For disclaimers and notes please read first chapter.

PART 5

"I can't believe it..." Katie looked at the wide horizon where the azure of the sky blended with the darker greyish-blue of the ocean. In that horizon, she could see a tiny speck of what looked like their ship moving receding away from the island, leaving them behind.

Jessie was struggling to catch her breath as she shared Katie's dismay.

"Katie... you didn't tell anyone you were coming here?" Jessie asked.

Katie nodded, "I did... this crew guy. That jerk... he didn't ask the captain to stop."

The two girls stood on the sands as the blue waves lapped it gently. The only sound was the gentle roaring of the waves and the distant cries of sea gulls.

"So... what do you want to do now?" Katie asked, finally tearing her gaze away from the last shred of hope that was rapidly deceasing.

Jessie did not know. She felt weak. She had been walking under the sun for almost two hours and then she had performed what was definitely her most stressed-out operation. Now as reality hit her, she was getting too overwhelmed by its burden. Jessie swayed and she suddenly caught hold of Katie.

Katie immediately looked at her. "Hey... Jess? Are you alright?"

Jessie nodded. But she felt anything but all right. She sat down on the sands and rubbed her aching legs. Katie sat beside her and rubbed her back.

"You want something? Water?"

"I'll just... I'll like to sit..." Before she could complete the sentence, Jessie drifted into oblivion.

Jessie awoke to the sounds of crickets chirping in the background. She could hear the waves lashing angrily on the rocks in the remoteness. As such, she did not hear any sign of human voices and a wave of panic climbed in her throat. She quickly rose up.

"Whoa whoa! Jessie... relax."

Jessie turned to see Katie placing a restraining hand on her shoulders.

"Katie... where?"

Katie wiped the sweat from Jessie's forehead.

"You are in Paali's cabin. She insisted that you rest here. She said that it was the least she could do after what you did for her daughter."

"What... what... did you tell her?"

Katie screwed her face in consternation. "I told her about the situation and she said that we could stay in the village."

Jessie sighed as she felt sweat trickle down her neck and spine.

"I'm sorry Katie. You had to be in this place because of me."

She shrugged, "Let's just say I think I can handle being here then worrying sick about you."

The grass mat covering the entrance of the hut opened and Jessie saw the same matronly woman she had met earlier enter. She was holding a bowl with what looked like some sort of steaming liquid.

"Take this... it make you better." She smiled at Jessie.

"What is it?" Jessie looked concerned.

The woman smiled again, "Rice and leaves. Elders say very good for stomach."

Katie took the bowl and thanked the woman.

"You might as well drink it, Jessie." Katie advised.

"But..." Jessie began.

"I know Dr. Sammler. But right now, we are in their world and we follow their rules." Katie gently propped Jessie on her arms.

"I can get up." Jessie protested.

The woman continued smiling.

"Your friend very good. She take good care of you."

Jessie almost spitted out the drink hearing the woman's words.

Katie? Good? God! The woman is in for a HUGE shock. Katie scowled at Jessie's reaction.

The warm soup-like liquid was sweet with a faint tangy taste. Not altogether unpleasant, it made Jessie feel sort of good as it poured down her oesophagus.

Katie wiped Jessie's mouth when she finished her soup. She then slowly laid her on the straw mattress. She enjoyed the way Jessie was glowering at her. Katie gave the bowl back to the woman and thanked her.

"I am not some invalid, Katie!" Jessie roared when the woman was gone.

Katie smiled, nonchalantly. "I know... I was just taking all precautions. You know, the age-old Doctor's saying; Prevention is better than cure."
Katie walked around the hut and gingerly fingered the lanterns and the earthenware there. Jessie could see that Katie was quite fascinated by all these. It wasn't something entirely new for her. She had spent months in Africa and South America and there were worse conditions than these.

"Hmm... what can I say. It seems like some episode of Survivor." Katie finally returned to stand by Jessie's bed.

Jessie chuckled, "Except... you are not with some hot chick to give you company."

Katie winked mischievously, "Ohh... there's a hot chick alright."

Jessie blushed and she looked away.

"Jessie... I think you should take a rest. I have a feeling this liquid or whatever they give you may have sleep-inducing effects." Katie's voice was serious.

"Thank you, doctor." Jessie remarked sarcastically.

Katie gave her a mock salute.

"So what about you?" Jessie asked.

Katie's face contorted in blatant naughtiness, "What are you implying Dr. Sammler?"

Jessie blinked in appal. "No... I was just..."

Katie bent and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.

"Don't worry... I have another hut. And anyways, I am a bit of a nightcrawler."

She left leaving a very shocked Jessie.

FEBRUARY 17, 2003

"What's going on here?" Jessie asked her friends, Adi and Simone when she joined them. Jessie looked around at the crowds of excited and squealing school kids in the hallways. It had taken her forever to reach her locker.

"Didn't you hear?" Adi asked.

"Hear what?" Jessie queried.

"The school is throwing a farewell party for Katie."

Jessie's fingers iced as she heard that.

"Yeah..." Simone continued, "Apparently, there are throwing this huge farewell surprise party. I am wondering whether we will be invited."

"Shut up, Sim." Adi mocked. "You only care for Brad, Katie's brother. You don't even know Katie."

"Yeah... but Jessie did." Simone pointed out. Adi and Simone turned to her.

"Yes... I DID." Jessie replied shortly.

Adi and Simone sighed.
"Aah... how I wish I could go for the party..." Simone said.

"Hey... Jessie!"

"Tadd?" Jessie looked up into the good looking boy.

"Hey... I just came... umm... well to ask you what you were doing after school tonight?"

Jessie flipped through her agenda. "I have a Math quiz tomorrow. I guess I have to study. Why?"

Tadd cringed uncomfortably, "Well... I was wondering... that you know... like would you wanna come for the party tonight?"

"You mean Katie Singer's farewell party?" Adi almost shouted.

Tadd nodded. He was looking at Jessie intently. He did not know whether to be worried or eased by her lack of reaction.

"I am sorry... I can't go." Jessie replied coolly.

"Hey come on Jess. It's gonna be fun. It's not like you need to study. You are so smart you'll probably get perfect without even reading a word." Simone pleaded.

Tadd touched Jessie's arm.

"Katie will want you to be there, Jess." He said softly.

"Tell her I am sorry. I can't make it." Jessie looked at her two disappointed friends. "You guys can go ahead without me."

"But... but..." Adi wavered.

Tadd felt his tongue stick to the roof of his mouth. It was his last attempt to resolve whatever was wrong between Jessie and Katie and to hopefully change Katie's mind from her ridiculous decision to go to Switzerland.

He saw Jessie walk away. He ran towards her.

"Jess!" Jessie stopped. Tad flinched when he saw the irritation in her eyes.

"Could you...er... think about it again?" Tad asked.

Jessie sighed, "I have, Tadd. Have fun."

"Tadd!" Tadd turned to see Katie walk towards him. He saw Katie lips move but the loud music and ruckus of laughter in the gym made his ears deaf to whatever she was saying.

"What? I can't hear you..." Tadd gestured to Katie. She grabbed his hand and pulled him out. The students had rented the huge Sinclair Gym for Katie's farewell party. Even though, the Principal was slightly wary of giving the gym for personal party reasons, he could not help himself in front of the teachers who insisted on the party.

Kate dragged Tadd outside the gym and closed the door. After the deafening sound inside, the corridor outside was as silent as a morgue.

"Where's Jessie?" Katie asked breathlessly.

"Uhh..." Tadd looked around guiltily. "She couldn't come."

"What!" Katie looked at him angrily. "You didn't invite her!"

"No... no... I did." Tadd reassured her. "She just had... a...a math test."

Katie closed her eyes and collapsed against the wall.

"Katie?" Tadd stroked her hair. "I am sorry. Maybe you should talk to her."

Katie swallowed the barrage of tears that were threatening to fill her eyes.

"I tried... she won't talk to me. She avoids me... doesn't take my calls... doesn't wait for me at lunch anymore. I tried everything Tadd." Katie admitted in defeat.

Tad felt sorry for his best friend. He used to like Jessie and was hurt when she rejected him. Even though, he got over her, he had to admit that he was jealous of Katie when she told him about her relationship with Jessie. Now, there wasn't a stronger supporter of them than him. He would have done anything to bring them together, if only Jessie allowed him. The hardest part was that Jessie acted as if nothing happened. She refused to talk about it. He could not get to her and apparently neither could Grace.

"Don't go, Katie." Tadd begged.

Katie's eyes were still shut.

"Give me a reason to stay, Tadd."

And Tadd had none.

MARCH 28, 2018

Katie looked into the full moon shining in the blackness of the sky and tried to get her jumbled thoughts together. By this time she should have freaked. Hell! It wasn't everyday one gets trapped on some isolated island where even electricity is a luxury. She looked around and recalled what she had told Bane. She didn't like to live in such primitive conditions. She loved her penthouse overlooking skyscrapers. Her idea of being close to nature was a tourist vacation in a very restricted and security-infested area. What was more incredible than her being stuck on an island was her being stuck with Jessie.

She looked up into the sky. She wasn't a heavy believer of God. It must have been years she had last been to Church. But right then, she knew that it wasn't just some random fate that things were happening this way.

"Why are you doing this to me?" She cried in agony.

"Isn't it enough that I am trying to get rid of her from my mind? Why do you keep bringing her near to me to torment me? What have I ever done to you?"

In response, she heard a huge clap of thunder.

Great! She muttered to herself. It was going to rain. Now she will have to go back the hut. She had lied to Jessie when she said that she had a separate hut. Obviously, the villagers did not see anything wrong in both of them sleeping in the same shelter.

She walked towards the colonies of thatched huts. Some men were still outside, building fires or sharpening what looked like tools. A heavy hush spread when they saw her coming. Katie forced a smile when she looked at them. Only one returned the smile. Others just looked away.

"Wonderful public relation skills." Katie told herself.

The one, who had smiled back, came towards her. She saw that he was quite elderly. He was short, but was agile and leanly muscled. His brown skin shone in the fire. His hair was slightly peppered with grey.

"Miss... you not sleep?" He enquired politely.

Katie smiled, "I am going to. I sleep late."

"Aah..." He then looked towards the hut where Jessie was sleeping. "The other miss... she sick?"

"She's feeling much better now, thank you." Katie assured him. She then said, "I am Katie. That's my... uh... friend, Jessie."

"Kaatiee... Jaassiee..." The man nodded. "Preety name, Miss. Me Norash Khamur." He introduced.

"Thank you for letting us stay here, Norash Khamur."

He bowed graciously. "My pleasure you and friend stay here."

A faint light from the oil lantern burnt in the corner. Katie looked at a sleeping Jessie. She was breathing rhythmically. Katie thought that there could not have been a more pretty looking angel if she ever saw one. She did not know what to do so she took a straw chair lying on one side and sat down on it. Curling her long legs between her, she leant back and fell asleep.

"Carl!"

Carl looked up to see Trey striding towards him. Carl groaned. He and Trey had an argument earlier when he had refused to accompany Jessica to the Godforsaken island. Trey had seemed quite edgy the past few days and he was getting on his nerves.

"Not now, Trey." Carl articulated his disgust.

Trey didn't seem to hear him as he proceeded forward and sat on Carl's table.

"Trey..." Carl began.

"Have you seen Kathryn?" Trey asked, struggling to keep the panic out of his voice.

Carl sipped his beer calmly. "How would I know? She is your girlfriend."

"She is not." Trey corrected firmly. "And speaking of which... have you seen Jessica?"

Carl eyed him through the rim of his beer bottle.

"Nope, haven't. I am guessing she must be sleeping after her little travel to that boonieland."

Trey played with the ring on his finger.

"It's funny that Kathryn is not in her room. I've searched everywhere but can't find her. What's surprising is that I can't find Jessica either."

Carl gulped down his beer.

"You sound as if it is correlated."

Trey looked up.

"Maybe it is..."

Carl moaned. "What the hell is wrong with you? You are talking in riddles out here! Why don't you tell me what's bothering you and get it off your head for Chrissake!"

"Alright..." Trey sighed. "I think there is more to Kathryn and Jessica than we know."

Carl snorted, "Like as in partners-in-crime? They are carrying out some major heist on the ship? Ohh...ohh... wait... maybe they work for some secret society and they are going to blow up the ship!"

Unaffected by the sarcasm, Trey continued to look at Carl intensely, "Maybe they know each other... more than they are letting out."

"Yeah? Ok... and what if they do? How is it any of our concern?"

"Have you ever fallen in love?" Trey asked quietly.

Carl almost choked with that question.
"Hell Trey! Love? You've got to be kidding? You know me..."

"Well... maybe you should." Trey interrupted derisively, "Then you wouldn't be so Goddamn blind to what's going on here."

"What IS going on here?" This time Carl could not contain his curiosity.

"I think Kathryn and Jessica were lovers."

Carl doubled up laughing.

"Lovers? Jessica and... and... Kathryn? C'mon tell me it is a joke! Kathryn would never go for someone like Jessica."

Trey raised his eyebrows, "Oh yeah? What makes you think so?"

Carl chuckled, "Look at Kathryn's track record. She sleeps with the most gorgeous women in the world. Not that Jessica is bad looking. Geez no! She can be really hot if she sheds her bloody puritanical shield around her. But Kathryn makes it a point to sleep with only women who are intellectually retarded but a great sex-tool."

Trey shrugged, "You don't know that. Kathryn is not as shallow as you make her out to be. She is intelligent and loves to be surrounded by knowledge."

"To be surrounded by intellectuals is one thing. Having sex with a mass of grey cells is another. Kathryn is one of the most vain and self-opinionated women I've ever met. She would not sleep with anyone who would require a commitment out of her or would even remotely be able to challenge her. Jessica is both."

Trey had to concede with that.

"Maybe... it's not of now. Like you know... maybe they knew each other when they were young."

"Like childhood love you mean?" Carl mocked.

Trey nodded, "Something like that."

Carl got up. "Trey, man. Take my advice. You need some sleep. It is obvious that you are upset cause you can't get yourself to turn on your object of desire. That's fine. There are a lot of hot bods out here. Get yourself some beauty and forget the impossible obsession called Kathryn Singer."

"I am not obsessed." Trey muttered. Carl just shook his head, still laughing at what he considered Trey's wild imagination.

Katie fell on the ground with a thud. A series of curses flowed out from her mouth as she tried to figure out how she landed on the floor, numb the pain that was shooting up her hips and swallow the drowsiness that resulted in having her sleep interrupted.

"Are you alright?"

Katie looked up to see Jessie peering over her in concern.

For a moment, Katie almost wondered whether she had died and entered Heaven. She could not believe that she was seeing Jessie.

"Uh... yeah... I'm good." Katie murmured.

"You shouldn't sleep on a chair. Your body is not used to it and it jerks reflexively during sleep and well... you will fall." Jessie smiled at Katie's baffled face.

Katie rubbed her eyes as the previous day's events were recalled. She got up and almost repeated her earlier swearing when she felt her bottom heat up in pain.

"Thanks, Doctor." Katie muttered, as Jessie helped her stand.

"No problem. I just hope you are well insured."

Katie smiled feebly. Mornings were just not her cup of tea- literally. She slept late, woke up late and usually blindly walked to her kitchen for her cup of coffee. Then she knew her day was ready to be faced. Now, in the middle of thousand miles of ocean and prehistoric living standards, Katie was just not in her element.

"Here take this." Jessie offered what looked like an ox's tail.

Katie scowled, "What is this?"

"Toothbrush." Jessie answered.

Katie gaped in horror at Jessie and then at the... toothbrush.

"What? I am not going to put THAT in my mouth."

Jessie struggled to suppress her laughter, "Either this or you spend the whole day with smelling teeth."

"I have a third option." Katie croaked, "I am going back to sleep."

Jessie caught hold of Katie's hand as she saw her stumble her way towards the bed.

"Oh no you don't. You are going to freshen up and then help me find a way out of here."

Katie turned and looked at Jessie with irritation.

"Well... can't it wait?"

"Uhh... sure. Except I want to get out of here as soon as possible."

Katie stared unbelievingly at Jessie as she dragged her out of the hut.

She shoved the 'toothbrush' into Katie's hands.

"Brush your teeth, wash your face and if you are done, then maybe you will get some of the breakfast."

Katie suppressed what would definitely have been a yell – a very loud one.

Katie yawned wide as she stepped out of the primitive privy-like enclosure. She had brushed her teeth and freshened up per Jessie's orders. She could also not control her biological urges. She was almost surprised to see that the lavatory wasn't as nasty as she feared. No crawling insects and definitely no odours. Yes, it had some stains on the walls and the floor was caked with mud and dust, but hey... It was much better than it is shown on TVs.

Katie stopped with her mouth open when she stared at the sight in front of her.

Jessie was bent on her knees. Surrounding her were many local children. They were laughing and playing with Jessie's hair – obviously enthralled with its amazing golden colour. Jessie giggled when one particularly young boy fell on her and made her topple on the ground.

Paali and a young woman came out. The woman was carrying a small child in her arms. Paali shouted something to the playing children and the immediately got off Jessie. However, they were still close and they said something shyly to Jessie.

"Having fun, Dr. Sammler?" Katie walked up to Jessie.

Jessie turned. A huge smile on her face.

"These kids are adorable. You won't believe it... but they know some English."

Katie looked around. She saw that they were the centres of attention of the entire village and men and women were standing outside their huts, watching them.

Paali came up to them. Behind her was Norash Khamur.

They were looking uncertainly at the two strangers. Katie saw the Norash Khamur had lost his previous warmth and was looking at them with nothing less than sternness.

"Uh oh." Jessie whispered. "I don't sense something good."

Paali looked at Jessie and spoke, "Miss, I not thank you good for last day. You save my daughter and her child."

"Oh... no. No thanks needed." Jessie assured her.

"Yeah... just tell us how the hell to get out of here." Katie said sourly. She earned a look of warning from Jessie.

Norash Khamur coughed, "I sorry but you not be able to leave."

"I beg your pardon?" Katie came forward.

"Norash says that you and Doctor not leave Talam Sameh. Boat comes one time in a month. You wait for three weeks for boat to come."

Jessie clasped Katie's arm nervously, "Isn't there like a radio or something around here?"

"We have radio. But radio works not well for big distance. Radio for ships very near."

"Lord!" Katie groaned. "What have I ever done to deserve this?"

"Hey! Maybe Trey or Carl will discover that we are not on board and notify the Captain. He will send someone to come after us." Jessie wished aloud.

"Yes. We think the same thing." Paali said, "Your ship will send men for you. Till that time, you must be here."

Katie looked into Jessie's eyes. She then turned to Paali and Norash and put on her famous negotiating face.

"But we do not want to trouble you. We are strangers and you have already done so much for us. We cannot stay here in your village."

Paali smiled.

"You not need to stay in village. I take you to master house."

Katie and Jessie followed the woman as she led them towards what looked like a desolate field.

"I hope they are not planning to murder us and use us for their next full moon sacrificial ritual." Katie quipped.

Jessie shivered. She remembered what Carl had said about headhunters. At that time, she didn't believe him. Right now, she wasn't so sure that he wasn't right.

As they walked along the muddy, dirt-beaten track, Jessie felt Katie slip a hand in hers. It wasn't a conscious action. More a gesture of mutual comfort for two people who were thrown into an unknown situation together.

In the distance, they saw what looked like an old-fashioned, tiny bungalow. Paali was leading them there. She then stopped right in front of the building and opened the wooden gates that shut the fences surrounding the property.

Jessie exchanged curious glances with Katie as they trailed Paali in.

Paali opened the door of the bungalow.

She spread her hands, rather ceremoniously.

"This is Master Northing house. He stay here when he comes to check factory. You can stay here."

Katie frowned as she sneaked a look into the dark interiors.

"Are you sure it's alright with your Master Northing if we stay here?"

Paali nodded furiously, "I not think he mind."

Jessie smiled and hugged Paali. She whispered a thank you. Paali blushed at this display of emotion. Katie was busy trying to examine the surroundings.

"I bring you some food. Then I share you our Talam sameh." Paali offered.

"Thank you, that will be very kind." Jessie acknowledged.

When Paali left, Katie came to her side. A displeased look on her face.

"I can't believe you actually thanked the woman." She grunted. "She is keeping us trapped here."

Jessie sighed, "She doesn't have a choice and frankly neither do we. As you said yesterday, we are in their lands and we play by their rules. It won't be good if we annoy them. And they are being good. I mean... they could very well ignore us and leave us to our own devices."

Katie rubbed her temple. "I do not know what will be good or not. I am not staying in this freakin' place for a month."

She walked into the open bungalow.

Jessie shook her head and followed Katie in.

The bungalow looked quite ordinary. It was barely furnished. There was an old sofa in what was probably a living room. Wooden tables and benches were scattered randomly. Old, hand-maid cotton curtains hung from the dust-infested windows. The ceilings were of dark timber. A ceiling fan hung alongwith what looked like lanterns. There were even tubelights on the wall. The stairs were wooden and Katie gingerly stepped on them to make sure that it wouldn't collapse under her weight. To her relief, it was steady. She motioned to Jessie that it was all right.

Sunlight filtered from the windows and the girls explored the top floor. It consisted of one room with a bed, a bookshelf, a night table and a closet.

The bookshelves were lined with volumes of classics from Dickens, Shakespeare, Orwell, Thackeray, Tolstoy, in addition to the Greek epic Iliad and Odyssey. A white sheet covered the bed. Underneath it was a cheap mattress with three pillows thrown on it. Jessie went to what was the washroom and was surprised to find comparatively modern flushing systems in it. The shower was also well functioning. Obviously, this Northing wasn't too keen on being detached from contemporary lifestyles.

The closet consisted of mainly manly working shirts and a few pair of khakis and jeans. There weren't much lady clothes, except for one or two skirts and a yellow sundress.

"At least we know he had female company." Katie remarked dryly, as she found pieces of folded female underwear in the drawer.

Jessie brushed off the dust on the night table. There was a photo frame and she picked it up. There she saw a middle-aged man with black, slicked back hair and a gaunt, weather-beaten face. Leaning against him was an obviously younger woman. She was breathtakingly beautiful and had a full, curvaceous figure. They were looking into each other's eyes and smiling.

"Our benefactor?" Katie asked, coming beside Jessie and looking into the picture.

"Possible..." Jessie shrugged. She then looked into the date of the photograph.

It was June 12, 1978.

"Love is a strange thing." Katie observed as she saw the striking physical contrast in the two people.

Jessie put the frame back on the table. She turned and found Katie standing very close to her. Jessie just had to move an inch and her face would be touching the other woman's. Jessie looked into the large eyes of Katie. She caught her breath and waited for the kiss.

To her shock, and hurt, Katie moved away.