by Nic Lomax
‘I told you that you would get hurt if you hung around the bay’ she said, taking a sip of the fiery liquor.
‘I’m sure it wasn’t just me that got hurt’ Kai responded grinning smugly.
‘That’s true, but you realise the whole gang are now baying for your blood and they know you’re staying locally’
‘Anyone would think your trying to get rid of me! We are just passing through trying to get some waves. And if I could just have a session with you I would be stoked!’
Celeste laughed out loud and tussled with her hair. ‘I hope you mean out on the water! I don’t even know your name?’
‘It’s Kai, and yes a surf would be good too!’
She leaned in close and whispered in his ear sending the hair on the back of his neck straight up.
‘Be careful what you wish for Kai’ she said as her hand glanced his knee and drew up the inside of his thigh stopping just short of his manhood. She then got up and walked off to the toilet, purposefully not looking back instilling the sexual suspense further. Kai took a swig of his beer and contemplated his next move. He fancied her, that was for certain and she was definitely up for it, but what about Amber. Her clean cut image quickly lifted from his mind like the mist rising in the dawn’s warmth. She had betrayed him with his best friend, it was time to move on. Kai didn’t have another second to analyse the situation as Celeste had returned to her seat, and drank the remainder of her drink. Kai couldn’t take his eyes off her. The lack of air conditioning meant her clothing was drawn in on her slender body. She had a sultry glow and kept purposefully touching his leg. The drinks flowed, as did the conversation which was becoming increasingly sexual. Without warning she stood up and motioned for him to follow. She led him by the hand on to the warm sand, her face was lit up by the occasional flashes of fork lighting which struck the horizon. She pulled him close and begun to kiss him fiercely. Kai grabbed her tight ass and pushed her against the fishing boat that lay beached. She drew her thigh up and he quickly discarded her thong, slipping his fingers inside her. She moaned with pleasure, her voice was husky as she willed him on further. She suddenly stopped and fell to her knees removing his shorts so savagely he almost fell to the ground. Kai braced as she took him in her mouth and as he looked up at the heavens a shooting star raced across the sky. He then grasped her shoulders and pulled her back up to him not wanting to finish the proceedings early, and delicately bent her over the upturned hull. They carried on their lewd affair as the electric storm raged around them, ferociously climaxing together as the thunder came echoing around the bay.
Celeste quickly pulled up her pants and leaned back against the boat and pulled Kai close.
‘This shouldn’t have happened you know…’ she said in her usual smug demeanour.
‘I think you enjoyed it just as much as me Celeste’ Kai responded breathlessly.
‘I need to get back home now but let’s do this again sometime’ she said casually, as she fled off into the night. Kai was left stood on the warm sand slightly bewildered by the fierce encounter. A fruit bat suddenly swooped inches from his face as it soared into the surrounding matt of fruit trees nearby, making him jump. He then glanced around for his flip flops and made for home.
Chapter 11
One Eye
Kai woke just before dawn and lay motionless, watching the gecko as it began its ritual hunt for mosquitos above his bedside lamp. He took heed of the precision and patience the small green reptile took in targeting its prey, it was a similar procedure when targeting new surf breaks. And when Kai had been researching the island, many of the fabled spots drew stories of heavy localism and a threat of sharks. He pondered his next move on the island, today he would take Stu to the southern tip of the island and not rush into things at Tamrin, although he really wanted to see Celeste again, maybe it was a good idea to play the waiting game. The gecko sprung its lightning attack and engulfed its target in a millisecond as if to cement Kai’s thoughts. Stu had organised their new ride, a less than majestic Ford pick-up. They quickly saddled up their mule before the wind switched onshore and headed out of town. The roads quickly became nothing more than a potholed track shaking them down to the very bone, as the truck’s leaf spring suspension struggled with the ruts. The jungle literally jumped out at them as they drove on towards Le Morne. Platoons of macaque monkeys fringed the roadside making progress slow, this combined with the numerous stray dogs and kamikaze local drivers made Kai and Stu very grateful to see the coast again, as the jungle diminished and the fine white of the coral sands became visible.
The lagoon was deeper and wider at this point of the island and Kai was nervous about making the one kilometre paddle to the reef pass. The crystal clear waters cloaked numerous potential enemies including the venomous lionfish, scores of sharks and torrent like currents that could rip you from the safety of the pass directly into the path of huge closeout swells which would drag a body through the coral like meat through a grinder. After much debate in the baking heat formulating their plan of attack, a local fisherman was passing close enough to shore for them to attempt to score a lift to the break they intended on surfing. Hand signals, a little confusion and four hundred rupees eventually secured their lift out to ‘One Eye,’ a left hand slab reef that Kai and Stu had marvelled over in their bible- ‘The Storm Rider Guide to the World’. The wooden dug out powered by a forty horsepower outboard steadily took the passengers and boards out across the lagoon, and through the pass. The open ocean had a different side to her. Her face was lumped with a ten second period swell that doubled in size as it drew out of the depths and onto the unforgiving reef. Kai felt the pangs of both fear and adrenaline return to his body as he became hypnotised by the precision that nature had crafted in this particular wave. It appeared that the mass of water was so clean and perfect in form that not one molecule of water was out of place. The sound of the explosive impact roared above the two stroke engine and shook within his very soul. Stu turned to Kai and looked shaken by the monstrosity that was in front of them.
‘Kai are you sure you’re ready for this?’ he said with a shaky alarm in his voice. Kai didn’t respond and slipped on his three millimetre wetsuit top and slid into his potential watery tomb.
Kai focused on the task ahead and paddled to where the wave took shape over the coral, ignoring the distant shouts coming from the boat. His heart was beating so hard his hands throbbed, it was the same mixture of adrenaline and fear that he normally felt, but this time the fear weighed heavier on his mind. He sat on the shoulder of the peak and watched as the first three sets appeared and broke over the reef with such ferocity, that he could hear the air explode as the ocean dumped its irregular load on to the coral. The next set appeared, Kai paddled in to its path like a gladiator entering the colosseum. Something felt instantly wrong, Kai was too far inside and hesitated with his commitment as the wave begun to take shape. He dropped down the face, his board slipping away from beneath him. It felt like an eternity before he landed into the perilously shallow sea. A split second after, the wave pummelled down on top of him, expelling the air from his lungs and spinning his torso over the reef until he lost count. When the waves power eventually receded, Kai could see the crimson streams of blood passing from his body into the surrounding water which sent him into a frenzy to make for the surface. The sense of relief when he broke the surface was immeasurable. The air tasted like an elixir sent from the stars and Kai took in a huge lung full and then processed his position, and where his board was, as the leash had snapped.
The boat, although well offshore, was racing toward his location with great speed and Kai wondered what the rush was, as he had taken far worse beatings from waves that were a lot bigger. The answer came in the form of a large grey fin that was circling no more than ten feet away from him. A sense of impending doom overtook his body and Kai froze as the fear crippled his muscles. He couldn’t take his eyes off his assailant as it edged closer with each circular pass. Out of his peripheral
view he suddenly realised his board was drifting towards him in the current, and this could be his only life line. However it seemed time was running out as the shark suddenly shot toward him and only withdrew its attack, changing its course at the last second, passing within centimetres and Kai felt the wash of water sent from its tail fin. Kai screamed out loud and stiffened waiting for the inevitable blow and bite that was to come. The commotion meant that Kai only realised his board was so close when it clipped the back of his head. He climbed on top and swiftly paddled toward the shallow water where the reef was, as he knew the shark wouldn’t be able to manoeuvre in the receding waters. He saw the shark coming in fast from the right and upon its final approach, time again seemed to slow down, meaning he could see its mouth open and displaying the pearly white armoury intent on ripping him apart. Kai felt the ferocity of the attack but was fortunate to have his board between him and his nemesis. He was knocked into the air as he was punted by the shark which sunk its teeth into his board. Again in the water and consumed with fear, he knew this could be his last moment on earth. There was only one person on his mind. He was desperate to tell her how sorry he was for treating her as second best, and how much he loved her.
‘Kai…grab my arm!’ Stu was suddenly above him, leaning over the side of the boat with outstretched arms. Kai immediately obliged and Stu pulled him clear of the horrendous dangers that lay beneath the waves. He lay back on the fishing net that filled the bow. He was pale with fear as they trundled to where his crippled board lay bobbing in the lagoon. It bore the scars of the attack with a twelve inch bite mark in the deck. No one spoke as they headed for shore and the boatman even refused payment once they had reached the beach.
Stu broke the silence, ‘you know what Kai, I think someone is trying to tell us that we shouldn’t be here!’
‘What makes it worse is these things normally happen in three’s’ Kai responded, as he started to dress his various wounds.
The ride back to Tamarin was a silent affair, only interrupted by the screech of the pickups brakes as Stu swerved to avoid stray dogs. Kai was contemplating the crazy events of his near death experience as they rounded the final corner towards the apartment, and he noticed a familiar female figure at the top of their drive. It was Celeste. As they pulled up Kai didn’t even have time to acknowledge her before the vehicle became surrounded by the local surf mob whom they had encountered at the point. Stu instinctively gunned the throttle the 4x4’s bull bars deflecting two of the posse and leaving the rest of the group in a cloud of dust and smoke. ‘I guess the secrets out’, Stu shouted over the roar of the engine as they sped away from the dangers that seemed to cling to them like a rash vest.
‘How did they find us? Celeste didn’t even know where I lived!’ Kai responded.
His mind was riddled with a swarm of question about what had gone down. They decided it was best to leave the village for a while and headed north to the small town of ‘Flick en flack’. Stu didn’t hold back with his interrogation of the previous evenings events, and picked at Kai like a vulture over a carcass.
‘So you drank, fucked and now she wants your balls’ he said frankly.
‘Stu! You would have done the same as me in my situation. The only difference is you would have tried to bed her sister too!’
Stu snorted, ‘that’s a fair point, but man we’re screwed! I swear if we make it out of town tonight it will be a miracle. Those dudes want you dead! I bet you she is with one of them too’.
Kai sat nervously in the passenger seat, nursing his bruised ribs and lacerations from where the shark had hit. He realised it was again time to leave, and this time it was his mistake that had led to paradise being sucked out of their reach, like a viscous rip current.
They spent the rest of the day hiding from the sun under the palms, discussing their next move. It would be wise to head back under the cover of darkness, and they agreed to leave the jeep at a distance and return on foot. Then it was a case of grabbing the gear and making their getaway. Kai decided the next destination, and only really feasible option was to head to the closest large land mass which happened to be Madagascar. He had always dreamed of being immersed in the rich flora and fauna that the country had to offer, it was also famed for its great surf and unfortunately, the abundance of sharks. Just saying the word provoked the image of the flesh ripping pearly jaws that had so nearly tore him apart, and left him feeling cold and clammy. Stu returned to the jeep with a couple of beers and curry wraps known as roti’s and Kai was grateful for the intrusion as it broke him from his dark thoughts.
‘So here it is, we get back on the road, get fit and head off in search of the next level! You game amigo? Stu offered in his usual enthusiastic manner.
‘Definitely brother, but I think Tamarin and the fuck nuggets we encountered on the point will be reluctant to let us off that easy! But all is fair in love and war.’
They sank their beers for courage and fired up the V8 and headed into the evening light, the crimson skies mirroring the blood that was about to be shed.
Chapter 12
Running for the border
Tamarin was eerily quiet as their jeep rolled into town. It was like they were in a western film about to duel with the bad guys. Kai’s heart was in his mouth as they pulled up two roads short of their apartment, and the sky once again threatened rain as Stu shut off the engine and they set about making their plan.
‘If we head through the orange grove and end up on the shore line we can gain access from the beach, there is no way those dudes would expect that, if they are still waiting for us, they will be road side. Plus we have keys to the gates on the beach’ Kai spat with a tone of nervousness.
‘Agreed man and there is virtually no light polluting the beach either, so we will have the element of surprise, as long as we are silent like the ninjas we are!’
Stu was clearly getting in to character and Kai had to reign him in a little.
‘Dude, this isn’t going to be easy, I think I fucked someone’s girlfriend on their patch, not to mention the fact that we weren’t welcome in the first place!’
‘True that brother! Let’s ditch the flippies and get going’.
Thunder cracked around the bay as they made their way to the foreshore. The occasional fork of tropical lightening lit up the path before them, and Kai was thankful for the illumination in the otherwise surrounding darkness. The fringes of the beach were alive with the hum of cicadas, and tiny geckos scurried along the walls of the neighbouring houses targeting their prey with deadly precision. The chorus helped camouflage the noise the pair made as they edged closer to the apartment. They made it to the gates without cause for concern and stealthed up past the pool to their door, which was thankfully still on its hinges. Kai whispered for Stu to enter while he kept watch road side to see if the assailants were nearby. His eyes strained in the darkness when suddenly a flash of lightening lit up the back of the hills like a strobe in a night club, and Kai was grateful that he saw only a sole fruit bat cruising back to its roost.
Once inside, they feverishly worked collecting their belongings and grabbing their boards. They kept the light off as not to attract attention from outside and within ten minutes the place was bare. It was Stu who noticed the slice of paper that had been slid under the door, and they took it to the enclosed bathroom to read it as the light wouldn’t give off the fact that they were inside. It was written in English and they both fell silent as the words tumbled off the page.
“We know what you have done, you disrespected our homeland. You slept with my girl. You will pay and I will follow you till the end of the earth”
Kai was the first to speak as he could see Stu was becoming irate.
‘Look dude we have flights booked, as long as we get back to the jeep it’s an hour to the airport then we’re fucking out of here!’
‘I realise that Kai, but in that hour we could get killed. These guys mean business!’
‘Agreed, let’s get moving!’
Kai stood up and extinguished the light and headed out to where their bags lay. Fortunately Kai’s boards were already in the truck and Stu decided to leave his behind as it would hinder their exit. They slipped into the night once again and back on to the beach. They both nearly jumped out of their skin as suddenly someone cheered from a nearby apartment as their favoured team scored a goal. Kai peered across at Stu in the dark and could barely make him out as they entered the grove. This time the place was silent and each step taken crunched on the leaf matter below. Kai was sweating profusely and he swiped at the mosquitos that were ravaging any bare flesh that was on display. The tree line spelled the end of their cover and the street light menacingly lit up their vehicle which lay just out of reach. Kai glanced at Stu to signal it was ok to make a run for it when a set of headlights flicked on a hundred metres behind their truck.
‘Fuck Stu! Run man I’ve got the keys!’
They covered the final 10 meters in seconds but Kai struggled, fumbling to get the keys into the ignition. As Kai finally fired the engine their jeep was struck from behind which took them by surprise, Stu shouted at Kai to drive and they screeched down the road with the posse in chase.
‘Fuck dude this is heavy! I can’t believe they rammed us man!’ Kai shouted over the roar of the engine as he climbed the gears.
‘Believe it’ Stu replied as he dove into the back sliding open the rear windows.
‘What are you doing now man’ Kai said barely holding on to the wheel as they slid round the corner narrowly missing a goat who was sat on the road soaking up the last of the radiated heat.
‘Buying us some time. Slow down a little, let them gain some distance on us’.
‘Are you fucking crazy Stu? If we take another hit the chassis will be buckled and we’ll get our throats slit’
‘Just trust me dude, I have a plan!’
Stu grinned as he held the anchor up in his arms. He had found it the previous day on the beach and thought they could use it to mark reef passes by attaching a buoy to the top. But now it had a different purpose and Kai had to agree this could very well save them tonight. It wasn’t long before the car was upon them flashing its lights and revving up close to their bumper. Without hesitation as they tried to pass Stu launched the missile with tremendous power directly into their windscreen and in an instant the chase was over. Kai shouted a mixture of expletives as he watched in horror through the rear view mirror as the car careered into the brush, flipping end over end and finally coming to a standstill.