The Island by Amy Cross

Author:Amy Cross [Cross, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Dark Season Books
Published: 2015-11-17T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-five

Iris

“You'll come to appreciate this more as time goes on,” Liam explains, holding his hands out toward the fire he's started on the beach. “Fire is by no means easy to start, especially after a storm when everything's soaked.”

“So how did you manage it?” Tash asks, with a touch of caution in her voice.

“God-mode,” he replies with a smile. “Either that, or experience. I saw the storm coming, so I stored some dry wood away as best I could and prayed that it wouldn't get wet. Enough survived for me to get this fire started.” He tosses some more wood into the flames. “You have to start thinking ahead on the island. It's very easy to get caught out in a situation you hadn't anticipated, and suddenly you realize today's the day you're gonna die.”

Looking over my shoulder, I see several long branches that have been tied together and hoisted high above us, creating a kind of wooden frame.

“My first week,” Liam continues, “I almost died because of this.”

Turning back to him, I see that he's pulled up the sleeve of his tunic, exposing a small scar on his left elbow.

“Just a scratch really,” he explains, “but I was unlucky. It got infected, I spent about two days just shivering on the forest floor. If it had rained during that time, I'd be dead. If someone had come across me and decided to use me, I'd be dead. If the infection had spread, I'd be dead. You get the idea. Fortunately, thanks to some kind of miracle, I recovered. My immune system was still strong enough, 'cause I hadn't been here for too long. Now I know which plants can be used to deal with infections. Do either of you know stuff like that?”

I shake my head.

“I can show you,” he adds, picking up a cup made of thick leaves wrapped in a piece of canopy fabric, and handing it to me. “Rain water. That's one thing I'm not running low on right now.”

Taking the cup, I sniff the water before taking a sip. When I turn to look over at Tash, I see that she's a little more cautious and is still examining the cup in her hands.

“Most people don't work together on the island,” Liam continues, his voice sounding strangely calm. “No-one trusts anyone else, and with good reason. Even when two people try to form a team, eventually one of them gets suspicious and it all ends in tears. What about you two, for example? Are you planning to go your separate ways?”

“I don't know,” I reply.

“I don't need someone slowing me down,” Tash mutters. “Sorry, Iris, but if you can't keep up...”

“I can keep up,” I tell her, offended by the idea that I'm some slow-ass idiot. “I might not want to hang out with you! Maybe you'll slow me down!”

She smiles as she finally takes a sip of water. “I'm not making myself out to be some kind of amazing survivalist,” she continues, “but I think I'm better than the average idiot.

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