the ISLE

A Fool's Dream

As the days passed, Jati's life hung in the balance, his body inflamed with fever, his wounds festering. Nuri worked night and day to save him, never leaving his side, hand-feeding him tea made from herbs or hearty meat broth made with boiled vegetables for nourishment. Several times she sent Jack in search of more healing plants, the fresher the plant the more potent the medicine. Singularly focused, she put all of her energies into healing Jati, often forgoing sleep and meals.

Lantern mostly stayed out of the way, silently watching and waiting. He felt responsible for Jati's welfare, especially since the youth was inexperienced and under his watch when the attack happened. If he pulled through, Jack resolved to ensure the boy could take care of himself.

Stirring the fire one cold morning, letting the growing flames push the chill from the air, he heard a faint movement from the sick bed. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Jati sitting up on his elbow, looking around as if bewildered about his surroundings. When their eyes met the young man stiffened uncertainly.

"Nuri did not heal you just so I can harm you. You are safe here, Jati, do you remember?" It took the Anaiyan a moment to recall the events leading up to his current condition.

"Jack, the boar, you killed it."

"Yes, with your help. That is going to be a constant reminder of that day." Lantern indicated the wound on the young man's leg.

Looking down at the bandage, Jati's face clouded slightly. A severe leg wound could keep him from becoming a Hunter, and without that, life held no honor. He glanced back up at Lantern, his expression worried. Jack answered his unspoken question.

"It is healing fine. Give it time; you will probably have no more than a slight limp. One day it will just be a scar, a reminder of a long-ago day." Though he sounded sure, in reality, Lantern was not entirely confident of the boy's full recovery. Shredded muscle did not always heal soundly.

Jati looked only slightly comforted by his words, but Lantern was not the type to press reassurance. He had said his piece, let the boy...man- choose what he wanted to accept. Turning back to the fire Jack picked up a bunch of fresh fruit and skinned the lumpy, fibrous outer peel. He and Nuri had come across this species some time back, and as neither of them had seen it before, they named it after him. Jackfruit.

Each fruit was large, weighing from three to five pounds, with a green, cactus-like rind, only without the spikes. The juicy pulp around the seeds tasted similar to pineapple but milder. It was especially good when served hot, and they ate it frequently with breakfast.

Slicing each fruit in half, he wrapped them in fig-like leaves and placed them on the hot embers, anticipating the sweet breakfast Nuri laid out. She was down at the water bathing but would be back soon. His mind drifted along that road for a moment, seeing her smooth skin in his mind's eye, that heavy blanket of black hair sleek and wet- Snapping himself back to reality Lantern physically shook his head to rid the images from his mind. This was no way to keep things simple, he should know better.

Jati watched with interest as the older man stared into the fire, his eyes becoming lost as his mind turned to something else. He had a keen interest in Jack, a man of such size and strength, powerful, but not without mercy. He did not come from a warrior hunter tribe, yet he was very skilled and sure of himself, and Jati wanted to learn more. When Jack suddenly sat back and shook his head as if to clear it the young man smiled. It was not hard to guess whom he had been thinking of.

Nuri washed quickly, the air almost as cold as the water, knowing this would probably be the last time she bathed in the pool until the rainy season ended. She stepped out of the water and grabbed a rabbit fur towel she had stitched together and rubbed the water off her skin, grateful Jack had once mentioned needing something to dry off with after bathing. Slipping into her dress, she pondered the day's activities.