Kong (A James Conrad Love Story)

The Village

 Marlow hadn't changed much in the last four years. Still a creep, still completely senile. He hid it well, though. It had been weeks before I noticed anything off. I was so close to Conrad that I could smell the leftover cologne form when he was back in civilization. Still, it was no help.

"I didn't believe it when they said you were comin'. I was up all night, just thinking 'bout how me and Gunpei dreamed of this moment. Now here it is, twenty eight years, eleven months, eight failed attempts to get back to the world. And instead the world comes to me?" He turned to the Iwis. "Ain't that a crap?" They clearly didn't find it funny, because none of their faces even twitched. "They never smile," Marlow muttered. Maybe it was a little more obvious that he was nuts. Maybe I was just unobservant.

"Did you crash here?" Mason asked.

"Oh, sorry miss," He saluted. "Lieutenant Hank Marlow of the Forty-Fifth." Just to make things even weirder, he said in awe, "You are more beautiful than a hot dog and a beer at Wrigley Field on opening day." His eyes crossed slightly at his invisible food. "But you're real, right?"

"There's something out there, man," Slivko said as the Iwis put down their spears. I snorted slightly.

"Oh, there's a lot of things out there. Now come on, we gotta get home. You don't wanna be out here at night." Conrad stepped forwards, making me that much more obvious. Marlow finally took notice of me.

"Diana? Is that you?" Busted. I slowly peeked my head from behind Conrad. "It is you! How are ya, kid?" I made no reply except a furious glare.

"Wells said you could help us get off the island." Conrad was all business, trying to ignore the tension that was so thick you could cut it.

"Really." And with that, all the Iwis that had surrounded us disappeared back into their places. I edged out of the circle and followed behind Marlow. Slivko pulled up next to me.

"Do you trust this guy? He seemed a little nuts."

Tartly, I say, "No, I don't trust him. But he's your only way off this island." And it was true. I didn't know the first place to start, and I was pretty sure three days wasn't enough to learn.

A wall rose up from the valley below us. The spikes attached to it were gleaming crimson in the sun, boasting how many creatures it was able to keep at bay. I found it gruesome and horrible, but it allowed them to live peacefully.

As we walked, Marlow narrated. "You probably noticed a lot of weird thing outside here. As long as we stay in here, where the people live, we'll be all right."

Mason asked, "That wall. Is that supposed to keep out that thing?" Marlow let out a hoarse chuckle.

"Nah. He's not the one they're trying to keep out."

"What?" Brooks asked. Everyone looked very confused. I just shuddered and tried to ignore the blood. When we reached the wall, the sun was just starting to reach its peak. We slipped between two posts, into one of the strangest encampments. Small huts were hunched around the river, filled with strange people. Their skin was tattooed and colored, a mosaic. I could hear Mason's sharp intake of breath behind me, and I didn't blame her.

"These people live in the top of the trees while we're down in the roots. Some of 'em don't even seem to age. No crime, no personal property, they're past all that."

We reached the edge of the huts and an old married couple emerged, tattooed blue. Marlow held out his hands slowly, and they bowed. Marlow said to them as they passed, "Thank you." I nodded to them, and they nodded to me. I remembered them from my time here- even though they had no government, these people were the uncontested leaders. "So, good news. They say you can shack up here for now."

Conrad said from the end of the group, "I didn't hear them say anything."

"Well, they don't speak too much. If you've been here as long as I have, you start to understand."

"Then why do you still talk?" I muttered.

Nieves pushed to the front of the group. "Wait a minute. We can't stay here. We have to get off the island. We have lives. I have a life." There was a mild panic in his voice.

"Nieves," Conrad cautioned. "Now is not the time." Always the diplomat.

Marlow stared down at him and said finally, "What lands here tends to stay here."