Suspending Reality (93 page)

“It’s early in the morning.” Jack reached over and squeezed my hand. “They’re probably scanning the water first since they knew we were in a boat. It’ll take time to search the islands. Besides, knowing your parents, we’re plastered all over the news by now.”

His words gave me hope. I admired the breathtaking beauty all around me. Coconut palms dotted the sand, and the sweet scent of flowers wafted in the breeze. It was a tropical paradise like the kind you’d see on a postcard or some commercial for suntan lotion. A dense jungle peered out from beyond the sandy beach. “It’s like a Caribbean Eden. What country do you think we’re in?”

“I wish I knew.” Jack stood and surveyed the unfamiliar area all around him. “An island was circled in red on the boat’s map. If we go by that, then we were by the main island of Viti Levu, but there’s no telling how far the storm blew us off course.”

Mike’s gaze swept over the rainforest. “So, uh…you’re saying we could be anywhere?”

“Just about,” said Jack, his jaw clenched.

I scooted backward into the hot sand and sprawled out. It felt warmer than any winter coat I’d ever owned. The sugar-white sand glittered like snow in the sun on a cold winter day. I  scooped some of it up and let it slip through my fingers.

Mike stared as if hypnotized by the beautiful sand. “It sparkles.”

I wiggled my feet, watching the sand gleam all around us. “Yeah, just like at Coronado Beach. What mineral causes this neat glitter effect?”

“Mica,” said Jack, dropping next to me, “and there’s a high concentration of it here too.”

“Mica crystals, huh? I love it when you talk nerdy to me,” I said, nudging Jack, who then smiled. He loved it when people admired him for his smarts rather than just his good looks and athletic ability.

Mike stripped off his wet shirt and wrung it out. When he did, I couldn’t help but stare. The sand wasn’t the only thing shining on that beach: Mike’s golden skin glistened, his chest thick with muscles. He playfully flicked water droplets from his shirt at me. “I wish I could Facebook or tweet all this craziness.”

The only social networking I dreamed about reaching was a team of Navy SEALs or Army Rangers with a giant helicopter or an even bigger boat.

“The two suns are pretty weird, huh?” I squinted at the bright horizon.

Jack turned to face me, shading his eyes from the glare. “Those have to be mock suns. I’m sure it’s only an optical illusion.”

“Yeah,” Mike snorted, “keep telling yourself that, Jack. You know what? I might’ve even bought your story if I hadn’t seen the strange water or all those weird-looking fish or the giant dragonflies,” he added with a dramatic tone to his voice. “For all you know, we could be in another dimension.” Mike’s imagination had a tendency to run wild.

Jack stood, shaking his head. “What…we’ve crossed over into the
Twilight Zone
or some ‘long time ago in a galaxy far, far away’? That’s a little extreme, isn’t it?” He wrinkled up his brow at Mike and twisted the front of his shirt with both hands, sending droplets of water plummeting into the sand. 

“So Casey, is my theory really that far-fetched?” asked Mike. 

“You mean, like the whirlpool being some kind of magical portal?” I laughed, unable to hold it back. “Sorry, Mike, but I haven’t believed in stories like that since I was five.”

“I can’t tell you guys for sure where we are, but I do know one thing,” said Jack.

“What?” I asked.

“We should stay right here in this spot and wait for help.”

Jumping to my feet, I turned in a slow circle and scanned the landscape. My frown deepened. There were no people, no helicopter, no sign of anyone hurrying to our rescue; not even so much as a house, boat, or car; not even a sun-bronzed native hacking coconuts open with a machete or slicing up pineapple in a bamboo beachside fruit stand.

The jungle beyond showed no signs of civilization either. Wherever we were, the brochure would have been more likely to say “Undiscovered Paradise” than “Tourist Beach Resort”. “Where is everyone? There’s no litter on the beach—not even a pop can or bottle cap.”

A strong gust of wind blew Mike’s untamed hair. “Yep, this place is deserted as a ghost town.”

“Think the whole island is like this?” I asked, cocking a brow.

“We won’t know for sure until we explore the other side. Wanna hunt for a village or something?” Mike reached down, picked up a coconut, and shook it. “There’s no point sticking around here wasting time. We need to find help.”

“But the jungle’s an easy place to get lost in,” said Jack. “The number one rule of being lost is to stay put.”

I nodded. “I agree. We should stay here for now.”

Mike stripped off the husk of the coconut, and then pounded it against a sharp rock until it burst open, splitting in half and revealing the milky white flesh.

I was always amazed at how quickly Mike could split a coconut. He was the king of coconut cracking back home on the beach.

Mike stopped fussing with the coconut and glanced up, frowning. “Why do you guys think it’s such a great idea to hang out here? What if there’s help on the other side of this island?”

“And what if there isn’t?” I said. “We don’t want to miss a plane. It might be our only shot at going home. Leaving this spot is stupid, not a chance worth taking. You guys do whatever you want, but I’m staying right here.”

“So am I,” said Jack.

Mike scooped up a chunk of fleshy white fruit and popped it in his mouth. “Well then, it’s settled. If you and Jack are staying, then I am too. Splitting up would be a bad idea. And I’m not leaving my two best friends in the entire world.”

Jack grinned and gave him a fist bump.  

Smiling, I slipped an arm around Mike’s waist and glanced up. “That’s so sweet.”      

Mike smiled, putting his arm around my shoulder and giving me a squeeze. He tipped the coconut back and took a gulp, then handed it to me. “Thirsty?”  

“Are you kidding? I might down all the juice in one swig.”

Mike laughed. “Save some for Jack.”  

I took a long drink, made a face, and handed the coconut to Jack. “Ewww. It’s bitter.”

“The brown ones always are.” Mike placed his hand on the rough bark of a palm tree. “I’ll have to shimmy up and snag us a green one. They’re way sweeter and have more juice.”

Jack sipped from the coconut and glanced up. “We might need to think about setting up a camp if help doesn’t come in a few hours.”

“Wait…you mean, like, spending the night? Here? On some deserted island beach?” My stomach fluttered. I watched the waves crash against the shore. “In a place with two suns like some science fiction movie? With those huge things flying around? No way, Jack!”

Touching my shoulder, his gaze softened. “It’s not like we have a choice.”

I forced back the quiver in my voice. “We can’t survive out here. We don’t have any supplies—no food or water. All we have are the shirts on our backs and a bunch of bitter coconuts. Not to mention, we’re going to be eaten alive by mosquitoes. They’re probably as big as birds out here.”

Jack took a thin piece of driftwood and poked through a mound of dried mud on the side of a palm tree. He shoved his hand inside the hole and slowly pulled it out. A squirming mass of termites climbed up his hand.

I jumped back. “My gosh, Jack. Have you lost your mind?”   

Mike nodded at me, rubbing his chin. “The dude’s got guts. I’ll give him that.”

The crawling army was obliterated into a brown goo as Jack rubbed both hands together. I cringed as he smeared it all over his face, arms, and legs like suntan lotion.

Mike flashed him a smug smile. “Maybe Casey could get your back, lather it up really good.”

“After I do yours first,” I retorted. “So what’s with the bug juice anyway?”

“It’s bug repellent, courtesy of Mother Nature.” Jack grinned, wiping his hands on his shirt and shorts. “Natives throughout the world have used it for centuries.”

Smart, sharp, and savvy. Guess he really is a Jack-of-all-trades. It was a great idea, not that I’d be trading in my mosquito repellant for squashed bugs anytime soon.

Jack’s expression grew serious. “The point is, we
can
survive out here if we have to, so vanquish fear and panic. Value living. Remember your goal, getting out alive.”

“That’s so motivating,” I said.

Mike gave Jack a fist bump. “Dude, that rocks. Where did you get it from?”

“It’s a quote from my dad’s
U.S. Army Ranger Handbook
.”

Jack spoke with such confidence I almost believed him, but the doubts nagging at the back of my mind wouldn’t shut up for long.

Jack pointed to the termite nest. “Anybody care to try it?”

Crushed termites?
I shuddered. “No way am I rubbing dead bugs all over me.”

“You will if those mosquitoes are as big as those dragonflies.” Mike’s mouth tightened into a grim line. “Heck, I’ll even do it.”

My stomach dropped. Swatting at those freakishly huge insects with my bare hands wasn’t going to cut it. “This is all so crazy. I wish my mom were here. She’d know what to do.” Tears welled up in my eyes as I stared at the termites scurrying along the tree bark. “You’re sure you saw my parents being picked up?”

Jack pulled me into a comforting hug. “Positive.”

My body trembled in his arms. “But you didn’t even see the helicopter. How do you know they made it safe inside? The waves were so high…” I paused and swallowed. “…and the wind reminded me of a hurricane. I—”

Mike cut in, his tone gentle. He brushed a strand of hair from my cheek. “Now’s not the time to think about it, Casey.”

There was no need to argue with my friends when they were only trying to help. “You’re right. My parents wouldn’t want me to worry about them.”

“Exactly.” Mike took off the black cord with his prized shark tooth hanging from it. “I’m going to let you borrow my good luck charm.”

“Really?” I couldn’t believe it. Mike didn’t even take off that necklace for showers, let alone let anyone wear it. When he nodded in response, I swiped my hand over the white, smooth surface and the jagged, serrated edge. “You’re so sweet.”

He stood behind me and fastened the clasp around my neck. “This is a symbol that you can survive anything.” Mike had survived a shark attack the previous year. The tiger shark had taken a giant bite out of his surfboard, leaving behind a souvenir—one of its sharp triangular teeth, which Mike had worn on a cord ever since.

“Oh, Mike, I know how much this means to you.” I touched the necklace and closed my eyes. It meant the world that he would trust me with one of his most prized possessions, a tribute to his courage, resilience, and survival. My voice wavered as I thanked him.

“I’ll be back,” said Jack. “I’m going to head into the jungle and look for fresh water.”

“What?” I grabbed his arm, noticing the flush in his cheeks. “You said we should stay here.”

Without even meeting my gaze, Jack took a deep breath and blew it out. “Don’t worry. I won’t go in deep.” He turned and walked away, almost in a huff.

What’s he mad about? Mike letting me wear his necklace? Big deal!

Mike ran after him, pulling me along. “Go without me? I don’t think so. I’ve been dying to check this place out.”   

“Yeah, we’re coming too.” I wasn’t going to let Jack contract some tropical virus or flu all by himself. Besides, I didn’t exactly like the thought of staying on the mutant bug-infested beach without one can of Raid at my disposal.

Birds nosily chirped and monkeys squealed as I pushed through a tangle of elongated dark green leaves. My jaw dropped in awe. Monstrous purple and pink begonias, bromeliads, and orchids lined the rainforest floor. A gentle mist hung in the air and insects swirled in the rays of light filtering through the towering vine-draped tree ferns growing in groves like giant umbrellas on sticks with ten-foot leaves. 

“It’s like we’re in a Tarzan movie,” said Mike.

We forged our way through and hiked deeper into the dense jungle. The thick aroma of fresh earth and exotic flowers lingered in the air. As I marched along, my shoes squished in the soft, spongy earth. Something skittered and squeaked near my foot, jolting me into a small jump and stumble. “What was that?” I said.

Mike sidestepped. “Hopefully something cute and cuddly.”

I gaped at him. Only Mike would consider a disease-ridden island rodent, like some overgrown rat, a cute or cuddly pet.

“Just imagine the soft fur and those shiny red or black eyes staring at you as it inches closer, waiting to be cuddled in your arms.”

Deciding to ignore him, I took a few steps through the vegetation until I slipped and fell sideways, bursting through clusters of large leafed plants and down a rocky hill. Somehow, I needed to slow my descent. Reaching out my hands, I desperately tried to grab a tree, a log—anything to stop my gravity-induced momentum. Rocks flew up from under me, and branches slapped my face, arms, and legs. Finally, I stopped rolling when my back and head hit something hard, the jolt sending shudders through me. I drew in a sharp breath and reached behind me, running my fingers along the bark of a tree. I rubbed my pounding head and blinked, groaning, with stars spinning in my vision. I gazed up at the humongous maroon colored leaves with tiny green flecks looming over me.