by Kitty Margo
Later that evening, Rob was lost in thought as they sat at the table after a satisfying meal of baked fish and oysters, cacoon stew, and fresh fruit. Lynna was proud of the meal she had prepared. Cacoon stew was made from a vine called cacoon, with pods that grew up to three feet in length. Rob taught her how to boil the pods and make a stew that was surprisingly very tasty.
He stared into the fire, deep in thought. “I hope some of de others on dat ship was lucky as we was.”
“What ship?” she asked curiously. They had been so busy making the cave habitable that there had been little time for discussion. “You said we were shipwrecked. What ship were we on?”
“I keeps forgittin’.” Rob sighed wistfully. “You done forgot everthin’. Mite as well start at de beginnin’.”
As his unbelievable story unfolded, Lynna’s astonishment grew. She found it difficult, if not impossible, to believe that she had actually given herself to a pirate captain to save this huge black man from being whipped. Nor could she believe that she was married.
“What did you say my husband’s name was?” she queried softly.
“Michael Debero,” Rob answered patiently. “He be de brotha’ of de pi’ate captain, Sean Debero.”
“Then my name is Devereux, at least we know that much.” She stood, roaming aimlessly around the cave, trying to make sense of what he was telling her.
Why couldn’t she remember?
“My husband Michael is the brother of this pirate captain. We were on our way to Tortuga when the ship was attacked and sank.” She stopped suddenly and said, “Then, I suppose my husband is dead?”
“I don’t know bout dat, Buttercup. He mite be alive, but I gots my doubts. De las’ time I turn’ ‘round an’ look dat whole ship was gwine up in flames.” Lynna could only stare, disbelief registering on her face as his words sunk in. “Whut I done tol’ you is de truth. De ship was on fire, we jump’ ovah de side, an’ dat’s alls I member ta I come to down on dat beach.”
Lynna shook her head dismally. “I wonder if the rest of my life was this adventurous?”
“I cain tell you nothin’ ‘bout yo life fo’ you come to on dat beach. ‘Cept dat you live’ on a fine sugah plan’ation wit’ Mist’ Michael.”
Lynna sat down on the clean canvas spread as sheer exhaustion seemed to seep from every pore in her body. ‘Rob, what happened to me? Why can’t I remember my life before the shipwreck?” Her eyes filled with tears and glistened in the waning light.
“I cain say. Sometime it be bes’ ta forgit de pas’.” Rob looked down into his cup, seeing images that he had hoped to forget. “Like mines. I was jus’ anotha’ slave on a fine cotton plan’ation in Jawga. But, dis ain’t no awdnary plan’ation. You see, de Mastuh, Mastuh Hawkins, got his fun frum seein’ us slaves in pain. Cuttin’ off yo hand if’n you got so hongry dat you steal food fo’ yo’ chillens. I believe he spent mos’ his time thankin’ up new ways to cause us pain. He even burn’ out one man’s eyes fo’ lookin’ too long at his ugly girl. Dat’s when I left. I cain take no mo’. Even life on dat pi’ate ship, bad as it was, was better dan livin’ on dat plan’ation wit dat devil.”
Rob glanced up after spilling his guts to find Lynna fast asleep. Pulling the spread over her, he went back to the table, thankful that she had fallen asleep before he finished his story. She might fear him if she knew that he was a murderer. For in the dead of night he had killed old man Hawkins for burning out both of his brother’s eyes and making his mama watch. His mama had clutched her heart and died shortly after, and Rob no longer had a reason to remain on the plantation. He had slipped away that night and made it to the harbor, and the notorious pirate ship.
With Lynna asleep, Rob left the cave to bury the skeleton he had found in the forest that morning. It was presumably the occupant of the cave. He had no way of knowing what had killed the man. Sickness, snakebite, or attack from beast or man.
He would probably never know.
The following days were carefree and happy ones. Lynna tore apart her tattered dress and petticoats to fashion two calf length sarongs, which she tied at the shoulder. With her skin tanned to a rich golden brown, bare feet, and loose shining mane, Rob fancied her to be a golden goddess, and he had no doubt that she was the most beautiful woman he would see in his lifetime, but he felt no desire other than to protect her.
Rob had worked at backbreaking labor for the past twenty years, pouring gallons of his sweat into the land, for naught. Picking cotton had required him to use only his hands, not his mind. But here, life was very different.
Lynna valued his opinions, listening intently as he explained everything from shooting a bow and arrow to opening a coconut. Having someone to trust in him and come to him for advice had made Rob a changed man and the happiest he had ever been. He also had something that had been absent in his life until now. Pride. And Lynna had been the catalyst to bring about the change.
After many days of practicing under Rob’s patient tutelage, Lynna was soon able to spear fish and sometimes, if the animal would cooperate and remain still, small game. They dined on roasted clams, oysters, cacoon stew and their staple diet of fish and shrimp. This, combined with an abundance of fruits, nuts, and berries, proved to be most satisfying to their appetites. They often made a game of who could capture their meal first, Rob frequently allowing her to win.
“How long have we been here, Rob?” Lynna asked one morning as she was clearing the table and putting the plates in a hand woven basket to take to the stream to wash. She was content with her life on the island, not dwelling on the uncertainties of the past.
Rob held up all ten fingers, closed them and opened them four more times, then closed them and held up nine more. In exchange for sharing his experience with Lynna, she had been teaching him to count and write and found him to be a most apt pupil.
“Fifty nine days. Almost two months,” she sighed wistfully. “It doesn’t seem like we’ve been on the island that long, does it?”
“No, ma’am.” He turned suddenly somber. “I been tryin’ to figure a way to git you off dis heah island.”
“You will do no such thing,” Lynna cried. “I am happy here with you and have no intention of leaving our island sanctuary.”
“I’se happy here too, Buttercup. De happiest I done been my whole life. You don’t know whut it’s like to work till you drop ever’day an’ den have a man wit’ a whip standin’ ovah you jus’ waitin’ fo’ a chance to use it. I was thinkin’ ‘bout yo family. I reckon dey done worrit deyselves sick wonderin’ if’n you is dead or alive.”
“I don’t even know if I have a family, Rob. I may not have anyone to return to.” His words had struck a soft spot in her heart. She had caught herself questioning that part of her past with more frequency lately.
“Dat’s whut I’se sayin’, Buttercup. Ain’t you wantin’ ta find out?”
“What I do or do not want doesn’t really matter, Rob. I don’t see a fine sailing vessel floating in the harbor just waiting to carry us home. There is no way off this island. So that settles it.”
Rob was thoughtful for a minute before speaking. “We only seed dis one side of de island. We ain’t knowin’ whut’s on de other side. The man whut carve’ all dis fine furniture an’ fix up dis heah cave musta got on dis island by ship. Dat ship mite be tied up on de other side of dis island fo’ all we knows. I’s gwine strike out in de mawnin’ an’ see whut I kin find.”
“I will pack supplies for the trip. Food may not be as plentiful on the other side of the island.” Lynna turned to reach for the basket, but Rob’s huge calloused hand covered hers.
“Naw, Buttercup. I kin make bettah time by myself an’ I know you be safe heah in dis cave or I ain’t leave you heah alone.”
“Alone,” she echoed. “Why, I could not possibly stay here alone. These woods abound with wild beasts.”
Rob chuckled. “How many wile beast’ you done seed ‘boundin’, Buttercup?”
“Well… none, but… that’s
not to say they aren’t there,” she insisted. “How long will you be gone, Rob?” She had visions of the lonely, empty days ahead without his company. Suddenly her paradise felt more like a prison.
“I ain’t ritely sho’. I ain’t got no way of knowin’ how big dis heah island is.” Rob wished she wouldn’t look so lost and forlorn. He would take her with him, but he knew how demanding scaling the mountain would be, and she would be safe in the cave.
The following morning, Lynna waved to Rob until his receding shape was no longer visible. Hot tears streamed unchecked down her sun-bronzed cheeks.
How could he leave her alone?
He was her only companion in the world, and now even he was forsaking her. She had never felt more alone than she did at that moment. God forbid that Rob should meet with an unforeseen accident and never return, leaving her to spend the remainder of her life on this island without companionship. She would surely go mad.
Neither of them knew what mysteries lay beyond their secluded hideaway in this as yet unexplored haven. She often wondered what had happened to the previous dweller of the cave, but had not a clue to his disappearance.
She dreaded the nights alone most. She had heard hideous, bloodcurdling screams, waking her from a sound sleep and sending her scurrying to Rob’s side, where he slept on a soft pallet of moss in the corner. But he would only laugh, explaining which of the forests many creatures had made the peculiar sound.
She was still far from convinced that some monstrous beast wasn’t lurking outside the cave, just waiting for a chance to devour them both. But that was only when the strange noises filled the deep, dark jungle at night. When the morning sun cast its brilliant beam over the tropical island, she felt no such fear. Until now, realizing that tonight would be her first night without Rob.
After Rob had been gone for a few days the feelings of loneliness abated and Lynna took the opportunity to explore her lush surroundings. The island reminded her of a sparkling jewel floating in the warm blue transparent waters of the Caribbean. On one side towered rugged green highlands, on the other stood exotic rain forests brimming with lush flora and fauna. She found great joy in discovering the many delights that the beautiful island offered.
In the forest she found flowers of every size and color. Red, yellow, white, and orange were scattered among the vegetation in a glorious array of color. Wild orchids grew in abundance among the towering bamboo shoots, some stretching as high as one hundred feet, blotting out the sun and leaving the forests cool on even the hottest days.
Much to her surprise, she slept soundly at night, waking up unharmed and in one piece in the morning. She heeded Rob’s dire warnings and didn’t venture too far into the jungle, only skirting the edges and never failing to be amazed at what she saw. The trees stretched endlessly toward the sky, many reaching heights of over 100 feet. Their tops creating an umbrella that kept the sun from falling on the forest floor, littered with rotten tree trunks, scrubby plant life, and roots. The cool green of the forest was broken often by the vivid array of flowers, blossoming trees, and vines.
The magnificent orchids of all colors were her favorites and the blossoming trees were as lovely as the flowers, some boasting hues of brilliant violet, while others sported vibrant scarlet patches. But one tree was more unusual than it was beautiful, with fruit that reminded her of hanging sausage links. And flourishing among the trees, wrapping and twisting among them were the ever present vines. Nearly as thick as a man’s body, they stretched endlessly and twined through the forest like huge ropes.
Walking further down the beach, Lynna found that the forest gave way to breathtaking hollows. Tall elephant grass swayed in the gentle breeze and the entire landscape was dotted with colorful wildflowers. Bending to pick a handful, she walked back down the beach. Then, realizing that she hadn’t eaten since breakfast, she decided to return to the cave and continue with her exploration later.
The white sand under her feet was warm, almost hot as she leisurely strolled the beach, stopping often to watch with apt interest the numerous species of birds that inhabited the island. She enjoyed the bright orange, yellow, and green parrots, cuckoo birds, pelicans, and ever present hummingbirds that fluttered through the trees. She found herself laughing now at the same piercing screams that had filled her with terror on her first night in this tropical paradise.
The shallow ocean waters were alive with bright, exotic tropical fish, gigantic tortoises, and oftentimes she saw fins protruding from the water. In the jungle she was ever on the look out for monstrous pythons. Rob had cautioned her that even though their bite was nonpoisonous, they could easily squeeze the life from her.
Feeling suddenly cool and shaded, she glanced up to see thick, black clouds rolling in threatening masses over the mountains, and heard the now familiar rumbling of thunder. Afternoon thunderstorms were a frequent occurrence on the island, usually brief, but often accompanied by heavy downpours of rain. For this reason, she hurried down the path toward the cave.
Preoccupied with her thoughts, she failed to notice the tall ship anchored off shore.
Chapter 35