The next few days, a pattern of sorts began. They'd wake up each morning and take turns going to the bathroom in the ocean while the other kept watch for snakes. Then they'd each eat one quarter of a chocolate bar and have a little fresh water from the canopy.
Edward had been right about the rainy season. It'd rained some every day. Following that, they would rest to preserve their energy while engaging in casual conversation about anything that crossed their minds. They'd take turns reading to each other from Villette by Charlotte Brontë, one of the few books she'd brought. They'd take turns using the bathroom, then eat again before curling up together to sleep.
That had been accidental the first time. She'd awoken in his arms the morning after Jim's attack, the two moving together in their sleep, but that night Edward asked if it was OK if he held her. He'd used the chill of the night as an excuse. She didn't buy it. She thought he needed the comfort just as much as she did.
"I've been thinking-"
"Alert the presses." She exclaimed, getting a very big eye roll from Edward. He was so easy to tease.
"When I was in Tanzania, I learned how to hunt using knives." Her jaw dropped at this new tide bit. Edward had spent half his life traveling with his parents while being home schooled. He'd stopped traveling with them last school year and lived with his uncle and cousins till he graduated. "Maybe I could use the knife to catch some birds. My only concern is accidentally losing the knife."
Bella liked the idea, although she wasn't sure how they were going to cook it, they just needed something to secure it so they wouldn't lose it. The weighted stabilizing buoys helping keep the raft stable were attached by rope, but it was probably too thick. Same with the rescue quoit.
"Bella?" She glanced over at Edward. He was holding the crocheted bookmark her mother had made for her. "If we undo this, it may be enough string to attach to the knife and my wrist, but I know this was from your mom."
"I appreciate your concern, but we only have three days left of food and are in desperate need of protein. My mom can always crochet me another one." She took the bookmark from him and loosened it until a single strand was hanging down. "You work on that while I use the restroom. Um, I may be awhile. I've been having some trouble going."
He gave her a reassuring smile. "Me too. Take your time." He held up the bookmark. "I'll keep a lookout while I work at untangling this."
She stepped out, checking for snakes as she moved out of view of Edward. She squatted down over the edge of the large rock that'd sanctioned as the toilet. Her thighs burned as she waited for something to come out. She never would have imagined she'd be comfortable enough to go to the bathroom just feet from another person, but he didn't make her feel embarrassed. He made her feel safe.
Satisfied she'd got a little out, she splashed some water to clean up and stood pulling up her shorts. She was buttoning them when she heard Edward's voice.
"Bella, do not move" She followed his eyes to a snake not even five feet from her. It looked like it had come out of one of the crevices they hid in during the heat. "You just need to wait it out."
"Ok" She said yes, but her feet shuffled nervously. It was a tiny patch of moss, but all of a sudden she was flying backwards and the snake was headed straight for her. The water was a shock to her system as her body smashed into it and the rocks under it.
Edward called her name over and over as he grabbed her by the hand and yanked her out of the water. "Bella, are you hurt?" She cried out, reaching for her back. Tears sliced down her cheeks. He lifted her up to muffled screams and set her in the raft. "Bella, I need to take your top off."
"Make it stop." She choked out. "Oh God" She barely made it to the opening of the raft before she was vomiting. From that position, he finally got a good look at her back.
"It looks like you landed on a sea urchin. The spines are poisonous. There are some stuck in your skin. I have to remove them for the pain to get better."
"They're not fatal, are they?"
"No, but to be honest, I've read that some people beg for death to get rid of the pain." She sobbed already understanding the sentiment. "Stay there while I remove the spines. You may need to vomit again."
He pulled off his shirt and used it to protect his hands from the venom. Her back was badly scraped along with having four visible spines. She dry heaved as he removed the first spine.
"Did you know there are over 900 species of sea urchins? They are bilaterally symmetry as larvae and when grown, they have radial symmetry." She heaved again, but her stomach was empty. He pulled out the spines as he talked. "You know the name urchin is a term they used to use for hedgehogs because of the similarities. They even used to call them sea hedgehogs." He stopped and angled her to splash fresh water on her back. Whatever he'd done had eased the pain some. "Drink some water, then try to rest. It's best if you don't lay on your back."
"What happened to the snake?" She asked as she laid down carefully. She still felt nauseous and lightheaded, but laying down seemed to help.
"It's dead. The knife idea worked." She tried to sit up, shocked by his answer.
"You threw the knife at it in the air and killed it?!" He grabbed her hand, getting her full attention.
"I couldn't lose you." His hand wiped away the tears she didn't realize were still falling. "Now rest it'll all be ok" She laid back down and closed her eyes.
"Will you read to me?" His soothing voice calmed her as he picked up where they'd left off in Villette.
'I believe in some blending of hope and sunshine sweetening the worst lots. I believe that this life is not all; neither the beginning nor the end.'
