Chapter 12 Scene 2



Tom is chopping down a tree in the jungle above the cliffs when he hears Sophia's scream, and hurries back to the beach, passing John along the way. Kuruka is farther away near the Excavations working on piecing together some branches and liana for a bridge, so she didn't hear Sophia and was too far out of the way for Tom to get her. John follows Tom, and while Tom is faster it still takes a frustratingly long time as he has to go east to the elevator first, and then run back west. He fears the worst, but when he gets closer is surprised to see Sophia talking to a newcomer. The newcomer appears to be a native boy no more than twelve years old, and is carrying a quiver and bow and arrow. Tom reasons that Sophia must have been startled at the sight. Then as Tom gets close enough to talk with them, he sees the dead hyena with arrows sticking into it and figures there is a different explanation which he is about to find out.

"Oh, Mr. Tom!"

"Sophia! Are you all right?"

"Yes, thanks to Phato here. He shot that hyena that was about to kill Mum and me."

Tom turns to Phato. "We all thank you, young man. No animals have ever bothered us in this part of the island before.  I don't know why it was here now and where they came from."

"It came from that beach bunker," answers Sophia.

Tom looks at the opening to the beach bunker where he had found purple and green mushrooms and other hyenas, shooting some for their skins.

"You mean it climbed that ladder? They never did before, so I didn't think it was possible."

There is a pause, and Phato answers, "That hyena looked very hungry. Animals can do amazing things in those circumstances."

"I'd better cover that bunker so that doesn't happen again."

Quest 2: Cover the beach bunker so no more hyenas can get out that way.

Tom looks again at Phato. "Where do you come from? It was very fortunate that you arrived here when you did."

"I live on the island to the west of here. And I came because it was the will of the Spirits."

Tom notes that Phato talks like the natives from Sanctuary Island and reasons that many tribes on the archipelago may have similar beliefs. "How many more live with you on that island?"

"I am living alone."

That strikes Tom as odd. It sounds like Phato doesn't want to talk about it, and Tom has more questions. "How did you get here from that island? There are reefs and cliffs between these two islands."

"I shot an arrow tied to liana at one end and a hook at the other into a palm tree on your island. I climbed a palm tree on my island and tied the liana around it as tightly as I could and crawled along under the rope to your island.  This was over reefs surrounding both islands but south of the cliffs on yours.  Then I climbed down the palm tree.  Soon I must return the same way."

John catches up and learns the story. He comments, "If Amelia was bitten by a new snake, it would really help to have examine one or two more of them. If we could get a sample of its venom we might be able to make an antidote."

Sophia has been gazing at Phato and a thought occurs to her. "Phato, is your belt a blue snake?"

Phato figures that Sophia is referring to the waistband of his loincloth. "It is a snakeskin that I dyed blue with rosemary."

Sophia is encouraged. "So there are snakes on your island. Did you kill that one?"

"Yes, there are snakes in the swamp on my island. I am a hunter.  I hunt for my food and clothing.  This piece is skin from a ram that I also dyed blue." Phato pats the main part of his loincloth.

Turning to Amelia, Sophia asks, "Mum, can you look at Phato's belt? Does that look like the snake that bit you?"

Still lying down, Amelia blinks, slowly turns her head, and looks at Phato. "The snake was gray ... but other than that ... yes."

Sophia is excited. "Phato, Mr. John says if we had another snake or two that may help find a cure. Can you kill one or two more and bring them here?"

Quest 3: Kill two swamp snakes and bring them back to the camp.

Tom interrupts. "Sophia, you can't ask this boy to go into a swamp and risk ..."

But Phato states, "Yes, I can. I shall go now."

Phato heads for the palm tree he mentioned while Tom follows him. "Phato, maybe you should let me ..."

Without a word, Phato expertly climbs the palm tree, wrapping his legs around it and shimmying up. Tom realizes there is no way he can do that. Furthermore, he isn't sure if the vine Phato strung between the two trees will hold Tom's weight. All Tom can do is say, "Phato, be careful."

After Phato crawls along the vine and disappears from sight, Tom remembers that he has to cover the opening of the beach bunker so no more hyenas can get out of it. He thinks back to when he broke the stone covering the bunker with a hammer. That covering disintegrated into a bunch of green rocks, and they had proved useful. But Tom now wonders why he never thought of making a cover for the bunker that could be opened and closed like a door.

The task of covering the bunker opening requires fifteen boards, five lianas, ten rocks, four pieces of clay, and two pieces of rubber. He chops down two dead trees to get six boards, then cuts off three pieces of liana. Waiting for that to grow back, he digs out four pieces of clay from a clay pit. Next he cuts down a rubber tree and gets the pieces of rubber.

Nicole realizes she never finished making the fruit cocktails. The watermelons have grown by now, so she just needs to gather the oranges and coconuts she threw at the hyena. Along with the kiwis and sugar cane, she makes the three fruit cocktails while John waits with Amelia and Sophia. When the cocktails are finished she brings them to the mother and daughter. Amelia drinks hers and feels better, but not enough to get up and move around.

Quest 1 complete!

Meanwhile Tom cuts down another tree to get three more boards, and then cuts down two more pieces of liana. He starts building the cover for the beach bunker with what he has, and then cuts down another dead tree for three more boards. Tom almost finishes the job when he has to go get three more boards by chopping down one more tree. Finally the job is finished, leaving Tom exhausted.

Quest 2 complete!

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