14. Water

3:00 PM day 3

The Skipper stepped out of the hut with a fishing pole and tackle box in one hand and Gilligan in the other. "It'll be fun. We'll find a comfortable spot by the lagoon, soak up some sun and forget about this whole mess."

"I donno, Skipper. I think the lagoon has it in for me." Gilligan quipped, only half joking. "Remember, it's what coughed up that dumb machine in the first place."

The Skipper laughed.

Just as they started toward the jungle the Professor stepped out of the supply hut. The Skipper approached and greeted him brightly. "Hey, there."

The Professor started slightly as if his mind had been elsewhere and he had just then noticed them. "Oh, hello." He gave them both a nod and a halfhearted smile.

"How's the work?" The Skipper inclined his head toward the supply hut.

"Can you make me big again?" Gilligan added hopefully.

The Professor gave a defeated sigh. "Not yet. The renlargement process is much more complex than I initially anticipated. I'm afraid we may have to wait pending our rescuers arrival. Surely they will be able to operate the ray."

"Well, you've been working on that thing since lunch. Why don't you come fishing with us for a bit and give that brain of yours a rest. Help you think better."

The Professor glanced over his shoulder at the machine that could be seen through the supply hut door. He turned back to the Skipper with a thoughtful nod. "Perhaps a respite would be beneficial."

"Yeah, and a break would do you some good too." Gilligan added.

A short time later the three of them arrived at the peaceful body of water. The birds chirped a happy, carefree tune as they found an ideal fishing spot on the grassy bank. The Skipper lowered Gilligan and allowed him to step off his hand onto a large rock that was just about shoulder level to the captain once he had settled down on the grass. "Now see, Little Buddy, doesn't a day like this put some wind in your sails?"

Gilligan closed his eyes and let the gentle, salty breeze ruffle his hair, felt the warm sun on his face and listened to the twittering of the jungle birds. A contented smile spread slowly across his face.

The expression on his young friend brought a warm feeling up from deep inside the Skipper. He glanced at the Professor who gave an approving nod.

3:40 PM day 3

"...and that's when I saw the Japanese sub off the port bow. I'm telling you, Professor, that was...Professor?"

The Professor's eyes were closed and he was breathing low and steady. His head rested on his chest while the fishing pole hung loosely in his fingers. The serene island afternoon and the warm sun had gotten to him.

The Skipper chuckled softly. "You know, that's not a bad idea." He settled back against the tree and pushed his hat down over his eyes. Soon he too was drifting into a peaceful afternoon nap.

"Some fun you guys are." Gilligan grumbled, more to himself than his two dozing friends. He set out along the shore searching for something to do. As he walked he occasionally had to push a blade of grass out of his way. He had never thought of this grass as tall before. I'm glad I'm not back home. He thought as he parted two blades as tall as he was. Dad would probably tell me to mow the lawn.

He glanced over his shoulder to make sure he hadn't wandered too far. The Skipper's large form rose quite visibly over the foliage. His captain's presence gave him a peace of mind that allowed him to explore a little. If anything happened all he would have to do was yell.

The grass quickly disappeared to be replaced by the sloping, sandy beach. He had stood on this beach a million times in the four years they had been here and it always seemed a quaint little spot amid the tangle of jungle that surrounded the rest of the lagoon. But it was anything but little now. The sand appeared to stretch on for miles and miles before the first mammoth shrub appeared in the distance.

He stood at the edge of the water and stared out at the lagoon that now seemed as vast as the ocean that surrounded their little island. He bet it would be fun to sail. With that sudden revelation he searched the beach until he found a slab of bark that would make a perfect raft for a fellow his size. With not too much effort he managed to push it to the edge of the water. With a stiff leaf as an oar he shoved off. He paddled out a ways then let the raft drift. Laying down on his stomach he peered into the water. Below him was a school of fish the size of cars. Now he wished he had something to use for a fishing pole. What would everyone say when he came back into camp with one of those babies! But after a moment he realized that they probably wouldn't care. Those fish were only big to him.

With a sad sigh he lay back on the bark, his head resting on one arm. He stared up at the blue sky, the white puffy clouds and the swaying palm trees as the raft rocked gently on the water. He really wished he were big again.

A soft rustling grew from the silence as the palm trees began to sway more vigorously. The wind was picking up. In moments it was blowing hard. Choppy waves formed on the surface of the lagoon and his little raft dipped and bobbed with them. Deciding he should head back to shore Gilligan reached for the leaf he had been using for a paddle only to discover it gone. It had blown away the moment the wind had started. Great, he was stuck. He could probably swim, but with the size of those fish down there he didn't want to take any chances.

Standing up on his little raft he cupped both hands around his mouth and shouted towards the shore. "Skipper! Professor! Guys. Wake up."

The rustling trees and the faint sound of Gilligan's voice roused the Skipper from his nap. He thumbed his hat back and sat up. "Gilligan?" He looked down at the ground around him.

"Out here, Skipper!"

The Professor tapped him on the shoulder and pointed out into the lagoon. He followed the gesture to see a Gilligan waving vigorously atop a small piece of bark about fifteen feet from the shore.

"What are you doing out there?" The Skipper scolded. "I told you to stay close by."

"This is close by." Gilligan's small voice answered as he tried to keep his balance on the now violently bucking raft. "I'm stuck. Help me back, huh?"

The Skipper let out an irritated huff and set down his fishing pole. This would mean he had to get wet. "Gilligan, sometimes you are a…" His comment was cut short as a small whitecap slammed into the piece of bark, flipping it over and dumping the tiny first mate into the lagoon.

Gilligan hit the water hard, his momentum sending him an inch or so under the surface. Above, another wave hit the raft rearing it up on the crest. It came back down directly on top of Gilligan's head. Stars flashed across his vision and for a moment he forgot who he was, he forgot he was underwater and he forgot to hold his breath.

The Skipper started as he saw Gilligan hit the water, worry instantly sharpening his mind. But after a second of thought he rolled his eyes and shook his head.

The Professor glanced from the overturned piece of bark to the Skipper with a look that clearly asked 'aren't you worried'.

"He's fine." The Skipper answered the unasked question. "He swims like a fish. When he comes up we'll toss him a line." He motioned to the fishing pole in his hand.

They watched the lagoon expectantly. As the moments came and went the Skipper's expression morphed from slightly annoyed to deeply concerned.

"Skipper…"

"I know." The captain quickly slipped into the water. "He must have snagged on something and can't surface." The Skipper told himself not to be too worried. After all his first mate had broken a record or two for holding his breath. He reached the tiny piece of bark and lifted it, wholly expecting Gilligan to come to the surface with a gasp, his shirt snagged on the rough wood. That's not what he found.

Gilligan's tiny form floated face down in the cool water, rocking slightly with each wavelet.

"Oh, no!" He quickly scooped the boy up in both hands. The water drained through his fingers leaving the first mate sopping wet and lifeless in his trembling palm. "Gilligan? Gilligan! Can you hear me, Little Buddy? Speak to me!"

Gilligan's head shifted limply, but it was only the effect of the Skipper's violently shaking hands.

The Professor suddenly appeared at the Skipper's side. "Is he breathing?" He asked urgently.

"He's so small…I…I can't tell!"

"Give him here."

The captain didn't move. The shock of what was happening had all but frozen him.

"Skipper, give him here!" The Professor said in the most demanding voice he had ever used on anyone.

The Skipper swallowed hard as he carefully rolled Gilligan's tiny, limp body into the Professor's outstretched hand. With a frown of intense concentration he lightly touched two fingers to Gilligan's chest. After a tense moment his frown deepened.

"Well?" The Skipper urged, praying he was not reading his friend's expression correctly.

"He's not breathing."

The Professor's words were like a kick in the stomach. This couldn't be happening. Not to Gilligan.

The Professor gently rolled the first mate over so he was lying face down. With two fingers he began to push down on his back with a swift upward motion, going from his lower back to just between his shoulder blades.

"What are you doing?" The Skipper asked, hearing his own voice catch with worry.

"I am attempting to forcibly expel the liquid from his lungs." The Professor didn't look at the captain as he spoke but kept his eyes intently on the young first mate. "Come on, Gilligan." He urged in a whisper. This just had to work.

The Skipper wrung his hands anxiously as the moments ticked by. The small figure in the Professor's hand was as still as ever. "Nothing's happening!"

The Professor didn't reply, he simply redoubled his efforts

"Push harder!" The Skipper urged, knowing that as he watched his best friend was slipping away.

"I'm afraid to." The Professor said, nearly as distraught as the captain. He knew very well that Gilligan's life lay all too literally in his hands. "I don't want to break his back."

"It's not working! Try something else."

"What? What else can I do?" He indicated Gilligan's tiny form. "He's too small to perform artificial resuscitation!"

A small sound instantly arrested the tense conversation. A gurgle came from the back of Gilligan's throat just before his whole body heaved and he threw up water. Instantly he began coughing in violent spasms, each cough bringing up more liquid from his lungs. After several agonizing moments of this he quieted, laying on his side and breathing heavily.

"Gilligan, Little Buddy, are you alright?"

Gilligan nodded weakly and the captain let out a huge breath he had not realized he had been holding. The Professor, too, visibly relaxed. The first mate groaned slightly as he sat up in the center of the Professor's palm and rubbed the top of his head.

"You gave us quite a fright, there, Gilligan." The Professor said.

"I told you not to run off like that." The Skipper scolded, his worry quickly changing to irritation. "I oughta have you keel hauled for scaring us like that!"

"Sorry Skipper." A small cough accompanied the meek apology.

"Well," His annoyance faded as quickly as it had come. "Just be more careful next time." He took the tiny white hat that he had managed to scoop up along with Gilligan and set it on the first mate's head.

"T-thanks." Gilligan rubbed his hands briskly over his arms. His entire body had begun trembling violently.

"What's the matter, Little Buddy?"

"I'm s-so c-cold."

The Professor glanced at the Skipper with a bit of concern coloring his eyes. "We should get him back to camp. His reduced size has diminished his body's ability to retain heat. And the water is compounding the problem."

The Skipper reached into his back pocket and pulled out his large red handkerchief and wrapped it around his diminutive first mate. "Come on Little Buddy." The Skipper said, as they headed back toward the compound. "Lets get you dried off."

"Professor…" Gilligan looked up imploringly. "I don't know how much more of this I can take. You've gotta make me big again."

"Gilligan, I give you my word that I will do everything within my power to restore your original size."

"Yeah, but do you promise?"