Me and Them

by S G Read

  She accepted that and walked on, to do what she was going to do before I interrupted her. I walked back to the new building; suddenly I pictured a second story and windows. If we found enough wood for a ceiling, it would also do as a platform to build the next storey and the floor between but how could I make the girls want to do it?

  The hunters returned an hour later and pushed the food into the ashes to cook before we started down the track to look for wood to cut down. George explained to Charley and the others before we left. They led the way with Andrea who had the bow. We found a route through to the arm of the land which formed the left hand side of the horseshoe. We found trees. Some young and growing, some old and flat on the ground. There were a lot of fallen trees as though some giant had brushed them aside with his huge arm.

  'Are these alright?' George asked.

  'These are very alright.' I replied. 'Maybe not the one with the big split in it but the others are okay. Tomorrow we come back and cut some free but we still have to get them back to the house!'

  'How?' Natasha asked.

  'One end on the trolley pulled by three girls and four girls and me lifting the other end, I hope.' I answered.

  Charley looked at a fallen tree, then at me, then back to the tree.

  'Tomorrow is going to be interesting.' She quipped.

  We walked back to eat the food. That evening, after I had eaten I thought about my design for the two storey building and the reason for it. The trees could be cut and laid across the walls, then the walls could be built over them and then continue up to make the second storey. The gaps between the logs covered with bamboo to make a proper floor. The front and back walls would go up to an apex to take one more tree. How we would get it up there I did not know. Then we could use bamboo for the roofing material either side, covered by whatever would make it waterproof. I was still thinking about it when I fell asleep.

  Day 30 on the island.

  I opened my eyes, remembered what we were going to do and closed them again. I was finally roused by Charley when they were ready to go. I washed slowly, then we gathered the tools and ropes. They were loaded onto the trolley. We followed the same route, ready for the boar to appear at any time, something I would have welcomed this time. We reached the first tree unmolested, cut it free, trimmed it, measuring it with a knotted rope and it was ready to go. I levered the heavier end up and the girls backed trolley under it, then four girls and I lifted the back and we started toward the camp.

  Charley was right, it was an interesting journey but we made it. We collected a second tree after we had eaten but as the girls were exhausted by then I went back with two hunters, one being Andrea with the bow, so that I could trim more logs ready for tomorrow. The hunters did not mind, all they had to do was to keep watch. As darkness fell I woke the hunters and we walked back. The other girls were inside the building and all asleep when we arrived. We ate hot food then went to bed as well.

  Day 31 one on the island.

  We brought back two more logs and I trimmed all the ones I planned to bring back before I returned to the building. I found Alex in tears.

  'Why the tears?' I asked.

  'We aren’t doing anything to get off the island.' She complained.

  'I hope to when we get that boat beached but before we can do that I need to know anyone here is safe from that boar.' I answered. 'We build this'- I pointed to the building- 'and the wall to stop it coming up here, disguise the wall and our house so that it cannot be easily seen, just in case pirates come a calling. Then I’ll be ready to sort out the boat.'

  'How many more logs do we need?' She asked and I knew that the hard work was the problem.

  'Four more trips should do it.' I answered, not knowing if it was true.

  'But that won’t fill the roof.' She argued.

  'We’ll fill the gaps with bamboo.' I explained. 'It’s lighter.'

  She smiled. 'Four more logs?'

  I nodded and she was happy again.

  I sat down and ate, this time the girls were still up.

  'How do we get the logs on top of the walls?' Natasha asked.

  'I have several ideas about that,' I replied while I was chewing, probably a fifty year old bird I thought, as I chewed, 'but I will listen to any other ideas.'

  None were fourth coming. I sat and looked at the building. We still needed the door frame and although I planned to use the door from the boat, the door frame would be too weak to be of use. I sat looking at the building until it was too dark to see it, then I went to bed.

  Day 32 on the island.

  We collected two more logs and it seemed to be getting easier. We brought the third log to the edge of the peninsula before we gave up, we could finish it tomorrow.

  Day 33 on the island.

  We collected that log and brought, what I had said would be the last log to the camp. Now I had to work out which way was going to work. We lifted the lighter end of one log on to one wall but even that was not easy. We at least proved that the wall was strong enough to stand a log dropping on it, several times! The props with the grooves cut in them were too flimsy for a log.

  I realised we needed the block and tackle from the boat! We tied three long bamboo poles together at the top and lowered the ends into a hole to stop them from sliding. Then attached the block and tackle to them, tied the log securely to the hook on the block and tackle and started pulling the rope to raise the log. Inch by inch it raised of the ground until it slid forward and rested against the wall. We used the shovel from the boat to ease it up as we raised it until it lurched over the wall ready to be lowered again. We made sure it was far enough on both sides before we lowered it and took the rope off it. No we had to roll it into position without it dropping back off. We did the same to the next one. Two logs in place! No one wanted to stop so we kept working until eight logs were in place.

  'Shouldn’t they be sloping?' George asked as we sat eating.

  'No they are just as I want them except that second to last one.' I pointed to the one next to the one nearest the door.

  'What is wrong with that one?' Charley asked suspiciously.

  'That is where the stairs are going up.' I replied.

  'Stairs?' Charley repeated.

  It was echoed by several others, they looked at each other and then they all jumped on me!

  Day 34 on the island.

  To my surprise the girls accepted my reasoning for the second story and started laying bricks between the logs but they chose to lower the extra log back down to get it out of the way. We improvised a sling to use with the block and tackle to raise the rocks and as I was redundant I oversaw the building of bamboo rafts to lay across the logs to walk on. The floor would eventually be one big raft of bamboo. The wall started to go up and I thought of windows. I walked down to look at the boat, the windows in that would do! Now I needed the boat beached! Things are never simple! Then I remembered, tomorrow was Sunday again. Just the day for playing sailors!

  I let them work on knowing that they would not get up to where I wanted to fit the windows for some days. Then we still had to get the last log up onto the apex at each end. The sun fell behind the horizon before the girls gave up work, they were three rocks up, all round except for the front part. I would have to make a door frame soon! The more I looked at it the more I realised that the door frame had to come next to make sure the whole lot did not fall down, even though it felt very sturdy. The fourth wall was needed.

  When we managed to rescue the boat, if we did manage it, I needed to find wood for my door frame. Suddenly a picture of a fallen tree which had split as it fell jumped into my brain. I did not believe that I had seen it then ignored it! I cut a piece of bamboo to the height I wanted it and leant it against the wall ready.

  When I told them that tomorrow was Sunday the girl’s mood changed and they started singing. Some songs they probably should not be singing but I let them sing what they wanted, I saw no harm in it. We ate what we wanted and sang well into the
night.

  Day 35 on the island.

  I announced my intention to rescue the boat and everyone wanted to help. They made a makeshift bamboo plug for the hole with a valuable piece of plastic wrapped round it to try to make it waterproof. It was going to be jammed in place with more bamboo and I hoped we would be able to tow the boat with the dinghy as far as a beach. The coral beach was the favourite landing place but if we could not get it that far anywhere would do!

  Just in case it did make it that far four girls went there and cut a deep groove as far as the water’s edge, to make somewhere to beach it.

  The water was still running out of the boat when we boarded it. We carried the plug aboard and placed it near the hole to wait for as much water to drain out before it was jammed in place with bamboo poles bent and pushing against the plug and the opposite side of the cabin. Then we carried long bamboo poles on board to fend the rocks off and steady the boat as it drifted clear, if it did drift clear.

  Two girls started to pump the bilge pump and as they tired two more took over. The water stopped flowing out and we stuck the plug in place. Now we had to paddle the dinghy round with our homemade paddles ready to tow it when the tide was high enough. The girls were in great spirits. Four stayed on the boat with me to pump out water, the rest hurried round to the dinghy and paddled it round ready. The tide turned and the water rose.

  The girls saw splashes inside the boat but not a lot of water came in. I hoped it would stay that way, especially if we managed to float it clear. The boat lifted and slid further onto the rocks but I expected that. Two of the girls pumped water out faster than it came in and when they tired the other two took over. We could see the top of the engine by now. The more water which we removed the lighter the boat became but the more it floated the faster the water squirted in. I was there with patches and more bamboo props to stem the flow and when it was down to a dribble and the boat was moving about I knew we were ready.

  'Natasha and Charley come up and help me fend her off the rocks.' I said as I reached the deck. 'Alex, you and Tamsin give us all the pumping you can manage!'

  We picked up the bamboo poles and pushed the boat backwards. We had to fight the waves but today was calm compared with what we had seen before. We pushed then braced against the wave, then pushed again until we were off the rocks. Now we had to make sure we were not smashed back against them. The dinghy appeared some way out and I saw Andrea dive into the water with the rope. She did not come aboard, just made sure we had the rope aboard then swum back to the dinghy. We tied the rope to the front and kept the boat away from the rocks while the girls paddled as fast as they could to drag us away from the rocks. As soon as we were clear we hurried below. Water was coming in fast but the girls pumping were keeping the level steady. The two fresh girls took over while the other girls looked out to see where we were.

  I took over when they tired and we worked like it until we reached the end of the island. All we had to do now was to go round the corner and into the coral inlet. Through the gap in the coral and beach it where the girls had dug a gouge in the beach. They had also stuck the bamboo props ready to keep the boat upright. The boat scraped against the coral but we steered it past and then the dinghy hit the beach. The girls leapt out and pulled on the rope to speed the boat ashore.

  When the rope reached the block and tackle they pulled harder until it stopped against the sand. Two girls ran forward with props and jammed them into the sand and against the hull to stop it tipping, then two more did the same. I leapt overboard and ran up to the block and tackle while the four girls on board pumped for all they were worth. I started pulling the boat further ashore while the four girls fought to keep it upright. I took it as far as I thought the block and tackle could cope and stopped. We stood back and looked. Water was still squirting out the pipe at the back as the girls pumped and no more would go in! We cheered. The girls not pumping danced for joy round the boat, splashing in the water behind it. We reinforced the bamboo to hold it up and I was satisfied. We sat and watched until the water coming out changed to a dirty black colour, then to a dribble, then stopped.

  Natasha appeared on deck.

  'All pumped out captain.' She cried and saluted.

  'Well done boatswain.' I called back.

  The girls climbed down the ladder on the back of the boat, one by one and then I climbed on board. I pulled the tools up in a basket and after making sure the engine was not worth wasting any time on, I went to work removing the battery and the alternator. If I could find a way to drive the alternator I could charge up the battery and call for help on the radio.

  To save effort we paddled the dinghy with our trophies in it round to the beach below our first camp. From there I carried the battery all the way back to our new camp and would have preferred not to have done. We put the alternator in a basket with the pistol I had found in the engine well and four girls carried it back. I knew I needed some wire to connect the battery to the alternator but first I wanted to know if it was possible. I sat nursing my aching arms while the girls cleaned and dried the outside of both trophies. They wanted a thorough cleaning and drying but first I wanted my doorframes!

  I took two girls with me and walked to the split tree. I could not use my measure as it was now holding up the boat but I was able to pace it out to find the height and cut two pieces to length. I carried one back and the two girls dragged the other one. Now I had a doorframe, thanks to Mother Nature!

  With the boat safe and our trophies drying in the hot sun, I turned to my doorframe. I expected no help and that is exactly what I was given. I stood up one side of the doorframe, measured how far it needed burying to make it the right height and started digging. Once it was standing there I did the same to the other side. A piece of bamboo tied at the top held them the right distance apart and now it was ready for rocks either side and then holes drilled for dowels, which would be lignum vitae branches stripped of bark. I would wait to drill the doorframes until the rocks were laid so I knew the right height to drill.

  When food was served I was ready for it and had no intention of doing anymore work today! I sat after eating, looking at a funny shaped piece of lignum vitae and I was soon shaping it with one of our sharp knives. It was slow work and would take me several days to make it into what it already looked like. That night I lay on my leaf bed looking at the door frame highlighted by the moon outside.

  -It will soon be a house- I thought and slept.

  Day 36 on the island.

  I woke early, picked up my piece of wood and whittled some more. Girls roused, went off for private functions and returned, some slipping back into bed, others stoking up the fire to get it burning for the days cooking. I thought of an oven inside and sat pondering it as I whittled.

  -It was possible- I thought.

  All too soon work began and we started to fill in the front wall to support the door frame. When the rocks were two high I drilled a hole and was told off in no uncertain terms when I disturbed the top rock but it had to be done. The girls added two more rocks and I drilled for the last time that side, this time without disturbing a rock. We started on the other side and laid it two rocks high before we called it a day. We ate and relaxed. Tomorrow the hunters had to go out and I was going to go fishing again but that was tomorrow. Now I lay there and whittled.

  'What are you making?' George asked.

  'Something I hope will help you reach father than when you throw a spear.' I answered cagily.

  'What so I can be a hunter?' She asked with more enthusiasm than I expected.

  'Hopefully anyone who uses it will be able to go hunting.' I replied.

  'Tell me what it is!' She wailed.

  'A bent piece of wood.' I replied and held it up for her to see.

  'Doh.' she cried in exasperation and walked away.

  I carried on whittling. As it changed shape I held it up to the failing evening light and looked at it. Then I carried on whittling. That night when I lay on my bed we had a
visible doorway with a wall one side and the other side started.

  Day 37 seven on the island.

  Even with the hunters gone we raised the wall on both sides of the door until they were almost level with the top of the doorframe uprights.

  'Now what?' Charley asked now back from her hunting expedition and ready to help.

  I pointed to what was an off cut from a log.

  'That is the log which will sit on top to keep the two sides in place but it needs grooves in it to take the uprights.'

  'I don’t understand.' Natasha replied.

  I drew in the sand.

  'If we sit it on top of the uprights, with notches to sit them in it won’t move and I can fit the door.'

  'What door?' Tammy asked.

  'The cabin door off the boat.' Charley replied.

  'We’re going to have a proper door!' Tammy squealed.

  'And windows upstairs.' I added.

  'Will they open?' She asked.

  I tried to picture the boat windows, did they open?

  'I’ll make them open somehow.' I answered, knowing they would need to open to get the air moving upstairs, when it was built.

  I cut the log to fit the uprights, flattened where it would sit on the rocks and where the rocks would sit upon it. It was winched up and slid into place. Now we could build above the door and move on to making the upstairs. That night we felt safe inside our house, with a bamboo shutter in the doorway, it already felt like home. We had not forgotten about going home and everyday we listened for aeroplanes or boats but as yet we had seen none bar the one on the rocks.

  Day 38 on the island.

  Today we increased the front wall until it was level with the other walls; soon we would be ready for the windows. I took two girls and the trolley to start on the windows.

  We took care not to come face to face with the boar on the way to the boat but we saw no sign of him or his family.