8. The Search
"Skipper." The Professor shook the captain's shoulder gently. "Skipper, wake up."
"What is it?" He grumbled groggily without opening his eyes.
"How are you feeling?"
He slowly opened one eye than the other and seemed to ponder the question for a moment as he stretched and sat up on the edge of his hammock. "I feel a lot better than last night, that's for sure. I'm still a little sore, though." He said as he rubbed a shoulder.
"Anymore nightmares?"
"Oh, thank goodness, no. One was enough!" He shuddered at the memory.
"Do you think you'd be up to a little walk?"
"I guess so. Why?"
"We found the radio this morning. You remember that typhoon I was tracking a couple of days ago?"
"Yeah."
"It should be hitting our island very soon. I found a large cave where we can ride out the storm. We've already relocated our most vital belongings."
The Skipper looked around the room for the first time. It was noticeably bare. His sea chest and duffle bag were gone, as were all Gilligan's things. Really, the only items left was the furniture. "Why didn't you wake me up? I would have helped."
"No, Skipper. You needed your rest. We did alright. Although I admit it was rather difficult."
"Did Gilligan give you any trouble?" The Skipper asked as he rose to his feet. This time there was no dizziness.
A rather pained expression came over the Professor's face. He didn't answer. Instead he said: "We need to get to the cave before the storm starts. The others are already there."
"Well let's get going." The Skipper marched to the door.
"You seem to be recovering well." The Professor remarked as they stepped outside.
"I'm fine now." He looked up at the darkening clouds. The wind was picking up and he had to hold onto his hat as he walked.
As they entered the cave the Skipper was greeted warmly by his fellow castaways.
"We were really worried about you." Mary Ann squeezed his arm and gave him a peck on the cheek.
"Did you really miss me that much?"
"We missed you this much." Ginger gave him a long soft kiss right on the lips.
When she let up he blushed a deep crimson and chuckled. "Wow." Was all he could say.
"Yes." Mr. Howell gave him a pat on the back. "We were worried about who would do the work."
"Very funny." The captain said with a wry grin.
The relief over the Captain's recovery didn't seem to last, however, as everyone soon sat down on the crates that lined the cave walls. Ginger lit a lantern and they all sat in silence for a long while. The Skipper noticed that they looked unusually glum.
Looks like its time for a pep talk from the Captain. He thought. "Why the sad faces? This is only a little storm, not the end of the world. We've been through worse than this. I mean, we're all safe, right?" It was beginning to get dark outside and the wind was howling loudly. "At least we have a dry place to stay and we're not stuck out there."
Nobody said a word.
A strange feeling began to creep over him. Something was not quite right, like an important piece of the picture before him was missing. Not something, someone.
"Gilligan!" He nearly shouted in sudden realization. "Where's Gilligan?"
At the mention of the name Mary Ann buried her face in her hands and burst into tears.
Ginger pulled her close. "It's okay, Mary Ann. I'm sure he'll be alright."
She looked up at her friend, tears running down her cheeks. "Do you really think so, or are you just acting?"
"What's wrong?" He gave the Professor a stern glare. "Where's Gilligan!?"
"Mary Ann found this pinned to the supply hut." The Professor handed him a piece of paper. His face was grim and he seemed reluctant to meet the Skipper's eyes.
As he read the note his heart sank and he began to feel queasy again.
Deer every body,
Im sory I ruind your lives. I didnt mean to.
I espeshally didnt mean to kill the Skipper.
Im going away so I can't hurt any body ever again
I hope you all get rescued now that I'm not heer to mes it up.
Gilligan
Oh, my poor Little Buddy! He thought as he swallowed hard, a thousand questions running through his mind. Where is he now? Is he safe? Would he hurt himself? Doesn't he know we care about him? How could he do this now? Why would he think he killed me?
"He must have overheard us last night." The Professor said softly, answering the Skipper's unspoken question.
In less than a second the Skipper's distress turned to anger. "Why didn't you tell me about this?" His booming voice echoed off the cave walls. "Why aren't you out there looking for him instead of sitting in your little hole like a bunch of frightened rats?!"
"Rats?! How dare you." Mr. Howell rose indignantly. "Mink perhaps, but rats never!"
Mary Ann was really bawling now. "He's right!" She sobbed. "We should have all been looking for him the whole time, instead of getting the stupid supplies."
"You have no right to speak to them like that." The Professor stood up straight in front of the imposing sailor. "For one thing Ginger and the Howell's were out looking for him most of the day. Second we needed someone to bring these supplies up here before the storm. And third I won't allow anyone outside in that weather."
"You are not the captain."
"No I'm not. But would you seriously order your friends into such a perilous situation?"
The Skipper looked around the cave, first to the Howells then Ginger, then Mary Ann then back to the Professor. "No." He said softly.
The Professor put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We're just as worried about Gilligan as you are."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell like that. Of course none of you could go out there." He looked once again out into the stormy darkness. "That's why I'm going myself."
There was a barrage of protests as he found an extra lantern and lit it.
"It's a noble gesture, Captain." Mr. Howell hugged his teddy bear tight. But you'll never find the lad in the dark. You could get lost."
"Oh, Thurston, don't be ridiculous. How could anybody get lost on this tiny little island?"
Ginger slowly snuck an arm around his neck. "Why don't you stay here, with me?"
He pushed her gently away, not bothering to reply.
Mary Ann touched his arm. "Oh, Skipper, we want to find Gilligan too, but we don't want you to go out there and get hurt."
He smiled a little and patted her cheek. "I'll be fine." With that he turned and stepped outside.
The Professor followed. The sudden force of the wind nearly knocked him down. He put a hand on his friend's shoulder, partly for balance, as the cold rain pelted them both. "You can't do this, Skipper. Mr. Howell is right; you'll never find him out here. You're still not well." He had to shout over the rising storm.
"You are wrong, Professor. I have to do this. Look at this storm. Gilligan's my Little Buddy and he's out there somewhere all by himself and scared to death. He needs me." His voice lowered slightly. "Besides, if anything happens to him out there tonight and I didn't even try to find him I…I'd just never forgive myself."
"Then I'll go with you."
"No. I'm used to weather like this. I know how to handle it. Besides somebody with brains has to keep the others calm. And I might know where Gilligan is. There's a cave about half a mile from here he's been messing around in lately. I don't think he knows I know about it. He might be there."
"Alright." The Professor heaved a defeated sigh. "Be careful. If it gets too violent out there don't hesitate to find shelter." He then took the Skipper's hand and shook it briskly. "Bring him home safe."
"I will." The Skipper nodded and walked out into the stormy darkness with only the faint glow of a small lantern to guide him.
