Chapter forty-six
 

 

They reached the first of the West Indie Archipelagos in six days like Steve projected. None of them felt any real hunger pangs even though the food ran out in the time span Jane predicted. That was something to think about because Damian felt it would be useful to know if their ability to comfortably go without food for so long, was due to being vegetarians, the changed earth conditions, or the alterations to their systems. Later he will get the crew to help him do some in-depth research on it.

It was early in the day when they arrived, so they were able to begin exploring the Islands immediately. They anchored the boat close to the coast and set out.

"Which Island is this?" Feifong asked.

" Dis is Trinidad," Chandra answered. "Mi Faddah was born here."

Damian, who had never left mainland U.S. before, was stunned at how different the Island looked from what he had imagined.

It was a beautiful place, but from the time they got 10 yards inland they were seeing modern buildings. He expected more jungle.

There was an eerie silence to the beautiful little spot in the world. They weren't seeing any signs of life--not even of animals.

The big cat--as if she had gone stir crazy on the boat--shot off like a bullet as soon as her paws touched land. They all watched her as she disappeared in the distance, running and sniffing, sniffing and running. The Iowees were also running wild in a way. They were in bliss--laughing and playing, rolling around in the grass.

The farther inland they walked, the more skeletons they were coming across. Damian had entertained thoughts of setting up camp on the Island for a while but Chandra was emitting so much sorrow, even the Soldiers seemed to sense it, though she said nothing, and her face expressed nothing any different than usual.

" It stinks of death here, even more than back in the States." Steve said. " Let's stock up and get away from here." His eyes were on Chandra, full of puzzlement as they tried to match what she was emitting emotionally, to the expression he saw on her face.

They all agreed that they should set sail for one of the other Islands as soon as they gathered some food. Chandra, Jane, and Michelle went about the task. The pickings weren't abundant. They were in the wildest part of the Island but as they walked along the coast, they saw that things weren't getting any greener or more fruitful.

" Let's go back." Steve urged again. "We just need enough food to last for a day. The Antilles group isn't far from here. We'll find plenty of what we need there. Should be able to stay there a while too."

Damian called Chandra with his thoughts. Ten minutes later she came back with Jane and Michelle. They were carrying nearly empty bags.

" Not too much to find here." Jane said to Damian.

" That's one of the reasons we're leaving." Damian turned from Jane and whistled loudly. Soon the Iowees were back with them.

"Wonder where Sheba is?" Feifong said.

Steve looked over all their heads into the distance " I don't know, but Sheba' ta get her feline ass back here."

" We need a signal for her like we have for the Iowees." Chako said.

Damian sighed. " Alright...let's go find the cat."

"Sheba!"

"Sheeebaaa!"

"Sheba!"

"Sheeeba!"

"Shebah!"

"Shebaaah!"

"Sheeeebaaaaaaaah!"

"Sheba!"

"Shebaaaaaaaaaaaa"

"Sheeeeba!, Sheeeeba!"

"Sheeeeeba!"

"Shee-itt!"

Michelle playfully rolled her eyes at Steve. Just then the big cat came bounding up. It stopped in front of everybody and sat. Then she yawned, and after the Iowees got off her neck, she stood up and shook, walked passed everybody with her head straight up in the air.

Steve looked at Damian and back at the cat who was heading towards the boat.

"Well, exscuuuse us."