by Ron Vitale
Nathan stood alone in the clearing and listened to the chirping of the birds and the buzzing of a few insects. He could no longer see Zeke through the ferns. Alone, he closed his eyes and cleared his mind of all his worries. He took a deep breath and then followed after Zeke onto the beach.
“Where are you going?” Nathan called after Zeke but the older man ignored him and kept walking to the sea. “We’ll be seen out here, and if the islanders come, we won’t have time to get away.”
When he reached the water, Zeke took off his boots and tossed them far enough back so that the tide could not reach them. “There is treasure, and then there is the real treasure of life. That is what I want to show you. Come here.”
He stood in the water up to his shins, bent down to allow a crashing wave to brush past his hand, and reached out to Nathan. “Give me your hand.”
Nathan hesitated and yet a primal urge to follow Zeke into the sea overwhelmed him. As he took Zeke’s hand, the world exploded in color and light. The blue-green of the sea dripped with life. Nathan could see millions of tiny sea creatures in the waves, on the beach, and his senses expanded to take in not just the sight of such abundant life, but his ears perked at the roar of the waves and the tiny clinks of shells tumbling over each other in the surf.
When he took a deep breath, the salt in the air filled his lungs with a vibrant cycle of energy and life. All around him, the connections to nature became clear.
“What’s happening?” At a loss for words, Nathan did not let go and took in the sights, sounds, and smells of the world around him.
“This is the treasure that they all seek. I’m willing to share it with you, but there’s a lifetime to learn, and I have so little time.” Zeke took another step forward into the surf and pulled Nathan along. “There we go. Now that’s better.”
Like scales falling from his eyes, Nathan could see through the sea, out into the far depths offshore. Two dolphins swam in the surf ahead, chasing a school of fish. Below the waves, a myriad variety of vibrant green plant life stretched out for miles on the seabed broken up from time to time by a brilliant orange coral patch. “This is so beautiful!”
“I have a gift of the sea, and I’m willing to share it with you.” Zeke closed his eyes and his forehead furrowed.
Nathan heard the call before he saw them. Three sperm whales blew water, one after the other, from their blowholes, and sang a song of greeting. One whale swam closer to the island and showed a flipper as it leaped out of the sea and smashed back down onto the ocean’s surface. The vision intensified and Nathan took another step forward of his own accord, reaching out toward the whales with his free hand.
His tongue became more sensitive, and he tasted a touch of salt in the air that filled his mouth. Taking another step forward, he closed his eyes and let go. The next wave crashed against the beach, and he heard the water along with the crabs in the sea and thousands of tiny clams underneath the sand by his feet. The ocean reclaimed its water, pulling it back along with shells, sand, and any loose seaweed. When the tide flowed back out to sea, the tiny clams put their foot forward, fighting to stay under the sand to feed.
Nathan listened to the sea and the sounds all around him, bridging the gap between how he normally saw the world and his current hyper alertness. He wanted to stay this way forever—aware and connected with the world around him in such an intimate way that all his worries and fears fell away like scales from his eyes.
When he blinked, Zeke let go of his hand and came to. Nathan stood in the ocean up to his waist with a near full moon hanging low in the sky. All had turned dark. Hours had passed in a few fleeting moments. Above the stars twinkled, and he exhaled in awe.
“Are we back?” Nathan massaged his left shoulder that had cramped up. The muscle, tight with tension, loosened at his touch.
“Yes.” Zeke stayed turned away from Nathan, staring out at the sea. The ocean, calmer now with the tide out, rocked the island to sleep with small waves. “I have more to show you, if you are ready, but first I need to know if I can trust you.”
“You have not led me wrong so far.” Nathan stood next to his friend and exhaled slowly. “Yes, you can trust me.”
“Then watch…” Zeke faced Nathan, and his face looked altered. His voice changed as well, becoming deeper and more fluid to the ear.
The light of the moon shone on them both, reflecting off the water. Zeke leaned forward into the oncoming waves, as though he stood on a precipice, and a sudden gunshot from behind them on land startled them both.
Nathan tried to see into the jungle. He heard voices, coming toward them, but could not see anyone yet.
“Come with me.” Zeke straightened up, and his voice had returned to normal. He strode with purpose out of the surf and headed back toward their clearing.
“I think I see something.” Nathan pointed ahead of them at the jungle. Two men ran toward them at their fastest as though something chased them.
“This isn’t good.” Zeke froze and he spotted something else exiting the jungle.
Nathan scanned the area and then he saw it too. A large wolf-like beast growled and gave chase to the two men who ran at them like the wind.
“No, this isn’t good at all.” Zeke pushed Nathan in the opposite direction and yelled, “Run!”
Without another thought, Nathan sprinted on the hard, packed sand, moving as fast as his legs could take him. He, along with the others, kept running hard, hearing behind him another growl from the beast that chased them. With no clear idea of how they could escape, Nathan searched for some place to hide before he fell prey to the clutches of the creature that chased them but found nothing. Unable to stop, he did only what he could do—run.
***
I looked up at the moon and watched as the moonlight streamed through the leaves above us, lighting up the jungle floor in a myriad of light matched with dark shadows.
Ishmael leaned back against the trunk of the tree and handed me a piece of jerky. “It’s not much, but some food is better than none.”
I accepted and took a big bite, ripping the dried meat with my teeth. I chewed the tough meal and handed him back the remaining piece. “Thank you.”
We kept our voices low, and I glanced down to the jungle floor below. High up in the tree, we would be unnoticeable to most on the ground unless we gave ourselves away by being too loud.
“I know it may not be my place to speak, but I see it weighs heavy on you.” He put the jerky away and folded his hands together and used them as a makeshift pillow behind his head. “I know that you’re upset that Nathan left you. Do you want to talk? I may not be the best listener, but…”
“I appreciate your offer.” I leaned back against the trunk of the tree and swung my legs off a limb. “There’s not much to say. My twin is gone. Everything that I thought I knew about him was wrong.”
“What did he say to you?” Ishmael asked.
I knew he tried to help, but I didn’t want to relive everything that had been said. “He basically told me to go with you and head back home. That I should find a husband to take care of me and our mother.” I tried hard to bite back my anger. “But the best part is that he said he would send us money when he could.”
“He was being honorable. What’s so wrong with what he said?” Ishmael pried, and if he wanted to tangle with me, then I would meet him halfway.
“Because I want to be here out on the sea and having adventures too. But instead I’m supposed to go home, take care of my mother, and marry myself off like I’m a cow part of a trade.”
“You’re here now, aren’t you?” Ishmael said matter-of-factly.
“Yes, but—”
He didn’t let me finish. “You found a way to come out here by using your wits and courage. You’ve convinced me to come along with you, and here we are on the island of nightmares. A place I never thought I’d ever come again. And who is making you go back?”
“He told me—”
“Nathan told you? The
same Nathan that you just told me that you were angry at?” Ishmael placed his hand over his eyes like he searched for something. “I don’t see anyone coming to claim you and force you to go back. Maybe you might want to stop and think about your next move. You know what Nathan wants you to do, but what do you want?”
He asked the question, and I did not know how to respond. I hadn’t thought about that. I only thought about the hurt and anger I had felt at coming all this way to be told to turn around and go home. A ray of moonlight lit up Ishmael’s face, and I watched him a few moments before responding. “You’re right. I don’t have to go home.”
“What do you want to do?”
I half-believed he knew my answer. “I want to find what everyone is searching for on this island. I don’t want to go back home just yet.” I rubbed my fingers over the smooth bark of the tree. “If I asked you, will you stay and help me?”
He mulled over my question and pulled himself out of the light and into the shadows. I could only hear his voice when he responded. “There is something on this island that men seek, and I couldn’t place it, but Zeke is part of it. I didn’t like him, but I don’t know why.”
“He’s a controlling bastard who has my little brother wrapped around his finger. Did you see how Nathan—”
“Morgan, enough. Let it go.” Ishmael spoke true. “You have said your piece about your brother and now it’s time to let it go.”
“But I’m angry at them all for treating me the way they did. I wanted to save my brother from this madness that grabs men and forces them to abandon everyone to go to the sea. But I failed.” The words tumbled out in a torrent of hurt.
“I understand. I truly do. But your brother doesn’t want saving. He’s old enough to make his own choices. If you let these negative thoughts overcome you, then you’ll simply be circling the maelstrom.”
“But I’m tired of people telling me what to do. All my life I’ve been raised to get married and take care of my mother. I don’t want to do that. I want to explore and see the world. I want to discover new places and try new foods and meet people from different countries.” A light lit up within me, and I looked around at the rest of the jungle in the night. “I want something that I can’t have.” I closed my eyes and went on. “I have to go back. Who will take care of my mother? What will happen to her if I don’t return? I keep seeing her in my dreams. She’s wringing her hands and crying. The sea took her husband, son, and now her daughter. I can’t allow that to happen. I can’t. I must go back—”
“Enough!” Ishmael dropped the word and silenced me. I had never seen him so angry before.
“Are you telling me that I should shut up and not speak my mind? Because if you are, that isn’t how I am.” I faced him and I would not back down from any man.
“Listen to me. Truly listen. I understand that you are going through a difficult time. But you’ve made your choice. You are not at your mother’s side. For better or worse, you’re here now. She’s probably doing fine without you. Yes, she might be sad and worried, but I doubt she’s lacking food and a place to stay. But enough about all of that. Let all that go. Listen to what you truly want and do that. Let everything else go.”
“But what about—” I tried to interrupt him, but he would have none of it.
He raised his hand, and in the moonlight, it lit up. “Morgan, trust me. Enough. Let it go. Now it’s time to rest. I need rest. I need time for me. If you want to continue to beat yourself up on leaving home, just know that I did the same thing when I came out to sea, and it didn’t help me. The only thing I learned from that is that the perseverating kept me trapped. It wasn’t until I let it go that I was able to free myself.” I started to talk, but he held up his hand. “Please, understand that I need rest too. If you choose to keep thinking and spinning the scenarios round and round in your head, fine, but I need time now to rest.”
“I thought you were my friend. All my plans, everything that I have worked so hard for, has just been washed away, and now I might have wasted my life and might die here on this island. And I cannot take any of it back. I may have made one mistake too many.” The words held truth in them, and I felt better for being honest with myself.
“And now, both of us need to rest. When we wake in the morning, we’ll have a choice to make. Do you want to go or do you want to stay.” He reached over and took my hand in his. “If you want me to stay with you, I will. But now I’m tired. And when I’m exhausted, I need to rest and it is hard to keep all the thoughts and fears at bay. Trust me. Tomorrow morning will bring a new day. And with rest and some food, you’ll be better able to make a decision.”
I squeezed his hand and nodded. “You’re right, let’s get some rest. It’s just hard to stop my mind from racing. How do I do that?”
“Close your eyes, give yourself a few minutes to think about your problems, and then, after those minutes are up, stop. Just stop thinking about your problems. It’ll take time to train yourself, but it is like any other muscle in your body. You need to exercise and train yourself to let go. It will take time. Trust me.”
“But I don’t want to trust you. I want to be argumentative tonight because I feel wronged.” I half-joked with him, but there was more than a sliver of truth in my admittance.
“Do you hear that out there?” Ishmael pointed to the deep jungle. “The insects chirp and the wind blows through the ferns. I can hear the monkeys settling down to sleep, and the night predators, they are now out looking for prey. This island’s inhabitants need to sleep as well. In the morning, we will all wake again, and a new day will dawn giving us new choices to make. But now, let’s rest.”
“Did anyone ever tell you that you can be annoying at times because of how smug you are when you think you’re right?” I cracked a smile at him.
“That’s probably why I’m still alone and unmarried. Who would want to stay with a man like me?” He settled back against the trunk of the tree and closed his eyes.
“Exactly.” I shifted to my side and glanced down at the forest floor below. The light of the moon shone through a break in the leaves overhead, and I could see only a small portion of the ground. How beautiful the island looked at night, but my tiredness came over me with my heart starting to calm, but the thoughts still raced in my head. Damn that Nathan and what he said to me.
Then, slow and quiet at first, a new thought came to me. I had chased my brother halfway across the globe. No one had forced me to go after him. I came of my own accord. I chose to leave my mother and came to find him. I lied, pretended to be a boy, trapped Ishmael in my foolish plan, and now I had to accept the consequences. I might not live to tell my stupid tale.
In the morning, I needed to make a decision. Torn between what I should do and what I wanted for myself, my thoughts warred with each other. I allowed myself time to think through each path for a few minutes and then stopped. I cast away all thought of Nathan and what had happened today. Like a wave, my memories came back, trying to pull me back down with them, but I held firm.
Down below on the jungle’s floor, I spied one leaf, then another, and another. One by one, I counted all the leaves I could see around me. The monotonous exercise tricked me into a sense of security, and as foolish as counting leaves could be, it helped relax me. The worry lessened in my soul, and I let my mind focus only on one task. I do not remember when, but my eyes half-closed, and I fell into a dream-like state or could it be sleep? I did not know, but I kept counting and counting and counting until I remembered no more.
***
Nathan ran as fast as he could, outpacing Zeke as he rushed ahead. He glanced back over his shoulder and observed that Zeke had stopped running and walked, steady and slow, toward the ocean.
“Zeke, what are you doing?” Nathan stopped running and yelled after his friend. “Come on!”
Only a few yards behind Zeke, Pahukumaa and Josep ran toward the ocean at their fastest. A loud roar came again behind him, and Nathan swerved toward the sea in the hopes
that the wolf-like creature wouldn’t come into the water.
Josep had taken off his shirt as he ran, tossing it onto the beach. Pahukumaa did the same and took a moment to pull off his shoes and pants. He left his clothes at the high tide mark, and naked as a baby, he strode in the ocean. Zeke took his clothes off as well and left them beside Pahukumaa’s. Josep did the same and the three of them faced the jungle in the ocean up to their waists.
Behind the large wolf, two other oversized wolves broke out of the jungle and rushed toward the ocean. In the moonlight, the creatures’ white teeth glistened with saliva that dripped from their mouths. The two wolves stopped by their leader at the watermark in the sand and bayed at the moon. Off in the distance, another wolf howled in answer somewhere deep in the jungle.
Nathan held still and tried to calculate the distance between him and the ocean. He doubted he could make it to the water before one of the wolves reached him. But for now, all three ignored him, focused more on his friends in the ocean.
Zeke stood firm and yelled at the nearest wolf that wore a red- and blue-feathered headdress. “Take your pack and go back into the jungle. We don’t want to fight.”
A low, threatening growl answered Zeke, and the wolf came forward, but the other two hung back.
“I will not warn you again. Leave us alone!” Zeke stayed firm and showed no fear.
Josep and Pahukumaa leaned forward and put their fists up ready to fight.
Taking advantage of the standoff, Nathan walked toward the ocean as fast as he dared without attracting any attention. After he had gone a third of the way, the lead wolf turned toward him and growled. The other two wolves turned to face him directly and followed suit.
“Nathan, run toward me into the sea!” Zeke cupped his hands over his mouth and yelled.