With pirates now on the island, how will they survive?
In 10 parts, By BlewWater69. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.
As John got close to where he had left Pam hiding she dashed out from the rocks to greet him.
"Shit, I thought you were dead you were gone so long," Pam lambasted him and smacked his arm none too lightly.
"Ouch; sorry, I just had to stay to see what they were up to," John confessed.
"Don't ever leave me like that again. I was petrified you were hurt or worse," Pam scolded.
"Okay; okay, I won't," John agreed.
"Well; tell me; what're they doing?"
"They buried those bags and the briefcase too," John exclaimed.
He grabbed her elbow and led her back behind the rocks for cover. He also glanced one last time down the beach to make sure they had not been seen. They crouched below the rocks on the sand.
"Pam, they are definitely not friendlies. And that poor girl appears to be a hostage or slave or something."
"Oh, god! Are they a danger to us?"
"Yeah, we need to cover our tracks as much as possible and be prepared to leave if we have too."
"But, John, the raft isn't ready, you said so yourself, and the sail is nowhere near done," Pam exclaimed.
"I know but our chances of survival might be slim otherwise. I have a feeling they don't want anyone to know they were here and especially where they buried those bags," John professed.
"What're we going to do?" Pam questioned nervously.
"I think they're going to bed down for the night where they are. They built a fire and were drinking heavily when I left. No telling how much exploring they're going to do in the morning though. We need to work through the night getting ready."
"Ready for what?"
"To defend ourselves and leave the island if we have to," John declared.
"Defend ourselves; with what? They have fucking machine guns!" Pam exclaimed.
"I know, it's not good, but hopefully we can maintain surprise on our side."
"John, there are four of them with guns. The three other guys didn't have guns and we were lucky you got two of them with your trap."
"I know, Pam, but what the hell you want me to do? You said it yourself. The raft isn't ready and we can only use it as a last resort. Without a sail we'll just drift wherever," John stated.
"I know; I know!" Pam agreed frightfully.
"We got to move the raft to the western side of the island as far away from these guys as we can to preserve our escape and we have to get rid of the ramp so they won't see it. Then we have to provision the boat as best we can before dawn. I also need to resurrect the trap and we need to prepare to defend ourselves," John explained.
"Oh, god, this is crazy. Maybe we should just take the raft now before they wake?"
"To where? We could drift way out to sea and we don't have enough saved provisions for too long," John concluded.
"I know!" Pam agreed emphatically. "You're right. It just looks like suicide to me to take these guys on."
"I've got an idea. If it works we can get away quickly," John explained.
"Okay, I hope so," Pam worried aloud.
"Come with me. I'll explain as we work," John instructed.
First thing they worked on was to prepare the camp. John hadn't reset the booby traps after Pam had worried that one time about exactly this very thing happening. She had once said to him, when they argued over when to signal and when not to, that she was concerned that they would signal to the wrong people. Well, here the bad guys had come unsolicited by them. Fortunately John had saved the parts to his booby trap. He hadn't wanted to reset it for fear one of them would accidently trip it but now he worked feverishly to reset the hanging traps.
He climbed two trees near the camp with the long pointed pieces of driftwood strapped to his back. He secured them in place with the vines he had used before and ran them down to the ground. He then connected them in trip wire fashion on three sides to the approach to the hut. When he was done he had it just like the first time when it had worked to great efficiency on the drug runners. Only this time he worried that Pam might be right. The chances were greater these guys would approach in daylight after sleeping off their drunk. They might more easily see the trip wires. If they totally avoided the trap then their chances of survival diminished substantially.
Once that was done they moved the suitcases they planned to leave with on the raft, including the money, up onto the high rock above their hut. John planned to make a stand from that advantage point. If things got out of hand quickly they could run away on the opposite side of the rock formation away from the hut to the west. The drop off the big flat rock to the sand on that side was only three feet and then a path wound through the rocks down to the western beach. It would take the pirates or whatever they were some time to figure out how to climb the rock and get on top. Once they did, he hoped Pam and he would already be down to the beach and the raft.
Next, John had Pam hand him up whatever weapons they had. Knives, three spears they used for fishing, and the bow and five arrows John had made with bamboo for their trip on the raft. He hoped to be able to shoot fish if they came close enough to the raft while they were at sea. He had never planned for this and with building the raft had only practiced once to see if it worked. He had done archery as a kid but that was a long time ago and the practice proved how rusty he was. Plus his bow and arrows were rudimentary at best. The only good thing was the tips were sharp, with small pointed pieces of aluminum from the plane.
With the camp set, they began the far more difficult task. They had to launch the raft and pull it through the surf around the western side of the island. They had to moor it there but in such a way that they could release it quickly to get away if need be. They then had to dismantle the ramp to the water and hide the remaining bamboo. John reasoned there was strong likelihood the leader of the bad guys would explore the island a little before departing. If he did, he only had to walk fifty feet south to spot the lean-to from the drug runners. Once seeing that he was sure their interest would be piqued to look further. If for nothing more than to make sure the island was uninhabited as they probably suspected at first or maybe even knew from previous visits.
John believed they would then discover the two pieces of the plane on the southern shoreline and probably next Pam's mother's grave along with the other passengers. It wouldn't take a genius to realize someone had to bury them and might still be around.
The work was difficult as they slid the raft down near the water and started dismantling the already used part of the ramp. John had kept one of the knives in his pocket and used that to walk around slicing loose the vine bindings that held the bamboo ramp together. Once he had cut them all he left Pam to dispose of the bamboo pieces off the beach in a clump of rocks and palms. They would be unlikely to discover them there without a very thorough search.
John fought the surf for over an hour to pull and push the raft around the island. He could have used Pam's help to keep it from washing repeated up onto the beach as he tried to pull it around by the vine he hoped to moor it with on the western side. Unfortunately, she needed to keep working on what she was doing. The full moonlight afforded them ample light for the work they were doing but John knew daylight wasn't far off now. They were both sweating and breathing heavily as they raced to get done what they needed to.
John used the same method he had seen the pirates use. He carried the largest rock he could down to the beach and tied the vine off to it. He felt good it would hold the raft from drifting away with the coming tide but still give him the opportunity to cut them loose for a hasty departure. His arms and back ached by the time he jogged back along the beach to see how Pam was doing. Along the way he passed the signal pyre. He had forgotten about that. It too along with the S O S rocks on the beach should be dealt with. He groaned aloud to himself as he raced back to Pam.
Pam had most of the bamboo off the beach and hidden. John helped her cut the last few bindings at the end which had been under the raft before he left and dispose of the remaining pieces. Their footprints were all over the place in the sand. The only good news they had as they sweated and huffed was the tide was coming in. It would hide or wash away many of their tracks in the harder sand.
The next task was to disperse the rocks they had used to form the S O S sign on the beach. That took about thirty minutes of very hard labor. By the time they had dismantled the signal pyre and spread the parts of it among the rocks and palms, they both collapsed exhausted on the beach to catch their breath.
"Are we done?" Pam moaned with sore muscles, her breath still labored.
"I think," John said echoing her exhaustion.
"Good, otherwise I just might let them kill me," Pam professed half-jokingly.
"I'd almost agree with you on that," John said.
"Do you think what we've done will matter?" Pam asked.
"I hope so, Pam. If we can somehow keep them from finding our camp we should survive," John claimed.
"What if they do?"
"Then we'll just have to make the best of it," John declared.
"You think we have a chance, John?" Pam questioned.
"I do," John said, trying to sound upbeat when he wasn't that confident at all.
"John, don't let them take me please," Pam declared.
"I won't, babe," John proclaimed.
"I mean; if you have to; I mean I'd rather die than be taken by them," Pam confessed, her voice crackling.
"Pam, I love you! We'll make it through this. We'll survive!" John exclaimed as vehemently as he could sound.
"I love you too. You're right; we'll find a way," Pam concurred, trying to match his positive attitude.
John leaned over and kissed her. Unlike their normal lust filled kisses during sex, this kiss was ardent but tender. It spoke of their love for each other and their determination to make it through the day.
After several deep kisses, John pulled Pam to her feet as the sun was breaking in the east. They hurried back to camp to load provisions on the raft. Loaded down with water and dried fish, Pam made her way back to the raft. John carried the two plastic rafts back to their escape vehicle. While Pam made two more trips for food and more water, John secured the plastic rafts to the bigger bamboo raft. He loaded the provisions on the sand as Pam returned with the final load of prepared food and water. John reasoned to himself, 'We can survive for about ten days adrift I think.' They then retrieved their suitcases from the big rock and stowed those too.
Finally finished they went straight back to camp, familiarizing themselves with the path they would need to take through the rocks and trees in a hurry to escape. With the sun blazing in the east, just above the horizon, they lay down on lifejackets they had moved onto the rock to make it somewhat comfortable.
"Pam, try to get some sleep," John stated as they lay prone on the rock overlooking their camp below.
"God, John, I don't know if I can. I'm exhausted but too nervous," Pam concluded.
"Try. We'll need our rest," John stated.
"Okay," Pam agreed, lying down beside him.
John kept watch and had a hard time keeping his eyes open. Pam had fallen asleep after about twenty minutes from sheer exhaustion. To busy himself and stave off sleep, John found and carried three good sized rocks up onto the big rock. He wanted to give them more protection from bullets and also break up the outline of the rock. With the top flat on the big boulder, they couldn't look over the side or pop their heads up easily without possibly being noticed.
For John's plan to work they needed to be able to see the bad guys. He could only find three rocks big enough, that he could carry, and the right shape to work. He put two of them on the eastern edge of the big boulder to hide Pam and the third in front of him. Then he worried they looked odd, placed like that on top of the big boulder, so he found and placed some driftwood and old looking palm fronds on top of them sporadically to hopefully give them a more natural look. He wasn't at all sure it worked but at this point didn't have a choice. John hung on till the sun was high in the sky. He fought sleep but exhaustion was winning out.
On the eastern end of the island the pirates and drug runners had finally awoken. The leader had been the first to rise. He had gone to take a leak and discovered the lean-to just as John had feared. He went back to the camp and kicked the others awake. They growled at him but stirred. The leader last woke the girl with a not so friendly kick. After they were all up and the other three had relieved themselves right in front of the girl, they tied a rope around her hands and the other guy with two pistols pulled her along as the leader told everyone to follow him.
He took them back past the lean-to which they examined for signs of recently being used. They continued on down to the beach on the south side looking for any other signs of habitation. They had barely made it to the beach when one of the AK-47 guys excitedly pointed out the top of the broken front part of the plane in the surf down the shoreline. They walked towards the plane, pulling the girl along, and scanning the island for signs of life or threat. The leader told his rapidly talking followers to shut up as they progressed towards the plane.
They examined the plane section realizing it had to be there for a while based on the condition of it in the water and waves. They quickly noticed the aft section of the plane which sat higher up on the beach. Walking to that, they examined it as well for signs of life. Next, they discovered the graves. One of the AK-47 guys kicked at one of the grave markers, knocking it over. It was on the old lady's grave. Just as John had thought, discovering the graves gave the leader more concern and he voiced that with his men.
They proceeded up the beach with their guns at the ready. The two AK-47 guys led the way as the leader and Two Pistols, pulling the girl, followed. They all nervously scanned the beach for further signs of someone living on the island. The pirates walked to a spot just thirty feet short of where the raft and ramp had been only hours ago. The tide had washed away most of the footprint evidence and from thirty feet away they didn't notice anything abnormal with the sand.
The leader, speaking in excited Spanish, urged his men to higher ground. They moved off the beach into the rocks and palms running the spine of the island. Keeping the same formation they worked their way to the middle of the island and climbed onto rocks looking for evidence of someone surviving the plane crash that might still be alive. One of the men even scaled a palm for great visibility. They weren't seeing anything more indicating life and were beginning to think whoever had buried those people had already died themselves from starvation or dehydration.
Two Pistols told the leader they should just go as they were running out of time. Lingering on the island with their boat beached made them more vulnerable to anyone pursuing them and they knew someone was.
The twenty year old hostage they had in tow had been taken from a huge yacht the pirates had boarded just east of Martinique. The yacht was owned by a wealth French family on vacation. After stealing what they could from the yacht, including the TVs, stereo, jewelry, and the silver suitcase, they had left the crew and remaining family members tied up in the lower berths. They left the boat adrift but took the young daughter of the wealthy Frenchman as a hostage to slow pursuers.
The leader also hoped to make even more money via ransom once they got to a safe place where they could plan it out. Venezuela had proven to be a friendly haven to anyone giving grief to western society. Hugo Chavez was not likely to want to help the French and the pirates had already used Venezuelan waters as protection before. The Americans and others were diligent in their pursuit but not likely to invade Venezuela's territorial waters and risk starting a military action.
Two Pistols was insistent but the leader ignored him and pushed them on. His concern over their valuable buried treasure outweighed the risks to lingering too long, at least for now he thought. As they wound through the rocks and trees they finally found what the leader suspected: Pam and John's hut and camp lay before them forty yards ahead. The excited talk resumed among the two AK-47 guys until the leader told them to shut up again.
The leader scanned the area around the hut for signs of life. He called out to see if someone would show themselves but no one did. After carefully weighing his options, he pressed his men forward in the same formation with the two assault rifles out front.
John had just nodded off again briefly when his near sub consciousness heard something making him wake up. 'Voices? Were those voices?' his tired brain asked of him. 'Yes, definitely when he heard someone call louder this time. The Spanish words told whom he would see even before he did. Peering carefully over the edge of the rock and through the fronds he saw them coming towards the camp. They still looked hung over from the night before but they moved with purpose. The time was upon them.
John reached across and put his hand over Pam's mouth. He then shook her till she woke. She woke with a start and mumbled somewhat loudly into his hand until her waking brain realized what was happening. She nodded knowingly to John and he took his hand from her mouth.
"They're here," he whispered. "Whatever happens, stay down and be ready to run when I say." Pam nodded her reply.
John chanced a look again. He said a silent prayer to the Lord for bringing the pirates toward the camp in the same direction the three drug runners had used. They were approaching cautiously and would enter the campsite any second. He said another prayer they wouldn't notice the trip wire. He needed that to be successful like before and also for the element of surprise. The gunmen had their weapons ready and without surprise Pam and he were in for a world of trouble.
The two AK-47s started jabbering again as they got near. The leader yelled at them to shut up once more. Just as he did the first of the two kicked something. They had been watching the door of the hut so closely for signs of attack they had failed to watch low. The trip wire pulled, releasing both sharpened lengths of driftwood from the trees as before. This time however, the one guy that had hit the wire realized the trap and jumped forward several feet. The swinging board just missed him from behind.
His partner with the other AK-47 was not so lucky. He had turned to see why his compatriot was moving faster only to realize the game too late. The board that missed the first guy careened towards him. He quickly sidestepped to avoid it but that put him right into the path of the second board from the other side. It hit him grossly in the ass and tore through to protrude out his groin. He screamed a blood curding scream as the board knocked him forward. The vine gave way under the weight of his falling body but the damage was done. He was mortally wounded.
The first AK-47 guy spun around at the scream of his friend. The leader and Two Pistols also looked at the scene in disbelief. No one saw John rise up with a spear until it was too late. John threw the spear with force at the exposed back of the first AK-47 guy. Being only about twenty feet away he was a big target and the spear found its mark in the guy's back.
Another scream of pain erupted as the spear hit bone and penetrated the back of the other AK-47 guy just to the left of a kidney. He dropped to his knees, reaching with one hand to feel for his wound. He grabbed the spear but it was too deep for him to remove himself and he howled in pain as he fell over to one side.
The leader and Two Pistols stared on in horror as their two lead men were down and wounded. John popped back up with a second spear and threw it at the leader. He was about thirty feet away though and jumped behind a boulder for protection. The spear stuck in the ground near where he had been. A hail of bullets erupted from Two Pistols just as John managed to duck back down. He could hear them whizzing by and others pounding off the rocks he had put in place.
"Stay down," John yelled to Pam over the din.
They could hear Two Pistols yelling at them in excited Spanish. The leader was also saying something to Two Pistols. The other man hid behind a tree still clutching the rope tied to the startled girl. She was still back a little on the path in the open and in total shock at the happenings.
John had one more spear but reached for the bow and arrows instead. He kept low as more bullets streaked by overhead and hammered the rocks. Pieces of driftwood and palm fronds sprayed into the air like confetti as the bullets ripped apart some of John's defenses. He huddled behind the rock he had placed before him for another chance to look.
When the first wave of bullets died down, John popped up quickly. He didn't fire anything but instead quickly assessed where the remaining two were at. Over the moans of the two already down, he could hear the leader saying something to Two Pistols. John looked up again to see Two Pistols pull the girl to him and use her as a further human shield with the tree.
John put one of his arrows into the bow and prepared to take a shot at the leader again. However, when he waited a second and popped up he was greeted by a bullet whizzing by his head. He dropped back down just as several more smashed against his rock. Fortunately the rock was big enough and thick enough not to break apart. Splintering shards of rock though blew in a million directions as the bullets chiseled away at the protective rock.
When that wave of bullets died down, John got to his knees and fired at the leader. He aimed high as the bow was woefully inadequate for long range shots. His aim wasn't bad but the leader easily ducked behind his rock and the arrow careened off it harmlessly. John barely got back down before more bullets from Two Pistols further chiseled away at his rock.
John was beginning to think they were locked in a standoff until he heard more talking from the leader. He wished he understood Spanish and he asked Pam if she did. She shook her head no. John saw fear etched in her eyes as they looked at each other briefly. He glanced back over the edge through the few pieces of remaining driftwood and fronds. He could see Two Pistols moving around to the left. He also noticed the leader was now closer behind a tree.
John realized their plan. The leader was after the trap impaled guy's AK-47. He was less than ten feet from it now but would have to dash into the open beneath the large boulder to get the rest of the way. John felt he could keep him back with a few decent shots but the other guy worried him more. Two Pistols was using the girl as a shield and moved from cover to cover around his left flank. If Two Pistols successfully got behind them they were doomed. He couldn't allow the prospect of having their retreat cut off. That was too much of a risk to Pam to allow that to happen.
So far the battle had gone much as John hoped. His prayer for the trap had worked well enough to give him the element of surprise. With the two AK-47 guys down the odds were better but still woefully in the pirates favor. They obviously didn't care what happened to the girl with them and John had to protect Pam at all costs. Besides that, surprise was now gone, their hiding place was known, and John wrestled mentally with the distinct possibility he might have to actually shoot at Two Pistols to stop him even with the girl in front of him. John had no desire to hurt the girl but he had to think of Pam and their safety too. It was not a choice he relished making.
He peered over the edge again only to be met by more bullets whooshing through the air too close for comfort. The situation was rapidly deteriorating from the standoff he had hoped for. He had to do something as Two Pistols was making progress around the side and every time he looked up the leader was ready to lay down cover fire.
John popped up and down quickly. He drew fire like expected but this time when it died down he immediately popped up and fired an arrow at the tree where Two Pistols and the girl huddled. He tried to keep the arrow to the left side of the tree, opposite the side the girl was exposed on. In so doing he missed badly to the left offering little threat to Two Pistols, who soon after bolted to the next covering rock, dragging the girl along.
The situation was growing desperate. He couldn't watch Two Pistols anymore and still keep the leader in his peripheral vision in case he bolted for the AK-47. He didn't want the leader to get that gun as they could then pin him down for longer periods of time as someone else moved.
John reloaded another arrow and this time was ready when Two Pistols bolted to the next tree. He insanely disregarded two shots whizzing by him and fired his arrow. He aimed for Two Pistol's head but the shot dropped low. It did manage to hit Two Pistols in the leg though just before he got to the next rock. John heard him scream in pain as the arrow pierced his leg. Then John felt searing hot pain as a bullet just grazed his right arm, tearing away some flesh and opening a wound. He managed to drop down just as a few more bullets pounded the rock and whooshed by.
Now it was Pam screaming when she saw the blood on his hand as he instinctively covered his wounded arm. John said he was okay to Pam even as he winched in pain. The next time he peeked up he was greeted by a hail of bullets from a different sounding gun. 'Fuck,' John thought aloud. The leader had retrieved the AK-47 while he was down. This was getting worse by the second. Another quick glance showed him that Two Pistols was standing again, ready to move. Obviously the arrow wound had not been enough to keep him down.
"We've got to go, Pam!" John exclaimed only loud enough for her to hear.
"Okay."
"You first, then I'll follow," John declared.
"When?"
"Wait a second," John concluded.
He dared another look up but the same result was a barrage of bullets pinning him down. When they ended he yelled.
"Go!"
Pam took off in a flash. She had been fast as a runner ever since he met her and the physical nature of their existence on the island had added to her overall strength and endurance. She jumped off the rock to the west, dropped the three feet to the sand, and took off through the heavy sand with surprising quickness.
Two Pistols had seen her go and yelled something to the leader. John lifted up and then fortunately dropped back down just as a wall of lead passed by. He took off at its conclusion, racing after Pam, who was already nearly out of sight down the winding trail.
John got to the beach only to see Pam half way across it to the raft. He could hear loud yelling in Spanish further behind him. He reasoned they had maybe a minute to get the raft launched out far enough to sea to not get sprayed with bullets. Not enough time really.
John raced on watching Pam reach the raft. The smart girl had taken one of the knives with her and began working to cut the vine holding the raft. He had planned to do that but was glad she saved them the time. The high tide was somewhat battering the raft against the shoreline. That was good and bad. The raft would be easy to launch but they would have to fight hard to get out past the breakers. Once they did though, John had observed many times that on this side of the island the water currents strongly ran past the island. He felt if they could get out into those currents the raft would move somewhat rapidly away from the island.
He reached Pam just as she muscled the knife through the vine. He grabbed the vine from her and yelled to get on board. She did as he took handholds and began pushing. He glanced back over his shoulder. Nothing yet.
"Get low," John yelled to Pam. "Watch my back."
John fought hard to push the raft through the waves into deeper water. He wanted to go as far as he could push before he jumped on. He was in waist deep water when Pam yelled.
"Here they come!"
"Fuck," John yelled back knowing this was way too close for comfort. The guns would easily have them in their sights and range.
He pushed as hard as he possibly could. They made it out beyond the breakers and John pushed one last time and jumped on. He grabbed the rudder and steered into the current. As he did, he glanced back. The leader was in front and running across the beach. Two Pistols hobbled behind him a little bit, pulling the girl along. They were still only thirty feet from the shore and the pirates were closing the gap too fast.
John held the rudder as he put his legs over the back of the raft. He kicked in the water as hard as he could, trying hard to propel them faster to deeper water. The current was taking them but too slowly for John's liking. He watched as the leader got to the shoreline and raised the AK-47. Only maybe fifty or sixty feet separated them from the leader.
The leader aimed but the AK-47 spit only two bullets when he pulled the trigger before running out of ammo. The two bullets hit the water right in front of John. If the gun hadn't been empty it would have been easy to run the fire right into him. The leader threw the AK-47 aside and drew his handguns just as Two Pistols arrived with the girl in tow. He already had one gun in hand and started firing. One shot buzzed by John, another hit the bamboo rudder post right next to him, and the third went under the raft before hitting the water. They were getting far too close and the raft was still only eighty feet away.
"Stay down!" John yelled to Pam.
"You too," she screamed back.
The leader opened fire as two more shots from Two Pistols' guns splintered the bamboo raft on one side of John. Suddenly John thought he heard more gunfire from elsewhere. Temporarily confused, he looked where the two pirates were now turning as bullets threw up spits of sand in the air around them.
"Holy shit," John yelled amazed.
"John," Pam screamed noticing the new gun fired too and seeing why.
On the beach and running towards the pirates were what looked like five Navy or Coast Guardsmen. The one in front with a pistol looked like a Captain and he had four men with drawn assault rifles with him.
Two Pistols made the mistake of firing in their direction and a wall of bullets dropped him in seconds. The leader, seeing his mate fall, dropped his guns and raised his hands. Moments later he was surrounded by men in white. One went to the girl and untied her hands.
As John and Pam watched the scene unfold, they heard a boat engine roaring louder. They turned to see a Zodiac with United States Coast Guard emblazoned on the front racing towards them. In it were three men, equally armed with assault rifles. They spun the craft to a stop in front of the raft. John got to his feet and threw them the vine they had used to moor the raft.
The rest of what proceeded next was beyond anything Pam and John could have hoped for at that grave moment and over the last terrible hour. The Zodiac pulled them back to shore where the Captain and his men were handcuffing the pirate leader. One of the men was saying something to him in Spanish that sounded to John like they were reading him his rights as they arrested him. They got off the raft in the surf just as the Captain approached.
"Hi, I'm Captain Bennett, United States Coast Guard. Who might you be?"
"I'm John Morrison and this is Meredith. We've been stranded on this island for months," John offered.
"Are you the two our plane spotted?" the Captain asked.
"Yes," John replied.
"Well, you're lucky we're helping the French track these guys down. They pirated a French yacht several days ago near Martinique. We've been helping the French search these islands. Our search plane spotted you guys on one of their runs," the Captain informed.
Pam noticed one of the guardsmen whisper to one of his mates who smiled. At first she didn't think anything of it, but then the thought dawned on her as to what they might be saying, as she listen to the Captain and John talk. Had word spread around of her unclad top when they were waving at the plane? From the stolen glances of the guardsmen and the smiles she assumed so. 'Oh well,' she mused, glad she now had a tank top and shorts on over her white bikini, even if it was somewhat wet and showing her richly tanned skin underneath. The outline of her white bikini top could be seen through the wet shirt.
"Is that so?" John queried in reply to the Captain.
"Yes, and that woman is the daughter of a wealthy Frenchman named Roberto Cure'. She was taken hostage from their yacht. Her name is Parmelle Cure'," the Captain stated.
"Poor girl," John responded.
Pam looked over to see two of the guardsmen talking to her in English. She didn't seem to be responding as if she was in shock.
"What happened here that they were after you?" the Captain asked.
"They discovered our camp and raided it. We fought back and retreated here when we had to," John declared. "We had planned to leave the island on this raft soon anyway but were forced to use it to try to escape."
"I see," said the Captain. "Tell me, Mr. Morrison, the reports indicated there were four men. Do you know anything about the other two?"
"I'm afraid we had to wound them to get away," John said.
"Is that so? Can you show me?" the Captain asked.
"Sure, this way back to our camp," John said and started towards it.
John held Pam's hand as they walked the trail back to camp. The Captain and his four men followed them bringing ParmellParmelle Cure' along. The other three guardsmen were busy pulling away in the Zodiac with their prisoner handcuffed in the middle and a dead Two Pistols in the bottom of the boat.
John showed them an easier way around the rocks so they wouldn't have to climb. Pretty much the same way Two Pistols had tried to flank their position. He warned them to be cautious given one or both of the criminals might still be armed. The Captain held him and Pam back as his men secured the camp. When they were allowed to enter, they saw that one of the men was dead and the other being attended to. More personnel from somewhere arrived with a medical team. Apparently they had been summoned by radio to this position.
"You're quite resourceful, Mr. Morrison," the Captain said as he watched some of his men carry off the dead man. "That booby trap that got that poor fellow was pretty nasty."
"It saved our lives, Captain."
"Indeed, I believe it did, Mr. Morrison. These guys were pretty ruthless. The French are somewhat surprised they left the people on the yacht alive to tell. They only assume the leader wanted to ransom the girl and needed her family alive to do it."
My gosh," John offered.
"Please tell me, Mr. Morrison, how you both came to be on this island and everything you saw once those guys landed here," the Captain asked sitting on one of the nearby rocks with two of his men standing nearby listening.
John related the complete story of their crash landing. The only things he left out were the killing of the three drug runners and the hundred thousand dollars they found in the suitcase. The Captain and his men walked with John and Pam to the beach to check out the plane wreckage and the graves.
"I'm sorry for your loss," the Captain said to Pam referring to her mother as they stood by the grave.
"Thank you, Captain," Pam replied, still deeply troubled by her mother's death.
John replaced the old woman's grave mark before they headed back to camp.
"I'll arrange for proper burial arrangements," the Captain stated as they walked back.
"I'd appreciate that, Captain," Pam declared.
"You both survived all this time on this island alone?" the Captain queried on the walk back.
"Yes," Pam and John both said.
"You're two amazing people," Captain Bennett stated.
"Thanks, Captain," John responded.
"It was mostly John's doing," Pam stated, glowing with pride for him and herself too.
"Like I said, Mr. Morrison, you are quite the resourceful guy. I'd like to hear more of that tale as we steam back to Martinique where Ms. Cure' folks await," he proclaimed.
"Gladly, Captain."
"I promise not to steal your story. I think you have the makings of a book deal here," the Captain said jokingly.
"We'll just be happy to be home," John declared amused, "but I am a writer."
"Please send me a signed copy," Captain Bennett asked jokingly.
"For your help today, anything, Captain," John agreed and they all laughed.
"By the way, we can call whatever relatives you both need when we are back on board to tell them you're safe."
"Thanks, Captain," John said but Pam remained silent.
Once back in the camp, John continued with the rest of the story of how they saw the pirates land and unload bags of stuff. He described how they carried them into the island and buried them. After that he described how they made a campfire, drank, and mistreated the woman.
"In what way did they mistreat her?" the Captain pressed.
John told what he had seen exactly. He had not told Pam that full story and she gasped aloud as he did now. The Captain listened intently.
"Can you show me where all this happened and where they buried those bags, Mr. Morrison?"
"Yes, sir," John replied, "And call me John please."
"Miss, my men will take you to our ship. Why don't you pack whatever you want to take from the island while John and I are gone?"
"Yes, Captain," Pam answered.
As the officer and John were about to leave with four of his men, two with shovels, Pam spoke up. She noticed Parmelle Cure' sitting forlornly on a rock with two male medical staff trying to speak to her in English.
"Captain, I know some French. Could I help with Ms. Cure'?"
"Oh, please do, Meredith. My men say she is in shock or the language is a barrier. If you could help us ascertain her physical state that would be great. Also, if she offers up to you anything on her capture that would be appreciated too," the Captain replied.
The men moved off and Pam sat down next to Parmelle. They were nearly the same age and she put her arm around the troubled girl. They had practically the same name. Parmelle was dirty and could have used a bath. The ripped tails of her shirt were tied together hiding her breasts barely. Her wrists had rope burns from being tied.
"Bon jour," Pam said in French.
Parmelle didn't respond but started shaking in Pam's arms. She just stared at the ground. Pam held her tightly without saying anything more for a long time. The shaking finally stopped and Parmelle began to cry. Pam just continued to hold her and let her cry.
Pam started to whisper to Parmelle, "It's okay, you're safe now." At least she hoped that's what she said as her high school French was rusty.
After a long time Parmelle mumbled something in French. Pam thought she said, "Where am I?"
Pam couldn't remember the word for island so she said, "Tiny beach land," hoping Parmelle would understand.
She seemed to and responded with the proper word for island. Pam replied, "Oui."
"Who are you?" Parmelle asked.
"Meredith. People call me Pam. John and I crash landed on this island," Pam said trying to make her understand they both shared hardship.
Parmelle said a few things Pam didn't understand but she did pick up, "How long have you been here?"
"Many months," Pam replied.
"You must be very;” and the next word Pam didn't fully understand but reasoned it was a compliment like 'resourceful'.
Pam said, "Thank you," in French, adding, "My man is talented."
"Oui," Parmelle responded. "Are you married?"
She seemed to be relaxing and coming out of her shell with Pam. It was helping to have another young woman that spoke some French to make her feel safer.
"No," Pam responded, "but we love each other and I'm pregnant. She said this smiling to show she was happy about it.
"Oui?" Parmelle claimed and then hugged Pam. "You are happy?"
"Very," Pam said. "We'll be living together in New York."
"You're lucky to be in love," Parmelle said and Pam noticed sadness.
"How about you?" Pam asked.
"I have a boyfriend back in France but he will leave me now," Parmelle said assuredly.
"Why?" Pam questioned.
Parmelle started to cry again and it was several more minutes before she could continue. "They made me do things," she finally said and cried some more.
"It wasn't your fault," Pam offered. "Your boyfriend will understand."
Parmelle shook her head no and between tears said, "He will be embarrassed of me."
"No, he won't!" Pam said emphatically. "If he does then he wasn't the right one for you anyway."
That didn't help much and Parmelle continued to sob. Pam held her for a long time. Several guardsmen came back to see if she was ready to go but left quickly when she shooed them away with her hand.
When Parmelle finally stopped crying," Pam asked, "Parmelle, the Captain wants to know if you are physically okay?"
"Yes; they didn't; they didn't fuck me," Parmelle said. "I don't know why but it was because of the leader."
"Really; he kept them away from you?"
"Only from fucking me," Parmelle said. "He let them cum in my mouth. I think it might have had something to do with DNA, I thought I heard once, and they planned to ransom me."
Pam got most of that as Parmelle sobbed a little again. "Did they hurt you much?"
"They were mean and kicked me sometimes but they didn't hurt me badly," Parmelle said sadly. "They just made me suck them."
Parmelle and Pam hugged a while longer and the next time one of the guardsmen came back he pointed at his watch indicating they had to leave soon. Pam talked to Parmelle about going with the Coast Guardsmen to their ship and she would be along shortly to see her again. Parmelle made her promise she wouldn't be long.
When Parmelle was gone with the guardsmen, Pam ran down to the raft. She retrieved the suitcase that was packed with the money and also packed with most of her clothes. She grabbed another case too with some of John's stuff and some of her mother's things she wanted to keep like jewelry. She lugged the two suitcases back to camp. When one of the guardsmen saw her he insisted upon helping her and took the cases. Parmelle worried but decided if she made a scene about keeping them the guardsmen might get more suspicious from that.
Pam was watching the guardsman carry the luggage away to their Zodiac on the beach when she noticed John and the team with Captain Bennett returning. They carried the eight trash bags and the silver case with them. John saw the man carrying the suitcases and gave her a look as they got close.
"Ready to leave, Meredith?" Captain Bennett asked.
"Yes, Captain," Pam said. "Oh, Captain, Parmelle is fine physically. They hurt her a little but not too badly. They also used her orally but nothing more."
"Thank you with helping, Meredith. Obviously another woman has helped make her feel better," the Captain said.
"I'd like to stay close to her, Captain Bennett. She is still fragile and wanted me to spend more time with her," Pam related.
"That's fine, Meredith. If you're ready to leave you can be back with her soon."
"I am, Captain."
John and she shared looks again as they walked to the Zodiac but didn't say anything. In the distance, about two hundred yards off shore, stood a large white Coast Guard vessel. It gleamed beautifully in the hot bright sun. Pam thought it was one of the most beautiful sights she had ever seen. It would take her back home. That gave her thrills and chills as she thought of her new life without her mom and with John. She prayed a silent prayer that John's son, Nick, would accept her.
The Zodiac zipped them back across the water to the ship in no time. The powerful engine purred loudly until the pilot powered it down as they neared the ship. Pam and John could see that the pirate's boat was secured on a towline behind the Coast Guard vessel.
After they climbed the rope ladder to the deck of the ship, another officer came rushing up to the Captain and addressed him.
"Welcome back aboard, sir."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. Report?"
"Martinique has been informed of our success, sir. The French are elated. They anxiously await our return, Captain."
"And Ms. Cure'?"
"Stowed safely below, sir. The prisoner is in the brig. The doc says the one with the back wound will survive."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. That will be all. Get us out of here."
"Yes, sir," the Lieutenant said and spun crisply to leave.
The Captain turned back to Pam and John but they had walked to the bow of the ship and stood looking at their island, holding hands, as the anchor chain clattered nearby. The Captain smiled and walked to them slowly.
"Will you miss it?" the Captain asked merrily standing behind them.
They turned to him and both said, "Yes and No!"
"I hope I don't have to eat seafood again for a year," Pam said jokingly.
"I'm never going fishing again," John replied amusingly.
Then they got pensive and Pam said, "I love that island though. I hope I come back someday, years from now."
"That little island kept us alive for all these past months. She took and gave in equal shares. I'm with Pam. I'll miss it too," John proclaimed soulfully.
They all stood at the railing and watched as the ship pulled away and the island disappeared slowly into the horizon. One of the last views of the island they got was of their raft sitting on the sand in low tide. John smiled to himself as the big Coast Guard ship headed northwest in the direction he had planned to go. The Captain left to attend to duties and Pam and John remained holding hands and kissed as the fast ship cut through the blue sea.
To be continued in part 9. By BlewWater69, for Literotica.