Shipwrecked - Chapter 96: Strange Cargo (Mg ped)

Please read my Explicit Disclaimer before you read my work.

To read the Author's Introduction to this series, click here.

Visit the Story Index to read other chapters.

Chapter 96: Strange Cargo

I woke to the sensation of someone moving over me. A small hand slid onto my stomach. I opened my eyes to see Mie smiling at me, her eyes half-open. Amy and Bailey were sleeping against my sides, soft snores coming from each. I pulled the twelve-year old over me, brought her lips to mine. She giggled almost silently, her legs brushing my groin as she rolled on my body.

I grew hard the longer we kissed, and she giggled again, her hand slipping down to touch my penis, my cock throbbing at the light sensation. Mie slid back, her legs over my hips, my dick resting in the cleft between her labia. I felt wetness along my shaft.

I lifted her hips and she guided me into her tight little vagina. I groaned in pleasure as I slowly sank into the girl. Her eyes closed, her mouth open slightly, her body starting to rise and fall in short, measured movements. I stroked Mie's pubic hair, the soft fur having grown in to cover her Mons and trail down her genitals. I felt her clit, found it hard, and rubbed it in circles as her tight cunt milked my cock.

I was sleepy, and so was she, neither of us in a rush, which made it all the more pleasurable and arousing. It took only moments for her to shudder and cum, quiet moans between pants from her lips. I started to swell and pulse, barely thought to pull out of her at the last minute, squirting cum against her hairy Mons and onto my stomach.

She looked at me oddly, as if she didn't know what I hadn't cum inside of her. It had been very tempting, but I'd promised myself that the girl would not get pregnant from me any time soon. I knew that Poln had ejaculated in her on Manu's birthday, and probably had done it again in the days since. I wasn't sure what, if anything, to do about that.

Semen pooled near my navel, Mie's fingers drawing it across my skin, my cock still pulsing where it rested between her swollen labia.

I heard the door to the common room open, someone slipping inside, too dark to see just who. A hand was on my shoulder. “Kal?” It was Gale, her voice strained. “Kal, get up. You're not going to believe this, but there's another damn boat.”

I was on my feet in seconds as Mie climbed quickly to her own. I heard Bailey stirring from where I'd been laying against her. I tried to clear the recent orgasm from my head. “What?”

“A boat. It anchored a couple of hours ago by the North beach. Tok's keeping an eye on it. No one had come ashore when I left to let you all know.”

I had everyone up moments later, gathering together in the common room. Gale told us, “don't know who it is. Looks like a big pleasure boat. Tok was out to piss during the storm, saw a light moving across the water. Thought it was going to pass us by, but it turned in and anchored a few dozen yards from shore. I raced back in the dark and rain to tell you.”

“Shit.” I muttered. I thought quickly. “Amy, Hakee, with me. Everyone else, get bags packed and guns ready. We don't know who they are, and I don't want anyone showing up here by surprise. Keep watch on the water to the South and both ends of the beach. Hakee will set up as a go-between where the stream falls from the low ridge. If you need to contact us, get someone to her, and we'll do the same.”

I pulled on travel clothing and the teens did the same. Manu had bags ready for us by the time we returned to the common room. I tucked a pistol into the holster Keekah had made me many months earlier, slung an automatic over my back, passed another to Amy.

The three of us set off on foot with Gale back up the stream, the downpour making the bugs scarce, giving us a chance to chew leaves as we made progress to the North. We climbed the low ridge, Hakee finding cover to wait as a runner under a small overhang, then we followed the winding trail to where we'd cut steep steps into the high ridge wall.

Up top, we could hear the wind howling, the rain drenching our clothing and our skin. Thankfully, the lightning had moved to the North.

Gale led us to where Tok waited, motionless, along the North-side of the upper island, the view from that spot expansive, showing both the North beach and the surrounding waters. He nodded as I sank beside him, said quietly, “no sign of anyone moving. They anchored a few hours ago. Maybe just waiting out the rain.” The North beach was currently the most protected spot on the lee side of the island, so it made sense that the boat might be doing that.

In the dark rain, it was hard to make out the shape and size. A couple of running lights and a brighter light over the deck showed enough to tell it had a v-shaped hull, tall sides, a thick interior bridge in the middle. I watched it bob a few minutes before I said, “ok... go get some sleep, you two. Amy, hang with me so that we can keep watch and send for someone if we need to. We'll take the watch until dawn, see what happens if this storm breaks.”

Tok and Gale slid back to the West and disappeared around the edge of the lake back towards the cabin there. Amy and I found a flat stone ledge and sat together, huddling for warmth in the rain. I had no idea how long it might be until dawn with the cloud cover, but I suspected we had several hours of monotony ahead of us.

We moved to the East a bit where a large tree had nearly fallen over the edge of the ridge. It gave us some cover from the rain, and we munched on smoked fish and banana-fruits. I longed for a cup of hot coffee as the dripping water felt cool on my skin. Amy was shivering after some time, and I sat behind her, wrapping my arms across her body.

We talked quietly for a while, Amy asking, “who do you think they are?”

“No idea. Not native traders, I think. Could be Great Society, could be Progress, maybe just some dumb rich guy who hasn't figured out that the world has gone batshit. I dunno. Not trusting anything right now.”

Amy was quiet a moment, then said, “Kal... what would we do if someone came here and needed a place to live? Like I did with the others... What would we do?”

I thought about it a moment. To be honest, the complex considerations which would come into such a situation had never been discussed with the others, and I'd not thought about such things since the Hahonokoans had arrived. “A very good question... I'm not sure. I suppose we couldn't just send someone away if they needed help, but... I don't want to put what we have here in jeopardy, either. I'd rather force someone to go elsewhere than take a chance on them ruining our harmony.”

“Yeah... I suppose that's best.” She pointed to the bobbing light below marking the boat. “Maybe they are just looking for somewhere to live, away from the fighting. Maybe they need help.”

“Maybe. Hopefully, they'll just leave with the break in the storm and some light, but if not, we'll probably find out what they are up to. Hard to see it, but that's no beat up boat, it looks pretty high-end to me. Made for moving fast over rough waters.”

Amy grew quiet again, her head leaning against my chest. She snored lightly within moments, and I did my best to keep my eyes on the boat, watching for signs that anyone on board was awake or coming ashore.

- - -

Tok returned at dawn, cups of barely-warm coffee in his hands for me and Amy. “Didn't want to start a fire and signal them,” he said, “but we had a few hot coals left in the inside pit, made some of the instant grounds, thought you might need it.”

The rain continued, though lighter, and the sky was becoming more light gray by the minute. I thanked him for the coffee and downed half of it in one gulp, the other half soon to follow. Amy did essentially the same.

I said, “go get some sleep, Amy, Tok and I can take the next watch.” She yawned, started to protest, but I kissed her neck, said softly, “Gale could use some company, I'm sure. If anything happens, you two will be the first to know.”

She took the empty cup from my hand, kissed my lips and headed towards the cabin.

Tok and I sat quietly as the boat became easier to see. Despite a bit of fog rolling across our view, the red and black design became very clear. The boat looked sleak, shiny, a power toy for someone with a lot of cash and a reason to move quickly over open waters.

We watched a long time, my eyes becoming weary. The rain slowed to a drizzle, then largely stopped. I saw motion on the deck, at least two people standing and looking towards the beach. Tok and I stayed hidden behind the canopy of large fronds and ferns.

I could see one of them motioning in broad arcs, seem to be pointing out the ridge at one point. Within seconds, the person climbed down a ladder and started swimming to shore. I made a split decision. “Go tell Amy and Gale to be ready to move. I'm going to intercept whoever that is before they get close to the path up here.” I knew from experience that it was not easy to find the broken, twisted game trail which led from the woods behind the North beach up to the ridge, and it was to our advantage to keep the strangers from getting that far.

Tok ran towards the North camp while I raced down the trail and slid through the woods. I crept forward, automatic gripped in one hand, the safety on for the moment. I hunched down behind a thick bush, peering through a gap towards the beach. I could see a man squatted down, scooping water from the North stream which was running heavy after the rain. He drank several times, then stood again, his head swiveling slowly as he looked around.

I moved to where I was within twenty yards of him, still concealed. He began walking upstream away from the beach. Automatic rifle held at an angle that I expected looked threatening, I stepped out where he could see me.

“Hold!”

The man froze, stared at me. His head tilted, his tanned Caucasian skin almost brown. He seemed to realize that I was armed, slowly raised his hands. “English, yes?” he shouted in an accent which could have been French. “No harm, sir! No harm from us!”

“Who are you?” I demanded. “What are you doing here?”

“Please. I'm Jamal. We dropped anchor here to wait out the storm. Please, my family is just there.” He pointed back to the boat anchored dozens of yards from shore. I could see three figures on the deck, two small, like children. “Please, I just wish to talk.”

I hesitated, saw movement to my left, behind where the man stood near the stream. I knew it was Tok without actually seeing the man. I hoped Amy and Gale had waited on the ridge.

“Please,” the man repeated, “just to talk.”

I nodded, said, “tell your family to stay on the boat. You and I can talk.”

I let the rifle drift downward, but I never took my hand off the grip. I felt nervous as I approached the man, but seeing him shaking and clearly agitated, I tried to calm myself and see what he wanted.

I drew up about ten feet away from him, letting the gun in my hands make it clear that I did not want to get any closer. He spoke in a nervous tenor. “My family, we are in need of food, water.”

I nodded towards the boat. “Where'd you get that?”

“Oh, uh...” He looked at the stream again. “My father's. He died in the fighting.”

“You come from the North, yes?”

“Y-yes... North.”

“Where?”

“Uh... Kiribati... we left there three days ago.” He was growing more agitated.

“Why'd you leave? What's got you heading South?”

“It's... it's Great Society territory up there. We lived there before they took over, had a small community. GS moved in, took control. Honestly, they treated us well and took care of us, but... uh... we couldn't... couldn't stay...”

“So you just left? They let you leave?”

“N-No... no, we had to leave in the night. Boats are more valuable than gold these days. My... my father's wasn't theirs to take. We got out three nights ago, been heading South ever since.”

“Kiribati... that's several hundred miles from here...”

“Yes...”

I was no expert on boats, but I assumed that was stretching its cruising range. “Did you refuel on the way?”

Jamal shook his head, “no... My father fitted it with... uh... three oversized tanks. It runs heavy, to be honest, but we didn't need to stop anywhere, not that I know where we could have found fuel, not much between here and there.”

“And what is it you hope to do by getting away from GS?”

“Find somewhere safe for my family, somewhere big enough for Progress to protect. We were hoping to make it to Tahiti. But we're almost out of water and food.”

I thought a moment. “Well... if you need to get to Tahiti, I can help you somewhat. Progress is there, of course, one of the bigger islands they control. We can get you water and some food to make the trip.”

“Thank you, thank you... uh... 'we'? There are others?”

“Yes. We're cautious around unknowns. We've had our own run-ins with GS. Can't be too careful.”

“And this place... is yours?”

“Ours... as much as it is anyone's, yes.”

Despite the fact that I'd moved my rifle over my back and was no longer holding it in a threatening manner, as well as our coming to terms with getting him water and food, Jamal's agitation continued. He looked more nervous the longer we talked.

“Well, let me just get that water and whatever food you can spare, really want to get going...”

“It's going to take some time to get the water unless you've got a way to suck it out of the stream into the boat.” The man shook his head, signaling that that wasn't possible. The man did not look happy at the delay. “I'll have some help brought up. We can guide your boat in closer to shore if you'll allow someone to navigate from the deck.”

“No, no... we... we're ok where we are, really, no need.”

“The closer you can get to shore, the less time it is going to take to get you loaded up. Out where you are, it will take all day just to do get your water filled.”

“Someone can guide us from shore, I'm certain. I follow directions quite well, really.”

I shook my head. “There are oyster shoals, and the run into shore is tough to navigate. Best done with one of my people who knows the spot. It will just take a few moments to save you hours today.”

Jamal started to pace in a semi-circle, clearly not happy at the options. I started to wonder what he might be hiding on the boat.

“Y-yeah, ok... uh, ok. Just to guide us in. Ok. Then we'll get water, and you've got food?”

I nodded, said, “can your family swim? This is still going to take some time to get things moving, have them come in and we'll get a fire started, warm you some tea and something to fill your bellies while you eat.”

He glanced back at the boat, finally said, “yeah, ok. I will. I'll wait here, then?”

“Wait here. I'll be back shortly.”

I pulled back a hundred yards until I was concealed again, and Tok met me there. He asked, “so what do you think?”

“Unclear. He's nervous, beyond what I'd expect.”

“The guns, maybe. I'd be nervous.”

I shrugged. “Could be. He's hiding something. Didn't like the idea of anyone getting on his boat to pull it in closer to shore. Something's bugging me. Maybe I'm just on edge.”

“So what's the plan?” Tok asked.

“Build him up a fire down here. His family is coming onshore. I'll get Gale to bring down coffee and some food. We're going to help them refill their water and offer them enough food to get to Tahiti. We've still got a lot of the smoked fish stored up here, right?” Tok nodded. “That will probably do, they won't need too much. I'll send Amy to tap Hakee with a message to those at the South camp to stay put.”

“Sounds good. Say, do white men scare when brown men jump out of trees at them?” He had a wicked smile on his face.

I laughed, shook my head, “yes. Hell, Tok, you scare me sometimes, but mostly because I can see your cock ten seconds before the rest of you.”

He broke into a big grin, “ok, for you, I'll not scare him. I'll wait here and start a fire if...” he reached into the bag he had slung over his shoulder, fished out the lighter I'd given him before he left the South camp. “Yes, still here.”

Tok walked to the North and was lost from my view as I wound through the trees to the game trail and ascended rapidly. Amy and Gale were waiting for me. I filled them in, Amy rushing off towards the trail to the South, Gale and I going back to the North camp. We grabbed as many water jugs as we could carry and packages of smoked fish and tea, stuffed the food into a large satchel along with cups and a half-empty bottle of island wine.

I gave Gale a small smile as we finished gathering supplies. “Sorry your honeymoon got interrupted.”

“Oh, we're fine so long as the newcomers aren't here to rob us, or worse. We've had a tremendous time, just lovely. Think we're ready to return, so the timing is fine. But it was a wonderful few days.”

“Great. Ready?” I asked. Gale nodded, and we made our way down the North ridge trail and onto the beach. Tok had a small fire going. Jamal's family had come onto shore, stood shivering over the hot fire. He introduced a black-haired, olive-skinned woman as his wife Ariel, their eight-year old daughter Maureen, and their four-year old son, Tavis.

All three looked strung out, tired, weary and rather weak. They tore into the fish we offered as if they hadn't eaten in days. They drank a gallon of water between them, and I asked Ariel how long they had gone without eating.

“We didn't have--” she started before a look from Jamal cut her off.

He broke in. “Not too long, not too long. You know how scary moments can make it seem longer.” The children stared at the fire, shivering just a bit less as they continued to eat.

I'd stuck a chocolate bar into the bag before I left the North cabin, offered it to the kids. They took it without word or thanks, consumed it very quickly.

I set aside my concerns that the man wasn't being honest with me. “Tok can get your boat in closer. Let's get that going once you're ready.”

Jamal was on his feet, eager to do so. Tok went with him to the water and made the long swim out to the boat.

Ariel and the kids sat silently. Amy tried to get them talking. “How'd you get away from Kiribati?”

The woman's hesitation dragged for a few seconds before she said, “in the night. They keep watch on the anchorage in the bay, it wasn't easy getting away...”

I asked, “and Jamal's father's boat... had they taken it from you?”

“His father? Oh... uh, yes... they had...”

She was lying, though I couldn't put my finger on just what she wasn't telling us. I gave Amy a look which said to keep them talking and headed out to the shore to watch as the boat slowly moved closer, carefully running between the shoals which dotted the shallow waters.

A short time later, the large cruiser was anchored. I saw Tok moving toward the back, and soon a second anchor was thrown there. I knew it would keep the boat from shifting and potentially floating over unseen obstructions as the tides changed and the winds did as well.

Tok swam in, followed by Jamal. Amy was talking with Ariel as their father rejoined the fire, and I pulled Tok aside. The dark-skinned man said quietly, “something's odd here. He got very nervous when I went near the hatch, always kept himself between me and it. Something's odd...”

I nodded, told him I had the same feeling. “We'll try to see them off quickly, don't need whatever they're up to affecting us here.” I had a thought. “Don't boats like this usually have a dingy or some other way to get to shore?”

Tok shrugged, “haven't seen any like this, but I can't imagine it wouldn't normally. I didn't see any on the deck, though.”

“Hmm...”

- - -

We'd just finished filling their on-board water tanks from jugs filled in the stream when the wind blew in over the ridge. Gale eyed the dark clouds at midday. “We're gonna get hit again, soon. Sure you want to head out in that?”

Jamal was adamant. “We need to leave, yes. Uh... yes, can't wait.”

“You could wait out the storm here. We have a cabin big enough, no reason to risk your family... let this blow over.”

“No! Uh... no...” Jamal's eyes darted back to the boat.

Ariel sat quietly, not looking at anyone. Whatever was going on, it made her very uncomfortable.

Lightning flashed and a crack of a strike pounded from the North ridge, followed by another. Rain rushed over us as we hastily retreated into the woods. Gale offered again, “please, come up and stay until this blows over. It's dangerous to be out there right now.” The waves had become angry, sprays of foams taking flight from rushing whitecaps. The double anchors of the boat strained as the vessel tried to shift and turn.

Jamal said firmly, “we must leave, we have to--”

Ariel cut him off. “Jamal, see reason! We almost died out there. One day won't kill us. Please, for them.” She swept her hand to where the children squatted silently nearby. “Please!”

Jamal looked angry, his tanned cheeks turning red, his nose puffing as he debated his response. After a moment, he let out a long breath, said, “fine. Fine. We'll wait it out, but as soon as it breaks, we leave. Yes?”

Ariel nodded, didn't meet his eyes.

I shared a look with Gale that said she, too, had concerns.

We led them up the game trail and away from the beach, soon had them inside the cabin, Ariel and the children eating the vegetable and smoked fish stew Gale had started earlier in the day. They talked little, and Jamal waved off questions about Kiribati and Great Society, claiming he had a pounding headache. He refused an offer of a painkiller, instead chose to curl up and pretended to sleep.

- - -

By mid-afternoon, it was clear they were staying the night. The storm raged, pounding the roof with rain. I'd sent Hakee back to stay at the main camp. I felt safe enough with the newcomers to keep my gun over my back, but I never left it where one of them might take it. I didn't trust Jamal, didn't know what secrets he might be hiding. I certainly wasn't going to give him an opportunity to take my weapon.

A short lull in the storm offered me a chance to excuse myself to relieve my bladder, and Amy followed me out. I pissed as she squatted. I said very quietly, “I don't like this. Something important is being left unsaid. I don't know what they are up to, but the longer they are here, the more I feel the urge to know.”

My stream trickled. “Tonight when they're asleep, I'm going to slip out and get onto that boat, have a look around. Maybe I'll find some answers there.”

“I'll go.”

“What?”

“I'll go,” Amy repeated. “They'll notice you gone, but I've been running messages to Hakee most of the day, they'll not notice if I'm not there as easily as they will you.”

I started to tell her 'no' then caught myself. Her logic was sound, and she was more than capable of the stealth needed to investigate. “Ok. But be quick. I don't know what you're looking for. Check the hatch, check the cabin, check steerage. Look for anything which might be... I don't know. If I'm right about them, there is bound to be something obvious.”

Amy nodded. “Ok.” She wiped herself with a cloth and pulled back up her travel pants. “I'll go give a cover story now, tell them I need to go gather some supplies to the South. Haven't told them about the others, right?”

“Right.” It had been safer not to mention the people staying in the main camp. “Be careful. Keep looking up to the ridge. If there's anyone heading your way, I'll get something lit.”

“In the rain?”

“I'll improvise. Just keep an eye up here. I love you, Amy. Be safe!” I kissed her before we headed back in. Amy gave her statement about checking on supplies, said she might be a while, then headed out. If Jamal or the others cared, they didn't show it.

- - -

I paced nervously outside the cabin. Despite the downpour, I couldn't handle being inside where Jamal and Ariel were sleeping with their children nearby, Gale and Tok curled up together against the other wall.

I hunched as I walked out to a better vantage point on the ridge. No lights were shining from the boat. Jamal had cut them off when they'd anchored, and in the dark rain I could see nothing in the water. I squatted down near the trail head and waited for Amy.

- - -

I was startled awake in the darkness by the sound of light feet on slick rock. I had dozed against a tree. My clothes were soaked, and my skin chilled as I got to my feet, listening. A moment later, Amy climbed the last step. She saw me, and we huddled together as she told me what she'd found.

“You're not going to believe this, Kal.” Amy pulled out a plastic package containing pages of paper stapled together. “There were several of them, so I took one. It's an instruction manual, for these...” She pulled a small jar out of her pocket, a small bottle with a stopper made to stick a needle through.

“What kind of medicine?”

“Vaccines. They've got thousands of them, stored in these huge coolers, still really cold. The booklet says they are for the Mauriana virus. Never heard of that one.”

“Mauriana virus... me either...”

“But the symptoms it mentions... Kal... They match what we know about the hawk-bugs, what happens to people who get stung.”

“Jesus...”

“There's more. I'm pretty sure Jamal's father never owned the boat. There's a log in the cabin that shows that it was built three years ago by a woman named Iris Worth and put into service in Tasmania a month later. There's a tremendous record of maintenance and trips taken. They've been running this boat all over the South Pacific the last six months. I think Jamal stole it, Kal.”

“And I suspect they know what else they took. Vaccines... what are they up to?”

Amy shrugged. “Maybe they're good guys, taking from GS and giving to Progress.”

“Maybe. Hard to get a read on Jamal. Given what we know, it's understandable that he's nervous and wants to get to Progress as soon as possible. GS will be looking for this boat and the medicine he carries.”

“So what do we do?”

“Tonight, nothing. Tomorrow... I'm not sure. I don't really want him to know you were on the boat. I'll see if I can get him to tell me on his own what he's up to.”

“What should I do with these?” she said, holding the package and the bottle under her shirt.

“Stash them in with the tools in the cubby behind the cabin, then let's get inside and get some sleep.” I hugged her, said, “great job, Amy. You never fail to impress me.”

- - -

I woke well before dawn, the island quiet after the storm had blown through violently overnight. My sleep had been light, not restful, I'd woken often to hear lightning crackle and thunder boom overhead.

I stretched and saw that Jamal was tossing as well. I stood, motioned him to follow me. The man stood slowly, then stepped with me out the door. I turned to him, said, “looks like you can be moving on once there's light.”

I could see how eager he was to do just that. “Yeah. Yeah, that's good. That's good.”

I couldn't come up with any slick way to get him to talk, so I opted for a more direct strategy. “Listen... Jamal... There are things that don't add up here. I know something is going on besides what you told me. Whatever it is, we want nothing to do with it, ok? Whatever is going on worries me far less than the people who I suspect are looking for that boat.”

He became agitated, defensive. “What? What are you talking about? I told you we had to sneak out with my father's boat. They'll never find me.”

“They'll come looking for it no matter who owned it before GS. You said yourself that boats are worth more than gold, and that one must have a helluva range... at speed. It's gonna be missed, and I'm concerned that you've led them right to my front door.”

He started to say something, cut himself off, looked back towards the cabin.

I cut in, tried to sound softer. “Look... you've got family to protect, I do too. Whatever you're involved in, I get that they matter most. Tell me what's going on. The more I know, the better I can protect my family as well. Please.”

He broke, shoulders slumping. “Fine... we stole the boat. We... we found out about something... something that we might be able to sell to Progress. GS developed this vaccine, see? For the bugs, the virus they carry. They'd been working on it for years. Rumor was they'd not meant to release the bugs and the virus until the vaccine was ready, but someone started the fireworks early, and they had a lot of their own people killed without warning.”

He took a breath. “So these vaccines... I found about them while we were living in Kiribati. Talk about worth their weight in gold... I was... hoping Progress would buy them all, give me the means to keep my family safe somewhere far away from all this.”

“These vaccines... they work?”

Jamal hesitated. “In theory... I... I don't know how much testing they've done. This batch took them weeks to make in Kiribati. I don't know the details, but whatever they use to make them isn't easy to come by. This is the whole lot as far as I know, at least for some weeks.”

“And you found out about this... how?”

“Damned lucky break. I was delivering some supplies up on the main base, happened to see a manifest which mentioned the 'Mauriana virus' by name. I knew that was the one supposedly carried by the bugs. I found out where they were storing them. My wife helped me get them a few nights ago. We loaded them on a couple of tough rafts and floated them out to the boat you saw.”

“And you stole it.”

“I know a thing or two about wiring, was an electrical engineer by trade. Didn't take much to fire up the boat and get out of there. Thankfully they'd left the tanks full. We'd have not gotten far otherwise. Kiribati is a very long way from everywhere.”

I thought about his story a moment. “And so... rather than giving the vaccines to Progress, you plan to sell them...”

He looked me in the eye, possibly for the first time since his arrival. “Look at me, Kal. I've got a wife, two little kids. What would you do if you possessed the most valuable thing on Earth right now? Would you give it away or would you make sure your family would be taken care of the rest of their lives? What would you do?”

I kept his eye. “I would realize that wealth means nothing right now, that money and gold are nearly worthless. Papeete and all of Tahiti are barter economies, more like communes than free markets. The same is true in Australia, New Zealand. No one's going to buy anything from you. If they see the value, Progress will take it and you'll have given them reason to be suspicious of you, wondering what you'll steal from them. If it was me, I'd show up in Tahiti flying a Progress flag and doing my best to see that the vaccines got to those who need them, without expecting a reward. That's what I'd do.”

He stared at me a moment, shook his head. “You might be right about one thing. They probably will just take it from me. All this risk, all this effort, and I'll have nothing.”

“You'll have your family, safe and as comfortable as they can be in this fucked up world. That's everything, Jamal. Everything. Can't you take solace in that? I've been to Papeete, fairly recently. It's no utopia, but there's food, water, electricity. People work, they play, and they go about their lives as best they can. Sometimes they fight, sometimes they die, but ultimately, the dream you have, the one where you and your family put walls around some mansion and disappear from the world is nothing but a fantasy.”

Jamal held my eyes a moment, looked away with sadness. “Well... whatever happens... I should be going. You're right. GS will be looking for us. I don't want to stay here any longer than I need to. I've already put you at risk coming here. Thanks for your kindness. And your honesty.”

- - -

I stood with Jamal on shore as Ariel and their children stood on the boat's deck. The sky was clearing, sun rising to warm us from the East beyond the ridge. “Thanks again, Kal. I think we'll head straight to Papeete. Thanks for the map. Please tell Amy it will help us make it there. If you're ever in Tahiti... maybe we'll be there. As you say, it sounds like a paradise compared to being out here, living without electricity.” He looked at me. “You never said why you and the others were here. I suspect that story is too long to tell.”

I nodded, “longer than you know. But, this is my paradise. I hope you find yours in Papeete. I hope you do some good, for your family and everyone else. Please, I ask one thing of you. Make no mention of us here. We're trying very hard to simply be left alone.”

“I promise to not mention this place. Take care, Kal.”

Amy stood by my side, Tok and Gale nearby, as Jamal swam out the short distance and climbed up the ladder. Moments later, the triple engines fired up and the anchors were retracted, the boat slowly backing out into the calmer waters, turning East and heading down the island before a turn to the South pointed them towards Tahiti.

They'd left us a small cooler with enough vaccines for everyone. I hadn't told him about the others staying in the main camp, but he seemed to know more than he let on, leaving enough for twenty people.

I hadn't decided whether we would use them. The cool packs would only keep them viable another few days. The lack of testing concerned me, and I had no idea whether a poorly-made vaccine might make us all very ill, or worse. That was a conversation for Manu and Kate once we were back on the South beach.

Tok put his hand on my shoulder as the boat disappeared beyond the ridge to the East. “We have to worry about the North now, yes?”

“Yes.”

He was quiet a moment. “Shall we establish a watch schedule? Two staying North at all times?”

“At least for a while, I think we have to. If GS sends men to find that boat, we can't afford to have them sneaking into the main camp through the trees. Your idea is sound, though I hate the idea of always having two away.”

“I think maybe you missed us this week,” he said, grinning. “Tok and Gale go away a few days and Kal misses us.”

I laughed, said, “more than you know, my friend, more than you know.”