Shipwrecked (Choose Your Own Adventure)

Twenty-Seven

''Guys?" you say. "I think we should go after George."

"What?" John cries. "Didn't you even read the previous chapter?"

"I read it, but I still think we should go after him," you say. "He needs our help and it's our duty to give it to him!"

The others grumble and moan and complain, but you eventually win them over. You ask Sam for directions to the Drongos' campsite, which he gladly gives to you.

"Just be careful, won't you, dear?" Sam says anxiously.

"Of course," you reply. "Thank you for your help."

Sam smiles. "No worries, my dear. It's all part of the job."

So you, John, Paul, and Ringo set off in search of George. You come across a very deep pit, but George hasn't fallen down it.

"Strange," you say, but you carry on walking anyway.

After about ten minutes, you and the lads reach the Drongos' campsite. There are hundreds of them, not just the one you saw earlier! They're all dancing around a huge bonfire, chanting and clapping and stamping their feet.

"Cripes," John whispers. "First killer crabs, and now this?! We're giving bloody Bear Grylls a run for his money!"

"Yes, but do you see George anywhere?" you hiss.

The four of you scan the campsite from your vantage point (which is from behind a big rock, by the way), then Ringo starts pointing excitedly at something further ahead.

"Look!" he says. "There's George! Oh, and baby Serenity, too!"

"What?" you say. "How is the possible? Serenity isn't really here! It's all a trick! Isn't it?"

"Apparently not!" says Ringo. "See for yourself!"

You peer into the distance and spot George sitting cross-legged in a tiny bamboo cage. He has a small bundle clutched in his arms and is rocking it back and forth. The bundle is letting out tiny fretful wails so George has to keep shushing it.

"Good grief!" you say. "It is Serenity! She's really here!"

"Yes, I know that," says Ringo. "But how? And why?"

"These Drongos or whatever they are must be magical," John says. "That's the only feasible explanation."

"Whatever the reason is, we need to save them!" Paul says. "But how are we going to do that? They'll tear us to pieces."

You glance around for inspiration and spot a nearby line of Drongos lined up to get their faces painted (like the little one you saw earlier). This gives you an idea.

You instruct Ringo to sneak over and snatch up a pot of green facepaint, which he does successfully. You then proceed to smear it all over your face, and the other lads get the same treatment.

"Now what?" John asks.

"Now we edge over through the bushes," you explain. "That way if any of those Drongos look over at us, they'll think we're part of the foliage."

"Oh! I see!" says John.

"You clever girl, you!" Paul says, grieving you a big kiss.

"Let's go!" Ringo says, getting down on his hands and knees.

The four of you crawl over to the cage, moving perhaps an inch per second. The Drongos don't notice you at all; they're too busy dancing and chanting and playing with facepaint. You reach the cage eventually. George is absolutely thrilled to see you.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to see you!" George says. He holds Serenity up and makes her wave her tiny clenched fist. "Reeny's happy to see you as well!"

"We're happy to see both of you," you say, pulling a bobby pin out of your hair. "But right now we have to focus on setting you free."

"Of course, of course," George says.

You manage to pick the lock without too much trouble and help George out of the cage. He gives you a grateful hug and kiss, and then makes Serenity do the same. She stops sniffling and giggles delightedly.

"Right," you say, "let's get out of here!"

Just as you and the boys are about to make a run for it, one of the Drongos spots you. It screams out some thing you don't understand, but it certainly doesn't sound good!

"Run!" you shout.

The lads kick up their heels and run like crazy, with you leading the way. It's a manic chase through the jungle, full of stumbling, screaming, and enough adrenaline to last a lifetime. You eventually burst out of the jungle and end up on the beach where your whole adventure started!

"Look!" you cry. "There's the rowboat! We can escape if we row hard enough!"

The lads agree that this is a good idea and start charging towards the boat. You follow them - and trip over something buried in the sand! You take a closer look and see it's a lamp!

"What the hell?" you say, picking it up.

"What the blazes are you doing?!" George cries out. "Come on! We have to get out of here!"

"Hold up!" you say. "I think I've found our way out of here!"

"What?!'' the lads cry, filing out of the boat and rushing over.

"It's a magic lamp, boys! We can use it to wish our way out!"

"You better do it quickly, love," Paul says anxiously. "Those little beasts have tiny legs, but they shouldn't be too far behind by now!"

"Okay, okay!" you say. "I'll run the lamp and wish -"

"Let me do it," says John.

You all stare at him as if he's insane.

"Please let me do it," John says pleadingly. "I promise I won't mess up this time!"

"I don't know, John," you say. "You messed up pretty badly last time."

You think about it for a moment, toying with the lamp. It would be nice to make the wish yourself and be the hero, but John looks so eager to do it.

"What do you think?" you ask the other boys. "Should I let John -"

"NO!" they cry out in unison.

You're still not sure.

If you choose to make the wish yourself, go to Twenty-Eight.

If you let John have his way and make the wish, go to Twenty-Nine.