Tales of the South Seas:
"More Than Words"


Chapter Five:




She crawled on her hands and knees, soundlessly creeping to the back of the large gray tent. Then, with her sharp bladed Bari knife, Isabelle felt for a flexible piece of fabric, certain no one was positioned on the other side, and slowly inserted the hard bone, slicing the burlap in a downward arch. Once done, she lay the blade aside on the muddy ground and placed her hands on either side of the tent fabric, carefully ripping.

Isabelle was about to stick her head inside, announcing a rescue, when someone with a powerful, yet oddly feminine, grip seized one of her hands and pulled. Her slim body was halfway inside and Isabelle had hissed, "Dammit!" before she realized Mauriri was kneeling before her, a powerfully built but attractive native woman to his side. Isabelle smiled up at him, relieved to see her Polynesian friend better than expected.

Mauriri motioned behind him, to his tied hands, and Isabelle cut the bounds. "Where's David?" he asked, massaging his wrists.

"Out front being a distraction while I'm here." she replied. "He was going to find you but now that I have, and you haven't been turned into Mauriri stew, I suggest you help him save a Bari man." Isabelle reached behind her and produced the knife. She handed it to him. "Protection, just in case." she said.

Mauriri nodded then, with a brief smile at the Bari woman who had been so helpful to him, slipped out the back and slowly rounded the tent. To Mauriri's right he could see the natives gathered around their pleading victim, near the campfire, discussing the best way to flay him. To his left Mauriri saw a corral with ten healthy young horses. He did not catch sight of David Grief but hoped his friend could see him and would follow through with what Mauriri was preparing to attempt.

The Polynesian moved to his left, sliding nearly nonchalantly over to the corral, and lifted the latch. The gate swung open wide. Mauriri then shouted, smacking one of the beasts on its rounded rump and watched as the horses, at full gallop, tore through the encampment on their way to freedom.

Grief then appeared from a hiding place, behind an area that was the home of a stockpile of kerosene and gunpowder. He instantaneously raced to where the natives had arisen, near their campfire and sacrifice, punching out at a Tonga that swung a hatchet at him. Grief grasped the old native man by the arm and urged him to go passed the tent where Isabelle appeared. She was waving her arms to get his attention.

Mauriri, ready and willing to do battle after all the physical abuse he had taken, used his skills to kick and swing, felling two of the natives. Another snuck up on him from behind, ready to spear him, but Mauriri heard Grief's shout of warning and turned quickly. Without further thought, he grasped the knife Isabelle had given to him earlier and threw it with pin point precision, the blade entering into the native's skin and heart. He fell before he realized he was struck and dying.

"David, the Bari are on their way home!" Isabelle shouted, running to him from her position near the tent, slapping a naïve Tonga out of her way.

Grief nodded, pulling the gun from his belt. "Isabelle! Mauriri! Run for the ship!"

"What are you going to do?!"

Grief aimed for a fuse near the kerosene and gunpowder barrels.

Mauriri suddenly realized what Grief had been working on while hiding behind the drums.

"Sorry I asked!" Isabelle called after the shot was fired. She ran with her friends, without stopping, all the way to the beach.

The Rattler had never looked so inviting.

In the distance, far behind them, the explosion was mind boggling.

****

One Week Later:

"I don't believe it." Mauriri exclaimed, walking with David from Inspector Morlais office to Lavinia's bar, "How is it the Bari and the Tonga could hate each other one minute, declaring civil war, then are friends the next?"

"Out of necessity, my friend." Grief offered, "Their supplies have been cut off. The Bari have very few men, the Tonga very few women and now that missionaries are on the island, no more cannibalism. They're learning to live together and, hopefully, a great alliance will form between Baritonga and their surrounding islands."

"It'd be nice to see some good trade coming out of this. Particularly for Isabelle. Pederson cost her a lot of money."

"He didn't cost her *just* money." Grief spoke with unexpected vehemence.

The men entered the bar, their home away from home, and sat at their usual table. It was a busy Saturday night, both sailors and natives drinking, singing and hurling the occasional insult and profanity.

Clare, approached Mauriri and Grief, her sunny smile a drastic contrast to their surroundings. "How can I help you gentleman?" she asked.

"Working tonight, Clare?" Grief questioned.

"Helping out." The young British woman spoke above the music from a piano playing not too far away, "Lavinia is on a date tonight and I promised her I'd keep watch."

"Two whiskeys." Mauriri ordered. When Clare departed he looked at a thoughtful Grief, "Life goes on David." he said, assuming his friend was thinking about Lavinia and her date.

"I know." Grief focused on his friend, "But I was actually thinking about Isabelle. You know, she's never had a birthday party."

Mauriri nodded, "Yeah, I remember the conversation." but he studied his friend. Could David Grief be falling in love again? Mauriri didn't think it possible after losing Lavinia then Jenny all in the same year. Still, Isabelle Reed was a more than worthy replacement for either lady. Funny how he thought this now when, no that long ago, Mauriri would have been more than happy to see the woman out of Grief's life forever. "Think we should have a party or something?" Mauriri looked about, "Here?"

Grief watched as two sailors began a drunken fist fight over a pretty native girl. "No," he said, "not here."

***

She watched the children from her sitting position on the sand. They were playing in the water and on the beach, running and laughing. Isabelle recalled a time, when she was very young, doing the same things. The world had seemed such a simple place back then. Her life had never been easy but she still held out hope that one day a handsome prince would come along and take her away from all her problems. That prince had never come but at least she had learned a few things along the way. She had become self-reliant. Dreamers never prosper.

With a smile, Isabelle glanced over her shoulder to the porch of Mauriri and Leani's home. The couple were out front, trading affectionate barbs, and cleaning up after the party. It was a little late to celebrate her birthday but Isabelle sincerely appreciated the surprise. David had approached her a little earlier in the day, obviously in on or having organized the waylay, and asked Isabelle to come to this area of the island. He had his eye on a mare, he had said, although Isabelle could not guess what David Grief would do with a horse. She should have known better.

Grief had been good about not asking her too many deep questions about Samuel Pederson. However, he had been there to see the man taken away in handcuffs by Lieutenant Morlais. It had been more than difficult for Isabelle to turn Samuel in but when she confronted him and he laughed, telling her she must be mistaken, Isabelle knew there was no turning back. Not only wouldn't he initially admit to the deception but he became angry and cruel. Pederson actually accused her of having an affair with Grief, the two of them setting him up for a fall. He had said as much to the police. However, in the end, Pederson admitted his involvement and was tried, convicted of war profiteering and embezzlement.

Isabelle and her business had been exonerated entirely, the jury convinced Pederson had acted on his own. She doubted she'd get off as easily if she hadn't the backing of Grief and so many of her friends on the island. Colin and Clare were stellar characters witnesses and even Lavinia sent a letter to the magistrate, explaining how Reed Enterprises was instrumental in the on-going prosperity of many of the local businesses in Tahiti. Isabelle had been really surprised and touched by Lavinia contribution but she was always a woman of character and, for that reason alone, Isabelle respected her.

"Hey," Grief suddenly appeared and sat beside Isabelle on the sand. He handed her a small package, wrapped with white tissue paper.

"What's this?"

"A belated birthday gift."

She tore the tissue away and read the label of a small bottle of brandy.

"Napoleon, 1865."

Isabelle looked at Grief, slightly puzzled.

"The first bottle of brandy we ever shared together." he explained with a smile.

Isabelle laughed. How could she forget? Grief had brought the spirit to her, so long ago now, while she and a few other prisoners were in route to New Stanton, to be imprisoned for their crimes. They then drank together in the cargo hold and talked, among other things. He had been kind and deceptively noble back then. "It's been over a year since we shared a drink alone, David. Do you recall what happened last time we indulged?' she baited.

He looked out at the ocean, watching the crashing waves and seagulls, and smiled, "I remember."

Their kisses had been quite passionate back then.

Isabelle's smile weaken and she grew thoughtful, "You've been a good friend to me." she said, "And one day I hope to find myself completely contrary to you."

Puzzled, Grief looked at her profile. "What do you mean?"

"I once came to you while we sailed on The Rattler and told you that I thought the two of us made sense. We have the same ambition and zest for life. We desire the same things. Do you remember what you told me?"

"No."

"You said you subscribe to the theory that opposites attract."

Grief frowned, angered by his choice of words. She had come to him late at night and he was groggy. He knew he wanted her but, at the time, was involved with Lavinia. Of course, that didn't really mean he couldn't have a tryst. Both he and Lavinia had had their fair share of affairs but he held back with Isabelle for reasons he couldn't quite fathom at the time. She was beautiful and willing ... but she wasn't someone he could just have an affair with then toss aside. Like Lavinia before her, Isabelle rated more than a one night stand, even if she didn't know her own value back then. If he couldn't give her his full attention, his whole heart, they couldn't be together at all. It seemed such an odd thought coming from him back then but now he understood it completely.

With a snap of her wrist, Isabelle opened the small bottle of brandy and took a sip.

Yet, whether she was aware of it or not, Isabelle had changed. She still had ambition and lofty ideals but she had grown a softer side. Perhaps it had always been there but he chose to look the other way when it presented itself.

A chilly breeze was in the air, sweeping through their hair. A wet mist from the ocean touched their faces. Grief placed a comfortable arm around Isabelle's shoulders, to warm her against the cold. Isabelle looked at David and passed the bottle to him. She smiled when he took a swing and gave it back to her.

"You're the only person I've ever told this to ..." Grief began, " ... but there are times when I can actually be wrong."

Chuckling, Isabelle took a last drink from the bottle and resealed it. "You've told me a secret so I'll tell you one." she said, "I know I should be heartbroken over Samuel and although I'm so very disappointed with what he did to me I'm not sorry he's gone. I'm not sure I was ever really ever in love with him. Not like I thought. Maybe I was just in love with the idea of being in love. He came to me when I was most vulnerable. And," she added, "he was good in bed."

This time Grief laughed, "I like you priorities, Isabelle."

She rested her head against his shoulder, "One of these days someone will come along and I'll know it's right. That day just hasn't come yet."

Again Grief looked out into the ocean, this time slightly disheartened.

'Or maybe he's closer than I think.' she added, mentally.

"Happy Birthday, Isabelle." Grief said.

"Thank you, David." she whispered back.

They watched the sun set.


THE END
April 2002
But - Hold it!

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**For those of you who like this ending and don't feel you need to read further the story has ended. However, for those of you who are currently scratching their heads and saying: "What, this is it?" ... please go to the Epilogue ....