Part 143: Rebuild
The group had just gotten done cooking. John was taking turns, cutting off meat from the roasted boar. Tony, Marita, Eddie, McKay and others were sitting around their little encampment, eating. A few of the survivors came over and complimented Tony on what he said. The blind doctor accepted their compliments, glad he was able to make an impression. He was worried about earning his keep here; but it seemed that the mistrust and secrets they fought through on their side of the island still exist on the new side. John was thinking of it too. “Do you think they would have hurt Jin?” he commented.
“Doubt it,” McKay sipped on his water, “Some one would have stepped in.”
“True enough. The people here are larger in number. Their trust doesn’t come easily.” Tony mentioned.
“Yeah, and there are a few people who are not helping the situation. Sawyer among them.” The Australian munched on his meat.
“True, he is a powder keg but in the right time frame, he would have been having beers with us back in the real world.” The blind doctor said.
“More like getting in bar-room brawls.” McKay countered.
The group then started laughing, imagining the fight from a few days ago. It was a good moment to break the levity of the situation. Marita looked into the distance, seeing Micheal and Yolanda talking. He was getting frustrated over his lack of materials, throwing down his remains. She gently touched him on the shoulder, and he nearly collapsed onto her. Marita smiled; at least her friend was there for Micheal when he needed her.
McKay looked into the distance as well. As Yolanda and Micheal parted, Jin came over with an axe and a stack of bamboo on his shoulder. It would seemed he was interested in rebuilding the boat. McKay thought about it and then made up his mind. He finished his meat, placing the plate down and wiping his mouth. “You’re right, Tony,” he said, “Trust has be earned. I am gonna score a few points for our side, right now.”
“McKay?” Tony said, confused.
The Australian stood up and began walking toward Micheal and the construction of the boat. The blind doctor then looked to Marita and asked, “Where is he going?”
“It looks like he is going to help Micheal rebuild the raft.” She smiled.
Tony sighed, smiling. “Good for him.” He whispered.
McKay walked up to Yolanda, gently touching her on the arm. The black woman smiled at his presence; observing Micheal and Jin start on the frame work for the raft with the new bamboo. The Australian then watched Micheal walked over to a stack of bamboo and began to check it his arm, marking it with a magic marker. He was measuring it for length. He then picked up an axe and got ready to chop them into specific sections. McKay stopped him. The black man just stared at him. “I’ll do that, you work on the frame.”
Micheal slowly smiled, handing him the axe. “You’re hired.” He said.
McKay then scooted the bamboo and proceeded to chop it. Whenever he did, the large hollow tree would wobble, making the cut jagged. The Australian grunted. He’d need something to hold it down, while he cut it. As he started to look for a rock to brace it, then he saw the bamboo dig deep into the sand from the weight pressing on it. McKay looked and saw Sawyer holding it down for him. The southern man just nodded; a silent way of telling him to proceed. McKay returned the nod and he started his chopping. The four men worked together, under the watchful eye of Yolanda as the sun began to set over the horizon.
Everyone was walking about the beach in the night. In side the encampment, Tony was tucking Eddie into sleep. He felt of the young boys’ face and stroked his hair. The blind doctor smiled, “How are you doing, Eddie?” he asked.
“Okay, I guess,” he sighed.
“You’re thinking of your mom and dad?” Tony asked.
“I miss them.” He whimpered.
“I know you do, buddy,” Tony sighed, “I miss my mom too. I hope to see her again someday.”
“Will I ever see my parents, Tony? In Heaven?”
“Sure you will, Eddie. Sure you will. God took care of your parents the moment that crashed happened. They went straight up to him.”
“That’s good. I know I will meet them again when I die but . . .I won’t die for a while.” The little boy pointed out.
“Yes, that is true. It’s gonna be a long time for you to become an old man and your mom and dad would have to wait for you. But you know what?”
“What?” the boy asked.
“I don’t think they will mind waiting. Plus, I am sure they’ll look down on you from time to time.”
“I would like that.” Eddie smiled.
Tony leaned up and was about to leave. “No, Tony, stay.” The boy pleaded.
“I’m not going far.” He assured him.
“I got something . .I got something I need to tell you.”
The blind man stopped moved, hearing the mixture of sadness and desperation in the boy’s voice. Tony laid back down and shifted to the side. He scooted in closer to Eddie. “What is it?” he asked.
“Tony, “the little boy whispered, “You got to promise not to tell anyone.”
“We already know where secrets get us, Eddie. Why do I need to promise such a thing?”
“Please, Tony. Just promise me.” The boy begged.
“All right, Eddie. I promise but just for you, and only you. What do you need to tell me?”
“I know who burned the raft.” He whispered slowly.
Tony flinched a little. This was the last thing he expected the boy to say. The blind doctor leaned in even closer. “Who was it?” he asked.
“Walt, the black kid.” Eddie said.
Tony grimaced. He wasn’t use to two shockers in a row. “Did he . . .did he tell you why?” he asked.
“Cause he don’t wanna leave.”
Tony put his hand over his blindfold. The young black boy burned the raft and as a result, of simply not wanting to leave. For what he had done, two men were accused of it and therefore were judged by the survivors on the island. Tony took a deep breath and then whispered, “Why didn’t you tell us about this earlier?”
“Cause it ain’t my lie. It’s his. Shouldn’t he be the one to tell you and the adults?”
Tony smiled. It was brave logic. He would have done differently but from the mind of a child, it was a mature statement. “Yes, that is true, it’s his lie and it’s up to him to tell the truth.” The blind doctor replied.
“Thank you, Tony. I was worried I didn’t do the right thing.” The little boy whispered.
“You did what was right by Walt. You put the ball in his court. Hopefully, he’ll do the right thing and tell his father what he did.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Eddie said, raised eyebrows.
“Then like you said, . .it’s his lie to bare. You don’t worry about Walt, okay?”
“You promise not to tell?”
“I made you a promise, didn’t I?” Tony smiled.
Eddie then reached up and hugged the blind man around the neck. “I love you, Tony,” he whispered, “You and Marita is all I got left.”
Tony sighed, embracing the boy. He felt his heart skip hearing the boy say that. At another time and place, the boy would have made a worthy son. He didn’t reveal that Walt burned the raft, so that the young black boy would be forced to tell the truth and save himself. Eddie then let go of him and slowly closed his eyes, trying to sleep. Tony felt of the cover and pulled it over the boy.
He slowly stood up and felt for his way out of the camp. As he walked a few feet more, he felt a familiar hand touch his chest. “Marita?” he said, taking her arm.
“Oh, Tony,” she wept, “Why did his parents have to die?”
Tony sighed, understanding that Marita had heard the whole thing he just said. The blind doctor pulled her toward him and held her close. The Latina held onto him, trying not to cry but feeling so sorry for Eddie that he lost his parents. “It’s a test, Marita.” Tony whispered, “A test that Eddie must overcome. He must work past his grief and grow up to be an exceptional man.”
“I didn’t think . .I would start to love him like my own son but I do,” the stewardess sniffed, “Tony, I feel horrible taking his parent’s place.”
“It wasn’t our fault. You should feel happy being his Right-Now-Mommy. He needs us both.”
“Yes, “she sighed, “He needs us. I kinda think . .I need him too.”
“Then we’ll all be there for each other,” Tony kissed her, “Our own little marooned family.”
The soft wind flowed into the tent as the sun was continuing to go down. Seth and Charlie were helping Claire with some food. Shannon and Sayid were enjoying each other’s company. In the distance, Hurley listened to his CD player but then it must have gone dead, as he tapped it a few times.
“Son of a bitch,” he muttered.
“Doubt it,” McKay sipped on his water, “Some one would have stepped in.”
“True enough. The people here are larger in number. Their trust doesn’t come easily.” Tony mentioned.
“Yeah, and there are a few people who are not helping the situation. Sawyer among them.” The Australian munched on his meat.
“True, he is a powder keg but in the right time frame, he would have been having beers with us back in the real world.” The blind doctor said.
“More like getting in bar-room brawls.” McKay countered.
The group then started laughing, imagining the fight from a few days ago. It was a good moment to break the levity of the situation. Marita looked into the distance, seeing Micheal and Yolanda talking. He was getting frustrated over his lack of materials, throwing down his remains. She gently touched him on the shoulder, and he nearly collapsed onto her. Marita smiled; at least her friend was there for Micheal when he needed her.
McKay looked into the distance as well. As Yolanda and Micheal parted, Jin came over with an axe and a stack of bamboo on his shoulder. It would seemed he was interested in rebuilding the boat. McKay thought about it and then made up his mind. He finished his meat, placing the plate down and wiping his mouth. “You’re right, Tony,” he said, “Trust has be earned. I am gonna score a few points for our side, right now.”
“McKay?” Tony said, confused.
The Australian stood up and began walking toward Micheal and the construction of the boat. The blind doctor then looked to Marita and asked, “Where is he going?”
“It looks like he is going to help Micheal rebuild the raft.” She smiled.
Tony sighed, smiling. “Good for him.” He whispered.
McKay walked up to Yolanda, gently touching her on the arm. The black woman smiled at his presence; observing Micheal and Jin start on the frame work for the raft with the new bamboo. The Australian then watched Micheal walked over to a stack of bamboo and began to check it his arm, marking it with a magic marker. He was measuring it for length. He then picked up an axe and got ready to chop them into specific sections. McKay stopped him. The black man just stared at him. “I’ll do that, you work on the frame.”
Micheal slowly smiled, handing him the axe. “You’re hired.” He said.
McKay then scooted the bamboo and proceeded to chop it. Whenever he did, the large hollow tree would wobble, making the cut jagged. The Australian grunted. He’d need something to hold it down, while he cut it. As he started to look for a rock to brace it, then he saw the bamboo dig deep into the sand from the weight pressing on it. McKay looked and saw Sawyer holding it down for him. The southern man just nodded; a silent way of telling him to proceed. McKay returned the nod and he started his chopping. The four men worked together, under the watchful eye of Yolanda as the sun began to set over the horizon.
Everyone was walking about the beach in the night. In side the encampment, Tony was tucking Eddie into sleep. He felt of the young boys’ face and stroked his hair. The blind doctor smiled, “How are you doing, Eddie?” he asked.
“Okay, I guess,” he sighed.
“You’re thinking of your mom and dad?” Tony asked.
“I miss them.” He whimpered.
“I know you do, buddy,” Tony sighed, “I miss my mom too. I hope to see her again someday.”
“Will I ever see my parents, Tony? In Heaven?”
“Sure you will, Eddie. Sure you will. God took care of your parents the moment that crashed happened. They went straight up to him.”
“That’s good. I know I will meet them again when I die but . . .I won’t die for a while.” The little boy pointed out.
“Yes, that is true. It’s gonna be a long time for you to become an old man and your mom and dad would have to wait for you. But you know what?”
“What?” the boy asked.
“I don’t think they will mind waiting. Plus, I am sure they’ll look down on you from time to time.”
“I would like that.” Eddie smiled.
Tony leaned up and was about to leave. “No, Tony, stay.” The boy pleaded.
“I’m not going far.” He assured him.
“I got something . .I got something I need to tell you.”
The blind man stopped moved, hearing the mixture of sadness and desperation in the boy’s voice. Tony laid back down and shifted to the side. He scooted in closer to Eddie. “What is it?” he asked.
“Tony, “the little boy whispered, “You got to promise not to tell anyone.”
“We already know where secrets get us, Eddie. Why do I need to promise such a thing?”
“Please, Tony. Just promise me.” The boy begged.
“All right, Eddie. I promise but just for you, and only you. What do you need to tell me?”
“I know who burned the raft.” He whispered slowly.
Tony flinched a little. This was the last thing he expected the boy to say. The blind doctor leaned in even closer. “Who was it?” he asked.
“Walt, the black kid.” Eddie said.
Tony grimaced. He wasn’t use to two shockers in a row. “Did he . . .did he tell you why?” he asked.
“Cause he don’t wanna leave.”
Tony put his hand over his blindfold. The young black boy burned the raft and as a result, of simply not wanting to leave. For what he had done, two men were accused of it and therefore were judged by the survivors on the island. Tony took a deep breath and then whispered, “Why didn’t you tell us about this earlier?”
“Cause it ain’t my lie. It’s his. Shouldn’t he be the one to tell you and the adults?”
Tony smiled. It was brave logic. He would have done differently but from the mind of a child, it was a mature statement. “Yes, that is true, it’s his lie and it’s up to him to tell the truth.” The blind doctor replied.
“Thank you, Tony. I was worried I didn’t do the right thing.” The little boy whispered.
“You did what was right by Walt. You put the ball in his court. Hopefully, he’ll do the right thing and tell his father what he did.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Eddie said, raised eyebrows.
“Then like you said, . .it’s his lie to bare. You don’t worry about Walt, okay?”
“You promise not to tell?”
“I made you a promise, didn’t I?” Tony smiled.
Eddie then reached up and hugged the blind man around the neck. “I love you, Tony,” he whispered, “You and Marita is all I got left.”
Tony sighed, embracing the boy. He felt his heart skip hearing the boy say that. At another time and place, the boy would have made a worthy son. He didn’t reveal that Walt burned the raft, so that the young black boy would be forced to tell the truth and save himself. Eddie then let go of him and slowly closed his eyes, trying to sleep. Tony felt of the cover and pulled it over the boy.
He slowly stood up and felt for his way out of the camp. As he walked a few feet more, he felt a familiar hand touch his chest. “Marita?” he said, taking her arm.
“Oh, Tony,” she wept, “Why did his parents have to die?”
Tony sighed, understanding that Marita had heard the whole thing he just said. The blind doctor pulled her toward him and held her close. The Latina held onto him, trying not to cry but feeling so sorry for Eddie that he lost his parents. “It’s a test, Marita.” Tony whispered, “A test that Eddie must overcome. He must work past his grief and grow up to be an exceptional man.”
“I didn’t think . .I would start to love him like my own son but I do,” the stewardess sniffed, “Tony, I feel horrible taking his parent’s place.”
“It wasn’t our fault. You should feel happy being his Right-Now-Mommy. He needs us both.”
“Yes, “she sighed, “He needs us. I kinda think . .I need him too.”
“Then we’ll all be there for each other,” Tony kissed her, “Our own little marooned family.”
The soft wind flowed into the tent as the sun was continuing to go down. Seth and Charlie were helping Claire with some food. Shannon and Sayid were enjoying each other’s company. In the distance, Hurley listened to his CD player but then it must have gone dead, as he tapped it a few times.
“Son of a bitch,” he muttered.
posted by Jason | 10:33 AM
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