4

The next few weeks everyone went about their tasks as directed. The Professor had taken note of just how much Mary Ann did around the camp when no one was looking. He also noticed how little the Howells and Ginger did as well.

Unfortunately they lost some precious time with him laid up ill. So he decided only a few days after waking up that last time to get back to work. He had everyone running, but tried to keep an eye on Mary Ann. He was still concerned that she worked too hard and would be run down too quickly. It also appeared she never ate much if she ate at all. He knew there was something wrong, but never had time to think too hard about it. The caloric intake required to perform the work she was doing far exceeded the amount of food he witnessed her eating. He thought perhaps she simply ate small, yet constant amounts to generate the amount of energy she seemed to be using, just no one ever saw her eat it.

However, the Skipper kept him busy with constant problems as Gilligan would destroy one contraption after another, let all the fish go or do something that ended with either him or the Skipper in the water. The Howells seemed to work a little harder the last few days and Ginger did as well. The Professor surmised that the fact that an organized storm was being reported to their west, probably propelled them into action. 'Self preservation has always been a great motivator' he thought to himself. If there was much he wanted to say to Mary Ann, he never really got the chance.

Now, a full two and a half weeks later, the storm was getting closer and closer. Several small bands had passed over the island already and that indicated the intensity of what was to come. The main issue now was simply moving everything to the caves.

The Skipper, Gilligan, and the Professor all exhausted made their way back to the communal picnic table. Gilligan said, "At least everything was packed up, although I'm not sure I can make another haul up that hill."

The Skipper and Professor nodded to each other and the Professor said, "I concur...agree that is. At least it was all put together and all we had to do was move it. I'm not sure I can do this too many more times though." He ran his hand through his hair as they all looked down trying to catch their breaths as Mary Ann walked up to them with dinner.

She noticed how tired they were and thought about telling them about the beans she was now consuming on a regular basis but decided against it. The caffeine seemed to lose its affect faster and faster to her so she was having to consume more and more now and was up to 5 beans at a time now.

So she brought them their dinner and after they slept, she would take over their tasks. It shouldn't be that big a deal. She was already making breakfast, doing the laundry, collecting vines while the clothes dried and packing up everyone's stuff before going back and collecting everything. Then while dinner was cooking, she would tie all the boxes up. She worked on those pots after everyone went to bed. It wasn't as though she didn't sleep, she still got at least 2 hours a night, but in the meantime, these beans were like magic and helped her not only stay awake but lift heavier objects and get more done.

"Here you go, guys. Eat up!" Mary Ann smiled as she gave them each a bowl of her soup. "Skipper I put yours and Gilligan's things into that basket I made in the corner of your hut and Professor, I put those pots in your hut. Most everything has been packed now and tied up so there isn't much left for you guys to do."

They all nodded to her and the Professor smiled at her which made her blush for some odd reason. She left and went to collect just a little more vine to tie up the last of the boxes and bags and then she could pull it up the hill to the caves herself. First, though, she needed more beans.

The three men sat at that table and after eating they all decided to head to bed. Ginger came out and asked for Gilligan to pair with her in another card game with the Howells, but he simply said, "I'm sorry Ginger, but I'm beat." He actually fell asleep at the table just after she left and Skipper picked him up, taking him back to his hammock.

Mary Ann grabbed a handful of beans out of her pocket. She closed her eyes for a second as they really still tasted bitter although she was getting more used to it now. She debated eating 6 but decided against it. If she felt any fatigue at all tomorrow, she would increase it then.

In the meantime she ate all 5 and gathered 6 for tomorrow night before heading back to camp. All the men were asleep as well the Howells and Ginger. No one even noticed she had not returned, 'This will be easier than I thought.'

Mary Ann was proud of how fast she got the remaining supplies, all tied up, to the cave. She knew where it was since she had done that reconnaissance a few weeks ago. The few items that remained she couldn't get to for fear of waking up the Skipper. The Professor slept sound usually, even when ill. She smiled as she recalled caressing his forehead and reading to him. He never stirred so she figured he never knew she was there. Something happened inside of Mary Ann as she tended to him. She saw him in a newer light and as she picked up these boxes and slowly, quietly got them out, she hoped he would be proud of her.

At one point she almost dropped one of them as her arm seemed to give way. She caught it by putting her leg against the box and the hillside. It took a minute for her to get control of it again. Once she did, she got it in the cave but then passed out.

She woke up with the sunlight streaming into the cave. 'Oh no...' she thought to herself, 'I've got to get back before they miss me!'

She ran through the jungle and slipped in quietly to the hut she and Ginger share. Just in the nick of time as it turned out as the three men wandered out looking for breakfast.

Mary Ann could hear the three talking right outside the hut. They were all hungry and she needed to change quickly before they noticed she was wearing the same clothes today as the day before.

"I'm just saying that if Mary Ann has slept in a little, Skipper, we should let her sleep. She works just as hard as we do, if not harder." The Professor's voice was louder now and probably right outside the door.

"Look Professor, I thought you said we needed to get everyone involved here. Ginger needs up too, and the Howells. We all need rest and we can do that from the cave. In the meantime, we have to get the rest of the stuff up there." The Skipper explained everything and it made perfect sense. The only problem the Professor had, was his recent concern for Mary Ann's well being.

Mary Ann changed quickly enough and then stepped outside, "Hi guys...I'm sorry I didn't get breakfast ready yet, but I can have some food for you quickly enough." Again she felt like the weak link, but thought to herself that she had more than made up for this by getting the remaining supplies up to the cave.

The Professor looked her over for a second and noticed she appeared pale and even thin, well, thinner than normal and that also concerned him. He asked, "Mary Ann, are you feeling well this morning?"

The other two men also noticed how ill she looked and Gilligan said, "Yeah, you don't look so good."

Skipper then hit him with his hat again and said, "Gilligan, you don't tell a woman she looks bad." He then turned back to Mary Ann and asked sheepishly, "Are you...feeling alright?"

She put her hands on her hips and answered strongly, "I am just fine. I just slept in a little late that's all. Can't a girl make one mistake?" She stormed off and down to the lagoon. The three men looked at each other and then the Professor looked down the path she had just taken more concerned than ever. Mary Ann rarely showed anger and her outburst was tantamount to a mood swing. Something was wrong.

Mary Ann started to cry as she made her way to the lagoon. She couldn't find her beans and simply decided to go get more. All of her muscles ached in a way she never knew before and wasn't entirely sure she would make it down to the lagoon itself. Almost crawling up the rocks, she finally got to her coffee patch and grabbed 6, eating them all quickly.

The three men began pulling out boxes and noticed that the majority of the crates were gone. Immediately confusion set in and they raced to the cave to see if, hopefully they were there and no one had taken them, like headhunters. Sure enough, every crate was there.

The Professor shook his head, "Ok, so which of you two did this?" If he weren't so relieved, he'd be angry.

The Skipper just looked at him and said, "Well don't look at me..." then he turned to Gilligan, "Gilligan? Did you do all this little buddy?"

Gilligan asked in a squeaky voice, "Me? I had a hard enough time yesterday getting those boxes up here. I couldn't do this if I wanted to."

The Professor then said, "Oh come on...if I didn't do it, it had to be one of you."

The two looked at each other and shrugged. The three shook their heads and Gilligan then asked, "Do you think Mr. Howell did it?"

The Professor and Skipper looked at each other and almost laughed. The Professor answered, "I doubt that, Gilligan."

The Skipper then said, "Well the girls don't have the strength..."

The Professor added, "Not physically no...I wonder if they didn't work together though. You know, remember that time when they decided to show us they didn't need us? Maybe they wanted to show us again."

The Skipper said, "Maybe...only way to know is to ask."

Gilligan then said, "Mary Ann did get up late. Maybe it was because she was helping Ginger and Mrs. Howell do this." Thinking that maybe they had figured it out, they all headed back to camp.

Just before leaving, the Professor noticed beans on the ground. He picked them up, looking them over as they resembled coffee beans. He hoped that no tribe had thought they had stolen their belongings and were claiming the cave as he knew what these beans were, and they were not coffee.