As the group began to split, he noticed Sebastian sitting by the tree line smoking a cigarette. The South African wasn’t involved in the gathering. Instead he watched solemnly from afar, his unreadable eyes trained on the girl.
Keeping his eyes on the South African, James headed over to Elaine. ‘What’s with all the excitement?’
She too had her eyes on the girl. ‘I’m not supposed to say.’
‘Keeping secrets now?’
‘No,’ Elaine smiled. ‘Not particularly. God gave us a gift yesterday, and today we’re going to share it.’
‘Sounds intriguing.’
‘Trust me.’
James yawned. ‘I don’t like surprises, Elaine.’
Finally Elaine took her eyes off the girl. Sebastian did not.
‘Just indulge an old lady for a little longer, dear.’
From the corner of his eye, James spotted Gibson lying at an uncomfortable angle. The pilot was waving him over. Picking at half a coconut, Gibson grinned as James approached. His moist face looked paler than last night, James thought, eying his congealing bandages. Hiding his disquiet, James sat down in the sand. ‘How you feeling?’
‘Like I have a horrific wound!’
‘Where’d you get the coconut?’
‘Elaine not tell you? They found a stack of trees somewhere inland. There’ll be all sorts of fruit here if you know where to look.’ James frowned. ‘Too much TV,’ Gibson clarified.
‘See anything on how to catch fish?’
‘The next challenge, huh?’ Gibson laid back and exhaled deeply. ‘You’re doing good, lad. I have confidence in you.'
James pushed himself onto his knees. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Come on, look around. Only eleven of us survived that crash and I’m not going to be around much longer to talk about it. No one here has what it takes to keep morale up the way you do. Morale is vital, otherwise deprivation will lead them to frustration, which leads to anger, and finally conflict. I don’t need to tell you, the last thing you need here is these people turning on each other.’
‘Sounds like you have it all worked out.’
‘I haven’t had much else to do.’
‘Well you have me all wrong, Gibson. I don’t know how to lead these people.’
‘That’s not what I think. It’s not what Abbey thinks either.’
He frowned. ‘Abbey?’
‘She believes in you,’ Gibson revealed.
‘She told you that?’
‘Didn’t have to. It’s written all over her face.’ Gibson flashed his pearly whites. ‘Everybody’s woken to zero signs of rescue this morning, even though the fire burned all night. They should be disillusioned, but they’re not. Just keep that hope alive, that’s all I’m saying.’
James laid back and tried to digest what he was being told. It was a fact that none of the survivors were leaders, Gibson had that right. He just didn’t know what the pilot wanted him to do about it.
Along the beach Sebastian hadn’t moved, the cigarette pinched between his fingers, his gaze still idling on the girl.
‘Pretty weird, huh?’ said Gibson. James turned back to the pilot. ‘Sebastian can’t take his eyes off the girl. Want to see something weirder? Look at Eric. He can’t take his eyes off Sebastian. It’s like some incredibly wrong love triangle.’
‘You’re sick,’ James grinned.
‘What do you suppose is going on?’ said Gibson.
James shook his head. He had no idea.
Shuffling uncomfortably, Gibson let out a moan.
‘You okay?’
‘Leg’s stinging like mad,’ the pilot grumbled. ‘Check it out for me, will you.’
Kneeling back down, James began unwrapping the bandages. Gibson winced as the congealed wraps lifted free.
‘Close your eyes,’ James suggested.
‘What, you think I’m a pussy?’
Peeling away the last of the bandages, James recoiled. Evidence of infection was more severe than yesterday. It reeked.
‘Holy shit,’ Gibson muttered.
Clear signs of gangrene had set in, the flaps of serrated skin growing angrier. With no oxygen getting to the wound, the dead skin would be crawling with bacteria. No wonder it stank. Today the skin was pale, tomorrow it would turn red. When it reached purple, they were in real trouble. By that time Gibson would be in remorseless pain and all the drugs on earth wouldn’t make a dent.
‘Don’t sugarcoat it,’ Gibson murmured.
James reeled off everything he knew, down to the angry skin and gangrene. When he was through, the pilot fell into silent contemplation. They both knew the single remaining option if they failed to find drugs, but neither said it.
‘We’re going to find penicillin, Gibson,’ he promised. ‘It has to be out there somewhere.’
But the pilot wasn’t listening. Instead, he rolled over and faced out to sea.
*
James headed down to the shore to join Eric standing in the spill, cotton slacks rolled up, baseball cap turned backwards. When he realised he was no longer alone, the big man became more attentive, like a red-handed kid in a sweet shop. Wading out to the breakers, James greeted Eric with a “good morning”, but received no reply, only morbid fascination and big cow eyes.
Trying again, he said, ‘James to planet Eric…anybody there?’
Eric changed positions and screened him once again. ‘I woke up early today, James,’ he said spontaneously.
Irrelevant, but James couldn’t help smiling. ‘Did you see the sunrise?’
‘I like it here,’ he revealed. ‘It’s always sunny. I like the sun.’
James offered a single nod, hoping Eric would continue.
‘Are you American?’
‘Yes I am,’ James confirmed. ‘How did you know?’
‘I’ve been to America. I went to Disneyland.’
‘Oh yeah? In California?’
Eric narrowed his eyes. ‘Disneyland in America.’
‘How did you like it?’
‘Why are you talking to me, James? You’ve never talked to me before.’
Feeling slightly deflated, James replied, ‘Sorry, Eric, I didn’t mean to neglect –’
‘I know I’m not smart,’ Eric intervened. ‘My dad used to tell me. But I’m kind.
