From the Beginning: The Old World (13 page)

The way to the beach wasn’t too steep, but the path was slippery, and in some parts even dangerous. But all of this did not distract me from the figure on the beach, towards which I was racing, skipping lightly and very excited over all the obstacles in my way, ignoring the rocks and stones under my feet that hardly touched the ground. I was so happy it felt as if I was gliding on air!

The wind blew on my face on the way down, sending tears of joy into the air. I ran the distance in seconds, leaping into Jack’s open arms, who was waiting for me on the coast.

He grabbed me and hugged me with the same intensity I had jumped on him, kissing me with excitement, responding with joy to my happiness. Laughing and crying, I hugged him and kissed him on his lips, his forehead, his eyes and any kissable spot on his face. We touched and caressed each other’s faces, clinging to one another with excitement.

In a few minutes, the rest of the tribe members surrounded us. Some huddled around us, also excited to see Jack, and some did not stop running and headed past the sand and into the sea. A few feet from the beach a silvery patch was spotted, which was a huge school of fish— just as I saw in my dream!

A few of the men swam to the school of fish, taking their shirts off and using them as little fishing nets.

Soon, many fish started piling up on the beach. Roan and Billy hurried to organize a small fire from sticks and dried twigs that we dehydrated during the night. We didn’t even bother taking the lute back to the cave, we just grilled them on a fire right there on the beach, relishing their tender, nutritious meat, devouring with exuberance the food we prayed for, licking our fingers. We felt like we had been given the chance to taste a piece of heaven.

Embraced in Jack’s arms, I watched my friends appeasing their appetite, but the hunger I was feeling wasn’t coming from my empty stomach. When no one was looking, Jack and I snuck away from the celebrating gang, climbing to the place where the new pool had formed.

Jack led me along the edge of the pool towards the white waterfall that cascaded from high above raising gleaming clouds of spray. We reached the waterfall wall, and there, Jack showed me a narrow pass, that was hidden between the waterfall and the rock wall.

With cautious steps we advanced sideways, squeezing between the waterfall and the rocks until we arrived at a little cave that hid behind the waterfall, in it another small pool was formed, that one could sit in like in a round tub made of rock and stone.

Hands were probing, lips were meeting, and fingers burrowed, massaging. Our bodies sliding on one another, connecting once again to the same wild, primal instinct that had carried us away again and again, its intensity increasing more and more—only now it was accompanied by the intensity of our love that we finally allowed ourselves to fully feel and give to one another.

We lay hugging and naked, satisfied and loving. His arm was resting under my head, and his other hand aimlessly wandered on my body. My fingers drew imaginary lines on his bare chest as he told me of the moments of horror when he plummeted into the water and into the unknown, and how he was saved thanks to all of the grueling training he had gone through in his special forces military training and then in the secret service— where he learned special techniques of extending the breathing during diving missions as well as in oxygen free rooms, or under an attack of gas or smoke grenades. That is why, when he fell into the pool buried under the heavy cascading waters and for a few very long minutes he could not move or breathe, he knew what to do to stay alive.

“So the rumors were true…” I smiled as if I knew the secret, “You are an ex-secret agent!” I revealed his secret with delight.

“Well. I have no choice!” He grasped my neck, squeezing it gently in a joking strangling motion. “Since you found out my secret, I am forced to kill you… with kisses!” He showered me with kisses that left no room for air, but enough to cause me to laugh with pleasure until he stopped.

“If we’re on the subject of revealing secrets—” His face turned serious when he started to come clean about his actions on that dark night, “There is something else I think you should know: I didn’t kill Cole. Although you could say I was the one to send him to his death. I put him, passed out, on a little raft that I improvised beforehand. The main incentive was to distance him from the island so he would no longer pose a threat to the tribe. I left the rest to God’s and nature’s grace so they will decide his fate.”

I could have asked him why he didn’t tell me this right after it happened, but I remembered I was too distraught, and there was no point. I was relieved to hear this confession, and to know for certain he had no blood on his hands and that he did not take another man’s life.

Although, in his past job as a secret agent— he probably had to deal with much more vicious assignments. But as far as I was concerned, Jack’s life prior to the flood was erased and gone, much like anyone else’s in the tribe, and that is why the thought that he had killed Cole was so difficult for me to bare. I didn’t want his new chapter in his life to be tainted with someone else’s blood. The protector of the tribe’s job did not compel him to have blood on his hands.

“I am glad you told me,” I thanked him silently, laying my head on his arm again, relishing him and his love. Soon we were making love again, this time gently and with tenderness without any motivating vibe— just genuine and pure love that vibrated in our hearts.

When we rejoined the tribe, which was mostly still on the beach, the sun was already high in the sky, and people were eating their fill, like at a banquette. We helped ourselves to some grilled fish meat, which was now especially tasty. We were starved and hovered over the hot food that was served to us. Like our friends before us, we sank our fingers and teeth into the food, relishing the taste of heaven, all giggling and smiling at each other’s gluttony.

Once we have had our fill, I gathered a few fish spine skeletons, washed them well in sea water and rubbed them with sand to rid them of any remnants of food. These could be used as combs or needles in the future.

I saw Roan quietly approach Jack and imply that they go aside. I was curious to know what this was all about and got closer to hear what they were saying.

“…I really did try everything I could. I swear Roan! If I could, I would bring him back from the dead. I know you were childhood friends and close like brothers, but the moment Eddie threw me into the waterfall, we disconnected and there was no way I could see him or save him. I am truly sorry…” He put a comforting hand on Roan’s shoulder. “In spite of the disagreement between us and Eddie’s jealousy, I would not leave him to die just like that,” his words were said with honesty and warmth.

“I know, I know…” Roan bowed his head sadly. “I saw what happened in the cave. I saw you tried to help him. I just wanted to make sure—since after all—you survived the fall. You know, it left a slither of hope in me that maybe Eddie survived too…”

Roan opened his heart, his shoulders slumping when he realized there was no more hope.

“After I managed to get out of the water and rest for a bit, I combed the entire pool area and did not find any sign of Eddie. The water gushed out with such force that there was no way of knowing how far he had been thrown or whether he got carried away with the mighty current that kept on flowing out of the pool and into the sea. I scanned the area three times. I reached the shore, to the estuary, and from there I walked along the coast line until I saw the fish and you,” Jack specified to Roan all that had happened to him from the moment he fell.

“It’s o.k. I believe you. You don’t have to apologize,” Roan reassured Jack. I could see that in the past few days, since Eddie had lost his cool, Roan learned to appreciate Jack and to realize his virtue too.

“Roan—” I felt the need to jump into the conversation. “With all the love I had for Eddie, there is a voice inside me telling me that this was his fate. This is how things were supposed to happen. Just as Cole could not adjust himself to the newly formed situation and kept behaving violently like he used to, Eddie would have found himself estranged from the tribe too. And I almost can’t believe I am saying this, and these words are coming out of my mouth—” I apologized embarrassed, “But if the flood washed away all of our pasts and gave us a chance to start anew, it is no wonder that Eddie left us. He was too busy holding on to the past, instead of releasing it and embracing the reality and our newly created state of being,” I became silent, slightly worried about Roan’s reaction. Nevertheless, these were not easy things to say or hear.

But Roan surprised us yet again. “I am in fact happy you said that— because this is exactly how I felt, but I was afraid to say it myself. Very well put. With all the love I had for him and our lifelong friendship, sometimes it takes extreme situations to cause people to reveal their true nature. In the old world, Eddie was a role model, a good example to all. But here, on this lonely little island, there is no room for jealousy or narrow-minded thinking. It hurt me to see Eddie in his final days. I kept hoping he would change his mind…” Roan wiped a small tear. I went up to him and hugged him, and we both remembered how we tried to comfort one another when we thought Eddie was killed in the first avalanche. Who would have thought this is how things would turn out.

“If you wish, Roan, we can have a burial ceremony or a wake for Eddie. After all, his contribution to the leadership of the tribe was valuable and very significant!” I pointed out what we both agreed upon even without saying a word.

“I used to dabble a little with small carpentry jobs…” Roan told us shyly. “I would rather make little wooden headstones than to throw another ceremony right now. When I finish the job, we can have the ceremony. I have a feeling that the members did not yet forgive Eddie for his behavior. They do not know him like us, from the past, and couldn’t possibly guess what prompted him and led him to his actions. If we have a ceremony right now, when it is all so fresh, it will only encourage grievance within our friends. I think that if we wait a while and then have a joint ceremony for Rebecca’s headstone as well, it will be welcomed,” he said, and we all nodded in acceptance.

“Now you can also find a suitable branch for your work,” I pointed at a group of trees revealed close to the shore.

“What do you say? Shall we take a tour of the island’s new terrains?” Jack changed the subject. “I managed to find out a few things that will make you very happy, Grace. One might say that these are organic discoveries…” he hinted with his captivating smile, slightly melting me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders, leading me towards the trees. We signaled the rest of the members to join us, and we all went to tour the island. To our joy, we found a few types of nut trees that had managed to survive the altitude, their fruit resembling pine, macadamia, and hazelnuts. Another surprise that awaited us was when we cracked open their shells and discovered that some of them were edible. In spite of the long weeks under water, their thick shells protected them from the wetness and humidity. We gathered pockets full of nuts and continued the tour. I marked specific locations in my head, places I would return to later by myself to explore them quietly. I was especially interested in a small cave that was hardly noticed, and when I came close to it, the vibe down my spine reignited again. The rest of the tribe kept on going, continuing with the tour. Only Violet and Jezebel lingered next to me, and between us, we agreed to keep the location of the cave a secret for now, until I check out the calling vibe that came from it. We caught up with our friends and joined them in an area where the leftovers of some dense vegetation were seen, and I marked this place to come back to later as well, to check the nature of these plants. In spite of the damage from the storm, I believed that there would be enough plants that had deepened their roots into the ground and would return to bloom in a few days. After all, the storm also saturated the soil in the plots with water. All that was left was to wait and see if my prediction would come true, and in the meantime, we could enjoy fresh fish meat that was nutritious and healthy, as well as energy packed and delicious nuts, until the herbal growth regenerated.

I would be then able to also identify the new herbs and develop the various crops I had planted.

There was great happiness and the hard days we had gone through seemed to have lifted from our shoulders. The day that had begun with total despair at the sight of the storm damage and the food depletion ended with a magnificent sunset on the beach. And when the sun sank onto far away islands, a fresh bonfire was lit on the beach, unleashing the celebration of hope, and dancing around the big fire, spreading its light, signaling far…

* * *

For three straight days, we remained excited on the beach.

We slept, ate and relocated all our daily chores to the coast line, near the fire that was lit close to lunch time and at the end of the day with the arriving sunset.

Three happy and joyful days of celebration and gluttony, satisfying the terrible hunger which was our daily fate for so long. The plenty of fish in the water made it clear to us that from now on we would no longer go hungry, which is why we did not catch more fish than we needed for the day. The food was fresh and nutritious, and we saw no need to accumulate and store fish that would very quickly start to smell anyway.

For three days we explored every piece of rock, land and tree that was now exposed on the island.

Three days in which Jack and I spent time in the hidden cave behind the waterfall, making love, satisfying a different kind of hunger.

Three days in which the same dream about a great white eagle, lying wounded in a boat, calling me for help, troubled me.

Despite all the happiness we felt for the goodness that was bestowed upon us, inside me, the weak humming, forewarning of a powerful vibe that was building up was nagging me. Just between me and myself I wondered if the small cave I had discovered was the one that hinted to me that I had not yet checked the meaning of the vibe it ignited in me. But whenever I tried to free a little time to go and check it out, something else important came up that distracted me from it.

In the morning of the fourth day, I decided to climb up to the sacred cave. A cleansing bath and maybe a new vision could really help ease my mind from everything that was troubling me. As soon as I lay in the water, I could already feel my body relaxing. Again I sank into the endless void, waiting for an illuminating vision that would finally make clear the mystery of the white eagle and maybe even bring a solution to the enigma of the little cave.

This time, the great big sea was spread before me, and I felt as if I was standing on the summit of the island. I rose in the air over the sea, and I was gliding, overlooking everything from a bird’s eye view. I flew over the island, seeing the remnants of the merry bonfire on the beach that in this early hour of the morning was just a pile of smoking charcoals. I also saw the tribe members, rising early to a new day with light and joy on their faces accompanied by a ray of hope.

The flight continued from there towards the open sea. I could see the schools of fish, swimming in long silvery lines in the greenish-blue wide spaces. Suddenly my attention was drawn to a little spot in the distance. I increased my flight speed towards the spot, and the closer I came to it, the vibe intensified. It wasn’t long before I saw it was a boat, and seconds later I recognized it as the boat of the white eagle. But, when I looked in the boat from above, I saw the same scene again: the wounded white eagle was lying in the boat, asking for my help. Disappointed I started to be pulled quickly back towards the island, moving away from the boat. The white eagle’s desperate plea for help kept echoing in my ears, again troubling me, until the vision ended hastily and with a profound sense of frustration.

I sat up in the water— frustrated.

The vision showed me nothing new. Apart from the knowledge that his boat is rattling somewhere in the vast open sea, I had no inkling as to when he would reach me, how serious were his wounds and would it be too late for me to assist him. All of these questions twirled in my head when I left the sacred cave, heading towards the lower level.

I was so preoccupied with my thinking that I almost bumped into Billy, who was waiting for me at the entrance to the cave.

“Billy? Is something wrong?” I was startled from the surprising encounter, and immediately I worried that he had come up here to ask for my help.

“No. Nothing’s wrong, everything is alright,” he seemed disoriented and spoke in short sentences.

“Are you sure that everything is o.k.?” I kept on inquiring because it was obvious that something was troubling him.

“Is there something you want to tell me, Billy?”

“Actually—yes. There is something. I have… I want… Ahh… I need to ask you—No! Actually, I want to talk to you… Ahh… and also to ask you…” he stuttered with embarrassment. His words sounded contradictory and confused just like he was.

“Billy!” I lay a reassuring hand on his shoulder, stopping the stuttering flow. “You can ask me anything you want,” I explained gently that I would listen to him willingly and that he had no reason for being nervous or embarrassed near me. He looked up, and for the first time our eyes met.

A vibe was ignited at once! Even before he opened his mouth to speak, I knew what he was going to say and what his request would be.

~*~*~

The white in Billy’s big eyes brought out their special brown color, something that gave him a genuine clean look. His naïve gaze came together with a personality that wasn’t any less innocent.

Billy had something else within him. He had an infantile charm that was added to an extraordinary depth and maturity. He was only about twenty-six or twenty-seven years of age, popular and liked by all, easily connected both with the little ones as well as the grownups and communicated with ease both with those younger than him as well as the older and more experienced adults. He was a true friend, and that is probably why he became Roan’s right-hand man. His older brother, so he told, was big like Roan and resembled him with his sense of humor and kindness.

Billy had a special connection to nature and children, and that is why he spent many hours in the company of the three young tribe members, guiding them and teaching them anything he had in him to bestow.

I knew he grew up in the country, with horses, dogs and many other animals that he gathered and adopted through time. When he grew up and decided on his continued education, he chose the profession of veterinary medicine that involved therapy with animals. The tribe members responded to his silent call and opened up to him even without him encouraging them to do so. Roan and I used to laugh once in a while about the fact that Billy was chosen to be the tribe’s shrink, and that one day, when we grow old, he would inherit our place as the tribe’s leader. Although the tribe presented their troubles to Billy, Roan and I were the only ones that he came to, to reveal his heart and what little that bothered him or weighed heavily on him. I admired his ability to contain and his sensitive listening skills that he gave to anyone who turned to him— and he appreciated the fact that I might have been the only person who could listen and contain him…

~*~*~

He was standing before me embarrassed and confused, smiling shyly, which deepened his youthful charm even more.

He was tall and relatively thin. His body was strong but still lacked the stamina and fullness that differentiates between a boy and a man. His skin was brownish, dark and smooth, and his posture and body language read as somewhat gangly. He was at the final stage of transition, the end of puberty and was about to become the man that any woman would be thrilled to have and win his love.

He stuttered again, still self-conscious of what he was about to ask:

“Grace… you know that… since the flood and since we arrived at the island and everything we went through… Ahh… I wasn’t… that means… I haven’t touched and didn’t even try… Ahh… no one would… Shit!!!” he blurted with frustration and embarrassment. Finally, he managed to put one whole clear sentence together: “I am so shy, that I did not dare come on to anyone! And I was wondering if you will be willing… if this is alright with you— because if it isn’t, we really don’t have to!” he quickly made it clear that it was entirely up to me.

“But I wanted you to know, that I am really attracted to you, and I think that you are an amazingly beautiful and sexy woman—” he started to speak fluently, and the shy stutter disappeared the more confident he became at the sight of my widening smile.

“It is important for me to tell you that I didn’t come to you because you are… well, how do I say it without sounding like a hypocrite… because you were the one to initiate the whole sex thing, but because I have this weird feeling when I am near you, I feel this vibe telling me that you should be my first— I mean, my first one here!” he corrected himself quickly so that God forbid I would suspect he has no experience at all, and by saying it like that, he revealed the juvenile side of his personality, further widening the smile on my face. He was so sweet and charming with his fluster that I couldn’t help myself, and I laughed openly with joy. The vibe in me flowed in a new and different way, but pleasant and almost virgin like. I extended my hand, took his hand in mine, pulling him behind me into the cave. Laughing and blushing like a little girl myself.

Indeed, he had a point. I felt like I was initiating him, teaching him the intimacy between him and her, things that he didn’t know of but were very important to his sensitive personality— that is why it is better he learned them from an experienced woman than from a young woman who would not be able to give them to him. As I was taking off his clothes, revealing his almost ripe physique, I knew that he would pose no threat or be jealous of me or any other woman he would be intimate with.

I knew it to be a proper initiation. He would then go out to find other partners to pleasure, and give them the enjoyment and love that I was about to instill in him, in our virginal initiation ceremony.

His sensitivity was well expressed by his gentle touch and his deep kisses. He did not push or urge me, even when the passion and urges heated up, but he allowed me to lead and guide him through all the tender spots on my body. When he realized what he should do, only then did he take the reins and fulfill his manly duties in a very pleasurable way. 

He was an “honorary student” and eagerly took in all that I taught and revealed to him.

When we began our second mating cycle, he took the initiative and successfully and eagerly applied all that he had learned a mere hour ago. If I weren’t there myself to teach him, I would have never guessed that he acquired all the love making skills just minutes ago. I felt like I took a musical instrument and retuned it anew, extracting out of it a wonderful tune that would please the ears of other women— a tune that was pleasing my body now, delighting me with its virginity, with joy and the magic of youth that was embodied in Billy’s sweet touch.

Two long and satisfying hours of laughter and pleasure brought my body and soul more than just sexual gratification. The things that troubled me faded away, forgotten from my heart, and I was now quiet and relaxed as we skipped happily down the island, like two little children that had just managed to discover one of the world’s seven wonders.

Flushed and giggling we arrived at the dwelling cave but instantly noticed a great commotion and excited calls coming from the beach. The tribe members gathered on the water front, looking and pointing at the sea.

The calm and quiet vanished in the instant I noticed what caused the whole commotion, the reason everyone gathered, breathlessly watching at what was coming to us from the big sea…

* * *