"I suppose they think we are all dead! We will stay in this island forever… I can't…"
"Shut up, Ruth! We are all tiered and I'm not in the mood to listen to you complains."
"You are a stupid man, Harry. That's why you will never be king!"
"Neither do you! So shut up and let me sleep!"
"How dare you? I'm the King Sister and you are only a Baron. You're no one. You're despicable…"
"Ok, both of you… please…" Said Agnes. "How do you have the strength to argue?" Michael sat down and looked at Joseph. He did not even move. It was better to save the energy for useful things...
"Enjoy the sun to heat ... The wind is getting stronger and stronger. In a short time, it will rain!"
"This is all your fault, Clarisse! So shut up you!" Clarisse sat in the sand, angry and Joseph sat too.
"But what is your problem with me? I'm sick of putting up with you, Ruth! You're a spoiled little girl who does not want to grow up! You have nearly sixty years, for Heaven's sake!"
"You ..." Ruth got up and ran to Clarisse but Paul grabbed her by the waist.
"Let me go immediately!"
"I can't. If I let go you will do something that you'll regret ..."
"Let me go! Right now!"
"I'm sorry but no. Please, Ruth, calm down. Please!" Said Paul.
"I'm calm, you're stupid little man! Let me go. That's an order!"
Ruth bent his knee hard, hitting Paul and causing him to fall to his knees in pain. Joseph stood immediately in front of Clarisse, Michael and Silvia also rose and approached them.
"Rupert would abdicate the throne! He did not want to be king. He did not want to marry!" Ruth cried.
"What? Nonsense ..."
"My father forced him to marry you. He did not want and I would be Queen! Because of you, my life is hell! You always wanted to harm me!"
"Will you listen to what you say?" Clarisse was shocked. "Our marriage was arranged but despite not being in love, we loved each other very much."
"Oh, yeah? That's why you screwed you in his bed?" And she pointed to Joseph. Everyone was speechless. Agnes helped Paul to get up and sit under a palm tree. "Rupert told you, Joseph was my boyfriend! But you want everything that was mine, don't you? First you took my brother and then you take my boyfriend to your bed! He's the love of my life and you took him away from me…"
"Ruth, you're insane if you suggest that I betrayed my husband. You don't know me at all. We better stop here before we say something that we may regret."
"No! I will not…" And Ruth fainted. Joseph took a step forward and grabbed her. He lifted her in his arms and carried her into the shade.
"I think she's dehydrated. She's burning." Joseph said when laid her on the ground.
"Michael brings me water, please." Carefully Joseph knelt beside her and laid her head on his knees.
"Ruth. Wake up, please. Open your eyes." He grabbed her wrist and with two fingers, made pressure on the tendons, to feel the pulse.
"She's weak ..." Michael arrived with a bottle of water. Joseph wet her forehead and then her lips.
"Ruth ..." His voice was soft and sweet. Slowly, Clarisse drew back and, without anyone noticing, returned to the shelter.
Ruth opened her eyes slowly, pretending to be very weak.
"Joseph ... I'm so sorry. You're a gentle soul. This is too much for me. I can't stand it anymore..." She grabbed his hands and closed her eyes. "Joseph ... I want to ask your forgiveness! No one ever loved you as I love you ..." She opened her eyes and swallowed. "I'm so afraid to die, Joseph! Please stay with me a bit. I feel like I'm close to the end and do not want to be alone ..." And closed his eyes and pretended to faint again.
"Ruth! Please open your eyes! Nothing will happen. You will recover and be fine!" Joseph pulled her higher. Would she die in his arms? Joseph felt useless ... and felt sorry for her. She was tormented by the life she has chosen. And if she liked so much of him, the only thing he could do was not to leave her alone, thought Joseph. Clarisse would understand. He looked around and did not see her... Damn, this will be hard to explain ... Ruth felt Joseph turn and groaned...
"Jos ... Joseph ... Do not leave me ..."
"I'm here, Ruth!"
Agnes wept copiously, Harry tried to calm her. Paul, Michael and Silvia, looked unsure what to say or think...
"Joseph, please ask Clarisse to forgive me! I was jealous... Don't leave me…"
During the next three hours, Joseph gave her water in her mouth and she was pretending to pass out and wake up. Michael and Paul lit the fire next to their shelters and Silvia went to Clarisse. As was very cool, Joseph took Ruth into the shelter and lay her carefully.
"Thank you, Joseph."
"See? You better now!"
"You saved my life!" And she hugged him.
"That's not true. You were very dehydrated, that's all. Now try to rest. Tomorrow is a new day!"
"Thank you, Joseph! And apologize for me, to Clarisse. I was bad and very rude! I hope you will be able to forgive me..."
"Don't think about it now. See you tomorrow. I'll tell Paul that he have to force you to drink water."
"I learned my lesson. Thank you, Joseph!"
Joseph walked to the shelter with a heavy heart. Of course Clarisse would not understand. And honestly, he did not understand well.
"Clarisse?" He pulled back the sheets and into the shelter.
"Clarisse? Please, dear ..."
"Joseph, do not speak to me! Please! I always thought you smarter ..."
"My love, she thought she was going to die ..." The shelter was completely dark but he was getting near her voice.
"And you? did you also think she was going to die?"
"Yes. I mean, I don't know. She seemed to me so sincere, love. And asked forgiveness."
"Do not come any closer. I do not want you to touch me."
"Clarisse, you are being foolish."
"Foolish? Really? But no, I'm not being silly. I have been stupid and blind! From the day she entered the palace that you have had some strange attitudes. You even stayed angry when she said she was in the same shelter that Paul ... Go to her and get out of here. "
"Clarisse, what was I supposed to do?"
"She was pretending, for Heaven's Sake! Are you blind?"
"I'm sorry, Clarisse. I didn't mean it… I was a fool. I'm sorry, darling. Please. I love you! You know I do! And you know that you're the one and only. Talk to me, darling." As soon as he touched her arm, he grabbed her and pulled her to him.
"Let me. Go to her!" Clarisse put her hands on his chest and pushed him but he was stronger and pressed her against him.
"I love you! And I will never leave you. You are mime, Clarisse. I was a fool not to see that she was faking, but I will be a greater fool If I let you go! I do not live without you, Clarisse! believe me, love! " Unable to fight him, Clarisse let the tears run at will.
"I'm afraid…"
"Of what, darling?" He caressed her back with one hand and her hair with the other.
"Nothing!"
"Clarisse, please tell me. And forgive me! I will never do that again. Forgive me!"
"I don't…" A strong gust of wind made the shelter shake.
"What was that?" Asked Clarisse and groped looking for her lantern.
"It was the wind ... It's strange ... I guess we never had a wind so strong here. And are you listening to the sea?"
"Joseph? Clarisse?" Michael called.
"What is it, Michael?"
"Is everything okay with you?"
"Yes, and you? It's starting to rain, come in."
"Sorry. But I was getting so scared ... I think that other shelters will not endure." Michael hugged Silvia and kissed her forehead. Clarisse smiled. Despite the single light in the shelter be the flashlight, she could see Silvia's smile. Suddenly they began to hear screams and loud voices.
"Ho my God ... They are in danger. Come on." Said Clarisse, leaving Joseph perplexed.
"Let's go." Said Michael. Joseph and Silvia followed in silence. Ruth was the first to cross them but not stopped ...
Agnes cries were becoming stronger and more insistent. The two shelters were completely destroyed ...
"Agnes"
"Clarisse, I'm here. Come quickly, please!"
"Ho God!" They said. Harry was on the sea, clinging to a trunk.
The waves crashed hard in the sand and pushed him to the high seas.
"Help me please!"
"Hang on, Harry." Cried Joseph. Agnes cried wildly at Paul's chest.
"Help me! There are sharks here. You guys want me to die?"
"Do not be stupid, Harry. And calm down." Joseph looked all around, trying to figure how to pull Harry to shore.
"The net... We have a large net, Joseph. I'll get it." And Michael was running to seek net. Joseph tied the belt of his trousers to one end of it. Michael tied a long liana at the other end of the net. Now it was only expected there was enough length.
Joseph threw himself into the sea, against the desperate pleas of Clarisse. Once passed the surf zone of the waves, it became much easier to get to Harry. Paul and Michael pulled him in and minutes later they were all safe.
"I was saved by a commoner ..."
"Arrogant son of a bitch!" Clarisse said and gave him a slap in the face.
"Help me to collect everything we can save." Paul said. The rain was so strong that they hardly saw each other. Harry was running and went into Michael's shelter.
"Coward. I married a coward!" Agnes was furious. Minutes later, they returned to shelters, completely soaked, full of cold, but with the bottles of waters, the shells and the clothes that were in the shelters.
"Michael and Silvia, would you care to join us at our shelter? I think we should stay together…" Said Clarisse.
"Of course, Clarisse. I'll get our stuff."
"I will go with you, Michael." Said Silvia.
Clarisse came in and lit the lantern.
"Get out of here immediately, Ruth."
"No! I need a place to spend the night."
"You have two hypotheses: or other shelter or on the street NOT HERE." Clarisse said.
"Joseph ... Please ..." Ruth said with a weak voice.
"Get out. Now!"
"Joseph ... I thought you had forgiven me when you kissed me..."
"What ? That's a lie! Clarisse ..."
"I know. Get out, Ruth!"
"Well, I go. But this isn't over!" Ruth left the shelter when Michael was going to come.
"Well ... The snake is unwell ..."
"Patience!"
"We'll have to strip these wet clothes and dress are the coats. Without fire for warmth, it will be a very long night!"
