The Lost Ones

Chapter 5

Kit strolled through the grassy area behind the cave, kicking the rocks at his feet. A sharp stone caught his eye and he reached for it, clutching it tightly in his fist until the piercing pain numbed.

In a loud whisper, he breathed, "I'm sorry..." He could feel his pounding heart tearing out of his chest. I mustn't get angry. Anger is a sin. He let out a prolonged sigh, pressing his back against a long, slim coconut tree. And the consequence of sin is punishment...

He stood in silence, listening to the rustling noise of the wind blowing through the trees, his mind pondering the shipwreck incident, why it happened, why he had survived, why his friends didn't. It had to be some sort of punishment. God's punishment...he realized.

Releasing his grip on the stone, he started back towards the cave.

The first thing Skye noticed was his hand.

"Geez, what'd you do? Get in a fist fight with a swamp lion?" she asked. Kit saw her sitting by the fire, a handful of tiny seashells scattered in front of her.

"I'm going to explore the rest of the island," he told her, as he walked over to the basket of salvaged materials. "Mind if I take a fruit? If I do run into a swamp lion, I can use it instead of my arm to feed it."

Skye stood up. "I'm coming too," she decided.

"That's okay. I like to be alone." Kit was walking out when he realized Skye was following behind him. "What are you doing? I said—"

"I don't need your permission to do things," she snapped. She reached for his empty hand and shoved something wet and scaly into his palm, and with an obnoxious assertion, added, "Here's a sardine. Swamp lions don't eat fruit."

Staring at the back of Skye as she exited the cave, Kit allowed her a head start, so he could place the fruit back, wrap the slimy piece of fish in leaves...and pray for the courage not to push her off a cliff.

There were mountains on the island. The isolated piece of land was much bigger than Kit had expected. Fortunately, the mountain slopes were gradual enough for him to walk on without having to put too much pressure on his ankle to climb, though his injury seemed to be slowly healing.

The two followed a stony path heading upward. They were surrounded by towering willows, which shielded them from the blistering heat. Occasionally, Kit saw Skye bend over to pick something off the ground. She cupped the tiny objects in her hand.

"What are you doing?" Kit questioned.

"Collecting shells," Skye replied, undivided attention on the various, miniscule seashells in her hand.

"What for?"

She gave him an irked look. "Why not?" She went back to meticulously examining the irregular oval shell that she held up to her face. The smaller end was pink and gradually faded into a cream color. Kit couldn't help himself.

"That one is a Rose Petal Tellin," he explained. Skye looked at him. He pointed down to her cupped hand. "And that one right there is an Imperial Venus. It almost looks like the Elegant Dosinia beside it, but the Imperial Venus is longer and has those rigid contours."

Skye nodded, impressed. "So, you know about shells?" she asked.

"Yeah, my dad and I used to collect them for my mom on the beach by our house. She would make necklaces out of them for us. But we never wanted to wear them."