by Suzanne Cass
Caught off-guard by JJ’s question, Rosa stared at him with wide eyes, a rabbit ensnared in the headlamps of an oncoming car.
‘Well, I can’t really speak for Rosa,’ said Hayden, jumping in, ‘but I want to win this one real bad. Matter of fact, there isn’t a lot I wouldn’t give up for a chance to triumph today.’
‘I think I’m pretty safe in saying you probably speak for the other three people standing next to you, Hayden,’ replied JJ, nodding at them all in turn. ‘Tam, bring your parrot over here and I’ll put it back on the stand.’
Tam heard Simon mutter under his breath, ‘It’s not his bloody talisman,’ but didn’t bother to return comment.
‘Righto guys, exemption is back up for grabs. Let’s get this thing started. Your knockout today consists of all of you moving along a beam of wood, which gets progressively thinner. The last one left standing wins exemption. Pretty simple really. It’s called walking the plank.’
The first beam of wood was nice and wide, and Tam positioned his feet in the middle of the plank as JJ counted them down to the start. He balanced easily, one foot behind the other.
It was windy today. There was probably another storm on the way. A gust of wind hit Tam and he wobbled a little. That was all it took to make him start to lose his balance. He corrected, but a little too much and he nearly went off the other side. Goddammit, he wasn’t going to let a stupid gust of wind beat him to one million dollars. He tightened his focus on the plank, slowed his heart’s frantic beating and re-settled himself, vowing the wind wouldn’t catch him off guard again.
The next gust of wind was more ferocious, but he was ready this time, concentration honed to that single plank of wood.
Rosa wasn’t so lucky and she overbalanced, just a bit, but it was enough to make her lose her footing and she teetered on one foot for a second until she dropped with a plop onto the sand.
A small part of Tam’s consciousness registered Rosa’s little scream of defiance, but he didn’t lift his gaze. The only thing that mattered was that wooden plank in front of him.
After fifteen minutes JJ got them to move onto an adjoining, thinner plank. The sides of his feet hung over each edge of this one, and he had to concentrate much harder just to keep a steady position on the wooden beam. But he kept his stare straight ahead and slowed his breathing. All he had to do was stand here. It didn’t matter his left calf was starting to cramp, or sweat was running into his eyes. He ignored all physical distractions.
It was up to the three men now. A fight to the death. It seemed a little innocuous they should be reduced to a battle of balance skills to see who’d be in the final three. Another flurry of breeze whipped at Tam’s ankles and he clamped down on his mind’s wanderings.
After another ten minutes elapsed, Tam could feel the sweat running down his back, but he refused to let the strain get to him. The wind had picked up even more, starting to howl through the trees at the edge of the clearing. They were all tiring now, the intense concentration taking its toll. In one fell swoop another gust of wind buffeted them and Hayden overbalanced and landed on the ground. Perhaps it was the distraction of Hayden falling next to him, but Simon started to lose balance as well. Tam dared not watch, keeping his eyes directed straight ahead. He heard Simon swear and then the thump as his feet hit the ground.
He’d won.
Let the chips fall where they may now.
A sense of grim achievement settled on Tam’s shoulders. The exemption parrot was his again for another night, and this time he’d won it fair and square. Simon might’ve hated him last night when Cilla had given him her talisman, but his hate would multiply ten-fold today. Now that he’d won it back on his own terms.
Two hours later, sitting in the shade at the back of the beach, it was the sand-flies biting his ankles that eventually forced him to move. Little blighters. Tam had learned to hate them with a vengeance the very first day they landed on this island, and his hatred had only grown over the ensuing weeks. They were so tiny they were almost invisible. They were silent, they were insidious and they left red welts on every inch of exposed skin, which itched like hell for weeks afterwards.
Standing up he reached his arms above his head and stretched his back. Sitting on the cooling sand for over an hour had cramped up his muscles. But at least now he had a plan. Would Simon go for it, though? He needed to talk to him before the conclave, less than an hour away.
His task was made easier when he spotted Simon swinging in the hammock at the back of the campsite. Squaring his shoulders, Tam marched towards him. This wouldn’t be an easy conversation.
‘I want to discuss something with you.’ Simon’s eyes remained shut but a slight twitch of a cheek muscle betrayed him.
‘Not interested.’
‘Really?’ Tam kept his amusement well hidden, the man’s huge ego wouldn’t brook anything that remotely resembled condescension.
‘Yeah, really.’
‘Even if it involves you not being voted out tonight?’
Simon’s eyes flew open revealing the naked animosity Tam knew had been brewing since last night. ‘Just because you won exemption today, you think you’re bloody king dick now, don’t you? Well, I won’t get down on my knees and lick your bloody arse, no matter what you’re offering.’ Tam wanted to turn around and walk away. The man was insufferable. He wished he didn’t need to be having this conversation, but after hours of looking at his own predicament in every possible light, it was the only thing that made sense.
Grinding his teeth together, Tam said, ‘I didn’t come here to be king dick, Simon. I just want to have a chat. If you aren’t man enough to see this might be in your own interest then that’s fine by me.’
Spinning on his heel, he’d taken three steps away when Simon called out, ‘Wait.’ Tam could hear the strain in the other man’s voice, the effort it cost him to say that one little word. ‘You can talk, but I’m not promising anything.’
‘Good.’ Tam walked back, stiff and formal, perching himself on a vacant piece of driftwood. Out of the other man’s line of sight as he glared with unseeing eyes into the jungle, but near enough for him to hear every word clearly.
‘Where are Hayden and Rosa?’ asked Simon, his words controlled and quiet. Too quiet.
‘Not sure. I think they might’ve headed off down the north end of the beach together. Probably strategizing.’ Tam had watched them disappear in that direction a quarter of an hour ago. No one else needed to overhear what he had to say.
‘So you took your opportunity to pounce, huh?’ There was an undercurrent of malice running through Simon’s voice, even as he made his tone sound perfectly light and cordial.
‘Whatever, Simon.’ Tam wasn’t about to pander to his attempts to drag him into a slanging match. ‘I want to vote Hayden off tonight, and I want you to help me.’ For the first time in their conversation, Simon’s gaze slid over to him. Tam could see him assessing the validity of his remark.
‘Why?’ The word was like a gunshot leaving Simon’s lips.
‘Because he’s a nice guy. Everybody likes him. He’s played the game well, with more moral fibre than the rest of us. And he’ll be almost impossible to beat. The panel will vote for him if he gets into the top three.’
‘And they won’t vote for me, is that what you’re implying?’ A flush started to creep up Simon’s neck; a warning.
Tam ignored it and ploughed on. ‘In a nutshell, yes. I want to take you to the final three because I think you’ve made more enemies than me. I think I can beat you.’ It was the simple truth, one that Tam had battled with for over an hour down by the water. If he wanted any chance at winning the million, he’d have to do it with his enemy sitting by his side. Oh, the irony of it. If Tam had any moral fibre at all, he’d take Hayden with him. It’d be the right thing to do. Hayden was the good guy, he deserved to be there at the end. Cilla would’ve taken Hayden with her. Well, the new and improved Cilla would’ve. But it was partly for Cilla’s sake he made
this decision. She’d offered him her trust, had passed her mantle over to him with the talisman. He had to win for her now, as much as for himself.
‘What if I don’t want to?’
‘What other choice do you have? You could try and vote Rosa out, but then you’d be in the same predicament when it came to the final three, only worse off because you’d definitely lose to Hayden in the end. Besides, I’m sure Hayden and Rosa are gunning to get you out. I’m sure that’s what they’re off planning right now.’
‘Let’s say I do vote with you, how’re you going to get a third vote? How’re you going to guarantee there isn’t a tie? Us two against Hayden and Rosa.’ Good, Simon was starting to consider his offer.
‘There’re no real guarantees in this world, Simon. But I was hoping you’d whisper in Rosa’s ear, tell her that Hayden is secretly aiming to get her out, and if she votes with us she’ll definitely be in the top three. You’re no rookie at this game, you’ll know what to say to make her turn, I’m sure of it.’
‘So, not only are you trying to recruit me to your dodgy plan, but you want me to do your arse-licking for you as well,’ Simon said in an annoyed growl.
‘She’ll listen to you, Simon, and you know it.’ There was silence for what seemed like unending seconds.
‘It’s an interesting theory. I’ll think about it. Now leave me the hell alone.’
‘Yeah, you do that, Simon. Let me know what you decide.’ Tam got up and strode away, fists clenched, only vaguely interested in Simon’s answer. He’d laid out the bait, now he’d just have to wait and watch to see if he took it. If Simon was as sharp as Tam gave him credit for he’d overcome his loathing for Tam and vote with him. And if Simon chose to be childish and vote off Rosa instead then Tam could live with that choice too. After all, he was now guaranteed a spot in the grand finale. Top three. The million dollars was that little bit closer.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Butterflies tumbled inside her stomach. She was about to face the remaining contestants, walk past them to the panel benches and pretend she wasn’t affected by the things she’d done on the island. She’d also have to endure Simon’s animosity after what she’d done at the conclave last night. But that was only part of it.
There was Tam. It’d only been twenty-four hours since she’d last set eyes on him; felt his arms folded around her, saying goodbye.
They hadn’t been able to finish their conversation yesterday out on the headland, and the implications of what the outcome could’ve been churned around in her head all day. He’d admitted he could never be just friends with her, and they’d both agreed that things were complicated between them.
It was irrelevant how Tam felt about her now, she reminded herself. It wasn’t why she’d given him the talisman.
At least she knew she looked one hundred per cent better than yesterday. Clean and showered, with shiny hair and new clothes. She’d use her cleanliness as a shield from their scorn. They were still dirty, hungry, with matted hair and shrunken eyes.
‘Righto, the castaways are in place, up you go,’ she heard a crew member whisper from the sidelines. It was time to make their way up the stairs and onto the conclave platform. As the first person voted onto the panel, Jason was first in line. Then came Cho and she was right at the end, just after Alisha. One more person would join them tonight, to make up a panel of seven. Seven people who’d decide the winner of the one million dollars.
Holding her breath, she steeled herself for her first glance in their direction.
Tam had the talisman!
She almost let out a whoop of delight, but stopped herself just in time. They weren’t allowed to have any contact whatsoever with the castaways. If she were caught doing anything that looked remotely dodgy, she could be banned from the conclave. And that’s the last thing Cilla wanted tonight.
So she did a little dance inside her head instead. Tam had won exemption. He was safe for tonight and into the final three. Things couldn’t have worked out better if she’d planned them that way. A smile crept onto her face. Now she could sit and watch this conclave unfold and enjoy the scene. Her shoulders felt elevated somehow, as if a cleansing breeze had blown through and swept all the heaviness away.
JJ nodded to each member of the panel as they took their seats and then started to fire questions at the contestants. It was no good, she couldn’t concentrate on what JJ was saying, all she wanted to do was look at Tam. He sat, serene and solid, his face showing no signs of the inner turmoil that must be churning through him. Trying to etch the lines of his face into her memory, she drank in every detail of his features. She’d allow herself this one last indulgence.
The dark cropped hair he’d started out with a month ago was growing out nicely. Just long enough to run her fingers through. There was also a month’s worth of stubble on his face, not quite a beard yet, but still scruffy and unkempt. How would it feel to kiss him right now? Would the beard be scratchy or soft? It looked soft from here, if only she could rub her palm over his cheek and down his chin to find out. That mouth was set into a hard line, listening to JJ’s questions, but she knew it could be so forgiving and yielding beneath her own. A shiver ran down her spine as she remembered how his lips had felt kissing her.
But it was in his eyes she found herself getting waylaid. A soft amber colour, so reminiscent of butterscotch lollies; intense and iridescent, as if lit from inside by some internal fire burning bright.
All of a sudden his gaze switched to her, caught her staring. She couldn’t look away; daren’t look away. She felt a flush start to creep up her neck. A smile, ever so slight crinkled the corners of his eyes.
That smile tore shreds out of her already battered heart. In that smile she could see how much he still cared about her. Even after she’d treated him so abominably.
His eyes never left hers, and suddenly she knew all her efforts over the past month to keep emotionally detached had failed. Her attraction to Tam – which was far more than just physical – couldn’t be denied. The power of this attraction terrified her. She knew her feelings must’ve shown on her face, as clear as day for Tam to see.
Did it terrify him too?
JJ’s voice penetrated her consciousness as he asked Tam a question and their connection was shattered as he tore his gaze away.
‘Sorry, what did you say?’ Tam dragged in a lungful of air, as if he’d momentarily stopped breathing. ‘I wasn’t really listening.’
‘I said, do you feel vindicated now you’ve claimed exemption fair and square? Do you believe Cilla’s faith in you was well placed?’
‘Yes. Yes, I do,’ he replied.
She hadn’t meant to place the yoke of expectation upon him when she’d offered him the parrot. He seemed to have accepted it though, with a sense of clarity and destiny that surprised her. She didn’t want him to win it for her, but with a growing awareness she realised their fortunes were intertwined now.
Alisha, who was sitting next to her, gave her a swift glance, full of concern. ‘Are you okay?’ she mouthed silently. Out of all the people sitting here tonight, Alisha was the one person who realised how hard this was to watch. To be so close to him, but not be able to give him her support. To let him know how desperately she wanted him to win.
Cilla gave Alisha’s hand a little squeeze and nodded. She had to pull herself together. Tam needed to concentrate on his last minute strategies tonight, not on her neurotic problems.
‘And I assume you won’t be giving your talisman away tonight, Tam?’ JJ’s question hung in the air, thick with innuendo, before Tam answered with an abrupt shake of his head.
‘Good. Then it’s time to vote. Hayden, you’re first up.’
Cilla watched him make his nimble way over the shaky bridge. It’d be the last time he took that trek. The last time any of them would see this platform.
All the contestants would be shuttled off the island tonight, just as soon as the conclave was over. They’d all go back to their normal lives for t
he next two months, until they were dragged back into a studio in Hollywood for the big reveal of the winner of Sea-Quest.
She’d miss the island. There’d been a few poignant moments during her stay where she’d realised this was indeed a special place. Being part of the game of Sea-Quest had given her a special kind of opportunity, one most people never got to experience. She’d remember those times, store them like precious jewels in her memory forever. Like the times she and Alisha had spent sitting on the rock ledge gossiping in the sun. Or soaking up the natural wonder and beauty of Emerald Lagoon in the middle of the island.
The wind whipped her hair around her face and she grabbed handfuls of it, trying to smooth it into a semblance of neatness. That wind had been growing in intensity all day, and it was still howling around the platform, making the trees hammer and moan. Cilla gave an unconscious touch to her nearly-healed scar. Whenever the wind blew like this it reminded her of the storm that’d brought the tree down on her head. Yes, there’d been dangerous times as well, but looking back she knew she’d loved every second of it.
JJ had garnered the wooden chest containing the votes, while she’d been ruminating on her memories and now his voice brought her back to the present as he read out the votes.
‘The fifteenth person voted off the island and the seventh and final person on the panel is …’ There was utter silence as everyone waited. ‘Hayden.’
Cilla was stunned. Watching Hayden gather up his firebrand and take it to JJ, she wondered why it hadn’t been Simon voted off, or at the very least Rosa. Simon would’ve been her choice and she knew Tam detested him just as much, if not more than she did.
‘It’s the hangman’s noose for you,’ JJ intoned as he put out Hayden’s firebrand. ‘You may now go and take your place on the bench with the other panel members.’
Hayden looked a little shell-shocked; he hadn’t been expecting this tonight. Cilla suspected Rosa may have betrayed Hayden, sided with Simon instead. The more Cilla thought about it, the more it made sense. Rosa would have more of a chance of winning if she was up against Simon in the final three. Hayden was just too likeable. Rosa had broken her alliance right at the final second. Poor Hayden. He’d been blindsided. But at least he was in good company.
