Page 78 of Adrift

“But that’s my specialty of the day: coconut, pork, and ass.” Dante looks up at me.

Easton pauses, one of the two plastic water pitchers we have in his hand. “I’m going to go. Unless you want me to stay?”

“I’m fine.” I give Easton a fraction of a smile. He nods and heads to the opening in the woods. I watch him go and then glance at the ocean. I want to get cleaned up, but it’s low tide and the water is far away. My ankle doesn’t look as good out in the daylight. And I really want to be healed by the time we’re rescued. “How’s the smoked meat?”

Dante stands up straighter. His hand goes to his head.

“Whoa. Are you okay?” I reach for him.

“Yeah, my head is still throbbing. And the ringing in my ears is not going away. I’m a little lightheaded. But you tell Easton and...” Dante points at me with a large wooden spoon.

I put my hands up in surrender. “I won’t. I swear.”

“Good.” He takes a small bundle of banana leaves from a new log that’s behind him. “We’re finishing up the rest of the fresh meat today. I want to save the smoked meat for when it’s raining or something. But here, try a piece.” He places a small sliver of the meat in the middle of my hand. “It’s not a beef jerky you get from a convenience store.”

I stare at the shriveled piece of meat, but then I pop it into my mouth and chew on it. It’s tough but tasty. “It’s good.”

“You don’t have to lie to me, Haley. It’s edible. But I know I can do better.”

I lean forward with my elbows on my knees. “Thank you. Are you sure you shouldn’t have Easton take a look at you again?”

“What’s he going to do? I’m not going to take any more of the pain pills. We need to save them. I’ll make do.”

I nod. If this had happened on the boat, I would have a pocket full of ibuprofen. But it’s a sprain; it hurts, but it will get better.

I poke at the fire while Dante scrapes the coconut and some meat into a coconut shell. He holds it out but doesn’t let go when I put my hand around the bottom. “Thank you.”

He’s standing over me. “I know you and I got off on the wrong foot. No pun intended.” He glances down at my ankle. “But if something happens that you don’t want, I will rip that person apart. I don’t care if they’re faster than me or built like a truck—I will end them. Do I make myself clear?” His eyes are wide, and when he lets go of the bowl, my insides are shaking. I’m caught completely off-guard and have no idea what to say.

He comes back with a spoon and hands it to me. I take it from him, and he nods. He moves a few pieces of wood next to me, piles coals on top of his cooking rock, and adds a few other logs. “Can you mind the fire? I’ll be back in ten minutes.” He almost smiles at me. “Probably less.”

“Sure. I’m happy to help. I can keep it going if you want to lie down?”

His eyes flash like he wants to ask me something else, but he doesn’t. “I’ll be right back. Unless you don’t need me? Then I might poke around and see if there are any edible plants.”

“Oh, I’d love to help you with that.” I shrug. “Some other time, though. Have fun.” My heart is thudding in my chest. I eat my breakfast slowly. I’ve got a bit of a headache too. But that’s most likely my caffeine addiction smacking me across the head. I find myself reaching for my phone, but it’s in the water bag in the raft. Turned off.

I follow a pattern: eat a few bites, watch the horizon. For a second, I think I see something. But it’s gone. A log or a whale maybe, but it’s gone not long after I look. Fire, bite, watch, over and over.

I’m eating my last bite when Easton comes from the woods, the container of water in one hand and arm full of firewood. He drops the firewood next to the empty smoking racks. “Hey.” He gives me a chin nod.

“Hi.”

“How was breakfast?” Easton puts the water on the rock and covers it with the little scrap of fabric we’ve been using to keep bugs out. It’s amazing how fast we’re developing systems. We’re all drinking the water from the stream now, since we don’t have a way to boil the amount of water we need. The raft wasn’t stocked with supplies for in case you find land.

“Really good.” I hold the little cup upside down.

“Good.” He reaches for the cup.

I don’t give it up. “It’s fine. I need something to do.”

“It’s no problem.” The way he says it tells me he’s been assigned babysitting duty.

“Right. What’s going on? Where are Calvin and Zane?” I shake my head, looking back at the woods, not letting go of my cup. I can wait for the tide to pull the water in.

“They’re gathering firewood. They’ll be back soon.” Easton puts another log on the fire.

“Fine.”

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