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THE NEXT MORNING, EVERY MUSCLE in my body aches as I drag myself out of bed and trudge out of my cabin. It’s late, midmorning, and entirely too bright as the storm has evaporated, leaving a blazing hot sun behind. I swear I can see the steam rising from the vegetation around me. There are bent trees, shredded leaves, and downed branches everywhere. The entire camp looks like a bomb went off.
I discover Crabby in the middle of the walkway, surrounded by a treasure trove of orange blossoms. For once, he doesn’t scuttle away upon my approach. Maybe he thinks he’s safely camouflaged. Or he’s petal drunk.
I wish him good morning. The words come out hoarse and croaky. He immediately bolts. I don’t blame him. If I look as good as I sound, I’m beyond disaster.
I head to the mess hall for coffee and to apologize for oversleeping the breakfast shift. It’s well past time for me to be doing whatever Ann and Trudy tell me to do, though I’m not sure I can lift my arms today, let alone follow intelligent instructions.
The kitchen is shockingly empty. The serving table is covered in an assortment of offerings. Bread. Yogurt. Cereal. Fruit. Clearly a DIY affair. Apparently, my fellow campmates are equally exhausted by last night’s drama.
It makes me feel better as I pour my first mug of coffee. I’m already sweating from the humidity, my T-shirt clinging to my skin, but it doesn’t stop me from welcoming the piping hot brew. I have a vague memory of reading somewhere that it’s better to drink warm beverages in the heat. Something about it requires less energy for your body to process, blah, blah, blah.
I carry my mug into the dining room, looking forward to enjoying my caffeine fix in peace.
Of course, Vaughn is sitting there.
“You look as good as I feel,” I say, pulling out the plastic chair across from him.
He grunts, his attention off in the horizon. This morning’s faded blue T-shirt has a hole next to the rounded collar and some kind of stain on the shoulder. It fits his unruly whiskers and mussed hair. I wonder if he’s slept at all, because he certainly doesn’t look like it.
On the other hand, if he doesn’t want to talk, I’m down with that. I pick up my mug and take my first sip while gazing out over the ocean. The lapping waves sparkle in the sun, the birds back out in full force, cartwheeling across the sky and cawing raucously. I imagine the atoll is now bustling with various life-forms, emerging from the storm and busily scavenging food. Everything is alive and joyful. Except for the humans.
I’ve never seen the base camp so empty. The dining hall feels positively eerie without Trudy and Ann’s chattering presence.
“How is Charlie?” Maybe I don’t do silence well.
“I don’t know.”
I cock my head at this. That doesn’t sound like the circus master I’ve come to know.
Vaughn sighs at last, pulls his gaze away from the distance and focuses on me instead. “He probably has a concussion. Compressed neck, cracked skull. Hell if I know. Either way, he’s suffering from injuries well beyond the scope of a basic first aid kit. Policy 101, he’s off the island. Time for the man to head to Honolulu for real medical care.”
“Before little problems become big problems,” I recall from last night.
“Exactly.”
“Is he refusing? Can he? Aren’t you the boss?”
“Exactly!” Now Vaughn sounds more like himself. “But in case you haven’t noticed, Charlie’s one stubborn SOB.”
I’ve noticed. I remember what Charlie had said last night, that he couldn’t leave before she arrived. The only “she” I can think of is Lea. Which brings me to my next question:
“Is MacManus on track to arrive today?”
“Yeah.” Vaughn sighs again, sits upright. “Which is my next problem. We got a helluva lot of cleanup to get done. At least we have some extra time. Some mixup with his catering order, so they’re delayed till midafternoon.”
“Catering order?”
“Man travels with all his own food. Apparently, they forgot his kale.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep. Also travels with his own chef and personal assistant. Fortunately, they’re a married couple and already have a designated cabin. However…”
I set down my coffee cup and lean forward. “However?”
“Problem three. He’s bringing a couple of guys.”
“The extra resources you requested? That was fast!”
