This is episode forty-seven of the fifth book in the Trace Troy Adventures in Paradise series. The Title is A Cult in Paradise
. It will be featured in episodes over the next few months. It will eventually be published in full on Amazon. All of the Trace Troy books, as well as my other novels, can be purchased on Amazon by clicking the Bookstore tab above. I hope you enjoy. And thanks for stopping by.
Big Changes in Pago Pago
The voyage to Pago Pago lasted six days—uneventful days. There were two days of rough seas along with rain. The former cult members, at first, found it difficult to adjust to their freedom. Demeter continued to be isolated. None of the ex-members paid him little attention.
Demeter finally ate.
Trace warned the passengers that they had just been given their freedom. Why trade the subjugation and confinement they just left for a hefty jail sentence?
They docked in Pago Pago. Before docking, Tom was elected as the group's spokesman.
As the passengers stepped from The Tramp Islander and onto the dock, Trace called through the mic for Makani.
He rushed up the companionway. “What’s up, Cap?”
“How’s the food supply?” Trace asked.
“Low,” Makani said.
He handed Makani an envelope full of money. “Go and get supplies. Have it delivered immediately?” Trace lifted his head. “Here comes the fuel truck. I have water coming too. As soon as the water and fuel tank is full and you’re back, we’re leaving.”
“Aye, aye, Cap,” Makani said.
“Take Sage with you,” Trace said.
Makani scurried down the companionway. Soon he and Sage popped up from the forward companionway and climbed onto the dock. They trotted toward the maritime commissary.
An immigration officer came onboard, and Trace invited him to the pilothouse. He asked a lot of questions, and Trace gave him as much information as he could. He told him Tom was the spokesman and a reliable source of information.
“Thanks for your cooperation and the information,” the officer said.
“I’m glad we got those folks off the island,” Trace said.
“Enjoy Pago Pago,” the officer said. “I might have some more questions.”
“Sure,” Trace said with a sickly smile.
The officer left the pilothouse. Trace watched him walk away.
‘I sure hope Makani and Trace get back here soon,” Trace thought. ‘He didn’t tell me to stay. He just said enjoy Pago Pago. That’s not saying, stay. And so what if he does have more questions? He didn’t say it was me that had to answer them. He was just stating a fact, he had more questions. I can’t read his mind.’
Trace heard steps coming up the companionway. It was Adam. He tossed a bag of gear into the pilothouse.
Trace looked surprised. “What’s this?”
“I’m leaving,” Adam said. “I’m asking Talei to marry me. If she says no, I’ll fly home from here.”
“Fair enough,” Trace said. “That will leave us a little short but we can manage.”
“I’m not so sure,” Adam said. “Coyote is coming with me.”
“I can still make it back to Fiji with Sage and Makani,” Trace said. “Unless you talked them into leaving too.”
“No,” Adam said. “I know you want to get out of here as quick as possible, but if Talei says yes, I want you, as captain of The Tramp Islander, to marry us.”
Trace stroked his hair.
“I understand if you don’t want to,” Adam said.
Trace smiled. “Of course, I want to. I just don’t want to get any more mixed up in this thing than I already am. Sticking around might complicate things.” He clicked his cheek. “I’ll marry you two, and you get on a plane and get out of here. Get back to Texas. I’ll stick around, answer their questions. Besides, I’ll need the time to find two deckhands.”
Adam reached for the handle to the pilothouse door and grabbed it. He stopped and turned to Trace. “We did a good thing. Everybody has to have enough wind to fill out their sails. You know, to get from one place to another. What we did is enough good back there to fill our sails for a lifetime.”
Adam walked away with his bag. Trace watched him leave The Tramp Islander. Adam never looked back. And Trace was sure it was not for the lack of wanting to; he had something much stronger waiting.
Trace collapsed into the captain’s chair. “I've got to look up how a sea captain marries and find a couple of deckhands.”
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