CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
While the alternate route to the sloppy circle marked on the map was definitely not as arduous or hazardous as the ridge line they had been traversing earlier, 'easy' was still not the word to use to describe it. The ground was still definitely rising, still on an incline, the foliage still thick, the air still heavy with humidity that seemed to only be increasing with every minute that ticked by; the five teenagers were hot, tired, hungry and thirsty and the situation itself just made everything seem ten times worse. There was not a single whisper of a breeze, so far back from the water and enclosed by the rainforest, and the temperature felt like it had risen about ten degrees. What might have been a pleasantly challenging hike under normal circumstances became something close to torture as they used up precious energy reserves and hydration to battle through the rainforest. The one saving grace was it was action, not just sitting back on the beach and waiting for the situation to resolve itself, and that at least did spark a little hope and empowerment in them all. It was really the one thing that kept them driving along. That and the desire to know what was marked in the circle.
They passed nothing helpful on the way, no signs of fresh water, and no defined game trails- although that wasn't really a surprise, given the options for larger wildlife were slim on the ground. Some odd marks at several points in the soft dirt around some trees did catch their attention, Li considering them and deducing that there was likely at least a couple of feral pigs living on the island. They would be elusive and unlikely to cause them any danger so long as they didn't startle them, and the pigs weren't looking after piglets, but it did make all of them a little more wary as they continued their trek to the middle of the island.
The clearing appeared as if out of nowhere. One moment they were heads down, tramping through the undergrowth and pushing rainforest out of their way, and the next they were standing in a large cleared space that was bathed in sunlight that was finally able to reach the ground without the thick trees shading it out.
Li blinked in the brightness, surprised to see how high the sun was sitting in the sky- and, Li noted with a concerned frown, that there were very dark and ominous looking clouds building. More time had passed than she had thought, being one of the only ones not wearing a watch, and her stomach rumbled as her eyes consulted the sky, as if to confirm that yes, it had now been several hours since their beachside breakfast and she had so far used up all of those calories. And then some.
The others were already making their way past her and further into the clearing, keen to see what was there. It was a decent size area, about the size of a basketball court, and set around the space were a series of small wooden huts. If they hadn't already encountered the lookout on the other island, the sight may have been slightly alarming- even still, it was jarring, these perfectly designed little buildings smack bang in the middle of an otherwise untouched and deserted island. It lead to questions and curiosities, none of which they had answers to right in the moment but hopefully the huts themselves might shed more light on the situation.
Alex looked around at the other teenagers, feeling relieved as he saw something that may have resembled hope on all of their faces, even on Hex and Amber's. This had definitely been the right choice, coming to investigate. While the huts may not have spelt out a way off the island, which was ultimately what they all wanted so desperately, for now they meant two important things: somewhere safe and dry to rest, and the possibility that the island was used in some capacity and might attract more visitors than their unsavoury friends who had dumped them there.
Alex went with Hex to the right as Amber, Li and Paulo went off to the left. The huts were set in a semi circle and were very small, little more than bedroom size and, as Hex nudged open the unlocked door of the first one, they realised that was exactly what they were. Bedrooms. Inside the first hut was a single bed, mattress missing, and a chest of drawers that had definitely seen better days as it sagged sadly in the corner. A small bedside table listed to one side beside the bed. Apart from the state of the furniture, the hut itself seemed in good condition; a bit old and warn and faded, but no holes in the roof or floor, and they had clearly been built to withstand the test of time and the harsh island conditions.
The next two huts that Hex and Alex investigated were very similar, except the second still had a very sad looking mattress on the bed and the third seemed to be missing the bedside table and one of the drawers from the dresser. They met the others in the middle at the one larger hut that split the two curves of the smaller bedrooms. A small rainwater tank was hooked up to the the larger hut, and gravity fed water spurted out of the tap at the bottom as Paulo turned it on. Alex warned them not to drink any; it would have to be boiled first, but it was a very welcome finding and a source of water that they so desperately required.
"Maybe this was a research camp," Li mused as she pushed open the door to the larger hut and peered inside. She had been to several such places over the years with her zoologist parents, and the simple rustic living reminded her of some of the camps they had lived in at various times.
"Whatever it is, it hasn't had anyone staying here for quite a while." Alex almost regretted mentioning the obvious fact as he could see the little flicker of hope that had still be clinging on fall from the others' faces, but thankfully the larger hut itself seemed to disprove that assumption.
As they made their way inside, they realised that it was a bit of a catch all area. A desk was attached to one of the longer walls, three wooden chairs tucked in underneath it and a fourth lying on the floor, one leg missing, unable to support itself any longer. On the other side, and along the back, were shelves and cupboards that seemed to imply this was a storage and working area. They set to checking the options out, not really expecting to find anything worthwhile or useful, given the state of the other sleeping huts; clearly no one had been using the facility regularly for quite some time.
It was, then, quite a surprise to find some relatively good condition options tucked into the cupboards. The open shelves were more or less bare, if you didn't count dust and dirt and a couple of broken biros, but the cupboards held some tinned food, and there was even a plastic Tupperware container that held an unopened packet of Scotch finger biscuits.
"These are all in date," Amber said, turning the cans around one by one and checking the expiration date stamped on the back. "And not just in date either."
"I've got some pots and a fry pan," Li announced, as she rummaged through a cupboard on the back wall. "Couple of plates, even."
"Sleeping bags," Paulo added from the other end of the wall to Li. "Three of them."
"And actually back in the bags they came from, that's a novelty." Alex had wrestled with his fair share of sleeping bags and the impossibly tight bags they came in. It took practice and technique to be able to manage it, as well as a serving of pure luck each time. He peered at smaller rolled items beside the bag. "Three inflatable hiking mattresses as well."
Their investigation complete, but leaving more questions than it answered, the five teens headed back out to the clearing. They had been in there for no more than five minutes, but the change outside was drastic. The bright afternoon sunlight had vanished, the sun itself covered by thick black storm clouds that had claimed every spot of sky they could see. The treetops bent in the wind that had picked up out of nowhere, and the air felt heavy and thick with the promise of a wild summer storm.
Alex frowned. The huts were not in a position that he deemed helpful; they couldn't even see a hint of the ocean, and no one would know where they were if they got lucky and help stumbled upon them. They really needed to be back down in the lagoon, that seemed the best option for them save for the fact that they didn't know if a viable source of fresh water that didn't come out of a coconut was within spitting distance. However, their former rescuers were, as far as he knew, still in situ; they may have left for Bright Island already, but with the weather turning it was a long walk back down just to find out the place was still occupied by individuals that they wanted to avoid at all costs.
Although the huts were out of the way, maybe, just for now, that was what they needed. That and actual shelter that they didn't have to try and construct in a hurry, as thunder rumbled in the distance and the clouds rolled in even lower. Shelter was the first priority, Alex reminded himself. Decision made, Alex turned to tell the others his plan but found that they had already decided for themselves. One look up at the sky and Li and Amber had disappeared into one of the small huts and were in the process of wrestling a somewhat acceptable mattress out, dragging it over to the storage shed. Paulo and Hex were doing the same with another mattress, although this one did have a large hole in one side.
"Can flip it over," Hex said in answer to Alex's look. "Better than sleeping on the floor. We'll use these two, and the hiking mattresses. Warm enough to not even need the sleeping bags."
That was likely true, even though the temperature had definitely dropped several degrees with the impending storm. Another rumble of thunder rolled around the clearing, and suddenly the clouds opened, sending fat raindrops pelting out of the sky and sending the teens yelling and running for cover, hauling the two mattresses with them.
In the storage hut, they stood and listened to the rain hitting the tin roof, peering up at it dubiously, unsure of any leaks. But it held firm, and not so much as a drop of water worked its way in, so the mattresses were laid out against the wall with the desk, the chairs cleared away to one side to make room. Alex fetched the hiking mattresses and unrolled them; they would self inflate by the time they were ready to call it a night, and they would just need to remember to do the bungs up before they turned in.
With no sunlight streaming in through the grimy windows along the desk wall, the hut was quite dark. Amber and Li went through the cupboards and managed to find a torch and a lamp. The lamp glowed brightly, however the torch did its best but only produced a weak, dull light.
"Let's save that one," Alex said, nodding to the torch, and Amber switched it off and popped it on the desk in easy reach.
Li set the lamp next to it, and it gave them more than enough light to navigate around and see what they were doing. They popped down on the floor, or on the two salvaged mattresses, not realising just how tired and drained they all felt until they once again allowed their bodies to come to rest.
"I hate to state the obvious," Hex said, "but I think we're screwed. How the hell is anyone going to find us? We don't even know where we are."
"It's why we can't stay here," Alex said. "Tonight, yes" he added quickly as Amber went to open her mouth, no doubt to argue and protest. "With the weather like this, it would be stupid to go out in it when we have an alternative option. But first thing tomorrow, we need to head out."
"To… Where, exactly?" Li asked.
Alex considered this. "Probably back to the lagoon. Our friends will be gone, off for their rendezvous, and it seems the most logical spot for us to set up a bit of a camp. We'll be protected and sheltered, without being out of the way of the chance to set up a signal if a plane or a boat comes past."
No protests came, just some weary nods of agreement; either he made sense, or they were all just too tired to argue, but he took the small win. Alex also took the opportunity to remove the small tobacco tin, sealed carefully with waterproof tape, from the belt pouch he wore around his waist.
"What's in the box?" Li asked, her interest piqued as Alex unwound the tape. "A life raft that we can sail away on?"
"Unfortunately not. But it does have a bunch of very useful things that might come in handy."
One by one, Alex removed the items, naming a few as he went. All of the pieces of his kit had been carefully chosen, and they were nestled in a layer of cotton will to keep them all safe. There was a packet of waterproof matches, a candle and a flint, along with a small magnifying glass. He had needles and thread, and fish hooks and a line, items that Paulo seemed quite delighted by the prospect of trying out using. Maybe they would be dining on reef fish the following evening. There was also a liquid filled compass, a snare wire and a flexible saw- essentially just a coiled wire that turned into a saw when you attached a stick at either end to serve as a handle. Quite crucially, and what Alex had been looking for, was the medical kit and other assorted supplies that went along with it; included were surgical blades, butterfly sutures, plasters, anti-malaria tablets, salt tablets, and potassium permanganate that would be an antiseptic when dissolved in water. Combined with what Paulo had scrounged from the lookout, they were not looking too shabby when it came to first aid supplies. Final item to get unpacked was a condom, that earned a remark from Li and a patient response from Alex that it was a very effective water carting device if required, and would hold up to one litre of water.
"What is this?" Paulo pointed at a small tube filled with something that he couldn't quite make out.
"A beta light," Alex said. "It's special crystals, gives off enough light to read a map in the dark in a pinch." Alex stowed the supplies he didn't need back in the tin carefully, pausing just to show the highly polished inside of the lid itself. "This is also an effective signalling device," he said, tilting the lid back and forth to demonstrate how it functioned, even though they had exactly no sunlight to work with.
Kept out were some plasters, the potassium permanganate and the salt tablets. Li and Amber had fetched out the few assorted pots and pans, and set them out in the rain to catch whatever they could manage in the deluge. They could crush the salt tablets up and dissolve some in the water; it would help to replenish the salt they would have all lost due to the amount of sweating they had been doing all day.
"All right," Alex said, having enlisted the assistance of Paulo to fetch one of the pots of water that already had several millimetres of rain collected. "Let's get some scratches attended to."
Everyone shed their shoes, wincing as they felt and then saw the raw blisters on their feet. The boat shoes were borrowed and new, and the shoes had also been thoroughly soaked for most of the day; the combination had rubbed everyone's feet absolutely raw.
"Hopefully they all might dry out a bit overnight," Li said, lining the shoes up against the far wall, as far away from their noses as she could manage. She set them at an incline, heels on the wall and toes on the floor, figuring an angle might at least assist the drying process somewhat.
The worst of the blisters and scratches were tended to, bathed sparingly in the antiseptic solution to not waste too much of the precious rainwater they were collecting, and plasters only dolled out to those that really needed them as Paulo's stolen box turned out be so old that the ability to stick to skin had completely ceased. Everyone had some salted water, and with no one fancying going out in the teaming rain to try and forage about, they cracked into a couple of the canned stews on the shelf, eating them cold in the absence of any practical way to heat them.
It was hardly an ideal situation, but they didn't feel any worse than they had so far, and with food and water in their bellies, and somewhere dry and relatively comfortable to sleep, at least for the meantime the situation didn't seem quite so hopeless as it had been. The morning would no doubt bring a new set of problems, but for that night the five teens rested, and tried not to worry about something that was so far outside of their control.