This is episode forty of the novel Two Tamas in Paradise. There are fifty episodes. This is the fourth novel in the Trace Troy South Pacific Adventure series.
It may now be purchased on Amazon. It is available in paperback or Kindle digital format.
Desert Island
Trace sailed The Tramp Islander around the north side of Oeno Island. He stayed about a mile and a half from the beach. According to the charts, there was an opening in the barrier reef surrounding the island on the north side. Trace spotted the opening, and ordered the sails to be dropped. He turned starboard, using the power of the engine. He cautiously eased through the opening in the reefs.
The charts were the newest he could find, but he was still skeptical. He watched the sonar closely. Sage perched on the pulpit and kept a lookout for rocks and jagged coral.
The tiny island bulged on the eastern shore. That is where the structures were built. Trace maneuvered the boat about two hundred yards from the beach. The anchor splashed into the water.
Trace walked to the foredeck where Darlene and Wilma stood at the rail. Their hair blew freely. They gazed with excitement.
“Well, ladies,” Trace said, “what do you think?”
“The water is so clear and blue,” Darlene said.
“It’s a paradise,” Wilma said. “It’s something you only dream about.”
“I can’t wait to see our place,” Darlene said. “Pinch me. I’m in a dream.”
They giggled uncontrollably.
“We must sound like silly school girls,” Darlene said.
“Yeah,” Trace said, “you do. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s been a long trip. You can act and sound anyway you like. There’s no one around who thinks that’s wrong.”
“No offense, Captain,” Wilma said, “but when everything gets hooked up, I’m taking a long, long shower.”
“I don’t blame you,” Trace said.
“Look at all the birds,” Darlene said.
Maxwell and Calvin stood further forward. Their faces were puzzled. They pointed and dropped their hands. They turned and looked confused at Trace.
Trace walked toward them. “Is there a problem?”
“Are you sure this is the Oeno?” Maxwell said.
“I’m absolutely sure,” Trace said. “The closest island is Pitcairn. It’s a hundred miles away.”
Trace looked over their heads and tried to see what bothered them.
“What’s the problem?” Trace said.
“We don’t see any structures,” Maxwell said. “They are supposed to be visible from here. There is nothing.”
“Maybe they couldn’t build them there,” Trace said, “or mistaken. It’s not a big island. Let’s take the launch ashore and find the cabins.”
They agreed.
Sage, Coyote, Makani, Darlene, and Wilma stayed on The Tramp Islander. Trace, Adam, Maxwell, and Calvin motored the launch ashore. They tied the launch to a small tree and stepped into the shrubs.
“Maxwell,” Trace said, “why not you and Calvin work that way, and circle the island?” Trace pointed, “and Dad and I will go the other way. We’ll meet on the other side.”
“I don’t think there’s anything here,” Maxwell said.
“Let’s give it a shot,” Adam said. “And keep your eyes open for anything that might indicate some sort of construction. If you see a path, it might take you somewhere.”
They headed in opposite directions. At times, the bush was heavy and had to be walked around. Trace and Troy looked high and low. They didn’t see anything that might indicate any sort of construction.
“What you you think, Dad?” Trace said.
“The bamboozler has been bamboozled,” Troy said. “There are no buildings. It’s a bird dung sanctuary.”
They met on the other side of the island. Disappointment etched deeply on the faces of Maxwell and Calvin.
“Nothing,” Calvin said. “I’ve been skinned.”
“Let’s walk a little inland and see if there’s anything,” Trace said. “Then we’ll go back to the boat and talk it out. You guys are deep in this. You’re overwhelmed. I bet with the help of the crew, something can be figured out. I’m sure we can.”
“My dad always said if one plan fails, the next one should be twice as big,” Maxwell said. “And if that one fails, keep doubling up. If the first scheme works, you’ll probably die a poor man. Eventually, that big one comes in.”
“And how much did your dad have when he died?” Trace asked.
“The next one was going to be the big one,” Maxwell said. “Con men are full of optimism.”
“Well, my friend,” Adam said, grasping Maxwell’s shoulder, “you ain’t cut out to be a con man. You’re optimism left you about an hour ago. No matter how bad it gets, con men are always optimistic. And you’ve been kicked in the teeth with harsh reality. Let’s complete our search and get back to the ship. We can lick our wounds for a while, and figure out how ole Maxwell and Calvin are gonna get on their feet.”
They searched inland, and it yielded nothing.
They motored the launch back to The Tramp Islander. Maxwell and Calvin broke the bad news to Darlene and Wilma. They were expecting tears. They consoled their husbands in their hour of disappointment and humiliation.
The crew allowed for the privacy of the passengers on the foredeck. The sound of gusty winds kept voices from being heard above mumbling. No outrage or anger erupted.
Sage and Coyote motored to shore and explored more of the interior of the island.
“There’s a lot of disappointment up there,” Trace said, tossing his head forward.
“Yeah,” Adam said, “but I suspect more relief. Their plans were wildly ambitious. They were altered, and became nothing more than a fart from a cow’s ass.”
“Have you been thinking what they can do?” Trace said.
“It’s not my place,” Adam said. “What about you?”
“He’s a lawyer,” Trace said. “All he has to do is hang out a shingle. Calvin is an accountant. He can hang a shingle next to Maxwell’s.”
Adam turned his head and looked at the island. “The beautiful place looks very sad to me right now. Not that long ago, it was full of promise and possibilities.”
“Obviously, we take them back,” Trace said.
“At one time, I’d been all for just leaving them here,” Adam said.
“Yep,” Trace said, “me too. Nah, not really.”
“Well,” Adam said, “we got another three weeks with ‘em.”
“They may want to get off at one of the islands and fly out,” Trace said. “Speaking of which, when are you thinking about going home?”
“Actually, I haven’t,” Adam said. “I guess it’s time I think about it. Are you getting tired of me?”
“Not at all,” Trace said. “I’ve enjoyed this whole voyage. In fact, I’d like to find a newspaper from the Cook Islands, and see how they covered the jail break. I’d like to start a scrapbook.”
“You sound criminal,” Adam said.
“Technically, we are,” Trace said.
“Are you worried about being arrested when we return to Suva?” Adam said.
“I’m owed a few favors,” Trace said.
“Favors are like lending money,” Adam said, “don’t expect to be paid back.”
“I’ve seen you do a lot of favors,” Trace said.
“That’s in Texas,” Adam said.
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