Chapter 4
"Hm - that smells great!" said Vera as they entered Ulick's house.
They were accustomed to good-sized homes, but were impressed with the size and luxury of this place. Nearly forgetting their unlucky incident, they stood in the doorway and beheld the grandeur of the home.
"I put a loaf of bread in the oven," Ulick answered Vera, "You can have some when it's done."
"That would be lovely."
"Yeah, I'm hungry too!" called Edward, standing behind the others in the living room of Ulick's mansion.
The man of the house's eyes shot towards the vexatious visitor, but he kept a smile.
"I'll see what I can find for you all," he said, "Please, be seated."
The group sat down in the massive living room. The two enormous sofas held five persons, Thomas taking too much space or else three would have fit on his sofa. The rest used the chairs to a large dining table and Emily sat on the tuffet Vera handed her. Ulick poured glasses of water and placed them in front of each group member. He also poured two jugs of iced tea and placed them on the tables.
"Thanks, U.," said Tony.
Ulick nodded and waited for them to have a first sip.
"So, Ulick," Fred started, "do you have a phone, so we can call for a boat to pick us up?"
"Unfortunately, there is no telephone on this..." Ulick started.
Edward interrupted him with a flow of profanity.
"... no telephone on this island," Ulick continued, "and my boat can only take two people. It's a rowing boat, you see."
"It gets even better!" Edward exclaimed.
"Shut up, stupid!" John spoke and punched his shoulder.
"Ouch! Why did you do that?" Edward asked, but didn't dare touch the strong guy.
"And getting to the next island," Ulick continued, "where a boat might be obtained, takes more than an hour to reach. I suggest I take one of you, and he or she will try to get a boat there."
"Sure thing," said Fred, "As captain of the now deceased Christie, I think I should be the one to go first."
Nobody spoke against his suggestion as he looked around the group.
"I would not have expected differently from a captain," Ulick said finally. "Now, I'll arrange something to eat for you all first. And when the bread is done, we'll be off."
"I should have gone," said Tony, "I doubt Fred will be able to get a boat. If I'd gone, I'd buy us a new boat."
"If so, you should have spoken up. They're gone now," Philip replied.
"All my things are gone," whimpered Emily.
"As are ours," sneered Ethel.
Emily started to cry.
"Don't do that," Ethel said angrily, "we're in this together and we're not crying. Cut the crap."
"Yeah, cut that out, Emily," added William.
Emily didn't reply, but rose instead and went outside.
"She'll be back," Tony stated and waved bye-bye to Emily.
Thomas was bored. Ulick and Fred had left half an hour ago and he remembered how long Ulick had said it take to reach the other island. Then they'd have to find a boat and return to the island. It would take ages! He looked around to see if he could have some fun.
He poked his finger in William's side. William jumped.
"Cut that out!"
"Why?"
"Because I say so!"
"I don't need to listen to you," Thomas sneered and poked another finger at his victim.
William got up but Thomas followed him, and kept on poking him. Relentless, he grabbed the other and worked him to the ground, poking him incessantly. Thomas' size kept William from escaping - he was at the mercy of the bored one.
"Cut it out!" he yelled, and tried to ward off the attacks.
"No," Thomas replied and continued to harass him.
"Get off of me!"
"No, I'm having too much fun!"
"Yay Thomas! Drive him crazy!" Philip screamed.
Others interfered as well, some taking the side of Thomas, others tried to help William get away.
"Poke him! Poke him!"
"Let him go, big bully!"
They hit a small table and it toppled over.
"Ouch, that hurt!"
"Stop!"
It wasn't until John pulled Thomas away with considerable force that the scene was over.
"Look what you did, you oaf!"
"If you hadn't fought me, it wouldn't have happened."
"Okay, put the table back in place, will you?"
"Do it yourself."
"Whatever."
With everything righted and everybody cooling down, the fun was over.
"I'm going to have a look around," said Thomas, "See what's on the island."
"I'm with you," spoke Philip.
"Me too," added Ethel.
"Anybody see anything to drink?" Edward asked.
The three walked the island, only to find it otherwise uninhabited, Owen was indeed the only person to live here. They talked about their host, not believing someone would be willing to live here alone.
"I'd go crazy, I need people around me," said Ethel, who was holding Philip's arm. She felt hot.
"I don't need anybody," Thomas stated.
"Yeah, right," Ethel retorted.
"But I do like people around," he added.
"To taunt them."
"So? What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing, but it's not what I meant."
"What did you mean?"
"I mean, really have someone around, for company, you know," Ethel declared, and her shifty eyes remained on Philip for a long moment.
"I think I do. I'm getting bored here. I'm going back to the house," Thomas said.
"We'll remain here for a while," Ethel replied quickly, looking at Philip with a smile.