Part 2
So I approached Luke to form an alliance. I know it makes more sense to pair with Lucinda - and I won't discount her - but I can already tell that Luke is a loyal, brave man. If he's on my side we can take each other to the top. I also know he's formed a friendship with Noah, and he's liked by everyone. No one will vote for him yet, and he can watch my back. Not to mention that he's still young enough to take my guidance easily.
~Brian, Lobbyist
Spirits are high when they arrive at camp. They rise even higher when they see the large shelter.
"Damn," Casey says.
Luke agrees. It's big enough that all of them can easily fit inside. Tall, wooden poles hold up the structure, and three of the sides are walled by weaved palm fronds. The roof is similarly thatched and raised high by A-framed beams. Two long, tan mats run across the back of their new home. Four blue cotton blankets are folded neatly at the end of one the mats. Outside of the shelter is a fire pit and box full of supplies.
Ali squeals in delight and runs over to the supplies. She pulls them out and shows everyone. There's another pot and machete, a bag of rice, flint, and the best of all- fishing line and hooks, flippers, and two snorkels. Noah laughs and Luke can't help but think, he's so sweet.
They spend the rest of the night settling into their new home. Everyone explores the area, finding the best places to gather coconuts, digging bathroom holes, discovering the water well and where tree mail will be left. From watching previous seasons of Survivor Luke knows that their camp is a relative palace. He wonders what the other tribe walked into. He doesn't envy them. But the best part, Luke thinks as he looks at the post holding up their red Riau tribe sign, is that. It's bigger than he imagined it would be. Its color stands out against the tan sand and blue-green water.
By the time the sun begins to set Lucinda and Maddie have gotten a fire roaring and Casey and Brian are proudly boasting about the five fish they caught. Everyone is lounging in the sand around the flames reliving their earlier victory and sharing real-life stories. Maddie talks about her funny older brother and Lucinda shares tales about her children and grandchildren. Casey makes everyone laugh as he wisecracks about all of his ex-girlfriends. Brian sits on one side of Luke, hands cupped around an opened coconut listening quietly. Noah is on Luke's other side. He's relaxed, body sprawled sideways, and elbow and hand propping up his head. Luke can't help but wrinkle his nose in amusement every time the other boy laughs at one of the other's stories. Every so often he looks over at Luke, his eyes lighting up like he's seeing an old friend.
Eventually, the sun sinks below the horizon. Millions of stars twinkle above
them, while the moon smiles brightly in the cloudless sky. Luke's eyes feel heavy and he lays back in the sand, content to fall asleep right here with his tribemates' voices and the incoming tide as his lullaby. His eyes drift shut.
"Hey," a voice says softly to his right. Luke turns his head and sees Noah standing there, outlined by the dying fire.
"Hey," Luke says, voice deep with exhaustion.
"Come on," Noah motions back to the shelter, "Everyone else has gone inside. Don't fall asleep out here."
What's wrong with out here? Luke thinks, but rolls over and pushes himself up. His toes curl into the sand as he follows Noah to the shelter. All the girls have taken one side of the mats and are fast asleep. Casey has notably taken the place next to Ali and beside him is a softly snoring Brian. Luke settles down next to the older man. Noah reaches out towards the remaining blanket and shakes it out. He lets one end fall over Luke and curls his own body under the other half.
"Night," Luke whispers.
"Goodnight," Noah says back with a yawn.
There's a pause and then, "NIGHT!"
Luke laughs and says, "Goodnight Casey."
Casey snorts and Luke can hear Maddie laugh.
This is going to be fun, Luke thinks before sleep takes over him.
###
My first impressions of everyone… Casey is really good looking, if a little obnoxious. Noah is really cute. Molly is intense. Lucinda is really controlling and a bit scary. Brian is hiding something. Ali seems nice. Luke too, and I'm pretty sure he's gay. He likes to stare at Noah.
~Maddie, Student
The next day brings rain, which completely sucks. They can't start the fire, which means they can't cook, so everyone drinks coconut milk and eats bananas (an amazing find by Lucinda). Their tree mail arrives on soggy parchment paper then they're off, trekking through the jungle to their first immunity challenge.
Jeff Probst greets everyone with a loud, "Hello Survivors! Hope your first night was peaceful." Luke can't help but notice the man's slightly sarcastic tone.
The members of the other tribe look miserable. All three of the younger girls have their hair tied back in dripping pony tails, and the older gentleman and woman are standing side by side, eyes tired and bodies stiff. Mr. Pouty looks like he'd rather be anywhere but here, and Henry keeps darting hateful glances between Mr. Pouty and the members of the Riau tribe.
Well, Luke thinks, it appears not all hunky-dory on the Bangka tribe. He tries not to think it too cheerfully, but he's not really successful.
There's a huge layout of red and yellow obstacles behind the Survivor host. There's a monkey bar looking thing followed by a wall with a rope then a giant tire. A raised platform is at the very end where empty flag poles stand. Hurry up, Luke urges the host.
Probst seems to feel his anxiety (and everyone else's) because as soon as the contestants are settled on their respective colored mats, he begins. "Behind me lies your second challenge. You will begin by running the quarter mile down your colored lines. You need to cross the monkey bars, drop down at the end, then go over the wall. Next you need to push the tire up the hill to the platform. At the top of the platform is apuzzle. Put it together. Once your puzzle is together, unwrap your tribes' flag and put it in the flag holder. Four teammates need to complete every obstacle except for placing your flag. First team finished wins."
Holy shit, Luke thinks. His arms and legs are already dreading the challenge. They're not playing around this year. He can't help but glance over and Lucinda and wonders if she's up for the exertion.
"Want to know what you're playing for?"
"Hell yeah!" Casey shouts.
"You bet ya!" Henry calls out at the same time. The two men exchange glances and Luke's not too sure if it's a look of camaraderie or not.
Jeff laughs and pulls the tan bag off the immunity idol. "This," he says, placing his hand along the ugly thing's head, "is the immunity idol. You want this. If you win it, no one on your tribe is going home." Luke feels Noah shift beside him, and suddenly, the tension level raised two notches. "And that's not all you're playing for today."
What? Luke glances around then thinks, it's not like anyone else knows what's going on either dumbo.
"We are reinstating Exile Island this year," Probst says with a gleam in his eye. "The winning tribe can pick a member of the other tribe to spend the night exiled away from his or her tribe." The host pauses, as if to give everyone a moment to take in the news.
"Holy shit," Luke hears Maddie whisper behind him.
Probst continues, "We will have tribal council in the mornings this season, giving everyone ample time to discuss their strategies.
Holy shit, Luke thinks, silently repeating his teammate's words.
"Alright Survivors, I'll give you a moment to talk strategy, then we'll begin."
At Probst's words, the Riau tribe form a circle and talk. The plan is for everyone to run the beginning and for Lucinda and Ali to bypass the monkey bars and wall and wait at the tire for the rest of the team to complete those obstacles. Everyone will help push the tire, and then Lucinda, Ali, Luke and Brian will work on the puzzle. Lucinda will direct while everyone else moves the pieces. Casey will untie and hang the flag.
They get called over. "You've had time to talk it through; hopefully your strategies are sound. Take your positions." Both tribes walk to the starting line behind their respective colors. "On your mark," Probst shouts, "Ready. Set. GO!"
It only takes that one word and Luke's off, running like his life depends on it. The ground is uneven, and he tries not to look down as he runs. Don't fall. Don't fall. Don't fall, he chants. It's the longest quarter mile of his life. His lungs burn as if he drank acid, and it's only as he's stepping foot up to the monkey bars does he look around. Casey and Noah are already on the bars. Mr. Pouty and Mr. Athletic on the other tribe are ahead of them both. Molly is right beside Luke, and as she scrambles up the short latter for the bars, Luke reaches up, grasps the smooth metal, and swings himself forward.
He doesn't take time to reflect that this is the first time he's been on monkey bars since he was ten. He doesn't stop when the pads of palms scream. He doesn't even think anything but, move your ass. When his fingers reach the last bar, he doesn't bother to climb down the other side. He just uses his momentum to bypass the steps and jump to the ground.
Luke's arms are aching, and he's dreading climbing over the wall. Casey's at the top. He's straddling the thin wood, reaching forward and pulling Brian upwards. Noah and Molly are both behind the older man urging him on, practically vibrating with their need to advance. Luke looks back for Maddie. She's about three-fourths of the way across, but she looks as if she's dying. Sweat drips down her face and she struggles to maintain her grip around the slick bars. She's about to fall, Luke realizes. If she does she'll have to start the bars all over, and that will set them back. It's not even a decision. It's the only thing to do.
Luke runs back. He darts around the side of the obstacle to where Maddie's dangling, holding on for dear life. "Luke," she cries out when she realizes he's there. Luke doesn't reply. He just gets underneath her, puts her feet on his shoulders and grabs her ankles.
"Come on," he says and walks forward. She gets the idea immediately. Using him for balance and support, Maddie finishes. Casey is still waiting at the top of the wall, and he practically yanks Maddie over. Luke finds it surprisingly easy to climb. When his feet touch the ground on the other side, the rest of his team has already lifted the tire and has begun pushing. The Bangka tribe is already halfway up the hill. "Shit," Molly snaps, and Luke's right there with her.
It's tough. The tire weights a ton, and even with everyone pushing, the thing is wobbly and gravity is trying its damnedest to push the tire back down the hill. After what seems like a year, they're at the top and moving on to the puzzle. Luke can hear Jeff explaining how the other tribe is in the lead, but Luke can also hear their harsh arguing. He tries to ignore the other team.
Instead, he focuses on Lucinda's directions. Brian is beside him, foot wedged next to his (which Luke finds strange, but doesn't concentrate on because they're in the middle of a damn challenge and everyone is hyper-focused). Lucinda turns out to be an ace at puzzles because before Luke has a chance to do much of anything the pieces are clicking together. The older woman calls Jeff over and he declares their puzzle correct. Casey doesn't waste any time and in seconds the flag's ties are on the ground and the red Riau flag is displayed from the pole.
"Riau tribe wins!" Jeff Probst exclaims.
"WOO!" Casey shouts, pumps his arm, then jumps up and down like a demented monkey. Ali and Maddie are right there with him, screaming like excited school girls. Luke is laughing, and Noah is shaking his head like he can't believe it. Even the calmly collected Lucinda is smiling, sharing in their victory.
"Fuck," Luke hears Mr. Athletic on the other team curse. The man throws down the puzzle piece in his hand and says it again, "Fuck."
"Bangka tribe, you are going to tribal council tomorrow, but first, Riau tribe, decide who's going to Exile Island."
The exhilaration of the win doesn't fade away, but the group turns serious as they huddle together to decide someone's fate. "I think we should send Dusty," Casey says immediately. Luke wonders which one is Dusty, but then realizes Casey is looking at Mr. Athletic.
Henry. Dusty. Two down, four more to go.
"No," Brian says. "Remember, Exile Island has clues to where the personal immunity idol is hidden. We don't want Dusty with the idol." It's sound logic, and Luke agrees.
"What about the Swedish woman, Vienna?" Ali asks.
"No," Lucinda says. "She seems to cunning. She shouldn't have any chances at it either."
"What about Mr. Pouty?" Luke says, motioning to the man.
"Mr. Pouty," Casey snorts. "That's a good name for him."
"Well, does anybody know his real name?"
There's a moment of silence and then, "No one seems to like him. He does appear to be the smart choice," Lucinda says. No one disagrees.
They turn back to Jeff and Noah says, "We've made our decision." The host nods and waits. "Him," Noah points to Mr. Pouty then shrugs. "Sorry, we don't know your name."
"Reid," Probst says.
Reid, Luke thinks. It's not what he expected, yet it's very fitting.
"Okay, Reid, you'll be spending the night on Exile Island," the host pauses, smirks then says, "but you won't be alone. Choose a member of the Riau tribe to join you."
Mouths drop open and Molly shouts, "What!"
Henry snickers and Luke expects Reid too as well, but the other man surprises him. Reid's frown turns thoughtful. He crosses his arms then says, "The blond," and points to Luke. Someone could have bowled Luke over with a feather.
"Luke, you will be joining Reid tonight on Exile Island. The rest of you return to your camps. Bangka tribe, I will see you tomorrow morning for the first tribal council. Riau tribe, congratulations, have a great night."
Luke watches as the rest of his team walks away, only Noah sparing him a parting glance. He and Reid are directed to follow one of the blue-shirted crew members to a small motor boat. As Luke steps inside he jokingly says, "Well, I guess this give us a chance to get to know one another."
Reid gives him a sideways look and says back, "I don't want to get to know you. I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to win Survivor."
Oh, Luke thinks, this is going to be a great night.