The journey took about seven to eight hours. I finished all the snail meat and had already gone to sleep when with a jerk I was thrown off the raft and bumped into the sandy beach of what must be North Island. Night had fallen. The place was completely deserted although here and there I could see the signs of human activity, such as a bottle of wine, and old jug of water, a ripped sandal and such things. I looked around and found my raft in pieces and slowly floating away back to the sea. Fortunately my rucksack consisting of food and fur had been tossed on the sand and was completely dry. My fire powers hadn’t returned yet and I didn’t trust the locals to be friendly, so instead of venturing further into the island I decided to spend the night atop a tree.
I searched around and located a large banyan tree spreading out its branches over a few rough rocks. How a banyan tree could survive in this salty soil was beyond me, but I didn’t question my luck but promptly set to building myself a temporary shelter. I twined a few of the branches to make a shade and draped them with the fur. Having made a warm shelter for myself I went to sleep again. But sleep wouldn’t come. I kept thinking of Haylie again and what has happened to her. But no. I shouldn’t be worrying. She was probably safe. She was with the other survivors who went off in the boats. Probably reached Asila by now.
A slight breeze rocked the branches and my mind started going numb. It was like being rocked in the cradle once more. Sweet slumber overtook my senses and for the next few hours I slept like a rock.
Peep…Peep…Peep…Pee-
Oh for God’s Sake someone stop that peeping.
I opened my eyes an gazed at the blow of face of a monkey peeking through the fur covers. A monkey. I leaped back right out o the tent and jumped to some higher branches. The monkey peeped loudly and tried to jump up after me. It lost its footing and fell down on the rocks with a thud and a squeal. It started to flail its arms and cry like a child. I felt sorry for it. I jumped down and gently lifted it in my arms. It clung to me like a child. I noticed that its head was cut in two places. Taking out my handkerchief I bound up its wounds. Then I gently put it down and walked away(after retrieving my furs).
But oh no. The monkey wouldn’t let me go. It followed me all the way to the beach, where I went back to look out at the sea in the light of the new sun, and followed me again. It was getting annoying. I tried to shoo it away but it wouldn’t leave.
“Hey monkey what’s up? I fixed your wounds, just go on home now. Do you think I’m your mother or something?”
“Peep Peep.” It clung to my legs and looked up at me with imploring eyes. It probably did think me to be its mother. What a bother. But it wouldn’t do to leave the poor creature here. There might be dangerous monsters nearby.
“Guess you’re coming with me, little one.” It peeped in delight.
“So what should I call you? Hmm…Let me think. How about Mojo?”
It shook its head.
“Kong?”
It shook its head harder.
“I know, Dexter.”
It nodded in delight.
“Well let’s go Dexter, see what this island is made of.”
He climbed up on my shoulder and we set forth to explore. We entered through a clump of coconut trees and emerged on the other side among trees and rocks. I could see a few jellie monsters roaming about and decided to have a go at some of them. Check if my powers had returned and get some fruits while at it. I put Dexter down on a rock and charged at the closest jellie. But it leaped out of my reach and almost immediately about a hundred other jellies surrounded me. With an united movement they launched themselves at me. I kicked out at as many as I could reach. The splattered against the rocks and the ground. But even as I kicked in another volley of blows, I knew I had lost. There were simply too many. They encircled me and jumped on my body. I was encased in a transparent multicolored shell, unable to escape.
Just as I thought that all hope was lost something came tearing out and started ripping apart the jellies. After a while I realized that it was Dexter. He bravely ripped at the jellies and tried to free me. But after a while even he was encased in their treacherous clutches.
I watched helplessly as Dexter was slowly being swallowed by the jellies. No, I would not allow it.
I desperate rush of fervor encased my entire soul and I felt the burning powers of fire rise within me. I called forth the powers and burned away the jellies surrounding me. I looked around. Dexter was almost consumed. I cast a halo of fire around him and the jellies fell to the ground, scorched.
Dexter thudded lightly to the ground. I stumbled, the jellies had nearly sapped my strength and that last attack had almost finished me off. I moved dizzily towards Dexter and gently lifted him in my arms. Then concentrating all my powers upon my legs, I gave a mighty leap and landed on the branch of the nearest tree. There I lay against the main trunk and collapsed.
