The Island, Chapter 27 - Sex Stories

The Island, Chapter 27

... was just reaching for her hand, opening my mouth to congratulate her, when the net gave way, dropping her abruptly over the edge again. Her scream was cut short as the rope jerked her descent to a halt, and I heard her pained grunt as it dug into her, Dkembe’s massive frame taking up the slack. “Are you OK?” I hollered frantically, not hearing anything for a moment. “Yes,” she wheezed. “It just knocked the wind out of me. Can you pull me up? I’m not sure I can climb these vines.” Together the four of us were easily able to haul one small woman up the cliff, and Christopher and I were waiting to grab her wrists as she rose above the edge of the cliff. Once she was safely over the lip, Jared and I both wrapped her in a hug. “Cut it out, guys!” she protested. “I can barely breathe.” Jared began crying in relief. “I was so scared you were going to die, mom!” he wailed, and she held him tightly. “I wouldn’t leave you behind, buddy,” she assured him. “It’s OK.” She rocked him in her arms, while I patted her back, immeasurably grateful that she was spared a potentially fatal fall. After we had all caught our breaths, Janie hugged each of her saviors fiercely, thanking them sincerely. “No problem!” Stu told her. “We’re all one family here; we take care of our own.” “The people on this island are my only family, now,” Dkembe told her seriously, his large hands on her shoulders. “I will do whatever it takes to keep them safe.” “Thank you,” she whispered, standing on tiptoe to kiss ...

... him on the cheek and wrapping her arms around him again. Once she had thanked the others, she held me tightly for a moment, her face pressed into my chest as she got her breathing under control. “I was so scared,” she murmured. “I thought I was a goner for sure.” “Not gonna happen, Scarlatti,” I told her. “I just found you. I’m not going to lose you that easily.” After our racing hearts had slowed, we headed back to camp wearily. The bulk of our community was waiting as we passed the chicken cave, and began cheering as Janie came into view. She waved, blushing at the fuss everyone was making. Together we all trooped back home, and toasted the moment with the last of the airplane booze. “It’s all on you now, Rodney,” Jill told her fellow flight attendant. “When will that moonshine be ready?” “Not for a few days yet,” he said. “Be patient, y’all” Sharon giggled. “I guess all this country living is bringing back your childhood accent, huh?” “Well, I guess you can take the boy out of the country,” he said sourly, “but you can’t take the country out of the boy.” After a lunch to revive our strength and spirits, camp life returned to normal. Several cheerleaders took the reinflated raft out fishing (and tanning, by the looks of things), and Rodney and Jill went to check on his still. Stu and River were off cultivating their nascent pot farm on the southern plateau, and Anjali, Falani, Joelle, Onyeka, Tran and Truk were off together scouring the island for more edible and medicinal ...