Part 36 : Recovery

McKay had just finished cooking the last of the fish. Taylor was impressed with his abilities to say the least. Within seconds, she found herself staring at his rear end. She turned away and saw Mandy giggling at her. She playfully kicked her best friend. McKay didn’t turn around but he did smile, understanding why they were make-believe fighting. Tony scarfed down the last of his fish, and sipping his water. He jerked and held his mouth, the swallowed. “Tony?” McKay called.

“I’m all right, “He whispered, “Just . . .a tad difficult to keep food down.”

McKay stood up and walked over to him. He was still shivering, and his face was bright red. The Australian gently placed his hand on his friend’s forehead. “Oh, my God, Tony, you’re burning up.” He gasped.

“Yeah . . .typical . .stuff, I just got to hold on.”

“Do you best, mate. Remember that you are needed here.”

“Thanks . . .mate.” Tony smiled.

John then came over to his two friend, holding his bow in one hand and the quiver across his back. “You ready, McKay?” asked John.

“Yeah, Let’s do this.”

“What are you guys up to?” asked Tony, holding his blanket tighter.

“We’re going to head back into the jungle, retrieve that suitcase full of food.”

“WHAT?” exclaimed Taylor, “McKay, you’re not going back out there.”

“It’s perfectly good food, luv.” She said, tieing on his machete belt, “Can’t let it go to waste.”

“But that polar bear-“

“Darlin, darling, calm down, “ McKay said, embracing her, “Don’t worry about that bear. That is why I convinced John to come with me. His aim will make sure we come back in one piece.”

Taylor finally calmed down and embraced the Australian. John smiled as it was good to see Taylor and McKay getting closer. The archer was surprised it happened so soon but it was at least making their stay pleasant. No reason they should picker among each other. Something then clicked inside John’s head about the three dead men, Poteet, Calhoon and Underwood. They were all dead and what did they have in common? They disrupted the balance of their little community. John thought for a second that it seemed as if the ones that were dying were making life better here for them. But that was too strange. Wasn’t it?

Before John could think on it further, he heard Tony call to him. He turned to his blind friend, “yeah, man?”

Tony then made a motion with his hands like he was pulling out a pad and writing something. John smirked as it looked like he was playing charades. Then Tony ripped off the “invisible” piece of paper and handed it out to his friend. “John, do me a favor,” he smiled, “When you make it to the Pharmacy, fill that RX for me on the double, will ya?”

John chuckled. He reached over, took the imaginary note and stuffed it in his pocket. “Sure thing, doc,” he laughed, “You want an ice cold Coke to wash those pills down with?”

“Oh, god, Yes,” Tony gasped.

McKay laughed at the joke as well. “Does anybody else need anything?” he called.

“We’re low on milk and bread,” Yolanda giggled.

It was a happy moment. Marita smiled at the laughter the friends were giving each other. She knew it was because of Tony. Even though he was blind, he still did the doctor routine, making everybody cheerful. It didn’t even matter over the fact that he felt awful. He did his best to make others feel better.

----------------------------------,

John blew out his nose as he and McKay hiked through the jungle. He wasn’t sure if he was allergic to something in the jungle but his nose had been stuffed lately. McKay didn’t say anything, he knew his friend was uncomfortable. He only wished the poor man had tissues.

John coughed one more time and then stopped. He looked around and saw nothing but jungle. “You’re sure we going the right way?” he asked.

“Positive, mate.” McKay kept walking.

“So, you and Taylor, huh?” John asked.

“I was wondering when you were gonna bring that up, “McKay chuckled, “Nothing’s set in stone, mate. We’re just getting started.”

“Have you noticed how a lot of the people on the beach are pairing up?”

“Not really.”

“No, seriously. There is not a single person on the beach that came with a wife or girlfriend. They all came with no attachments. Now all of a sudden, men and women who never met before six days ago are starting to get closer, even romantically involved. Does that strike you as odd?”

“Not really, no,” McKay huffed.

“Why not?” asked the Archer.

“Cause no one has hooked up with you yet.” McKay laughed.

“Oh, thanks a lot, Paul Hogan! For your information, I got my eye set on someone.”

“Then why don’t you make a move, as you Americans say?’

“I am just waiting for the proper moment. Nothing-“

John paused and gagged. A putrid smell was in the air, lurking all around them. McKay coughed and pinched his nose. He walked a few more feet and found the hill where Calhoon died. As he walked up the hill, he finally saw it. The body of the thin man, minus his head. Flies and other bugs were buzzing around the open wound. “Aw, man, “John coughed, “You weren’t kidding, were you?”

“There it is.” McKay pointed, seeing the suitcase.

He side stepped over the body, walked over and grabbed it. It nearly spilled out so he set it down and zipped it back up. Then he walked back over to John who was happy to leave that bloody scene. He thought for a moment, they should bury him but perhaps the polar bear would be interesting in an opponent that wouldn’t fight back. Calhoon was a scumbag but his last dying act may be keeping the bear away from them.

The two friends walked for another hour, and stopped, catching their breath. John motioned for McKay to let him carry the suitcase. The Archer pulled it closely to him. Out of curiosity, he opened up the case. It was indeed filled with food, mostly snacks. He quickly shifted through it, finding a small bag of popped popcorn. “Dibs on the popcorn.” John pointed.

“Save a piece of chocolate for Taylor,” McKay sipped his water, “She’s been dying for some.”

Before John could say anything, they heard someone talking behind McKay in a whisper. The Australian spit out the water he was drinking and turned around. John stood up abruptly. “What the hell was that?” he asked.

Then John heard whispering behind him. He quickly turned around, trying to spot who was talking to them. Then the two friends heard more whispering and even more. It seemed as if they were surrounded. John squinted his eyes into the sinking twilight of the jungle, feeling the breeze caress his hair. He couldn’t see anyone. He looked back to McKay who was just as dumbfounded as he was. The two men shared a brief stare, then John grabbed the suitcase and they both ran as fast as they could toward the beach.

“Man, this jungle sucks!” John screamed as they ran.