Chapter Thirty Five: Surviving the day

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"I believe in GOD and I believe she is the one HE made for me!!"

http://www.fatalurgecarefreekiss.com/

GOD of a man

“Cheats try every means to win. The honest stick with their efforts and succeed.”

Chapter Thirty Five: Surviving the day

Dated: 12th April, 2427

In a clash of unequals, rules are always broken, bent and used by the powerful to win against the powerless, at any cost. Their egos are too big to let them accept their defeat humbly. The powerless too have their dignity and principles to fight for. The battle invariably degenerates into a dogfight. Those who can abuse rules, discard morality and stretch the limits of decency, they use every trick they can think off, every pawn they can buy, to subdue the resistance of the weak-yet-brave. The brave take everything on their chin and keep moving towards their goal, innovating strategies to fight the powerful cheats. The only and befitting end of such battles is the victory of the honest brave. Even if the battle consumes the brave it is still a moral victory. It forever reminds the shameless powerful what they couldn’t win. Besides the biggest player who never plays a game, HIS choices and actions always override everybody else’s.

Robin tried every trick he could possibly conjure up, to put Natalie in Daniel’s lap, but HIS decision was more powerful than Robin’s. Robin has left no stone unturned to separate Natalie from Andy, but their true love for each other made them improvise and adapt. But HE puts true love through all tests and turbulences before it finally achieves the epitome of glory.

As Daniel was busy setting up the sails in the right direction he noticed something that shouldn’t have been there, a fishing hook and string hanging by the side of a raft. If Natalie’s strange likeness for the sea left behind made him suspicious of her mental stability, this surprise finding suddenly put all the pieces of the puzzle in their place. He pretended not to have noticed the string and instead continued with his work and moving around the raft. However his eyes were keenly observing every nook and corner, trying to spot anything that would confirm what or rather who he thought was present on the raft. His eyes finally spotted a long form hiding under a penguin skin sail and trying to stick to a corner of a raft. Daniel immediately looked ahead at the LCM and his eyes caught sight of Natalie who had just emerged out of the wheelhouse. He wasn’t sure if she had noticed him snooping around or not, but he acted as if nothing had happened. He returned to the LCM.

“How are you?” Daniel asked Natalie.

“I am fine, how are you? Look pretty busy,” Natalie asked him.

“Just the usual, redirecting the sails,” Daniel replied, “Anyway I better get inside and relieve Shiva for the day.”

However Natalie got suspicious of him. As Daniel went inside Natalie turned around and looked at Andy. She twisted and raised her hand to ask what happened to which Andy shrugged his shoulders in reply. She stood there for a while, the two trying to look into each other’s eyes from across the metres that separated them. Neither of the two realized when night crept on them.

The glorious morning woke up the four of the six occupants sleeping on the lonely raft.

“You can go to sleep now. I’ll take over from here,” Rajon told Omar.

“How much fuel have we left?” Rosalyn asked.

“It’s going to be touch and go,” Rajon replied.

“I was afraid you’d say so,” Rosalyn was tense. Their fuel had been running low since the last few days, raising their concerns. They had manually oared around a few bits and bends to save every few drops of the precious fluid they could. The concerned faces of the adults had even kept the kids quiet for over two days. The kids were still asleep though, not fully aware of the gravity of the situation.

The sun left them behind and advanced towards the Adelaide shores. The mornings have been fairly bright for Robin and days even brighter recently. His life was heading directly the way he instructed it to. He had risen to the top position, ditched his wife for her younger sister who is willing to take care of his home and hearth.

“How are you my sweetheart?” Robin woke Kina up.

“I’m fine,” Kina woke up rubbing her eyes.

“How come you are not up till so late?” Robin asked.

“I couldn’t sleep last night,” Kina replied yawning, “It was only early in the morning that I could catch up some sleep.”

“Why, what happened? Are you alright? I hope you are not sick,” Robin asked her many questions at the same time.

“No, it’s just that,” Kina stopped midway of what she wanted to say.

“It’s what?” Robin asked.

“I don’t know,” Kina replied uncomfortably, “Everything seems to be happening so fast, it just feels weird.”

“What is weird about it?” Robin asked, “Don’t you love me?”

“Oh I do,” Kina reassured him, “It’s just that most of the people will miss my wedding, and I haven’t known a single weeding where every individual of Hatsu Saisho wasn’t present.”

“What is more important to you, the people of Hatsu Saisho or me who’s your to be husband?” Robin asked her.

“I know!” Kina replied, “It’s just that, I had some big plans for my wedding.”

“Don’t worry sweetheart, when the whole community will be here we will have a grandiose remarriage,” Robin tried to entice her.

“I know,” Kina replied, “But it won’t be the same thing as the first time.”

“Look darling, I love you so much that I can’t live without you anymore,” Robin said to her, “But if you still want it to, we can postpone our wedding. But it will break my heart.”

“Oh no,” Kina immediately got concerned for Robin, “Let us get married.” And Kina put her hand on face softly. A big smile appeared on Robin’s face.

The sun continued its’ journey around an almost empty globe, took the trip twice before showing up once again, just as always.

“You got up so early today,” Larry asked Daniel.

“I know! I just wasn’t sleepy enough,” Daniel replied, “You can go to sleep now. I can take care of it from here.”

“Oh no, I’ve still got some time left to complete my turn,” Larry replied.

“That’s fine! You can return me the favour some other day,” Daniel insisted.

“Very well, if you put it like that,” Larry replied and handed over the wheel to Daniel, leaving Daniel at the wheel.

Ever since Natalie caught Daniel snooping around on the raft she had been suspicious of his intentions and had been keeping a close watch on his activities, never letting him out of her sight. It had already been four days since they left Adelaide shores. A couple of days more and they will be safe enough to reveal Andy’s presence to the rest. Andy had managed to brave the brunt of the sun for four days admirably. The wind kept his body cool enough in those hot confines. But today was really tough. Wind was literally down to a whisper and the heat was melting. To compound the matters further, Daniel had managed to escape a sleeping Natalie.

After an hour of relieving Larry from his duties, Daniel locked the wheel, checked to make sure everybody was still asleep, and then made his way to the raft. He boarded the raft, tied up his motorboat to it and then headed straight to the stacked smaller rafts. Andy who was woken up by the noise of the motor boat, tried hard to hide.

“Come out Andy!” Daniel said. But Andy stayed put.

Not ready to wait any longer, Daniel started searching the rafts manually until he finally found him.

“You think you are smart?” Daniel said as he grabbed Andy from his collar and pulled him out. Andy who was already weak and weather beaten could barely resist. “What are you doing here?” Daniel asked him.

“Don’t you know?” Andy replied.

“You bastard,” Daniel showed his aggressive intentions, “I hate you! You are a thorn between me and Natalie.”

“She doesn’t love you,” Andy replied with vengeance, “She loves me!”

“Really?” Daniel commented, “We’ll see for how long!”

“Oh yeah we will,” Andy exclaimed.

“We?” Daniel smirked, “Who’s we here?”

“What do you mean?” Andy asked.

“Get ready to die,” Daniel exclaimed and punched Andy hard in his face. Andy fell on the floor.

“What are you doing?” Andy yelled, “Do you realize what trouble you will get into for this?”

“Who? Me?” Daniel laughed at Andy’s statement, “Who will know what I did?”

“If you’ll kill me, Natalie will instantly tell everyone that you killed me,” Andy replied.

“No one knows you are here! She herself told Robin that you left towards the desert in the morning. Everyone will think that you perished in the desert,” Daniel replied with a cunning look in his eyes, “No one is going to believe her so called true story.”

“You are a rascal,” Andy seethed in raze.

“Thanks for the compliment,” Daniel said as he landed a hard hit on Andy’s face again. Andy tried to duck but was too slow. It was a battle of survival for Andy but Daniel was too strong for him. Daniel had always been the stronger of the two, and a weather beaten Andy was in further worse shape for this fight. As the two wrestled and punched each other on the floor of the raft, it didn’t take long for Daniel to overpower Andy. He grabbed Andy from his feet and dragged him along the floor of the raft as Andy struggled to grip something. Daniel forcibly pushed his body above the raft edge and into the water. Andy just about managed to grip the lower edge of the raft to stay afloat.

“Why are you doing this?” a panting Andy asked while he struggled to keep the saline sea water out of his mouth.

“Because I want your girl,” Daniel said as he raised his foot to stamp on Andy’s hands clinging on to the raft for the sake of his life.

“Are you ready for this?” Aika asked Kina at the Adelaide shores as she readied the bride to be for her marriage.

“I am so nervous!” Kina replied.

“Don’t be!” Aika was acting her friend as well as her mother on this occasion.

“Do I look pretty?” Kina innocently asked.

“You look magical!” Aika replied, “Just like your sister when she was married to Robin.”

“I hope I will be able to fill the void left by my sister in his life,” Kina exclaimed.

“I am sure you will,” Aika said, “You two will help each other move on from this great tragedy. Robin is so lucky to have a girl like you to fill the gap left behind by Rosalyn.”

“Thankyou! You’ve made me feel a lot more confident,” Kina put her hand on Aika’s hand to express her gratitude.

“Let’s go then! Everybody is waiting for you at the beach,” Aika said.

“Who is going to solemnize our wedding?” Kina asked.

“Jake Nicholson is going to done the mantle while myself and Taio are the two witnesses,” Aika said.

“Thankyou so much for all you’ve been to me and my sister,” Kina’s eyes filled up.

“Oh don’t you dare cry,” Aika herself couldn’t control her tears, “Your mother and I were the closest friends since the day we were born together. You don’t know your mom as she died giving birth to you, but she was the one I confided all my secrets in.”

“I’ve never seen my mother, but you’ve never let me feel her absence even once in my life,” Kina replied, “I wish Nakata was amongst us today. He always used to say that I am the best sister anyone can ever have.” And the two ladies cried their hearts out.

“Ok now, let’s not cry anymore,” Aika said wiping her tears, “It’s the first happy day I’ve seen in months now and the most auspicious day of your life. Let’s not dampen it with tears from the past.” Aika held her one arm in her one hand and put her other arm around her back to hold her other arm and slowly walked her towards the beach where the entire gamut of people were present to grace the occasion. As Aika walked her up the aisle lined on either side by the people gathered, Kina looked grace and beauty personified. Robin looked at her with awe as his best man Taio Bayer stood beside him. Jake Nicholson, who was going to solemnize the wedding, stood there in equal awe.

“You look gorgeous,” Robin exclaimed as he stepped up to Kina and took her hands in his hands. As Kina stood in front of him he stepped closer to kiss her.

“Don’t,” Jake immediately intervened, “kiss her yet!”

“Oh! Sorry!” Robin apologized, “Bowled over by her charm, I just got lost in the moment.”

“Mr President, we won’t hold you for too long and the bride will be all yours soon,” Jake joked, “So, shall I begin.”

“Please!” Robin requested.

“Ladies and gentlemen, today we are gathered here on this auspicious day to unite two beautiful souls into a bond that, hopefully will last till their last breath,” Jake started the proceedings.

“I, Jake Nicholson have been bestowed the power to solemnise this blessed union of honourable President Mr Robin Sutherland and beautiful Lady Ms Kina Davis, in the name of our Holy Father Henry,” Jake continued.

“Before I proceed to declare you a man and wife as per our respected traditions, I would like to share with you a few thoughts about marriage,” Jake said.

“Marriage is not just a legal provision of legitimacy to a relationship between a man and a woman so as to make it acceptable in a society, rather it’s a responsibility intrusted upon two willing souls,” Jake stated.

“Marriage is not about having a sexual partner that you expect to satisfy you physically, enslave to you emotionally and provide for your family,” Jake explained.

“Marriage is a commitment that demands sacrificing personal freedom and adjusting to the demands of your better half,” Jake said.

“Marriage is not about what is wrong in your partner that needs to be fixed, rather it is about what in yourself is not to your partners liking and how you can change it. If you love your partner, then you should be willing to make this change and accept your partner’s failings,” Jake exclaimed.

“When both halves of this relationship accept and understand these responsibilities which are more of virtues, this bond becomes eternal, most treasured, and a cherished accomplishment of life,” Jake stated.

“Marriage means enjoying responsibility and relinquishing freedom, accepting your love’s flaws and fixing as many of yours,” Jake exclaimed.

“So Mr President Robin Sutherland, are you ready to accept these responsibilities? Do you take Ms Kina Davis, your lawfully wedded wife and promise to shower her with unflinching love, provide her all the comforts a man should, and promise to raise her family to the best of your abilities and beyond?” Jake asked Robin.

“I do,” Robin was delighted.

“And do you Ms Kina Davis, take Mr Robin Sutherland as your lawfully wedded husband and promise to stay loyal to him for as long as your relationship lasts, promise to give him all the comforts a wife should, promise to love him more than your life and stand by him through thick and thin without for a moment thinking of leaving him alone?” Jake asked Kina.

Everybody present was silent, waiting with baited breath, for Kina to say yes so that they can erupt into a joyous celebration.

 

 

 

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Chapter Thirty Four: Night is your friend

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"Do you believe in GOD?"

"I do!! And I believe she is the one GOD has made for me!!"

"Will you stand by me in my war to win my love back?"

http://www.fatalurgecarefreekiss.com/

 

 

 

 

GOD of a man

“No light at the end of the tunnel doesn’t necessarily mean a dead end. It just might be a night outside.”

Chapter Thirty Four: Night is your friend

Dated: 27th March, 2427

When faced with hardships that seem to have no end, it is really easy to loose one’s focus on the goal. And once you loose your focus, the struggles suddenly start to feel like an unbearable burden breaking your back, condemning you existence. It doesn’t take much longer after that to get washed away like a fig in a violent stream. The success that was elusive remains so forever. Persistence, perseverance and doggedness, these are the virtues that are a warrior’s true strengths and allies in a battle. Just because you don’t see the end of the tunnel you are walking through, doesn’t mean the tunnel has no end. Just because there is no light at the end of the tunnel to re-motivate you, doesn’t mean the tunnel is a cave. Perhaps the tunnel has a sharp bend before it ends, or maybe it’s a night outside. But how will one know if one was to give up the quest midway? Those who quit in the middle end up getting wasted, simply because of the loss of the will to fight, even for survival. When hardships are the worst, the end is always the closest. The only things that matter are persistence in efforts and patience for the results.

Neither Steve, nor anyone on the lonely raft, is made of mettle that quits the fight without taking it to its’ logical conclusion. While Steve is waiting patiently for his chance to expose Robin’s guile, Rajon and others are continuing their fight to reach the destination they were so heartlessly cut off from. Their battles are taking time and testing their patience, but they haven’t quit on them.

“No,” Ono woke up with a loud shriek.

“What happened my son?” Aika immediately rushed to his side and asked.

“I saw a very bad dream mother,” Ono cried, “I saw that old man in my dream again, the one with white clothes and white beard.”

“What did he say?” Aika got worried.

“He said that I have hurt my brother and he won’t talk to me again,” Ono replied and collapsed into his mother’s lap crying.

“Even I have been having bad dreams only ever since we landed on these unlucky shores,” Aika replied, “I didn’t tell you earlier as I didn’t want to make you worried. Especially since you have been so upset about the loss of your brother, and more so because of the cheap claims of that dirty girl.” Aika’s eyes burned with furry.

“What do you see mother?” Ono asked.

“I always see your brother Nakata, crying. And every time I call him or try to reach for him, he runs away,” Aika replied.

“Mother, do these dreams have a meaning? Is there really someone who is trying to tell us something?” Ono asked.

“Son, there is no one! We are much troubled by the loss of our beloved Nakata. His memory and our love for him is playing tricks on us,” Aika tried to explain.

“Perhaps you are right,” Ono said as he looked far away and got lost in his thoughts.

The day grew older and older. Everybody worked hard helping Taio Bayer build the new raft. The raft was designed to have a flat base, pointed at the front and tapering into a flat rear. A big rotatable pillar in the middle was going to act as the main mast. The pillar was built to have several lateral branches articulated to the pillar at their proximal ends. The branches were meant to be foldable in case of stormy weather. The distal end of each branch was going to be tied with a rope with that of the one above it, making a ladder like structure, the branches making the rungs of the ladder while the main pillar and the ropes were going to make the two sides. A rope tied to the far end of the uppermost branch on either side was going to be hinged at the top of the pillar, made to run down its’ length and then tied to its’ bottom. This rope on being pulled tight would raise the sails, and in case of stormy weather, the rope untied would slacken the branches, allowing them to be folded along the side of the main pillar. The folded branches could then be tied to the main pillar with another rope to protect them in stormy weather. On its’ lower side, the raft was going to have deep and long wooden planks running along its’ length, meant to cut through the water.

The work had been going on at a fair clip. The raft was nearing completion and Daniel had already arranged the requisite quantity of fuel for the trip and back. Everything was going according to Robin’s plan. Steve and Clara however were silently suffering the ignominy heaped on them by Robin. Robin was on a song. Steve and Clara were waiting for it to end.

“Did you try to talk to your wife again?” Clara asked Steve.

“I tried to yesterday,” Steve replied, dejection writ large on his face, “But she is not ready to accept anything that I say.”

“Don’t worry! Give her some more time. I am sure she will get over her hatred soon,” Clara comforted him, “And once she gets over her hatred, that’s when she will become receptive to your words again.”

“But why doesn’t she listen to me? Why does she believe the outsiders who don’t even matter in our relationship?” Steve asked.

“She seems to be an insecure girl. Someone who needs her choices and decisions to be confirmed by others to be sure she’s doing the right thing,” Clara tried to explain, “And among those others at the moment are, Robin and Daniel who know what happened amongst us, and the rest who don’t know the truth.”

“So, does this means she will never understand me or believe in what I am saying?” Steve asked.

“Don’t loose hope yet! Wait for the time when Robin’s lies will expose themselves to the world. After that, she will have no choice but to listen to you,” Clara replied.

“But how long will that be?” Steve asked.

“I don’t know but worse come worse, I can assure you once my son grows up to be recognizable, my Nakata will show in his face and expose his lies,” Clara answered.

“But that would take too long! I don’t have that much patience. I will die before that,” Steve said.

“You will do no such thing,” Clara tried to reason with him but her eyes fell on Ono who had just walked up to them and had overheard the last part of their talk. Steve turned around and looked at him.

Ono walked up to their side and looked inside their tent at sleeping Katsuo.

“You are a lier! Your son looks nothing like my brother. Stop saying my brother is your son’s father. Just shut up!” Ono yelled at her and tried to walk away when a hand grabbed him from his arm.

“If you don’t believe Nakata is his father then who asked you to come here in the first place?” Andy’s stern voice asked him.

“Andy, it’s good to see you after so many days,” Steve said as he hugged Andy.

“He is not my brother’s son. You are lying, he is lying and she is lying. You are all a party to this,” Ono shouted at Andy.

“Party to it? What are we getting out of all this?” Steve asked, “And why is it that you are ready to believe in Robin and Daniel’s word but not Andy’s?”

“Because you are a dirty manipulative man while Andy has gone mad,” Ono replied.

“Who have I manipulated? Am I the one who is the President of Hatsu?” Steve yelled at him, “I put my own life at risk on this mission leaving everything I love back. I was the one who risked his life to get to The Phantom in the first place. All this is a result of my efforts and you call me manipulative and dirty?”

“You tricked the former President Joe,” Ono replied.

“I got carried away with my feeling of revenge. Joe is a cheat who wanted to get rid of me by sending me on this dangerous mission so that his position as the President was safe. He was scared that my rising popularity, thanks to all the risks I have taken for the betterment of Hatsu Saisho, might motivate the people to elevate me to the position of the President and ask him to retire,” Steve replied.

“Perhaps you are right but I don’t trust Clara,” Ono argued on.

“Clara is not the girl she was anymore. She has changed,” Steve replied.

“And you want me to believe it?” Ono asked.

“Ok! Don’t believe me! Ask Andy,” Steve replied.

“As I said, Andy has gone nuts,” Ono replied.

“What about him makes you thing that he has gone mad? Does he act any differently than he did before or any differently from us?” Steve asked.

“But he believes in GOD,” Ono replied.

“So do I, and so does Clara!” Steve replied, “But how does that make us mad?”

“Because there is no such thing as GOD,” Ono reasoned.

“How do you know?” Steve asked.

“Because everybody says so,” Ono replied.

“But we say there is GOD,” Steve reasoned, “And what if tomorrow everybody starts saying there is GOD? Remember how everybody used to believe in GOD in the olden days?”

“Then I will start believing in GOD too!” Ono replied.

“And then we won’t be crazy! Then Andy won’t be mad!” Steve quipped.

“I don’t know what to believe,” Ono pleaded.

“Leave it! Tell me why you are here today,” Andy asked.

“Because I have been having a bad dream,” Ono replied, “An old man keeps coming in my dreams and keeps telling me that I have hurt my brother.”

“What do you think?” Clara asked.

“I don’t know but my mother says that we are having such dreams because we love and miss Nakata, and his death is playing tricks with our minds,” Ono replied, “Even my mother has been having a dream in which Nakata keeps crying and running away from her.”

“Perhaps your mother is right. Maybe it’s your love for him that doesn’t want you to believe that Nakata is not dead but just angry with you for something,” Clara replied.

“Maybe you are right,” Ono replied as he got into retrospection, “But then, why didn’t we see these dream when we were still in Hatsu Saisho?”

“That’s what you need to find an answer to yourself,” Clara replied.

“I don’t know! I don’t know!” Ono’s shook his head and his eyes filled up as he walked away. Andy, Clara and Steve’s gaze followed him until he vanished behind a sand dune.

“Where have you been all these days?” Steve finally asked Andy.

“Everybody had been kept busy by the new raft that Taio Bayer is building,” Andy replied, “It was hard to get away from work during the day, and at other times that Daniel wouldn’t stop snooping around me and Natalie.”

“What’s his story?” Steve asked.

“I don’t know! He and Robin just lost their wives and kids on the way, mysteriously,” Andy quipped.

“Yes, you were about to say something like that the other day when Daniel came around checking,” Steve remembered, “What do you mean by mysteriously?”

“Apparently, the raft Robin and Daniel’s wife were travelling on got detached from the rest of the group and was lost at the sea,” Andy replied, “Supposedly as an accident.”

“And what do you think?” Steve asked.

“I can’t say anything for sure, but both Robin and Daniel don’t seem to me like men grieving a great loss in anyway,” Andy replied, “If anything, Daniel has been trying to woo Natalie since then, and Robin has been too keen on Kina.”

“That does sound a bit suspicious,” Steve said thoughtfully, “But do you think they can do such a thing to their own wives?”

“After what they did to you and Clara, I think they can do anything,” Andy replied.

“You convince me,” Clara added her vote in favour of Andy’s judgement.

“But I would still give them the benefit of doubt,” Steve stated, “They are lonely men and the two girls are good looking chicks. It’s natural to feel attracted.”

“Robin just proposed Kina for marriage two days back. How ‘bout that?” Andy asked, “It’s not been too long since his wife went missing.”

“How do you know?” Steve asked.

“Kina told Natalie, who told me,” Andy replied.

“What has Kina replied?” Clara asked.

“She has asked for some time to decide but I can assure you, she is deeply influenced by him and seems a bit keen as well,” Andy said.

“That is indeed concerning,” Steve replied, “But unfortunately there’s nothing we can do about it.”

“By the way, what’s your story?” Clara asked.

“She’s the one,” Andy replied.

“So what’s the problem?” Steve asked.

“Robin!” Andy summed it up in one word.

“Does she love you?” Clara asked.

“I think she does,” Andy answered.

“Then how is Robin a problem? He may be her brother-in-law but he cannot force her decision, even if he claims you to be insane for believing in GOD,” Clara said.

“That is not the problem,” Andy quipped.

“Then what is the problem? Would you care to explain more clearly?” Steve asked.

“My problem is that Daniel is going on the trip to Hatsu Saisho and I am not allowed to,” Andy replied.

“So, how is it a problem?” Steve still couldn’t quite comprehend the trouble.

“The trouble is, Robin has forced Natalie on this journey saying she’s a doctor and her services might be required on the journey,” Andy explained.

“That is indeed concerning,” Clara said, “Do you think he is trying to play a match maker between Daniel and Natalie?”

“He is obviously,” Andy shrugged his shoulders.

“You have to get on that trip if you want to save your love,” Steve said, “You need to stop them in their designs.”

“But how?” Andy asked.

“When are they leaving?” Steve asked.

“Most likely next week,” Andy replied.

“Meet me the night before they leave,” Steve said.

“What do you plan to do?” Andy was curious.

“Leave that to me!” Steve stated.

“Ok! I better take your leave now or they might notice me missing from the group. I’ve asked Natalie to keep Daniel busy while Robin is already too involved with Kina to notice my absence,” Andy said as he took their leave and went back to join the rest of the group.

The week flew by and in no time the raft was ready to leave on its’ maiden voyage across the seas. On the evening of the Ninth of the Fourth, Robin gathered everyone to formally announce the departure date.

“So tomorrow, our brave men and friends Shiva, Daniel and Larry along with our brave girl Natalie will set sailing for our motherland Hatsu Saisho,” Robin said as everybody gave the four a rousing applause.

The details of the trip were discussed and the arrangements were checked. Finally the group dispersed for the night. Andy meanwhile slipped to Steve as Steve had directed.

“Steve, they are set to sail tomorrow,” Andy told Steve as soon as he managed to get to him.

“Good! Now listen to me carefully,” Steve said, “I will hide you on one of the rafts stacked on the big one. I will give you one of our fishing rods and three containers full of water.”

“Why should I hide?” Andy asked.

“You need to hide and for at least a week because otherwise Robin won’t let you go on this trip, and if you won’t go on this trip then you will loose your girl to that evil Daniel,” Steve replied.

“But what will happen when I will return?” Andy asked.

“Don’t worry! People are considerate enough to understand that you love Natalie so much that you couldn’t live without her anymore and risked your life,” Steve said.

“But why for a week?” Andy asked.

“Because if they find you any earlier, they will immediately return and drop you back, bringing all our efforts to naught,” Steve explained.

“But how will I get back on the ship?” Andy asked.

“You need to get Natalie onboard with this plan and she’ll have to make sure that either Shiva or Larry, one of these two, spots you on the raft after about a week and takes you onboard the main ship,” Steve explained the plan.

“I’ll get her into confidence first thing in the morning,” Andy said.

“No! You need to talk to her right now!” Steve asserted, “You are going to spend the night in your hiding spot.”

“What?” Andy was surprised, “Why do I have to go into hiding right now?”

“Because we cannot risk you getting caught trying to hide in broad daylight,” Steve explained, “You know how important it is to be risked for comfort.”

“But what if someone asks about me in the morning?” Andy needed an alibi.

“She can say that you were not happy with her leaving and ran away into the dunes, perturbed,” Steve gave him the alibi.

“What if no one believes it?” Andy wasn’t sure.

“Trust me, no one will be worried about you tomorrow morning and Robin cares nothing for your well being,” Steve answered his reservations, “He wouldn’t bother about you until everybody else does.”

“You are right! Let’s set up my hiding spot before I go and talk to Natalie,” Andy stated.

“Nope, you go and talk to Natalie while I will set up your hideout,” Steve said, “Meet me around the other side of the raft, inside the water.”

“Are you sure you won’t need any help?” Andy asked.

“Trust me, I won’t!” Steve replied.

As Andy sneaked back into the camping site, Steve taking the benefit of dark, slipped into water and made his way behind the big raft, already readied for departure in the morning. He picked a stacked raft that he thought would hide Andy’s presence perfectly from the rest of the world. Steve had to make the trip four times to transport all the requisite items. By the time he was finished Andy had returned. Steve showed him his abode and explained what he needed to do all over again.

“Remember, night is going to be your friend,” Steve finished his briefing.

“Thanks heaps!” Andy took Steve’s hand in both his hands to express his gratitude.

“Take care brother,” Steve said.

It was a long sleepless night for Andy which ended in a bright morning. Hiding in those tight confines, he could feel the heat rising right from the morning. He desperately wanted the ship to depart so that he could come out in the open and breathe more freely. But no one else was aware of his problems and the proceeding progressed lazily. When sun was nearly midway across the sky did everybody finally gather, to give a warm send-off to those departing.

Natalie walked up to Robin and said, “I am really concerned about Andy!”

“Why? What happened?” Robin asked.

“He’s really unhappy with me leaving on this journey. He left towards the desert early in the morning saying he won’t see my face again,” Natalie told him the story even before he could have inquired about Andy.

“Don’t worry about him. We will take good care of him while you are away,” Robin said, “I will personally go and find him if he doesn’t return soon. But right now, let’s not delay the departure because this journey is much more important than him, me or you.”

And then Robin gave a speech to everyone before Shiva, Larry, Daniel and Natalie finally boarded the ship and set sailing. While Shiva, Larry and Daniel waved at the crowd, Natalie acted as if searching for Andy in the crowd and beyond. Everybody stood their and watched the ship and the raft sail away beyond the horizon. When the ship could no longer be seen, the crowd finally dispersed, not knowing what to do next.

“So, that’s one job less,” Taio Bayer said to Robin as Robin gazed into the eyes of Kina who wasn’t standing too far away from them.

“I’ll talk to you later Taio,” Robin said as he tried to take his leave.

“That’s fine!” Taio replied, “I am sure you have some plan to get everybody busy again, otherwise there is nothing much to do at this place.”

Taio’s words set Robin thinking. He finally replied, “I do have some big plans for re-development of this area. I will share those with everyone soon.”

“Ok then, I’ll see you later,” and Taio left Robin alone with Kina.

Once Taio was beyond sight, Robin walked up to Kina and asked her, “So have you decided something yet? Please don’t make me suffer this pain of love no more!” And he fell on his knees and held his hands together as if pleading.

“Oh! I will Robin! I will!” and Kina instantly knelt down as well and hugged him, “I have been honoured by your proposal Robin. I love you!” And Robin hugged her tightly, a wicked victorious smile lining his face.

“Let’s get married next Saturday,” Robin said.

“Next Saturday!” Kina was taken by surprise, “But that is too early and none of my friends are here.”

“I can’t wait anymore Kina!” Robin said, “Even my friends are not here but how does that matter? I’ll make Taio Bayer my best man and you can pick up from one of the women here. We can have a quick ceremony and start our new lives as one.”

“But Natalie is not here,” Kina argued.

“She will return someday!” Robin replied, “But we can’t let time pass us by when we could be doing so many things together.”

“I don’t know,” Kina wasn’t sure.

“Do you love me?” Robin asked.

“Yes, I do! I just told you,” Kina replied.

“Then let us get married and start our new lives. How does anybody else matters?” Robin argued.

“Maybe you are right,” Kina wasn’t sure but reluctantly agreed.

Robin immediately spread the news among the rest of the people. Excitement got the better of them and they were soon lost in celebrating the occasion dancing and singing. They forgot about everything else, something that Robin wanted them to.

Meanwhile on the ship, Natalie acted disturbed at having been parted from Andy and kept standing towards the rear of the deck. For others she was facing the direction Adelaide shores were, on her part she was trying to be with her heart. Andy on his part, stayed well in his hiding, blowing an occasional kiss at her, giving her a smile, making faces. They were enjoying every moment of their secret rendezvous. Every time someone showed up at the deck, Andy would slide back into his camouflage while Natalie would act sad and dejected. Two days flew by.

“Where is Natalie?” a sleepy Daniel asked Larry, rubbing his eyes.

“Where could a love sick heart be?” Larry replied manning the wheel, “She’s at the deck. Boy, I can’t see her suffering like his. Robin shouldn’t have sent her on this trip, or at least he should have let Andy come along as well.”

“Who is Andy to her?” Daniel didn’t like what Larry was saying.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know it? The whole town knows these two love each other,” Larry replied.

“I don’t believe it,” Daniel said and walked out of the wheel house. He turned around and nearly caught Natalie waving to Andy. Andy slid back into his hiding.

“Who were you waving to?” Daniel asked Natalie.

“Me? No, I wasn’t waving to anyone,” Natalie tried to hide her shock and fear, “I was just thinking about Andy and how I couldn’t see him for the last time before leaving. I must have raised my arm lost in my thoughts.” Natalie tried to explain her actions but Daniel didn’t seem to be too convinced.

“It is really hot outside. You better go inside,” Daniel told Natalie.

“Oh yes, it is,” Natalie replied and immediately rushed away.

Daniel turned around and looked carefully at the raft behind, scanning each and every nook of it.

Next day Daniel went to the raft to change the direction of the sails. While on board, his eyes caught sight of the fishing hook and wire, accidentally left hanging outside by Andy. Daniel didn’t react to his finding but rather acted as if he didn’t notice. He walked around, acting to fix the sails direction but carefully screening side the cargo lying beside. Andy did his best to stay hidden.

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