by Clare Revell
Ailsa yawned. “Nor can I,” she said. “I hadn’t realized how late it was. It must be about midnight.”
“How can you tell that?”
“Position of the moon. Easy when you know how.”
They crept into the hut, but the men weren’t there.
The girls lay down and were soon asleep.
Lou lay there with a hand on Deefer’s collar. She’d just dozed off as dawn’s early light broke over the village, when someone tripped over her crutches and landed heavily on her leg.
“Sorry,” Jim said. “Did I hurt you?”
“It’s fine. What time is it?” she asked, holding her leg, somehow keeping in the groan of pain.
“Dawn. Go back to sleep. We have to be up in about three hours.”
“You get the DSO,” she yawned.
“DSO?”
“Dirty Stop Out award.”
Jim grinned, and lying down was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
Lou watched him for a while before closing her eyes.
Mafuso and Amilek come in, but rather than sleep, they sat by the fire talking quietly together.
She didn’t want to listen, but the voices carried. Tears burned her eyes, as Mafuso confirmed what she already knew, but she wouldn’t let them fall. There was plenty of time for that later.
~*~
Surprisingly all the men, except Jim, were up by seven and ready to do a day’s work. He moaned as Lou shook him.
Lou pulled the covers off. “Get up.” she said unsympathetically. “You only have yourself to blame. Now get up or I set the dog on you.”
He didn’t move.
Lou sighed. “Deefer, lick him.”
Deefer immediately started licking Jim’s face until he reluctantly got up.
“OK I’m up. I shall go and throw myself into the cold river to wake properly.”
“Mind the shark doesn’t get you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Shark. Yeah, right. Since when have you seen a shark in the river?”
Lou rolled her eyes. “You should have paid attention in your geography lessons. Look out for the piranhas as well.”
The day was spent decorating the village and making the final preparations for the wedding.
Jim spent most of the day dozing under a tree, and Lou wisely left him to it. He’d only be crabby and bad tempered if she disturbed him again.
Mafuso found her as she crossed the clearing. “The picture you gave us is beautiful. Tayba made me make a frame for it this morning. It will take pride of place on the wall of our new home. Thank you.”
Lou smiled. “You’re welcome.”
He frowned at the way she balanced awkwardly. “You are still using the crutches.”
“Yeah, it’s the only way to keep up with Deefer. Is Kelmac around? I wanted to ask him something.”
“He is in the chapel.”
“OK, thanks.” She turned, pausing as his hand closed on her arm. “What is it?”
“You are thinking of staying here when the others leave.”
Lou frowned. That was a statement not a question. Was she that transparent? Or had her confidence been breached? She doubted anyone was reading her coded entries in the logbook and in any case, that would be Jim and no one else. “What if I am?”
“Do not lie to me. Keika said you spoke with her yesterday. You asked her to speak to Kelmac on your behalf. Why leave your friends to go on alone when you have come so far together?”
She sighed. “I know that I can’t go with them. I have my reasons. I can’t leave, so I need somewhere to stay. And I like it here.”
He held her gaze. “Are you staying because of me?”
“Don’t be silly. You’re getting married. I know what that means. Besides, don’t take it personally, but you’re way older than I am.” She spoke rapidly, her conscience barely even twinged at the lie. But then, lying had become second nature to her now. Despite not being as religious as the others, she’d tried to be good and tell the truth at first. But deception was far easier.
Actually it was kind of ironic. She hadn’t been able to give the cops in Southampton, or even Jack Davies, the American she met in Cornwall, and who’d come to their aid more than once, most recently on Grand Turk, a false name when they’d asked.
But now, lying was simply water off a duck’s back, easy as pie, as Jack would say. She wondered briefly what he was doing now. Presumably still working for the American government in whatever secret capacity he did.
“Those that do not eat cannot work and those that cannot work are no good to the community.” Mafuso’s voice jarred her back to reality.
She smiled at him. Trust him to bring her not eating into the conversation again. “I could help you with the medical bits or sew clothes or something.” She changed the subject. “Anyway, you do realize you shouldn’t see Tayba after sunset, and then not until the ceremony tomorrow.”
He grinned at her. “That is a silly notion. Why ever not?”
“It’s bad luck.”
“There is no such thing as luck,” Mafuso said firmly. “We make our choices and then follow the path God has set for us. Lou, you are still a child, on the verge of becoming a woman. Do not presume to know the path set out for you before you reach the signposts.”
“I should go and find Kelmac.” She turned to head across to the chapel.
“Will you be at dinner later?” he asked.
Lou didn’t even pause. “Of course.”
“Because if you stay, you will be back under my care, and you will have to eat and take care of yourself. The same as everyone else does. You will not heal if you do not eat.”
Lou stopped and turned to face him. “Mafuso, we both know that’s not true. I heard you, last night, first talking with Amilek, and then praying. I don’t have many choices left, but this is one I will make for myself. I want to stay either here in the village, or somewhere on the island. I’d rather say goodbye to the others and wave them off, than have them…”
He gently took hold of her hand. “I understand.”
“I wanted to stay anyway, but now it really is the only choice I have left. Please don’t take it away from me.”
“The decision is not mine to make. But I will speak to him for you if you wish.”
“Thank you.” She squeezed his hand and let go, moving slowly away. “C’mon, Deefer.”
~*~
Jim jerked awake as someone splashed cold water on his face. “Hey!”
Staci flopped down beside him. “You’re not getting any sympathy, so don’t bother to ask,” she said. “Wake up. I need to talk to you.”
Jim groaned. “Go away.”
“Fine,” she huffed. “I shan’t tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
“You’ll never know unless you wake up. And you’ve still got your eyes closed. Although you’ve spent most of the day sleeping, while everyone else has been working. Even Mafuso has been hard at it all day long.”
Jim reluctantly opened his eyes. “OK. I’m awake. What do you want?”
“I want to go home,” Staci said simply.
Jim sat bolt upright and stared at her, all traces of sleep gone. “You do?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“It’s nice and all here, but I’ve had enough now. I want to go back to school, where everyone speaks the same language as me and we can have proper dinners and I don’t have to sleep on the floor or sew all day long. Even if Mum and Dad won’t be there, I want to go home.”
Jim smiled. “Sure, kiddo. I’ll take you home. And if Mum and Dad don’t come back, you won’t have to go into care. I’m eighteen now. I’ll take care of you.”
“Jim, you’ve done a great job, but you can’t do that from a ship or plane. You have wanted to join the navy or air force since forever. You can’t put your life on hold for me any longer. I’ll go to boarding school and spend the holidays with Nichola.”
He hugged her. “All right. When do y
ou want to leave?”
“Tomorrow,” she said, hugging him back.
“That’s the wedding. I thought you wanted to stay for that.”
“I do. The day after tomorrow, then.”
“I’ll tell the others.”
“OK. Thanks, bro.”
“Anything for you, kiddo.”
She smiled. “Besides, Lou needs to go home and see a proper doctor. Not that Mafuso isn’t a proper doctor, but you know what I mean.”
Jim nodded. “Yeah. He can only do so much.” He pushed to his feet. “OK, I’m going for a swim, wake myself up. You coming?”
She nodded. “Race you over there.” She tore across the clearing.
Jim followed her, deliberately letting his younger sister win. He’d talk to Ailsa later, over dinner perhaps. He hadn’t known her long, but he didn’t want to lose her. She’d become a huge part of his life and he wanted her to stay that way. Then that just left Lou. She was even more secretive than normal and that worried him. What was she planning? More to the point, could he stop her from doing it?
15
The small chapel was quiet. Lou stood in the doorway, watching Kelmac. Then she made her way inside. “May I speak with you?” she asked in a hushed whisper, not wanting to disturb the silence.
Kelmac turned and smiled at her. “What can I do for you?”
Now the moment was here, she hesitated. What if he said no? Then where would she go? She lowered herself onto a stool beside him. “The others are planning on leaving soon,” she said quietly. “I would imagine pretty soon after the wedding, probably the following day. Jim wants to get Staci back to England, see if there is any news about their parents.”
Kelmac nodded. “I presumed as much.” He tilted his head, holding her gaze. “You do not wish to go with them.”
“I—” she broke off. “How did you know? Has Keika already spoken to you? She said she would, but I wanted to before she did.”
“You said the others are leaving. You did not say we. Therefore it is obvious that you are not planning to go with them.”
“Oh.” Lou rubbed her leg. She looked at the ground. “No, I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here.”
“Why not go with the others? They are your family, are they not?”
“Close friends, not family. But I like it here.”
Kelmac hardened his gaze. “Tell me, once Mafuso is joined to Tayba, will you like it as much?”
Lou’s stomach lurched and her face burned. “Of course. I’m a child, according to him. Besides, he and Tayba are soul mates. Once they’re married he’s off limits, same as every other married man. Just like Jim is now because he loves Ailsa.” She sucked in a deep breath. “You want the truth?”
Kelmac nodded. “The truth is always the best way. Even if it hurts.”
She paused slightly. “You sound like my mother.”
“Then your mother is a wise woman.” He tilted his head. “You have never spoken of her to anyone. Is she still alive?”
“She, ummm, she’s not dead. At least, I don’t think so. My father is. It’s just her and me.”
“I don’t understand. If you are all she has, then why not go home to her?”
Lou looked up. “Because I’m dying. I overheard Mafuso talking last night when he thought I was sleeping. I tried to let him believe that my leg was healing, that the pain was lessening, but it isn’t and he wasn’t falling for it. I’m cold and can’t get warm, and my head hurts all the time. It’s not fair of me to give the others false hope. Or, if we do get rescued, to do the same to Mum. For her to have lost me all these months, and get me back for a few days? A month, at the most? It’s not fair. It’s better if they think I’ve chosen to stay behind, than to go home just to die.”
Kelmac’s frown deepened. “So you would rather lie to them then tell them the truth? What about their choice in all this?”
“I’m trying to protect them. This way they’ll think I’ve got a happy ever after and needn’t know I only have a short time left.” The tears she’d held in for so long trickled down her face. “Please…”
He shook his head. “I cannot let you do that to them. And I think, that no matter what you are feeling now, you would regret it if you didn’t give them the chance to say goodbye.”
“But they will,” she insisted. “They just won’t know I’m dying.”
“If you stay, then you have to tell them the truth. And not lie to me about it, simply to get your own way.” Kelmac stood, signaling the conversation was over. “I have made my decision. Now I have things to do for tomorrow.”
“Sure.” Lou slowly left the chapel and headed down to the river, Deefer running at her heels. Now what would she do? She slid to the forest floor and leaned against a tree.
At this point, Jim would usually pray. But she wasn’t Jim. And anyway, why should she pray to a God who wanted her dead at sixteen? Ironic, in a way. She’d wanted to die just after the shark attack, and now she was going to, she wasn’t sure about it at all.
~*~
January 10, day 51, dawn. The wedding. Lou writing.
It’s already humid and hot, despite the fact the sun hasn’t been up long. It’s going to be a long day. The wedding ceremony itself is happening pretty early on, with the rest of the day being spent celebrating before Mafuso and Tayba leave to go to their new house and are left alone for the evening.
Jim is planning on leaving at first light tomorrow. He says that way we can make a good start towards the coast and where he thinks this base is.
.gniog ton ma I… I don’t care what anyone says, I can’t go with them. I’ll go as far as the base and then when rescue arrives, I shall take my leave. Deefer and I will find somewhere else to live. There must be another village or something. Or we just find a nice shady tree to sit under and wait for the inevitable. I will meet death on my terms… ecoihc yM
I better get up. Everyone else has. Mafuso looks nervous. For once it’s him complaining he’s not hungry. It is so tempting to tell him if he doesn’t eat he’ll get sick, but I don’t think he’d find that funny. Don’t think anyone would today. It’s meant to be a happy occasion, but there is a great lack of smiles and laughter this morning.
OK, the men have left. That’s our cue to get changed into the formal robes they’ve provided for us.
Lou put the pen down and closed the book. She reached for the clean robe that Ailsa had laid out for her. She shivered and pulled the robe on over the one she already had one. Perhaps the double layer would help warm her up.
Staci smiled. “That color suits you.”
“Not as much as that one suits you, Stace.” She slowly pulled herself to her feet and looked at the untouched plate of food beside her. “I might give breakfast a miss. Not feeling so good and I don’t want to ruin the day by throwing up.”
“Mafuso said…”
“He didn’t eat either, did he?”
Staci shook her head. “No.”
“And I suppose you’re still hungry.”
“Of course.”
“So you eat mine and then everyone’s happy.”
“You will eat something later though, right?”
Lou forced a smile. “Of course. I’m looking forward to that cake thing Keika made.”
As the sun rose fully above the trees, a drum began to sound.
Everyone assembled at the center of the village, by the raised dais.
Kelmac stood there, with his full ceremonial headdress on. Feathers and beads cascaded over his shoulders and his long, blue cloak reached the ground.
The drumbeat increased and then stopped.
Music floated over the village as Sivelle led Tayba out towards the dais.
Keika played a wooden flute.
The music first scaling high, then low brought a lump to Lou’s throat. This was something she’d never do. She wouldn’t even see Jim or Staci get married. Staying here would be easier on her than anyone else if she were honest.
Tayba�
�s dress was yellow-gold. It floated down from her shoulders, hardly touching her at all, before it reached the ground. Her hair was hidden under a veil of blue, which was also floor length. She looked radiant.
The drums started up again, as the women began to sing.
Lotho took Tayba’s hand and led her onto the dais.
Kelmac offered him a knife and as the singing rose, Lotho cut one of the cords from his robe and used it to tie Tayba’s wrist to Mafuso’s. This symbolized him giving his daughter freely in marriage. He returned the knife to Kelmac and returned to Sivelle.
The singing, music and drums ceased.
Kelmac raised his hands and held them over Mafuso and Tayba. He chanted slowly and quietly, yet in the hush that had descended over the whole village, every word was audible. As Kelmac chanted, his voice rose and fell almost rhythmically. As the ceremony progressed, Tayba knelt. Kelmac cut the cord on her wrist and handed her a bowl of water.
Tayba took the bowl and poured the water over Mafuso’s feet, symbolizing her devotion and obedience to him.
Kelmac then raised the knife over Tayba and brought it down, as if to kill her.
Mafuso grabbed his wrist and pointed the knife towards himself, declaring that he would give his life for Tayba’s. Mafuso raised Tayba to her feet.
Kelmac chanted a final blessing and Mafuso took his new wife into his arms and kissed her.
The drums and music started up again and all the villagers began singing.
Deefer barked and dashed around madly.
Lou grabbed his collar. “Shh, you daft dog. Sit down. You’re spoiling it.” She pulled the camera from her pocket and took a couple pictures.
After a while, the singing finished and the bride and groom stepped off the dais to a sea of congratulations.
The celebrations began with a feast and then dancing which continued well into dusk.
Towards the end of the evening, Kelmac raised his hands for silence. “Tonight we celebrate the union of Mafuso and Tayba. We celebrate life and love and friendship. Tomorrow we must say goodbye to friends. Jim, Lou, Staci, and Ailsa will be leaving us to continue their long journey home.” He turned and looked at them. “You have been true friends. You helped rebuild the village after the fire. Helped us, who were total strangers to you. Jim, you saved my son’s life. You have taught us about your culture and in return have learnt about ours. You have given us as much as we have given you. You have enriched our lives by coming to us.”