Delta-Victor (17 page)

Staci asked, “Do you suppose it's Lou's American guy, Jim? He was Jack Fitzgerald.”

“Could be. Although there is bound to be more than one guy called Jack Fitzgerald in the States.”

After they had finished, Jim looked at the others. “We ought to get organized. Could you two sort out in here? Put the stuff we used away and so on? Stace, make sure the logbook is in with Lou's sewing. I'd hate to leave anything behind.”

“Sure.”

“I'll go and get Lou. Tell her the good news.” He stood up and set off to find Lou, knowing full well what her reaction to going home would be.

20

“No,” Lou said for the fifth time. “I am not going home. I'm staying here.”

Jim sighed. “At least come and say goodbye then. To Staci if no one else.”

“No.”

He waved his hands in despair. “All right then. Fine. Stay here. I give up.” Jim turned and slowly stomped down the cliff path and through the gates into the base.

Staci looked expectantly at him. “Where is she?”

“She can't go as fast as Jim. She'll be here, Stace,” Ailsa said. She could see how angry Jim was. He shot her a grateful look, as right now he couldn't think of a nice thing to say about Lou.

“It's really over, isn't it?” Staci said.

“Yes, kiddo. Our grand adventure, begun June first last year, ends today, January nineteenth. Two hundred and thirty-four days in all. Sixty-two of those spent on the island.”

Staci thought for a minute. “Long time. Longer for Ailsa, though.”

“I'm not going to miss it.”

Jim looked at Ailsa in surprise. “Why not?”

“My parents died here. I'm hoping things will be better now. And I'm also hoping that you guys will figure in my life somehow.”

He hugged her tightly. “Try keeping me away. I don't intend to lose touch with you.”

“That sounds good to me.” Ailsa hugged him back.

Lou came down the cliff path and into the compound. “Looks cozy.”

Jim smiled at her. “You came,” he said, relief in his voice.

“To say goodbye. Nothing more.” She limped over to Staci and hugged her. “I would write, but the post here is dreadful.”

Staci pushed her away. “What do you mean say goodbye?”

“I'm not coming.”

“Don't be silly,” Staci said, tears filling her eyes. “You have to come.”

Lou shook her head.

Staci began to cry, and Jim hugged her tightly.

“I can't go with you,” Lou said. “I have to stay here. Please understand.”

“I don't understand,” Jim growled. “All I can see is how much you are hurting others. Which is more than can be said for you. It's a shame you can't. Go on then. Just go. Get out. We'll be better off without you.”

Lou swung herself slowly until her back was towards them, and headed back to the gate.

“Jim,” Staci sobbed. “What do we do? We can't go back without her.”

“I don't know, kiddo. They'll be here soon. Maybe they can talk sense into her.”

“Maybe.”

Jim stood quietly, holding his sister, his mind going over their long voyage. The explosion in the docks, La Palma, the hurricane, Grand Turk, and the shipwreck. And Deefer.

The silence was punctuated by Staci's sobs.

What had seemed like such a good idea after the earthquake and tsunami in May, had turned into an unmitigated disaster. Trying to find his parents had solved nothing. His boat was destroyed, Deefer had died, and Lou may as well have. She had shut them out of her life for good. He looked down at his sister. “You OK, Stace?”

“No. I don‘t want to leave without her.”

The sound of helicopter blades filled the air. They looked up as the big Air Force helicopter swooped in low over the base and set down gently on the runway. The rotors slowly ground to a halt. Four officers in flight suits jumped out and crossed over to them.

Jim watched nervously. Now the moment of their deliverance was at hand, he was afraid. He knew there were consequences and repercussions to be faced because of their actions, and right now he didn't want to face them.

The pilot removed his mirrored shades and hooked them over the pocket of his flight suit. He smiled. “Hi, there.”

“Jack.” Staci said. She let go off Jim's hand and ran over to Jack. She hugged him.

“Hello, Staci,” Jack smiled, returning the hug. He turned to his crew. “My crew, navigator/engineer Sergeant Murdoch, medic Captain Stevens and co-pilot Major Corrigan. This is Jim and Staci Kirk.”

Jim shook Jack's hand. “It's good to see you again.”

“The signature on the note,” Staci said. “Colonel Jack Fitzgerald. Is that you?”

“At your service.” He turned to Ailsa. “I don't believe we've met.”

“Ailsa Cudby.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Jack's gaze took in the entire area. “Where's Lou and the dog?”

Staci's eyes filled again. “She's…she's not…”

Jack's piercing gaze swung back to them. “She's not what?” he asked, punctuating every single word.

Jim grabbed his sister's hand and squeezed it. He tried to comfort her, despite the distress and pain filling him. “It's OK, Stace.”

“No, it's not.” She looked at Jack. “Lou isn't coming.”

Jack raised an eyebrow. “
Excuse me
?”

Staci took a deep breath. “Deefer died three days ago. We got shipwrecked in November and met up with Ailsa then. She's been here years. Deefer got caught in a trap, one of those metal ones. His wound got infected, and he died.”

Jack fixed his piercing eyes on Jim. “I think it's time for the truth now, don't you? You haven't been on holiday at all, have you?”

“No,” Jim admitted. “We left England to try to find my parents after they got caught up in the Philippines tsunami and declared missing. Only we ended up getting lost ourselves.”

“I wanted to stay with Jim,” Staci added. “Don't blame him, please. Lou and I stowed away to be with him. He didn't know about it until it was too late.”

Jim looked at Staci. “I should have known better, Stace. I should never have let it happen.”

“The wreck of your boat was found at the beginning of December some distance from here. There has been a huge search and rescue operation going on, looking for you three. Speaking of Lou, you didn't answer my question. Where is she?”

Jim, Staci and Ailsa looked at each other, neither willing to admit it. The silence was deafening.

“Where is she?” Jack repeated, his voice like thunder.

“Like Staci said, Lou says she isn't coming,” Ailsa said eventually.

Jack raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“She's ill,” Jim said. “She's not thinking straight.”

Major Corrigan said, “Is that who the medical attention was needed for?”

“Yes. She got attacked by a shark in September and badly hurt her leg. It's probably infected again. She's been in agony for days, but is too stubborn to admit it.” He then told Jack about how down Lou had been. “Since Deefer died, it seems to have come back,” he concluded. “She's changed. There is no getting through to her. She scares me now. I'm worried about her. She hasn't eaten for days as it is.”

Jack looked worried. “Where is she? And don't make me ask again.”

“On the beach. Out the main gates, turn right and follow the path. You can't get lost.”

Jack nodded. “I'll go find her. We're taking you back to Anderson. There are some people there waiting anxiously to see you.”

“Nichola,” Jim guessed.

Jack grinned. “And your mom and dad.”

Staci screamed, as Jim caught his breath. “
What
?” he managed.

“They got back to England in September. They'll tell you all about it themselves, but they are fine and can't wait to see you.”

Jim hugged Staci tightly, his sister jumping up and down in his arms and squealing. “I don't believe it…”

Jack turned to his co-pilot. “Help them pack out of here, Major. I'll go round up the strays. You two get the chopper ready to go.”

“Aye, sir.”

Jack ran out of the gate and down the path that led to the beach.

21

Lou sat on the sand, looking out at the sea. Her crutches lay beside her. She had Deefer's lead in her hand. Tears rolled silently down her face. She couldn't leave him here on his own. She couldn't go home. She had no choice. There was no way out that she could see. Despite the warmth of the sun, she shivered with cold. Alone in the darkness of the tunnel, the only light was that of the oncoming train, getting closer and closer.

Jack stood and watched her for a minute or two. He slowly walked across the sand and positioned himself so that his shadow fell across her. Lou didn't appear to notice. “Looks like you could do with a friend,” he said. “Or at least a shoulder to cry on.” He sat down next to her and handed her a tissue.

Lou ignored it.

“Don't I even get a hello?” he asked.

Silence. He shook his head. “Jim was telling me about your fight with the shark. How's your leg?”

Lou responded for the first time. “Hurts.”

“Can I have a look?”

“If you want,” Lou said, not bothered one way or the other. She hitched up her skirt.

She heard Jack's sharp intake of breath and glanced at her leg. She had to concede it did look nasty again. She had given up with the splints. All Mafuso's hard work had been undone.

The skin that first Jim and then Mafuso had tried to piece together was splitting and pus oozed from gaping sores. The bones grated painfully every time she moved. Her foot was white and cold to the touch, the up side of this being she could no longer feel it.

She shivered again and rubbed her arms. She was so cold and tired.

Why wouldn't they just leave her alone?

It wouldn't be long now and she'd be with Deefer.

Jack looked away from the damaged limb and looked at Lou. “You need to get that seen to ASAP.”

Lou sighed. “Why?”

“Because looking at it and at you, the infection has spread. If it goes untreated it will kill you.”

“I already know I'm dying. Tell me something I don't know,” Lou muttered. “The sooner I die the better.”

Jack grabbed her and turned her towards him. “Don't you dare talk like that. You're what, sixteen? C'mon tell me. What is so bad that you don't wanna see seventeen?”

Lou looked away and refused to answer.

Jack shook her slightly. “Talk to me,” he ordered.

“I can't,” Lou said. “And I‘m not going home either.”

“And why's that?”

“Which part of I'm dying don't you understand? I won't put the others through that. They've lost enough already. Better they think I'm alive and well here than watch me die like Deefer did.”

Jack grasped her face in his hands and forced her to look at him. “We have just flown several hundred miles to rescue you. Your mom is on Guam waiting for you—waiting anxiously I might add. It was all I could do to stop her from insisting she came in the chopper with us. We are taking you home.”

“No.” Lou pulled herself free and struggled to her feet. “Leave me alone,” she cried. “I'm staying here.” She grabbed her crutches and limped away as fast as she could.

~*~

Jim stood with the others as the radio attached to the major's flight suit crackled.

“Sam, come in.”

“Here, sir. Are you ready to go?”

“We got a problem. It's gonna take longer than I'd hoped. Fly the others out of here. First radio the base and have them send a life flight now.”

“Sir?”

“Get a chopper sent out now. I want Doc Andrews on the flight. Tell her to bring IV antibiotics and have the base operating room standing on my return.”

“Are you sure you want us to leave you here?”

“You have to. Shove the med kit in my flight bag. Leave that and the thermos on the runway.”

“Sir, shall I leave Stevens with you?”

“No, you need a minimum crew of three. Go.”

“Aye, Sir. See you back at base.”

Jim heard her order the second flight, a life flight. How bad was Lou? He looked at the major as she turned around. “Is Lou not coming?”

“We're going on ahead. Colonel Fitzgerald will stay here with your friend. They've already gotten orders and a second chopper's on the way for them.” She opened the helicopter door and Jim, Staci, and Ailsa climbed in the back. Stevens and Murdoch strapped them in, while Corrigan started the preflight.

Murdoch gave them headsets. “These are so we can communicate,” he said. “It gets pretty noisy in here.”

Jim looked around. “This is pretty big for a chopper. How fast can it go?”

Murdoch answered, “It can carry a crew of four and eight fully armed and loaded combat soldiers. It flies at a hundred eighty knots. It carries approximately five hours fuel and is able to be refueled in the air, but should not be flown for more than twelve hours with refueling.”

Stevens laughed. “Quoting from the manual again?” The engine started and the rotors began to turn.

Staci slid her hand into Jim's. He squeezed it. The helicopter lifted up off the ground and into the air. “Bye, island,” Staci said. “Bye, Deefer. See you soon, Lou.”

The helicopter turned and flew over the beach before swinging out over the ocean. “How long is the flight?” Jim asked.

“Just over an hour,” Corrigan answered.

“I hadn't envisaged going back without Lou,” Jim said.

“Colonel Fitzgerald will bring her.”

The chopper lifted off. Jim watched as Agrihan disappeared behind them. He wasn't happy about leaving Lou behind. Apparently, she was a lot sicker than she had let on. Why else had she been cutting them off the way she had been? If he hadn't been able to get through to her, how would someone she barely knew, succeed where he had failed, and persuade her to come home?