The rock started to curve to a more flat surface, just a few inches above Jonathan’s face. If he could just get one more foothold, he could probably get his arm on top of it and use it to bring himself the rest of the way up. He felt around with his foot, looking for another bump on the rock.
Just then the stick slid down. Sarah’s hands were sweaty; she was losing her grip on the bamboo.
“Holy shit, Jonathan, the stick is slipping!” she screamed. “Grab my hand!”
“Do not let go of the stick, Sarah! You can’t hold me with one hand!”
“I can’t hang onto the stick anymore, you have to grab my hand. On three. You pull on the stick as hard as you can for leverage and then let go; then I let go and grab your hand at the same time.”
“It’s never going to work, Sarah! It’s physically impossible!”
“DON’T GIVE ME ANY OF YOUR PHYSICS SHIT! IT’S GOING TO WORK! Now grab my right hand with your left hand on the count of three. One---two---three!!”
In that split second, when Jonathan pulled up on the stick and let go of it, using whatever grip he had on the rock to launch his hand up in the air, he knew that he had never been so vulnerable, never counted on another human being like he was in this moment, ever in his life. God help him, Sarah Peterson was going to determine his destiny.
He felt her hand in his before he saw it. The smack of their palms meeting jolted his fingers into action. He closed them around hers in a kung fu grip. Even if he had wanted to let go, it would have been impossible. He was on survival autopilot.
Sarah dropped the pole and leaned over as far as she could. She was folded completely in half. She stretched her open hand out towards the still prone and dangling Jonathan.
She grunted out, “Now grab my other hand. Hurry!”
Jonathan flailed around for a second before they could make contact. Then they were together, hand in hand – Jonathan hanging over the edge, Sarah bent in half, her bruised and bleeding heels stuck into grooves that kept her tethered to the top of the rock.
Jonathan dug his elbows into the unforgiving hard surface, instantly feeling excruciating pain. Blood begin to drip from his elbows now too. He had to ignore it. His feet kicked around in the air, looking for purchase.
***
Sarah strained her already nearly exhausted biceps, trying to manhandle Jonathan back up to the top of the rock.
Inch by painstaking inch, Sarah’s power and Jonathan’s elbows and abdominal muscles pulled him closer and closer to their joined hands. Finally, he was able to throw one leg up, allowing the heel of his sneaker to grab hold of a bump on the top part of the rock. He used this leg to pull the rest of his body over.
Now that his full weight wasn’t resting on her heels, Sarah was able to use her upper body strength to pull on him. She pulled one more time using all the strength she had left, at the same time Jonathan rose up on his knees, apparently intending to release her hands and crawl the rest of the way up.
His body flew forward and landed on top of Sarah. They both fell over, Sarah’s back against the rock and Jonathan lying prone on top of her. Both of them were too stunned and in pain to move.
Sarah laid her head back against the rock, first feeling the burning numbness and then the pain that was shooting up from her heels. Next, she felt sweat dripping down her face and neck. Then she noticed her heartbeat and Jonathan’s heartbeat mingling together to create a frantic melody. Last, she smelled Jonathan’s B.O. as it quickly threatened to overwhelm her completely.
“Holy crap, Jonathan, you smell. Get off me.”
Jonathan didn’t move. His face was buried in her chest. His words came out muffled. “I’m sorry, but I can’t move. Every ounce of energy I had is now gone. Wake me up in five minutes.” Then he began to snore.
Sarah sat still for a second trying to figure out if he was really sleeping. “Jonathan? Are you seriously sleeping in my boobs?” she asked tentatively.
Then she felt his body shaking with laughter.
“Get off me, you idiot!” She pushed him to the side. He rolled over to lie next to her.
“Ah, that was awesome. I got you.”
Sarah feigned brushing off his smell from her body. “Whatever. I knew you weren’t sleeping.” She sat up and tried to stand, immediately stopping and reaching for her feet. “Oh shit, that hurts. Holy crap, I think my feet are broken.”
Jonathan sat up, quickly, all signs of mirth disappearing as his concern for her pain came to the fore. “Let me see them.”
“No, get away, Stinky McSmellypits.” She slapped at his hands.
“Seriously, Sarah, let me take a look. I’ll sit downwind from you.”
Sarah relented out of sheer desperation, she was in so much pain, letting him pick up her legs by the calves so he could look at her heels. His sharp intake of breath told her that it wasn’t good.
“Well, they’re pretty banged up. Cut and bruised too.” He didn’t let go of her leg – he set it down gently in his lap.
“Sarah.”
“What.” She was refusing to look at him.
“Sarah, look at me.”
“Fine. What.”
“Thank you. Thank you for destroying your heels to save my life. I’ll never forget it.”
“Whatever. You’re welcome.”
“Ever.”
“Ever, what?”
“Never ever.”
“Never ever, what?” Sarah was getting frustrated. He looked so earnest.
“I will never, ever forget, or let you forget, that you saved my life.” Jonathan flashed her a huge grin.
Sarah smiled back, despite herself. “Don’t make me come over there.”
“Give it your best shot.” He issued the challenge, and it hung in the air between them.
She gave him her best cocky girl smile. “Maybe another time, when I’m not on the injured list.”
“Whenever. Wherever.”
Sarah laughed; she couldn’t help it. “Since when did you get so big and bad anyway?”
“Since I nearly lost my ass over that rock, that’s when.”
Sarah grimaced as she tried to stand again. “You just said ‘ass’. I’m telling.”
“Don’t you dare, or I won’t help you walk back to the waterfall where you can have a shower.”
“Oh, so now you play dirty, too. Okay, fine, I’ll remember that. By the way, did you notice the breeze up here? It’s amazing.”
Jonathan stood, reaching his hand down to help Sarah up.
“Yep, it’s awesome. And no bugs at all. Must be the breeze keeping them away.”
“No bugs, holy crap. I wanna live on this rock.”
“Well, first we have to get you off this rock and back into those flip-flops.”
The two of them working together eventually located her shoes, which made walking around a bit easier, but not much.
Sarah stood under the trickle of water and shivered in delight at the feeling it gave her, working its way through her tangled, salty hair.
“Did you figure out where the water is coming from?”
“Nope. I couldn’t see anything; of course, my exploration was cut short by my, well, you know, little mishap. It could be some sort of artesian well, but I thought those things had to be dug by someone. I guess it makes sense that there’s fresh water under this island. I mean, how would anyone have ever settled in these places in the first place without fresh water?”
“Yeah, well, I hope it’s a permanent thing and not just a rainwater thing.”
“Me too, but I’m glad you said that. Just in case, we need to have other ways to collect water so we don’t run out completely during the dry season, whenever that is.”
Sarah nodded her head in agreement, but was too preoccupied to actually respond. She was looking at something just past the stand of bamboo next to the water. She finished her mini shower and walked over to check it out.
“Get a load of this tree, Jonathan. Is it a tree? What is this thing?”
She was pointing at what looked like a large, gray elephant leg. It was a big, above-ground root that was connected to several others just like it, all part of a very large tree that had thousands of small, dark green leaves on it. The whole trunk was as big around as a car, but the roots spread out even farther than that. It was almost prehistoric looking.
“Pretty cool, huh?” Jonathan ran his hands over the smooth, gray bark. His eyes followed the path of the root. “Look how the root is part of this huge network that’s all above the ground. It makes all kinds of small caves and tunnels under the tree.”
“That is cool,” agreed Sarah.
“And the branches above the root system are pretty substantial too. Wow.”
“Yeah, and look! Some of them actually have roots coming down from branches, which have dug themselves into the ground below. I’ve never seen a tree this big before in person – only in photographs.”
“Man, I would have killed to have a tree like this in my back yard when I was a kid. I mean, what kind of killer treehouse could you make in one of these babies?” said Jonathan, as if he were daydreaming.
“Hey, Jonathan, that’s a great idea!”
“What’s a great idea?”
“Building a treehouse here. Could we do it? In this tree, I mean?”
Jonathan thought about it for a second. He studied the roots and the branches above. “I don’t know for sure, but maybe. I mean, we have all kinds of bamboo here, which is a pretty good building material, really. I know they make floors and tiki huts with it. This root system seems pretty solid. The branches up there are in pretty good positions to support floor joists ... ” he trailed off thinking of the possibilities.
“Okay, well, I don’t know what a floor joist is, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Let’s go back and tell Kevin and Candi what we found.”
She moved to take a couple of steps. “Ooh, ah, shit. My heels are killing me.”
“Here, lean on me.” Jonathan came up next to her and offered his shoulder. “Sorry I stink.”
“Don’t worry about it, I need the crutch more than I care about your pits.”
They worked together, slowly making their way back to the beach where Kevin and Candi were waiting, eager to share their discoveries with their siblings.
***
“Oh, you’re awake. How do you feel?” Candi set down the bits of wood she had been gathering for a fire and reached over to feel Kevin’s forehead. “You’re not as warm as you were.”
“I feel weak, but better, actually.”
“Let me see your hand.”
Kevin held up his bandaged hand for Candi’s inspection.
“It looks better. I think this sickness that you’ve had has been some sort of ... ”
Kevin put his hand on his stomach and moaned, “Oh god, don’t say it, please!”
“ ... sort of bad tummy thing, that I’m sure will be gone soon,” Candi finished with a smile.
Kevin rested the back of his hand on his forehead. “Bad tummy thing. That’s good, I hope you’re right.”
After a minute, Kevin sat up slowly, taking his time in case he felt dizzy or queasy again. “Where is everybody?”
“Well, Jonathan and Sarah left a couple hours ago to see if they could find some water or more food. I expected them back already, but I’m not worried. Not yet anyway.”
“Probably the only thing we need to worry about is them killing each other. No biggie.”
Candi laughed.
“So, what have I missed?”
“Oh, not much. We were kind of waiting for you to wake up before we decided to do anything. We have some decisions to make.”
“Yeah,” Kevin said, noncommittally. He was watching her as she got up and walked around their campsite, organizing and preparing for their next big meal of bananas and water.
She stopped when she realized he was watching her. “What? Do you want some water or something?”
“Nope.”
“Okaaay.” Candi continued organizing the wood she had gathered in the fire pit they had made with rocks and shells. “Tonight I want to try and light a fire. I’m hoping the smoke might keep the bugs away. They were a serious pain in the butt last night.” She looked up and caught him staring at her again. “What? Why do you keep staring at me? Do I have something on my face?” Candi self-consciously wiped at her nose and mouth.
“No, there’s nothing on your face. Does it bother you that I’m looking at you?”
She shrugged. “A little bit.”
“Why?” Kevin was curious and also still pretty dizzy, so he wasn’t sure where he was going with this.
“I don’t know, it just makes me feel self-conscious I guess.”
“You have no reason to be self-conscious.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Seriously. Why would you think you do?” He seemed genuinely puzzled.
“Um, well, first of all, I look like a sand fairy, as you said earlier. I have no makeup on. I don’t even have any shoes on right now, since they’re making my feet sweat and smell bad.”
Kevin smiled. She was shy. Something in him liked to tease her about it. He liked getting her riled up, even when he was feeling like crap. In fact, now that he thought about it for a second, it was kind of making him feel better to spar with her.
“I like sand fairies.”
Candi snorted but said nothing.
“What? I do, I think they’re cool. And cute.” He was purposely egging her on now.
“Shut up.”
“No.” Let’s see how far I can push her today.
“Yes,” Candi said firmly, seeming surprised herself a little at her serious tone.
“Why?” Kevin answered her with a challenge in his voice. Now things were cookin’. This was just what he needed. He missed rugby. On the pitch he could issue challenges and then follow them up with some good, bone crunching tackles. He’d just have to settle for a little harmless flirting here on the island.
“Because, that’s why.” She was getting cross now.
“‘Because’ is not an answer. Tell me why I can’t like sand fairies.”
“Stop being stupid.”
“Okay, now them’s fightin’ words, girl. Come on over here and say that.” He was trying to decide if he’d be able to stand without falling over. He braced his arms behind him, getting ready to stand up.
“Get your big, lazy butt off the sand for a change and come on over here.” She never expected him to take her up on her challenge or have the energy to do it, but suddenly he was up and standing over her. She looked up at him to see him grinning mischievously.
“Hello, little sand fairy. The island troll has come to collect his toll.”
She squeaked and jumped to the side, scrambling through the sand to get away from him. He heard her giggle as he let out a roar behind her.
“No! Get away from me!” she yelled, racing down the beach.
Kevin tried to keep up, but he was too weak from his stomach issues to make it very far. He felt his stomach lurch and his vision went gray around the edges. He fell into the wet sand and tried to catch his weak and shallow breath.
He could hear her coming back. “Oh, beautiful sand fairy, why do you try to escape my clutches? I just wanted a little kiss on the cheeeeeek.” He could see okay now, but his head was spinning, spinning, spinning ...
“You’re delirious. This is what you get for being dehydrated and sick, running around like a maniac. Come on.” She reached down to help him up. “I’ll help you back to the shelter. You need to eat something and drink more water before you pass out again.”
Kevin accepted her help, but refused to be put off. He felt like he’d drank a few too many beers. It’s probably what made him keep talking and saying things he was normally too cool or wise to say out loud. “I really do think you’re cute, you know; why is that so hard to believe?”
“Because you, Kevin Peterson, don’t date cute sand fairyish girls. You date supermodels.”
>
“Pfffft!” was his inelegant response. “Supermodel, poopermodel. They’re all the same, no fairies, no magic.”
“Man, what is it with you and the fairies today, anyway?” Candi shook her head. “You don’t seem to be the fae fan type.”
“I don’t know. When I was younger, I used to read that kind of fiction stuff. Lots of dragons, elves, fairies. It reminds me of this island, like a secret world.” He held his finger up to his lips conspiratorially. “Shhhh, don’t tell anyone.”
“Ah-haaa. So the big, bad rugby stud is a fantasy nut. Don’t worry – your secret is safe with me. Don’t you know that fantasy is cool now?”
He got a slow, drunken grin on his face. “You just said I’m a stud.”
“I also said that fantasy is cool now.”
“Yeah, but I was reading that stuff way before it was cool. I wouldn’t want to damage my rep as a stud and all.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.
Candi unceremoniously deposited him in the sand near the fire pit and started organizing the wood again. “Yeah, your rep. So valuable here on this middle-of-nowhere, shit island.”
Kevin acted shocked at her profanity. “Naughty, naughty, using those bad words. What would your parents say?”
“Screw ‘em.” Candi was too cranky right now with Kevin’s empty flirtations to think about what she was saying.
“Ha!” he agreed. “That’s what I say. Screw ‘em all.”
He stopped talking for a second to take another appraising look. “I don’t know why you think it’s so crazy that I’d be checking you out. I’ve noticed you in school before, you know.”
“No you didn’t, don’t lie.”
“Seriously, I’m not. You have this purple fuzzy sweater thing you wear sometimes ... ” His eyes went off into the distance as if recalling a particularly fond memory.
“Oh my god, shut up.”
“But now that I think about it, I think I like you more in what you’re wearing now.”
Candi looked down at herself. Her long, green shirt hung off of her like a rag. Her once white capris were covered in smudges and who knows what else.
“Now I know you’re delirious.”