Eventually, Jax loosened her grip and sat back, looking up with the saddest eyes Ana had ever seen. Ana wondered if Jax knew something she didn’t, so she started gently asking her companion vague questions, hoping to discover what was upsetting the little creature so much. Jax shook her furry head slightly in reply to every query Ana posed until the subject of leaving came up. At that Jax, nodded vigorously and clutched Ana again. Ana suddenly realized Jax was petrified of being left behind and guilt consumed her. Hugging her companion close, Ana reassured Jax, telling the little animal she had no intention of leaving her. Without saying anything further, Ana knew this was going to be a problem, and it bothered her that she had not considered it before. She did not see the government allowing her to take Jax a second time and knew trying to smuggle her companion out was not going to work. Ana silently promised she would figure out a way to bring Jax home, even if it was the only thing she accomplished between now and next week.
Jax eventually untangled herself. Reaching up, the little creature ran both hands down Ana’s face, then rubbed a furry cheek against Ana’s. Slipping out of Ana’s lap, Jax mimed eating, then pointed toward the trees. Nodding, Ana reminded Jax not to go to the camp, then watched as the little creature left the glade.
After Jax had disappeared, Ana stood and stripped. The pool wasn’t large enough to bathe in, but she could use the water to try and get cleaner than she was. Ana first washed all the clothing, using up one of the last soap slivers in the process. Placing the clothing around the area to dry, Ana kept one sock, rolling it into a loose ball. Dipping it into the pool, she proceeded to soak herself thoroughly, squeezing the sock and dipping it back in the pool once all the water had been wrung out of it. Taking the last sliver of soap, Ana made a thick lather and scrubbed her entire body from the top down. Using the sock again, she rinsed off, standing away from the pool as she did so. When she was done, Ana unrolled the sock and placed it next to its mate.
Kneeling on a rock, Ana bent over and, using her cupped hands, did her best to wash her hair. She made sure not to get any soap into the pool since there seemed to be no exit stream and she wanted to make sure the water stayed fresh. When Ana felt all the soap had been rinsed out, she set about combing the knots, leaving the hair loose to dry. Rising, she checked on the clothing and found the underwear was no longer damp, allowing her to put it back on. Ana then flipped everything else, grabbed the pack, and settled on a flat rock, waiting for Jax to return.
Opening the pack, Ana pulled out the list of directives and read it yet again. She desperately wanted to find some way around the ones involving the camp. Ana had already challenged the one about killing when she fed the vines, although she wouldn’t know if the government would punish her until after she left. The directive said she could kill for food, but it didn’t say if it had to be HER food. If the government brought it up, Ana figured she had a strong case as the directive was not specific as to whose food it had to be.
But try as she might, Ana could not find a way around the directive forbidding her to enter the camp or talk to the residents. Frustrated, she folded the paper again and returned it to the pack. Leaning back, Ana tilted her face to the sun and closed her eyes, letting her mind clear as she focused on more immediate concerns.
She still had several more days before the yacht arrived. Ana supposed she could just wait it out in the glade, but it was good bet that would become boring fairly quickly. She wanted to make sure she could account for every day that passed and staying in the glade the entire week would almost certainly result in napping at odd times, sending her day/night rhythm out of sync. Ana let her mind wander, wondering what she could do to pass the time.
Opening her eyes, she leaned forward and pulled the knife over. Taking it out, Ana cleared the ground in front of grass, leaving loose dirt behind. Patting it smooth, she started to write. Ana had found that writing things down helped organize and prioritize her thoughts as well as making it easier to focus. She wrote steadily for a while, stopping periodically to flex her wrist and relieve the cramping. Ana had rarely had to write on the mainland, the tabs everyone used being speech enabled. However, all the instructors at school insisted on seeing the written answers to test questions, as well as essays and sometimes projects, in the student’s own hand. Because of these requirements, Ana, along with everyone else, learned how to write using a stylus on their school tabs, but most only wrote for school and then only when the instructors insisted on it. Rubbing her wrist again to ease the unaccustomed pain writing caused, Ana sat back once more and reviewed what had been written.
Ana had made a list of how she planned to spend the next seven days. It included an exercise session every morning, heading to the tree line at midday to watch the beach, helping Jax locate food in the afternoon, and working on the many questions that plagued her before dark. She had also noted the possibility of heading to the beach at sunset just to watch the glorious colors paint the sky, realizing that the pastime provided a sense of peace as well as giving her joy. The shore was close enough that Ana felt it would be pretty safe to travel the woods after dark once she learned the way, but she would see how that went before committing to it.
Ana had thought deeply about whether to watch the beach or not, worried about being seen. But she came to the conclusion that a reconnoiter at midday was the only way to gain insight into the patterns of the arrivals and departures. She wanted to see how often people were dropped off and if there was ever an instance when a person was dropped off at the same time as one was picked up. Ana also wanted to see, if possible, how the youngest children were treated, wondering if they were thrown over the side if they refused to leave the raft and if they were escorted back to the boat at their departure time. Jan had told her the government allowed the camp to care for the youngest and she was curious as to how far that care extended. Ana needed to gain as much knowledge about the government’s behavior with regards to the camp as possible, hoping she could apply it to her eventual plan to save the children here. In addition to what she hoped to learn, Ana also harbored a deep desire to see Jan again. Even if she couldn’t talk to him or let him know she was on the island, she could at least look at him, giving herself something to dream about when she returned home.
By now, Jax had returned, different food stuffs cradled in her little arms. Placing them on the ground, the little creature looked over the list, then gazed up at Ana searchingly. Smiling, Ana reached over and ruffled Jax’s fur, telling her companion not to worry while wondering if the little creature could read what had been written. The way Jax had looked over the list was intriguing, and Ana was unsure if her friend understood it or was just looking for Ana to explain what the markings meant. Tucking the thought aside, Ana decided to look into it further after she got home.
Jax set about cleaning the food, also making sure not to get any dirt in the little pool. The preparations complete, the little animal tugged on Ana’s arm, pointing to the small buffet. Ana swiveled around and the pair had a light dinner, sharing the food between them as Ana chattered on about inconsequential things. She was thrilled when she discovered Jax had found some small root vegetables along with the fruit and made sure to let her companion know how happy that made her. Ana was also pleased to find Jax had bought back the electric blue bananas again. While bland, they were more solid than any other food she had eaten so far, and Ana felt full for the first time in weeks.
When the pair had consumed everything, Ana gathered up the remains and walked to the opposite end of the glade. Burying everything, she scattered grass back over the loose dirt and motioned to Jax. The pair spent the next hour gathering small rocks and pebbles, then constructing a wall around the perimeter. Ana placed the far wall at just past the midway point of the meadow, worried if it was built too far away, neither of them would hear anything that might stumble over it during the night. After critically assessing the low barrier, Ana returned to the pool, Jax trotting alongside. The sun had started to set, so she set a
bout cutting a circle, making a deep soft bed large enough for the pair to sleep on. Softly calling to Jax, Ana lay on her back, watching as the sky darkened and the first stars appeared. Ana was still mesmerized by how sharp and clear the sky was and couldn’t get enough of stargazing, knowing it would not be the same once she returned home. Jax curled up alongside and started softly snoring, Ana eventually falling asleep under the bright pinpoints of light, never noticing the face that watched silently from the trees.
13
Chapter 13
Week 4
Day 3
Ana watched the events unfolding in front of her with interest, a slight frown creasing her brow. Today was the third day she had been watching the beach and the second time the raft had arrived. Yesterday, a boy who was obviously under the age of ten had been left behind, crying as the raft sped away. An older girl had emerged from the forest, comforted the boy, and led him in the direction of the camp. Ana had not been surprised at this, having been told that the government allowed the camp to care for the youngest as soon as they arrived. Today, however, what she was witnessing seemed very confusing and not at all what she had expected. The raft had arrived empty and there was no one on the beach, so Ana’s first thought was whoever was supposed to be picked up had missed their time. But the pilot beached the craft and exited it, scanning the shoreline in the process. Ana had thought this highly unusual. When she had met the raft several months ago, the pilot had stayed inside it. He had not exited for either her arrival or the little boy’s either, dumping both of them over the side. His actions today seem out of character and Ana was intensely curious about the reason behind it.
Worried about being seen, Ana slipped further into the shadows. As she stepped back, the pilot turned and faced the jungle, crossing his arms as he obviously waited for something. Ana peered to her left, barely able to see the tree line, and eventually observed two people exit the jungle and approach the pilot, appearing to have come from the direction of the camp. The younger one, a girl, looked to be about six, and one hand was clasped firmly in the older boy’s grip. After looking closely, Ana was sure the boy was Jan. He had the same build and hair color, appeared to be the same age, and the clothing looked the same. Ana realized it made sense that he led the girl instead of leaving her alone on the beach, probably wanting to make sure she stayed safe and calm. What occurred after the two met, though, caused Ana’s frown to deepen. She was unable to decipher the meaning of what she was seeing and found the actions of the two men somewhat bizarre. And suspicious as well.
Jan approached the pilot, and a few words were exchanged. Ana was too far away to hear anything, but she assumed it was just a greeting of acquaintances, which would make sense if Jan escorted the youngest children to the raft every time. But then the pilot pulled Jan into a firm embrace, hugging him hard. Jan lifted his arms and hugged the pilot back. Ana could now see the little girl had a blindfold on and was unable to see what was transpiring between the two men. Ana eased forward, hoping to hear something, but the group was too far away, and only indistinct murmuring reached her. She stepped softly to the left, hoping to get nearer without being seen or heard, but was unable to approach close enough to make out any words. Sighing softly, Ana opted to remain where she was, worried about possible discovery if she attempted to move any further.
Cocking her head, Ana wondered what the relationship between Jan and the pilot was, while trying to understand why the pair were being so open about it. Was Jan related to the pilot in some way? Had he come to some agreement with the government regarding the camp? Or was Jan a plant, sent to the island to spy and report back? Ana didn’t want to believe the last to be true, even if it seemed the most plausible. She tried to recall how Jan had acted, including his body language and facial expressions, when he had spoken with her several months ago. Ana couldn’t answer for the entire conversation since she had either not been looking at him or been so consumed with rage that her emotions were clouded, making it hard to remember the details. The parts she did remember, however, seemed at odds with the idea that Jan was a spy. He had seemed calm, relaxed, and his disdain for the government actions had seemed genuine. He had imparted what Ana thought was important information, warning her not to speak of it. And despite being reluctant to respond, his answer to the last question she had asked was something bound to get both of them killed should the government find out they knew.
Continuing her surveillance, Ana tried to note every detail. She wasn’t going to find out the answers right now and needed to concentrate on everything she saw, committing it all to memory so the details could be picked over later.
Ana saw the pair had separated, and Jan was now talking rapidly to the pilot, sometimes using hand gestures to possibly indicate size or point something out. The pilot would periodically answer but he seemed very calm, arms now hanging loosely at his sides. The little girl stood so quietly Ana got the impression her ears had been plugged also.
Jan eventually stopped talking and the pilot reached down and took the little girl’s hand. Leading her to the raft, he started speaking as Jan accompanied them. When the three reached the small craft, the pilot gently lifted the girl, placed her on the seat, then reached into the boat and withdrew a flat pack. Jan took the pack and stuck it under his shirt, gave the pilot another hug, then helped him push the raft into the water. The pilot removed the little’s girl blindfold and handed it to Jan before moving towards the console. Stepping back, Jan waited as the pilot fired up the motor, waving good-bye before the raft was out of range. Turning, he headed down the beach in the direction of the path, not towards the camp as Ana had been expecting.
Bending over, Ana quickly removed her shoes. Tying the laces together, she draped them around her neck, making sure they wouldn’t slip off. Slipping further back into the trees, Ana turned and headed towards the path. She had sent Jax back to the glade earlier and was glad the little creature wasn’t here now. Ana wasn’t sure she would be able to keep Jax from trying to run to Jan, possibly alerting him to her presence if Jan recognized the animal. Even if she were able to keep Jax out of sight, the noise might still attract his attention. Jax was a distraction Ana didn’t need right now, and she silently hoped her companion stayed put.
Moving quickly, Ana soon reached the blood trees. She had spent a little time observing them the first day and figured out that they turned color as the morning light touched their crowns, the color spreading as the sun rose higher. They stayed red for several hours, the rivulets eventually receding completely just before midday. The process repeated in the evening, but for a significantly shorter amount of time, not starting until the sun was setting and ending before dark. Sunset was still hours away, and Ana knew she was in no danger of being burned. She silently moved from tree to tree, taking very light steps and using the trunks as cover. Ana also wasn’t concerned with running into the giant crabs while flitting through the jungle. While they had trapped her in the blood tree on her last trip, this time she was certain she could avoid them. Ana believed she had figured out the crabs’ routine, having heard them the first day she sat on the beach.
The morning after Jax had led her to the glade, Ana had headed to the shore, determined to start on the new routine immediately. She had arrived without any problems, Jax nestled on one shoulder, and settled close to the tree line, idly drawing in the dirt with the knife. The weather was clear, the ocean was calm, and the jungle seemed quiet, leaving Ana unconcerned about anything other than the possible yacht’s arrival. She continued to doodle, scanning the beach and water periodically. When the sand in front of her erupted suddenly, Ana bit her cheek to keep from screaming. Jumping up, she had fled several feet into the jungle, then turned around to see what was causing the upheaval. Jax, startled out of a nap, had scampered up the nearest tree and settled on a branch, seemingly uninterested in the commotion below.
Her gaze travelling from left to right, Ana saw that the entire beach was in motion, the ground heaving as geysers o
f sand erupted everywhere. She continued watching, poised to flee, but an intense curiosity kept her rooted in place. As Ana watched, the crabs emerged from under the sand, claws shaking skywards as they formed a loose group. Moving as one, they headed towards the path and entered the jungle, claws clicking continuously. Ana watched them go, holding her breath so as not to attract attention. She heard the clicking long after they were out of sight, eventually fading away as the jungle resumed its normal noises. Letting her breath out, Ana retraced her steps and sat in the same spot, wondering how long it would be before the crabs came back. Jax rejoined her, shooting Ana a disgusted look before settling back in her lap.
Ana estimated it was about two or three hours before she saw the crabs again. She had started to think the self-imposed vigil was going to get old really quick and was contemplating heading back to the glade when she suddenly realized the crabs had returned. They had made their way onto the beach with no noise and she quickly saw why. Each crab carried a small animal or reptile in its claws. Their foray into the jungle was obviously a hunting expedition, although at first Ana wasn’t sure why they were bringing the food back. The reason soon became clear. The crabs took their prey down to the water and dunked them several times. They then moved slightly back up the beach and proceeded to eat, tearing the food into small bits before delicately moving the pieces to their mouths. Ana turned away in disgust since some of the prey were alive, still moving as they were torn apart. When she was finally able to swallow her gorge and work up enough courage to return her gaze to the distasteful sight, the crabs had finished feasting and were methodically pushing the remains of their lunch into the water, making sure it was all swept out to sea. Once the beach had been cleared of debris, the crabs buried themselves by digging a hole and shoveling the sand over their backs. Within a matter of minutes, the beach was smooth with no evidence the crabs had ever been there.
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