From Sand to Nand

Chapter Fifteen

"Dearly beloved," the captain's voice echoed. "We're gathered here upon this blessed place, at a very special time, with those before us to bear witness as this man and woman are joined together forever in holy matrimony. Without hesitation or reservation, and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, and solemnly, who gives this woman to this man?"

"On behalf of our family, our late mother and father and two younger brothers, who couldn't be with us today, I do," the girl's brother and only relative on the island acknowledged.

"May the divine recognize this connection as an eternal bondage between these two wonderful people. May your family's fallen loved ones reach down upon you and bless this marriage. May we all pray for you Peter, and pray for you, Savathi, as you embark on this journey together. And if there's any objector present who can, genuinely and in good faith, provide any just reason for these two lovers to not be wed, please speak now or forever hold your peace."

No one objected.

The captain continued to have Savathi and Peter read their vows and future promises to one another. Peter's were much funnier and contained a recurring theme of what he will do for Savathi if they ever get off this island and how he would be okay spending a lifetime on this island with her. One thing both speeches had in common was that they duly suggested landing on the island to be, indeed, a tragic happening, but that doing so allowed them to encounter one another, a gift they could find happiness in.

Almost everyone cried. Even the captain shed a tear.

After directing the bride and groom to place the rings upon each other's fingers and take their final vows, the captain announced, "By the power vested in me by the Federative Republic of Brazil and here upon this rock, this island of the Malaysian cays we have come to refer to as Caranos, in honor of the late and beloved Evita Caranos, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Once the newlyweds were chauffeured off in their make-shift carriage, there were so many different, creative events going on all around: shows, music, and vendors. Luckily for the island's inhabitants, cruise ships often employed many talented and skilled entertainers.

Some children watched in awe, clapping, laughing, and cheering, as a funnily dressed cartoonist performed his magic tricks and told entertaining stories. His face was white with dark circles emphasized about the eyes and a flamboyant red nose. He used potassium permanganate powder and sodium, calcium, alcohol, and several other liquid chemicals that were produced on the island to create colorful, chemical reactions that submersed the children in the illusion of magic. His clothing was tattered, but his makeup gave the appearance that it was all intentional. He even burned a few holes in his outfit while practicing for the performance. It was, of course, all deliberate decor as he was in very little danger of harm.

Everyone on the island had begun to run low on viable fabrics from what was previously their luggage. If not torn and resewn multiple times, the fibers making up their clothes were simply worn and thinned from suffering through the elements of a primitive environment. This day, however, was a holiday which meant that many had prepared gifts for their friends and loved ones. Ironically, most presents given were of clothes purchased from or made by one of the few dozen tailors. They were all women apart from one effeminate, flamboyant gentleman who had worked in the fashion industry for over a decade before boarding the Elevation. Together, they employed a small number of workers to extract fibers from plants, which were then used to spin different sized spools of threads and fabrics.

Synthesizing wavy comfort fabrics was a challenge at first, but after several months of diligent work, the process had its own supply chain microcosm. It produced hundreds of meters of different colored and textured fabrics each day on small, wooden machines designed by the engineers. The fabrics could then be cut and sewn into various types of clothes. The holiday season brought in outside help, including work for pay or volunteer. The demands were sometimes difficult to keep up with, but in the end, all quotas were filled comfortably by the tiny industry before the celebratory day's gifts were to be exchanged.