Part 178: Day 42
The days were connecting together in easier ways than most people feared. Many of the survivors were not even bothering to remember if it was Tuesday or Saturday. Only a few even kept track of time. Most every one’s biggest concern was when their next meal was going to take place. Then others were still concerned by getting off the island.
Kate looked down the long stretch of the beach. The men with still working on the raft, getting it ready to set sail in a matter of a few weeks. She wondered if they would make it. Would it really be able to sail away? “Platinum.” Charlie said behind her.
Kate turned and looked to see Seth and Charlie strolling up to her. The short musician was strumming on his guitar while his front singer was humming a tune. “Platinum?” Kate asked.
The two friends sat down on both side of Kate. Seth chuckled as he did, knowing full well what Charlie was going to tell her. “As in platinum record, as in a million units sold. Now, Driveshaft's albums must have spiked when everybody found out that I died in some catastrophic plane disaster.” Charlie strummed a few notes,” When I come back, alive, it's going to be insane. And all that money will be fueled in our new band.”
“What the name of the band today?” Kate smirked.
“Turncoat.” They said in unison.
Kate giggled for a few seconds, then turned her attention back to the raft in the distance. “So you think the raft's going to work?” she asked them.
“Of course it's going to work, look at that thing.,” the short musician pointed out,” That's not a raft. They built a sodding boat. And when they get picked up the helicopters will come, making us ridiculously and eternally famous. What's the matter, don't you want to be famous?”
Seth then immediately thought of Kate and their conversation; about her being a fugitive. “I don’t think Fame is what Kate is after.” He quietly mentioned.
Kate gently touched Seth’s arm in a subtle way of telling him to be quiet. She quickly decided to change the subject before Charlie had the chance to ask anymore questions. She pointed toward the building of the raft, seeing that the men were having a heated discussion. “What do you think is going on over there?” she asked.
Seth looked and saw the bulk of his friends at the building of the raft. That teacher Artz was holding a stick with a cloth attached to it like a flag. The young bookstore worker just shook his head. “Artz is probably accusing them of taking his boxers or something.” He sighed.
“Sure, you can absolutely wait a few weeks before you launch.” Artz assured them,” I was just assuming you didn't want to die.”
The men stood around, helping Micheal build the raft. They were interrupted by the school teacher who was giving them a quick lesson on the weather. Jack rested on the cabin area of the boat, next to Sawyer. John was placing down some more bamboo, and McKay stood with Tony, who just listened in. Micheal wiped his sweat and said, “So, when is the next time we can launch?”
“3, maybe 4, months.” He confessed.
“C'mon, even a weather man on TV don't know what's going to happen.” Sawyer flung up his hands in disgust, “Why are we listening to Arzt?”
“Because I am a doctor and you are a hillbilly,” he responded.
“You're a damn high school science teacher!”
“Sawyer, let’s hear the man, please?” Tony mentioned.
“He’s right, shut up for a second,” Jack grunted.
“It's been raining every damn afternoon.” Arzt pointed out,” That means that we are on the cusp on monsoon season. Monsoon season is bad. Now, the trade winds are blowing north right now, shipping lanes are north, so north is exactly where you want to be.”
Micheal crossed his arms, getting impatient. “What does that mean?” he asked.
“It means that when monsoon season hits the trade winds are going to shift to the south. The raft goes with the wind. Can anyone tell me what is the only piece of land that is south of us?”
“Excuse me?” McKay asked.
“Anybody?” Arzt shrugged his shoulders, “Anybody at all?”
“Why is he acting like we are in a freaking high school?” asked John.
“Antarctica.” Tony said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“That's right, Tony, Antarctica.” The teacher pointed at him.
“So when do they need to leave?” asked Jack.
Arzt shrugged his shoulders and placed the stick on his side as he started to walk away. “Yesterday,” he said reluncantly.
“Is he serious or is he just messing with us?” Walt asked.
“Don’t know, buddy, but if he is right . . .”
“If he’s right, then you got to get this raft built in a hurry,” Tony warned.
“We are working as fast as we can, cocheese,” Sawyer rested on the end of the raft, “What else do you suggest?”
“Nothing you haven’t already done,” the blind doctor twisted his cane in the sand, “I only apologize that I am unable to help you.”
“Don’t be, Tony,” John patted him on the back, “We’ll get it built.”
By then, Yolanda, Marita and Kate were listening in. They heard the whole conversation. The Latina was interested in who else was going on the boat. Micheal clapped his hands. “Well, we better get started,” the black man said, “John, you still interested in helping us on this boat?”
“You bet, I got nothing better to do at the moment,” He smirked.
Marita then raised her hand. Micheal blinked, wondering why she was bothering to be so polite. “What’s up?” he smiled at her.
“Just out of curiousity, Micheal, who is sailing on this boat?” she asked.
“Why, chica, you interested in getting on board?” Sawyer patted his lap.
She just sarcastiscally smirked at him. Micheal shrugged it off and walked up close to her. “It’s a valid question,” he said, “I got room for five people. Me, my boy, Jin, Sawyer and McKay.”
“McKay, you are leaving on the boat?” John asked.
The Australian rubbed his stubbled head. He took a deep sigh and smiled. “Actually, I am just helping building. I am not getting on the boat.” He told them.
“What?” Sawyer exclaimed, “Why not, outback? You earned your passage.”
“He’s right, McKay,” Tony mentioned, “You should go.”
“True, I should. I’ve sailed a few boats in my life time but my responsibility is to Mandy and Taylor. I can’t in all good conscious leave them behind.”
“Okay, man but you still earned a spot,” Micheal looked at him, “If you don’t want it, you give it up.”
“Huh?” McKay blinked, “Why?”
“There is a lot of people vying to get on this boat, man. If you give up your spot, I don’t want them fighting toward me to take it.”
McKay rubbed his jaw, “Fair enough. Okay, fine . . .Yolanda can have my spot.”
The black stewardess blinked when she heard her name. “What?” she gasped.
“I’m cool with that.” Micheal smirked.
“Oh MY GOD!” she ran over to McKay and embraced him, “Thank you, McKay. Thank you.”
“Bring the rescue boats, Yolanda, “ he smiled, hugging her, “Don’t let us down.”
“I won’t.” she assured him.
“All right, it’s settled, “ Micheal clapped his hands,” Let’s get to work.”
Kate looked down the long stretch of the beach. The men with still working on the raft, getting it ready to set sail in a matter of a few weeks. She wondered if they would make it. Would it really be able to sail away? “Platinum.” Charlie said behind her.
Kate turned and looked to see Seth and Charlie strolling up to her. The short musician was strumming on his guitar while his front singer was humming a tune. “Platinum?” Kate asked.
The two friends sat down on both side of Kate. Seth chuckled as he did, knowing full well what Charlie was going to tell her. “As in platinum record, as in a million units sold. Now, Driveshaft's albums must have spiked when everybody found out that I died in some catastrophic plane disaster.” Charlie strummed a few notes,” When I come back, alive, it's going to be insane. And all that money will be fueled in our new band.”
“What the name of the band today?” Kate smirked.
“Turncoat.” They said in unison.
Kate giggled for a few seconds, then turned her attention back to the raft in the distance. “So you think the raft's going to work?” she asked them.
“Of course it's going to work, look at that thing.,” the short musician pointed out,” That's not a raft. They built a sodding boat. And when they get picked up the helicopters will come, making us ridiculously and eternally famous. What's the matter, don't you want to be famous?”
Seth then immediately thought of Kate and their conversation; about her being a fugitive. “I don’t think Fame is what Kate is after.” He quietly mentioned.
Kate gently touched Seth’s arm in a subtle way of telling him to be quiet. She quickly decided to change the subject before Charlie had the chance to ask anymore questions. She pointed toward the building of the raft, seeing that the men were having a heated discussion. “What do you think is going on over there?” she asked.
Seth looked and saw the bulk of his friends at the building of the raft. That teacher Artz was holding a stick with a cloth attached to it like a flag. The young bookstore worker just shook his head. “Artz is probably accusing them of taking his boxers or something.” He sighed.
“Sure, you can absolutely wait a few weeks before you launch.” Artz assured them,” I was just assuming you didn't want to die.”
The men stood around, helping Micheal build the raft. They were interrupted by the school teacher who was giving them a quick lesson on the weather. Jack rested on the cabin area of the boat, next to Sawyer. John was placing down some more bamboo, and McKay stood with Tony, who just listened in. Micheal wiped his sweat and said, “So, when is the next time we can launch?”
“3, maybe 4, months.” He confessed.
“C'mon, even a weather man on TV don't know what's going to happen.” Sawyer flung up his hands in disgust, “Why are we listening to Arzt?”
“Because I am a doctor and you are a hillbilly,” he responded.
“You're a damn high school science teacher!”
“Sawyer, let’s hear the man, please?” Tony mentioned.
“He’s right, shut up for a second,” Jack grunted.
“It's been raining every damn afternoon.” Arzt pointed out,” That means that we are on the cusp on monsoon season. Monsoon season is bad. Now, the trade winds are blowing north right now, shipping lanes are north, so north is exactly where you want to be.”
Micheal crossed his arms, getting impatient. “What does that mean?” he asked.
“It means that when monsoon season hits the trade winds are going to shift to the south. The raft goes with the wind. Can anyone tell me what is the only piece of land that is south of us?”
“Excuse me?” McKay asked.
“Anybody?” Arzt shrugged his shoulders, “Anybody at all?”
“Why is he acting like we are in a freaking high school?” asked John.
“Antarctica.” Tony said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“That's right, Tony, Antarctica.” The teacher pointed at him.
“So when do they need to leave?” asked Jack.
Arzt shrugged his shoulders and placed the stick on his side as he started to walk away. “Yesterday,” he said reluncantly.
“Is he serious or is he just messing with us?” Walt asked.
“Don’t know, buddy, but if he is right . . .”
“If he’s right, then you got to get this raft built in a hurry,” Tony warned.
“We are working as fast as we can, cocheese,” Sawyer rested on the end of the raft, “What else do you suggest?”
“Nothing you haven’t already done,” the blind doctor twisted his cane in the sand, “I only apologize that I am unable to help you.”
“Don’t be, Tony,” John patted him on the back, “We’ll get it built.”
By then, Yolanda, Marita and Kate were listening in. They heard the whole conversation. The Latina was interested in who else was going on the boat. Micheal clapped his hands. “Well, we better get started,” the black man said, “John, you still interested in helping us on this boat?”
“You bet, I got nothing better to do at the moment,” He smirked.
Marita then raised her hand. Micheal blinked, wondering why she was bothering to be so polite. “What’s up?” he smiled at her.
“Just out of curiousity, Micheal, who is sailing on this boat?” she asked.
“Why, chica, you interested in getting on board?” Sawyer patted his lap.
She just sarcastiscally smirked at him. Micheal shrugged it off and walked up close to her. “It’s a valid question,” he said, “I got room for five people. Me, my boy, Jin, Sawyer and McKay.”
“McKay, you are leaving on the boat?” John asked.
The Australian rubbed his stubbled head. He took a deep sigh and smiled. “Actually, I am just helping building. I am not getting on the boat.” He told them.
“What?” Sawyer exclaimed, “Why not, outback? You earned your passage.”
“He’s right, McKay,” Tony mentioned, “You should go.”
“True, I should. I’ve sailed a few boats in my life time but my responsibility is to Mandy and Taylor. I can’t in all good conscious leave them behind.”
“Okay, man but you still earned a spot,” Micheal looked at him, “If you don’t want it, you give it up.”
“Huh?” McKay blinked, “Why?”
“There is a lot of people vying to get on this boat, man. If you give up your spot, I don’t want them fighting toward me to take it.”
McKay rubbed his jaw, “Fair enough. Okay, fine . . .Yolanda can have my spot.”
The black stewardess blinked when she heard her name. “What?” she gasped.
“I’m cool with that.” Micheal smirked.
“Oh MY GOD!” she ran over to McKay and embraced him, “Thank you, McKay. Thank you.”
“Bring the rescue boats, Yolanda, “ he smiled, hugging her, “Don’t let us down.”
“I won’t.” she assured him.
“All right, it’s settled, “ Micheal clapped his hands,” Let’s get to work.”
posted by Jason | 7:01 AM
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