From Sand to Nand

Chapter Two

Joseph had not been the only father—or parent for that matter—to suffer such loss. Countless children were still missing as their families remained vigilant. The quantity of bodies arriving on the shore was beginning to slow. They drifted, moving slower and slower, as the current died down. Items from the ship and its passengers were also piling up on the beach. A team of teenagers were organizing what came ashore in hopes that the belongings could be redistributed later to their owners.

Only 5 of the captain's 8 powerboats managed to reach land. Officer Banks and 2 of the co-captains' boats never arrived. The captain, some crew, and the Master at Arms towed as many boats ashore as possible with what they still had. They continued making trips back and forth to bring survivors inward, even before the calming of the sea started. At one point, Officer McSchmitt had fifteen passengers crammed inside his boat as he towed a chain of three lifeboats with him.

The beach receded inland several meters. To the far left was a forest with trees and vines that appeared to have never been touched. In the center, it looked as if a valley were cut right into the wooded mesh steadily sloping upwards until the land met a vertical drop on the right where a cliff stopped abruptly at the ocean front. There was no beach below, but rather jagged boulders and rocks protruding out of the water. Further inward, an evening fog still lingered from the humid weather, making it difficult to see beyond. From what the travelers could make out, hills cascaded upwards, higher, and higher, until they merged with the forest on their left and the sky above. The ground was covered with sternum-high grass and a scattered array of bushes.

Sunset approached in what would have normally been a romantic setting. For the island's new guests, this was the most beautiful transition of the day they would all have loved to forget.

A pile of bodies was growing larger than the stack of luggage. No one with injuries could do anything to help except watch other struggling passengers work and sob while they sat impotently in anguish, pain, and contempt. They were bearing witness to something so emotionally shocking that the disturbia felt indescribable.

"Captain?" Officer McSchmitt called as the bearded leader turned to leave the island for another round of rescues. "It'll be dark soon—"

"Have the crew and all able-bodies make fires and build shelters for everyone in need. Anyone with knowledge in healthcare should be tending to the injured. Use the first aid supplies sparingly for only the most severe cases," Captain Royce commanded, ignoring his earlier comment.

"And what about the food, sir? Some managed to secure their own and we recovered a decent bit, but I don't think it's enough to get everyone through the night."

The captain stopped as reality hit him harder yet again. The only speck of hope he still had was the idea that the island was exceptionally large and likely had some resources to sustain its new population for a short time. However, the sun was setting, and he didn't think it would be wise to scavenge a foreign place so late. Also, Royce worried that resources like food and water could quickly run out when consumed by so many people. "Get me an exact count of bodies on the island—both dead and alive. I don't want anyone going further than those trees until morning," he pointed. "Tell anyone who appears hungry that we need to wait until daylight to find more. Don't let anyone take from the food stockpile. And don't let anyone leave in the life rafts to recover a loved one."

"Aye, Captain."

As McSchmitt turned, the captain and the other crew members helping him with rescues were preparing the boat for the next journey. One man named Pei, a volunteer who began the day as a guest, discovered flashlights in an emergency kit from the glove compartment of the captain's boat.