Ruth approached them slowly. Her eyes fell right at the Clarisse's ankle and on Joseph's hands.
"Always in need of attention, little sister ..."
"It's true! And it's nice to see that I have who give me attention..." Clarisse was in no mood to put up with Ruth's evil. And it felt good to see that Ruth was full of envy when Joseph was close to her.
"Well, I just want to know if I can help anyway… Goodbye!"
"I… I will boil water ... I am full of thirst and we have no water..."
"I'll help you, Silvia." Michael grabbed the bottles and placed them next to the fire, then took on some sticks and made brackets to hold the bottles up the heat to boil water.
"Did you see James? We don't know anything from him since this morning…" asked.
"No and we also thought where is that he will be?"
"That's odd… The island is not too large… I will ask to the 'royals' if they saw him." And Michael go toward the other group while Silvia hung the rest of the bottles and put more wood on the fire.
"Does anyone saw James?"
"No, why? Does he run away from the island?" Asked Harry amused.
"We didn't see him in a while… Silvia is preparing things for lunch."
"All right, then."
Joseph grabbed Clarisse up in his arms and joined Michael and Silvia.
"I can use to this…" whisper Clarisse.
"And I'll do anything to be able to grab you like that, whenever we wanted." He replied, and left a trail of hot kisses from the her neck to her ear.
"Jos… That was divine!"
"Careful, dear. We approach the enemy! "And both released a laugh, which made the others look at them. This time, Ruth pretended she did not see the exchange of caresses. Joseph and Clarisse passed them in silence and sit near the friends.
"While the ladies preparing lunch, we'll take a walk ... I find it strange the James absence." Said Joseph worried.
"Of course, go! We will bake these mussel in those shells, so it should take a while, the rest is fruit. The bottles are getting deformed, it is a sign that the water is boiling and still takes a bit to cool…" Say Silvia. "And don't worry, Joseph, I'll take care of Clarisse!" And smile.
"I know you will, Silvia. Thank you."
Joseph and Michael walked toward the rocks, at the outlying side of the island.
"I'm really worried. James is a very responsible man. It's weird ..."
"Maybe he got lost Joseph. You will see that ... Oh my God ..." said Michael pointing to the body of James stuck on the rocks. Blood covered his face and ran down to the rock. Joseph looked at the beach to make sure that no one could see them and ran to the rocks, put two fingers on James' neck and closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry Joseph ... And now?"
"I do not know. Poor man. We have to get him out of here."
"What do we do? We buried him? Should we tell them?" Michael's questions left Joseph dizzy.
"We have to say. Clarisse will be devastated."
Joseph and Michael took the body of James from the rocks and lay down in the sand on the other side of the cliff. James, probably had fall down and hit the head on the rocks…
"We can't do this right now, Joseph."
"You're right. I need your help, Michael, I will not tell yet to Clarisse. She already has a lot on her plate."
"You can count on me, Joe. I think the best is we open a shallow grave. After that, we cover it better with stones and tomorrow we come to resolve the issue as it should be... And we should hide the boat either. Maybe they think he leaves the island."
"All right. Let's do it!" With shells, they began to dig a hole near the cliff. Then put down the body already stiff and stopped up with sand and stones ... Joseph could not prevent the tears ran down his face.
"Almost an hour later, they returned with Clarisse and Silvia and found them already accompanied by others.
"We were getting worried," said Clarisse tapping the ground beside her, indicating for him to sit.
"We further back." Michael said. Joseph was making a huge effort not to look at Clarisse. He's absolutely sure if he looked at her, she will figure it out…
"Can we have lunch?" Harry asked impatiently. "We are all waiting for you. Do not be taught that it is very rude to let others waiting?"
Joseph looked at him and did not even bother to answer him.
"Do we have some water?" Ask Joseph to Clarisse.
"We just have one bottle cold… The others ate boiling." He smile and sipped, Clarisse felt that he was not well and whispered in his ear.
"What's the matter? Is something wrong?" He squeezed her hand and gave her a little smile.
"I'm all right, darling. I'm just tired."
Michael realized he did not want to lie to Clarisse.
"James is no longer on the island ... Not the boat."
"I do not believe it. James would not do such a thing ..."
"I'm sorry Clarisse but James is no longer with us."
Clarisse looked at Joseph and he nodded without looking at her. Clarisse found it strange but thought Joseph was hurt by James' attitude and pressed his hand in silence.
"Let's eat?" He asked Silvia trying to clear the air and half an hour after lunch was over.
"I confess I was starving. And now we have to go get more water ... And when we return, we are hungry again!" Agnes muttered.
"We have to find a way to store more water. We have two more large bottles. We are four people, so that should be enough."
"Sorry Harry, but these bottles are ours. It was me and Clarisse how found those."
"How dare you? Who are you to tell me so?"
"Harry, stop this nonsense. We were the ones who found the bottles and shells. You and Paul are busy with the shelters, but your wife and Ruth still did nothing. Not even helped at lunch. So I suggest that you directions your anger to the other side. "
"Well but we already have the bottles and there's nothing else to say."
Joseph got up and went over to their shelters, took the bottles, brought them with him and went to sit next to Clarisse.
"You'll regret it, commoner. Do not count on our help for anything, do you hear?"
"Don't be arrogant, Harry. We're on an island, for God knows how long. We all need each other. I think as well that each one addresses his needs. The four of us understand each other very well and we will continue to work as a group. You do whatever you want." Clarisse was tired, in pain and angry. Joseph smiled and lift her up.
"We have so much to do. Let's go neighbors?" He said looking at Michael and Silvia.
"Behind you, Sir!"
The afternoon progressed quickly. Michael and Silvia were filling the water bottles and Joseph went to see the pitfalls and brought five huge trout.
"We have dinner" Said showing the fish to Clarisse.
"I do not believe it, Joseph. The traps worked."
"It is true, will have an splendid dinner."
"Will you invite them?" Clarisse asked.
"I do not know and I'm afraid to think about it. You're very jealous and I do not want you angry." And he knelt beside her. Put his hands next to her waist and was leaning to his lips gently kissed hers, small electric kisses that led her to madness. Clarisse put her arms around his neck and his tongue licked lightly his lips.
"Clarisse…" Damn, this woman made him so excited! "I miss you, Clarisse. I need you so badly right now."
She was lying in the sand and his body demands every centimeter of it. Silvia was in front and stopped completely when he saw them. Michael was so distracted looking at her ass that did not have time to stop before hitting Silvia and grabbed her around the waist to keep his balance.
"Im sor ..."
"Shhh!" Silvia pointed to Joseph and Clarisse. They were both stopped to look at them. Michael did not draw his hands and Silvia barely breathing. His hands seemed fire on her body. He leaned against her and whispered in her ear:
"We must make noise? Otherwise night would arrive without we have our shelter finished and I do not want to sleep again in the sand ..." Oh boy… This man was made her life difficult. His body leaning against her, his voice whispering in her ear ... Her brain was turned it off and it took a heroic effort to put it to move again.
"You're right. Let's back up a bit and make noise." And so they did. Clarisse turned his head towards the noise.
"It's Michael and Silvia." She returned to throw her head back, leaving more room for Joseph to kiss her neck.
When Michael and Silvia arrived, Joseph and Clarisse were in the same position. Silvia blushed and Michael laughed.
"We stepped back and made noise because we were afraid you to feel embarrassed."
"Embarrassed? Why? You both know about us." Joseph smile and laid on his back, nest to Clarisse. "Look, fish!"
"Oh my God! Almost feel like have dinner, right now!"
"Well, we will deal with the shelters and the ladies will make the dinner. Or would you want to change?"
"No, that's no need, thank you! Joseph, help me up, please. We will invite the 'royals' for dinner. We have a lot and have seen that they don'thave nothing. "
Joseph kissed her again. "You have a heart of butter! But they have to bring fruit."
"Come on then, but help me to go, please."
"I'd rather pick you up." And he kissed her neck.
"Joseph, behave."
Harry was surprised by the invitation but accepted it immediately. Agnes did not even bother to open her eyes but Ruth got up and came to stand next to Paul. Joseph never said anything or even look at her. Minutes later they returned to camp. Michael had already lit the fire and Silvia preparing the bottles to boil water. After that Michael took the fish and went up by the sea to clean and arrange. The rest of the afternoon was spent to end the shelters and prepare dinner. The wind had begun to blow, encouraged them to finish faster. Two sets of four trees served as pillars to shelters and the rest was done from there. It took longer but the shelters were safer, stronger and warmer. The floor was covered with sticks and a thick layer of leaves, giving the idea of a mattress. Palm tree leaves were used for making roof and walls. Clarisse sat by the fire while Silvia was looking for some leaves to wrap the fish before placing it on the coals.
In fact, life could change in a matter of seconds. There she was, the powerful Ice Queen of Genovia, with the only man she loved in life, two people she enjoyed and four she could not stand. The anguish of not knowing what was going on with his granddaughter, with Pierre and Charlotte, pierced her heart.
This time Arthur Mabrey had done the homework. Probably, she and her traveling companions were presumed dead...
