Kal, Male, 37

	- Narrator, disaster survivor and castaway

	- Husband of Kate, Bailey, Keekah, and Amy, father of Katie

	- 6'1, 190lbs, straight, shoulder-length dark-brown hair

Nina, Female, 26

	- Lover of Kate, Kal, and Hakee

	- 5'4, 120lbs, light-brown tanned skin, straight shoulder-length brown hair

Gale, Female, 43

	- Wife of Tok

	- 5'5, 130lbs, dark tanned skin, waist-length dark reddish-brown hair

Hakee, Female, 18
 
	- Survivor from Hahonoko, daughter of Manu, sister of Keekah and Mie, cousin of Poln

	- 5'9, 145lbs, mocha-brown skin, butt-length straight black hair

Tok, Male, 35

	- Survivor from Hahonoko, husband of Gale

	- 6'3, 205lbs, brown skin, shoulder-length wavy dark-brown hair

Kunomo, Male, late-40s

	- Uhonamonan elder, brother of Kahan

	- 5'8, 145lbs, dark-brown skin, short black hair

I was up well before dawn getting myself ready to depart. The sky was clear, and I let the others sleep in the still hours ahead of sunrise. I met Kunomo and his crew as they readied to retrieve the boat from the East. I roused Nina and Hakee, and for the next hour, we packed supplies and donned clothing suitable for spending time on the vessel.

Gale and Tok had stirred early, as well, and when they had completed their preparations, they got a hasty breakfast started. The others, including Bailey and Katie, joined us an hour or so before dawn.

It was a difficult time. I felt the sadness and concern from Bailey and the others. They knew what we risked, what chances we were taking. I think the knowledge that, even in the best of situations, we'd be separated for a couple of weeks was the hardest part. I felt all-to-acutely the longing and loneliness I'd known when I was in Tahiti and away from the island. I had a hard time dealing with that as we said our goodbyes.

After long hugs and many kisses, absent the tears we all felt ready to fall, Nina, Hakee, and I joined Kunomo in his small rowboat and headed to the larger vessel, Gale, Tok, and his crew already on board.

I stared back at the island a long time as the motor revved and we headed South. It wasn't light enough to see much, but I know Bailey stood by the water's edge watching us go. It was a very difficult moment for me, and both Nina and Gale held my arms in silence to offer just a bit of comfort.

- - -

The first day at sea was largely uneventful. I helped fish for food and in the deeper waters, we caught some sort of oily tuna which we ate raw with handfuls of rice. The storms stayed to our West and didn't threaten us in the least.

Being on the boat was a strange sensation. Since coming to the island, I'd very infrequently had cause or opportunity to be on a motorized vessel. I'd been on the Hahonokoan's boat a time or two before it was scuttled, one of those a harrowing and anxious trip which nearly cost my life. I didn't recall much from the boats which took me to Tahiti, and the trip back to the island was lost in the rush of emotions I felt as I brought together my old relationships and my new.

The calmness onboard struck me the most. Kunomo and his crew went about their details without fanfare or concern. They were natural mariners, obviously old hands at massaging a boat across the waters, and I saw each of them handle what should have been difficult tasks without much effort. I felt like a small child compared to those men.

The darkness set in quickly as the seas became a bit choppy. It was nothing that the men couldn't handle, but it made me a bit uneasy regardless. The pitch-blackness of being out on the ocean at night is difficult to describe. It almost has an oily quality, and I regularly saw lights and shapes that weren't really there as my mind sought to find any tangible vision on which to hold my attention. Clouds had covered the sky, which made the darkness that much more oppressive.

I did my best to sleep with Nina and Hakee nearby, and I suppose I did get some rest until a few hours before dawn, when it was my turn to serve lookout on the bow. I saw nothing over the following hours, and tried my best not to let my fears and doubts fester and grow.

- - -

The second day was much like the first, except the clouds stayed overhead. We had a couple of light showers along the way, but the wind stayed mild and didn't do much to put us ill at ease. I shared a joint with the others just after Kunomo told us that we were about fifty miles from Uhonamona.

Around dusk, the island came into view. Darkness was deep by the time we tied up on to the long, rickety dock where a dozen other boats were roped and secured, several others anchored in the small cove nearby.

It was difficult to see too much of the village as we disembarked carrying our packs. Several men and women greeted us immediately, Kunomo talking to an excited young man for several minutes before he turned to us and, through Gale, explained that the scouts had spotted a large boat which had headed to the cache island the day before. They had observed it offloading significant supplies in crates and bins and barrels before they slipped away to avoid being seen. I could tell it fortified Kunomo's resolve to go forward with the raid.

I was ushered into a small hut with a large, square mattress and a few odds and ends in the room, two small oil candles sending shadows and light in flickering patterns onto the floor and walls and my body. Nina and Hakee were to stay in the next hut, while Gale and Tok were offered one further down the row. I met up with the others around a cook fire where roasted pineapples and steamed squid were offered. I devoured all they put before me, finding myself ravenous.

We talked only briefly with the villagers, Gale offering her translations, mostly simple greetings and exchanging tales of our lives on Phoenix. I grew tired very quickly, excusing myself. Nina and Hakee did likewise.

Instead of going to their hut, they followed me to mine.

“Mind if we stay in here with you tonight? Hate for you to be lonely...” Nina said sweetly.

“I'd love that. Thank you.”

Hakee closed the door to the hut and opened wooden shutters to allow the gentle breeze to blow through. We sat together, backs against the wall, talking quietly a while about the raid and about what it was like to be away from the others. I found myself opening up about how I hated to have gone while knowing that Bailey was already going crazy with worry.

“She's strong, Kal. Give her some credit,” Nina said.

“I know... I know... I just... I don't want her to go through what she dealt with when I was taken before. I hate that I've put her through that now. Willingly.”

“She'll be fine. Yes, she'll worry, and yes, it sucks. For both of you. But she's strong, Kal. I've seen that young woman grow just in the months I've been there, and I can tell you honestly that I don't know anyone who could handle it better. Just think to the day you go back and all they joy the two of you will feel together.” Nina leaned into me, stroking my arm gently. Hakee rested her head in Nina's lap.

“Do you think I made the right decision? Coming on this mission?”

Nina didn't hesitate. “Yes. I think you are needed here. I think you offer the leadership we need if things go badly. I trust you that way, Kal. Don't doubt yourself. When the shit hits the fan, there's no one I'd rather have at my side. No offense, Hakee...”

“No offense,” Hakee replied, turning her head up towards us. “I agree. I've seen it. Kal saved our lives in many ways before. I trust you, Kal, as Nina does.”

“I've had a lot of help, it wasn't just me,” I replied.

“Yes, but... like when we nearly drifted to our deaths on the boat. It was you that saved us,” Hakee stated, looking at my face.

“That was a fluke, remember? I got frustrated and hit the engine and it was a fluke it restarted.”

“Fluke that it started, yes. But you didn't give up for a long time. You were the one who kept at it, who kept trying, even when it would have been easy to give up. You didn't, and maybe it was a fluke, but it was only possible because you cared enough to keep trying.”

I let Hakee's thoughts sink in a moment, nearly laughing at the absurdity. I'd tried for a long time that day to get the motor started, and the last ounce of my strength was spent in frustration. If it hadn't started then, I would have given up. It was astounding how fine a line it was between being a savior and being just one more person dying on a boat drifting free on the ocean.

“Anyway... thanks, you two. I'm going to try to get some sleep, I think. I'm exhausted. The next week or so is going to be tough. We'll all need clear heads.” I stripped out of my clothes, and the women did the same.

I kissed Nina and then Hakee, sliding onto the mattress, the two women on one side of me. I closed my eyes and tried to slow my racing mind.

An hour later, I was still awake, and, despite my exhaustion, no closer to slowing the fears and worries in my head. I saw Nina's eyes flutter open, a small smile on her face. For a moment, she said nothing, then I felt her fingers slide over my flaccid cock, stroking it very gently. “I can help you sleep... just lay back...”

Nina's hand soon brought me to hardness, her rough but wonderful skin wet with her saliva. I groaned with pleasure. She moved down to my thighs and took me in her mouth. I could see that Hakee was sleeping soundly beside her.

Her mouth was warm and wet and welcoming, her lips softly caressing my shaft as she sucked me. Nina's tongue flickered along my length, teasing my flesh as her suction increased. I let my mind go blank, let the pleasure of Nina's mouth take away my stress and worry.

She was always a wonderful lover, and I knew it gave her great joy to suck me. Nina made love to me with her lips and tongue, drawing out my pleasure, letting her movements bring me to release.

I moaned lightly as I began to ejaculate. Nina hummed around my dick as semen rushed into her mouth. She swallowed and kept sucking and moving, milking my cock, drinking my seed lovingly. I emptied myself completely and Nina swallowed again, sending my cum down her throat and into her stomach.

I buzzed with euphoria as she drew back and moved up to kiss me. I tasted my salty sperm in her mouth. Instinctively, I moved my hand down between her legs, but she brushed it aside. “No, thank you. That was just for you.” She smiled at me. “Try to get some sleep.” Nina kissed me again. “I love you, Kal. Even as things have changed, that never has...”

“I love you, too, Nina... thank you...”

- - -

I did find sleep and was out until just before dawn. I felt Nina stir beside me as she turned over to kiss and cuddle with Hakee a moment before the two women stood. Nina smiled at me and offered me “good morning.” I smiled back and stretched, feeling much better than I did the night before. I still noted the seeds of doubt and fear in my thoughts, but they were fuzzy and distant, less pressing than before. Still, I knew it was going to be a long couple of weeks being away from home.

I rose as they donned their clothing. The Uhonamonans were not as free with their bodies or their sexual relationships as we were, and out of respect for their customs, I pulled on my trousers. It was odd to think about needing to cover up again after living a clothing-free lifestyle on our island.

We made our way out to where a few others had gathered. Gale and Tok were there and we greeted them. I offered to help get breakfast together, but I was told that others were already working on slicing fresh mangoes and papayas and cooking a big pot of porridge. My stomach growled at the idea of eating the musky fresh fruits.

The sun rose quickly with sparse clouds to the East, the air cool in the early part of the South Pacific winter. One of the young women in the village, Akiran, offered to show us around, and I joined Gale, Tok, Nina, and Hakee as she walked slowly and Gale translated her words.

“There are three areas to the village. This is the fishing community, where those who go out on boats and support the fishing men live.” Rough huts were in a long row a few hundred meters long, the ground cleared to a width of about a hundred meters. I could see in the trees beyond that large, irregular gaps had formed where the typhoon had caused many to fall. The village seemed to have cleaned up the timber and put it to good use, but the many areas of sparseness showed how violent the storm had been. Even the huts, in their rough manner, looked hastily constructed from the weeks spent on recovery and repair.

“The central district is a half-kilometer deeper in. The buildings there are better protected from storms, but the water is not reaching it well after the storm. That will be the first thing Tok and I need to help with,” Gale told us. “The elders live there along with those involved in the traditional village labors. The farmers and gatherers, responsible for all the food not from the sea, are found to the South and West, near the many fields.”

We made the trek out of the fishing village and into the central district. The huts looked older, better constructed. Some even had glass windows and decorative siding, though, even those showed signs of damage from storms. Children were playing in a small area near what Gale translated as the 'Foundation of the Elders,' a large building with a second floor, the only one such I'd seen. It was the seat of village government, and it was where the villagers gathered to discuss important matters. We'd be meeting there with the elders later that day to go over the raid and the agreements between our villages.

Akiran asked if we wished to see the farming village, and we all agreed we would like to do so after breakfast. My stomach was knotting and I knew I needed to eat soon. We walked back and went into one of the larger buildings in the fishing district, a square, whole-log cabin which looked far more sturdy than the living huts making up must of the rest of the area. Inside we found many women and a few men gathered, serving themselves from platters of mangoes and papayas and big pots of steaming porridge.

I filled a bowl with porridge and topped it with big chunks of sweet fruits. It took no time to devour it, and I noticed that Nina had done the same. I smiled at her. “I can't wait till our trees start producing. We've got both mangoes and papayas started.”

“These are delicious! We had them in Tahiti, though usually they were canned and stored for months before we got to them. Always some of my favorites.”

Kunomo greeted us, a bowl of his own in hand, and told us to eat all we wanted. They had made a special meal in honor of our arrival. Gale told me later that the village had been carefully rationing food since the typhoon, and the feast was as rare a treat for the Uhonamonans as it was for us. I couldn't help taking a second serving and finally felt sated only after using my fingers to collect the last globs of salty porridge and licking them clean.

We continued our tour of the island after breakfast. More people were stirring, some weaving, others working wood. Many eyes were drawn to us, and I suspected many wondered about the white people amongst them. Kunomo had arrived at Phoenix suspicious that we might be part of the white boaters who had threatened them previously. I wondered how many were worried that the enemy walked within their borders.

Whatever they thought, they smiled and waved whenever Akiran introduced us, and before noon we explored the largest part of the community, the farming district. The houses were closely packed in rows along the fields there, and there were buildings which I assumed were barns and others I took to be processing warehouses. Small buildings, to be sure, but each had a purpose and each had men and women hard at work on turning out the food needed to survive.

It struck me just how many people were in Uhonamona. There were hundreds, at least, perhaps a thousand or more. I hadn't gotten the idea that so many lived on the island from conversations with Kunomo, but it was clear that the island's population far exceeded those of us on Phoenix.

Gale and Tok were already talking to leaders in the fields, drawing them into new ideas that might help. The two were in their element, easing into conversations without bluntly offering changes.

I noticed, too, the disparity between men and women. For each male I saw, there were two, maybe three women. The children seemed evenly divided, but for the adults, it was dramatic. I asked Akiran, through Gale, if my observations were correct, if, perhaps, the men were working elsewhere, but she told us that many men had been killed in fighting, and more had been lost at sea over the last year. Kunomo had said as much in earlier conversations, but it was striking to see it in person.

We lunched on fresh conch, a delicacy we had only rarely found at home. Kunomo suggested that we could probably find them on the North side based on the way the water flowed there. I made a mental note to test his hypothesis when I returned.

An hour or so before we were to meet with the elders in the central district, I spoke to Kunomo with Gale's help. “Before we meet with the elders,” I started, “I wanted to talk to you privately a moment.”

“Of course,” Kunomo responded.

“We haven't discussed the detailed terms of our agreement. How will you propose we portion out what we take?”

Kunomo studied me a moment. “Yes. This is a tricky question... You have shown me good faith in our dealings and I thought it fair to offer you one share to five.”

I thought on that a minute. “The terms are very generous on your part, given the disparity between the populations of our islands. I have my doubts that your elders would agree to such a deal.”

“I am one of those who will decide, as I am respected elder. But you are right, there are many who would believe that too generous. We have many more to look after, and I can admit I could understand that position.”

“Obviously, I'd agree to one-to-five, both because it benefits us, and also because that is the ratio of those going on the raid. Still, I'm pragmatic, and I recognize that we need to find another way to make this work.” I thought a moment. “What are you hoping to find most, Kunomo?”

He waited while Gale translated my question. “We need weapons. That is my first priority. We are nearly defenseless. If the men come again... we have few guns to oppose them.”

I nodded. “And I need medicine and food most. We have a few guns, enough for us to defend ourselves at least. Not against a determined foe, but well enough. I'd be willing to take no weapons to increase the amount of medicine or food we receive.”

Kunomo agreed that he like that idea.

“Also,” I replied, “perhaps you have something else we might find useful, something not found on the raid but something we don't have the knowledge or tools to build.”

“What would that be?”

“A boat.”

“A boat...”

“I saw your men putting in two new ones down by the waterfront. With a boat, we would have lifeline, a way to escape, or a way to reach your people, or a way to find new food sources. I'd be willing to take a share smaller than one-to-five if we could receive one of the new boats.”

Kunomo was silent a moment. “That will be a difficult argument to make... but I can side with you. We do not have excess, but we do have the knowledge and tools to build new ones. We have salvaged many working motors over the last two years. We know how to rebuild them, repair them. This we do very well. But... if we find nothing to divide, you go home with a boat and we have nothing to show for the deal.”

“Not true. We bargained earlier and, as you said, showed you good faith and value in our earlier dealings. We are owed something in return, so it would not be a one-sided trade.”

“This is true, yes. I had not forgotten...” Kunomo said flatly. I wasn't so sure that was an honest statement. “What share would you expect if a boat was wagered in the balance?”

“To start, I want no weapons. Those are yours. I'll trade the share of those for food or medicine or raw materials, whatever is available. Beyond that...” I did some mental calculations, figuring that the ratio of Uhonamonans to those of us on Phoenix to be more than fifty-to-one. “I want one share to ten until we reach an equivalent take of one month of supplies, then I'll accept one-to-twenty beyond that point. And one new boat.”

Kunomo's eyes rolled up slightly as he mentally did his own math. He began to slowly nod. “I believe we are close enough to discuss this with the elders. I cannot guarantee their thoughts, but I can support this proposal.”

We shook hands in the Western custom, then grasped forearms in the custom of his people. I wondered how much resistance we would meet from the elders.

- - -

“... and one-to-twenty beyond that point.” Kunomo had finished offering the proposed deal with a small flourish of his arms out to his sides. He was seated near the middle of eleven other men and women dressed in simple but distinctive robes, signifying their roles in guiding the decisions of the village. The five of us from Phoenix were sitting in the front row of polished wooden benches, dozens of others behind us.

Gale translated for us as one elder after another asked simple, straight-forward questions. At one point, in response to a direct question about why we should not just divide the take based on our populations, I said firmly, “because we have already laid at your feet our trust and our goods, we have taken in four of your young people, and three of us are joining fifteen others to see this raid successful. I believe we have offered consideration enough and have provided you a deal which benefits us all. One part to twenty will not starve your people, but it could greatly prevent starvation in mine.”

That sentiment seemed to win the day, and with a small concession from us to agree to an annual trade meeting, held one year in Uhonamona, and the next on Phoenix, the details of the proposal I'd worked out with Kunomo ahead of time won the unanimous vote of the elders. The meeting broke up and I joined the others from my home in drinking toasts with island wine made from Tok's simple, tasty recipe.

We drank little, though, only enough to show our camaraderie. There was work to be done. Other men were already putting the finishing touches on our supplies for the mission, including a few rusty firearms. Nina, Hakee, and I had brought our own, two pistols and a semi-automatic, along with bandoliers of ammunition and a couple of cleaning kits.

The three of us joined Kunomo and two other men, Bini and Hamollok, to set the detailed plans down. We ate a simple stew made from fish and mangoes as we huddled in small hut near the waterfront.

We planned to leave a few hours before dawn and make our way for three days to the cache island to the North-Northwest. If the weather held, we'd meet a scout boat just over the horizon from our goal to get the latest information, then proceed to the island in the middle of the night. Once the supplies were loaded, we would move Southwest until a few hours after dawn, trailed by the scout ship. If we were not followed, we would change course and drive quickly to the East back to Uhonamona.

“Contingencies...” I said, wanting to know what we did if things went wrong.

“Tell us your thoughts,” Kunomo replied.

“First thing that goes wrong is weather. We never make it, or we don't make it on time. If we miss our window, I believe we have two additional tries before we must return due to food and water, yes?”

“Correct.”

“We lose any boats before we get to the island, we rescue and return, then retry.”

They nodded agreement.

“Next thing that goes wrong is the scout ship is missing. Assume the worst. We move South then back East. Third, the scout has new information which changes the patterns or the risk. We think on our feet and respond. We don't take unnecessary risks.”

Again, agreement.

I continued. “Here's where it gets tricky. We get to the island and we aren't alone. We can't assume we can overpower anyone we find, even if it is only one small speedboat like the scouts have seen. They have communications. We get spotted, we engage, anything like that, we draw the enemy to our location. Again, any chance we've been discovered, we use the South then East movement.

“Worse scenario finds us on the island when the scout or one of our other boats spots something approaching. We can't just run at that point. Speedboats would catch us in nothing flat. Nina runs the show if it comes to that. She's the only one with military training. We defend until we can make a run. That might mean combat. We can't risk being followed. That happens, we fight until we run, then we move Southeast, tracking whether we've been followed, and as soon as we believe we are clear, we return here and prepare a defense.”

Kunomo was visibly upset by that idea, but the men with him nodded in agreement.

“This is war, ladies and gentlemen. Make no mistake,” I said firmly. “We're a guerrilla navy sabotaging a military cache. The enemy will not be pleased. If there is any doubt about the potential repercussions, now is the time to voice disapproval.”

Kunomo said quietly. “The elders have determined this is worth the risk. They understand it means stepping into the war. I say, we are already at war, the men have already threatened us, we have already had our hands forced. I saw it is time we fought back.”

I nodded slowly. “Agreed. We take no unnecessary risks, we do everything possible to slip in and out undetected. But we fight if we must, and my friends, if we fight, we fight to win. Agreed?”

“Agreed.”