Page 35

Closure

Easton

“ W hat exactly is that?” I point at the very small raft that Calvin’s constructing on the beach. “You’re not thinking we’re going to float away on that, are you?”

“Fuck no, Rockwell.” He doesn’t look up. “It’s a platform for when we go back to the cave.”

“The cave?” I ask. “Like, on the mountain? I thought we decided we’re not going over there unless we have to for food.”

“Nah, man,” he says, “the water cave. You know, the one she found when she was looking for us—with the box wrapped in a thick rope.”

“Oh, right. But why? Just leave it alone.”

“You’re not in the least bit curious?”

“No, man, not at all,” I say. I might be a little curious, though.

“Okay, well, I am, so I’m making a raft to tether on the back of the WaveRunner. I mean, we can use it for other things too, right?”

“I suppose so. Just... you’re not going to get me all Tom Hanks, holding on to a volleyball, riding the currents. We haven’t seen anything out there but unfriendlies.”

“No, just relax. This isn’t for anything other than pulling behind the WaveRunner so we can use it to help float up the box.”

“Got it,” I say. “You want some help?”

An hour later, we have a two-sided bamboo raft with a layer of the emergency raft sandwiched between it.

“So when are we going to do this?”

He cranes his neck up at the sky. “Not today.”

“Yeah, you’re right. It looks like it’s gonna rain again. I thought the rainy season was supposed to be back in the fall, not in February.”

He shrugs. “I’m not the damn weatherman.”

I nod. With each passing week, he seems to be getting crankier. It’s becoming a bit of a thorn in everyone’s side. If he wants to take the WaveRunner for a little spin and see what’s under the water, why the hell not?

“Let’s do it,” I say.

“By the look of the sky, it should only rain for a little bit.”

“Now you’re the weatherman?” he says.

“It’s not hard. Rain comes from east of the island and moves west, to the other side. All you have to do is look.” I motion my hand across the horizon like a presenter.

“So we go this afternoon.”

“With Haley,” I add.

“Obviously,” Calvin grunts.

And the rain starts. We take cover, running for the camp.

In the last few weeks, Zane’s been working on his Christmas gift to Haley.

There’s a side platform coming off our sleeping platform, just big enough for washing up and some storage.

But we’ve also now got a cover over the table and most of the kitchen area—it’s part tarp, part roof, and mostly waterproof.

Sam and Dante are sitting at the table with their lunch.

Dante cups his hands at the sleep platform. “You coming down?”

A few seconds later, Zane pokes his head out. “In a minute or two.”

“There might not be any left in a minute or two—Calvin just showed up,” Dante announces.

“Hardy har,” Calvin says.

I look between Haley and Sam. “So, after lunch, it looks like it’s going to clear up.”

Sam puts his spoon down and holds my gaze. “There’s definitely more to that statement,” he says.

“Right, yeah. So after lunch, I’m thinking that Haley, Calvin, and I’ll take the WaveRunner and Calvin’s new raft and go see what’s in that crate.”

“No,” Sam says. “That’s a waste of gas. If you’re going to do it, go tomorrow. Take the whole day. Take supplies, do what needs to be done. Get some fruit, then drop the raft off.”

“Or we could take the tender and all go,” Dante says.

Calvin’s head jerks to the right. I’m not the only one who picks up on it—Haley does too. “What, you don’t think I can help you bury the villagers?”

“You’re right. This needs to be done. We’ve gone this long without doing it, and it’s time,” Sam says.

Calvin nods. “Okay, then we go tomorrow. But not all of us. Sam’s right.

We shouldn’t be using all of our gas at once.

We’ll get up early, drop the raft off, take the WaveRunner around the side of the island, and do what we need to do.

And then, as time allows, we can investigate the cave some more and what’s under it. ”

The sun rose on a clear blue sky half an hour ago. There’s a tinge of pink left on the horizon. Sam was right—yesterday would have been a rush. Today’s tides are perfect. We’ll drop the raft off at the cave, go around the other side of the island, and make it home before dark.

The new raft smacks into the low surf, splashing up a wave that hits me in the face.

“You’re sure about this?” Haley crosses her arms over her chest. “Of course you are.”

“We’ll know if the thing is going to hold together before we get to the bluff.

I can swim back. And yes, before you ask, I’m going to wear a life jacket.

” Even though the thing gets in the way of my stroking, especially with my right shoulder.

But if the raft flips and knocks me unconscious? Yeah, it’s a good idea.

“Or the three of us can ride on the seat?”

“This will be a workout on the way over. I’ll do that on the way back.” The plan was to fill our largest bag with coconuts and more durable fruit and trail it behind us.

“More mangos,” Dante yells as the WaveRunner pulls us out through the surf. “And make sure Sassy comes back in one piece.”

I’m sure that has Sam scowling. But I’m not looking back.

I’m holding on to the ropes hanging from the corners of the raft.

Haley sits between Calvin’s legs. But he’s the one driving.

There’s no room for her to hold on behind him because he’s wearing a huge pack.

A pack that will turn into a small floating fruit storage on the way back.

Calvin takes it easy getting out past the breakers.

But I’m regretting my decision. We should have crowded together on the seat.

I’m being tossed about. But on the other side of the breakers, the sideways crashing of the waves against the raft is more invigorating than terrifying. I whoop as we pass the bluffs.

Calvin slows near the cave. It being low tide, he pulls right in. It’s an easy turn around. Haley slides into the water and helps me untie the raft.

“I know we’re doing the crate later, but I’m going down for a quick look,” I say.

Calvin’s silent.

“I’ll come with you.” Haley takes off her thin backpack and life jacket, hands them to Calvin, and dives in. She’s a few strokes ahead of me when we get to the box.

They’re right, it’s old. And it’s been down here a while.

Not that I’m an expert—Calvin’s the archeologist—but it’s been at least ten years, maybe longer.

There are long strands of seaweed tangled in the rope, and there are a ton of things growing on it.

I run my fingers over it, and it doesn’t feel like rope, more like crystals and mineral deposits.

Holding on to the box, I make my way around it.

Haley brushes my shoulder with her fingers and signals she’s going up.

I’ve got enough air left to make my way around the whole box.

I pull on the rope, but it doesn’t budge.

The lid’s not going to come off without the rope gone.

I head up to the surface and come up on the side of the raft. I want to look at the box again.

“We’ve got a plan,” Calvin says. “Stick to the plan for the day.”

“Fine. Your raft is going to work well whenever we figure out what’s in the box,” Haley says.

“That’s yet to be seen,” I say, treading water next to the WaveRunner while Haley situates herself behind Calvin.

“Ready?” Haley reaches down and gives me a hand up behind her. I shake off the water and take the smaller pack from her, slinging it on my back.

I have one hand around her, and the other clutches the seat.

Calvin turns us around. With the raft tied up at the cave, Calvin’s pack—converted into a fruit float for the return trip—bobs in the water behind us.

The fruit float has been so useful to bring back a decent amount of food.

We’ve been making runs with the WaveRunner every few weeks, for the last two months, to get fruit. But usually only two people go.

“Chicken Beach,” Haley shouts into the wind.

“Yes,” Calvin says as we race by.

But Haley hasn’t been out here, not yet. I lean in and whisper in her ear. “Hold on. When we round the peninsula, the current changes and the waves really kick up.”

She flattens herself against Calvin.

Maybe it’s because it’s low tide, but the waves aren’t much of anything today. We call the side of the beach between Chicken Beach and the stream Pomelo Beach now, and the rest of it the Village.

Haley’s head turns to watch Pomelo Beach vanish. Calvin takes us onto the Village beach. There are remnants of a pier that I didn’t notice the last time I was here.

I’m pretty sure Zane and Calvin have been coming this far whenever they come, though they don’t talk about it.

There’s a piling near the shore solid enough to tie the WaveRunner to.

Calvin lifts Haley off and carries her to the beach, even though she’s still wet from her dive in the cave. But then he just likes carrying her around.

“Full disclosure, Chiefie: Whenever I make fruit runs, I’ve been working on digging.”

“I know,” Haley says. “We all knew.”

“You’re not mad?”

“No. It’s not you to go hiking or running over the top of the mountain by yourself or doing the journey for no reason. I’m sorry. I thought you knew I knew.”

He nods. “Makes sense.”

“Calvin.” Haley reaches for his arm. But he’s got the supply bag and is heading for a path up to where the huts were—are. “I thought he knew. I...”

“It’s not you, Haley. Calvin made a choice to keep this place secret from you, from all of us. He’s stubborn. He wanted it to go down one way, and it didn’t. In a way, he’s trying to carry the pain for us, them, it’s fucking noble. But it’s also?—”

“Stupid,” she says.

“Yeah, it is.”

“But I still love him.”

“Didn’t say you shouldn’t. But it’s never going to be easy.”

“I didn’t sign up for easy.”

“No, no, you didn’t.” I follow her up the path.