Island of the Unemployed

ON THE ROCKS

The boat jostled wildly, providing River opportunity to dip his paddle into the choppy sea only when the boat rolled to his side. A storm brewed in his stomach with a turbulence that rivaled the tempestuousness of the sea. As he reached his paddle downward, his mouth opened involuntarily, and partially digested fish gushed out like lava from a volcano.

"What is it?" he shouted.

"Houses!" Vladi called back.

He stopped paddling long enough to wipe the pouring rain from his eyes, so he could take a look for himself. Vladi was right. The rolling hills were covered with houses, lots and lots of houses! If they landed, they would be fugitives once again, but this time there would be nowhere to hide.

"What are we going to do now?" Vladi turned to Adrienne.

"We don't have a choice. We need to make it to shore. If we anchor by that cliff, we might not be seen."

"If you listened to me we wouldn't be in this mess!" Deja angrily shouted at Adrienne.

"Maybe, but it's too late for that now. We'll anchor the boat as close as possible to shore, and set sail after the storm blows over."

They maneuvered the boat to the south of the island. Then headed north towards a rocky beach situated beneath a tall, almost vertical cliff. Rocks jutted out of the water here and there, threatening to rip large holes in the hull of the boat. Kadee kept watch, directing the paddlers as they made their approach. Loud scraping sounds ominously rang out as they grazed one rock after the next.

"What are you doing? We can't get any closer! You're going to wreck the boat!" Deja shouted at Adrienne.

"Most of the people on here can't swim. We have to get as close to shore as possible."

They accelerated, as the waves began to crest, pushing them faster and faster toward shore.

"There is a rock over there!" Kadee pointed to a large pillar jutting out of the water, almost directly in front of them. Lum rushed into position, and pushed off the rock with his paddle, saving the boat, and shattering the paddle.

Soon, any semblance of control was lost, as an enormous wave took hold of the boat, and drove it toward the rocky beach.

"Hold on to something!" Adrienne shouted, as the boat turned sideways.

The boat, slammed into a boulder just a few feet from shore, and jerked to a halt. There was a moment of relative calm, as the boat swayed, and groaned with each passing wave. Kadee took inventory. Somehow no one was thrown overboard.

"What were you were saying about setting sail again when the storm blew over?" Deja shouted angrily at Adrienne. She took Lum by the arm, and stormed toward the side of the boat closest to shore.

"Where are you going?" Adrienne shouted.

"To look around! Come on, Lum! We can get off here, over here by the ROCK WE JUST HIT!"

Deja pulled Lum to the side of the boat, and looked down at the large rock they had just hit. She timed her jump onto the rock, as the waves jostled the boat to and fro. As the rain poured down, she surveyed the area from the top of the rock, searching for a way to scale the steep cliff. Then she leapt down to a gravel beach.

"We can get to the top of the cliff over here." She pointed to a manageable-looking slope to the left of the cliff, once Lum had joined her.

"What are we going to do once we get up there?" Lum shouted in an effort to be heard over the raging storm.