Thanks: I want to thank my Beta readers Sinjen Kai and Bec for the awesome job they did translating my Gabrielleze. Thanks to Tiggster for closing her eyes and posting my stuff anyway. Positive and constructive feedback will be greatly appreciated the negative will be forwarded to the IRS for suspicion of tax evasion. I can be reached at gab@gabriellegoldsby.com

It was as if the gods made that day especially perfect just for us. It was to be the first day of an ocean voyage that would take us from Europe to America. The sky couldn’t have been bluer if I had painted it myself. I was so excited, my younger sister Lilly could hardly keep still and mother kept fanning herself agitatedly with her fan. Father seemed to speak louder than usual. The rest of the passengers seemed to be reacting to the electricity in the air as well.

My name is Gabrielle by the way and this was to be my first trip abroad. The year is 1929. The ship was the Statendam III.

"Gabby, close your mouth child and come along." Mother called out to me as I stood gawking at the massive ship.

I quickly closed my mouth and hurried to catch up with the rest of my family. Mother was always telling me to close my mouth. I’m not sure why, but I think I breath easier with my mouth open. Mother says that if I keep it up she is going to take me to the doctor. She says I look homely with my mouth hanging open like that and if I keep it up no young men will ever want to court me. If she thought that would concern me she was sadly mistaken.

Mother and Father herded us up the gangplank to the ship. On board the passengers were split into groups based on last names. Our last name is Archer so we were one of the first to be shown our cabins. Mother and Father had allowed Lilly and I to share a room of our own.

"Which bed do you want Gabby?" Lilly asked as she bounced on one of the beds.

"Obviously it will be the one over there since you have already ruined the springs on that one."

Lilly giggled and bounced even harder. "Gabby do you think Mother and Father will let us go swimming in the pool?" Lilly asked for the fifth time that day.

"I don’t know Lilly, but you better get over here and help me unpack if you want to go on deck to wave when the ship launches."

With one last bounce Lilly came over to help me unpack our things. As we unpacked I let my mind wander to the things we were leaving back home in England. My best friend Elizabeth was first and foremost in my thoughts. I remember how Elizabeth had cried yesterday when we said goodbye.

"You promise to write Gabby?" She sniffled.

"I promise Lizbeth. I’m going to keep a memory book daily and when it is full I will send it to you. It will be just like you’re there with me Lizbeth."

"All done Gabby, can we go now?" Lilly crowed with her usual enthusiasm.

"Why don’t you go next door and see if Mother and Father are ready?"

Lilly flew out the door leaving it open as she ran to our parents cabin. A loud whistle sounded. According to the small orientation that we were given when we boarded the ship, the whistle was to let us all know that it would be fifteen minutes before the ship was to depart. I closed the door and hurriedly finished my unpacking.

After I finished unpacking my clothing I opened Lilly’s drawers and straightened her clothes. As I rose up from the drawers, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I look at myself critically. I have nice eyes I have been told… they are a dark murky green just like my mothers. I have my father’s blond hair but where his is straight mine is wavy, makes it harder to keep my hair in order. My skin is very pale and I burn at the slightest hint of the sun. I peered closer. My nose is good I think although mother says I have small nose holes. I sigh as I stepped back from the mirror most people think that I’m about 12 years old when I’m actually 16. It was humiliating being so small. Neither Mother nor Father is very tall so it isn’t likely that I would get much taller than what I already am.

I opened the door to our cabin just in time to see a streaking 6-year-old in a white pinafore dress run by.

"Gabby come on, we are going to miss it." Yelled Lilly as she bounded down the corridor to the front deck.

"Lilly." Yelled Mother. "Please don’t run." Lilly skipped back to mother.

"Oh Mother please hurry I don’t want to miss waving goodbye to everyone."

I tagged behind my family. I think I was the only one that wasn’t all that excited about our trip. I wondered what Lizbeth was doing right now. As I walked I rarely paid attention to where I was going, unfortunately this to mothers’ consternation, had resulted in several scrapes and bruises. Wham! ‘Oh my’ I thought as I headed towards the floor and ended up in my now all to familiar position on my derrière.

I shook my head from side to side to clear it. As I slowly gained my wits about me I realized that I had actually run into a person not an inanimate object.

"Are you ok?" Asked a deeply accented voice from up above me.

I slowly leaned my head back in an attempt to look at whom I had just disgraced my self in front of. I continued to lean back and back and back until I finally reached a pair of hard but amused blue eyes.

"I asked if you are ok?"

"Uh…yes. I should be fine," I answered finally realizing that I was being rude.

After struggling to stand I introduced myself. "My name is Gabrielle Archer."

I stood there idiotically staring at her. She had to be the tallest woman I had ever seen definitely taller than my father, with long dark hair and the bluest eyes I have ever seen. She was in a word beautiful. I didn’t know what to say next. I became aware that my traitorous mouth had eased open as I stared, I clapped it close with an audible snap.

"Danté." She bit out.

"Huh?" I said idiotically.

"My name…it is Danté Courtier."

"Oh…um nice to meet you Danté."

"Hadn’t you better get going?" She asked me, slightly tilting her head to one side. "Won’t your family be worried about you?"

"Ugh yeah, I guess." I mumbled. "Aren’t you going up to wave goodbye?"

"No." She stated. "There is nobody down there to wave to, my mother and brothers are all on ship so I don’t see the need to be there. I was on my way back to my cabin when you ran into me."

I sputtered. "I...ran into you? More like you ran into me…."

"You were the one not looking where you were going. I saw you staring down at your shoes right before we hit. What did you get new shoes for the trip?" She asked snidely.

"What? No." I lied. "Look lets forget about it if you think it was my fault I will apologize."

Danté smirked. "OK, then why don’t you?"

"Why don’t I what?"

"Why don’t you apologize?"

"What… I just did...."

"No you didn’t. You said you would but you haven’t as of yet."

Danté was grinning now and I was getting thoroughly miffed.

"Alright Mrs. Courtier, if you insist on more formal apologies, I will give you one." I bristled. "Mrs. Courtier, I would like to formally apologize for running into you." I was furious by this time, which seemed to make her more amused.

"Your apology is accepted," she said haughtily as if she were mimicking my tone. "Just…" And she leaned closer to me and pet the top of my head as if I was a small child. "Make sure it doesn’t happen again." With a wide mischievous grin she spun on her heel and walked away.

I stared after her, my mouth hanging open for the second time in as many minutes. I slammed it shut again. "Why you…" I turned around angrily just as I heard the crowd on the deck yelling its final good-byes. "Oh well," I sighed and continued on deck to find my family.

Because of the sheer numbers of people it was actually sheer luck that I was able to even find my family. "Over here Gabby," yelled Lilly who was being held up on one of my father’s shoulders so that she could see the people. I made my way to my family as the ship slowly moved away from the dock. We were off.

"Where were you Gabby? We were starting to get worried." Mother asked.

"I’m sorry Mother. I went back to my room for my seeing glasses and could not find them by that time I was already too late."

I wasn’t sure why I had lied it was unusual for me to lie to either of my parents but especially my mother she usually could sense a lie from a long way off.

"You sure you weren’t somewhere day dreaming?" My Mother asked.

It was a familiar argument, one I wasn’t willing to have at this moment.

"No mother I wasn’t..."

My family and I decided to tour the large ship before we had noontime tea. The ship was truly a magnificent piece of craftsmanship according to my father. I allowed my families’ chatter to fade into the background as I thought about my encounter with Danté Courtier. I wondered why I had allowed myself to be goaded into becoming so angry. Usually I am of a mild temper. I am very slow to anger…well at least I am usually. There was something about this girl that set me off.

"Gabby," Mother called with a decidedly exasperated tone to her voice. "Did you hear a word I just said?"

"No mother I am sorry I didn’t. What did you say?"

Mother shook her head and said, "Child one of these days that overactive imagination is going to get you in to a world of trouble you mark my word." I grinned and answered as I usually did when mother made this familiar statement.

"Yes mother."

I grinned impertinently at my mother as I always did and as usual she grinned back. My grandmother had told me long ago that I was just like my mother at 16 and that she had been caught daydreaming on many occasions when she was my age.

"I asked if you were ready for noontime tea or not? There is a lounge that will be serving in just a few minutes."

"Yes mother tea would be fine." I followed my family diligently into the lounge and noted not for the first time the pompous groups of young people for the most all of them from England like my family and me. I wondered about Danté’s accent, there was definitely a French accent hidden there. Hmm I wonder where she is from?

I allowed myself to daydream about Danté. Making up romantic stories about her and some handsome prince in my mind…after all she was definitely an interesting character and could easily be a princess or a rich heiress of some sort. The servers placed gold plates filled with cucumber sandwiches and small cakes on the table as well as the tea. I heard my stomach growl reminding me of how hungry I am. All conversation stopped as my family devoured the simple but elegant meal. As I ate I felt a prickle on the back of my neck. I turned around in time to see Danté, an older woman and two young men enter the lounge. The older woman had the same coloring as Danté. She would have to be her mother I decided. I wonder who those boys are? I know she said she had brothers but I wonder if one of them is courting her? She is so beautiful there is no way she would have a problem finding a husband I thought. For some reason I am disappointed and I’m not sure why.

I turned back to my family as Danté and her mother led the boys to the table right next to ours. Danté whispered near my ear as she sat down in the seat right behind mine.

"Haven’t you been told that it is impolite to stare little one?"

I gasped and turned to glare at her but she had already turned away to her family at this point and to say anything further would be to call attention to myself. So I turned away fuming.

"Who is your friend Sweetling?" Father asked with twinkling eyes.

I blushed furiously and stated a bit too loudly, "Her name is Danté Courtier and she is not… my friend," I bit out.

I heard Danté chuckle as she had obviously been eavesdropping. Father smiled at me and went back to his conversation with Mother. I turned slightly so that I was able to look at Danté’s table. I noticed that Danté’s mother was talking rather animatedly to the boys however Danté wasn’t really involved in the conversation. I took this opportunity to lean back and state lowly. "Didn’t anyone ever tell you that it was rude to eavesdrop?"

Danté leaned back in her chair and said, "I wasn’t eavesdropping you just speak so loudly I couldn’t help but hear you," she said in a teasing tone.

"I…You…" Once again I was livid and Danté seemed to be enjoying every minute of it.

"Anything wrong Sweetling?" My father asked.

"No father," I choked out. "I think something is disagreeing with me." I heard Danté stifle another chuckle at that and I vowed that I would get even with her somehow.

I followed my family out of the lounge taking special care not to even give Danté so much as a glance. We returned to our cabins for much needed naps. I realized as I removed my dress as well as helping Lilly off with hers that I was exhausted. As I lay down my last thought was of mischievous blue eyes and my inability to think clearly when I’m looking into them.

Nearly two hours later there was a knock at the front door. "Who is there please?" I call out.

"Its Father, Mother and I are going for a stroll on deck, would you two like to come?"

"YES! Wait for me Father," Lilly exclaimed as she bounded off of the bed and began to carelessly pull on her dress. I slowly got dressed as well.

Opening the door to father after we were dressed. "I think I’m going to stay here and write in my memory book Father."

"Very well Gabby, we will return to get you for dinner in a few hours."

"That will be fine Father."

I watched my sister skip out of the room grabbing hold of my fathers hand, already talking a mile a minute. I sat down at the small makeup table that was in our room and pulled out my memory books. Try as I might I was unable to put on paper what I was feeling about this trip. Originally I was not looking forward to my move to America. But after my nap I started to have a feeling of apprehension and excitement. I feel as though I am on the verge of something that will shake up my world. I finally gave up on trying to put my feelings to paper and just wrote about the ship and the passengers on board. I purposely did not mention Danté in my entry because I knew that if I told Lizbeth about Danté she would want more information. After completing the brief entry I returned the book to my trunk. Inside the trunk I came across my pencil and color set as well as the five extra memory books that father had given me as a gift before we left England.

I decided to take my books and charcoal pencils up on deck where I could draw some pictures. I left a note in mother and fathers cabin just in case they returned before I did. I made my way above deck. I was able to commandeer a comfortable reclining chair and leaned back to begin drawing. I looked around for a suitable candidate for my picture. Finding none among the snobbish passengers I decided to do something from memory. Slowly I began to draw lines that began to form the oval of a face. When I was satisfied with the shape of the face I reached into the small satchel that I used to carry my supplies and removed the sea blue color. After drawing the eyes to my satisfaction I filled in the color of the eyes. Usually I waited until I finished a portrait before I colored anything. But for some reason I felt it was very important to get the eyes correct.

"May I see what you’re drawing?" Asked a young man with a familiar accent.

"I’m sorry?" I asked rather stupidly.

"I asked if I might see your drawing?" He asked again quietly.

A nice smile spread across his face. For the first time I noticed his beautiful eyes. They are exactly like my picture… exactly like Danté’s I thought with dawning clarity.

"Um, I usually don’t show my drawings until after they are complete."

He smiled again. "Well I would like to see it when it gets done…that is if you wouldn’t mind showing it to me?"

"No, I don’t mind. I will show it to you when I am done with it."

"Good. Listen are you going to the dance tonight?"

"I don’t know anything about a dance."

"Well you see." He shifted uncomfortably, "There is a dance this evening and I was wondering if you could save a few dances for me?" he rushed on.

"Oh, well yes I would like to dance with you tonight Mr.…? I’m sorry I don’t even know your name."

"Courtier, Edward Courtier. Great then it is all settled. I will see you there then."

Edward stood up quickly and made a hasty retreat as if he was afraid that I would change my mind. I watched him curiously, he and his sister shared some of the same physical characteristics but that was about it. Edward seems to be a sweet person. Unlike Danté, who seems to take great pleasure in tormenting me.

I looked down at the drawing that I had been working on and at Edwards retreating back. I had been drawing Danté that’s why I didn’t want him to see it. I didn’t want to give her any reasons to tease more. "I wish I knew why she is always on my mind," I grumbled to myself as I returned to the cabin to await my families’ return.

Lilly came barreling in and announced that Mother and Father said it would be ok if she went swimming if I was willing to take her. I figured that my parents wanted some time alone so I agreed and helped her get into her suite. I told her to grab her swim cap and we headed to the children’s playroom where the indoor pool was located.

I watched Lilly swim and cavort with the other children and some of the adults that also decided to use the beautiful indoor pool. The pool had a large statue of a mermaid in the middle. Lilly took great pleasure in yelling across the pool that the mermaid was naked. There actually was very little to see. Believe me I looked. Aside from a very flat stomach anything of interest was covered up by the stone mermaid’s hair.

"Lilly must you be so loud?" I gently chastised my little sister. I don’t believe I was ever that precocious.

"Ok Lilly it’s time for dinner come on in."

"Awe come on a few more minutes?" Besides being extremely loud Lilly had perfected whining.

"No Lilly, come on we must not be late for dinner."

Lilly grumbled something under her breath to which I replied, "Excuse me, did you say something Lilly?"

"No," she grumbled again and sullenly crossed her little arms in front of her chest and stalked towards the cabin.

Within the hour we were sitting in the dinning hall waiting for our dinner. The Captain had made a welcoming speech and was now droning on and on about the leisure activities that the ship had to offer. I tuned him out as he explained the ways to wager at the electronic racetrack. Finally a bell was rung and dinner was to be served. I went out of my way this time not to search the dining hall for Danté and her family. I refused to look for her. But during the course of the meal at different times I would feel that all to familiar prickling in the back of my neck.

"Father, Mother there is to be a mixer tonight for young people. I would like to go if that is ok?"

Mother frowned worriedly, "Oh I don’t know Gabrielle you don’t know anyone and I would hate to see you go alone."

"But I’m not," I blurted out. "I do know some people that will be there."

"Like whom?" Mother asked suspiciously.

"Well that girl Danté and her brothers will all be there."

"But Gabby I thought you said she wasn’t your friend?" Lilly piped up helpfully.

I glared at her and ground out, "She is my friend and I will thank you kindly not to interrupt." Lilly snickered and continued to eat dinner.

"I’m sure it will be a chaperoned event. Since the Captain sponsored it."

"Well," father sighed. "I’m sure it will be fine Gisela to let the girl go."

"But Jefferson we don’t know anyone here."

"That’s the whole point of a mixer Gisela so that the young people can get to know one another."

Mother still looked like she didn’t like the idea but she finally gave her consent. I was elated. Dinner was finished with out any mishaps and we all headed back to our cabins. It was determined that Lilly would stay with Mother and Father since I would be going out. After promising to knock on their door when I returned from the mixer I was on my way.

As I entered the ballroom I was shocked by the ambiance. With the majority of the dining tables removed the place was astonishingly palatial. There were seven huge chandeliers running the length of the dance floor. The marble floors had been buffed to mirror perfection and there was an orchestra playing softly in the background. I started to regret my decision to make a late entrance. Almost everyone was already standing in groups and in conversation. I stood there awkwardly feeling quite out of place.

"Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea." I grumbled.

"Gabrielle!" Edward called from a group of young people strategically standing near the punch and snack tables.

"Edward…hello," I breathed ecstatically.

Edwards’s eyes lit up at my tone of voice. I learned later that he had been speaking all evening of the girl he had met on deck. Edward had had to endure the last hour of teasing from his sister and brother. He had started to fear that I wouldn’t show.

"Gabby I would like you to meet my brother Tomas and my sister Danté."

It was all I could do to keep from reacting as Edward introduced Tomas and Danté to me. I waited for Danté to mention that we had already met but no such comment came. So I politely nodded and turned an overly bright smile on Edward. He was visibly ecstatic and I began to feel bad. Although he seemed to be a nice boy, I knew that I was not interested in anything other than friendship.

"Gabby, may I get you some punch, or perhaps cake?" Edward took my elbow and led me expertly over to the banquet table.

"I would love some Edward." I answered quietly.

I sip companionably at my punch and Edward did the same. My eyes were drawn as if magnetically to the crystal blue eyes of Danté Courtier, who was now the center of attention at the party. I watched as three handsome young men vied good-naturedly for Danté’s attention. To my great surprise Danté seemed to be enjoying the young men’s silly antics. Her smile is so beautiful and compelling that I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her.

"She is so beautiful." I murmured unconsciously.

"Yes, she is," agreed Edward honestly. "She got all of the best parts of both Mother and Father. Tomas and I got the leftovers."

I playfully slapped Edward on his arm. "Oh, I wouldn’t say that you handsome devil." Edward through his head back and laughed, his large smile so like his sisters but yet still so different.

"Shall we dance Gabby?" asked Edward.

"Yes Edward I would love to dance with you."

I giggled as Edward bowed like a gentleman and made a great show of leading me out on to the ballroom floor. As Edward began to lead me in the dance I felt the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand up. We had been dancing for nearly an hour when I glanced up to see all three of Danté’s potential suitors continuing in their attempts to gain Danté’s undivided attention. Danté however did not seem to be paying them any mind. I involuntarily sucked in a breath as blue eyes met mine. I didn’t understand what I was seeing but I knew for certain I had to find out. The distracted smile that had been on Danté’s face when I had first caught her staring was slowly disappearing to be replaced by something else. Something that I couldn’t place and I didn’t understand. It was a hunger or perhaps a need … I couldn’t place it. It was gone so fast that I started to believe that I had imagined the whole thing.

"Gabby?" From the tone of Edward’s voice it was obvious I had missed something.

"I’m sorry Edward I think I was woolgathering. Did you say something?"

"I asked if you where having fun?" He asked again with a curious smile.

"Oh, yes I am Edward. Why do you ask?"

"Well, you just seem to be so distracted."

"I am having a great time thank you Edward. I guess I am feeling a bit tired from boarding and everything." I stifled a yawn.

"I understand I am a bit tired myself."

As the music ended Edward led me over to the punch bowl once again.

"More punch Gabby?" Edward asked chivalrously.

"No thank you Edward. In fact if you don’t mind I would like to call it an evening. I am feeling a bit tired."

"Of course Gabby I am sorry for keeping you out so late. Thank you for the dancing, I hope we can do it again sometime." Edward said shyly.

I smiled as Edward kissed my hand gently. He really was a nice boy.

"May I walk you to your room Gabby?" Edward asked hopefully.

I remember Edward’s overly eager reaction to me and decided that perhaps I had let this go a bit too far.

"Edward, why don’t you stay a bit longer, I’m sure there is some nice young lady here you could regal with your endless charms?" I teased.

Edward’s eyes showed his disappointment. "Gabby I don’t mind walking you to your room, I’m feeling somewhat tired myself."

"Nonsense Edward, I insist that you stay and enjoy yourself. I would feel horrid if I caused you to miss out on having fun."

I knew there was really no way that Edward could continue to insist after that so I gave him a playful wave goodbye and headed off to my room.

I knocked lightly on mother and fathers door. After a few seconds mother answered the door, we exchanged a few words about the dance and I gave her a peck on the cheek and continued to my own room.

Once in my room I dropped onto the lounge and sighed. I had not told the truth to Edward. I wasn’t really that tired I just wanted to be alone. I felt the need to write in my memory book and draw the pictures that still floated dream like in my head of the wonderful evening. I quickly decided that I would take my memory books out on to the deck and write. I figured that with the light from the full moon as well as the lanterns lit sporadically throughout the deck I should have more than enough light to draw with. I threw open my trunk and grabbed my satchel, my memory books, charcoal pencils and matches as well as my writing tools and headed out to the deck.

It was absolutely beautiful outside. The moon was so full and bright the water gleamed like molten silver in the ships wake. I decided I would attempt to draw this lovely picture, I only hope that I could do it justice. After settling into a comfortable deck chair I began to draw. I had been at it for nearly a quarter mark when I heard a deep but soft voice say quietly, "Why are you sitting here alone?"

I felt myself shiver as I turned around. It was Danté. She had what appeared to be a shawl wrapped around her shoulders and looked to have been enjoying a stroll on the deck when she had come across me.

I held my memory books up dumbly and explained, "I wanted to draw a little."

I didn’t understand why this woman, girl really, made me feel so nervous, why there was something so familiar about her.

"May I see?" asked Danté.

I mutely handed over the book for her appraisal.

I waited nervously as she studied the picture critically then before I could stop her she quickly began to flip through the pages of my memory book stopping finally at the one page I didn’t want her to see. With one eyebrow raised she looked from me to the unfinished drawing. Any thoughts that she might not recognize herself went overboard with the arching of that one telling eyebrow. I’m doomed I thought morosely.

She closed the book and handed it back to me. She turned on her heel and with her back to me requested, no ordered really, "Walk with me," and then as a afterthought, "Please?" She began to walk away with long determined steps. I jumped up quickly and stuffed my memory book and charcoal pencils in my satchel and scampered quickly after her.

Not for the first time I cursed my small stature, as I had to nearly run to catch up with her long stride. I finally caught up to her by taking two steps to her one.

"Danté do you have to walk so fast?" I finally huffed angrily. "What’s the point of asking me to walk with you if you’re going to leave me behind?"

"Oh…. I’m…Sorry." The normally stoic young woman seemed to be bothered by something.

"Is everything ok? Did you need to talk to me about something?"

"Yes," she said. Abruptly she stopped so fast I nearly ran into the back of her.

"What are your intentions towards Edward?" She asked abruptly.

"My...my…intentions towards Edward?" I asked incredulously.

She gave one definitive nod of her head.

I of course did not handle the situation well. I dissolved into laughter. "Oh, oh I’m sorry."

"I don’t think it’s very funny," she said her voice so low that it was almost a growl.

My laughter stopped and I looked into a very stony but still beautiful face.

I stood there with my mouth gaped open as I tried to determine what I would do to rectify the situation.

Danté turned on her heel and began walking quickly away from me.

"Danté …Danté please, I’m sorry please don’t go. I’m sorry." I said again grabbing her arm and spinning her around. "Danté please I’m so sorry." I felt tears streaming down my cheeks for some unknown reason I didn’t want her to think badly of me.

She stepped towards me and peered down at me in the moonlight. I looked down at my shoes and she tilted my head up to hers.

"Why do you cry?" Her accent had become decidedly more noticeable as she asked the question.

"I don’t want you to be angry with me." I answered honestly. "It’s just that I have never been asked what my intentions were towards a young man. Usually it is the other way around isn’t it?"

"I suppose," Danté answered with a strained smile

"Danté I like your brother he seems to be a nice young man but I have only known him for one day. And I am not ready to commit myself to anyone especially not after one day. Do you understand?" I asked softly afraid that she would still be upset with me.

Danté let out a small sigh. ‘Was that relief or disappointment?’

"Yes I think so."

"Good now how about that walk you promised me?"

"Of course," she stated and indicated that I should link arms with her as we continued our stroll. This time Danté made an effort to match her stride to mine. She also insisted that I take her shawl, after I refused she laughingly told me that she didn’t know why she had grabbed it because she never got cold. I gladly wrapped my self in the warm shawl unconsciously breathing in the sweet spicy scent that was Danté. We continued on companionably for another few minutes before I was forced to stifle a yawn.

"It’s getting very late," Danté said quietly. "Perhaps we should both get to bed."

"Thank you for the walk it was very refreshing," I said idiotically. I felt my face heat as the side of Danté’s mouth quirked up. She leaned down and said, "Well I’m glad that you are...refreshed."

"Um… yeah," I said nervously. "I better go."

"Goodnight Gab…rie…lle."

I shivered at the way she pronounced my name as I distractedly walked back to my room. ‘What was it about her that left me feeling so unsettled?’ I shook my head as my thoughts began to spin out of control. I wondered what lies hidden behind the curtain of indifference that she wore so well.

"Well hello. Nate look ee’ere." I was jerked rudely out of my reverie by a fowl odor and the equally fowl owner of said odor.

"Well I don’t know there Jack looks like we got a little girl that come to play with us."

Was it possible for someone’s eyes to be fat I wondered inanely? Because this mans whole body was huge. He stepped right up to me breathing so hard I was afraid he would expire right in front of me.

"What do you say girlie?" The fat man asked as he rubbed one fat finger up and down my arm.

"Uh, no thank you I’m pretty tired. I was just heading in." I began to back pedal away from the two.

The short dirty rat-faced one licked his lips and started to come forward. Rubbing his sweaty hands against his pants in his excitement.

I realized too late that I had underestimated the fat man as he lunged quickly towards me and grabbed both my arms pulling me towards him. His stale alcohol doused breath rained down on my face.

"What do you think you’re doing?" I cried.

"Come on sweet thing, we just want to have a little fun. I’ll make sure you have fun too I promise."

Then to my utter dismay he latched his rank mouth on to mine. I stood frozen in utter shock and disgust. I reacted by biting down as hard as I could on the fat tongue that was now attempting to thrust into my mouth. The fat man screamed as I continued to bite down on his vile tongue. His smelly rat-faced friend stood by stunned as he finally succeeded in pushing me away.

I ran towards the direction that Danté had gone my long skirts keeping me from running as fast as I knew I was capable. I had just rounded a corner when I was pushed from behind. My pursuer and I fell forward with a crash. My head hit the desk solidly and I blacked out.

I must have only been out for only a few seconds because when I came to, the rat-faced man was straddling me as he tried to lift my skirts up to get to my britches. The fat man was holding me down by the shoulders. I was totally helpless as the two attempted to ruin me.

"Oh god please," I sobbed. "Please don’t do this." I begged them as I struggled against the hands holding my shoulders down.

Suddenly the hands were no longer holding me and I was able to push the little rat-faced man off of me. I got weakly to my feet, my head dizzily spinning as I watched the fat man struggle with a tall dark shadowy figure. I heard a strangled yell and what sounded like breaking bone. I watched the scene unfold in front me as if I were an innocent bystander not involved in the least.

My head was pounding and I leaned against a lifeboat that hung from a rope on the side of the ship to steady myself. I looked up just in time to see rat-face pull something shinny from the back of his pants and circle behind the two shadowy combatants. I opened my mouth to scream a warning as rat-face slashed my protector ruthlessly in the back with the object. My protector stumbled forward. As he did I caught a glimpse of his face in the moonlight.

"Danté," I moaned as she dropped to her knees in front of me her eyes staring at me pleadingly. "G…Get away," she murmured. Her eyes rolled back in her head and closed. She fell forward on the deck with a thump.

"Danté," I moaned again as I slowly felt my world go black.

I regained consciousness to the sound of my two attackers arguing.

"You didn’t have to kill her you idiot."

"I wasn’t trying to kill her, I was just trying to get her off of you. You’re the one that was screaming like a damn baby."

"Well that bitch broke my nose."

"What the hell are we going to do about this? The captain will kill us if he finds out about this."

"He can’t find out at least not until we make it off this ship."

"What do we do?" Whined rat-face. "Both of them can probably identify us."

"Not if no one knows where they are."

"What do you mean?" asked rat-face.

"I mean that one is already dead. What if we just pushed them both overboard?"

"I am not going to kill anyone Nate."

"I got news for you my friend you already have."

"Well that was a accident besides I was trying to save your life."

"Lets see what the captain thinks when you explain that to him."

"Well what do we do?"

"I ain’t killin’ nobody else."

Fat man thought for a while.

"Why don’t we stick them in that life boat and set them adrift? It will be morning before anyone notices they’re gone and days before they miss the boat."

"That’s a great idea!" Squealed rat-face.

"Here, help me with this one." Fat man grunted as he and rat-face roughly picked up Danté and deposited her into the lifeboat.

It was all I could do to keep from wincing when I felt their grubby hands pick me up and deposit me just as roughly along side Danté.

"Here, Here is the short ones bag."

I felt the books knock painfully across my knees as my satchel was thrown into the boat with Danté and me. "Here, where’s that knife Jack?"

I felt fear tighten in me as I thought perhaps he was going to stab us before the boat dropped but instead I heard him grunt above us as he tried to cut the knots that secured our boat.

"Hey wait. Don’t cut them, lower them into the water it will be less obvious."

Fat man agreed with a grunt and lowered us to the ocean below. "Hey get rid of that knife." Fat man told rat-face. "It’s got that big ones blood all over it."

I couldn’t help but wince as I heard the knife clatter into the boat next to me.

"Hey that one just moved I saw her."

"Who cares? We will be long gone before those two get a chance to tell anyone. If they ever get a chance to tell anyone."

I felt the little boat rock with the current. A moment of fear lanced through me at the thought of being set adrift. I thought about screaming for help but then I remembered how the men had been very close to finishing both Danté and me off only a moment earlier. I vaguely heard the music from the band as it faded. The current took hold of the little boat and left us adrift in the much larger ships wake.

‘I’m alive’ I thought ecstatically. I tried to move my weak hands and bumped into the soft body next to me.

‘Danté’ I thought. I tried to sit up but my head exploded in agony. I collapsed forward, my head ending up on Danté’s shoulder.

"Please don’t leave me." I whispered as I sank into the healing darkness that was unconsciousness.

The first thing I was aware of was the noise or perhaps I should say the lack of noise and the heat. Before I even opened my eyes I could feel that my face and hands would be severely burned. I lay there for a moment afraid to open my eyes. ‘Danté’ I thought surely she had to be dead. A low soft moan was all I could muster. I really felt like there was no other recourse but to lay here and let destiny take its course. Danté should have let them take me. At least she would have lived.

A small voice in my head asked ‘what if she isn’t dead Gabby?’ This caused my eyes to jerk up in reaction and instantly I wished I hadn’t. A light so bright I was sure that it had blinded me assaulted my eyes. I slammed my lids shut and covered my eyes with my forearm. I sat in misery until the burning behind my eyelids subsided enough for me to attempt to sit up in the gently rocking boat. Cautiously I opened my eyes again.

"Danté," I croaked. My lips protested the movement by cracking in several places but I didn’t care. Danté did not look good. If she wasn’t dead already she soon would be.

I noticed for the first time that she was lying in a pool of her own blood which as now coagulating in the boat beneath her dress.

Her skin looked pale and lifeless. I don’t know if I have ever been so afraid in my life as I was in that moment.

As quickly as I could without rocking the boat too much I went over to Danté.

Although her skin was not burned her lips like mine where definitely cracked. I placed my hand over her mouth and sobbed with relief as I felt her shallow breaths. Quickly I tore a long strip of cloth from my dress and dipped the cloth overboard into the water. I placed the balled up cloth behind her neck in the hopes of cooling her fevered skin.

For the first time I began to notice our surroundings. I could only see water. Ocean as far as the eye could see. Stifling another sob I decided to concentrate on Danté. I could not worry about land or lack there of at this moment. I needed to help Danté or she wouldn’t survive another day. I slowly maneuvered myself as close to Danté as I could get and I began to tear the bottom part of my dress into strips. I was tempted to remove the entire dress and sit in my underclothes however something told me that I needed the clothing for protection against the sun, even though it was sweltering.

After I had enough cloth torn I began the arduous task of turning Danté over onto her back. Although Danté was a fine boned girl she was much taller than I and I didn’t have much energy left. After much grunting and sweating I finally had her on her stomach and I was able to get a better look at her wound.

"Oh my god." I groaned. Danté’s wound looked angry. I remembered somewhere in the back of my head hearing my father saying that a person was more likely to die quicker from loss of blood than the actual wound. So the wound had to be stitched up. But I knew there was no way to stitch Danté up, as I had no needle or thread to do so. But I had to find a way to stop the bleeding. I suddenly remembered the pictures in my father’s old medical books of cauterized wounds. I remembered that I had the matches that my father had bought me to burn my charcoal pencils within my satchel. I quickly grabbed my satchel and pulled out the metal case that held the matches. I decided that if I could clean the knife that Nate had tossed in the boat to cauterized Danté’s wound she might have a fighting chance. So I dipped the knife into the ocean over the side of the boat and cleaned all of the blood off of it. I lit some cloth from my dress and a few of my pencils and started to heat the blade of the knife until it glowed in the early morning light. When I felt it was hot enough I crawled over to Danté and after whispering to her how sorry I was I laid the hot knife against her wound. I grimaced at the smell of Danté’s skin and blood being cooked by the heated knife.

I remembered the strips of my dress that I had torn and thought that perhaps I could somehow bind Danté’s wounds so tight that it could give her body time to mend together. I knew that it was uncertain at best but if I could just slow the blood I would give Danté a fighting chance.

Thinking about the way Danté had fought my attackers I had to smile grimly, she was a fighter if nothing else.

I’m not sure how long it took me to get the nine strips of cloth around Danté but it had to have taken a few hours. I purposely kept my mind focused on my task. Whenever I felt as though my task was hopeless I looked into Danté’s face and remembered that she was in this position because of me. It worried me vaguely that not once did Danté protest my handling of her wound. I was being as gentle as I could but I knew that it had to be very painful. After wetting the cloth behind Danté’s neck once again I settled down beside her to rest.

The sun had already begun its descent into its watery bed and the air had begun to chill noticeably. I wrapped my arms around Danté and pulled myself as close to her as possible. Her body to radiated heat and I worried that she might have a fever. I fell into an exhausted dreamless sleep. My arms wrapped around Danté loosely, my body curving instinctively into her warmth.

I don’t know how long I slept. I started to panic as I realized that my eyes were open yet all I could see was pitch black. As I struggled to sit up my hand fell against a warm body and the reality of our situation slammed home. We were in the middle of the ocean, and nobody even knew we were missing. I am sure that by this point my parents and Danté’s mother had missed us but would they realize that we had been set adrift?

I a tear slipped down my weather beaten cheek leaving a fiery trail to my neck. I allowed a sob to escape my dry throat as I curled my body around Danté to keep warm.

Danté groaned softly causing me to sit up quickly making the boat list from side to side. It was the first noise she had made since she had passed out. It gave me hope that perhaps she would recover.

It had gotten extremely cold and Danté was my only source of heat as well as the shawl she had wrapped around me on deck. I wrapped that loosely around us both and snuggled down for the night. The lifeboat listed gently in the water rocking me once again into a dreamless sleep.

This time a very vocal Danté interrupted my sleep. Her fever seems to have broken some but she was still incredibly warm. I remember Danté telling me during our stroll that she never really got cold so I hoped that this might be normal for her.

"No," Danté growled. "I won’t let you do this."

"Danté it’s me, Gabby, everything is ok." I whispered close to her ear.

"Gab…rie...lle," she murmured.

"Yes it’s me." I reassured her as best as I could. "You have been hurt Danté you have to lay still or you will make your wound bleed more. I wish I had some water for you to drink but unfortunately I don’t have any. I know you’re thirsty but I don’t think either of us would like seawater very much." Realizing that talking wasn’t the best activity for my dry thirsty mouth I decided to keep quiet for a while.

Danté drifted back into unconsciousness at my words. I gratefully settled back down beside her noting that the sun would be up soon and it would probably be uncomfortably hot once again. Danté breathed in deeply once and seemed to settle. We both drifted into sleeps embrace.

I awoke to the relentless sun beating down on me once again. Grabbing Danté’s shawl I pulled it up over her face for protection and began the task of tearing more strips from my dress to change Danté’s bandages. This time when I turned Danté on her stomach she moaned in protest, I took that as a good sign but I tried to be gentler non-the less.

"I’m sorry Danté. I think this is helping though none of the blood seems to have soaked through the outer bandages." I realized that Danté probably couldn’t hear me but the silence was getting to me.

I put the first seven layers of Danté’s now bloody bandages on the back seat of the boat. I did clean around her wound as best as I could but I was afraid that the salt water could hurt her. So I used as little as possible noting that the wound had already started to heal. Danté seemed to be blessed with amazing recuperative powers. I tied the still clean outer layers of Danté’s pervious bandage on first then followed them up with seven new strips from my dress. Then I took Danté’s bloody bandages and washed them out over the back of the boat.

I was worried by the amount of blood pouring from the bandages. Danté had lost quite a bit of blood. Father had said that the body needed food and water to survive and heal but we had neither. I shook my head at the thoughts that were threatening to send me plummeting into depression.

Absently I noticed that the current seemed to be picking up and we were moving at a faster pace. I noticed that clouds were also forming in the sky over head and I wondered if we were in for a storm. A storm means water my tired mind supplied. I began to take stock of the contents in the boat. My satchel was pushed under one of the seats in the boat. I grabbed it and went through it looking for something that could hold water. After coming up short I started looking under the seats in the bow of the boat.

I found three life preservers, the knife and a small tin can. I leapt on the tin can only to grimace with disgust once I saw what was in it. One of the crewmembers had obviously been using the can to spit tobacco. The remnant’s of which still sat in the bottom of the can. I picked up the can and disgustedly washed the contents of it over board. I washed it at least five more times before I was satisfied. It still had a faint odor of tobacco to it but there was nothing more I could do about it.

I gleefully watched the sky cloud over with what were no doubt some pretty angry storm clouds. In order to kill sometime I decided to write in my memory book about what had happened so far. I couldn’t help but smile as I imagined Elizabeth reading the book with disbelief. I was jerked out of my reverie by a loud clap of thunder.

"Oh my god," I jumped and scrambled closer to Danté. I quickly tucked my book and writing equipment back in my satchel and stuffed them under the nearest bench. I then placed the can on top of the bench in such a way that I hoped it would catch water and not blow over. I lay in the bottom of the boat and looked up at the sky. I wasn’t sure what was scarier not having any water or being in this boat in the middle of ocean in a thunderstorm. I the water started getting choppy as the winds picked up. As an afterthought I remembered the orange life vests shoved under the seats. I quickly put one over my head and tied the strings around myself. I then arduously got Danté into another one. Tying her restraints securely. I placed the remaining life vest under her head and pulled the shawl over both of our heads to await the impending storm.

Surprisingly enough I must have fallen asleep because I was awakened by another loud crack of thunder and the boat listing violently to the right. I pulled the shawl from Danté and myself and looked fearfully about. The sky was so dark it almost looked like nighttime. It was going to be a real whopper of a storm and neither Danté nor I had any real protection from the rain. Almost as if the heavens heard me a large fat drop of ran struck me in the top of my head. I looked around fearfully for a way…anyway to protect Danté from the impending weather.

I noticed that the space where our life vests used to be was now empty except for my satchel. The space was large enough to protect our heads from the weather. For some reason I felt certain that if I could just protect Danté’s head from the elements I figured she would be ok. I scooted back along the boat dragging Danté an inch at a time along with me. I had to make sure that I wasn’t dragging her face along the boat bottom as well so it was a very time consuming task. Finally I had Danté on her stomach with her head and shoulders under the bench protected for the most parts from the elements.

The pending storm had also bought some relief from the heat. Where it had been uncomfortably hot before it was now very humid and still.

A loud clap of thunder followed immediately by a bright rip across the sky, which lit up the darkness like a homing beacon. I was praying fervently at this point. As much as Danté and I needed the water I was at that moment more worried whether the little boat could survive the coming storm.

As the rain pelted down on us, I thought perhaps I should use the opportunity to clean Danté’s wound as well. I ripped her dress a little more so that I could see the now clotting wound. "You are a quick healer aren’t you Danté?"

Danté groaned either in response to me or in pain from the now torrential rain that was hitting her wound. I watched as the blood ran down the side of her hip and into her dress.

When the wounded area was fairly clean I took a clean piece of cloth that I had torn from my dress and cleaned up the wound some more. Now that the area was fairly clean I replaced the old bandages with new ones. "Ok Danté," I said trying to stay as calm as possible. "We are going to just sit back and hope we survive this one ok my friend?"

I tilted my head back and drank as much of the rainwater as I could. I wanted to save the majority of the water trapped in the little can for Danté. I pulled the now damp shawl over us and curled myself around Danté.

I’m not sure if I was trying to comfort her or myself but after an hour or two of squeezing my eyes shut and praying that the boat wouldn’t capsize. I fell into a deep sleep. Or perhaps I passed out I’m not sure but what ever it was it was definitely a welcome respite from the stomach lurching rocking of the boat, loud claps of thunder and torrential rain.

During the night I dreamed that I was running through a field of wild flowers. The dream was so real that I could actually smell the flowers in the air. I awoke with a smile on my face, halfway expecting to have fallen asleep in the field. But there was nothing but the wet smell of the ocean and our damp musty clothes. There was an all-consuming blackness that I would be faced with for as long as there was no moon in the sky.

For the first time I allowed myself to wonder what I would do if we were not found. What if Danté had lost too much blood and didn’t make it until we were rescued? For some reason the thought of Danté not making it scared me more than the thought of the both of us perishing together.

I sat back in the boat next to Danté and snuggled up next to her. "We will make it out of this Danté, somehow I will get us out of this." I told her trying to put as much strength and confidence in that statement as I could muster. I slowly drifted of to sleep as the once torrential rain ebbed to an almost soothing downpour.

I awoke the next morning with a start. I tried to ignore the itchy uncomfortable dress that I was wearing until I could take care of Danté. OK lets take a look at that wound.

After removing the cloth bandages I sat them on the bench above Danté’s head and looked critically at the puckered flesh around Danté’s wound. "Well this looks good Danté." I told her as if she had something to do with it. I placed clean bandages from my dress over the wound and thought ruefully ‘this dress has about had it.’ Sighing I moved to the back of the boat to wash the bloody bandages over the side.

As I scrubbed the bandages against the side of the boat I again smelled the wonderful floral scent of my dreams. I looked down at Danté; it wouldn’t be her she didn’t seem like the type that would wear floral perfumes. As I processed this information I became aware of something else. A faint sound, it almost sounded like someone yelling ha… ha. I followed the sound with my eyes doing a full 160-degree turn in the boat. Then I saw it …the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. It was land and not even a mile away.

"Oh thank the gods," I breathe. "Thank the gods." Land was so close that the flowers that I had smelled in my sleep had obviously come from there. I watched as large sea birds dived and darted on the beach, Probably hunting I thought absently. I bet they are hunting crab or fish. My mouth watered and I realized that I hadn’t eaten in days. I had been so preoccupied with Danté that I hadn’t even noticed my stomach was in cramps from hunger.

I realized that if I wanted to get us to land I was going to have to do a little more than sit and hope. I quickly took off my dress or what was left of it and tied it around a metal loop that was in the front of the boat. I put the orange life preserver on and after checking on Danté I slipped over the side of the boat.

Towing the boat to shore was an almost impossible task. I had very little energy and it felt as though the boat was going nowhere. But I tucked my head down and continued to stroke and kick as hard as I could. I made the mistake once of looking up and I almost sobbed in frustration. It looked like I had made no progress whatsoever.

"Please," I begged whoever was listening. "We are so close." I continued to tiredly stroke and pull. Stroke and pull stroke and pull for what seemed like hours. I couldn’t go anymore, I was so tired I didn’t even think I had the strength to get myself back in the boat let alone continue my fruitless paddling.

"Think Gabby. Think." I whispered inanely to myself. I watched as the water crested then bounced back towards me. For every foot I seemed to make, the retreating water would push us about four feet back. I rested my head against the side of the boat. There was no way we are going to make it.

With my head resting against the side of the boat I watched as the wave washed up against the gleaming white beach. Then seem to rush back and towards me as if to say I can touch land but you can’t. I watched the wave angrily for a few minutes before I noticed something odd. The wave only went about twelve feet across then it would stop. There was barely even a ripple. With a grin that I’m sure bordered on senility I set off parallel to the wave with renewed vigor. ‘We’re going to make it Danté; we are going to make it.’ I chanted in my head.

The swimming and tugging was slow going at best but I finally made it to the point where the crest was barely reaching me. I leaned my head against the boat tiredly. I was so excited I wanted to keep going but my body was already protesting from lack of food and water. I needed to make sure that I didn’t pass out here. There would be no one to save me if I did and no one to take care of Danté if I died.

With that in mind I determinedly made the turn for shore. This time undeterred from my goal.

After about thirty minutes I relaxed my body and allowed my feet to float down with the intention of trying to rest by hanging on to the side of the boat. As I rested, my foot hit against something. Oh god someone WAS listening. I stretched my foot as lows as it could go and was able to just barely touch ground.

I started swimming once again with renewed vigor. Within minutes my feet touched solid on the ground. Laughing hysterically I continued to pull the little boat towards shore. Thanking every god I could think of from the book of Greek myths that my father used to read me as a child.

The boat finally slid onto the beach with a dull thump and I collapsed backward onto the wet beach laughing hysterically. I was joined in my mirth by the gulls circling above. I continued to laugh until I was in tears. "We made it Danté," I whispered to my companion still lying unawares in the bottom of the boat… "We made it."

"Hello, anyone here? Hello, please I need help." I yelled only the birds bothered to answer me.

I went to check on Danté once again to make sure that she was ok. After reassuring myself that her condition had not changed and was the same I decided that I would try to look around for some help. I propped several rocks around the boat. I didn’t want to risk Danté being towed out to sea. In my slip I started to explore my surroundings.

The area was beautiful. The beach where Danté and I had landed was covered in almost snow-white sand. The lush vegetation that surrounded the beach was so thick I wasn’t sure I would be able to get through it to look around.

"Hello." I yelled again. Once again the only answer that I received was from the birds.

I didn’t want to stay way from Danté much longer so I turned around and returned to the beach. Danté of course hadn’t moved since I had left her.

"Danté, we are going to be ok. I just know it. I need to find a way to get you out of this boat and somewhere safe. Then I’m going to go find someone that can help us." I looked around for something that could help me to get my tall friend out of the boat. I decided that if I could just get her out of the boat I could probably drag her the rest of the way up the beach.

I returned to the dense forest of vegetation surrounding the beach. Various fruit trees, some of which I recognized, populated the area. My stomach made it be known that it wasn’t happy with me in the least and that it needed to be fed soon. I looked around for a stick long enough to get some bananas down to eat. Picking up a piece of long bamboo off of the jungle floor I began whacking at the tree with as much force as I could muster.

I managed to pummel the bunch of bananas to a pulp but none of them fell to the ground. I ignored the scolding that I was getting from the brightly colored birds that frequented the treetops. And looked around desperately for a way o get to the ripe appealing fruit. A loud thump only two feet to my right caused a small shriek to emit from my lips. Almost if by my sheer will alone a large green coconut dropped out of a tree.

I quickly grabbed it up and carried it back to the beach. I bashed it several times on some large black rocks until I could get to its edible center. I drank some of the sweet milk that it offered from its center and scampered off of my rocks and back to the boat holding my unconscious friend. I stuck my finger in the remaining milk and put some on her lips to moisten them to see if she would respond.

Danté’s mouth parted for me and I was able to get a little of the milk into her dry mouth. I continued to dip into the coconut half with a finger then placing into Danté’s now open mouth. I inhaled softly as I pulled my fingers from Danté’s lips I thought that I felt a little pressure from her tongue.

"Danté?"

I of course got no answer but I eagerly dipped my fingers into the coconut again and transferred the nectar into Danté’s moist hot mouth. This time I let them stay in Danté’s mouth for a moment to see if she would react.

This time I felt a noticeable sucking pressure as Danté’s lips slowly closed around my fingers and sucked gently at the coconut milk. I let out the breath that I didn’t know I had been holding and let a tear fall slowly down my cheek. "Thank you." I breathed to whomever cared to listen.

I figured that if I piled enough rocks around the boat I wouldn’t have to move Danté at all and the rocks would keep the boat from accidentally floating out to sea. I had already given up on trying to get Danté out of the boat. She was just too heavy for me and there was no way she was going to be of any help until she got better.

So instead I went about dragging some of the huge palm leaves from the forest on to the beach. When I felt that I had enough I lay the palms across the top of the boat. I had the boat half way covered before I got into the boat carrying the two halves of the coconut with me and covered up Danté and myself. The large thick leaves effectively cut out the majority of the sun and left the inside of the boat feeling about twenty degrees cooler as well as cutting out the light.

Danté moaned and thrashed her head a little.

"Shhh Sweetheart. You’re ok, we are both ok."

I stroked Danté’s hair back over her head. This seemed to sooth her as she inhaled a deep sigh and settled down.

With the coconut milk settling in my stomach and with the knowledge that Danté and I would at least not starve to death I fell into a long restful sleep.

The birds loud screeching above the boat finally awoke me. I felt as though I had been asleep for days. I at some point during my slumber had somehow ended up with my head on Danté’s shoulder and my leg thrown across both of hers. I guiltily removed myself from her and hoped that I didn’t injure her during my restless sleep.

I checked her over and was reassured that she appeared to be resting comfortably.

I removed the two largest palms from above our heads and climbed out of the boat. I shrieked as something scampered over my feet. I leapt back in the boat looking around fearfully for some type of large spider. I was surprised as I noticed that instead of spiders there were small blue crabs all over the beach. The circling seagulls above were the cause of the ruckus that had awakened me. I watched as thousands of the small blue crabs scampered from the sea towards a destination known only to them.

I quickly scooped up about five of the little creatures in a piece of cloth and let them float in a small puddle of water near the ocean anchored by a large rock. I grabbed my satchel and hunted through it looking desperately for the tin of wooden matches that I kept there to light my coal art pencils.

I shrieked with glee as my fingers wrapped around the tin that I carried them in. I ran up the beach and frantically began to dig a whole in the sand. I rooted around the beach and found as much dry kindling as I could find. It took three of my precious matches but I was finally able to get a small fire going. I hurried back to my trapped booty and carried them to the fire.

I opened my cloth and whispering an apology for what I was about to do and drop the small crustaceans into the fire alive.

When I was sure they were done I knocked them clumsily out of the fire with a stick and waited non-to patiently for them to be cool enough to eat. Deciding that a few minutes was long enough to cool, I grabbed one of the little creatures and broke off the legs and began to suck the succulent meat from the surprisingly soft-shell.

"Umm." I moaned at how wonderful the crab was to my starved stomach. Although the little creature didn’t yield much meat it was enough to take the edge off of my constant hunger. I wrapped the one remaining cooked crab in a strip of cloth and regretfully knocked sand over the fire. I only had twenty or so matches left. I would have to get a lot better at lighting fires or it would be raw food until Danté and I were found.

I placed the little crab into the boat for later and checked on Danté. I covered her once again with the large leaves and headed into the forest to look for more coconuts and anything else that I could get her to eat.

So far I recognized bananas, papaya, coconuts, breadfruit and cashews of all things. However in Danté’s unconscious state she could barely get down the milk of the coconut let alone anything more substantial.

As I walked through the trees looking for anything edible that I could get my hands on, I came upon a banana tree that was leaning at a slant. If I could only get closer to the top of the tree I could possibly get some of the fruit to fall down.

I set the coconut down that I had found earlier on the forest floor and began to root around for a long bamboo pole. After finding one that seemed suitable I climbed the tree. I smiled dryly as I remembered my mother scolding me long ago about how climbing trees wasn’t becoming for young ladies. Well mother it could just save my life this time.

Finally after getting close enough to the top that I could reach the bananas with my stick, I leaned out as far as I could and began to push a group of the fruit away from the tree with the stick. The bananas stubbornly refused to fall however until after about fifteen minutes of me pushing them back and forth they fell to the forest floor. I scampered down as quickly as I could. I had not intended on being away from Danté as long as I had.

I dragged the bushel of bananas to the end of the forest, and ran with the coconut back to the boat as quickly as my weakened body could carry me. Relieved I noticed that the leaves were undisturbed on top of the boat and the hurt girl underneath them still seamed to be resting peacefully. I broke the coconuts outer green shell on the nearby beach rocks and then broke the brown inner shell as carefully as I could, trying to preserve the milk for Danté.

I carried the two halves back to the boat and carefully sat down next to Danté. I dipped my two fingers into the shell as before and placed them in her mouth. This time Danté did suck the milk with a bit more strength. I inhaled as I felt her tongue curl weakly around my offered fingers.

I am afraid I was blushing profusely as Danté increased the pressure on my fingers unconsciously. The sucking was creating a heat between my legs and then a pressure that was unfamiliar to me. It wasn’t painful just uncomfortable.

I dipped my fingers into the coconut half and once again offered them to Danté, almost fearful of the sucking pressure that I knew was sure to come. As before Danté had to be urged to take in the nourishment but as soon as her body unconsciously began to except that it was finally being fed the pressure was amazingly strong and sure.

I closed my eyes to keep from staring at Danté’s cracked lips wrapped around my fingers. Surely I must be going crazy for feeling like this. I gasped and put my free hand against my stomach as Danté continued to suck on my fingers for the long gone coconut milk.

I opened my eyes and fell immediately into the disoriented whirlpool of blue that was Danté’s eyes. Removing my fingers quickly like a child whose hand had been caught in the cookie jar I bent closer her. "Danté are you ok?" She looked at me confused for a moment then opened her mouth as if to speak.

"Gabrielle? Are you ok?" She asked. "Did they hurt you?"

I couldn’t help it I burst into tears. "No…no they didn’t hurt me but they sure got you pretty good." I told her stroking her head with a clean strip of cloth.

"How long?" She rasped painfully. I realized that she meant how long had she been out. I looked up at the blazing sky and answered truthfully. "I’m not sure Danté. I was a little loopy for a while there but as near as I can tell it has been about four days."

She continued to look at me for a moment then she asked so softly that I had to lean over her to hear what she said. "What happened to you Gabby? Where are your clothes?"

For the first time I thought about how I must look to her. I could feel my dry skin rebelling against the hot sun as it cracked and peeled on my face, shoulders and lips. My hair had long since ceased to look anything like organized and my dress? Well I had discarded the tattered remains of that for use as Danté’s bandages. That left me as bright red as a lobster in only my slip and underwear.

I started to laugh. I laughed so hard that I had to lie down next to Danté’s body for fear that I would topple over on top of her. My laughter soon turned to tears and I found myself being petted by Danté as she distractedly patted me on the back in an attempt to appear comforting. While, I did appreciate her making the effort; she truly lacked that nurturing ability.

After a hiccuping sigh I propped myself up and looked at her. "I’m sorry, it just hit me all at once. I…I thought… I was afraid you weren’t going to make it Danté. I was so happy when I saw land here then when I was able to get the boat here I thought for sure someone would be able to help you but when I couldn’t find anyone I was afraid for you again."

"It’s ok I’m a tough one." She told me in a horse voice. "Where are we?" She asked attempting to look round from her position on the bottom of the boat. All she could see was blue sky to the right of her and to the left the tops of the bush that I had attempted to forage from.

"I’m not sure. Wherever we are it is pretty isolated. I haven’t seen or heard anyone since we got here. I haven’t really had a chance to look around though, I was afraid to wander too far away from you for too long." I told her with a weak smile. "I basically was able to scrounge up some fruit and a few of the little crabs that seem to run rampant on this beach but that’s about it. Are you hungry Danté?" I asked her for the first time remembering that my hurt charge had not eaten in over four days. "I got you to get down some coconut milk but I was afraid you would choke on anything more substantial." Flashes of Danté suckling my fingers earlier caused me to blush again.

"You ok?" She asked.

"Yeah I am fine I think the sun has played havoc with my skin but it should be ok."

Quickly attempting to change the subject I asked her again if she thought she could hold down some food. Danté said she wasn’t sure but she thought she could get down the coconut milk. I decided that it wasn’t the best idea to feed Danté the milk the way I had when she was unconscious. Instead I propped her head up against my crossed legs and feed her the rest of the tepid milk.

After a few sips Danté shook her head and turned away from the makeshift bowl. "All right that should help for now but Danté I think you may have to try to get some of the fruit down if you expect to get your strength back." She nodded tiredly as I eased her head back down onto her pillow/life preserver.

"Danté, do you think I could take a look at your wound before you go to sleep? I’m worried that we won’t have much light left and I would like to get it cleaned up before it gets to dark."

Again she nodded tiredly and I attempted to turn her over on her side so that I could get to the wound. As I did so I explained to her how I was forced to burn her to cauterize the wound and how I used the rainwater to clean it the best that I could. I also explained to her that her bandages came from my dress, which would explain my current state of undress. After cleaning and bandaging Danté’s back I helped her turn back over. Though she had not uttered a word during this process I could see by her rapidly rising and falling breathing that she was in a lot of pain. I used the remainder of the rainwater to pour onto another strip of clean cloth, which I used to moisten her lips, then, her forehead.

"Better?" I asked her quietly.

"Yes." Was her guttural reply "You did good," she whispered before closing her eyes and falling into an exhausted healing sleep. I allowed another tear to escape before I settled down next to her and watched the sun slide into the sea.

The next morning I was awakened once again by the loud cawing of the seagulls circling overhead. "Must they be so loud?" I asked no one in particular. I was fully awakened by the low chuckle of my boat mate who had obviously been up for awhile.

"My aren’t you grouchy in the morning little one?" I jerked up and looked down at the familiar irritatingly cocky smirk of Danté Courtier.

"Oh my goodness Danté you’re ok!" I breathed.

"Why yes I am." She answered me with her usual teasing tone. "Did you expect me not to be? From what I have been told I was given the best care possible." I blushed as usual at Danté’s teasing.

"I had thought that yesterday was a dream or hallucination. But it wasn’t, you’re really ok."

"Yeah a little sore but I think I will live. Hey you want to help me sit up? I am a little tired of lying in this boat."

"Sure Danté but do you think you should? I don’t want your wound to open up again its only been a few days and you bled pretty badly for a while."

"I’m a fast healer Gabrielle. I’m sure it will be fine. Besides I have to handle some business and unless you want me to do it where we sleep I suggest that you help me up."

I blushed again and began to help Danté to a sitting position. "Wait." She wheezed. As she caught her breath I looked around the beach for a stick that she could use to balance herself with. Finding the cane pole that I had used to knock the fruit down with I brought it over to the boat.

I helped Danté to her feet and after a few scary moments in which I thought that Danté and I would go crashing to the ground Danté seemed to regain her equilibrium. "Whew," she blew out as she gained her first view of the area. "I take it the ladies room is that way?" She grumbled.

I smiled, "Yup that’s the way." I handed her the cane pole as she stepped out of the boat. I allowed her to use me for balance on the one side and the pole on her other. We slowly made our way towards the thick jungle of trees that populated the outskirts of the beach.

Right inside the tree line we came to a tree that seemed to have its own ideas about which way it wanted to grow. Instead of horizontal it wanted to grow diagonal with the ground. Danté stopped there to rest. "OK this should do it. I should be able to hold myself up pretty well by leaning on this tree." I started to argue with her but she stopped me with a stern look on her face. "I’m sorry Gabrielle." She pronounced my name as if it were with three distinct syllables, Gab-rie-lle. "I am not going to allow you to stand there while nature calls. I do appreciate the care you are giving me but I am not a child so you need to go somewhere else while I do this. I will be fine."

I stood there with my mouth open and stared at her for a moment. I think that was the most words I had ever heard her speak at once. I was startled out of my reverie by a warm finger under my chin gently closing my mouth. "Now turn around and I will meet you out there after I am done." She then turned me around and with a gentle shove in the small of my back sent me on my way.

I sat on a large rock that was half buried in the white sand and thought ruefully, well if we have to be stranded here for a few days at least it is beautiful. Danté appeared out of the trees at that moment and I jumped up to help her.

"You look very pale, are you ok?" I asked her.

"Yeah," she stated. "But I think I might have overdone it a bit. I need to lie down." Her usually strong voice was weak and her skin was a deathly pale. I wrapped her limp arm around my shoulder and I half dragged, half carried her back to the boat.

"Danté this isn’t good. I’m not sure what to do." I told her worriedly as I helped her to weakly step over the edge of the boat.

"Shh, it’s ok." She comforted me. "I just need to rest. I think I must have lost a lot of blood and I haven’t eaten in days."

"I found some bananas, breadfruit, papaya and coconuts, Danté." I told her eagerly. "And some crab as well. Do you think you could eat a little something?"

"You did, did you?" She smirked. "Been holding out on me huh? And here I thought we were starving to death and you have gone out grocery shopping." She teased. "Did you save some of that for me? I noticed on the ship that you could definitely put down your fare share of food."

"Hey!" I yelled getting angry. "It’s not as if you were exactly awake so that I could give you any of the food. Unless you expected me to shovel it down your throat while you were unconscious. It was all I could do to even get you to take some of the coconut milk in." I was well on my way to working myself into a full tizzy before I noticed her normal smirk start to wane a bit.

"You fed me?" She asked tiredly. "When I was out? How did you do that?"

"I um…" I was blushing profusely and she was staring at me with one of her eyebrows up clearly confused by my reaction. "I um put some of it on my fingers and you um…"

"That was you?" She asked. "I thought it was a dream."

Now as I write this I have yet to see Danté truly blush but I could have sworn that she was on that day and I wasn’t quite sure why. I was positive that she wasn’t awake to see my reaction to her suckling my fingers. "Um Danté, do you think you could get down some solid foods now?" I asked trying to change the subject.

"I don’t know. I think I am a little too tired to try eating right now. I would like to take a nap first if you don’t mind."

"Sure, ok." I told her. "I would like to look around and see if I could find something or someone to help us. If you need me just give a call or something I won’t wander too far ok?"

"Hmm." She murmured her eyes already closing. I covered the top of the boat over her head with the large leaf to protect her from being burned by the sun.

I headed off towards the tree line intent on finding help. Traversing the dense vegetation was nowhere near as hard as I thought. I had given up calling out for help and had just continued to walk. After getting past the initial wall that separated the beach from the jungle it was almost easy to walk. With the exception of a few above ground roots I had a clear path.

I pretty much had not seen any other life other than the birds and crabs in the area. I hadn’t even seen a squirrel or any other type of forest creature, that in it self was kind of unusual I thought. But I figured that I was just missing something.

The trees were not very large but they were lush with vegetation. Enormous brightly colored flowers were splattered across the landscape like a gaudy painting I had once seen. The fact that this was real and carried the most beautiful aroma with it took away the gaudiness and made me feel exhilarated.

I continued my exploration paying little attention to where I was (as was usual with me) and tripped over an aboveground root. Before I could stop myself I sailed over the edge of the natural path that I had been walking on. There was a moment of sheer panic before the air was knocked out of me and pain coursed through my head, I landed half in water, half in dirt.

The first ting I noticed when I got my breath back was the pain in my head and the water lapping at my thigh. I sat up shakily and took in my surroundings. I had landed in a small clear pond that was practically hidden by lush vegetation. The pond was surrounded on all sides by a wall of rocks almost as tall as I was with the lush green vegetation dipping in over the rocks. I could have walked right by this if I had not tripped and fell into it.

As I lay taking in the beauty of this spot I watched as two brightly colored birds swooped down and landed right near me. Both looked at me curiously with their heads cocked to one side as if to say ‘WHAT ARE YOU?’ Then both proceeded to drink from the pond. I watched them fascinated while I tried to ignore my own parched throat. Both finished their leisurely drinks gave me another dubious look and flew off into the trees above.

I snapped out of my reverie and scampered over to the pond and leaned down for a drink. "Well here it goes." I said to know one in particular and scooped up a handful of water. The water was cool and clean; it was the best drink I had ever taken. I dispensed with the formalities (after all there was no one around to see me) and leaned my whole head into the water to take a drink. "Wonderful." I breathed as I took my fill. I had never appreciated the merits of water in fact I had often turned my nose up at it in favor of tea or milk but this was pure ambrosia.

After taking a quick look around and assuring myself of my solitude I doffed my slip and stepped gingerly into the cool water. "Oh." I breathed out loud as I slipped down into the neck deep water. Dipping my hair back into the water and washing it as best as I could. Thoughts of Danté lying in the boat back at the beach hurried me through my bath. As I stepped out of the pond the thought of putting on my grimy slip was so distasteful that I decided to rinse it out along with my underwear. The weather was so hot that I’m sure that my clothing would be nearly dry before I got back to the beach. I found a large cane stick that had fallen over and was hollowed out by insects and filled it with water.

Danté was awake and sitting up in the boat when I returned. She smiled when she noticed my slicked back hair and damp slip.

"Well you look refreshed."

I smiled at her unwilling to take offense to her cocky little smirk.

"Yeah. I found a fresh water pond in the jungle and I bought you some water to drink." I handed her the flask, which she took gratefully. I watched as she paused and looked down into the cane flask that I handed her. "Go ahead I saw some birds drink from it first then I drank some. It’s good water, it won’t hurt you." I reassured her.

"No it’s not that," she said then she looked up at me with her eyebrow raised. "Did you get this water before or after you washed your drawers in that pond?" she asked.

I felt my traitorous jaw drop as I stared at her incredulously. "Of all the ungrateful…." She held up her hands as if to ward off my verbal blows and gave me a full-fledged grin instead of her usual smirk. "I’m sorry I just can’t help teasing you, you’re so responsive," she chuckled. Then she raised the flask to her lips and drank deeply.

I smiled as she gratefully guzzled every last drop of the water down. When she had finished I let my own smirk appear and I leaned in really close and looked her dead in her eyes and whispered, "I got the water after I washed my drawers." I pat her on the head and ran off laughing wildly down the beach to the sound of Danté hurling naughty words at me in French.

©2000GabGold

Concluded in Part II.

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