Misplaced 7, part 1.

When anger spreads its wing

Ruth sat propped up against a rock beside the campfire. Patrick was sat beside her, still looking ragged and thin but more like the Patrick she used to know than the semi-monkey who had entered the camp. The other Patrick was nearby, building up the fire and putting some water on to boil for tea. They were to stay behind and wait while most of the others went to the crash site to try and extract the radio. They had left about a quarter of an hour ago, and Ruth was straining her ears in the dark trying to pick up any sound that they had been caught.

Suddenly she heard it, a scream. At the same time Ruth felt a sharp pain in her chest. Her injuries from the Creature had been aching all day, but this was somehow different.

“What was that?” Patrick asked nervously.

“I...I don’t know,” Patrick replied.

“It was Ruth,” Ruth said quietly. “I’m sure of it. Poor her.”

“Are you alright?” Patrick asked. She nodded. “But I don’t like to think what they’re doing to her. I wish there was someway I could help.” She put her head in her hands.

The two Patricks looked uncertainly at each other. Monkey Patrick sat down next to her and hesitantly put an arm around her shoulders. She leaned against him, and he could see her tears.

“I’m just a nuisance,” she said. “I got injured because I was stupid and didn’t get out of the way fast enough, and then because of my weakness the others decided to leave and we ended up in this mess to start with. And now Ruth’s in danger too, and it’s my fault.”

“It’s not your fault,” Patrick said. “It’ll be ok.”

Stirring the ‘tea’ leaves in the now boiling water by the fire, Patrick wondered what was happening to Ruth. When he had gone with Nick earlier he had seen enough to know that she was in very real danger, but there had seemed no alternative but to leave her. Now he wondered if there was something he could have done. He stared gloomily into the fire.

After that, the night was quiet. The two Patricks made sure that everything was ready for the move back to the other island, but that didn’t take long. Then the three of them sat close together by the fire, trying not to think about what would happen if anything went wrong but at the same time unable to avoid straining their ears to hear any further screams or the cry of the Creature. But there was nothing except the crackle of the fire and the occasional animal noise from the forest.

After a while the tension seemed almost worse than hearing the worst.

“They should have been back by now,” Patrick said eventually. Each of them was fearing the worst, that their friends had been captured.

“Maybe it’s just taking longer than they thought,” the other Patrick said, ever the optimist.

Ruth looked up at the sky. It would be getting light before long. What could they do if the others had been captured? Should they still make their way to the other island, and beg those there for help and protection? But what if they were refused? If they had captured the others, would they now know the secret of the other island, so would they be safe even there? What would they do to their prisoners? They had threatened to kill Ruth if anyone else trespassed. Had that been the cause of the scream they had heard earlier in the night? What if their enemies attacked them now, knowing that now they were weak and alone?

“What was that?” she said suddenly. They all listened. Someone- no, a group- was approaching. Monkey Patrick jumped up, looking round in alarm, then cowered behind Ruth. She reached behind her to take his hand, hoping to reassure him but to scared herself to give much confidence. Her glance met that of the other Patrick. He stood up and took a couple of hesitant steps forward.

“Who’s there/” he asked nervously.

“It’s us,” came Nick’s voice, much to their relief. The others appeared out of the blackness behind him.

“Have you got it?” Ruth asked anxiously.

“Yes.” She hardly dared ask the next question.

“Will it work?”

“I think so,” Nick said. “It’ll need a bit of work, but I think so.” They looked at each other in the growing light with more hope than they had known since the crash.

“It took us longer than we thought to get it out,” Nick said. “We should be getting over to the cave as soon as possible. We’re already loosing the night and they’ll be moving soon.”

But even as he finished speaking another sound cut through his words. Another scream.

Ruth saw Adam put his hand to his chest and sit down quickly. “What is it?” she asked.

“I don’t know. Just a pain- it was like that scream went right through me.” She said nothing but noted the similarity to what she had felt earlier. She was sure that was because the other Ruth was being hurt. Was the other Adam now in trouble?

“W...what was that?” Rachel asked nervously.

“We could hear movement in the woods on the way back,” Tom said. “Maybe the Creature’s on the move...” Mick was gibbering in a corner.

“We can’t go down there now,” the other Tom said. “Not if the Creature’s around.”

“We’ll give it half an hour to get clear,” Nick said. “Then we’ve got to go.”
 

“We’ve got to make a move,” Nick said a short while later.  “Someone should go through ahead and tell the others we’re coming through.”


“They’re not going to be happy,” Rachel said. “Think what their alternative selves have done to Ruth when they felt under threat.”

“I’ll go,” Adam said. Looking at him, Ruth wondered if he was doing it to make up for his other self being on the wrong side. He had been quieter than usual the last few days. Yet he would be a good choice- the others might listen to him.

“Ok then,” said Nick. “I’ll go down to the cave with you and have a scout round. Let’s go.” 
 
 
The story continues...

Misplaced 6, part 6.

It was fully dark now. Ruth lay on the sand, shivering a little, more from fear than from cold, although no one had given her any covering. The others, she hoped, would by now have got the equipment they needed and be on their way to the other island. They would be safe there, as long as she did not reveal the secret of the cave. She hadn't yet.


She remembered the other Ruth's dream, of being captured and forced to betray her friends. It was strange, this connection that meant each received dreams about the other's future or present. She wondered if she would dream any more about the other Ruth and her friends- it might tell her if they had managed to escape. She hoped that Ruth had no more dreams about her. They would not be pleasant. Now, despite great weariness, she couldn't sleep. She lay restlessly, wondering whether the others had made it. The forest was quiet now, even the noise of the Creature had died away. But that only made Ruth more nervous, wondering where it had gone.

She was roused by the sound of someone approaching. Looking up she saw the shape of someone coming towards her, the moonlight glinting off a sharp blade. She flinched backwards, but was helpless to move because of her bonds. Death in the dark? Well, perhaps it was for the best.

But as the figure grew closer she could see that it was moving stealthily, as if it didn't want to be seen. As soon as it was within speaking distance it said, in Adam's voice; "Don't make any noise. I'm not going to hurt you."

She huddled silently on the sand as he came nearer and cut the ropes binding her with a knife. "What they're doing- it isn't right. They were talking about killing you," he said. "I'm not going to be a party to murder."

She looked at him dubiously. He had been kind to her earlier, but she still wasn't sure. How could she know who to trust here when everyone looked like friends but weren't?

"Isn't someone on guard?" she asked.

"It's supposed to be me," he said.

"How do I know this isn't a trap?" she whispered. He shrugged.

"What have you got to loose?" he replied.

He was right. But what about the others? Were they safely through by now? What if they weren't? But...she was too scared to stay any longer. That was the truth. She couldn't stand it any more.

She stood up slowly. Then she turned and looked at him. "What about you? They'll know it was you who helped me escape, and they won't be happy."

"I know...could I come with you?" he said hesitantly. "Would the others let me join them?"

"I'm sure they would," she said. "Let's go."

It was hard to see where they were going in the dark, and they made rather more noise than Ruth would have liked. And once they were away from the camp another fear came upon her- she heard once more the cry of the Creature. Not very close, but close enough to remind her that the humans were not the only danger on the island.

She tripped and almost fell. As she struggled to regain her balance she heard a shout behind her.

"They've noticed we're gone!" Adam said.

"Keep going!" she said. They ploughed onward, but Ruth was now disorientated. At least last time she was chased it had been light. Now she didn't know where she was going- she was no longer running to anywhere, just away from their pursuers.

Although they had set off into the forest, she realised that they were coming down to the seashore again. She could hear shouts getting closer behind them. The shouting was spreading out, cutting off any chance of escape. She swerved away, not realising that they were being driven away from the forest and up to the part of the island where the land was bare of trees and the cliffs fell steeply down to the sea.

The sun rose above the horizon. Ruth, shielding her eyes against the brightness, looked up and saw a figure, standing directly in front of them, one arm raised towards Ruth and Adam. It was Kath, and in her raised hand was the gun. Ruth slowed and looked over her shoulder. The others were close behind them- there was no way out.

Ruth stopped. Adam was close behind her. "I'm sorry," he said quietly.

"Thanks for trying, anyway," she said, trying to stay calm and to catch her breath.

Then she looked at Kath.

"Do it, then," she said, and turned and ran.

She didn't get far before they caught her, but Kath didn't fire. She was dragged back to where Adam was surrounded by the others, Kath still threatening him with the gun.

"You tried to release her and run away?" she questioned him. "Why?"

"You were going to kill her," he said. "I'm not committing murder. She's not hurt you."

"She won't help us. If she doesn't tell us how she got here we'll never get off this island."

"You don't know that," Ruth said. "And you don't know whether I could get you off this island anyway."

"Shut up," Emma said. "Unless you're going to help us?" Ruth was silent. Kath kicked Adam and he bent double in pain. Emma gave him a push and he staggered backwards. The others laughed and joined in, pushing him one way and another, closing in and forcing him backwards.

"Leave him alone- let him go!" Ruth protested, struggling against Ernest, who was holding her still. But no one listened.

They continued to drive him backwards, closer to the edge of the cliff. Later, Ruth wondered if they had even realised what they were doing, realised the danger. Another shove, another faltering step backwards, a scream- and Adam fell.


The story continues...

Misplaced 6, part 5.

All that afternoon she struggled to keep herself from breaking down. It was hard, looking at these people around her who looked so like her friends, so like people she had been through so much with, who she cared about. But they were not her friends. And yet- perhaps she was being unjust, but she thought she could see traits in their behaviour which were reminiscent of her friends. That determination to find someone to blame when she was stressed- that was very like the Emma she knew. That air of calm superiority, even while wearing rags in a jungle, was very like Ernest. She could see- and how she wished that she couldn't!- how her friends could become like her captors, how fear and determination to survive at all costs could turn them into people who would contemplate murder to ensure that any threats to their survival were eliminated. They were a demonstration of what happened when conscience lost out to convenience. She shuddered, and hoped that hers didn't.


It was hot, and although she had been in the shade when first tied up the sun had moved and was now beating directly onto her. She tried to move, to follow the shade, but the rope wouldn't let her. She was thirsty too, very thirsty. The rope round her wrists was chafing now, and her wrists were red and swollen, her thoughts dark and full of fear. She couldn't help it, but lay with her face in the sand, crying.

She heard someone approaching, and tried to sit up but she moved too much and the rope pulled at her wrists painfully. She winced, and looked up, trying to brush the sand and hair off her wet face.

It was Adam- well, alternate Adam. He looked down at her, seemingly rather embarrassed.

"Can I do anything to help?" he said, quietly. "I can't free you, but if there's something I could do..."

"Please can I have some water?" she whispered.

"I'll get it," he said.

She slumped down again as he headed towards the stream. Perhaps it was a trick, perhaps it was designed to get her to give in- the 'good cop, bad cop' routine. But she didn't care, she was too thirsty.

Adam came back, and gave her some water in a coconut shell. She drained it. "Thank you," she said, and then tried to cover her face as the tears came again.

He crouched down next to her, awkward. When she looked at his face she saw that he looked embarrassed and sympathetic, but still afraid.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I went along with the others, but they shouldn't be treating you like this. But they've got the gun, I can't leave. Anyway, we've got to survive..."

"Survive?" she sobbed, turning towards him. "Even if it means killing others?"

"Kath would never actually do that..." his words trailed off as he looked at her.

"Are you sure?" she asked. He said nothing. That was answer enough.



Dusk. The forest was starting to come alive with the cries of animals and the squawks of night birds. Ruth shivered as she heard a call that sounded very similar to the monkeys back on the other island- and yet somehow different. From Mick's whimperings, she knew it was the Creature.

Would her friends hear it and not dare to leave their camp? Would it attack them on their way to the crash site? The sky was darkening quickly. Looking up through the trees she could see the first stars, and the moon. The trees around the crash site had been brought down by the plane, and it was a clear night, so the moonlight should let them see what they were doing. But would her captors see or hear them? Would all their plans come crashing down like those trees?

Her captors were sitting round their fire. She had watched them eating, and realised how hungry she was. After they had finished Ernest had brought her a few scraps, for which she had been grateful, but he had still said nothing to her. She wondered what he knew, what he was thinking, what they were talking about.

After what seemed an animated discussion, Emma stood up and came towards her. She untied Ruth and led her, like a dog, towards the others. Ruth's heart was beating hard as she looked up at Kath. By the flickering firelight, Kath's expression was hard yet triumphant, as if she had just won an argument. As ever the gun was beside her, which was perhaps enough explanation. Some of the others around the fire looked uncomfortable, but all seemed too scared to do anything about it.

"I don't suppose you feel inclined to talk to us yet?" Kath asked her.

"No," Ruth replied flatly, trying not to sound as frightened as she felt.

"Isn't there any way we could persuade you?" Ernest asked. She looked up at him.

"Tell me why you did it," she said. "Why you abandoned the others."

"Are they really our responsibility?" he asked mildly.

"They were your friends," Ruth said passionately.

"We've done nothing to be ashamed of," Kath interrupted. "The injured were too weak- it would have been a waste of energy to look after them when resources are limited. The others could have joined us if they wanted, but they wouldn't leave the injured. So it's their fault if they're in trouble now. If there's competition, the strongest side will win. That's nature."

"So you abandoned your friends to starve and maybe die, because you were afraid you'd have to work a bit harder?"

"Shut up," Kath said, and hit Ruth. Ruth looked at her, hopeless and sad, but determined.

"Do what you like," she said. "I doubt I can stop myself giving in under duress, but I won't talk willingly. At least I'll be doing something to help my friends, which is more than you could be bothered to do. I'd be ashamed to beg you for mercy, because you don't have any."

Kath had the gun in her hands again. For a minute Ruth thought she would fire, but instead Kath hit her with it. And again. And again. That was the beginning. All her fear and frustration she took out on the helpless girl in front of her.

Ruth looked at Ernest, her face, despite her words, begging him to intervene and stop Kath. But he did not. He did not join in, but neither did he say a word or lift a finger to stop what was happening.

Normally Ruth was a quiet person but she couldn't stand the cocktail of emotion any longer. She screamed, all the anger and hurt and frustration and pain and fear finding voice. She wondered, miserably, if her friends would hear her cry. Would they have the sense to ignore it, to realise that unless they completed their mission neither she nor anyone else would be safe? Would they even care? She remembered Patrick's hug. It comforted her even now. He cared. The other Ruth would care. Of course they did. But there was nothing they could do to help her now. She just hoped it was worth it.
 
 
The story continues...

Misplaced 6, part 4.

Patrick and Nick stared at Ruth, unable to believe what they had just heard.


"So that's why you went off?" Patrick said. "But why didn't you tell anyone you were going?"

"I didn't know if I would be brave enough to actually do it, and I didn't want to look a fool," Ruth said. "And- I thought someone would have wanted to come with me. I went alone because I knew it was risky and I didn't want any of you to be in danger. I mean, we couldn't afford to loose other people, but I don't matter very much."

"That's not true," Patrick said. "And now you may have saved us all- you can't say you don't matter."

"I'm not so sure," Ruth said. "Anyway, it doesn't matter now. I just hope the rest of you can get away safely."

"We can't just leave you to-"

"You've got to go," she said urgently. "Or you'll never get away. Do they know about us- about how we got here?" Nick shook his head. "Then don't tell them. I've heard them talking, and it scared me. They're only concerned about their own survival and they'll do anything to ensure that they have the best chance. They won't care about what they do to the rest of you."

"But what about you?" Nick asked.

"Kath said I should have thought of that before running off, and she was right. I'll try not to tell them about the cave or the radio, but I don't think I can keep it up for very long if...you know what I mean. You'll have to get the stuff and get back through quickly, or they'll attack you. If I were to run away with you they'd attack now, and we wouldn't stand a chance. You've got to go."

Nick looked at Patrick. "She's right. We've got to get that equipment first, and get the injured to safety. Once we've done that we can work out a rescue plan." Patrick looked back at Ruth, but before he could speak Ernest came hurrying over and they saw that Emma was returning with Kath and the others. For a moment Ruth caught Ernest's eye, and thought she saw sympathy in it, but it was only for a moment, and she wasn't sure. Had he overheard them? Well, it was a risk they'd have to take.

"Well?" Kath said, looking at Nick and Patrick. "I thought we made it clear that you guys were to stay out of our territory?"

"I told you," Ruth said. "They didn't know. It's not their fault."

"Collective responsibility," Emma said.

"Is that really fair?" Nick replied. "We didn't even know she was thinking about it, so how could we have stopped her?"

"But why did she come? And how come she- and both of you, for that matter- seem, well, different. When we left you Ruth was injured and barely conscious, and you, Mick, were a gibbering wreck! What's going on?"

"I don't know what you mean," Nick said. "When you left, we were still in shock from the crash and the attack, but now that's past, and we've recovered. So has Ruth. As for why she came, that's a question for her. I can't answer that."

"Nor will she," Emma said. Ruth glanced at Ernest out of the corner of her eye. He was watching her. He knew something, he must do from the way he looked. But he didn't say anything.

"We were all in shock, back then," she said, remembering from her dreams the sheet terror of the crash and the attack. "We were all scared of what was going to happen. But that doesn't mean we have to go on being hostile- can't you guys agree to co-operate with us?" She looked hopefully at Ernest. He had stopped Kath from summarily shooting her earlier, and now he seemed to be keeping their secret for them. She hoped that he might listen to her appeal- if anyone could stand up to Kath, it would be him.

Kath laughed scornfully. "Well, you two might as well get lost if you've got nothing else to say," she said to Nick and Patrick.

"Can't Ruth come with us?" Patrick asked.

"You said it wasn't your responsibility that she trespassed," Kath said. "So it's up to her to take the blame. There's something you're not telling us. So she stays here, and if any of you trespass again, we'll kill her. And I mean it." Looking at the expression on her face, they had no doubt about that.

"Goodbye, Ruth," Nick said. "Hope to see you again soon."

"Goodbye," she said, knowing that was unlikely. Patrick looked at her uncertainly.

"Go on," she said quietly, but he could see a tear in her eye. He gave her a quick hug.
 
"Goodbye," Patrick said, "And thank you. For everything."


"Goodbye," Ruth said, smiling. They turned to go, and didn't see the tears trickle down her face.

The tears weren't just from fear and sadness. Whilst she had meant everything she said in urging her friends to leave her behind; part of her, of course, had been secretly hoping that they wouldn't. She didn't blame them, of course- it was the sensible thing to do. This wasn't a time for heroics- more lives than hers were in danger. But it was just too much for her.


"So they've abandoned you," Kath said sarcastically. "Aww. And I'm sure you thought they'd rescue you. Well, life doesn't work like that I'm afraid. People are selfish. So I suggest you help us, because you're at our mercy."

Ruth looked up. "If I help you, then you'll kill my friends, all the people you once called friends. And I'd know I was responsible for that...I'd have become as bad as you."

"Better than being dead," Kath said, holding up the gun once more.

"Is it?" Ruth asked quietly. "I told my friends to leave me. I want them to escape. If it costs me my life, then I'm willing to pay that price."

"Really? Are you sure that's not just bravado?"

"I hope not," Ruth said quietly. "And I'm afraid that I will soon find out."

"You're right to be afraid," Kath said menacingly. She was standing close to Ruth, threateningly close, enough to make Ruth flinch backwards. Part of her was already wishing that she had chosen to escape with the others.

Kath laughed. "Scared already? Later on I'll make sure you're really afraid."

She needn't bother, Ruth thought. She was already terrified. She had done the right thing, she knew, in telling the others to go. But now she felt so alone.
 
 
The story continues...

Misplaced 6, part 3.

"What were you doing?" Kath asked again, but Ruth didn't answer. She stared at the gun, unable to think what to say.


"More to the point, what are we going to do about it?" Ernest said.

"You know what we said," Kath replied. "They were to keep out or risk being shot."

"But we wouldn't actually do that, would we?" Sophie asked uncertainly, looking from Kath to Ernest.

"If we don't protect our resources, we'll starve," Kath said. "Would you prefer that?" Sophie subsided unhappily.

"I still say there's something she's not telling us," Ernest said. "I don't think we should be so quick to dispose of her until we find out what."

"Well then," said Emma, "Let's contact the others, tell them we've got her and ask what's going on."

"Good plan," Kath said. "Now we've got her we can make them answer."

"The others don't know I came," Ruth said quickly. "They've got nothing to do with it." She didn't want them to talk to the others and to discover the truth. Now that she had heard them talking it didn't seem a good idea for them to find out that more people had arrived on the island- more people meant more competition. She could guess how Kath would react to that. Her glance fell upon the gun once more.

"Don't blame them for what I've done," she said. "That's my own responsibility. Leave them alone."

"You should have thought of that before you came," Kath said. "

"I didn't think you'd be so unjust as to punish them for something I'd done!" Ruth replied angrily.

"Shut up," Emma responded. "Unless you're going to be helpful."



Ernest and Emma were dispatched to the other camp to arrange a meeting. The others went about their business, but from a distance kept watch on Ruth, who was tied to a tree. Ruth watched them in turn, trying to work out what it would be best to do. She could see that half of those in this camp were held there by their fear; fear of starving to death or falling victim to the Creature, and fear of what Kath might do with the gun. She kept it with her all the time. So the others went along with her out of fear, and the sense of protection that being on the side with the gun gave. But they weren't entirely happy with Kath's belligerent attitude, Ruth could see. Perhaps if Kath tried to force them into actually carrying out her threats they would refuse, and the situation on the island could be defused. But with the gun as an ever-present threat, Ruth was too scared to want to risk that. If she was wrong, if they were intimidated into going along with Kath again, she would die.

She struggled not to cry. Just at the moment she had found the radio, just as all their problems had seemed close to being solved, this had to happen. Another day, a few more hours and this nightmare might have been over. Now everyone would have to endure for longer- possibly for the rest of their lives, however long that might be.

She heard a shout in the forest behind her, and a few moments later Emma and Ernest emerged into the clearing, with Nick and Patrick not far behind. Her Patrick, not the semi-monkey from this island. Ruth wondered how much Kath's gang had known of Patrick's and Mick's instability.

"Wait here," Emma said as the group came up to her. "I'll go and find Kath. Ernest, you stay with them." She disappeared towards the beach. Ruth looked at Ernest. She wasn't sure what he thought of what was going on.

"May I speak to my friends alone for a moment?" she asked. Ernest looked at her. "Can we trust you?" he asked.

"I promise not to try to escape," Ruth replied, meeting his eye.

"All right," he said. "But be quick. You've got till the others get back." He walked a bit further away, until he was out of earshot if they spoke quietly but not out of sight. Nick and Patrick came closer to Ruth.

"Well, so here you are," Nick said. "And I have to say it's no one's fault but your own, running off and leaving Ruth like that."

"I know," Ruth replied. "Don't make it any worse for me. I know I was silly, and I'll pay for it with my life. They'll kill me if I won't join them, I'd be dead already if it wasn't for Ernest. I know I deserve it, and I hope I can bear it. But there's worse than that, and I am afraid..."

"We can't just abandon you," Patrick said urgently, glancing at Nick.

"Come on," Nick said to her. "We'll make a run for it." Ruth looked at them, longing to say yes. But she shook her head.

"No. I promised I wouldn't."

"Why bother about that?" Nick asked, surprised. "You know what they've done, what they'll do to you if you stay. Do you think they expect you to keep your word? They don't even know you."

"They do know me," Ruth said. "The other me. And she would keep her word, like I must."

"We'll say we forced you," Patrick said. "Then you won't be to blame."

"Yes I would," she replied. "Don't think I'm not grateful," she added. "But I can't do it."

"You're scared of what they might do if they caught you trying to escape."

"It couldn't be any worse for me. But that's not what I'm afraid of- I'm afraid they will force me to tell them what I found."

"What do you mean?"

"I didn't just sneak into their territory for fun," she said. "I went to the crash site, looking to see if there was any useful equipment there or whether they'd already taken it. And I found it."

"You found radio stuff?" Nick's voice did a sudden drop in volume but rose in excitement. "You mean it definitely survived the crash?"

"Yes, it looked like it was in working order. I tried to take it with me, but I couldn't remove it, I didn't have any tools. You'll need to cut it free. So I started back to camp to tell the rest of you but I was seen and caught."

"Do they know?" Nick asked eagerly. Ruth shook her head.

"I don't think so. I don't think they even realised that's where I'd been, or they'd have asked me about it. It should be safe until you have a chance to get it. The plane's so burnt, it's easy to see why they struggled so much more than us. All the tools and things we had were destroyed. They seem to spend the evenings together round the fire, for fear of the monster. That's probably the best time to get it, especially if you approach from along the coast."
 
 
The story continues...

Misplaced 6, part 2

And then, just as she was about to leave, she saw it. It didn't look much, just scratched metal, but she was pretty sure it was some kind of communication system, and it seemed pretty much undamaged. She picked her way towards it. It would need tools to get it free, and she didn't have a clue how to work it, but Nick would. It meant rescue, safety, a return to normal life. She hurried to get out of the wreckage and return to tell the others.

She was halfway back to the hideout among the rocks when she heard a noise behind her and turned to see that she was being followed, silently, by Emma. For a moment she was going to shout out a welcome, then she realised. It wasn't Emma. It was the other Emma, the one of this world, the one who had abandoned her friends. She wouldn't be following just to say good morning. Ruth had crossed into their part of the island, and she had been seen she would be in trouble. She remembered what the others had said about the gun.

Could she outrun Emma? She doubted it. Nevertheless she began to run for safety- if there was any- as fast as possible. She didn't dare look back, but she didn't need to. She could hear Emma getting closer behind her. Still she ran on, breathing becoming difficult, disorientated and unsure where she was heading. The footsteps behind her seemed to slacken a little, and for a moment she wondered if against all hope she would escape.

Then Kath charged out of the trees to her left and knocked her down. Before she could get up Emma was beside her, twisting her arms behind her back. She struggled, kicking and trying to stand, but she heard a metallic click and looked up to see Kath aiming the gun straight at her.

She went limp as her limbs seemed to turn to water. Her mouth, opened to cry out, closed again without uttering a syllable. She did not protest as Emma tied her hands behind her back with a creeper and led her off to their camp, Kath still pointing the gun towards her all the while.

Their camp consisted of some inexpertly built shelters near the seashore, not far from the stream. Ernest, Adam, Amy and Sophie were standing around a campfire, but as they saw Emma and Kath approaching with their prisoner they came to meet them.

"Caught her red-handed, trespassing on our territory," Kath said.

"Well, you seem to have healed remarkably quickly," Ernest said, looking at Ruth. Then he looked closer. "Wait a minute, you're not Ruth! But-are you Ruth? You look like her, but..."

Ruth looked up, unsure what to say. She wasn't sure how to explain the truth in a way that these people, evidently hostile, would believe. And if they did, once they were aware of the truth, what might they do? They would probably feel threatened by the prospect of more people on 'their' island, using 'their' resources. They might decide to take action to reduce the percieved threat, they might even carry their hostility into invasion of the other island. She decided that for now the best course of action was to say as little as possible.

"Yes, I'm Ruth," she said.

"You can't have recovered that quickly," Amy said. "That's impossible!"

"Unless she was faking how bad it was, trying to get pity and avoid work," Kath said. Ruth fumed inside, remembering how weak the other Ruth was from her injuries.

"You saw what she was like when they found her," Ernest said.

"I saw what she looked like," Kath said. "I don't know how bad those injuries really were. Anyway, of course it's her. Who else could it be?"

The others looked uncomfortable for a moment. "You know Adam said he thought he saw David and Becky in the forest yesterday-" Hannah began, but Kath butted in.

"He must have been seeing things. We all know they're dead, we saw them killed. How could he have seen them?" No one replied, but Ruth didn't think they were all so sure as Kath was.

"Maybe there really are more people on the island," Amy said. "I was just saying to Adam that I'd seen Tom down near the stream and he said that was funny because he'd seen someone who looked like Tom from a distance at the other side of the island."

"Other people who look exactly like the others?" Kath said scathingly. "I think Adam's seeing things again. You want to watch out, this island's sending you crazy."

"Or lay off the mushrooms," Ernest said. The others, except Adam, laughed.

"Actually," Emma said, "I'm not so sure. There do seem to be more people around, although how I can't imagine."

"Another crash?" Ernest said. "But surely we'd have noticed."

"It must be a rescue party!" Sophie shouted excitedly.

"We'd have noticed," Kath said.

"Would we, though?" Amy said. "I mean, we've not always kept the best look out."

"She'll know," Kath said, kicking Ruth. Everyone turned to look at her, faces eager with the hope of rescue. What will they do if I tell them the truth, thought Ruth fearfully? They'll kill me!

"No rescue party has arrived from outside the island," she said. "I wish it had, but it hasn't."

"So why are there more people around than usual?" Emma asked.

"There's no one else on the island," she said. "Only us who were in the crash."

"You're being very careful with your words," Ernest said, looking at her closely. "I can't help think there's something you're not saying."

Ruth said nothing, thinking it was probably the wisest course. Ernest was too clever for her, he would see through anything she tried to say.

"What were you doing trespassing, anyway?" Kath asked.

"I've got as much right to go anywhere on this island as you have," Ruth said. "Why should I have to be answerable to you for everything I do?"

"I think this is answer enough," Kath replied, holding up the gun and aiming it towards her.
 
 
The story continues...