Part 142: Day 32

McKay slowly kneeled admit the high grass. He had been tracking a boar for quite some time. He finally stumbled near it’s feeding ground. It wasn’t took hard to fine, considering it took a crap about 60 feet south of him. Also he found traces of it’s fur in the branches it scraped up against.

Boar was munching on a mango. McKay slowly stood up, quietly. He didn’t want the boar to notice him must yet. Then he hurled a rock at it, striking it against his head. The boar squealed and then finally saw him. It immediately charged him. McKay turned and ran toward the distance. The grass was bending underneath his feet, as was the hoofs of the pig. It snorted and squealed as it ran after him. Then a sharp arrow silenced his cries of vengeance.

McKay stopped as he heard the boar go quiet John began jogging from over the trees, marching through the high grass. The Australian leaned over, holding his knees and catching his breath. John walked up to the boar, and pulled his arrow out of it’s ribcage. He looked to his friend, and smiled. “You all right, McKay?” he asked.

“I just need to catch my breath, “ He chuckled, “Sweet Jesus, John, could you fire it a little sooner next time.”

“You try firing at a moving target, see how easy it is,” John laughed

McKay walked over to the dead animal. He pulled out the plastic wrap from his back jean belt and began to wrap the creature. John wiped off the blood from the arrow tip and placed it back into his quiver. He looked around and enjoyed the scenery for a bit, taking in the fresh air. “I enjoyed the little impromptu concert last night,” he smiled, “It kinda took the tension out of the air for a bit.”

“Very true,” McKay said, finishing his wrapping, “I was glad they took me off their suspect list. But I don’t know about this Jin guy either.”

“Yeah, haven’t spoke with him. However, there is no point. Rumor has it, he doesn’t speak English, nor does his wife.”

McKay paused for a second, “Now that doesn’t make sense.”

“What do you mean?” asked John.

“If they don’t speak English, how is it they contribute? His wife, Sun, helped us out the moment we came here.”

“Maybe. ..they follow by example?” the archer shrugged his shoulders.

McKay grunted, hauling the pig above his shoulders. The two friends began to walk back toward the beach. “Well, I feel sorry for Jin when Sawyer finds him,” the Australian sighed, “Judging by how the man hits, there will probably be hell to pay.”

As the two friends walked, they then heard voices. John turned to his right, and then looked toward the distance. McKay joined him, looking where he was staring. In the distance, they saw movement. After a few bushes, they came into view. It was Sawyer and he found Jin; pushing the Korean forward. John slapped his forehead, unbelieving they were just talking about what they were at that moment, seeing unfold. “Now THAT is what you call Speak of the Devil.” The archer pointed.

“C’mon, “ McKay said, “Let’s join him.”

“I don’t know, McKay. This really ain’t our business.”

“The raft was the one thing that could have gotten help to us. ALL of us. It’s our business, John.”

“Oh, man, I don’t think this is gonna end good.” John said, quickly following him.

The two friends walked over and got into the path of Sawyer and Jin. The redneck was still shoving him forward, and the Korean man had a wound on his forehead, slowly leaking down to his cheek. “You're pretty scared, huh? Scared, you understand scared, don't you? Huh?” Sawyer hissed, then pushed him down, “ If you ain't, you're going to be, Bruce. Folks down on the beach might have been doctors and accountants a month ago, but it's Lord of the Flies time, now.”

“So if you don’t like what he has to say, “John muttered, “You do, what? Cut off his head and put it on a pike?”

“What the hell are you two doing out here?” Sawyer retorted.

McKay showed him the pig on his back. The southern man smirked at their skill of catching meat where Locke and Boone were not bringing any back. “Good job, Outback,” he retorted, “Everybody will be hungry after we have our justice.”

“Ease up, Sawyer!” McKay said, “You still don’t know it’s him.”

“Oh, I know it’s him. Look at him! He’s scared out of his mind cause he’s caught.”

John and McKay looked at each other. They knew nothing of the history between Jin and Micheal. For all they know it could have been him but they couldn’t fathom it nor understand it. They hoped they went Sawyer brought the Korean man back to the beach, they’d figure it out.

After walking a few more minutes, they had arrived back at the beach. Sawyer continued to push Jin, until he fell into the sand. McKay and John then quickly ran over to their little encampment. Mia, Taylor, Tony, Marita and Eddie were hanging around, then heard the commotion up the beach. Micheal was already running toward Jin, with Jack hot on his heels to stop him. John quickly put his bow down, and poked his head into the tent. “Tony, they found Jin,” he mentioned.

“What’s happening to him?” the blind doctor asked.

“It looked like the redneck took a few swings at him. You better come hear this. If I didn’t know better, Micheal and Sawyer might kill him.”

Tony then immediately got to his feet, with Marita by his side. The majority of their little group began their quick walk toward the group gathering around Jin, Sawyer, Micheal and the other survivors. Micheal was trying to get closer to Jin but Jack was keeping him at bay. “Just calm down, and think about it for a minute!” the doctor ordered.

“Look at his hands, man! They’re burned!” the black man pointed.

“Back off, Jack. It's got nothing to do with you.” Sawyer pointed out.

“SHUT UP!” Jack shot right back at him.

“Look, everybody just chill.” Hurley held up his hands in protest.

“Hurley’s right, “John said, “This isn’t going to help you get the answers you want. Not to mention, this poor guy can’t speak English.”

“I don’t care, “ Micheal said, holding up his fist to the Korean, “You understand this, don’t you?”

Jin wasn’t listening to what Micheal said. He was looking into the distance. Taylor spotted that and looked at what his eyes saw. It was his wife, Sun, staring at the mob and her husband in disbelief. Jin then said something in Korean, directed just toward her. Everything then paused. Micheal pointed at the Korean man, “WHAT DID HE SAY?”

Jin then said something again, in his native language, only to make Micheal advance faster. “He said something to me?” the black man demanded.

“Micheal,” Yolanda tried to help calm him down.

“Say it again!” Micheal demanded, “Say it again.”

Jin then said something else in Korean, and Micheal immediately slugged him for it. Tony didn’t have to see; he could hear what was happening. The more Jin spoke, the more Micheal hit him. Jack tried to intervene but Sawyer grabbed him, then pulling him off. “HEY!” Jack protested.

“One fight at a time, doc,” the redneck hissed.

“He’s right, “Sayid said, “This is between them.”

Jin slowly rose to his feet and said something again in Korean. Micheal then slugged him one more time, sending him down. McKay grimaced at the fight, seeing how Jin was not fighting back. The Korean then got up and said something else. The black man then reared back, ready to hit him. “HE DIDN’T DO IT! LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!” Sun screamed.

Everyone then looked toward Sun, who stood there, crying over her husband being assaulted. John looked at the woman, confused. Eddie held onto his kangaroo, staring at her with a gaping mouth. McKay was flustered and judging by the looks of the people around him, including Jin, they were just as surprised as he was. “He didn’t burn your raft.” Sun replied.

“You speak English?” Charlie said in disbelief.

“Didn’t see that coming.” Hurley mentioned.

“You understand us? THIS WHOLE TIME?” Jack said, looking at her, “Why didn’t you say anything?”

Sun ignored him as she turned her attention back to Micheal. “You raft, it was already on fire when he got to it, “ she said, teary eyed, “he burned his hands trying to put it out.”

“Then why did he run?” the black man demanded.

Sun then said something to Jin in Korean. The bloodied man stood there, staring at her. Micheal was waiting for a response but when he didn’t get any, he shrugged his shoulders. “That’s what I thought!” he grunted.

“My husband is many things but he is not liar.” She said with conviction.

“You're going to lecture us about lying, Betty? From the look on his face, even your old man here didn't know you speak English.” Sawyer angrily said, “ How do we know she's not covering for him?”

“All right, “ Tony stepped forward, “This is gone on long enough.”

“Tony, I don’t think-“ Sayid tried to say.

“I don’t care why Sun can speak English, that is between her and her husband, “Tony interrupted him, “Our main focus was to fine out why the raft got burned and it’s obvious he didn’t do it.”

Sawyer then walked over and jabbed his fingers in the blind doctors chest. “Is that so, Doc? Maybe you are feeling pissed cause we pointed the finger at McKay first? I don’t think you got any clue about what goes on around for the obvious reasons, Ray Charles.”

Sawyer then walked away. Tony gritted his teeth a bit. “Mr. Sawyer?” he called.

“What?” the southern man turned around.

Tony then quickly raised his metal cane and slammed it in Sawyer’s throat. The redneck gasped, grabbing his Adam’s apple and falling to his knees. Everyone froze after what the blind doctor did. Tony then took three steps forward, placing his cane over his shoulder like a baseball bat. “Anybody else want to make fun of my disability?” he inquired.

No one said anything. Sawyer coughed, getting his air back into his lungs. “You dirty son of a bitch.” He grunted.

“As long as you just laying there, in pain, you might want to take a listen, Sawyer, “ Tony said, “ALL OF YOU! Why would he burn your raft, Micheal? I want to hear it from you; why did he burn you raft?”

“He’s been after me since day one, everybody knows it.” Micheal quickly pointed out.

“So, it’s personal?” Tony scoffed, “So instead of . .killing you or hurting you, he burns the raft? If it was personal, then he’d do something directly to you and finish the raft himself. Why destroy our once chance of getting off this island? Why block our attempt to get home? HIS attempt . ..to get home?”

“He’s got a point, dude.” Hurley finished.

“He couldn’t have burned the raft, because I am sure Jin wants to get home as bad as we do. If he did burn the raft, he must be insane,” Tony shifted around toward his friends, “John? McKay? This man look crazy to you?”

“Nope,” John said, arms crossed, “More like misunderstood.”

“Okay, genius, “ Micheal said, standing closer to Tony, “If he didn’t burn the raft, then who did?”

“None of us!” Locke said.

Everybody turned to find the older man stepping from the bushes. He smiled at Mia as he walked past her. “Tony has a very valid point.” The bald man said, “Whoever burned the raft, is not someone who wants to leave the island but someone who wants us to stay. I don’t need to remind you, that we are not alone on this island. We are so eager to point the blame on ourselves, that we’ve forgotten about them out there. They've attacked us, sabotaged us, abducted us, murdered us.”

After Locke had said his piece, he turned around and walked away, gently touching Mia on the shoulder as he did. Walking forward, he turned around to face them. “WE’RE NOT ALONE ON THIS ISLAND AND WE ALL KNOW IT!” he said, arms raised.

The crowd heard what he had to say. They slowly realized the bald man was speaking the truth. Sun walked up to Micheal one last time and whispered, “He didn’t do it.”

The black man gave no reply. He simply took his son and began to walk away. Then Sun walked up her husband and said something in Korean. He still didn’t say anything. The crowd began to disperse slowly. Charlie walked over to Seth, patting him on the arm. Shanna came up to Mia, just smiling at her. Their own little group banded together as the other survivors walked their own paths. Tony then left a gentle hand touch his arm. “Thank you.” Sun whispered.

“I meant what I said,” the blind doctor smiled, “Whatever reason you kept your husband from knowing you speak English, is your business.”

“My reasons are . .complicated.” she replied.

“It usually is.” Tony agreed.

“Go on, Sun,” McKay said, “I think you should try and repair what you have with Jin.”

The Korean woman slowly looked at him, “Why . .why do you care?”

“Because on this island . ..everybody needs someone.”

Sun smiled, trying not to cry. She quickly ran off into the jungle after her husband. The group stood there, watching her leave. Mia held onto John’s arm, watching the woman disappear into the depths of the jungle. Tony sighed, feeling of his cane into the sand. “It would seem that there are still secrets here.” He whispered.