Kal, Male, 37

	- Narrator, disaster survivor and castaway

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

Kate, Female, 36

	- pre-disaster wife of Kal

	- 5'8, 150lbs, pale skin, shoulder-length curly red hair

Nina, Female, 26

	- pre-disaster triad with Kate and Kal

	- 5'4, 115lbs, light-brown tanned skin, straight shoulder-length brown hair

Bailey, Female, 14

	- Disaster survivor and castaway

	- 5'4, 125lbs, golden-brown tanned skin, shoulder-length light yellow-brown sun-streaked hair

Keekah, Female, 15

	- daughter of Manu, sister of Hakee and Mie, cousin of Poln

	- 5'5, 135lbs, mocha-brown skin, waist-length mostly-straight black hair

Gale, Female, 43

	- Survivor on Island of the Phoenix

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

Manu, Female, 32

	- Survivor from Hahonoko, mother of Keekah, Hakee, and Mie, aunt of Poln

	- 5'5, 150lbs, mocha-brown skin, butt-length straight black hair

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

	- 5'9, 150lbs, mocha-brown skin, butt-length straight black hair

Mie, Female, 12

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

	- 4'8, 90lbs, mocha-brown skin, shoulder-length wavy black hair

Poln, Male, 10

	- Survivor from Hahonoko, nephew of Manu, cousin of Keekah, Hakee, and Mie

	- 4'8, 105lbs, mocha-brown skin, short, wavy dark-brown hair

Hona, Female, 29

	- Survivor from Hahonoko, friend of Manu

	- 5'2, 155lbs, dark-brown skin, shoulder-length wavy dark-brown hair

Tok, Male, 35

	- Survivor from Hahonoko, friend of Manu

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

Amy, Female, 16

	- Stowaway from California

	- 5'6, 120lbs, pale skin, shoulder-length straight black hair

Crying woke me and before I could open my eyes, I knew.

Gale's arms were around Manu, both of them sobbing, tears flowing freely.

I knew what it meant, and so did everyone else as they came awake and saw the women embracing and distraught.

No one even had to ask. It was a crushing feeling, sickening. Keekah ran to her mother and hugged her, Tok then holding Gale. Amy was in my arms, and then Bailey. Kate cried, too, though she'd not known the woman at all. The sadness in the room left no other choice.

It took a while before the tears had slowed enough for Manu to talk. Nina and Hakee were still not present. Manu's voice cracked with each word. “She went peacefully... She's gone now.” It broke my heart when the woman convulsed and let loose another stream of tears, Keekah holding her again.

I held Bailey and Amy in my arms, and Kate joined us, all of us soaked in tears. I said quietly, “be back... want to see how Nina and Hakee are doing.”

I left the hut on weak legs. At least the rain had stopped. Dawn hadn't shown the first hints of its coming, but it I knew it would greet the clear sky before long. I found Hakee and Nina embracing, crying, near where a sheet covered Hona's body. Nina looked up, said quietly, “oh, Kal...” I sank down and hugged them as their tears ran.

There wasn't anything to do at that point. Hona's struggle was over. It had been so quick, just a handful of days. We were all stunned at the loss, at how we'd had no warning, how all it took was a fever to rip from us someone we cared about.

Someone had roused the fire by the time I led the young women out of the hut. I put on a pot for coffee, pulled Gale aside. Her eyes were red, and I knew mine were as well. “Oh, Kal...” She wrapped her arms around my shoulder, hugged my neck tight.

“I know. I can't believe she's gone.”

Gale sniffed, tried to stop another outbreak of her tears.

I asked quietly, “do you know if there's anything we should do? Any traditions they hold?”

Gale was quiet a moment, said, “they bury the body wrapped in a sheet, hold a ceremony to honor the person. That's all Manu told me when I asked her. She's a wreck, Kal. I feel so bad for her. Hona was her best friend. And Hakee... I know she and Hona shared something...”

“Yeah...” I took a deep breath. “We're going to have to be strong for those two, especially. Keep things going while we all mourn, but those two are feeling it worst.”

“I know... I know...”

“I can handle keeping everyone fed today, we're good on most everything, we don't need to worry about chores. Let people grieve, care for them, Gale, you grieve too. I'll do what I can to take care of everyone today.”

“Thank you, Kal. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

We embraced a moment and then I set about steeling myself and getting breakfast ready. I made a big pot of porridge, boiling it with sweetroot and some of the honey from Papeete. I mixed in berries and shaved almonds, shaved chocolate and cinnamon, a healthy dose of vanilla bean. I knew most of us wouldn't feel like eating much, but if anyone did, I hoped it was a nice treat on such an awful day.

Amy helped me put everything together. “How you doing, Amy?”

I saw the same red eyes I saw everywhere that morning.

“Ok, I guess... it happened so fast...”

“Yeah... Hona was Manu's best friend, you know... this is really hard on her. Hakee, too. Especially those two.”

Amy watched where Manu sat quietly, shaking lightly, Hakee and Keekah squatting and holding her hands. Amy's eyes watered again, then she stopped them with a grimace. “What can I do to help?”

“Help me keep things going today. We all need to grieve, and this is going to hit some harder that the rest of us. If you feel up to it, I'd like to take care of the others today, let them have that time.”

Amy gave a thin smile. “Yes. I'd like that. Beats sitting around crying, which is what I feel like doing right now.”

I gave her a hug, said, “thanks, Amy.”

She started offering up bowls of porridge, most taken from her with resigned hands. There were many shared tears, hugs, soft moments.

I admit it was hard for me to be a part of it. I shared my tears, my hugs, but I felt like I could get bogged down in it. Maybe it triggered some of the horrible sense of loss I'd had when I was taken from the island, the terrible moments in solitary isolation were everything had been taken from me. Losing Hona brought some of that back, and being around so many people mourning, grieving, was suffocating.

I found reasons to stay away from the fire and most of the others. Amy and Gale both became caregivers and tried to keep everyone comfortable, listening when anyone would talk. Amy broke away with me frequently to fill water jugs, carry firewood, and catch lunch.

The two of us were fishing in the early afternoon when Bailey joined us with Katie. She looked exhausted, but her tears had dried. She nursed our daughter, casting a small smile at me and Amy. We sat silently which I pulled in a fat green fish.

Bailey said quietly, “Kate's been really great. She's making sure everyone can talk if they need to. Proud of her.”

I smiled, didn't reply.

“Mind watching Katie for a while, Kal? I could use a nap...”

“Of course. Let me get cleaned up here. I'll be up in a few.”

“Thanks.”

I left Amy to tend the poles then washed up in the surf. By the time I'd walked up, Bailey had Katie in her swing, my daughter sleeping. I kissed her and she went back to the hut. Only Tok was sitting by the far. He looked older, tired, none of his unique mirth on his face. The others were presumedly napping or consoling each other inside.

I looked at how peacefully Katie slept. There were times I envied such innocence.

“What do we do with her, Tok? Gale said there will be a burial, and a ceremony.”

He nodded slowly. “We'll move her later.”

“Thought any on where?”

He shook his head.

Part of me wanted the burial spot to be symbolic, important, but anything near the camp or our water supply was inviting disease and rats.

“If this was Hahonoko, where would you dig?”

“We had fields for the dead. We marked them with stones.”

“Hmmm...” There were no natural fields on the island, except in patches around the lake on the North ridge and where humans had cleared them for crops.

“There was an old tradition, probably carried over from our ancestors on an earlier island, of rowing out to put her out at sea. Perhaps it is the right time to go back to it. I will ask Manu if she approves.”

I nodded and Tok rose and walked off to the common hut.

- - -

Manu and Hakee prepared Hona's body, wrapping it in two sheets and tying off the ends. We gathered around the surf, where a few quiet words were said about Hona. Manu and others cried softly, the heavy, sobbing tears fewer in the afternoon. Still sadness, to be sure. Amy and I, as well as Kate, had gotten lunch for everyone, and I kept an eye on Katie all day.

Though it felt like there should be a soaring speech, inspirational words, something redemptive, but we were all too sad, still a bit in shock, and there didn't seem to be much to say in the middle of those emotions. Manu finished, then Tok and I carried the body to the raft, carefully settling it in. Hakee hung a wreath of long red flowers around Hona's covered feet.

We paddled into the surf, thankful the waves were small and easy to move against. I'd checked the flow of the currents earlier, wanted to make sure we set her adrift where she wouldn't wash back to shore.

We went about a half-mile off the beach. Tok looked at me after he stopped paddling, nodded, and together, we pushed the corpse over the side to a dull splash. We both paused to watch it float heavily to the West before we lost it against the reflection of the afternoon sun.

- - -

Supper was eaten in silence, everyone but me, Kate, Mie, and Poln had retired early. Kate helped me clean up the dishes while the cousins put away most of the chairs for the night. I lit a joint after sitting again, passed it to Kate. She'd been great, as Bailey told me earlier, being a solid comfort to people who grieved openly. Kate had always been a rock in hard times, and it made me so proud to know she cared enough to be strong when others were weak.

We finished the joint and Kate and I shared a cup of island wine. Mie walked to me slowly, sat sideways in my lap, put her arms around my neck. She said quietly, “thanks for the story last night. Will you read us more tonight?”

“I'd be glad to in a bit.” I brushed the hair out of her eyes. “You doing ok?”

“Yeah...” her voice was small. “Doing ok. Sad.”

“Me too.”

“I don't like being sad.”

“It's not fun, Sweetheart,” I ran my fingers across her cheek. “It gets better, I promise.”

“I know. Just not fast enough.”

I became aware that she was rocking on me, kicking her legs a bit. I wrapped my arms around her and rocked with her.

Slowly Mie shifted, brought one leg over mine and straddled my thigh. She held onto my neck, started rocking again.

The heat from the twelve-year old's genitals was fire on my skin, and as she moved herself against me, I felt wetness on my leg. It was as if the girl was trying to rub out the sadness she felt. Kate was watching, mouth open in a small oval. I couldn't tell what she was thinking as Mie began to grind her sex against me. Poln's expression was curiosity, his leaned-forward position didn't reveal whether he'd gotten an erection watching.

The girl rocked in longer movements, dragging her young labia across my thigh, leaving a trail of slickness there. I wasn't horny at all, but my body responded to her movements by causing my penis to rise against her knee.

Mie rubbed herself on me for several minutes, breathing deeply. A soft moan came from her lips, her arms tightening around me. She rocked, rubbed, slid along my thigh. I felt her shudder, she gasped, another shudder, and Mie let out a long, quiet, “ooooooooooohhh... ooooooooohhh... oooooooohhh...” Her climax rolled in slowly over several seconds, her little pussy drooling creamy discharge on my leg, her labia swollen and wet against my skin.

Kate never stopped watching, transfixed. I still couldn't tell if there was arousal or judgement in her expression. Poln sat back, rocking his legs. I saw his hand slide down and wrap around his hard, little penis. He stroked a couple of times, then seemed to remember Kate, and stopped. I don't know where that hesitation in front of my wife had come from, usually he had no reservations about playing with himself idly around others.

Mie slowed and came to rest, a long sigh coming from her lips. “Thank you, Kal... I feel better now...”

She crawled off me and took my hand, said, “read to me now?”

I caught Kate's eye, said, “give me just a few minutes. I'll be up shortly. Go get a spot ready for us, ok? The book is on the short table.”

“Ok.” Mie dropped my hand. For a brief instance I could see thin juices running down her inner thighs. She nodded to Poln and the boy jumped up and followed her inside.

“Wow.” Was all Kate said at first.

“Yeah...”

“Seeing it... I... I don't know what to say...”

I felt the same and just shrugged resignedly. Kate sat a moment, and she had a familiar look in her eyes. She stood, faced me a second. I wasn't sure what she wanted. I tilted my head, raised my eyebrows.

Kate dropped to her knees and sniffed against my thigh, inhaling the odors from the discharge Mie had left on my skin. I was shocked. Aroused. I never expected that. Kate further surprised me by licking along the slick trail. She purred as she tasted Mie's juices, then she stood, straddled my same thigh, and pressed her hairy cunt down on the girl's cream.

Kate moaned, and I sat still, never expecting Kate to react that way. Sure, I figured she'd come, eventually, to being comfortable with Mie's sexuality, but to go much further, to smell and taste the girl's scents and flavors, that I didn't think I'd see. I never really expected Kate to become involved with the girl. How wrong I was, it seemed.

Kate rubbed herself quickly, her pussy drooling. She'd clearly become wet watching Mie get off on my leg, and she spread her cream over the twelve-year old's discharge, mixing the juices and leaving a slick wetness on my skin. It took only moments for Kate's clit to throb and strain against me, her body moving back and forth in quick, short, jerks.

She grabbed my neck, threw her head back, and rubbed herself against me into a rolling orgasm. Kate cried out, “uuuhh... uhhh... uuuuuuhhh... ooooohhh...” Her vagina drooled against my skin. I could feel wetness running down my leg.

Kate slowed, her head came up and she met my eyes. Her mouth was open. She almost looked shocked to have done that, shocked to have been so turned on by the girl on my leg. Before she could say anything or start vocally doubting herself, I kissed her, felt her melt into me.

She finally broke the kiss, not quite smiling, but not quite lacking in signs of pleasure. Certainly, her face showed confliction at the act, at being aroused by a twelve-year old grinding herself to orgasm on me. I knew Kate would think about that long into the night, and I hoped to talk to her before she felt shame or hatred.

But she said instead, “Now, I feel better, too. Care to cum?”

My penis had already gone flaccid and I shook my head. “Not tonight. Thanks, though. I love you, Kate.”

“I love you, Kal.”

I stood after she climbed off my leg. Kate kissed me goodnight and went to our hut. As I watched her go, wetness ran down my knee and over my foot. I didn't wipe it off as I headed to the common room.

Mie and Poln were there, eager for my story. I crawled in between them and picked up the tale. The innocent scene was a strange juxtaposition with the way the three of us had shared a sexual experience just moments before. Mie's thighs were still damp from her vaginal juices, and between her genitals and the wetness on my leg, as I started reading, all I could smell was wet pussy.