Gray took the binoculars and saw that Lex, Melanie, Paolo and Keegan had just reached the saddle. “Shinobu, give them a flash with the mirror.”
The four were almost across the saddle and about to start down the other side but suddenly glanced toward the peak. They all raised their arms and waved in Gray and Shinobu’s direction. After a moment they made a final wave and went down the trail. Gray slapped the old man on the back and said he had done well.
Gray said, “Okay, Anna, Dayah or I will be back up here to relieve you in a couple of hours.” He started down to the shelter but before he was to the tree line, Shinobu hollered.
Gray looked up and the old man was urgently motioning him to return. Gray scrambled back up the rocks to the peak and looked where Shinobu was pointing. To the southeast, on a horizon hazy from distance, lay a dark speck. Almost a straight line could be drawn from the peak to the hut to the speck.
Through the binoculars the speck became a ship, its bow or stern to the island, the distance too great to tell which. Since the ship had not been there fifteen or twenty minutes ago, Gray was sure it was bow on and coming toward the island. They waited fifteen minutes and using the binoculars could clearly see it was bow on. Gray guessed it was about ten to twelve miles from the island. If the ship moved at ten knots it could reach the island in about an hour. He waited ten more minutes and the heading had not changed. The ship was painted dark, not the usual light blue or grey of a naval ship. It might be a cargo ship or even a rescue ship but his money was on it being the owners of the hut returning. Whatever the ship was, there was no need to signal it with the mines. There was little doubt it was heading to the island. Gray wondered if any of the four on the other side had seen it yet. They had probably reached the hut twenty minutes ago.
“I’m going to alert those on the other side,” Gray said to Shinobu. “If the ship looks okay and it starts to pass by the island, signal it. Stay low so you do not make a silhouette. If is stops do not signal it.”
Gray started down the rocks toward the shelter. He wanted to let Anna know about the ship and he also believed he could make better time down the beach and over the trail to the other side than cutting through the dense jungle to the saddle.
If the owners of the hut were pirates, Gray did not think there was a moment to waste. At the shelter he grabbed a bottle of water and told Anna and Dayah to run along beside him while he told them what he and Shinobu had seen. As they slogged down the beach Gray told them about the sighting and what he thought it might mean. When they reached the notch where the trail started, Anna said she was going with him. Wearing a fearful expression on her face, Dayah turned back for the shelter.
Gray planned to set a pace that he could maintain to the saddle and then speed up slightly going down the other side. Anna’s strides appeared effortless and for a bit he considered just having her run ahead but when they reached the top and he was breathing laboriously, she said she needed to walk a bit to catch her breath.
He did not argue but he thought Anna might have slowed just for him. They walked a ways down from the saddle and then Gray went into a jog. Anna kept up easily. When they reached the clearing the ship was visible occasionally through breaks in the foliage and was still two or three miles away. It was now turned slightly off bow and looked to be at least a 180 foot long trawler. Lex, Melanie, Paolo and Keegan were in the pool. They were surprised to see Anna and Gray jogging across the clearing.
“What?” Lex said, arms out stretched in mock bewilderment.
“I think the owners of the hut are returning!” Gray hollered.
All four waded to the edge of the pool. “A ship?” Melanie asked, her face brightening.
“Yes, a ship.” He pointed across the pool in the direction of the ship but it was obscured by the foliage. “Out this way, you can see it. But I don’t’ think we should be here when they return.”
Paolo stepped out of the water and moved to where he could see the ship. Melanie gazed at Gray with disgust on her face.
Lex said, “Dude, you don’t really think they’re pirates do you?”
“I am not one hundred percent sure. But it will do no harm to make ourselves scarce until we can check them out.”
“Seriously, Gray!” Melanie said.
“Have you seen any sign of women or children on this island?” Gray asked.
Melanie ignored his question. “They may have a ship to shore radio, or a sat phone. We could offer them a lot of money to help us.”
Paolo was scowling at Melanie. He glanced at Gray as if to be relieved of the deal he had made with him to not tell the others what he thought of them.
Gray ignored him and said to Melanie, “They likely do have a sat phone. Or radio, but we don’t have time to argue. It won’t hurt to check them out first, please.”
The three stepped out of the pool, toweled off and slipped on their shoes and clothes. Paolo came back and did the same.
Keegan’s pale skin was glowing, unused to so much direct sun. Lex, Paolo and Melanie were simply getting browner.
Gray wanted to get to the trail before the ship got within the range that someone aboard could see them scurrying across the clearing. “Just come up the trail with us a ways until they stop. I’ve told Shinobu to signal with the Claymores if the ship looks like it’s passing by the island.”
Gray turned and started off at a jog with Anna, Paolo and Keegan close behind. Lex and Melanie followed at a normal walking pace, arguing. Gray, Keegan, Paolo and Anna stopped at dense cover about 75 yards up the trail where they could see the bay and the dock through the foliage. The breeze was carrying the thrum of the ship’s engine.
Lex and Melanie came up the trail to where the four were waiting. Melanie’s face was contorted with anger. “If you make us miss this chance at rescue I swear to god I will destroy you.”
“I trust Shinobu to signal the ship if it looks like it’s going to pass. He has the mirror and the Claymores. Please, just let us check them out. It will only make a few minutes difference.”
“And what? If they are Asians you will say they are pirates? They will be Asian because we are in Asia!”
“Melanie lassie, I believe Gray knows what he’s speaking about. The Malays talk about the pirates. They air real,” Keegan said. “It will be no harm ter wait.”
“Oh, for god’s sake, you’ve convinced another convert!” Melanie said to Gray.
Gray did not retort, thinking it was of little use to argue anymore. Her mind was set.
“You are a sick paranoid!” she said, spitting out the words.
Paolo moved close to Gray and said in a low voice, “It does not become you arguing with an idiot.”
Gray put an arm around the man’s shoulder and said, “Thanks, Paolo. You have shown great restraint and I am not patronizing when I say that. But I see her differently than you do.”
Paolo shrugged and moved away. Anna tried to step closer to Melanie but she glared at her. “Please, Melanie. Gray is trying to protect us all. If you go down there and they are pirates, you are giving away the fact there may be others on the island.”
“They will know that anyway because we stole from them!” she said with venom.
“That will not tell them we are on the island,” Gray said. “How could we have gotten here without a boat? If they see no boat they will think that we have already left. They may not be pirates, Melanie, and I will be absolutely ecstatic if it turns out that you can tell me you told me so.”
Anna raised a hand to Lex’s shoulder. “Please, Lex. You don’t think we are so wrong do you?”
He shrugged and swung his head in an arc like he was being pulled from side to side. He put his hands up shaking his head, refusing to answer.
“Listen!” Gray said, raising his hand for silence. The thrum of the engine had stopped. A moment later the clank of anchor chains came across the water. The view of the ship was broken up by foliage at the edge of the bay so they did not see the smaller craft lowered
into the water but they heard another engine note and soon saw a long, inboard engine motorboat heading toward the dock.
Melanie said, “Even if they are pirates, we can negotiate with them, offer them a lot of money. It will help if we go down there and show we have no fear. Come on Lex, I’m going down to greet them.”
Gray stepped as close to Melanie as he thought she would tolerate. “Melanie, you have nothing tangible with which to negotiate. If they are pirates they may kill Lex and rape you.”
She just shook her head.
“Melanie, I care about you. I truly believe that you believe you are doing the best thing. I understand how badly you want to get help for Lleyton and Malik.”
“You don’t understand anything.”
“Melanie, I don’t know why two people can look at the same thing and see two different things. It just happens. Brothers can be on opposite sides of issues.” He went silent for a minute, frustrated that he could not think of a way to sway her. He held his arms out, offering an embrace. She did not smile but gave a grudging nod and moved into his arms and hugged him tightly.
Gray hugged her close, trying to will her to feel how much he cared for her. “Melanie, if you get into trouble down there, don’t give up. We will not give up on you.”
She gave Gray a surprised look and slowly broke from his embrace. Lex stepped over to Gray and embraced him, saying, “Dude, you are something else. I really do love you.”
“I am flattered, Lex. I have come to think a lot of you too.”
Melanie started down the trail but turned around and said. “We won’t tell them there is anyone else on the island unless they really look like they will help us.”
Lex caught up with her and they went down the trail hand in hand.
Gray, Anna, Paolo and Keegan moved to where they could see the dock and the clearing but remain hidden in the foliage. They squat and waited in silence. The ship had turned around its anchor with the bow now to the south. The motorboat reached the dock about the time Lex and Melanie reached the clearing.
Keegan said to Gray in a low but angry voice, “Yer should’ve stopped her man.”
Paolo gave the young Irishman an angry glance. Gray had no rational response to Keegan’s statement. He was regretting not stopping them.
Gray counted nine men that climbed onto the dock from the boat. Their voices carried but the distance made it unintelligible even if he had known the language. Suddenly one of them yelled and all nine heads turned toward Lex and Melanie. The two were still hand in hand and more than half way to the dock. The men were chattering until someone barked an order and they went quiet. Two of the nine came forward and the rest gradually advanced behind them. They all wore vests or T-shirts, and shorts or abbreviated pants. Most carried rifles and many had holstered pistols or pistols stuffed under their belts. Some wore ball caps or painters’ style hats, some wore do-rags and all were wiry with sun darkened skin and coal black hair.
The man who appeared to be the leader wore camo shorts, a vest, no shirt and his thick black hair tied into a pony tail. The man beside him wore a bright orange Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts.
Lex and Melanie had reached the two men and Lex was saying something and holding out his hand like an offer to shake. The four stood talking but the words were unintelligible up the trail even with the breeze carrying the sound. The other seven men slowly surrounded Lex and Melanie. Melanie was making hand gestures and speaking rapidly. Lex said something to her and she stopped talking. The apparent leader pulled a pistol from his holster, raised it to Lex’s face and fired point blank. Lex’s head jerked back. Melanie screamed and Anna stifled a scream. Keegan groaned. Lex’s legs wobbled and he crumbled to the ground.
“Oh, meine Gott!” Anna cried. Paolo made a coughing sound like he had been punched in the stomach. He looked truly appalled.
Melanie dropped to her knees beside Lex but one of the men grabbed the back of her shorts and jerked her back to her feet. Others held her while they tore off her clothes. She kicked and screamed until one of the men swung a rifle butt into her stomach. She doubled over and they held her that way with a man on each arm twisting it upward so she had to either keep on her feet or dislocate her shoulders. The men were laughing and hollering. The leader dropped his shorts and entered her from behind. Melanie was making gasping screams as if unable to catch her breath. The leader had thrust into her for no more than 15 seconds when he roared and stopped. He pulled out and the man in the Hawaiian shirt took his place. Melanie’s screams were like those of a trapped animal raging to be freed.
Anna was gripping Gray’s arm so tightly the veins of her hands were showing. Her body jerked from the held back sobs.
“We’ve got to get out of here,” Gray whispered. He rose and took Anna’s hand and led her out to the trail. As they ran up the trail he kept glancing behind to make sure they did not come into line of sight of the clearing. Keegan and Paolo followed in silence. Before they reached the saddle, Gray led them into the jungle and they crossed the saddle hidden from the clearing. They went back onto the trail and jogged to the shelter with Anna stumbling and sobbing much of the way. Shinobu and Dayah were sitting outside the shelter, their heads bowed in despair. Shinobu raised his head as they approached and he had a horrified expression on his face. Tears had run from his eyes and he tried to speak but could not for the emotion. Gray thought it was only because of what he had witnessed from the lookout but the old man pointed behind him to Lleyton. When Gray moved closer, the young man’s eyes were staring lifelessly at the roof of the shelter.
Anna sank to her knees wailing. Gray knelt by the old man. “Did you see what happened in the clearing?”
Shinobu nodded.
“You told Dayah?”
“Yes.”
“Will you help me kill those men?”
The old man gazed at Gray without blinking. “Of course,” he growled.
Anna, still on her knees turned to the two men. “And I.”
His fists clenched, Keegan glared at Gray. “Yer should’ve stopped her man!”
Gray was stunned not only by the young man’s words but also by his venomous tone. “How? Physically? You think I should have stopped her with physical force?”
“Aye! Yer should’ve!”
“I guess in hindsight I wish I had done that. I’d rather suffer her wrath than losing her and Lex. Why didn’t you stop her?”
“Would yer have allowed it?”
Gray bowed his head and ran a hand through his hair. “Honestly, Keegan, I don’t know. I wish one of us had tried.”
“Yer were our leader,” the young man said, softening his tone and sounding like he was on the verge of crying.
Shinobu stood and faced the young man. “It is easy to criticize with hindsight. I saw how she did not believe Gray about the pirates. If you or Gray had tried to stop her she would have kicked and screamed and given you all away and you would not be here arguing about it. Do not forget, Lex was the only one who might have persuaded her but he has paid too dearly for his mistake.”
Keegan bowed his head without retorting. Anna asked him, “Will you help us?”
He sighed heavily. “Of course I will.”
Anna turned to Dayah but before she could ask, the young Malay said, “I too, but what I do?” She looked very distressed.
All eyes turned to Paolo. He sensed it and sighed. “What the woman did she did to herself against argument and pleading from four other people. And the man who followed her down there was just as heedless and stupid.”
Keegan bristled and looked on the edge of attacking Paolo. “Their names were Melanie and Lex!” he growled.
Paolo did not blink. “Gray, do you truly think you can kill those men?”
“Yes.”
“Then I will join you. Not necessarily for revenge but they threaten our safety and our ability to leave this island. That and they are the lowest vermin on earth.”
Keegan said, “I agree with the last pa
rt.”
Gray asked everyone to come close. “I know Melanie will make an effort to keep our existence from them but they may torture her unmercifully. We need to get away from here because this is the first place they will look if they find out about us or even suspect there being others on the island.”
Everyone agreed to that and Gray said, “Anna, Dayah, put on your slacks; we may be running through the jungle.”
Both rose without hesitation and went into the shelter and dug out their slacks.
Gray went through the supplies and tools they had accumulated at the shelter. He poked a hole into the pocket liner of his trousers and pushed the old revolver into the pocket, making a secure holster. He laid out three long knives for Paolo, Anna and Dayah, and the small shovel for Keegan. He handed the machete to Shinobu and asked him and Dayah to gather all the food items into two of the cloth bags and Anna and Keegan to gather the bottles of water into two bags. There were seven Claymore mines they had not taken to the cave. He set aside two to carry himself, and one each for Keegan, Paolo, Shinobu, Dayah and Anna. He added four of the small airline blankets to each pile. Shinobu had the binoculars hanging from his neck on a strap he had added to them. The signal mirror was in his pocket.
“We need to get the rest of the mines to a dry hiding place,” Gray said. “They may be our best weapon right now but I plan to get some of the rifles from those men. Have any of you shot firearms?”
“I served five years in the navy and learned rifle marksmanship when I was young,” Shinobu said. “I have not fired a weapon since.”
“I fired a pistol once that uh mucker had.”
Paolo said, “I shoot skeet often enough. Not much with rifles and pistols.”
Dayah said, “Never.”
Anna shook her head. “I have a good eye for targets. You can teach me.”
“You do have a good eye. You will all do fine. Can any of you throw… like a spear?”
“We used to fish for carp with a spear,” the old man laughed.
Gray laughed. “Someday I would like to hear your life’s story, Shinobu. When we get out of here I hope you will invite me to your home, or come to mine.”
PULAU MATI Page 10
