With the Swiss Army knife, Joseph cut several thin sticks, which tied with ivy, making two small cones. Then, made exactly the same but make two cones, slightly larger and with the narrower side closed. Then he made two fish traps putting the smaller inside the larger… the fish can came in but can't came out. After that he put the traps in different places on the river, walls with stones.
James and Paul were collecting wood for the fire and Harry was catching mussels. The women were catching bananas, plums and figs.
In the middle of dense vegetation, four women who were afraid of everything... Well, it was fun to watch. If they saw a spider, they scream… If they saw a rabbit, they scream… If they saw a grasshopper, they scream… Is a branch touch them… Well… They scream!
When they returned to the "base", Harry was already there, with his jacket full of mussels and another shellfish he didn't know.
Then arrived Michael, James and Paul and almost twenty minutes later, Joseph.
Silvia put the bananas on the sand and the figs and plums in a leaf. Michael sat beside her and dropped his head on her shoulder…
"You had to treat me right… I will start to build our house …" Michael was pretending to look seriously but dropped to laugh in the same second. Clarisse and Joseph laugh too.
"On the contrary, my friend. You do have to treat us beautifully ... Otherwise you do not eat!" Said Clarisse and put her arm around Silvia's shoulder.
"Well, that's a difficult choice…" Said Michael looking at the plums. "But I better not take the chance, don't you think Joseph?"
"I couldn't agree more, my friend!"
"Hey you! Don't give any ideas to this lady's, please. The air is very quiet here." Laugh Harry.
"Enjoy yourself, Harry! You know how unpredictable, ladies are!" Answer Joseph and Clarisse slapped him in the arm.
"So, shall we start to prepare the ground for the shelters?" Ask Joseph.
"Here we are, boss!" Said James and Michael.
"And we will do the same, right Paul?"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"You can call me Harry. And call Agnes to my wife. After all, we will be neighbors.
"Thank you then. Ruth, will you care to come here and see where do you like your shelter, please? You and Harry choose first. And I will be the last."
"There is no need, Paul. We both will share the same shelter." Said Ruth and she passed close to him, sensually… He gulped. Damn, this woman is bratty…
Joseph was looking astonished and Clarisse got angry. Ruth notice it and smile.
"What's the matter, Joseph? Did you get bothered? Whispered Clarisse.
"Of course not, Clarisse! I just wasn't expected it! I thought she would be alone." He regretted it the moment the words left his mouth.
"I see… If you preferred, I ask Paul to switch with you!"
"Don't say it, Clarisse!" He grabbed her hand. Clarisse took her hand, lean in to his ear and whispered "Don't touch me! There are too many coincidences."
"Clarisse…"
Michael approached them.
"Let's go, Joseph? The lady's take care of the lunch!"
"After you, my friend." And he looked at Clarisse.
"I'll take a walk on the beach. We never know when we can find something useful." Said Silvia.
"I'll go with you, dear." Clarisse rose but never looked at Joseph.
"So, we find ourselves in two hours for lunch, here?" Asked Michael. Joseph did not hear him. He was really bothered ... He had hurt Clarisse and did not know how to fix things between them.
"See you in two hours." Clarisse started walking towards the beach and Silvia followed. Michael looked at Joseph but said nothing and the two of them began to walk towards the forest.
"What do you think about this place? The trees are great to do the brackets and the floor is flat…"
"Good. We can even light a fire right there." Said Michael.
"Let's get to work, then! As we only have a knife, let's changing tasks- We begin cleaning the floor and then seek lianas and sticks. Where's James?" Said Joseph looking around.
"I don't know. He's somewhere!"
Harry e Paul studied the place they chosen under the palm trees. Harry did not want to imitate Joseph did not even admit that he had chosen a much better place than theirs.
"Paul, I want your opinion. What do you think if we made the roof structure in triangle and wooden floors covered with leaves?"
"That's ok with me, but what about the lady's?"
"We can ask… Agnes and Ruth… Please come here."
"What do you want, Harry?" Ruth was in a mood…
Harry explained the details.
"Can we finish before them?"
"Of course. Tonight we will sleep in a shelter, I can guarantee you!" Paul was cheerful.
"Good, That's fine by me." The men's start working. Harry was catching palm leaves, other larger and compact leaves and lianas. Paul will take sticks… Agnes and Ruth sit around watching them work.
Clarisse and Ruth walked along the beach in silence.
"Look! It's a netting. Let's take it? It might be useful."
"Yes, of course. And these bottles? Also are plastic and are so much bigger than ours."
"Yes, yes, Clarisse. Once we get under ... the future shelter, I will boil water. I thirst..."
"So do I, dear. These shells are huge. Do you think we can use them for anything? We can boil water in those…"
"This is great, Clarisse. We've seven huge shells. Let's go back." Silvia helped Clarisse with the shells and pick up the netting. Clarisse smile and follow her. They walked in silence until Silvia stopped.
"I'm sure you're a very special lady and, believe me, it pains me to see you sad. And I'm pretty sure Joseph's a special guy too. If I can help you, somehow…" Clarisse smiled.
"Thank you dear, I'm fine. This will pass!"
Really?"
"This is something completely new to me… I never have to deal with this, so…"
"Jealousy? Ask Silvia shyly. Clarisse laugh.
"Yes, jealousy. I never felt jealousy in my life before!"
"Queen doesn't feel jealous? Even with so many women wanted to be next to the King…"
"My marriage was arranged. I was twelve when I was engaged to Prince Rupert. Fortunately, we became best friends and I was truly happy. I know he had some affairs but was always very discreet and never exposed me to any scandal. We are never in love but love each other deeply. I miss him."
Silvia put down the network and the shells and hugged Clarisse.
"This embrace felt so good ... Thank you, Silvia. You probably be asking yourself where Joseph enters in my story… Well, since the first day. I can't tell you exactly when I fell in love with him… I really don't know…"
"Thank you, Clarisse!"
"What for?"
"For sharing… Everybody thinks you two are an item, but nobody knows for sure…"
"You know!" Said Clarisse and give her a hug. "Let's go. The sun it's too hot, dear!"
"Sure but just one more thing… Jealous it's a part of love. And Queens must be happy, too!"
Clarisse looked at her, smile and winked. But walking in high heels in the sand, has consequences... Clarisse sprained his foot and fell. Silvia knelt and Harry and Paul ran to her too.
"I'm perfectly well. I am clumsy in the sand."
"Your foot is swollen, Clarisse. I'll help you go to the shadow." Said Harry stretching her hand to help her stand, but Paul had another idea.
"Excuse me…" Paul bent and took it in her arms.
"That wasn't necessary, Paul. I'm all right. Put me down."
"No you're not. Your ankle it's swollen. And besides, is not every day you can get the Queen in your arms..."
"But it is not necessary, Paul" Clarisse was uncomfortable but the foot hurt a lot and the ankle was very swollen. However, Joseph had his backs to the beach; learn lianas in to a tree and Michael was smooth branches with the knife.
"Don't look now, but my co-pilot has you queen in his arms…"
"What?" Joseph overbalanced and fell back.
Clarisse keep trying to convince Paul, that wasn't necessary…
"I'm fine, Paul…" When Paul went to answer appeared in front of him, a wall of muscles and bad-temper...
"Did you not hear the lady? "
Paul swallowed and slowly put Clarisse on the ground, standing...
"Thank you, Paul but ..." And before she could finish the sentence, Joseph grabbed her, in his arms and took her towards the shelter.
"Joseph… Honestly…"
"I continue to be your bodyguard and HOS.
Clarisse was delighted… Joseph was jealous! He sat her down carefully on the floor and took her shoe. He gently massaged her foot, running from one side to the other, to make sure that there was no muscle damage.
"It hurts?" He asked worried. Silvia and Michael sat near them.
"Yes, but it's not unbearable."
"I'll wrap the ankle. It has to be tight one or two days to avoid any problems."
Joseph got up and went to a rock where they had they clothes that did not wear (coats, ties, socks ...). With his knife, he ripped a jacket liner strip. Then he went back to them, knelt in front of Clarisse and wrapped the fabric around her ankle.
"And now? How am I going to the lake?"
"I'll take you, of course."
"No way, Joseph!"
"Why? Do you prefer to ask Paul?" Clarisse first became pissed, but then laughed.
"Revenge, sweet revenge!"
"It's not funny, Clarisse! If he touch you again, I ..."
"Do not be silly! I love you!"
Michael and Silvia were speechless. Joseph dropped his jaw... Clarisse admitted for the first time in front of strangers, she loved him and he could not feel happier!
"Clarisse… I… I'm sorry… I get crazy of jealousy when someone approaching you. When I saw you in the arms of Paul ... I want to rip his arms!"
"But there is no need... Pour guy!" She smile and kissed him lightly in is lips.
