3 Hour Tour (Dee Sanders Book 1), page 23
Bozo stood in the center of the camp. He was wearing heavily-creased, striped, purple pants, chocolate suede boots that came up over his knees, a matching belt, a flowing, white, long-sleeved shirt, and a purple hat with a white plume. I was sure he thought himself magnificent.
He saw us approach and watched as we were marched toward him. We stopped a few feet away.
"And who might you be?" he thundered.
I looked him in the eyes. “We were just passing by. Stopped to talk to the old guy!”
“Passing by on a deserted island?”
“We were in the neighborhood.” I could see his fury building.
Suddenly Antoine appeared. "They were with our group originally. They disappeared, and I thought they were dead." He didn't mention the others in our group.
Bozo took off his hat and rubbed his hair. “Why wasn’t I told of this?”
Antoine looked at us and said, “Dead men tell no tales.”
“That’s right,” replied Bozo, looking at Antoine.
Antoine turned away and called over his shoulder, “They are of no value. Do with them whatever you wish.”
Bozo watched Antoine walk away, a smile on his lips. He turned to us and said, “Tie them to a tree near the blonde.” He poked me. “We gonna have some fun with this wonder bread. Search them.” The guards patted us down and collected our knives. They put them in a small canvas bag one of them pulled from his pocket.
The guards started to walk us toward a tree when the Snarly One and Huggy Bear appeared.
“What do you want?” said the guard in front.
The Snarly One smiled and held up two fingers on his right hand. “Wishing you love, peace, and soul…my brother,” he said, stepping toward us and putting a hand on my shoulder.
The guard looked sullen, and the Snarly One said, "We got this." He took the bag from the guard and they all stood down.
Snarly and Huggy walked us to the tree.
“What the hell you doing getting caught, you sure gonna mess up the plan. We’re going with our part anyway,” Snarly whispered in my ear.
“What’s the status?” I asked.
“We went to Antoine and showed him the guns and the gold, let him think about it. We kept the clips, he’s still unarmed. We got a handful of the crew with us, including the navigator, he hates Bozo. We’re all armed and dangerous.”
We got to the tree, and Snarly pushed me down and tied me up. Holly was a few feet over, on the next tree with her back to us. She wasn't moving.
Huggy tied up Jamal.
Snarly shook his head. “We’ll help you if we can, but if we can’t, we can’t.” They started to walk away.
The three original guards approached us.
Huggy suddenly broke into a song. I recognized it as “It is Well with my Soul."
“When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well. It is well, with my soul.”
While he was singing, Huggy cranked the arms of the stuffed panda bear that sat around his neck and waved them at the guards. They stopped in their tracks, and then turned away, muttering.
Huggy looked at Jamal and me and smiled. The sunlight gleamed off his teeth.
He and Snarly walked away.
I looked up to see Holly staring at us.
“How are you doing?”
“How do you think?”
“I’m sorry, that was a stupid question.”
She smiled wearily. "It's like when you've been sick. You're hot, you're cold, your fever has come and gone, it breaks, you're sweating, you’re frustrated and in pain. Sickness has a smell, and when it passes, you feel like you need to take a bath or a swim. It's a chemical reaction that leaves you covered in a by-product that you just want to get away from and come out clean."
She paused. “My choices were the devil,” she glanced to the camp, “or the deep blue sea,” then to the ocean, “and my conscience was my only guide. For a time, I chose the devil. Now, I pray I come out clean on the other side. When I signed up for a sea cruise, I never expected to die on a deserted island, raped to death.”
“You’re not going to die, we’ll get out of here, and we’ll take you with us,” I replied.
She almost smiled, but her eyes were blank. She turned her back to us and didn’t reply.
Tom brought us some fish and water shortly after that. The Johnson’s took the same to Holly. Neither of them looked at us.
Tom spoke, “The Johnsons aren’t happy with you leaving the group. Be careful of them. There seems to be a lot going on in camp, and there’s tension. The crew is starting to fight among themselves. Antoine and his boys are keeping separate. Bozo seems to be mad at everyone. I'll try to find something to cut you loose. We have utensils for cooking, but they collect them after every meal. There's going to be a party. I think that's when it's going to happen. Bozo is planning something, but then I think Antoine may be too. Keep your heads down. I'll try to get you loose. There will be some entertainment first.”
Jamal and I looked at one another.
Tom continued, “There are six guys that call themselves K5J. Five guys whose name starts with "J" and Kazam. Kazam likes to be different and to stand apart from the others. It's a good thing to know and keep in mind if you deal with him. They remind me of Gladys Knight and the Pips. Kazam raps and the others dance and sing background. They’re always singing something around the camp.”
Tom shuffled away.
Jamal whispered to me, “You think he can help?”
“I think he’ll try.”
We sat for several hours while nothing happened. As the light began to fade, the activity in the camp increased.
Nobody bothered Holly, so I knew something was going on.
There was a sound toward the shore, and I saw our old friend, the Scraggly One, walk into view. He was talking to someone and glanced toward the camp, then toward us. Another sound came, and then silence. Bozo stepped into view and drew the Scraggly One close to him, and I had a bad feeling. I was sure we’d just been sold out.
After a moment, Bozo strode in front of us. “I’ll be dealing with the two of you myself, very soon.” Then he walked away.
Jamal looked at me, anxiously. "It's gonna be a long night."
I nodded to him and then looked toward the camp. I could see a small stage had been set up. We were going to have a view.
57
Let’s Get this Party Started
As the sun was setting, fires were lit all around the camp. The darkness was not as absolute as usual. Most nights there was starlight, and some ambient reflection from the moon off the water. Some nights it was just black, you couldn’t see a thing. That night, we could actually see, but there were lots of shadows. There was energy in the air. Treachery and deceit were about, along with havoc and chaos. You could actually feel it, or sense it so strongly, that you thought you felt it.
No one had come around Jamal and me for several hours. Holly appeared to be asleep.
A crowd gathered in front of the makeshift stage. They were a colorful lot, in scarves, hats, beards, and assorted jewelry. Some wore cut-offs, board shorts, even capris, paired with sandals, tennis shoes, or boots. They were an eclectic looking group of pirates.
Bozo and his posse stood to one side. A few of the men were scattered toward the middle of the stage. Antoine and his crew appeared on the other side. The two perimeter groups stared at one another.
The pirate that had caught us with Tom got up on stage and began to speak. I thought of him as “MC Pirate”.
“Tonight is party night! We have live entertainment and some fine food and drink set aside for everybody.”
We hadn't seen Tom or the Johnsons, and I guessed they had been kept busy all afternoon. I didn't see the Snarly One or Huggy Bear either.
MC Pirate continued, “Live from "Deserted Island" we have tonight," there was a drum roll behind him, "K5J for your entertainment. Kazam and the five Jams, let's get this party started!" He clapped and stepped out of the way as six big men came out on stage. They were sort of dressed alike, except for the one in front. He had a big pile of Gerry curls and wore tight, white stretch pants. Bozo gazed at him admiringly.
The lead singer stepped to the front and called out, "We're K5J, and I am Kazam.”
The others, lined up behind him, sang out their names, "Jerome,” "Jajuan," "Jermaine,”" Jamont," and "Jamari."
They could actually sing. Each one called out his name, twirled, and took a dance step to the left. Then they took a step to the right and twirled, and then back to the left and twirled again. Their hands and shoulders were swinging, and they clapped out a beat and sang what sounded like "Humpty, Humpty Dump."
Kazam strode forward and shouted out, “We’re going to do a song called “Break Me Up, the Humpty Dumpty rap.””
Kazam rapped and the 5J's harmonized.
”I can’t sing and I can’t dance,” Kazam rapped.
In the background, the 5Js came in with, “Humpty, you can call me Humpty.”
“Ain’t got enough ass to hold up my pants,” continued Kazam.
“Humpty, you can call me Humpty, call me Humpy, Humpty Dump,” sang the 5Js.
The 5Js sidestepped, they twirled, they spun in place, and they sidestepped back, all the while clapping and singing the chorus.
”I got no rhythm and I got no soul,” Kazam rapped.
In the background, the 5Js came in with, “Humpty, you can call me Humpty.”
“I ain’t got no self-control,” continued Kazam.
“Humpty, you can call me Humpty, call me Humpy, Humpty Dump,” sang the 5Js.
”I sat on the wall, and I took a big fall,” Kazam rapped.
In the background, the 5Js came in with, “Humpty, you can call me Humpty.”
“But that ain’t all, cause I still like to ball, with you,” continued Kazam.
“Humpty, you can call me Humpty, call me Humpy, Humpty Dump,” sang the 5Js.
”When I sit on my throne, and I get you alone,” Kazam rapped.
In the background, the 5Js came in with, “Humpty, you can call me Humpty.”
“I throw my XL bone, in yo’ red hot zone. Throw it baby, throw it,” continued Kazam.
“Humpty, you can call me Humpty, call me Humpy, Humpty Dump,” sang the 5Js.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Kazam rapped.
“Dump it, Baby, dump it,” he continued. “I know that’s right.”
“Humpty, you can call me Humpty, call me Humpy, Humpty Dump,” sang the 5Js.
“My name is Humpty,” rapped Kazam. “Break me up!”
“Humpty, you can call me Humpty, call me Humpy, Humpty Dump,” sang the 5Js.
They ended with a flourish and a double spin by Kazam, a long slide across the stage by the 5Js, and a big final hand clap. There was silence for just a second, and then thunderous applause.
Jamal turned to me and snidely remarked, “That was enchanting. You think they wrote it themselves?”
I nodded. “Probably, I never heard it before.”
“Wished I hadn’t heard it then,” he sighed.
Kazam and the 5Jams broke into another rap. We turned our attention away.
58
Just Before the Bullets Fly
There was a table to the side of the stage where food was served. During the concert, the pirates and Antoine's men had come and gone to help themselves. Tom and the Johnsons must have been busy all day or maybe all week. The table was loaded, and we saw them scurrying back and forth with new supplies of fish and fruit. Apparently, there was alcohol on the ship, as there was a punch bowl that kept many of the men returning. Their volume and enthusiasm grew as the night proceeded.
So far, no one had come to bother Holly. In fact, we, as prisoners, had been ignored all evening.
As we watched the crowd mill about, it was as if they were waiting for the next event, the main event. K5J had stopped rapping and withdrawn from the stage. The crowd finished their food and drinking. They stood in small groups, murmuring and checking each other out.
Antoine and Bozo stood in the middle of the crowd. One on one, each was flanked by a group of their supporters.
Neither of them looked happy. We couldn’t hear from our distance, but the expressions, facial features, and body language looked tense. We saw the Snarly One and Huggy Bear near the stage, almost in the middle of the group. As if they could spring in either direction, if and when, and just before the bullets fly.
I felt it was going to be soon.
Bozo raised his arms and pushed Antoine backwards. Antoine’s men sprang forward around their boss. All the noise stopped. Bozo and Antoine glared at one another. I could see William, with his hand in his pocket. I think Bozo saw him too.
Antoine held up a hand, and all eyes were upon it. I could see his head turn slightly as he took in the crowd. His gaze encompassing. He dropped the hand and dove to the ground as William pulled a pistol and shot.
Bozo dove when he saw Antoine dive. The bullet from William, meant for Bozo, hit the man behind him, who went down quickly.
Shouts and shooting broke out from both sides. I could hear the sound of the AK’s. Jamal and I couldn’t help but flinch at the flashes of light and smoke that drifted around us.
Then we saw him. It was Tom, making his way toward us. He had his hat on and his cane in one hand, the small canvas bag in the other.
Tom dropped down to his knees as the sound of bullets continued, and the shouts and screams increased. He slid on the sand next to us.
“Good to see you, boys! I think it’s time to go!” He dropped the bag. “I thought you could use these.”
We both stared at him. The knives would be helpful.
“Where’d you get the bag?” I whispered to him.
Tom smiled. “Huggy and Snarly gave it to me.” Then he took his cane in both hands and felt around the knob. I heard a small click. He grabbed the handle and pulled a two-foot blade from the cane.
Our eyes got big. “I got something that will work,” he replied.
He sliced at the rope binding Jamal. “You had that all along?” I asked.
He smiled, and I could see his eyes twinkling.
“I never leave home without it.”
“You should have come with us,” I countered.
He shook his head. “It would have been an odd number, besides I needed to look after the Johnsons, although they would never admit it, and Holly, once Jim died.”
I looked him in the eyes and could see he was dead serious. He turned to work on my bindings as Jamal jumped up and went to check on Holly.
"I used to stand over behind the trees when the pirates would come to her. I didn't watch it. I couldn't, but I listened. I figured if I heard her scream, I could put a stop to at least one of them," he whispered.
I looked at him as he cut. “They’d have killed you.”
“Probably, I was just trying to look out for her,” he paused. “It wasn’t like that. I’m old enough to be her father, your grandfather. I was just trying to help her survive.”
"Hey," called out Jamal. "This is not good." He was standing beside Holly as Tom finished cutting my bindings, and we crawled over to where Jamal was crouched.
Jamal held his fingers to her face and turned it slightly. Her head turned at an odd angle.
"Her neck is broken. The body is still warm. Did you see anything? I didn't," he stammered.
I looked at Tom, who dropped his head and his eyes. "Looks like I failed her," he whispered.
I took him by the shoulder. "We were right here, and we didn't see a thing. There's no way you could have known. We never heard a sound. You were busy with the food all afternoon. I don't know how or when it could have happened."
"Bozo," whispered Tom. "He did it, or he's responsible for it."
“Yeah,” whispered Jamal.
The shots were getting closer, and we couldn't see well enough to tell what was happening.
Tom grabbed each of us by the arm. “Come with me.”
He led us to the beach and then in the direction of our camp.
“Where are we going?” asked Jamal.
Tom just waved his arm forward and kept moving. A hundred yards down the beach, he turned inland. We went a few yards and stopped.
Out from behind a stand of palms stepped the rest of our group. They were armed to the teeth and looked fierce. I couldn’t help but smile.
Gina, who carried one of the 20 gauge shotguns, had her chin down but turned her eyes up to look at me. I was happier to see her than I realized.
Before I could say it, Jamal burst out, “What are y’all doing here? Can’t you hear the shooting?”
Angelic looked at him, her face fixed. “That’s exactly why we’re here.”
Jamal paused, looked down at the ground and then back up, and broke into a grin. “It’s good to see you, too!”
Angelic smiled back at him.
Mike jumped in, “When you guys didn't come back, we thought we'd better check on you. I worked point, and everyone else followed at a distance. I saw Tom, and he told me what happened."
Tom chimed up, "I went to the trees where we meet, hoping you'd told some of the others, and maybe they'd show up looking for you."
“When he told me, I went and got the others, and now here we are,” Mike added.
Gina spoke, she and Keno and Angelic were shoulder to shoulder, gun to gun, they looked impressive,
“What do we do now?”
“Retreat to our camp and let them kill each other,” offered Mike.
I was surprised when Tom interjected, “I’m going back, I need to check on the couple and bury Holly.”
I nodded at him. "I'll go with you and keep an eye on whose winning."
“Does it matter?” asked Keno.
We all looked at her.
Keno had a point. But it did matter. The pirates were pulling a skiff behind the ship. While we'd never pilot the ship, we could manage the skiff. If we could separate it from the ship and then destroy the ship, the pirates and Antoine would fight it out to the death. We could survive in the HOE camp, disappear into the island. If we let them kill each other, it might solve our problem and leave us a way off the island.
