little choked up as he asked, "How far down do you think we went?" I said, "I have no idea, I only remember how dark it was beneath us, I saw people much deeper than I was and I thought I saw a whale or submarine diving deeper dragging people down...but it turned out to be the s.h.i.+p." Dave looked around trying to breathe normally and asked, "Which way do you think is north?" I responded, "We'll have to wait for nightfall and find the northern star." Dave walked out to the surf to pull out smooth stones and brock and I set up the log. I pulled out a shoe lace again and took off my boot my feet were sticky and there was an odor so I decide I would leave them off as many had. I once again used a shoelace tied at the ends to a somewhat flexible stick to rapidly turn a straighter stick against dry wood piled with tinder. Brock asked, "We need to save our shoelaces for that, don't we?" I said, "It's a good idea." Brock said, "Artimus said the rescue is just delayed by ongoing operations." I looked at him and we was in a daze, I said, "The bottom line is we are on our own...even if a rescue came we would be on our own until then." Brock said, "We'll need guards they're getting crazy over there...some sentry posts." Once the fire was a full fire we spread out the burning wood and rolled the log into place, the extreme ends protruded from the trench and would serve as handles .

Kelly Yodal sat with Jennifer taking a break from the building of the second cabana with the others and asked Jennifer, "So...seen any planes or s.h.i.+ps" Jennifer said, "No...nothing, the fish smells good though" Kelly replied, "Ya, it does." Ebony snorted in the distance, "Someone help me keep this d.a.m.n thing standing up." Jennifer patted Kelly's leg and said, "Those need to be put in a hole about a foot and a half deep." Kelly groaned and called out, "Hold on...need a hole ."

As Kelly started digging the small holes Ebony asked, "Why are we actin' like we stayin or something?" Joseph Leos replied, "Just a camping trip vacation." Ebony responded, "Then give me room service." Edward Gardin said, "I'm not serving anyone." To which joseph whisper the response, "They just got fish man, be positive...we just got here." Edward smiled and held up the work he was doing on a column and went back to forming it.

At the landing Dave Artimus was conducting interviews to determine who would have access to the pentagon, who would guard the perimeter, and who was just wasted s.p.a.ce. They've had nothing to eat but seaweed dried in the sun by hanging it from the pentagon walls since they had arrived. Smity had gone from group to group soliciting loyalty to the Captain and had made some claims on his behalf. As the Captain interviewed the selectees Smity continued his campaign.

Smity strolled up to a group guarding their fire and said, "I need to know who all is still loyal to the Captain ." Kim Luds responded, "f.u.c.k you gunners mate." Smity responded, "That's why your over here enginemen." Kim responded, "I'm a G.S.M." Smity scoffed, "That isn't what I'm asking G.S.M. three, I'm asking who is still loyal to the captain." Justina Mier interjected, "You mean the guy that sank the s.h.i.+p...his own s.h.i.+p that is?" Smity leaned in in an attempt to be intimidating and said, "When you're a captain then you can talk that s.h.i.+t. But then that's the word of a second cla.s.s. So, are still a third cla.s.s petty officer loyal to his captain, or some d.a.m.n mutineer?" Kim responded, "No food, one vase with water in it and no s.h.i.+p...doesn't seem like anyone's the captain now; and ah...you need a s.h.i.+p to be a captain." Smity replied, "First, us military guys know you don't need a s.h.i.+p to be a navy captain. Second, who do you think got us that vase of water, because it sure as h.e.l.l didn't walk here itself." Charlie McCree and the master chief sitting nearby were watching the dialogue and it seemed heavy handed to them. Hauldbalm nudged McCree and said, "You're a second cla.s.s...maybe you should say something."

Charlie moaned, "Alright..." Hauldbalm laughed and Charlie sat up and interjected, "And third or finally?" and paused as she observed Smity preparing to verbally a.s.sault her until he noticed the master chief was lying next to her and she continued, "Look were all doing the best we can and we don't need you stirring things up. But, I was here." Smity looked at her squinting and c.o.c.ked his head asking, "You were here?" Charlie replied, "Ya." she glance around and scratched at her upper lip to conceal her mouth from anyone lip reading and said, "Even the captain doesn't know where that vase came from." Smity chuckled and said, "The last time the natives brought it over the captain said they said they would get us some fish, there McCree...I don't think you know what the h.e.l.l you are talking about." Smity looked up and around with his hands on his hips then scratched at the back of his head glancing at the master chief seeming confounded as if inquiring as to why he would be with the riffraff, then looked back at the group he was speaking to and said, "We'll continue this later, seems I came at a bad time." then he turned and walked back to the pentagon .

Chris Dragie a survivor of the loss of USS Paul F Foster DD-964, formerly an Operations Specialist first cla.s.s petty officer stood at attention speaking with Dave Artimus the former captain. Artimus said, "Would you agree O.S. one Dragie, that I am still your captain?" Chris Dragie replied, "Yes, sir." Artimus responded, "Good, Good...it seems I may need your help handling these kids that don't seem to get that." Dragie replied, "They're just kid's sir, sometimes it's a trick to get them to understand." Artimus leaned in with a scowl and then slouched back and said, "I don't need tricks, I need you to continue to do your job. Pull them back in line, I already resent what it is our rescuers will find. And in the event we are rescued by someone other than the United States military our military demeanor may mean the difference between life and death." Dragie appeared dizzy and inquired, "You think we have a fight coming sir?"

Artimus responded, "Let's be very clear, I will not have any of these crew members turning cannibal, seaweed will have to suffice."

Their conversation bordered on gibberish caused by dehydration and delirium, but Dave Artimus wasn't concerned with the dialogue he was attempting to gauge their level of hostility and determine who const.i.tuted a threat. He was looking for the type of loyalty that came out of admiration he had seen in the past and made use of, 'it can't be wrong if the captain has ordered it' was the response from many defending orders he had issued while admittedly angry and on impulse. He might find a way to survive, but it wasn't enough for him alone to survive he was determined to a.s.sert himself into a position of his own creation that empowered him to be the one to decide who lives and who dies. The thought of being on the island indefinitely was something he couldn't conceptualize on, as though it were a concept in a foreign language he did not speak.

Artimus said, "If they break and attack each other again I want you to give them s.p.a.ce, but if it becomes cannibalism kill the person attacking instantly. I'm only issuing these orders to my most trusted crewmembers only the most loyal.

Confidentially, the female officers deserve a little more consideration if they are present take the risk of using some of the security force you will be with to pull them away, which I understand further risks your safety. It is a bias I admit, but it is my bias. You are one of the few that will have access to the pentagon and some of your forces will only have access to the posts I will set around it." Dragie smiled and replied, "Yes sir."

Artimus added in closing, "There can be no question of loyalty here, if anyone seems disloyal or disrespectful notify me immediately. These things grow out of control quickly." As Dragie walked away Smity walked up and watched Dragie walk away, Smity glared at his back in suspicion. Smity asked his captain, "What do you think sir." Artimus replied, "I think you should get me some water." Smity looked down humbly and smiled as he said, "Sure thing dave." Artimus replied, "Captain...it's Captain, don't lose it in front of them." Smity said, "Sorry, Captain. I'll get you that water." Artimus gauged smity's movement in the sand trying to determine how slowed he would be because they were in sand. He looked at the foot prints in the soft sand that appeared at least two inches deep then glanced back at the wet sand near the surf.

Down in the wet sand stood Firemen Megan Carale she was bent over was.h.i.+ng her face with seawater; with her tee s.h.i.+rt gone her s.h.i.+rt hung open affording glances of her once white bra and her cleavage. She wet her hair by scoping up the incoming surf and dumping it onto her head in a fas.h.i.+on seen with famous models and movie starlets. Her socks hung out of her back pocket and pant legs were rolled up. Just as Artimus was considering calling to her and warning her of the risk of further dehydrating herself she reached down her pants and scratched at her crotch, seeing this Artimus just shook his head and scanned the crowds for his next interview candidate.

Artimus glanced over near the brushline feeling as though he had forgotten something, but the noticed Ensign Spayner digging in her crotch as well as he walked up to her to ask why all the women were 'so itchy down there' he saw her sniff her fingers after scratching. He asked, "Were you just masturbating?" Jane Spayner replied, "No, Dave. I itch right now." Artimus asked, "Did all the women get island crabs?"

Jane looked at him noticed he was squinting and looking her all over and decided to refrain from telling him to 'Eat me' and then continued to respond with, "Eat me." for some reason it came out anyways, she continued after noticing that saying that didn't faze him at all, "It's hot and dry and the salt.w.a.ter isn't making it any better." Artimus was staring at her ankles and started check himself for a beard as he walked away.

Smity stepped up with a deep cup with a little water in it and hand it to his captain. "Here you are sir." said Smity. The captain took the cup and sipped slowly, Smity asked, "When will the natives deliver more sir?" Artimus said, "They've been making it as fast as they can." Smity asked, "What do they look like...bone through the nose or red paint or anything?" Artimus looked into the cup and smelled the water, "Have you been drinking this?" Artimus asked. Smity replied, "We all have, just small amounts sir." Artimus said, "Start drink more than you were." Smity smiled and said, "Well, being the Captains man has its advantages." Artimus noticed the smug smile on Smity's face and became nauseous.

Smity went back to scouting for the truly loyal, and Artimus headed into the pentagon. Clarkson sat under a lean to in the pentagon fanning herself with a palm branch sitting in the shaded sand, her s.h.i.+rt was fully open and she had removed her tee-s.h.i.+rt, her pants were down just too her thighs and she sat there as though she were defecating. Artimus said, "Tell me you're not s.h.i.+tting right there." Clarkson replied, "No I'm not."

Artimus went to one of the other lean-tos and lay down. The body odor emanating from Clarkson was strong and Artimus couldn't stand it he blurted out, "s.k.a.n.k, go clean yourself."

Clarkson said indignantly, "In front of them!?" Artimus responded, "Do it with your clothes on." Clarkson replied, "I'll get trench foot" Artimus looked at her and noticed she was fevered looking and out of sorts and uttered, "Trench foot? In your t.w.a.t?"

At the work site the cabana's were up and the fish was well smoked, cooked well but still moist. It was about four in the afternoon but as far as laying marks for our sundial we were still guessing. I said, "I'll take over their rations." Mike Elper retorted, "Good luck. Oh and watch your back." I laughed and said, "On that s.h.i.+p I always have." I lifted the stick we had selected for them from the smoking rack and picked up a vase of water and Jennifer carried a second vase.

Once we arrived we saw some were crowded around the pentagon and it was my first time seeing the dirt covered walls around it, I thought 'maybe they're doing more than I thought."

Smity ran up and asked, "Did you get those from the natives and are you still loyal to the captain?" I couldn't help but answer to the part about the natives, "There are no natives", I said. I set down the vase and piled sand around it, as did Jennifer. We were both on key and they certainly noticed. They stood up but kept their distance. There was no stand for the rack of fish so I placed the stick across the vases. Tammy had followed us and gestured to Megan a come here gesture, Megan glanced behind herself and point at herself mouthing the word, "Me?"

Megan avoided getting too close to the rations and slipped through the brush telling Tammy, "I need to eat tammy."

Tammy responded, "We have more fish back at our camp."

Smity noticed this and in a hush said, "Lyon, disloyalty to the captain now might get you killed." I replied, "Don't go completely crazy on us now dude, I can't guaranty we'll be getting this many fish every week." Smity said, "Just be careful, where are you getting the water from." Jennifer replied, "We have to evaporate the sea water in the boilers we made." Smity smiled a delirious smiled and asked me if that were true and I said, "Yes, they're mad from mud, like a ceramic, so don't get too excited." Smity said loud enough to be overheard, "So your T.A.D. that's good, see you again soon Lyon." We headed back and Tammy, Megan, and Mich.e.l.le sat talking and eating. Mitch watched and eavesdropped with an occasional chuckle.

Mich.e.l.le said, "Rob, Tammy said the captain has mentioned cannibalism so many times they think he is planning on it but doesn't seem to want to be the first..." Tammy interjected, "I think they're going to kill the first person that goes cannibal and then all eat both of them. But now there's the fish." Mich.e.l.le added, "But that's how d.a.m.n crazy they are now and they keep getting asked who's still loyal to the captain." I responded, "Ya, one of the gunner's mates mentioned that, we may need a security post soon." Mitch said, "I've been feeling like someone's been watching us." Mike Elper blurted out, "Definitely dude" Michael added, "We were hoping that was just the pigs." Mich.e.l.le said, "Me, Ebony, and Mike should take the watches, you others just keep up the fish and water." I replied, "Tomorrow I'll work on arrows and a sling."

At the landing Artimus was interviewing Koleson. Artimus said. "Well quartermaster, you up to these tasks?" Koleson replied, "We going to get off this island sir?" Artimus responded, "One thing at a time. The operational demands of the navy have slowed their response time, the nation's security maybe at risk." Koleson replied, "Ya, so are we getting off this island sir?" Artimus leaned in and said, "Look you dumb a.s.s we have to maintain order around here. I know what a f.a.g you are, but you I know well from our bridge watches together. So pull your b.i.t.c.h a.s.s together and just do and say what I tell you to."

Koleson replied, "Then what the f.u.c.k are we even talking about? Is there some other captain around here?" Artimus replied, "You know...just go get Petty officer Smity for me and relax, okay?" Koleson looked around and called out, "Hey, Smity...you f.u.c.k, get over here."

Smity came over and glanced at the captain then back at Koleson and asked, "What!?" Koleson replied, "He wants to talk to you." Smity smugly responded, "That is the Captain. A 'He' is what you suck." Koleson grabbed Smity's genitals and gave them a two shake then walked off. Smity yelled at him as he walked away, "f.u.c.king f.a.g!" then turned to the captain and with all the politeness of a waiter at an upscale restaurant asked, "Can I get you something captain?" Artimus replied, "No, b.i.t.c.h boy just clued me in on something...for many of these kids, I'm the only captain here and not having a captain is something they wouldn't understand. Adjust your screenings appropriately".

Smity said without a flinch, "Aye, Aye captain" and returned to his patrolling the groups like campus security at a nineteen sixties sit in. They all sat eating the fish that had been delivered and Smity was playing the politician with the exception of his mocking gestures and verbal abuse to anyone complaining, he made sure everyone expressed some grat.i.tude toward the captain for the food they had received. But those that knew the people that had delivered it understood that the captain had nothing to do with the food or water they had been receiving and they were coming to resent the 'pentagon'.

As Smity strolled the landing camp he said to himself, "Idle hands are the devils best friend" which was overheard by Rick Broden and Sam Tomley. Sam asked Rick, "What the h.e.l.l does he expect us to be doing?" Rick sat there in the sand with Sam broken and disillusioned he took up a large pinch of sand and tossed it into the air and said, "D.C. P.M.S., waxing a pa.s.sageway...painting something, he doesn't understand where the h.e.l.l we are." Smity stopped cold in his tracks and played frozen statue for a moment then turn to look at them, he now realized his misunderstanding as to the natives and the phrase 'going native' but considered maybe they still had the misconception. He then replied, "This is a savage island. There are threats everywhere, and it's not a drill. Maybe you guys would like to stand a watch or two." Smity pointed at the dried mud walls of the pentagon and continued, "those walls won't offer much protection if we were attacked, and honestly some of the officers are concerned with the possibility if ma.s.s hysteria.

So, find a heavy rock and set a post." As they got up to find a heavy rock to use as a defensive weapon and a heavier rock to use as a barrier, Rick blurted out, "Idle hands are the devils workshop, not the devils best friend." Smity smirked and replied, "That is how that goes, and you two will be the watch captains."

With that it was done, the first positions had been a.s.signed and their loyalty to the captain hinged on a simple point of purpose and ident.i.ty...Rick Broden and Sam Tomley would be the watch captains, the authority that would bring them and the sense of security it afforded would be something they would not easily relinquish and would maintain under threat of subjugation to someone else notion of what their purpose should be.

Posts had been set around the landing as sunset approached.

While over at the boiler site, inspection and repair of our fis.h.i.+ng net was our top priority aside from gathering wood for running our distillation boilers. Michael said, "It's getting colder." and he s.h.i.+vered a little. Mich.e.l.le replied, "Ya, the wind picked up again" Mike put down his work and said, "Well I'm headed inside" he smiled as he went into the cabana. Mike stood there in the cabana and looked around then ask, "Why is it again that these don't have walls?" Jennifer responded, "Were going to make tent like curtains for it. Mike smiled a big smile and scoffed, "That'll help...well, I'll work on that...inside!"

All the plant material we had gathered to use for the net making was lying nearby and now we were making the curtains for the cabana. The increase in wind was chilling at first but as we huddled together and back to back we realized it wasn't that bad. The work went fairly quickly as we joked about our love lives and how drunk we would get as soon as we returned. As night finally fell, we had so much work done it was nearly three separate blankets we shared.

Mich.e.l.le nuzzled my back and Athena elbowed me in the face, over the course of the night they had both kneed me in the groin, I came to believe this is why men are supposed to be on top. Michael only got kneed in the groin once by Jennifer, and Mitch only had to take Dave's hands out of his crotch once.

Tammy woke up in the middle of the night and squatted for a p.i.s.s in the sand way too close to camp, between the moonlight and the boiler fires she was highly visible, the guys joked that they had never found that particular fetish exciting before, but there was something about the way tammy squatted with the firelight reflecting off her rump and the blue moonlight shading the rest of her body, that was just inspiring.

The next day I woke up and my upper lip was itching, I never liked having a mustache, I sat up and glanced around for anything that I might be able to shave with. I walked the beach picking up sh.e.l.ls and found one as thick and ridged that it needed to be to handle any type of sharpening, and used a stone and sand to gently grind away the sides of the edge, being careful not to cause jagged points. I tried sc.r.a.pping at my beard stubble with it be it may as well been a b.u.t.ter knife. Everyone had woken up and sat giggling at me trying to shave with a sh.e.l.l, so I took a smoldering stick out of one of the boiler fireboxes and singed the stubble and sc.r.a.pped it off with the sh.e.l.l. When it came to my upper lip I was a little more concerned with burns, but the itching drove me nuts it must have taken over an hour but much of the stubble did sc.r.a.pe off.

After I had finished I walked back over to Mike, Athena, and Mich.e.l.le sitting in the cabana, they had resumed work on the curtain. Tommi, Mitch, and Dave went fis.h.i.+ng and everyone else was still milling about. Mich.e.l.le grabbed my face asking, "Did it work?" as she leaned in inspecting my face. She added, "You actually got some of it off, you're totally going to have to do my legs for me." As she laughed pulling up her pant leg and showing the hair on her legs. Athena blurted out, "That's nothing, close your eyes Rob." I closed my eyes and felt the stubble on Athena's calf brus.h.i.+ng up against my cheek. I opened my eyes and she rested her leg on my shoulder continuing to rub her calf against my cheek. She looked at me intensely asking, "When do you want to start?" I replied, "Let's find some more food first."

At the landing Artimus stood outside his pentagon fort calling out names for morning muster, "Clarkson, Spayner, Swishzer, Brosuer, Casius, Deckly, and Wildly. Morning quarters for you will be held in the pentagon. The following people will be present as master at arms; Smity, Broden, Tomely, Dragie, and Casley." Master chief Hauldbalm uttered to McCree, "I guess he doesn't need me anymore...too bad he didn't need that s.h.i.+p anymore we might'a gotten home somehow." Charlie McCree sighed, "I'll ask him." As Charlie walked over to Artimus she said, "Captain..." Atimus interjected, "The rest of you will get your instructions once we're done." Charlie blurted out as Artimus walked to the pentagon entrance, "And the Master Chief?" Artimus replied, "I don't have anything for him."

Wildly followed the group in with a degree of anxiety and uncertainty he had been called in not as a master at arms but among the officers and chiefs, he had only been a third cla.s.s mess specialtist. As they entered Artimus said, "First things first..." Clarkson interjected, "Find the water and food?"

Artimus looked at her with a subtle hint of dismay and corrected her, "Burial detail. Mormus has been asleep for going on three days mumbling about how he needed his hat...the s.h.i.+p is going down, and there is something vital he can't forget...his hat. And he fared better than several others."

Clarkson did a bizarre facial expression of a quick dismissive smirk, almost as though it were just an involuntary twitch, and rolled her eyes. Swishzer started to cry and Wildly suddenly found himself out of breath. The majority of the briefing was on how to conceal this from the survivors they were attempting to convince were still very much a crew under the captains command.

Sitting out at the posts stationed around the pentagon were a series of human maladies given a disgraceful unshapely form that being 'sailors'. Gunners mate guns third cla.s.s petty officer Eric Milson stood up and stretched his legs and looking at his former zombie crew, pasty white and in a malaise from lack of food and low water intake. Eric decided to go for a walk. He headed to a cl.u.s.ter of trees and decided to see where it went.

Eric climbed that tree like a half monkey half lumber jack and lumber he did right up the tree. Eric Milson had been a clumsy guy a little taller than was comfortable on a destroyer. He actually reached the top and noticed all he could really see was the same as before, an ocean and trees. The smaller trees were hard to disguise between a tree and a bush, there were also flares of yellow flora from what seemed to be bamboo. With his legs wrapped around the tree trunk he extended his arms like wings and rocked to and fro. He decided to build a tree house, and 'screw everyone else.'

With some effort Eric realized the reeds he had found were absolutely not bamboo, it lacked rigidity and strength, there were short sections strong enough but nothing really wide. He thought maybe just a net then glanced around for rope and saw nothing but twigs. So, Eric lay down beneath the tree looking at the bright blue sky and fantasized about his tree house and all his friends celebrating his accomplishment. They would pa.s.s around beers and toast Eric's strength and fidelity to his friends, he would barbeque chicken and ribs as well as hotdogs and hamburgers for the kids. And Eric would have kids, with his wife Fiona Apple .

Back at the boiler site we toiled away, fis.h.i.+ng and making our curtain. David Miles called over to me, "We're testing the sun dial. What time is it?" I looked back at him in a daze and waited for him to realize the impossibility of his question. He looked over at me and gestured with the shaking of his hands then looked down at his wrist and then shook his hands again.

Finally in defeat he asked, "Well, what time is it?" I said, "That's why we need a sun dial." at exactly the same time Mich.e.l.le replied, "Time for all of us to get a new watch." David looked back at us and slumped his shoulders down a little, he pointed at the shadow of the stick we had placed in the sand and said, "That's what time it is...I guess no one knows." There was a whimper in the latter half of his statement as though those words '...I guess no one knows' actually pertained to us being lost at sea and had nothing to do with the sun dial or the time.

Chapter Seven.

A lost frontier It had been a couple of days on the island and survival was all we had attended to, which did however triggers some l.u.s.tful drives in us but at the same time we were too focused on saving each other to chase that horse too far.

We had two cabanas, with a cobble stone courtyard, four ceramic boilers used as stills, a make s.h.i.+ft fis.h.i.+ng 'boat', a few small ropes, a fis.h.i.+ng net, and some clothe curtains that may one day be sails though they were too shear for that. As the day pa.s.sed it began to feel routine already. I expected couples to start forming but it seems the women were smarter than that. I would have to tend to their shaving until they caught the knack and we all served as bed warmers. As our hunger was satiated, we became bland and lacking any vision of escape and dwelled, now even within our dreams, on the island. Tammy's a.s.s exposed as she urinated in the sand in the moonlight, Mich.e.l.le scrubbing her toe nails with sand, Jennifer scratching at her crotch, Tommi trying to keep her hair from knotting, and Athena dealing with her cleavage were my distraction and it came to seem as though their distractions were intentional and was making sure no one guy leaned toward any one girl too much.

Eric Milson over at the landing had gathered twigs and brush and was doing his best weaving, occasionally glancing up at the trees his tree house would span across. Atrisia sat in her panties in the wet sand cooling her feet watching him in astonishment. Artimus stood staring at her and the look on her face wondering if she was going to sprout a fish's tail and swim away as the mermaid that lead the s.h.i.+p to its doom. But staring at her panties was much like staring at a pot waiting for water to boil it just seems nothing's going on there at all.

At the boiler Joseph Leos had just dropped off more wood for the boiler fires and flex for the cheering girls, he noticed Tommi actually blushed and Tammy didn't seem interested at all. Megan was speaking to mike about the animal prints in the soil, mike came off as a little bit on the red neck side and she a.s.sumed he would know how to hunt, he seemed to take this as a matter of him being a man and would certainly know how to hunt but knew very little about tracking, hunting, or cleaning a kill.