Chapter Ten-Trouble in Paradise

"Come on, Andy. You shouldn't be playing over there anyway. We don't know what's there." Christien scooped his brother up. He carried him back to the group,with a slight smile. "Found him."

"About time. The onion soup is almost done." Randi announced. "It's a good thing EJ found those onion roots,or we would be eating your coconuts for dinner again." Sher smiled.

Christien sighed, and scratched his head. "I guess..." He was really missing Espa, and he wasn't sure he wanted to even be there anymore. "Anyone know where Jon and Mokuba are?"

"I think they're up in the hut." Kendra replied, as she helped Monica fix her shoe.

"Thanks." Christien scurried up the ladder to them. "Guys? I want to go home."

"What?! Are you nuts? If we go back there, Espa'll lose us for sure!" Jonathan answered, distraught. "All we need is three more weeks."

"Well, he's not really here right now anyways , is he?" Christien replied sourly. "Let's face it, Jon. We can't stay here forever. We're not old enough."

"Look. If we go back now, we won't even make it the house. I bet they have the FBI looking for us too!"

"Don't get carried away, Jon." Mokuba cut in now. "Maybe Christien is on to something. I mean, we only have enough food for the next two weeks, but then what? I say we wait out the two weeks, then head back. Besides, we've yet to come up with a way to get you guys back to Espa without a whole lot of commotion."

"I don't want to wait! Mokuba,I've been all over this island. There are things here that could kill one of the little ones! Poisonous snakes, Rats. Whatever you think isn't there is!"

"Then they can't go romping around. Simple as that." Jon replied now. "They all could use some decorum anyway. "

"Decorum? Now you sound like Seto!" Mokuba mused. "We're not solving things by arguing."

"I agree." Chris folded his arms. "This has gone far enough. We should head back."

"Fine. We'll leave in the morning." Jon frowned. "If we can,that is."

"What do you mean if?" Chris asked.

"Well,we don't have a whole lot of supplies to go back with." Jon told him. Chris sighed, and headed back down. "We're leaving tomorrow, Rands."

"We just got here!" Randi exclaimed.

Chris was about to reply,when there was shrill scream from behind the trees. His eyes widened. "Andrew!!"

"CHRISTIEN,JON! COME QUICKLY!" Meghan's voice was full of terror.

Chris ran as fast he could, and stopped dead when he saw the sight through the bushes. "Andy....." His eyes narrowed. "What happened, Meghan?"

"I don't know....I was was gathering twigs for the night fire, and I heard him screaming. A giant snake was completed wrapped around him, and bit him." The middle Raptor knelt, pulling the screaming Roba into her lap. "Andy....." She checked him over. "oh no....." She looked up at Christien. "It was a poisonous snake, Christien. We need a doctor."

"Where do you suppose we're going to get one of those on this remote island?!" Christien demanded,as he took Andy into his arms. He now turned, and found himself face to face with his elder brother, whom he'd trusted. "You see?! I told you this sort of thing would happen!" He yelled at Jon. "It's a deadly snake too! You best hope he lives through the night, or you'll never forgive yourself,Jonathan!"

"Andrew....." Jonathan said softly, as Christien pushed past him to get Andrew some kind of first aid. He fell to his knees, in tears. Oh man..Espa, this is all my fault...all I was trying to do was protect everyone, and now Andrew might be dyin g. It's all m y fault!! All he could do now was cry softly to himself, and nothing more.

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Later in the night, Andrew was running a rather high fever. Randi and Christien stayed up all night with him, and took turns dabbing his forehead with water. Christien was very worried. "He's not even talking anymore. I'm really scared, Randi. He needs a doctor..."

"I know...." Randi sighed, shaking her head. "This was supposed to be an adventure, and now it's turning into a tragedy."

"D-don't say that! Andrew will be fine..." I can't believe Jonathan agreed to this whole thing! It's so cruel to Andy to have to die away from home! He gasped sharply, when Andy went limp. "NO!" He shook his brother. "Andy!! Andrew Lee! Wake up!!"

Randi put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "I think he's unconscious from fever..."

"Th-that's it! We're leaving, before it becomes more than unconsciousness!" Christien stood up, and ran to the bell. He rang it fiercely, as his tears of anguish streamed. "Wake up, everyone! NOW!" He cried out. "Andy's dying. We have to leave ,right now. It can't wait till morning!" His announcement had everyone out of bed, and gathered around the five-year-old instantly.

"Start loading everything into the boats. Mokuba, grab my life jacket on your way dow n. I'll take care of EJ." Jonathan took charge again, quickly. "Chris..."

Christien turned a tear stained face to his elder brother. "What?"

"You wer e right. I'm sorry." Jon hugged his brother tightly. "We're gonna take care of Andy now, okay? We'll go home, and whatever happens happens."

"Alright........" Christien swallowed hard, as he slipped Andy into his life jacket, before carrying him to Mokuba's boat. "Are we all ready?"

"Yeah. Let's go, Mokuba." Jonathan ordered.

"Right!" Mokuba backed them rather recklessly out of the port. "Sorry about that..." He muttered sheepishly. He directed the girls out as well. "Just follow me,okay? We should be back to the pier of Domino by dawn."

"Right!" They called back, and the caravan sped off.

(And this concludes Part One of Brothers' Keeper! Look for Part Two very soon!)