The Island

(Chapter 9) Three Idiots (Revised)

Looking up into the sky I come to the realization that it may rain. We have been searching for what seems like hours. Either I'm going to find a corpse or a living breathing human.

Melissa looks over at me, "You called those things Raptors. Like as in Velociraptors?"

I nod, "The man told me that the animals on this island are dinosaurs."

She stops and asks, "Well, how is that possible, dinosaurs went extinct. Why is this island different, than any other place on the planet?"

I just shrug my shoulders, "I don't know. They survived some how and now they are being poached. I don't blame them for attacking us."

Her eyes widen, "You don't blame them? What the hell is that supposed to mean? They tried to kill us, I am really damn surprised you lived. They cut you open like a Turkey on Thanksgiving. Blood, everywhere, don't tell me you envy them."

I shake my head, "Its not just envy, I. . . Understand."

She gives me a stern look, "They are dinosaurs. They don't understand, they don't rationalize, they are mindless and all they think about is, KILL."

I shrug once more, "Maybe not."

Melissa shoves me and sighs, "Henry could be killed for all we know, by those creatures and you're giving them the benefit of the doubt?"

My face turns toward the open forest, "Melissa, you may think all things are made in stone, that things will never change, but I'm here to tell you, FUCK THAT SHIT. I refuse to believe that the world revolves on the rules and that is it. Rules can be changed or maybe even broken. That's what separates those who don't, to those who do." I take a long pause then continue, "Tigers are on the endangered list. . . they're predators. Would you give the Tigers the, 'benefit of the doubt' if they tried to kill you?"

Her eyes find the floor, "Well, who knows how long we'll be neighbors to, 'predators'."

Screams in the distance send us into a full sprint. We enter a clearing and Henry is pinned to the ground with a Raptor biting his arm. Without thinking I kick the raptor off of him and yell, "Don't!"

With almost an obedience the raptor stops. It just stands there, motionless. We stare at each other, not breaking eye contact. With blood dripping from its mouth it roars at me and turns around, walking away.

Melissa then asks, "Did you scare it?"

I shake my head, "I wish that was the case."

I can hear the concern in her voice, "Then what just happened."

I shrug with fear, "I don't know."

The day ends with Henry bleeding all over the place. He has gotten really weak, Melissa says that he could end up dying in his sleep if he doesn't get help.

A minute later I get an idea, "Melissa, I guess its time to be stupid."

She tilts her head, "What are you talking about?"

I point at myself, "I've seen first hand what that fruit can do. It has this healing property."

She shakes her head, "Yes, you're stupid. You have proof that it works?"

I lift my shirt and say, "No scars, I was holding my intestines, Melissa. Explain that!" I lift myself off the ground, "If I can get at least one, Henry will be fine by morning."

Melissa protests, "It's going to get dark soon, you won't be able to see your hands in front of you."

I shrug, "If you have a better idea, I am all ears."

She just sighs, "Please, don't die. I don't want to be left alone."

I nod, "I know." Spinning on my heels I run toward the mountains. Running makes me know how much out of shape I am. Feels like every 10 steps I have to take a breather.

I can see the body of the man from the top of the mountain. I can see it again, knocking the gun out of his hand and seeing the terror in his eyes. He knew what I did. . . so did I.

I run down the mountain toward the trees in the middle. Reaching up I take a fruit and run back.

I am stopped by a figure standing in front of me, I know what it is so I call out, "Please, for some reason, I know you understand. My friend is sick, let me heal him." The raptor walks forward and calls. Before I know it, I'm surrounded and finding myself pleading, "Please."

As if I hadn't said anything, they close in around me, making the circle smaller and smaller. Talking isn't going to work.

Before me an opening makes itself and a raptor walks through. It towers all the others, its scars show through the descending sun. It calls out and looks at the fruit in my hand. Then before I know it I feel like I have finally gotten through to them. Whatever this fruit is, makes them smarter, they can communicate and I feel like they are trying to communicate with me.

As I stare at them calling to each other, their calls morph and change. It gets clearer and almost like the world stops and their conversation appears. I don't know what I am hearing and I rub my ears in disbelief.

"You can't trust them."

"Well, that's not you're choice. . . This one is different than all the others."

"Father, please."

"Buddy! Don't make me question loyalty here."

"No, you can never question that with me."

"Good."

I rub my ears again, trying to pop them. . . have I finally lost it? I shake and talk, "I can understand you."

The big one tilts his head, "What do you think he's trying to say, Buddy?"

The one next to him just growls at the floor, "Who knows, they are all the same. Don't forget how many kin we've lost."

The big one turns roaring, "Don't remind me of those who we have lost!"

I repeat myself, "I can understand you!"

The big one steps back, "I have a feeling its trying to tell us something."

Then the one behind me calls out, "Give it a treat. What is it Batty?"

I get confused, "Batty?"

The big one walks forward, "Drop it."

Immediately and without question I drop the fruit.

It just stares at me, "It understood." 

The one next to him then growls again, "It doesn't understand, The Batty's just know one thing... destroy."

The big one turns to it and snarls at him, "Buddy, silence!" It turns back at me and asks, "Do you understand me?" He doesn't seem to understand when I nod, so he then says, "Pick up the fruit if you understand."

I reach down and lift it up and hold it out to him, "I understand." Then a sudden realization makes its appearance, am I going crazy? Maybe I have finally lost it. How else would I understand? I slap myself, "Wake the fuck up, damn it!"

The big one then asks, "What did it just do?"

Buddy then answers, "Maybe its trying to befriend you. I don't feel that you are safe, Father."

Father turns, "You're concern is noted, Buddy." Then another turn, "Kid, get it out of here. It can have the fruit." Father then looks me directly in the eyes, "Since you have shown you understand. . ." He roars in my face, "If you ever come back, you better be ready to die."

The run back is short. Melissa asks me what happened, but I just ignore her and lay myself across the floor. I think I need sleep, my brain is fried, I'm hearing things that aren't there. Before I fall into my sleep, my mind considers that maybe what just happened, wasn't me going crazy.