Day 16

Kerri-liana Jones woke up to a monkey rummaging through her stuff.

“Hey!” she shouted, “Get out, flee bag!”

She changed from English to the queen’s tongue

“Get out before I skin you!”

She hit it with her pants.

The monkey ran with her pen in its hand.

She chased after it.

“Give it back, flee bag!” she shouted chasing the monkey.

She ran around the corner into Tank.

“He has my pen. Your monkey! I want it back.” She said all matter of fact.

“Gulfie?” he said.

The monkey passed the pen.

“What do you do with it?” Tank asked looking at it.

“I write with it.” Kerri replied.

He passed her the pen.

Then Kerri realized she was holding her pants. She was standing in her panties with a t-shirt on.

She covered herself with her pants.

“Don’t look at me.” She moaned.

“You ran into me chasing my monkey without your pants on and I am not supposed to look?”

Kerri tried to put her pants on. But the one leg was inside out so she hopped on one leg trying to straighten out her pants.

“Stop looking!” she snapped.

Tank laughed at her.

He walked away shaking his head.

She finally got both legs into her pants. She turned around to return to her room to see James and Zerok standing there, watching her.

“I expect better from you.” She snarled at James.

“You’re standing in the walkway.” James stated, “I could say the same of you.”

But he knew he couldn’t win with her. They were passed recovery. They were just an awkward image of who they once were.

Kerri-liana dressed. She was feeling very embarrassed. Caught with her pants off. Everyone on the boat has seen her, everyone and they were all men.

She went to the deck to eat. Everyone was there already and eating.

Zerok chuckled as she sat down.

“You are entertaining.” He said.

Kerri glared at him.

“Let’s pretend it didn’t happen.” She said flatly.

Tank drank his water and fed his monkey fruit from the table.

James just ate and refused to look at her. He wasn’t going to give her anymore reasons to be horrible.

“We are approaching rough water.” Tank said

“It’s best if you stay below deck.”

The boat shifted and bobbed violently.

Kerri tried to make her way below deck. But the boat swayed, and she fell over. She rolled into the railing on deck.

She held the railing and stood up. The boat tipped and dipped, and she slipped off the railing and into the wall of the cabin. She lay on her stomach and tried to dig her nails into the grooves in the wood to keep her still. But the next tilt had her sliding, she hit the railing again.

“Help!” she called.

Zerok walked over. Despite the boats unsteadiness he walked and stayed stable.

“Need help?” he asked.

“Yes please.” Kerri said.

Zerok lifted her to her feet and walked her inside the cabin. He sat her on her bed.

“You will get used to it.” He reassured.

‘Will I?’ Kerri thought.

The boat rocked and swayed and made everything move.

Kerri felt sick.

She grabbed a bucket as it slid passed her.

‘Urrrrr’ she went into the bucket.

“Haurrr’

The water finally calmed down. They had passed the first set of rapids going upriver.

Kerri come up for air. She looked green. Her face was pale, even her lips had no color. If it was possible her hair would have been pale too.

“You are not looking so good. Can I get you something?” James asked.

“No kidding.”

“I am trying to be nice. When the boat arrives in Fish I will leave. You can do this without me irritating you.” James said “Your meanness is very unnecessary. I will not willing hang around to be mistreated.”

“I just…”

James walked away not listening to Kerri. He wasn’t interested in an excuse or a reason for her to blame him for her behavior.

Kerri stood at the back of the boat. She needed air. She felt ill, her body felt weak, and she was nauseous. She breathed deeply. Then hurled over the railing.

She groaned and wiped her mouth.

“Chew this.” Tank said passing her a stick.

“How will a stick help?” Kerri groaned.

“It does. Chew it.”

She took it and chewed on the stick. It had a nutty ginger taste.

She leaned on the railing while chewing. Her body was sore and bruised from her falls and being flung around by the boat. She rubbed her ribs.

“Oow.” she winced.

Kerri was not paying attention as she leaned over the railing.

The still water was home to the Gradiator.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

*A Gradiator is an alligator type creature, with six legs and seven rows of teeth. A thick skin made of armoured palettes. Its only soft spot was inside its mouth, at the back.

Kerri skipped lunch as she was still feeling off.

She leaned over the railing watching the water. She stretched out her hand to feel the spray from the boat.

The Gradiator grabbed her arm and pulled her in.

Kerri screamed as she was yanked overboard.

Tank grabbed his double-edged blade and dived over. Zerok went to stop the boat. James threw a rope over. It was big and heavy, and it didn’t go as far as he planned.

Kerri kicked in the water; blood colored the water around her.

*Another fun fact about the Gradiator. It plays with its food. Even killing for fun and not food.

The monster brushed against Kerri’s leg. She screamed and tried to swim for the boat. It bashed her, knocking the wind out of her. She coughed and coughed.

Tank had not been seen after diving in.

It grabbed Kerri’s foot and dragged her under. Tormenting her it nudged her. Kerri battled to the surface. She took a breath and was pulled under again. It hit her with its tail. Kerri swam for the surface. But just before she could break through the water it pulled her under again. She kicked it with her other leg. She went for the surface again. It swam into her and turned to finish her. She was not as much fun to play with as it had hoped.

It opened its mouth biting into her leg and dragging her deeper. She could see the boat above her.

Tank slid the blade into its mouth stabbing its bottom jaw.

It released Kerri.

She swam for air, breaking the surface of the water. James was there with a rope.

“Grab on. I will pull you out.” He said.

Tank wrestled the monster. It hit him with its tail and scratched him with its claws. Tank played defeated. As it came for him, he readied himself. It grabbed his leg, zipping him through the water and along the river bed.

Tank pushed the blade against his leg into its mouth. It released him. He come up for air. It pulled him under. He stabbed it in the mouth. The rope James had thrown in had sunk and he grabbed it. Wrapping it around the monster. It twisted away.

James saw the tug on the rope and started pulling it in.

Tank grabbed the rope and stabbed the monster every time it got close. He was pulled up out of the water and onto the boat.

“Let’s go, let’s go.” He said to Zerok.

Kerri was bleeding all over the deck.

Tank went and fetch medical supplied. Bandages and ointments. Fresh water and cleaning clothes.

James slipped away below deck. He didn’t want to be around for anymore of Kerri’s abuse even though she was hurt, and he was worried, he knew Tank was able to deal with it.

Tank cleaned the bites. The teeth had torn the flesh.

Kerri winced as he wiped over them.

“You need stitches. It will hurt.” He said.

“Do I really need?” Kerri asked.

“I have to stop the bleeding. This leg is bad.”

Kerri looked at her gaping wounds. She was able to see the bone in some places.

“Relax.” He said “Your worry is making you bleed faster.”

“Do what you must.” Kerri said.

She held the chair leg and braced for the pain. Tank stitched and closed the wounds. Kerri held the chair leg so tightly that when it was over her hand cramped.

Tank rolled the leg of her pants over her bandaged leg.

“You are fortunate. You could have lost your leg.” He said.

“I don’t feel fortunate, just very, very sore.”

Kerri touched him on the arm.

“Thank you for coming to get me. You saved me.” She said.

“Pay me extra.” He said.

Kerri was freezing from the cold water, the shock and blood loss. She didn’t have a dry clothes to change into.

She knocked on James’ door.

He opened the door.

“I’m freezing.” She said standing before him.

“Your soaking wet!” he stated.

“I don’t have clothes to change into.” She said.

“I thought you brought a change of clothes.” He said.

“I washed it last night, but it’s not dry.”

“Here.” He passed her his spare clothes.

She shivered as she took them.

“Thank you.”

James said nothing as she left.

He closed the door again.

As he got comfortable in his hammock there was a knock on the door.

He got up and opened the door.

Kerri stood there in his clothes.

“I’m freezing.” She looked at him with her big blue-green eyes.

Her strawberry blond hair still stuck to her face.

James sighed.

She hugged him. She was cold.

“Please help me get warm.” She said holding him.

“This is not fair.” He said.

“Please.” She asked not letting go.

“My blanket is in my hammock.” He said.

“I got a normal bed.” She said.

Shivering she got into his hammock.

“Well?” she asked seeing him hesitate.

‘This is a bad idea.’ He told himself getting into the hammock with her.

He lay with her for about twenty minutes until she was warm.

Then she got up.

“Thanks.” she said leaving.

James looked up at the roof, he sighed.

Warm and feeling better Kerri went to find Tank. She wanted to thank him.

She went to his room, the door was partly open and he was getting dressed. She saw the scratched on his back and the bite on his leg. He had stitched her up and said nothing about his own injuries. He had stitched up his wounds. He turned to get his shirt and saw her standing at the door.

She looked away and quickly walked as fast as her leg would let her. She felt awkward. She should have knocked like she had just arrived or something.

‘Stupid, stupid,’ she scolded herself.

“If you wanted to watch me dress you could have asked.” Tank said.

Kerri froze. She shyly turned to look at him. He was putting his shirt on.

She giggled awkwardly.

‘Really?’ she scolded herself.

“I wasn’t there to watch you dress.” Kerri stuttered.

“Then why run away?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” She blushed and looked at the floor

“I wanted to thank you, for earlier with that thing.” She said looking at his bare feet.

“Why are you so weird?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” Kerri answered still trying not to let him see her face.

She could feel she was still red in the face.

He started walking back to his room.

“Are your wounds from saving me?” Kerri asked.

She looked at him expecting an answer.

“It’s a scratch.” He replied.

She walked over to him.

“May I see?” she asked.

“What tribe are you from?” Tank asked her.

“May I see?” she asked again looking him in the face. Standing before him outside his room.

“You are a strange woman.” Tank said.

He took off his shirt.

Kerri was shocked by all the scares that were old, and then the mostly healed.

The fresh scratches on his back and chest were from the Gradiator.

“What happened to you?” she asked.

She circled him looking at his scares and scratches.

She went to touch the scare on his chest then hesitated.

“May I?” she asked.

“Sure, it’s just a scare.” He replied.

She felt the rough edges of his scares and the smooth scared skin.

Kerri looked into his brown eyes.

“You are not a normal guy.”

“Uh hum.” James cleared his throat.

Kerri quickly took her hand off Tank’s chest.

“Next time be in the room.” James said walking past.

“It’s not like that.” Kerri said unconvincingly.

‘Poo! Even I wouldn’t believe that.’ She thought.

“Is your man unhappy?” Tank asked Kerri.

“He is not my man, never was, never will be. The queen sent him with me because he knows about plants.”

“You’re going to the village Fish because of plants?” Tank asked.

“No, it’s for trading with them.” Kerri lied.

At dinner alcohol was served. A strong cloudy drink was put on the table.

Kerri tried some and coughed.

“It will thin your blood. You shouldn’t.” James said.

But Tank and Zerok were having.

“Don’t mother me. I know.” Kerri said to him.

Kerri had alcohol but James was not feeling jolly nor did he want to drink with strangers.

After eating he went to bed.

Kerri stayed up late, playing drinking games with the guys. The drunk Kerri-liana was far bolder than the sober one.

“Tank, are you named that because your built like a tank?” Kerri asked.

“You have had way too much to drink it’s time for us to go to bed.” Tank said.

He was not that drunk. Nor was his friend Zerok. They were used to drinking way too much. Zerok drank because the woman he loved died. His wife for only a year was taken by illness.

Tank drank because he was escaping his traumas. The war and so much more.

Kerri drank for fun and not very often.

“Presides the leave me alone sticker on your forehead. You are very nice.” Kerri said with gestures and scary man walk impersonations.

“This way.” Tank guided her as they walked towards her room.

Kerri touched his face. She giggled as she touched his nose.

“I got your nose.” She said pulling away from him.

Tank touched his face. His nose was still there.

“Come.” he said putting out his hand to her.

“Come get your nose.” She grinned running back towards the deck.

Zerok was still on the deck. As the giggling Kerri came running in. He looked at her strangely.

“How strong is this brew?” Tank asked him, walking onto the deck.

“Normal strength.” Zerok answered.

“She thinks she has my nose. No more for her.” Tank said unamused.

Zerok watched as the woman ran around giggling. He was not blind. It was clear that having too much made her reveal her secrets.

“Where are you from?” Zerok asked.

“Tank must ask me.” She responded.

Tank sat down.

“What are you doing?”

“She will answer anything you ask.” Zerok said.

“She’s drunk and making no sense.” Tank replied.

Zerok shrugged.

“Tank doesn’t want to play. He wants to have a serious talk with you.” Zerok said.

“Oh, serious.” Kerri said trying to make a serious face.

“Where are you from?” Tank asked to please Zerok.

“Juneau, Alaska.” She answered.

“Where is that?” Tank asked trying to prove to Zerok that she was making no sense.

“Earth. It’s another world. Guess that makes me an earthling.”

“Earthling.” They both said.

They had heard about what the earthling had done in Hegga. A woman called herself the earthling.

“How many earthlings are there?” Zerok asked.

“Billions.” Kerri answered.

“Have you ever been to Hegga Island?” Tank asked.

“Where?” Kerri asked confused.

Her buzz was wearing down.

“Are we out?” she asked looking for the bottle.

“Yes, we have finished it all.” Tank responded.

“Who are your parents?” Tank asked.

“I am not feeling well.” Kerri said.

She stood up and went to the railing. She puked overboard. ‘herrrrr’ ‘slop’

Tank passed her a cloth to wipe her mouth. She wiped it then puked on herself.

“She’s all your.” Zerok said leaving.

“Wait no. Zerok! Don’t leave me.” Tank called.

“You’re handsome.” Kerri said

“And brave and…”

She puked again.

“I’m sorry, I will clean it up.” She said taking the cloth and spreading it.

“Let’s get some cleaning stuff.” Tank suggested.

“Yes!” Kerri said standing up.

Once she was below deck, she forgot about the puke.

Tank took her to her bed.

“You need to change” he said.

“I need to sleep.” She said.

“You need to take off your clothes.” Tank said.

Kerri like an obedient child started undressing.

Tank turned around.

She lay face down on her bed in her underwear.

He sighed. ‘This is why woman should not sail. Only trouble follows them.’

He fetched one of his shirts and brought it to her.

“Kerri, put this on.” He said.

She made a groan and rolled over.

Tank covered her with a blanket. He took her gross clothes to the washroom and dumped them in water. He was making it tomorrow’s problem.

Kerri dreamt that she was looking in her book from the wizard and she found her name written in its pages. Her mother was recorded as her mother and her father as her father. Her gran as her gran but her grandad was not there instead another name was there.

Kerri woke up she was in her underwear and next to her was a shirt she never seen before.

James was woken up with a knocking on his door. He knew only Kerri would be knocking on his door.

“Come in.” he called not really wanting to see her.

Kerri come in wearing a man’s shirt.

James waited for her to say something, but she didn’t. She just come in and closed the door behind her.

“Yes?” James asked looking at her.

“You left me.” She said.

“What?”

“You left me alone with them.” She accused.

“What are you talking about?”

“Earlier!” Kerri snapped “I woke up in my underwear in room with this shirt on my bed.” She blamed.

James had mixed feelings.

“I can’t remember anything. The last thing I remember was playing a game on deck.”

James got up.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“No! I am not! You left me with them.” She snapped.

“You know what Kerri.” James had, had enough

“I told you not to drink, you are so cruel to me you snap and snarl and then blame me for your own stupid actions. I left you as you wanted.”

He shook his head

“Get out!”

“What?” Kerri was taken back.

“Get out! If you had sex with them, I am sure it was not against your will. So, go talk to your new boyfriend and Get Out!”

“James?” Kerri was taken aback.

“I am done with your emotional roller-coaster.”

James held the door open for her.

“I need you.” She said.

James shock his head.

He gestured towards the door.

Kerri started crying.

“What if it wasn’t my will?” she asked.

“Then I am sure you will be back.”

She cried as she left James’ room. She had been grumpy with him, but he was completely over reacting. She needed him and he didn’t care.

Kerri walked back to her room. She bumped into Tank coming out of his room.

He looked at the tears and the terrified look in her eyes.

“Nothing happened. You puked on yourself and gave me your clothes to wash. I gave you my shirt to wear until your clothes dried.” He stated.

“What?!” Kerri said wiping her check.

“Your clothes are soaking in there. It would be great if you would wash them soon as I need that bucket.” Tank said.

“So, I didn’t like have sex with anyone?” Kerri asked.

“What?” Tank was confused he didn’t know the word.

Then Tank understood her.

“There was no mating.” He reassured “Is that why you are crying?” he asked

“I can’t remember anything.” She said.

“So, when you woke up without your clothes you presumed, we took advantage of your state and left you with my shirt for payment?”

“Flattering.” He added.

Kerri sort of laughed.

“When you put it like that it sounds so bad.”

She looked into the bucket at her clothes.

“Thank you. For not.” She shrugged with an awkward smile.

“Drunk and covered in returns, just what every guy wants.” Tank said feeling a bit insulted.

“Food will be ready at daybreak.” He said returning to bed.

Kerri washed her clothes and hung them up to dry.