Gradually, we all got used to the way that the days worked on this island
of ours. I had informed everyone of the danger of the midday mirages, and
warned them not to follow after them because of the chance of "uncertain
death" - which is a lot worse than "certain death".
The smaller children, now called "littluns", built sandcastles on the cove's beach. This was their place, and the older kids did not want to disrupt their frolicking. There was, however, an older kid that watched them at all times, to ensure their safety. "Daycare" duty was chosen randomly, at my whim. Everyone (except for me, of course) did it sooner or later.
As I emerged from my hideaway, I notice a great deal of smoke coming from Fire Mountain. I blew the conch twice in rapid succession, the signal for an emergency meeting on Fire Mountain. I looked out towards the ocean's horizon, and noticed a ship. The conch is blown with one long blast and one short blast - a ship has been sighted. Everyone begins to run to Fire Mountain.
"Oh, shit." I say to myself.
"What's up?" Celebrinor asks as he approaches.
"The sky, dummy."
"No, really, what's the matter?"
"Some idiot's gone on and let the fire go out." I told him.
"D'arvit. Who was on duty?"
"That ass, Merridew."
"The -ing moron!! He really shouldn't be trusted with an important thing like the fire, Ary."
"I know. Once everyone gets here I'll convey the bad news."
I walked away, signaling that the conversation was over. Merridew suddenly runs up, glowing with pride and excitement.
"We got one! We got one!" he exclaims.
I ignore him and turn to address my rim of people.
"Hey, you all, guess what happened today?" I ask, my tone saturated with sarcasm.
"A ship?"
"A plane?"
"Someone died?"
"What? What happened? Tell us, pleeeeease," everyone clamors.
"A ship was sighted. However, because some stupid bimbo let the fire go out, the ship did not see our signal and turned away." As I said this, I could imagine Jack Merridew squirming with guilt at letting the fire go out.
"Does anyone want to hazard a guess at who that bimbo is?
"No? Well, that's what I'm about to tell you.
"It was....Jack Merridew!" I say his name with disgust printed all over my face. "Jack, tonight I'm putting you on latrine duty. And you'll do it every night until I say that you can stop. Got it?"
"Yes, priestess," he mumbles.
"I can't hear what you said, Merridew. Say it so everyone here can hear."
"Yes, High Priestess," he says.
"Good." To the rim of people I say, "OK, peeps. This meeting's over. Go do whatever you're supposed to do. If catch anyone slacking off, they'll be on Latrine with Mr. Moron over there. 'night."
The smaller children, now called "littluns", built sandcastles on the cove's beach. This was their place, and the older kids did not want to disrupt their frolicking. There was, however, an older kid that watched them at all times, to ensure their safety. "Daycare" duty was chosen randomly, at my whim. Everyone (except for me, of course) did it sooner or later.
As I emerged from my hideaway, I notice a great deal of smoke coming from Fire Mountain. I blew the conch twice in rapid succession, the signal for an emergency meeting on Fire Mountain. I looked out towards the ocean's horizon, and noticed a ship. The conch is blown with one long blast and one short blast - a ship has been sighted. Everyone begins to run to Fire Mountain.
"Oh, shit." I say to myself.
"What's up?" Celebrinor asks as he approaches.
"The sky, dummy."
"No, really, what's the matter?"
"Some idiot's gone on and let the fire go out." I told him.
"D'arvit. Who was on duty?"
"That ass, Merridew."
"The -ing moron!! He really shouldn't be trusted with an important thing like the fire, Ary."
"I know. Once everyone gets here I'll convey the bad news."
I walked away, signaling that the conversation was over. Merridew suddenly runs up, glowing with pride and excitement.
"We got one! We got one!" he exclaims.
I ignore him and turn to address my rim of people.
"Hey, you all, guess what happened today?" I ask, my tone saturated with sarcasm.
"A ship?"
"A plane?"
"Someone died?"
"What? What happened? Tell us, pleeeeease," everyone clamors.
"A ship was sighted. However, because some stupid bimbo let the fire go out, the ship did not see our signal and turned away." As I said this, I could imagine Jack Merridew squirming with guilt at letting the fire go out.
"Does anyone want to hazard a guess at who that bimbo is?
"No? Well, that's what I'm about to tell you.
"It was....Jack Merridew!" I say his name with disgust printed all over my face. "Jack, tonight I'm putting you on latrine duty. And you'll do it every night until I say that you can stop. Got it?"
"Yes, priestess," he mumbles.
"I can't hear what you said, Merridew. Say it so everyone here can hear."
"Yes, High Priestess," he says.
"Good." To the rim of people I say, "OK, peeps. This meeting's over. Go do whatever you're supposed to do. If catch anyone slacking off, they'll be on Latrine with Mr. Moron over there. 'night."