Two
"Are you sure you don't want help?" DI Goodman said entering the kitchen a short while later with Alice. Megan shook her head as she poured some curry powder into some water.
"I'm going to bed," Alice said.
"Do you need help with your pills?" Megan asked. Alice nodded and the pair left the kitchen together. DI Goodman inspected the kitchen. Megan was doing a chicken curry from the looks of it. There was onion, chicken, chickpeas, potato, curry powder, several spices and then a teaspoon, tablespoon, paring knife and meat knife out on the side for her to cook with. DI Goodman left the kitchen and watched the boys for a bit. They could hear Megan talking to Alice.
"That's two isn't it? No more or less?" Megan asked Alice.
"It's perfect Megan. You are so protective of me. I wouldn't take too many," Alice said. There was a pause and then the sound of a light going off.
"Rest Alice. You need it. I'll get Alex to wake you up when it's dinner," Megan said. She appeared next to the TV after leaving the corridor. She saw all three boys there. "Typical you three. It's sunny outside, we have a guest and you lot areā¦" she turned to face the TV and squinted, "watching Jeremy Kyle." She shook her head and headed back into the kitchen. "Uncle H, can you just hand me the meat knife please otherwise I'll pick it up the wrong end and we'll end up in hospital again." DI Goodman went into the kitchen and handed her the knife.
"You sure you don't want help," he asked.
"I'm sure. Go out onto the veranda. Talk to me, explain what you can see," Megan said, reaching with her other hand to find the chicken. She found it, picked it up and put it on the chopping board. Humphrey headed onto the veranda as Megan started to chop.
"Well there's the sea. It's big and blue. You can see little crests of the wave. The white bits if you remember. Then there's a bit of the beach in view. And some multi-coloured shacks renting water skis and surfboards and selling beach things like beach balls, buckets. I can see some people but they look like stick insects. Then there's the island itself. It's hilly and green, you'd love it with your love of nature," Humphrey described.
"Sounds amazing," Megan said from behind him. "I'd finished the cooking about halfway through your description," she said when he spun round to face her. "Thought you might like a drink," she said offering him a bottle of orange juice.
"Thanks Megan," he said. He took the bottle off her and sat in one of the chairs near the pool. Megan joined him in one nearby. "It's so peaceful here," Humphrey said.
Megan nodded. "It's why we picked it, it's hardly used by tourists," Megan said. "I mean that's what the holiday rep said."
"No and she's right. It's one of the quietest areas of Saint Marie," Humphrey explained. Megan smiled. "How are you Megan?" he asked.
Megan shrugged. "I'm adapting. I have to," she said.
Humphrey nodded. "You seem to get on with her though. Considering she's the reason for the partial blindness," Humphrey said.
Megan pursed her lips. "When you're the only two girls in your friendship group at school you have to get on," Megan explained. "Mind you she's off to Oxford University next year so I won't have to see her much anymore. But she's Alex's girlfriend. I can't just ignore her," Megan explained.
"I can't help feeling partially responsible for it," Humphrey said.
"You weren't to know she would do it," Megan said. "I loved our trip to Brazil until it happened. Being here with you reminds me, reminds all of us, how much we've missed you since you came out here. I'm sorry. About what happened with Auntie Sally," Megan added.
Humphrey didn't reply, he was thinking back to the trip to Brazil and Megan's accident.
Humphrey's watch glowed 06:05 in the darkness of his tent. He heard footsteps outside. "Meg wait up. I don't want to go to the toilet alone," Alice hissed. There was the sound of someone running quietly. Humphrey got out of his tent.
"I suggest being a bit quieter girls. Otherwise you'll wake up the rest. Have you brought your torches?" Humphrey said. Megan waved hers at him and pressed the button. Nothing happened. She tried again.
"Damn my batteries must have died," Megan said. Humphrey sighed.
"Right well, I need to go as well and I have a working torch so let me lead the way. Megan do you want to go at the back?" he asked. Megan nodded and Alice got in the middle as they picked their way through the bushes. Humphrey grabbed the corner of a spiky bush and pushed it out the way, making sure Alice grabbed it. "Don't let go until Megan has it. If the branch springs back, the spikes will be release," Humphrey said before taking a few more steps forward.
There was a sudden scream. "Megan!" Alice shouted. "I thought you had it," Alice said.
"You liar. I'm nowhere near the branch to have grabbed it," Megan shouted before screaming in pain. Humphrey ran back to the girls and found Megan covered in the spikes from the branch. She was shaking her hands and shifting her weight in pain.
"Alice I told you to hold it," Humphrey said as he ducked under the branch and towards Megan. He carefully led her back to camp. By this time the camp were all awake.
"What's happened Humphrey?" Sally asked.
"It's Megan, she's been spiked, a lot," Humphrey said. The medic that was with them took her to his tent and began to remove the spikes. While she was being tended to there was a lot of shouting going on between Alice and Alex, and Megan's parents.
"How could you let this happen Humphrey?" his brother asked him.
"I didn't mean it to happen. Alice let the branch go," Humphrey added. Everyone turned to look at Alice who had now gone silent.
The medic came out the tent. "I 'ave to get 'er to 'ospital. She has spines in 'er eye. She could be blinded," he explaining in punctuated English. There was a gasp and everyone glared at Alice.
"Uncle H. Uncle. Humphrey?" Megan asked.
"Yes sorry," he said, the meaning running deeper than she knew. "It's a shame about Sally but I'm happy here. And the females are very friendly here so I'm not lonely," he said.
"I'm glad," Megan said. There was a ringing noise from the kitchen. "That's dinner. Go sit at the table. The others will bring it out," Megan said standing up and heading back into the kitchen. "Alex, go wake Alice up. Theo, lay the table, and Felix you can help me dish up and take the plates out," Megan said. The boys all groaned but got up to do their job. Theo laid the table and sat with Humphrey. Felix headed into the kitchen with Megan. Then there was a shout.
"Guys! Alice is dead," Alex shouted.
A/N: Oh dear. Someone has died right under DI Goodman's nose. Not a great end to his day. Indie:)
