Island Fire

by Toby Neal

Morning was lightening the rain-dark sky, but she could see the mare standing in a lean-to with a couple of the Apucans’ milk goats.

  “She’s fine. I better get back in the house.” But when Bea turned back, Beosith was gone. She could see why—Nick’s rumpled head looked out the door, blue eyes blinking sleepily at her.

  “What are you doing up?”

  “Just making sure Rainbow’s okay.” Bea crossed her arms over her chest self-consciously, chilly from the damp of rain. Nick came down the steps. He had on a pair of loose nylon gym shorts and a thin tank shirt he must have borrowed from Jaden. He scrubbed his hands across his face and ran them through his short, spiky blond hair.

  He was so different from anyone from the island. So much taller, with ivory skin over smooth, long muscles and those blue eyes. She wished she didn’t find him attractive. Nothing could come of it, she told herself firmly. He was on his way somewhere else, and he’d never fit in here in a million years. He was probably longing to be back in the big city—though what if the disaster had gone as far as the Mainland?

  There was no telling how the world had changed.

  “Rainbow’s probably enjoying being with the goats. I saw them last night.”

  Bea looked back out. Sure enough, several nanny goats were pressed up against the mare, making the most of her warm side as rain trickled off the roof of the lean-to. “Seems pretty cozy.”

  Nick had come to stand beside her in the doorway. She felt heat from his body.

  “Hope you were cozy, too, last night.” His voice was almost a whisper.

  Something was prickling into awareness between them. Bea wondered what the side of his neck smelled like, the curve just between his ear and shoulder. She had an impulse to find out and turned her head just a little. She breathed in the warmth of his hair, freshly washed last night in water heated on the stove. It smelled even better than she’d imagined, a little like watermelon shampoo with a warm note that could only be him.

  Nick turned, too. Their faces were almost touching. She could feel him looking at her, and she kept her eyes down, shy. That meant Bea was looking at Nick’s beautiful, defined mouth, his lips tucked in at the corners as if keeping secrets. His mouth seemed to tell her something about who he was, this mysterious stranger fallen from the sky.

  She suddenly thought of Jaden’s mouth. She’d been thinking about it a lot and wondering when they’d kiss. Jaden had full lips with a curl at the corners like he was on the verge of smiling. She knew him so well, and until today Jaden had been all she’d ever wanted.

  Now all Bea would have to do to kiss Nick was to tilt her head up just a little—she could feel him waiting to see if she would. Her heart pounded so loud she wondered if he could hear it. She eased away and headed for the door into the kitchen. “Do you want to go up to the Lodge to see if any of your friends ended up there?”

  “Definitely.”

  Nick followed Bea into the kitchen. They ate some mangoes and starfruit from a bowl on the table as the rest of the house woke up. Mrs. Apucan approved of their plan, filling a shopping bag with items they’d brought from the cave—beans, rice, and local sweet potatoes. “We can spare these to share with the people up there.”

  Jaden had joined them. “I want to see how the plane people are doing, too.”

  Glancing at him, Bea felt guilty she’d even thought about kissing Nick. She’d barely known the Mainland boy for a day, and Jaden had been her special friend for years! She felt her cheeks get hot. She pretended she’d dropped something and bent down to hide her face.

  “You kids going to the reef anytime soon? We could sure use some more fish,” Mrs. Apucan said, looking at the depleted food storage cupboard. The worried line was back between her brows.

  “Sure, we can do that,” Bea said, thinking of the fishing shack near the end of Shipwreck Beach. It might still be a viable idea for her and Sam to go camp there. “Thanks for sparing some things for the people up at the Lodge.”

  “Of course. We’re all in this together,” Mrs. Apucan said. Bea felt bad, remembering the negative things her dad used to say about the family. Her father had been jealous of Mr. Apucan’s success at his job when the Apucans were nothing but generous.

  Bea, Nick, and Jaden set off through town, carrying Mr. Apucan’s huge striped golf umbrella. The rain had decided to come down hard again, and the bags of food were heavy as they splashed through town. Bea felt something shiver through her again as her shoulders brushed the boys’ under the shared space, but she kept her eyes on the ground, avoiding debris and rubble, her rubber slippers quickly becoming slippery.

  Jaden had put on rubber boots and pointed to her now-muddy feet, black with ash and dirt. “Pretty.”

  “Brat.” She elbowed him. “You could have found me and Nick some boots.”

  “Jasmine took hers. She’d gone to the neighbors’ for something. And my dad was using his,” Jaden said. He sped up. Bea had to trot to keep them all under the circle of the streaming umbrella.

  They eventually made their way up the long, slanted drive to the remains of the Lodge. Bea frowned at the smell of the blackened banyan trees—a sharp stench like wet, burned hair. Jaden led them up under the large portico, and Bea shook the umbrella out, leaning it against the huge double doors, stuffing down the apprehension that tightened her chest.

  Nick scanned the people camped out in clusters all through the room. It was furnished in a classic “lodge” style, with antler chandeliers and rock fireplaces. The seating area’s couches had been made into beds. Groups had staked out areas defined by thick woven carpets, little islands on a sea of hardwood floor. The far side of the Lodge was a bank of paned windows; today the window looked out at pouring rain, a row of pots, buckets, and barrels catching the water streaming off the roof.

  “Nick!” Ashley had spotted him and ran across the room to hug him. He let her, feeling awkward, glancing at Bea and Jaden. “We thought something happened to you!”

  “It kind of did. But what about Kevin? Is he okay?”

  Ashley’s blond hair was straggling with damp, her jeans and T-shirt filthy. “He’s hanging in there. There’s a nurse from the town who’s been coming up and doing first aid for us here. We’re all so glad it’s raining.”

  “Us too,” Jaden said, from beside Nick. “Are you from the plane that went down on the reef?”

  “Yeah.” The girl cocked her head, pushed her hair out of her face, examining Jaden with curiosity.

  “I hid in a cave behind the house where we spent the night, and Bea and Jaden and her brother, Sam, were there. It’s their house,” Nick said.

  “Oh, we didn’t mean to break in,” Ashley said to Bea, biting her lip. “We just needed a place to sleep.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Bea said. “But we do want to get the gang guys out of the house as soon as we can. Did everyone make it up here to the Lodge?”

  “Everyone who could make it came here.” There was a note of finality in Ashley’s statement. “No one’s left alive on the beach, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  Bea’s mouth opened and closed, and her face paled. Jaden took her hand.

  “Bea and Sam saw your plane go down,” Jaden said. “It must have been terrible.”

  Nick felt a frown tighten his brows. This was the first time Jaden had showed any concern about the crash at all, and now he was holding Bea’s hand.

  “Come meet some people. I’m Ashley—but call me Ash,” the blond girl said.

  “Jaden. And this is Bea.”

  Ash led them around other groups. People turned to look at them curiously, but no one interfered as Ash led them to a large group against the wall.

  “Nick!” Zune spotted him and scrambled up. His dreads were even more matted than before. Nick endured more hugs and backslaps. He introduced Bea and Jaden around. It felt strange to have this many people glad to see him.

  Kevin was lying on a row of couch cushions on the floor. His shoulder was bandaged with what loo
ked like torn, bloodstained sheets. He was pale, with patches of red on his cheeks. Nick approached and squatted beside the blond surfer. “Damn, Kev.”

  “They didn’t even give me a chance. Just shot me right on the couch,” Kevin said. Bea had come close and knelt beside Nick. She pushed forward the canvas bag of food and handed it to Ash.

  “We had some food put by. This is for you. I’m sorry I never met you at the house.” Jaden and Nick added their food bags to Bea’s.

  “Wish you’d come home instead of the gang,” Ash said.

  “They’d have chased us off, too. In fact, that’s what they did.” Bea told how they’d been hiding in the cave all day until they were able to sneak away

  Nick looked up as a big, beefy, red-faced man elbowed his way through the group to join them. He wore a soiled lavender golf shirt, and he scooped up two of the food bags. Another large man took the last one. None of Nick’s fellow passengers said a word.

  “Hey!” Nick exclaimed.

  “We’re in charge of food distribution,” the man said. His eyes narrowed in recognition of Bea. He pointed at her. “You’re not welcome here. This girl is a looter.”

  Bea stood up. “Not true. Who put you in charge?”

  “Everyone living here at the Lodge.”

  Bea looked around at the group of airplane survivors, and none of them would meet her eye. She yelped as Golf Shirt grabbed her elbow, hauling her toward the door. Nick heard the man hiss in Bea’s ear, “Bring me that gun and that horse, or I’ll come take them from you.”

  Nick scrambled after them as Golf Shirt frog-marched Bea across the lobby. He grabbed at the man’s arm, but his companion, a burly black man, pushed Nick away so hard he staggered.

  “Hey!” Jaden yelled, but both boys were cast aside as the men dragged Bea, struggling, across the crowded lobby.

  “Let her go!” Nick yelled. “She didn’t do anything but bring you some food!”

  The two men ignored their protests, and suddenly all three of them were shoved out the front doors of the Lodge. The tall double doors slammed behind them. They heard the thunk of something slotting through the big brass handles at the back.

  Bea was shaking, Nick could see, but she hid it by looking around for the umbrella, which had disappeared—someone had taken it. Jaden put his hands on her shoulders and turned her toward him. “You okay? What did he say to you?”

  “He wants my gun and Rainbow,” she said. “He saw them when I was here looking for Dad.” She blinked to hide tears, rubbing her arm where the man had grabbed it. Jaden hugged her, and Nick felt a twinge, wishing he could be the one to comfort her.

  “That guy’s an asshole. He can’t take anything from you.” Jaden was flushed with anger under his tan, dark eyes flashing. “I’ll tell Chief Roberts about him.”

  “So much for me staying here.” Nick had donned his own clothes before they came to the Lodge in preparation. “I thought I’d stay up here with my friends from the plane, but that dude doesn’t seem to want any of us here.”

  Jaden frowned. “You’d be better off here. With your own people.”

  Bea pulled away and frowned at Jaden. “His people? Jerks like that guy who threw us out?”

  “I meant Mainlanders. Haoles. People like him. You know what I mean,” Jaden snapped, apparently surprised Bea didn’t agree with him. Nick knew exactly what the other boy meant. He didn’t belong with the Apucans, and he knew it—he was the wrong color, to start with.

  “No worries. I’ll find another way into the Lodge.” Nick adjusted his belt and felt the comforting heft of it. He might have lost his backpack at Bea’s house, but he still had his take, and money still had to have some value.

  “I never took you for such a redneck,” Bea said to Jaden. She turned to Nick. “I’m sorry my friend is prejudiced. He must have forgotten I’m half white, too.”

  “No! That’s not what I meant!” Jaden exclaimed. “I just meant—you know. Outsiders belong up here at the Lodge.”

  “Shut up,” Bea said. “You’re just digging yourself deeper. But that’s fine. It’s your house, and your family gets to say who stays there. Nick, you can find the fishing shack on Shipwreck Beach if you can’t get back in with your friends. Just follow the road to the end and you can’t miss it.” She looked stiff and angry, green eyes sparkling and mouth tight, hair that had escaped the braid curling around her face.

  “I appreciate that, but I’m sure I’ll be fine,” Nick said as confidently as he could.

  Bea stuck out a hand to shake his goodbye.

  “A little formal, don’t you think?” Nick drew her gently into his arms. He shut his eyes so as not to see Jaden’s furious expression and to fully experience how good she felt. The top of her head just brushed his lips, smelling like the watermelon shampoo they’d both used last night. Her arms enclosed him, and he felt her supple length against him for a precious moment.

  “Bye,” Nick whispered into her hair.

  Bea let go abruptly. She turned and set off at a fast walk into the rain, which had slowed to a patter. Jaden gave one last glare and trotted after her.

  Bea glanced at the blackened banyan stumps, all that remained of the magnificent trees that had shaded the Lodge, with a frown.

  “Those trees will grow back before you know it, my dad says.” Jaden followed her gaze. “Banyans are like weeds, super hard to kill. Dad and the crews were always having to deal with the keiki trees popping up all over the grounds.”

  Bea could tell he was trying to smooth her over. She just walked faster. There was no sense discussing the situation with Nick further; Jaden had those attitudes and, if Bea were honest, if she hadn’t liked Nick so much she’d have thought the same thing.

  “Your mom wanted us to go fishing. Let’s go down to Shipwreck Beach.” When she’d calmed down, Bea finally gave voice to her odd sense of urgency to get down there. The broken Hobie cat was never far from her thoughts.

  “We can check it out. But I don’t think you and Sam should be down there by yourself.”

  Bea folded her lips tight. He’d just try to argue if she said she wanted to stay there. She didn’t like how jealous he was acting with Nick. Not that she liked Nick or anything. She just felt bad for him. She glanced back at the Lodge. Shrouded by rain, barricaded shut and surrounded by burned trees, it looked like something out of the zombie apocalypse—and she realized they’d had the apocalypse, all right. Next came the zombies.

  Sam didn’t want to go down to the beach. His lower lip went out as he scowled at his sister. “It’s raining.”

  “So what. You won’t melt.”

  “Why do I need to come? You and Jaden catch all the fish, anyway.”

  “I want you to come, because…” Words failed Bea as they entered the house. She didn’t want to tip her hand that she wasn’t planning to come back. Mrs. Apucan was peeling taro at the sink. Sam’s new friend Jeremy came to stand beside him, lending backup.

  “I don’t want to go with you,” Sam repeated.

  “I thought you wanted to go fishing with us.”

  “Well, I changed my mind.”

  Bea saw Sam was limping worse than usual as he got up from the table to head down the hall. His leg must be hurting from yesterday’s escape from the cave. Jaden’s ankle was much better, but then, he was still wearing an Ace bandage.

  “Oh, let him stay,” Mrs. Apucan said, from the sink. “He can help Jeremy weed the garden.”

  Jeremy gave a theatrical moan. “It’s raining, Mama!”

  “Well, when it stops. You boys should be doing chores since we don’t have school.”

  “Okay, then. We’ll do our best to get something for dinner.” Bea let the screen door bang behind her as she went to the backyard to fetch Rainbow. Jaden followed.

  Bea didn’t say a word all the way down the path to Shipwreck, which was mercifully empty of people. Jaden, riding double behind her, got the hint and kept quiet, too.

  She kept thinking of their family o
n Molokai as the horse moved down the trail toward the beach, and she gazed at the bigger island just nine wind-whipped ocean miles away. Her uncle Buzz had always made her feel so safe, and safe was something she longed for. She’d grabbed the .22 and slung it across her back with a carry strap, and having it close made her feel a little better.

  At the beach, Bea took her pry tool, opihi bag, and spear out of their hiding place under the log. She sat down and pulled her reef tabis on, heading straight out onto the windswept reef, rough with afternoon surf and not the ideal time for fishing.

  Her nerves were still rattled from the encounter with Golf Shirt in the Lodge, and she was too distracted to be able to spot fish at first, but eventually became absorbed in the hunt as it cast its spell over her. She moved over the reef and scanned the deep tide pools, and her roiling emotions calmed, the activity focusing her mind. She speared a fat silver nenue, scooped it flapping into the air, and turned to where she’d left Jaden. He was way off down the reef, standing perfectly still in knee-deep waves.

  The throw net, a ten-foot circle of hand-woven fishing line netting trimmed in flat bar weights, was draped carefully off Jaden’s shoulder, hip, and right hand. Hung with precision, it was ready to fly open and drop in a circle over a school of fish when he threw it. She noticed the alert line of his gaze into the receding waves as he waited for just the right moment.

  Bea brought the nenue in and shook it off the spear’s tines into the bag to join a couple of round purplish sea urchins she’d added—they made a good soup if properly prepared. She glanced back, just in time to see Jaden throw the net with a powerful gesture perfected by hundreds of hours of practice. As it was meant to, the net spiraled out into its full diameter, reminding her for a second of a ballet dancer’s skirt. It dropped into the waves, disappearing, and Jaden leaped in after it, catching hold of a colored cord attached to the center and hauling it back in. The net came alive with flapping manini, a green striped tang that was delicious pan-fried with butter and garlic. Her mouth watered at the thought.

  Bea followed Jaden in as he carried the laden net to the beach. They both knelt in the sand to harvest the fish and had collected a good-sized pile when they’d untangled them all. Jaden whipped out his knife and began cleaning them. Bea got to work with the ease of practice on her fish, some of them still flapping. She inserted the point of the knife between the pelvic fins beneath the gills, holding the fish flat against a rock as she cut, facing away from herself, to the vent near the tail. Using a finger, she hooked out the guts and tossed them into a tide pool.