Me and Them

by S G Read

  Later I took the time to practice with the crossbow, ready for the next contest but as I was not alone it turned into a mini contest and I lost as usual! I was getting better though!

  When it was nearly dark we broke out the fish and had our fish supper before we went inside to talk and play silly games before we went to sleep. Inside the house they could revert to the little girls they were but outside I did not stand any petty squabbles, as we had to work as a team all the time to survive.

  Day 95 on the island.

  We had enough food and no one was willing to see if the sharks had finally gone, not even Sarah was trying to swim in the bay surrounded by coral. We just lazed about or practiced with either the crossbow or bow and arrows. The target stayed right next to the house and the girls put a new front on it to make it easier to see where we had hit it.

  I hacked the shark into pieces and readied each piece for cooking and when all the pieces were ready, we covered them with embers to cook. No one knew what shark tasted like but we were going to find out! I had eaten swordfish and the princesses thought they might have had it before but no one told them what they were eating when they were home. At the school, they ate what all the others ate. When it was ready, we ate it but it tasted like the other fish we had eaten

  We sat and planned during the rest of the day. As Sunday was approaching we would take it easy until then and have out contest on Monday all the time making preparations for a long stay up on the top of the monolith. We were going to stay up there, make bright flame during the night and lots of smoke during the day and add to our message. If it did not work this time, especially with the king looking for his daughters, I would give up and we would have to find another way to get us noticed, without the pirates knowing we were there!

  There were waterproof clothes on the latest boat and the girls washed them then hung them up to dry. There were more blankets and now we had sheets, they needed washing as well, before we could use them. There was a flare gun which had been in a clip on the roof of the boat. As it had been under the water I did not know if it would work or any of the spare flares, we found but we decided to take them up with us in case we saw a boat. As long as we were sure, it was not a pirate boat. There were four sleeping bags inside and they were drying after being washed several times. We aimed to be warm up on the monolith this time and dry if it rained!

  In the end the house looked like a laundry, it reminded some of home and there were a few tears but not for long. As we had no washing powder we used flowers we knew had a strong smell mixed in with the water to at least make the things smell nice. We left them drying and sat on the beach looking for dark clouds. The sky was clear as far as the eye could see.

  Darkness made us go inside and turn the lights on. I had taken to turning the alternator of during the day and only turning it on before dark so that it did not wear out to soon. We had already lost two bulbs but we had gained a lot more from the latest boat. We had an inspection lamp that clipped on to the battery. It meant we could take the light outside to see what was happening out there. The bulb was smashed but we found a spare in the cupboards on the boat.

  Day 96 on the island.

  I sat sharpening tools ready for Tuesday, we were having a good rest now as it was going to be hard work getting up there and even harder work while we were up there; I just hoped that it did not rain while we were up there!

  I sat there and sharpened the tools one after the other until I was totally bored. The girls put the food on to cook, more shark, as it needed to be eaten but tomorrow we were having pork, something to look forward to.

  When all the tools were as sharp as I could get them, I walked down to the beach and swam. I saw no sign of a shark and soon the girls joined me one by one. No one went out further than I did and I did not tempt fate by going out a long way. They had not thought about sharks until one had taken my fish, now it seemed, they thought of nothing else. Still it was better to be safe than sorry, you never know what a shark is going to do!

  When the cooks called us we went to eat the food, it was wise to wait until we were hungry so that we ate most of it but fish three times in a row was a bit much, somehow you could eat pork much more often without noticing!

  That evening an idea came to me. We had two boats now and they both ran on diesel, surely I could get enough diesel out of both boats to make the fire brighter even when we were out of dry wood! It was too late now to worry about it and I made a mental note to go and find out in the morning, not that I remembered everything I planned for the next morning! I moved the alternator into the stream and shut up the housing before it was too dark to see to do it but we did not go inside until it was completely dark. The cooler evenings were refreshing although we were used to the high temperatures during the day now.

  Day 97 on the island.

  It was a Saturday today. We all went down to the first boat we had rescued and tried to find out if there was diesel in the tank. Not an easy job! We had old containers with us to capture anything which I thought might burn. In the end I made a hole in the tank and tried to light what had come out while Charley held her finger on the hole like the little boy by the dyke. We lit a fire and when we put the fluid on it burnt, that was good enough! We caught what came out until it stopped, then I made a hole further down to let more out and we did the same again. It was going to be a hard climb up with everything and it soon became obvious on the way back that we would have to use the trolley. With me behind it and four girls on two ropes in front we could pull up everything in one go! We loaded up the trolley and rested. As there was still room on the trolley we walked to the other boat and did the same. The other boat had a spare can with diesel in it, which we decided take as both engines were useless and I was not a motor engineer!

  With the trolley fully laden we left it sitting there. Now we had time to practice today and tomorrow for the competition on Monday.

  I was firing the crossbow when they all walked over to where I stood.

  'This looks serious.' I commented when they reached me.

  'We’ve been talking King Walter of Horseshoe Island.' Sarah began. 'As we were late having the competition last week, we could be early having it this week! That way we could go up there on Monday and make smoke and flames all week, even if we have to come down and get more of that smelly goo!'

  'What do you say George?' I asked her as she was the one holding the conch at the moment.

  'I say yes as it might just get us some help before we are captured by the pirates.' She answered.

  'I am not going to be captured!' Natasha retorted. 'I would rather die first.'

  'You might not get that choice!' I explained. 'Maybe I should show you a few defensive moves to help you. Some are not nice and I don’t want any laughing either.'

  'Yes show us how to fight!' Charley cried. 'I don’t want to be taken without a fight, after all I am a princess!'

  'Okay, make a circle. I will take one of you and show you a move, then you can try it out on each other. When I come to one which you can only do to a man I will show you and explain but you will not be able to do it to me or my 'taters' will need a sling at the end of it.'

  That drew a laugh but it also got their attention.

  I took the time to show them all I could about defence with a little attack thrown in. Anything I thought a thirteen year old girl who was now a bit more mature than before she took this trip could manage. We carried on until it was time to eat and then did a bit more afterwards. They slowly got the hang of some of the moves and they could always practice with each other when they had the time. We were still at it when the sun went down but this time we went inside, tomorrow was competition day.

  Day 98 on the island.

  Today was Sunday and we started our competition early. With George not taking part one of us had to win but who? It was the chance for the ones who could not beat George to win and nerves were stretched, including mine. One bad shot could cost you the conch and my bad shot was an
outer. With the title up for grabs Sarah who had not been close to winning on any occasion hit a gold. It was down to Charley and Natasha to level with her which was all they could do. Natasha hit an outer; the look on her face said it all. Charley stepped up and fired. Everyone hurried to the board and it was not straight forward. By now the board was worn and the bolt had sagged until it touched the line. George took one look.

  'Rules is rules.' She said, not sounding like a princess at all and gave the conch to Sarah. 'Well done Sarah! You did well!' She said and meant it. 'Sorry sister but it was touching the line.'

  Charley looked like she was about to burst into tears.

  'I know and you were right.' She admitted. 'If it had landed on any part but that part where it flops down!'

  George put her arms round her.

  'Sorry.' She said and they both cried.

  It was a heart-warming moment, they were still sisters and they still cared even after all they had been through. We walked back to the fire and ate; Charley and George came over later, the best of friends. We ate the food and discussed the contest, it had been a good one this time. We went inside before it was dark and most went to bed; it was going to be the start of a hard day in the morning.

  Day 99 on the island.

  We were up early. Everyone had a shower to be as clean as possible as we were planning to be gone some time. We dragged the trolley with us, eight girls pulling and me pushing and trying to steer. It was hard going. I had to lift it over our pipe which fed the toilet and shower; I did not want to damage that! We made the bottom of the slope by early morning and stopped for a rest. The next pull would be even harder. After a short rest we started up the hill and at every flat area we took a short break. The sun beat down mercilessly but we did not stop for more than a few seconds, then we were off again. We made it half way up with a great deal of effort and stopped to eat. The eating was a good excuse for a longer rest as no one wanted to go on! I finally stood up.

  'I do not want to spend the night here. Up top we can have a big fire all night and be warm, here we are hot now but soon we will be cold and here we can have no fire!'

  The girls climbed to their feet and we started up the worst part, it was the steepest part! Now I used one of the spears I had with me to stick in the ground behind the trolley as a safety brake and I was glad I did or more than once the trolley would have run me over. After that it would have fallen down below and smashed. We moved a little at a time up the slope and I used both spears now as brakes. I was pleased to see the top two girls disappear over the top on to flat ground. Then the next two and the next two. There we stopped to rest, the first two girls were actually going down now towards the lake which made it easy for them but we did not want to come over the top in a hurry and push the trolley into the lake! We moved forwards again until I could not see any of the girls and I readied the spears, I was planning to put one behind and one in front to stop it this time but it lifted onto the flat area and stopped. I yelled but I had no need the girls knew where it was and were just keeping it there. Very carefully the girls climbed back out from the rim of the lake and we turned the trolley. Now it was flat and easy going again. We reached the bottom of the last slope and cheered.

  We rested there for a long time, we were not lighting the fire until after dark. First we had to add to the signal!

  The mood we were in could have meant a very rude message being left but instead we added between our 'are you blind' and our large 'help' sign 'or can’t you read?' or at least we hoped that that was what it looked like from above.

  With the sun travelling behind the monolith we pulled the trolley up the last little bit. Now we could use the block and tackle. We also pulled up a lot of wood, some fresh cut and some very old and fairly rotten. We took up green branches and there were very muddy clothes from the last boat which we thought would make a lot of smoke.

  With the last rays of the sun we lit a small fire, right where the big fire had raged earlier. We left it small but built it up enough so that it would not go out and waited for dark. With the darkness came the cold and up here it grew very cold very quickly.

  'Time to make some flames.' I announced.

  That was greeted with a cheer and a flourish of activity. Soon the flames leapt into the air. We had to move back to stop from cooking and watched, our faces glowing as red as the embers we could see. As the fire died I moved closer with a can of diesel, the big moment was here. I knew it was wrong to throw it on but I had no choice. I threw some on and retreated, the flames roared up again and I had to retreat further. When the flames died again I did the same, I would do it as long as I had some diesel. We were not able to bring all the diesel up with us so if necessary we would go down and get some more, not that anyone wanted to!

  Six girls slept and two girls stayed up with me, we had the night shift.

  Day 100 on the island.

  When morning came we still had a lot of diesel left and I was pleased. We woke the others and settled down to sleep; it was their job to keep it going all day making as much smoke as possible.

  Later I was shaken awoke and stretched as I stood up. There was a huge pile of wood and branches sitting up near the fire.

  'You’ve been busy then!' I said in admiration.

  'We want it to work!' Charley replied. 'Your food is over there; eat it while it is hot.' She curled up in the warm spot that I had just vacated and I walked to the food.

  My two helpers joined me and we ate before we went to work. We kept the flames high all night and woke the day shift when morning came, I still had diesel and things were looking good.

  Day 101 on the island.

  The six girls made smoke all day and cooked our food. Once again I was shaken awake by Charley.

  'Food is over there.' She said with a yawn, she was dirty and tired.

  She curled up in my warm spot and before I walked away she was asleep.

  We made huge flames with the new wood and just enough diesel to make it happen until morning, then we put on green branches ready for the day shift. I woke Charley with a shake of the arm then needed to shake her body before she stirred. She looked up at me and it all came back to her.

  'Morning already?' She asked.

  'Fraid so.' I answered.

  I curled up in the warm spot she left and I was soon asleep.

  Day 102 on the island.

  The girls had to go further and further for the wood to put on the fire but somehow there was a big pile when I woke up and smoke was belching out of the fire. Charley merely pointed to where the food was and flopped into my bed almost before I was out of it.

  We made flames all night and still had a little diesel for the next night but I knew it would be the last! In fact I was glad it would be the last! I woke Charley and we swapped places.

  Day 103 on the island.

  The girls were only able to make a pile half as big as the usual pile but it was good enough. Charley woke me and slid into the bed before I was out of it, I gave her a cuddle.

  'Last time tonight I think.' I whispered.

  'Good!' she replied and closed her eyes.

  We made flames roar into the night sky after we had eaten, the diesel ran out but then we had wood to put on. After that we crept as close as we could to rescue unburnt wood and throw it on. We kept it going until just before dawn then the flames died for the last time.

  Day 104 on the island.

  I woke Charley and she looked up at me.

  'Time to make it up and go home.' I whispered.

  A smile appeared.

  'Bagsy first in the shower when we get back!' She answered with a yawn.

  'Second I think!' I replied.

  'We’ll see.' She answered slyly and the old smile returned.

  We did not go to bed; we loaded up the trolley with the empty pots, made the fire smoke as much as we could and started home! It was certainly easier going down. We lowered the trolley with me beside it steadying it. If it fell we did not care, I cou
ld always make another one. We were soon crossing the water pipe and several girls kissed it as they passed it. We lowered the trolley down and passed the cave. We stopped long enough to load up some meat and fruit on to the trolley before we moved on. When we reached the house and stopped all eight girls ran for the shower, some shedding dirty clothes as they ran. I think they all showered together or near to it. I did the gentlemanly thing and sat outside waiting. When the last one walked out into the sunshine it was my turn! I had my shower and instead of going outside I went to bed for a while. The others chose to settle in the shade of the house and sleep.

  I woke and climbed down the ladder to the smell of roast pork. I realised how hungry I was at that moment. The sun was still shining brightly and after everyone had eaten we went out looking for signs of a rescue attempt. All three groups went out and stayed out until it was close to dark then we all returned. Once again we had seen no one and no boats.

  'What do you think they are doing about it?' Tabby asked.

  'They might not have seen it!' Sarah answered.