Chapter 4 Too Good To Be True?

They spent the next few days resting and sheltered from the rainstorm they had. It was horrible, but they were lucky they had these huts.

They had a chance to really learn more about the other castaways that had been here before.

After a few days they all made it back to camp and were getting ready to kiss island life goodbye. The raft was very very large and would accommodate the 7 and some luggage quite nicely.

The Professor kept track of the weather and monitored the conditions making sure they would be favorable for open water travel. He made sure they would be fine for at least a few days and made sure they would be able to do it safely. That was his main concern was the safety for the others.

" Are we ready to set sail?" Skipper asked as he observed the raft.

" Looks like it. Everything seems fine. Weather is favorable. We just need to make sure we set sail in an hour so we can at least make some lead way before noon." he said.

Skipper nodded and went to go round up the others, leaving the professor to finish gathering up his belongings.

Everyone was so ready to get home and get back to some sense of normalcy instead of being trapped on an island- where they could all pretty much guess their fate after several failed attempts to get off. This chance to get off was so unexpected and was really their last ditch effort to pack it all away and move.

…..

" Are we really only allowed one bag? I can't possibly carry all my furs Thurston!" Lovey Howell said as she stared at her clothing all over the bed.

" Just take one bag, Lovey. Just the essentials. We can send someone for our things much later." Thurston said as he chucked his money, papers he found, and his beloved bear into a bag.

" Ahhh can't forget this." Thurston said as he found a hidden bottle of bubbly in his closet, " Mhmm, and it's a good year. Nothing like champagne in its prime." He mumbled.

" I've got a few hundred thousand tucked away too." Thurston chuckled as he closed his matched luggage. The rest of his set would be staying behind so he took the biggest piece out of the set to make sure the most important things were setting sail with him.

Everyone was ready to leave.

" Gilligan- Gilligan! Hurry with those rations!" The skipper called.

" Coming Skipper!" Gilligan said as he approached the huts with a giant bin full of water. " This fresh water should last us a few days." Skipper said as he set it down in the boat.

They were packing along fruits, nuts, and a few coconut cream pies as well.

….

Pretty soon the 7 castaways were getting into the large raft.

The professor shoved them off and got right in to get them going. It seemed like this was actually going to work. The raft was sturdy, and not sinking as they began to drift away from their little slice of paradise for the past few years.

It had been their home and they had made quite a few memories there- both good and bad, but most importantly, had become a family.

" Goodbye Island!" Gilligan said as he waved it off, and the others followed suit, shouting their goodbyes towards their island they had called him for the past few years.

Once their island was out of site, all the men began to paddle as hard as they possibly could to steer them into a shipping lane and expose them to passerby ships or any signs of life.

It was barely even daybreak so they were making good timing so far. The Professor had gotten them up extra early so they could start making leeway on their travels. " We have to keep going, men!" the Skipper bellowed as they rowed.

Even Thurston Howell was pulling his weight.

" Heaven to Tiffany- I'm doing manual labor...I hope no one tells my friends at the Harvard Club this…" he said.

" Trust me, we won't say a word." Skipper chuckled.

The girls rowed every so often, but they mostly just stayed still and chatted amongst each other.

" Oh now we are really in the middle of nowhere there isn't a boat or an island close at all!" MaryAnn said as she looked out over the ocean into oblivion. It was scary, but exciting. It meant they were close to a rescue they hoped.

It was just the 7, their raft, and open ocean. It was eerie, but they hoped someone would be coming to their rescue.

Day two brought rough waves, but judging by the professor's compass, he figured they were near some shipping lanes.

" Any sign of ships Gilligan?" the captain asked as he stared up at his first mate. Gilligan was staring through his telescope.

" Hey- I...I think I see something. It's big and black! Skipper are ships furry?" Gilligan asked.

" No, Gilligan! It's just a fly… see?! Now just keep looking!" He ordered.

While they were looking for a ship the others were fast asleep in the vessel- although the Skipper wondered how anyone was sleeping with Mr. Howell snoring and counting money and Ginger singing in her sleep.

" A SHIP!" Gilligan yelled. The others all stirred.

" I SEE A SHIP! LOOK LOOK!" he shouted.

" What?!" they all asked.

" OVER HEREEEE!" Skipper yelled. He was trying to get their attention.

Gilligan was waving them over and trying his best to keep an eye on their ship.

The others all flail their arms and screamed until the boat hurried towards them. It came towards them pretty fast.

" You're the castaways, from the Minnow!" The sailor recognized them. It was nearing the 4th anniversary of their disappearance so it had been in the news and all over TV.

" Yes! We've been sailing for two days- we found a raft and we want to get to Hawaii!" The Skipper said.

They threw a rope across and helped the 7 aboard the ship and started the trek to Hawaii and radioed in saying they had the castaways and the 7 were coming home. They never thought this day would come but they were so excited and couldn't wait to see home.

" Skipper just think we get to have burgers and shakes, and Skinny Mulligan can come fishing with us, and we can go home!" Gilligan was thrilled.

" I know little Buddy, and think of all the steak and the girls…" He chuckled. The Professor caught on and laughed. " What are you going to do Professor?" Skipper asked. " Back to teaching and doing some research on the samples we found on the island." he said.

The girls were occupied by their rescuers. They were equally as infatuated with the female castaways.

The Howells kept to themselves. " What do you plan on doing when we get rescued?"' Gilligan asked them.

They shrugged. The professor was a bit worried, they were being rescued and hardly spoke two words.

" Count the servants, and my fortune, and make money of course." Thurston spoke up. He was ready to get back to normalcy. The country club, charity events, family dinners, and just being home.

Lovey Howell was NOT looking forward to seeing her overbearing mother in law or going back to the fake ways of society life. Although she loved her charity work, and the symphony and opera there wasn't much else she was excited about back home. She had come to love and appreciate a simpler life, which was quite shocking and so un-Howell like.

They all sat in voyage home would take a few days but all were thankful… It was overwhelming sure, but they were all ready to be back.

TBC…..