Day Fifteen
There's nothing like a hangover to make you yearn for yesterday's hunger and fatigue. Last night we finished off the rest of the wine while telling dirty jokes around the fire. This morning, I feel like my eyes have been rubbed with sandpaper and my head is being squeezed by a giant. The rest of the tribe is in similar shape; we're all practicing our moaning skills. But on the positive side, for the first time in two weeks, we're all relatively happy at the blandness of our breakfast rice.
Chet proposes a trip to the waterfall for an invigorating "shower," so all six of us trudge through the jungle to the water source. After filling our jugs and canteens and setting them on shore, we jump into the cool water of the pool. I take the opportunity, while submerged, to mutter a quick hangover relief spell. It helps with the pain, but I'm still fairly tired from our late night. A rinse under the waterfall actually turns out to be refreshing, and after about a half hour, everyone is feeling somewhat better. It probably wasn't the best idea in the world to get drunk the night before an important challenge, but there's nothing we can really do to change things now. Well, I actually could cast the hangover relief spell over everyone, but I suspect that would blow my cover a tiny bit.
We make it back to find our challenge information waiting in the mailbox, and the goofy rhyme on the clue sounds almost like a threat. For some reason, terms like "opposites attract" and "make friends with the enemy" don't exactly fill me with the greatest hope for today's challenge.
* * * * *
We arrive at the challenge site to fine Plastic Marcus, piles of colored wood blocks, and no sign of our traditional green mat. Instead, there are six green wooden squares on the sand, and across the way a matching set of orange squares. As we approach Marcus, he tells us to each stand on one of our tribe's squares. We settle in on our squares and await our instructions.
"You've fought tribe against tribe in every previous challenge, but this one is going to be a bit different." He smiles in a shifty way that, were he a car salesman, would have me running to another lot immediately. "In this challenge, you'll be teaming up with a member of the opposite tribe for the first round. The two members of the winning team will then battle against each other, essentially making your entire tribe's fate rest on one member's performance." At this, we're all checking each other out in earnest. Malfoy catches my eye and gives me the traditional Malfoy Smirk. If I am paired up with that man, I'll take it as a sign that the Fates officially hate me.
"You've already chosen your partners, by the way." Marcus indicates the boards under our feet. "If you'll all step off those boards, you'll find the numbers one through six, each one written in a different color. Your partner for this challenge is the member of the opposing tribe with the same number as you. Go ahead and pick up your numbers now." I step off my board, pick it up and hesitantly flip it over. There's a blue "3" painted on the underside. I look over to the other tribe, fully expecting Malfoy to be wearing the Smirk and holding a blue "3."
I am not to be a victim of Fate Hate today, it seems. Malfoy has a red "5," to match Ellen. I look for the other blue "3," and find it in the hands of a middle-aged man. We meet up and shake hands.
"Hermione."
"Franklin. Nice to meet you." We stand next to a blue table with a large "3" painted on it.
Once all pairs are at their tables, Marcus explains the game. We'll assemble a puzzle of wooden blocks, but all of the blocks are together in a big heap. One team member has to be touching the table at all times, and we can only bring one block back to the table at a time. Then, we have to take turns moving pieces until the blocks are in their proper places, assembled to show a Tahitian design. Marcus shouts at us to start, and we're off.
To save time, Franklin and I quickly agree to take turns getting blocks. That way each person who retrieved a block will then be able to move a piece into place while the other is getting the next block. I dash over to bring back the first piece. While holding onto the table and placing my first block, I whisper a quick spell. The blocks must have been in the right order when they had the design painted on them, so it's just a matter of the blocks "remembering" where they go. Franklin brings back a block, and I'm off again. Back at the table, I notice that Malfoy and I are about even. I'm sure he has a similar spell, and we're probably well matched. It's just a matter of the speed and accuracy of the Muggle we're paired with, and I believe I have the advantage.
On her last block, I see Ellen trip and fall down in the sand. We're slightly ahead. After eight trips each, we've assembled a square of blocks. All of mine are already in the right place, so it's a matter of each of us moving one of Franklin's blocks. One by one, we take turns moving blocks, and in a few moments the design appears intact on our table.
"Done!" I shout to Marcus. Seconds later, as Marcus is jogging toward our table, Malfoy also indicates that they're finished. Marcus inspects our design and declares that Franklin and I have won the first round. I make eye contact with Malfoy and attempt to give him my own version of the Smirk. I believe I'm successful, since he suddenly looks like he's been sucking on a lemon.
Franklin and I are now each given our own table, and instead of a grid of four by four, the blocks will be five by five. We have to fetch the twenty-five blocks one by one and assemble them to reveal an entirely different design. Marcus tells us to begin, and the race is on. I'm already faster than Franklin in the gathering phase, and by the time he has all of his blocks on or around his table, I've begun assembling the puzzle. I could easily put each piece in its place immediately, and the temptation is there. Instead, I keep a close eye on Franklin's progress and throw in a few mistakes in my assembly. My team is cheering loudly from the sidelines, shouting encouragement. Fetia Rai is likewise supporting Franklin, but it's a lost cause. Even with my well-placed errors, I finish ahead of him. The rest of Miti Matai rush over, grabbing me in a group hug and nearly deafening me with their cheers.
Marcus presents us with the immunity idol, and we start back to camp. I look over my shoulder to give Malfoy a little goodbye wink, but he has his back to me as his tribe walks away. Then, without turning, he puts his hand up behind his back where I can see it and wiggles his fingers. He quickly turns it into a surreptitious back-scratch to avoid suspicion.
No patented Smirk? No raised eyebrow? Just a finger-wave goodbye? It's almost a friendly gesture! This guy must be the absolute king of mind games, because he certainly has me wondering what the hell he's doing. It's almost torture, to not be able to go up to him and ask, "what's up with you, Malfoy?"
Great. Now I'm going to dwell on him, which I'm sure is exactly what he wants me to do.
Oh well. At least if I'm going to dwell, I can picture him shirtless while I do it.
There's nothing like a hangover to make you yearn for yesterday's hunger and fatigue. Last night we finished off the rest of the wine while telling dirty jokes around the fire. This morning, I feel like my eyes have been rubbed with sandpaper and my head is being squeezed by a giant. The rest of the tribe is in similar shape; we're all practicing our moaning skills. But on the positive side, for the first time in two weeks, we're all relatively happy at the blandness of our breakfast rice.
Chet proposes a trip to the waterfall for an invigorating "shower," so all six of us trudge through the jungle to the water source. After filling our jugs and canteens and setting them on shore, we jump into the cool water of the pool. I take the opportunity, while submerged, to mutter a quick hangover relief spell. It helps with the pain, but I'm still fairly tired from our late night. A rinse under the waterfall actually turns out to be refreshing, and after about a half hour, everyone is feeling somewhat better. It probably wasn't the best idea in the world to get drunk the night before an important challenge, but there's nothing we can really do to change things now. Well, I actually could cast the hangover relief spell over everyone, but I suspect that would blow my cover a tiny bit.
We make it back to find our challenge information waiting in the mailbox, and the goofy rhyme on the clue sounds almost like a threat. For some reason, terms like "opposites attract" and "make friends with the enemy" don't exactly fill me with the greatest hope for today's challenge.
* * * * *
We arrive at the challenge site to fine Plastic Marcus, piles of colored wood blocks, and no sign of our traditional green mat. Instead, there are six green wooden squares on the sand, and across the way a matching set of orange squares. As we approach Marcus, he tells us to each stand on one of our tribe's squares. We settle in on our squares and await our instructions.
"You've fought tribe against tribe in every previous challenge, but this one is going to be a bit different." He smiles in a shifty way that, were he a car salesman, would have me running to another lot immediately. "In this challenge, you'll be teaming up with a member of the opposite tribe for the first round. The two members of the winning team will then battle against each other, essentially making your entire tribe's fate rest on one member's performance." At this, we're all checking each other out in earnest. Malfoy catches my eye and gives me the traditional Malfoy Smirk. If I am paired up with that man, I'll take it as a sign that the Fates officially hate me.
"You've already chosen your partners, by the way." Marcus indicates the boards under our feet. "If you'll all step off those boards, you'll find the numbers one through six, each one written in a different color. Your partner for this challenge is the member of the opposing tribe with the same number as you. Go ahead and pick up your numbers now." I step off my board, pick it up and hesitantly flip it over. There's a blue "3" painted on the underside. I look over to the other tribe, fully expecting Malfoy to be wearing the Smirk and holding a blue "3."
I am not to be a victim of Fate Hate today, it seems. Malfoy has a red "5," to match Ellen. I look for the other blue "3," and find it in the hands of a middle-aged man. We meet up and shake hands.
"Hermione."
"Franklin. Nice to meet you." We stand next to a blue table with a large "3" painted on it.
Once all pairs are at their tables, Marcus explains the game. We'll assemble a puzzle of wooden blocks, but all of the blocks are together in a big heap. One team member has to be touching the table at all times, and we can only bring one block back to the table at a time. Then, we have to take turns moving pieces until the blocks are in their proper places, assembled to show a Tahitian design. Marcus shouts at us to start, and we're off.
To save time, Franklin and I quickly agree to take turns getting blocks. That way each person who retrieved a block will then be able to move a piece into place while the other is getting the next block. I dash over to bring back the first piece. While holding onto the table and placing my first block, I whisper a quick spell. The blocks must have been in the right order when they had the design painted on them, so it's just a matter of the blocks "remembering" where they go. Franklin brings back a block, and I'm off again. Back at the table, I notice that Malfoy and I are about even. I'm sure he has a similar spell, and we're probably well matched. It's just a matter of the speed and accuracy of the Muggle we're paired with, and I believe I have the advantage.
On her last block, I see Ellen trip and fall down in the sand. We're slightly ahead. After eight trips each, we've assembled a square of blocks. All of mine are already in the right place, so it's a matter of each of us moving one of Franklin's blocks. One by one, we take turns moving blocks, and in a few moments the design appears intact on our table.
"Done!" I shout to Marcus. Seconds later, as Marcus is jogging toward our table, Malfoy also indicates that they're finished. Marcus inspects our design and declares that Franklin and I have won the first round. I make eye contact with Malfoy and attempt to give him my own version of the Smirk. I believe I'm successful, since he suddenly looks like he's been sucking on a lemon.
Franklin and I are now each given our own table, and instead of a grid of four by four, the blocks will be five by five. We have to fetch the twenty-five blocks one by one and assemble them to reveal an entirely different design. Marcus tells us to begin, and the race is on. I'm already faster than Franklin in the gathering phase, and by the time he has all of his blocks on or around his table, I've begun assembling the puzzle. I could easily put each piece in its place immediately, and the temptation is there. Instead, I keep a close eye on Franklin's progress and throw in a few mistakes in my assembly. My team is cheering loudly from the sidelines, shouting encouragement. Fetia Rai is likewise supporting Franklin, but it's a lost cause. Even with my well-placed errors, I finish ahead of him. The rest of Miti Matai rush over, grabbing me in a group hug and nearly deafening me with their cheers.
Marcus presents us with the immunity idol, and we start back to camp. I look over my shoulder to give Malfoy a little goodbye wink, but he has his back to me as his tribe walks away. Then, without turning, he puts his hand up behind his back where I can see it and wiggles his fingers. He quickly turns it into a surreptitious back-scratch to avoid suspicion.
No patented Smirk? No raised eyebrow? Just a finger-wave goodbye? It's almost a friendly gesture! This guy must be the absolute king of mind games, because he certainly has me wondering what the hell he's doing. It's almost torture, to not be able to go up to him and ask, "what's up with you, Malfoy?"
Great. Now I'm going to dwell on him, which I'm sure is exactly what he wants me to do.
Oh well. At least if I'm going to dwell, I can picture him shirtless while I do it.