The Island Read online

  Steve came back to her, but before he could say anything she grabbed his hand and whispered, “Steve, I saw somebody.”

  “Who?”

  “I don’t know. They were over there on the other side. I saw a pair of eyes. They saw me too.”

  “Did they know you saw them?”

  “Yes. Our eyes locked for a second or two.”

  “Come on, Amanda. We’ve got to get out of here. We’re too vulnerable in the water.” He pulled her toward the side.

  “I’m scared, Steve.”

  “Stay calm. It’ll be okay.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Just come on.” He tugged at her hand.

  They climbed out of the water and Steve said, “Slip on your shorts and shirt.”

  She did as she was told. He did the same thing. He then scooped up their wet underwear and said, “Now, take my arm. We’re going to walk out of here slowly and calmly.”

  As they moved along, Steve noticed some rustling in the bushes beside the path. He knew they were being followed, but he didn’t mention it to Amanda.

  They were almost back to the beach when she let out a long breath. “Do you think they’ll follow us?”

  “Maybe not, but let’s keep going.”

  The sun was beginning to set when they reached the beach. Though some of their friends were still sitting around, he led Amanda to their hut. She sank to the new mat she’d made as soon as they were inside. “I’ve never been so frightened.”

  “I must admit I was scared too.”

  “Steve who are they and what do they want?”

  “I don’t know what they want, but I’m sure they’re the people who live on this island. We’re the interlopers, Amanda. This is their home.”

  “Should we tell the others?”

  “I suppose we should. First, I want to talk to Ray about it. We want to bring it up in a way that won’t scare everyone.”

  “Do you think they want to hurt us?”

  “Probably not. We’ve been here a good while now, a month or more. If they wanted to do anything to us, they would’ve done it already.”

  She looked at him. He still had their wet underwear in his hand. “Here,” she said standing. “Let me have that.” She took the three pieces and hung them on protruding places on the posts and vines.

  “Just like home,” he said smiling. “Mom used to hang Marie’s clothes in the kitchen to dry when the weather was nasty outside. She didn’t have a dryer back then.”

  “Marie is...”

  “My sister. I’m six years older than her.”

  “I have a sister. She’s three years older than me, but sometimes she thinks she’s my mother.”

  Steve smiled at her. “Talking about family always makes me feel better. How about you?”

  “I do feel better now. Thanks for getting me out of the water back there.”

  He frowned. “Damn,” he said.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “I missed my chance.”

  “Chance for what?”

  “I was so intent on getting you back here safely I forgot to look at you naked.”

  “You’re awful.” She glared at him.

  “I know. As you said I’m a man.” He winked at her. “Now if you want to take your clothes off and give me a second chance...”

  She poked him in the stomach. “In your dreams, buddy.”

  “Ouch...” He grabbed her hand. “You tough little rascal you.”

  “And don’t you forget it.”

  He pulled her toward the opening. “Let’s go out on the beach and see what’s going on. I might have a chance to say something to Ray.”

  As he went through the door, he leaned back and whispered. “I have to confess, even in our dangerous situation, I had to sneak a little peek.”

  Before she could retaliate, he was several feet from the hut waiting for her to follow.

  * * * *

  May 23—10:00 AM

  Charlotte, NC

  Amanda sat on the beige Duncan-Fife sofa in her sister’s living room. She wore a new dress with small green and purple geometric figures. Last night, Callie had gone to the mall and bought her younger sister some clothes. Amanda wasn’t sure she liked this particular outfit, but Callie insisted it was the latest style and looked smashing on her. She said it would look lovely with her sofa as a backdrop. “Of course I’m very jealous because it’s a size two and fits you perfectly.” After seeing the price tag, Amanda tended to agree it was probably stylish and up to date. The money it cost could have supplied her with several outfits.

  At eight o’clock this morning, Callie had slipped her sister to the strip mall where Callie had her hair done. Her stylist, Velda had cut and styled Callie’s hair for years and was delighted to come in before the shop opened to do Amanda’s hair.

  Amanda’s platinum locks now framed her face with a soft smooth style. Though her sister and the stylist had wanted to, Amanda refused to let her color it. They finally gave up trying to persuade her. After Amanda’s hair was finished, Velda turned to Amanda’s make-up. Soon, both she and Callie pronounced Amanda camera-ready.

  “Mom, you look beautiful,” Diane gushed when she came over to watch the filming.

  The interviewer was awed when she walked in and met Amanda, not of her looks, but her celebrity status. “I appreciate so much, you agreeing to do this Ms. Winston,” she said. “The public is dying to know what happened on that island.”

  Amanda didn’t tell her there wasn’t a chance in the universe she was going to reveal everything that happened to her island family. She only smiled. She knew she could talk around enough subjects to inform the public without revealing any of the secrets they’d voted to keep. There were some things nobody ever needed to know. Not even her family.

  At noon, the announcer at the local TV station said, “Now folks, as we promised, we have an exclusive interview with Amanda Winston, Charlotte’s own survivor of the plane crash twenty-seven months ago. We’re switching now to the home of Sam and Callie Edgerton, Ms. Winston’s sister and brother-in-law.”

  The camera began to whirr and the pretty African American lady interviewing Amanda said, “Ms. Winston, thank you so much for agreeing to talk with me today.”

  Amanda nodded and mumbled, “I’m happy to do it.”

  “In getting ready for this interview, we requested that our viewers send in a question they would like to ask you and we’ve selected some to present to you today. Is this okay with you?”

  “Of course.”

  “Our first viewer asks what was it like living on a desert island for those long twenty-seven months?” Her voice shook a little.

  “It was hard, very hard, but the ten of us worked together well. We had no other choice. We pooled our talents and we depended on each other every day.” She hoped her words would put the young interviewer at ease.

  “The second question is actually a statement. It reads; there is a rumor there were actually eleven people on the island. Can you confirm or dispel this rumor?”

  “Of course, I can. There was an eleventh person who escaped the plane, but his injuries were so severe he wasn’t able to survive. And of course, when Bobby was born, we became eleven again.”

  “Could you tell us who this eleventh person who didn’t survive was?” The interviewer threw in her own question.

  “Yes. He was Joey Fox. His wife, Wilma was one of the survivors who also made it to the island.”

  “Ms. Winston, another viewer wrote, the hospital reported that you were all in good health when you were found. Could you tell us what you ate while marooned there?”

  “We ate lots of fruit. Of course we had an abundance of coconuts. We also had mangos, sea grapes and bananas among other things. There was also a fruit very much like our orange. In fact we called them oranges. Another staple was a plant called sea purslane, a common ground cover on most tropical beaches. It’s delicious either cooked or raw. We had plenty of fresh fish and crustacea
ns such as crab, lobster and shrimp. We occasionally had birds and a variety of other things. We actually had a rather balanced diet.”

  “It sounds like it.” She smiled. “Now will you tell us the first thing you did when you reached the island?”

  “It was night and we were all exhausted. We slept until morning.”

  The lady was a little flustered because she hadn’t expected that answer. She plowed on with her own follow-up. “What did you do when you got up the next day?”

  “A couple of men foraged for food. Others set out to look for water. Those of us left on the beach gathered coconuts and looked after each other.”

  “We understand there was a doctor among the survivors. Is this true?”

  “Yes. Dr. Gene Warren from Baltimore, and his expertise helped us in many situations. Of course we didn’t have any medicines, but he was always available to help and advise.”

  “And the baby. Tell us about the baby, Ms. Winston.”

  “Bobby was born after we’d been there about a week. The doctor was right there so the mother and child did beautifully. He thrived with all the attention and care we gave him. He’s a lovely child. When we were rescued and sent to the hospital to be checked out, they pronounced him a healthy twenty-seven month old who didn’t seem to need anything. Of course they gave him some shots anyway.”

  The interviewer chuckled. “I suppose hospitals do that sort of thing.”

  Amanda nodded.

  “Now this question gets back to the crash. Did you have any warning the plane was going down?”

  “Very little. By the time we had our life jackets on and had gotten in the crash position the plane hit the water.”

  “How did you get out of the plane before it sank?”

  “I honestly don’t know. I remember swimming in the direction the water was rushing. I think it swept me out. That’s the best way I can describe it.”

  “This question must have come from a lawyer. Can you tell us if you’ll be suing the airline?”

  She shook her head. “I have nothing to say about that.” She smiled at the reporter. “I will tell you I’m writing a book with the help of the group. I was a columnist for a magazine and the group from the island appointed me to write the story. We didn’t want some outside writer who hadn’t lived the experience to try to write it. I have an agent and will have a publisher lined up soon.”

  “That’s great. I hope you’ll let me interview you when it comes out.”

  Amanda nodded.

  “Ms. Winston, How did your family react to your coming back from the dead?”

  “My family was ecstatic, just like all my fellow survivors’ families were, I’m sure. I have a wonderful family.”

  “Are you married?”

  “No. I have a lovely daughter, a neat son-in-law and two of the most wonderful grandchildren on earth. I also have a great sister and brother-in-law.”

  “One more question, what was the most wonderful thing about being rescued?”

  “Seeing my family.”

  “Of course. I meant to ask, besides seeing your family tell us the one thing you appreciate most about being home.”

  “It was a thrill to set my foot on good old Unites States soil once again. We have a wonderful country and when you’re deprived of it, you realize how great it really is.” Amanda smiled at the reporter. “If you want to know about a simple pleasure, it was sitting around the table and enjoying a steak my son-in-law cooked on the grill, and having my wonderful family there to enjoy it with me.”

  “Ms. Winston, I’m getting the signal that I must end this interview. I’m sorry about that because there are other questions I’d like to ask you.”

  “Maybe we could go into them at another time.”

  “That would be wonderful. And let me again thank you so much for this interview. I’ve enjoyed talking with you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  The camera clicked off and the interviewer said, “Oh Ms. Winston. Let me personally thank you. I know landing this interview will really boost my career. None of the survivors will talk with reporters. They will only say they’re glad to be home and then they say you’re their spokesperson. I’m so grateful you decided to let me be one of the first to interview you.”

  “You did a wonderful job and if it helped your career, I’m glad. I meant it when I said I’d talk with you again. Please leave your card with my sister.” Amanda stood. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get a drink of water.”

  When Diane stood to leave, Amanda shook her head.

  Diane understood. Her mother wanted to get her own water. It would be one way to get away from the interviewer and the camera.

  Chapter 12

  Twenty-Six Months Earlier

  Ray called the group together and made the announcement about natives being spotted on the island. “We don’t think they’re hostile,” he said. “If they were, we’d all be dead by now. They may have never seen a white person before and be as curious about us as we are about them.”

  “I’m only half white. I’m actually a fourth American Indian and a fourth African American,” Debbie said.

  “And I’m half African American and half white,” Gene put in.

  “We’re African American one hundred percent.” Phyllis nodded toward her husband.

  “So,” Ray laughed. “We know some of you folks are African American, and some are part Indian and part white, but to the natives on this island you’re simply a little darker-skinned than the rest of us. You’ve been watered down enough through the years till there’s no way they’d think of you as black.”

  Curtis laughed. “Hear that, sweetheart. We’ve suddenly joined the white race.”

  Phyllis laughed and frowned at the same time. “I don’t know if I like that idea. I’m proud of my African American heritage.”

  Ray smiled at her. “Well, on this island the only heritage we have is each other. Our backgrounds and our race have nothing to do with it.”

  “You’re right about that,” Wilma said. “Here I was, a nice little liberal Jewish lady from Chicago and who do I end up with as a partner? A bible-thumping republican from Texas.” She goosed Tony.

  Everybody laughed.

  Steve said, “Amanda and I have our differences too. She’s a city girl who likes the ballet and symphony orchestra. I’m a farmer who likes to square-dance and listen to blue grass.” She punched him with her elbow and Steve added, “Ouch. She really packs a punch too. I think she was a prize fighter in another life.”

  They all laughed again.

  “Don’t look so smug, honey,” Wilma winked at Ray. “You and Joanna are probably the least normal of all. Military people are all strange.”

  Ray grinned. “Now, getting back to the natives...”

  “Probably cannibals. They’ll eat us all one by one. Just watch and see if we don’t start disappearing,” Mr. X mumbled as he stood and walked to his usual spot on the beach.

  For once the group began to think of what he was saying.

  It even crossed Amanda’s mind he could be right. She shook the thought away. “I don’t think he knows what he’s talking about,” she said. “Those eyes which looked into mine, weren’t threatening. They were curious. I think they’re just watching us to see if we’re a threat to them.”

  “I think Amanda’s right,” Ray said. “Therefore, I don’t think we should do anything about them. We’ll continue to act as we’ve been doing and let them observe. Just go into the jungle only as a group. Never venture in there alone. Hopefully, we’ll be rescued before we have to come face to face with them.”

  As the sun slipped behind the horizon, people began drifting toward their huts. They’d learned to find where they wanted to sleep before night fell. Unless there was a full moon, the island became totally dark.

  “Well, Amanda,” Steve said as they entered their hut. “We’re about to spend the first night in our new home.”

  She didn’t answer.

&nb
sp; “What’s the matter?”

  “I’m not sure. I’m a little afraid.”

  He frowned. “Of what? The natives?”

  “Yes,” She lied. She didn’t want him to know she wasn’t comfortable being shut up in here with him. Sleeping beside him out in the open was different than being alone with him like this.

  “Don’t think about them, Amanda. Let’s do like we’ve been doing and take one day at a time.”

  “Of course, you’re right.” She sat down.

  Steve dropped beside her. “We might as well try to sleep. It’s almost totally dark out there now.”

  Amanda lay down on her side.

  “Wait a minute. Something’s wrong,” he said.

  “What?”

  “Why do you have your back to me?”

  “I just thought ... Well...”

  “Stop thinking and put your head on my right shoulder where it belongs. I’m used to you sleeping there. I feel naked without it being in its position.”

  She took a deep breath and moved next to him. Though she was still nervous about it, she laid her head where he demanded. “Is that better?”

  “Much better.” He put his arm around her and pulled her to him. “Don’t you think that feels more natural?”

  “I guess.”

  “What do you mean, you guess?”

  She tried to explain without letting him know she didn’t have faith in men. “Maybe it’s my ego, Steve, but I’m beginning to think you might be a little attracted to me. We can’t let anything happen between us except friendship.”

  “It’s not ego, Amanda. I admit I’m attracted to you and I think everyone here knows it.” He sighed. “I sometimes think you might be a little attracted to me, too. That’s why I wonder why you don’t want to get any more involved with me than the friendship we have.”

  “Because of what you have on your left hand.” This statement was partly true.

  He sighed. “Thanks. I needed that. Maybe you need to keep reminding me of what I have on my left hand, Amanda. I forget sometimes.”

  Amanda knew she shouldn’t do it, but for some strange reason she couldn’t help herself. She reached out with her right hand and placed it on his chest. “Just keep her face in your mind, Steve. You told me that even though you’d had some trouble in your marriage, you’d never been unfaithful to your wife. I don’t want to be the one you slip up with.”