“Malcolm is fine. He went scouting for help. Hopefully, he would be back soon. He said he wouldn’t be going too far in.”
“What happened?”
“Turbulence and lightning, did remember?” She replied and started to stand up.
“Is help anywhere close? Did the pilot…”
“I have no idea sir.” Abby cut in before he finished. “I, like you, am waiting for his return. So please, keep calm and wait it out.”
“Are you trying to say that there is no help whatsoever?” he persisted.
“I’m afraid not,” A voice from behind them said. They turned back to see Malcolm standing before them. “There was not a single settlement in sight where I checked. Not a single sign of civilization. The whole island seems to be deserted.”
“So there is no hope for help anytime soon?” Richard asked.
“I can’t say for sure. I managed to send out a mayday message before the forced landing but the sad thing is it could take days before anyone would rescue us. If they ever do. We are on our own from now and if we want to survive, we need to work together to provide the essentials for this unplanned stay of ours.” Malcolm said and sat on the ground. “First up, we need some sort of roof over our heads for tonight. Night would come upon us before we know what is happening.”
Chapter 5
Abby threw the palm fronds she just brought on the pile she had gathered from her previous trips into the deserted forest. As she was returning to get more fronds, her gaze fell on Richard. A fresh release of anger coursed through her blood.
Since Malcolm had returned from scouting the vicinity, they had been trying to get things together to make their stay here a lot easier. They had agreed it would be best to have a makeshift shelter to at least lay their head until the next day and they would take things further from there.
Between then and now, Abby had gone several trips into the depth of the island to get palm fronds for their shelter. Malcolm had gone with her a couple of times at first but he had stayed back to start the actual building process. All the while, Richard had just sat there, watching. It had not gotten to her at first but now it did. He had not even bothered to offer his help. They still had a lot to be done like gathering wood for fire and looking for food and water.
“Would you please come help out with some of these things?” She asked. Richard looked at her without a word and turned back to the other side he was facing before she spoke.
Abby shook her head and went back to get supplies. When she got back, Richard was still in the same spot. She was livid. She might have burst out at him but she didn’t know how appropriate it would be because he was technically still their boss. For Malcolm not to have complained yet despite his seething, he must have thought the same too. Maybe she would just talk to him politely. That wouldn’t hurt.
“You know, it would be really helpful if you decided to come join in, don’t you?” she said to him.
“Why should I? It’s not my fault we are in this situation now, is it?”
“So whose is it? Ours? Because I’m really trying hard to understand this nonsense.” Abby burst out. She really couldn’t take it any longer.
“You don’t have to understand. Just get on with your task.”
“No sir, you don’t get to boss me around. Look around you, mister, this is a world different from the one you are used to. We’re in the middle of fucking nowhere and it’s getting dark. You need to get your shit together and come help build up this thing if we want to survive one night here.”
“I would not lift a finger to do anything here. You guys created this mess, you guys have to fix it.” he replied.
Abby heard the falling of palm fronds and the thundering of footsteps behind her. In the twinkling of an eye, Malcolm had breezed past her and was standing really close to Richard.
“Say that again.” Malcolm thundered.
“You guys created this mess and you have to fix it. Do we have a problem here, young man?” Richard repeated.
“Oh yes, we do! Who the fuck do you think you are and where in the world do you think this is?!? Your company retreat? Get real, dude!”
“How dare you speak to me like that?” Richard said, still not even bothered to stand up from the ground. His eyes were getting red and his hands shook ever so lightly one would never have noticed if they didn’t get up close.
Malcolm let out a dry, humorless laugh. This guy still did not get the memo. He thought he was still in his world where he called the shots. Right here, the only person calling the shots was Malcolm. None other.
“You still do not get it. You are far away from where your word is bond. Here, you have to pitch in your quota. Abby has been going back and forth with frond. I have been building this house that you would probably be the first to run into when it is ready. We are not machines. There is only so much we can do.”
“The earlier you get to work, the better for you. Don’t go expecting me to join in. You both work for me and your duty is to save me from this situation you put us in.” he said, stabbing his fingers in the air.
“Let me spell this out for you; on this island, we do not work for you. We work together for one goal; to get out of this goddamned place alive. You know, I can’t take any of this shit anymore. You feel, for some messed up reason in your head, that the whole world is beneath you. You have the worst personality I have ever come across and trust me, I have seen many horrible people. Get your fucking ass of that ground and be useful, dammit!”
Richard shot up from the ground in anger. How could this lowlife talk to him in such a manner? Who did he think he was? Had he forgotten for a second that he was talking to the Richard Myers?
“Watch how you speak to me, young man.”
“Or what?” Malcolm said and moved closer to him.
Abby thought they were going to resort to punching each other with the way they were at each other’s throats.
“Would you guys just cut it out?! In case you really haven’t noticed, it’s getting really dark really fast and if you continue with this childish squabble we would never get anything done. Malcolm, get back to work. I’ll get all we need if he doesn’t want to help.”
“He shouldn’t...” Malcolm started to say.
“Just go.” She ordered. Malcolm shot Richard a look to tell him it was far from over and went on to continue their shelter. “The least you could do is help.” She said to Richard when Malcolm was gone.
“I’m going to get some air.” Richard said and left the two of them to work.
Chapter 6
Malcolm was beyond tired from all of work that he had to do since he got back. He was also probably exhausted from that episode with Richard but he really didn’t think so. He shouldn’t let that no-good idiot get to him so much. If it hadn’t been for Abby he was this close to sending a punch Richard’s way. One that would reset those fine features of his.
He had managed to finish the shack and even though it was not all that -- it turned out better than he thought it would when he started. They were all lucky he had a little bit of scouting experience and though it might have been years since he did something like this, he still had an idea how things worked.
Now that the shack was settled, they had to find some wood and make a fire. Food was out of the equation today. He hoped all of them would be able to conserve their strengths till the next day. It was a great thing Abby had stopped him form exhausting the little he had in his reserves. He was not sure Abby, on the other hand, would be able to stay until morning. He would have to speak to her about it.
“Abby?” He called to be sure she was not asleep already. She had lain on the bare ground, staring at the tree canopies and had not moved a muscle for a while now.
“Yeah?” She replied, still not looking away.
“Thought you were asleep.”
“Nah. I’m tired but definitely not sleepy. This place gives me the creeps. I don’t know if I could ever be
able to sleep until we get out of here.”
“You can’t cheat nature. Whether you want to or not, you’d still end up sleeping. It might take a while.”
“Richard still isn’t back.” She said and sat up. “I hope he’s fine. He would never be able to survive on his own out here.”
“I really do not give a monkey’s ass.”
“Richard! He’s a person like you, for crying out loud.”
“Right. I don’t wish him ill. I just don’t care so much for him. Are you done resting? We need to get some sticks to make a fire.”
“And light it with what? Stones?”
“Yeah. I used to live in the Stone Age.” He said. Abby heard the playful Malcolm she knew to come back when he said that and she smiled.
“Oh, really?” She asked sarcastically.
“Yes, really. I have a lighter on me, silly. I didn’t lose it in all the ruckus, thank God. Let’s get to it. The night is not going to be very cold -- after all, we are on a tropical island -- but we have much better chance of being found in this darkness with it.” He said.
As they were about standing up, they heard rustling of feet on grass and they turned to the direction it was coming from. Richard made his way through the small pathway. His shirt was off and he only had his white vest and his trousers on. In his right hand was his shirt, made into a sort of bag. Abby noticed that his shoulders were just a little slouched and there was a glint in his eyes that she had not seen before. Something had changed about this man.
“Hi, guys.” He said with a smile, catching them both by surprise. They were both too stunned, they couldn’t reply. Richard Myers was known never to greet the people under him first. “I see you guys are done with the shelter. Well done.”
“Umm, where is this coming from? Where’s Richard Myers and who is this stranger that looks just like him?” Malcolm said finally.
“Stop it, Malcolm.” She said to Malcolm and turned to Richard. “Where have you been? You’ve been gone for quite a while.”
“I was exploring the island. I needed some air after all that happened. It’s a really beautiful place, I must say.”
“Right. Beautiful is the word you use when you choose this place for a vacation and you have a way out. We have no way out. This is our prison.” Malcolm quipped and Abby shot him a warning look. “What? I was just joking.”
“Was there any sign of people when you were exploring?”
“Not at all, Abby. We are far away from the world as it is. I did bring something back for you guys. Thought you might be hungry.” He said and dumped the shirt on the floor and dug into the contents. He pulled out some bananas and papayas and gave a handful to both Abby and Malcolm.
“Thanks,” Abby said.
“You guys need help with anything else? I have had my fill before coming back to base.” Richard said, again to their surprise.
“Erm... yes, there are a couple of things we need.” Malcolm said. Now was the time to know if this change that had come over Richard was real. “We need some wood to make fire with. You know anywhere we could get that? Dry wood.”
“I could look around. I’ll be right back.” He said without argument.
“You sure you don’t need help with it?” Abby asked.
“Not at all, thank you. You both have done so much already.” He said and started back towards the direction he had come from.
Malcolm stared at his disappearing back and then at the fruits in his hands. Something was definitely wrong. Abby was probably thinking the same thing because she looked in the same directions and then at Malcolm.
“Is this guy bipolar or something?” He asked.
“That’s a bit harsh, Malcolm.”
“No, really. He leaves here so angry and he’s back being helpful and shit. Aren’t you in the least bit suspicious about him and this kindness?”
“He’s just realized he was being an ass -- that is all. He had a lot of time to think things through and he realizes it is better to work together, I want to believe.”
“Trust me, people do not change like that with the snap of a finger. You are too trusting. Something is really fishy here. I don’t want to hear otherwise.” Malcolm looked at the fruits and then towards the direction Richard had passed. “Are you sure these fruits aren’t poisoned?”
“For real? Like he made sure to take a vail of poison he had hidden somewhere when the jet was going nose down?”
“Okay, you make that sound really ridiculous. But what if these are the poisoned species?” Malcolm insisted.
“You’re just nuts. I don’t care what you think. I’m eating mine and if you still have yours, I’ll eat them too.” She said and started peeling the skin off one of her bananas.
“Bon appetite.” Malcolm said sarcastically. He would not eat this thing until he was sure it was safe too. If Abby wanted to, that was her funeral.
Chapter 7
His eyes fell on his only companion’s sleeping body in the shack. Malcolm looked at Abby with suspicion as she lay in there. She had retired to the shack not too long after eating. Richard was still nowhere in sight and that only made him believe in his fears more. Why would he just be willing to help all of a sudden? The man had probably found help and didn’t want them returning with him to make them pay for something they had done or not done.
He walked up to Abby and sat beside her. This was probably the fourth time he had come to check if she was breathing. Warm air fell on his skin when he placed his hand under her nose again for the umpteenth time since she had slept. She was fine and her breathing was kind of regular. It was just his paranoia that was making him this way. This was supposed to be Abby’s way of reacting to the change but he was the one acting weird.
“Would you cut it out?” Abby said in her sleep.
“What?”
“Stop coming to touch my nose. I am not dying. Just sleeping, dude.”
“He still hasn’t returned.”
“You’re such a sissy. Typical girl behavior. Stop fretting and get something to eat. You need something in your belly after such a long day. And stop being such a weirdo.” She said and went back to sleep.
The sun’s intensity was dimming when Richard returned with a pile of sticks. This time, he had taken off his vest and had it tied around his waist. Malcolm had to admit that the man had probably changed for the better. They would never know exactly what the man had seen or thought of that brought about such a drastic change.
Richard dumped the pile on the ground some distance from shack and dusted himself off. The man bent over the pile and started to arrange them in a stack. He finished his task without as much as looking at Malcolm. When he was done, he emptied the remaining fruits out of his shirt, arranged them near the stack of sticks, and dusted off his shirt. Abby had by now woken up and was staring at Richard.
“You’re up. I was thinking maybe we should explore the island a little before the sun sets completely. I found the aircraft wreck but I decided we should all go through the ruins together.” Richard said.
“Why?” Malcolm, ever the skeptic, asked.
“Well, we didn’t exactly start out on the best of paths. This is my little way of atoning for those times.”
“Hmm,” was all Malcolm said.
“I think it’s a good idea. The earlier we set out, the earlier we return.” Abby finally said. “How far is it?”
“About ten minutes away,” Richard replied.
“You can tell how long? So accurately?” Malcolm asked, his brow raised in suspicion again.
“Huh, yes. There’s this small device people wear on their wrist called a watch. I have one on now and before you say anything else, it is waterproof.” Richard replied.
“Serves you right.” Abby mouthed to Malcolm and turned to Richard. “Let’s go.”
***
All three of them stood in front of the wreckage. There was no way in the world they would be able to salvage thi
s craft. They had to wait for help and hope that it came soon. It was a good thing Malcolm was able to send a mayday message before they ended in the Pacific.
The three of them rummaged through the ruins for some of their possessions that weren’t already ruined in the crash landing. The plan was to search through and call the attention of whoever was thought to be the owner.
Abby walked through the debris with the intention of looking for just food. They could only survive on fruits alone for so long. Her search proved very unsuccessful. She had been searching for a while when she heard a shout some distance away. Realizing it was Malcolm, she rushed towards him. Richard also came rushing to them.
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