Page 54 of Totally Wrecked
“Yeah, I know,” he replies.
I suddenly remember the hook, and show him.
Leander grins. “Nice find! Now this is something I can actually work with! Would be great if we could find some fishing line, too. I’ll run to the water hole and fill the cans, then do some more fishing this afternoon.”
“You need to pace yourself,” I tell him sternly. “You might be concussed. I’ll go to the waterhole; you hang with Key and rest for a while.”
“Fine. I’ll start coming up with my treehouse plans.”
“Treehouse?”
“That’s what I was thinking about when I was failing to spear a fish. Did you see that old movie where a family was shipwrecked?”
“Swiss Family Robinson?”
“Exactly! The Robinson’s had the most amazing tree house on their island. It had rope ladders and a dumb waiter-”
“-They also had an elephant, a donkey, and a zebra,” I say.
“Don’t crush my dreams. I’ll make us the most luxurious deserted island shack anyone has ever seen!”
“Well, in that case, I approve. Get on with your shelter planning, and I’ll get water.”
I tell Keyara where I’m going, pick up the cans, and head back into the jungle. It doesn’t take long to get to the waterhole, and I walk there and back with a lighter step. I should be terrified of our situation, but for some reason, I’m not.
When I return to the beach, I stand in the shadows of the jungle and watch Leander playing with Key. He’s got palm fronds tucked into his shorts to make a kind of hula skirt, and is now trying to fashion the little girl some kind of crown. She’s giggling hard.
Next to them the fire crackles, and the coconuts sit warming.
If we can get our fishing game sorted, life on this beach will be bearable; well, at least until we are rescued.
REX
We have the fire roaring. Killian taught me the trick with the stick rubbing, and I got a flame going pretty quick. It's a good idea to pool knowledge—Gray or Harvey can light the next fire.
I watch the smoke as it spirals up into the blue sky.
Will Leander notice it?
I love the kid dearly, butfuckcan he be oblivious sometimes. Maybe I should climb the rocks again; it would make it easier to spot another signal fire. I’ve got time, if I hurry.
I tell Gray what I’m planning.
“Good idea, but get back before dark. I’ll stay here and keep this fire going strong.”
“Yeah, I think Killian might have his hands full.” I swallow a smirk as I watch him trying to teach Harvey his fishing technique.
“You need to keep a hand on the net and not let go of it,” says Killian.
Harvey does a couple of practice net tosses, failing completely.
For fucks sake.
I grab a bottle full of water and head out. As I climb, I think about Leander, and whether he is somewhere trying to catch fish. When he first signed onto our crew—our fire crew—we were working out of Montana. I was the crew boss, and Gray was my second in command. We had another three hard-working dudes, and two kick-ass girls. Then fucking Leander turns up, driving a bright orange, very dented Jeep. He tumbled out of the door, almost falling over. We all stood around watching him make his entrance.
He lowered his sunglasses and grinned. “Whoops! I’m a bit hungover. The ground is swaying—nothing the hair of the dog won’t fix!”
Gray and I met eyes. Who was this joker?
