CHAPTER 7

Off to the west, Gilligan, Professor and Ginger were in a little clearing. The normally chatty and animated first mate was rather subdued.

Ginger noticed his mood. He had been okay walking through the jungle, but now, he had reverted to an unusually-quiet Gilligan.

She tried to talk him into a better mood. "Gilligan, show me what Pilipo taught you. How do you hold the spear?" When he didn't respond, she looked to Professor for help.

Professor didn't need the prodding. "Gilligan," he said. "You don't seem yourself. I would have thought you'd be bouncing with joy. What's troubling you?"

Gilligan shrugged. He started to say "Nothing," but then stopped. He picked up his spear and made to throw it at a tree, then lowered his hand again.

"Have you guys noticed anything about Nahele?" he asked. "That's Haruki's brother. I don't think he likes me at all." He shook his head angrily. "I don't know what I did to him. But I keep catching him look at me like . . . like . . . like a tiger that's about to eat a mouse - or like a chimp that's about to squash a bug - or . . . or like a headhunter who is about to - to chop my head off." He grimaced and brought his hand up to his neck.

Ginger gasped. "Oh Gilligan. I don't think he'd hurt you. Kapena wouldn't let him, nor would Haruki and Lilo. They like you."

Professor bit back a grin. "It sounds like a simple case of jealousy, Gilligan. He's just jealous because MaryAnn is a pretty girl, and she's obviously crazy about you."

"Do you think that's it, Professor? Ginger, you're an expert on guys. Does he like her?" Gilligan asked with a panicked look.

Ginger smiled gently. "Gilligan, MaryAnn is a very pretty girl. Of course, Nahele has noticed her. What is more important, though, is that MaryAnn has not noticed him. She only has eyes for you, I promise."

Gilligan gripped his spear. He took a step back, then aimed and let it fly toward a coconut tree. The spear hit the trunk dead on. The tree trunk wavered and three coconuts dislodged and fell to the ground.

Gilligan walked toward the tree and pulled his spear out. He took his pocketknife out and sharpened the tip. Scowling, he looked back at Ginger and Professor. "He'd just better not try anything," he grumbled.

xxxxx

Once the sun went down, Skipper and Lalani walked down the path heading back to the clearing. With their arms linked again, their voices were hushed and their faces somber. Lalani could see the silhouettes of flowers and shrubs in the bright moonlight.

"It is a lovely island," she commented. "You were all lucky to land here."

"Boy, you said it," Skipper agreed. "We have plenty of food and water, and we built some nice huts. We even have some large caves for shelter in the event of any dangerous storms that blow through. We have had some adventures."

Lalani nodded. "Yes, you have been lucky." She smiled up at him. "I am sorry for . . . well . . . for crying on our walk."

Skipper held her hand tight. "Never apologize for that. I'm happy to be here for you."

Lalani stopped walking and turned to him. "Would you be happy . . . I wonder . . . being somewhere else for me?"

Skipper looked at her. His mouth opened and closed. "What do you . . . do you mean . . . on your island?"

They slowly started walking again. "I . . . uh . . . I don't know. This is all so sudden. And the others - they depend on me. This is a small group, and we each have our role to play." He reached his hand up and stroked his chin. "Of course, with Ulani and Pilipo getting married and all, I'm sure that you want to be nearby. I mean, they'll make you a grandmother before too long."

Lalani nodded sadly. By this time, they were walking into the clearing, with a rather large gathering sitting around the campfire.

xxxxx

Skipper looked around at the crowd. The mood was festive. Almost everyone was there; only Gilligan, Professor and Ginger were missing. They must not be back from the small clearing yet.

The noisy crowd was laughing and singing. The young natives were trying to teach the castaways one of their songs. Even Mr. and Mrs. Howell were joining in on the fun.

Skipper pulled one of the benches from their dinner table over closer to the crowd. He and Lalani sat down with the others and tried to follow all the shenanigans.

Haruki and Lilo were sitting off to the side, a little bit away from the crowd. He had his arm around her, and her head was on his shoulder. He noticed Skipper and Lalani and called over to them, rattling off a stream of words that Skipper had no hope of understanding.

Lalani, however, nodded. She turned to Skipper and translated. "Haruki invites you and the other men on a hunt tomorrow. He asked where is a good spot for wild pig."

Skipper nodded back. "I'm sure that Gilligan will know the best spots. We'll ask him when he gets back."

The opportunity, however, did not present itself. As the evening wore on and people started slowly disbursing for their sleeping quarters, Gilligan never showed up. Ginger and Professor came back and said that he had left the clearing before they did. They were surprised that he was not there, by MaryAnn's side, enjoying the festivities.

Skipper, Professor, Nahele and Pilipo were the last to leave. The two native men put out the remains of the fire, waved to the castaways and disappeared into the dark shadows of the jungle.

Skipper looked back at Professor. "Okay, what's going on?" he asked.

Professor sighed and explained Gilligan's unfavorable encounters with Nahele. "He has probably gone off to spend the night in one of his caves, Skipper," Professor explained. "I wouldn't worry about him. He'll show up for breakfast in the morning. He always shows up at mealtime."

As Skipper headed into his and Gilligan's hut, he took one last hopeful glance out into the jungle, hoping for a familiar flash of red. With a sad sigh, he closed the door.