Misplaced 7, part 7.

Epilogue.

Ruth had trouble distinctly remembering what had happened after that. They had buried Patrick near the others who had died in the crash and afterwards, and set up crosses to mark the place with their names roughly carved into the wood. Strange flowers, red and orange and purple, bloomed nearby and it reminded Ruth, for some reason, of the war graveyards in Belgium and Northern France.

She remembered standing there with the other Ruth and Patrick as the crosses were fixed in place. Patrick was rubbing his eyes again. She had an arm around Ruth to support her, for although she was much recovered she was still weak. The worst, though, was over. After much tinkering, Nick and David had got the radio working, and help was on its’ way in both worlds. In the meantime, a lookout was kept on both islands but most of both groups lived together in the well-built camp.

The remains of Kath’s gang had been somewhat apprehensive about what would happen to them now she had gone. They had been subdued, realising what they had done and what it had led too. Ruth wondered how they were going to explain what had happened once they got back to civilisation. They had not actually killed anyone, it was true, but there had certainly been attempted murder and they could be said to bear some responsibility for the deaths of others. But in the aftermath of the confrontation, with Patrick and Kath dead and others still recovering, there had been little taste for revenge. The prevailing sentiment had been sadness mixed with relief that help was finally on it’s way.

Both Ruths were sitting together in the camp one evening when the news came that a ship had finally been seen, heading towards them. Before they had time to digest this Tom had come hurrying through the cave with news that a ship had been sighted there too. Soon there was bustle and confusion as everyone prepared to go back to their own side of the cave. Goodbyes were said, knowing it was unlikely that they would ever meet again.

Ruth and Ruth said goodbye, but far more than could be contained in mere words passed between them. As Ruth disappeared into the cave Ruth realised that although she had longed for rescue more than anything else in the world, she would find it hard to leave the island. She looked at Patrick. Since the other Patrick had died he had been quiet and more elusive than ever, but this time no one had complained. At least he would still be able to leave. Ruth knew how much her other self would feel the loss of her friend who would not be going home.

She went up to Patrick now, as he watched the others disappearing into the cave, sadly fewer in number than those who remained behind. “Ok?” she asked him gently. He nodded.

“Fine,” he said. They wandered together up the hill until they could look out and see the ship heading towards them. Ruth sat down beside the signal fire that was blazing there, calling the ship towards them. Patrick hovered for a few minutes, building up the fire, then he sat down too.

“I wonder what other people will say when they hear our stories?” Ruth wondered aloud, staring into the heart of the fire.

“They’ll think we’re mad,” Patrick said. “Again.”

“Sometimes I wonder if they’re right,” Ruth said. “Sometimes I think that this is all a dream.”

“If it is, I wish I’d woken up earlier,” Patrick replied. “But I don’t think it is. Dreams don’t hurt like this has.” Ruth didn’t know how to reply to that. For a while they were both quiet, busy with their thoughts. Then Patrick broke the silence.

“Why did you go off like that, when you were captured?” he asked. “It wasn’t like you.”

“No, I’m not normally a risk taker,” Ruth replied thoughtfully. “But- I couldn’t bear seeing what had become of the others- Ruth so ill, Mick and poor Patrick so disturbed- that maybe that’s what did it. And hearing what had become of the others- I was afraid of what might happen even to my own friends if we were trapped there for too long. We were lucky compared to the others, but it wouldn’t have taken much for the same thing to happen to us- it was already starting.”

“How could they do those things?” Patrick said. “People we know- people I cared about.”

“We’re all capable of it,” Ruth said sadly. “We’re all human, all selfish, all put our own wants before other people’s needs sometimes. Some do it without remorse; some of us spend our lives living in fear of it.”

“I don’t think you need to worry,” he said, embarrassed.

“Nor you,” she replied, equally embarrassed by the compliment.

“I couldn’t have done what Patrick did,” he said. “I’ve thought about it- and I couldn’t. He was a better man than I am.”

“He was you,” Ruth replied. “If he could do that, so could you. It’s the same- just as our Kath or Emma could have done what their counterparts did, you could have done what Patrick did. We all have good in us, as well as the bad.”

“I was afraid, when I first saw him. Afraid because- well, I was already on the way to becoming what he had become, wasn’t I, when I kept going off alone? If that was me, I didn’t want to be like that. And then- what he did with the Creature- I don’t know.” There was silence, broken only by the crackle of flames, before he spoke again. “Ruth felt pain that night- when we heard a scream, and were sure it was you.”

“It was me.”

“What happened?”

“I don’t want to say,” she replied. He looked at her expression in the firelight, and took her hand.

“It’s been a rough time,” he said. She nodded. It was getting dark now, and they could not see the approaching ship, only cluster of points of light marking its’ presence.

“When he died, you felt pain, didn’t you?” Ruth asked. Patrick nodded. “I don’t know how the alternate universe thing works,” she continued, “but I think that was part of it, like my dreams.”

“I hope they’ll be all right,” he said, thinking of the others.

“I think we’ll know,” Ruth said slowly. “I think I shall dream it. And Ruth will dream about our fate. Somehow I’m sure of that, although I don’t understand how it works.”

“It doesn’t really makes sense,” Patrick said with a smile. “Almost like a Gilbert & Sullivan plot.” Ruth laughed, and began to sing:


“Try we lifelong we will never
Straighten out life’s tangled skein,
Why should we, with vain endeavour,
Guess, and guess, and guess again.”


After a moment Patrick joined in, and they continued to sing as they headed down the hill to join the others, as the lights of their rescuers drew nearer and the watchfire still flickered on the hilltop.
 
 
The End.

Misplaced 7, part 6.

  Ruth did not even have time to flinch as the gun went off.  There was a click- but nothing else happened.  She stared past the gun at Emma’s horror-stricken face, as she realised what she had done- and that nothing had happened.  Emma shook the gun uselessly, then pointed up at the sky and fired again.  Still nothing happened.

  “It doesn’t work!” she yelled at Kath.  “It’s useless!  You knew, didn’t you?  You tricked us!”  

  Around them the others, who had stood as if frozen when Emma pulled the trigger, sprang back to life again.  Emma in her fury had let go of the rope binding Ruth, who now pulled away and ran for it.  But her former captors were too busy to care.  The two Toms had recovered from their shock and grabbed Emma between them, trying to hold her still as she struggled against them.  The newcomers, seizing the advantage, hurried forward to help them.  Amy and Sophie, obviously now realising that the game was up for Kath, both put up their hands and shouted out that they surrendered, please don’t hurt them, they were only going along with her because they were scared.  Ernest just stood there, not resisting them, until the other Ernest came up to him, put a hand on his shoulder and spoke to him.  Then he turned to where Emma struggling with not only the Toms but with her other self, a much more fearsome opponent.  As Ruth watched he shrugged, walked over to Emma and said; “It’s over.  We might as well give up.”  She looked up at him and stopped struggling.

  That left only Kath, who was struggling with Nick and her other self.  But seeing that all her companions had given in she realised that she was alone.  With a fearsome kick she incapacitated Nick and gave the other Kath such a push that she stumbled backwards.  Tearing herself free, she began to run.  The others, Ruth among them, ran after her.  

  On down the hill and through the trees she ran, without a care for the animals and birds that ran or rose up into the air, screeching and terrified, as she passed.  On and on, with the others only a few steps behind her, until she emerged once more from the trees onto the clifftop.  Ruth recognised the place- it was where Adam had fallen.  Ruth was unsure if Kath knew where she was going as she ran on, or whether she was just running blindly, running away, not running to.

  “Kath!  Please stop!” Ruth shouted.  “Just let us-”

  But it was too late.  Whether she had heard or not, whether she knew where she was going or not, Kath ran headlong over the cliff.  They heard a cry, and then nothing more.  

  The pursuers ran to the edge of the cliff.  Feeling slightly unbalanced with her hands still tied, Ruth knelt down and looked over the edge.  When Adam had fallen, the tide below had been in or he would not have survived.  Now the tide was out.

  “Well, there’s nothing we can do about her now,” Nick said, turning away from the cliff edge.  Ruth tore her gaze away from the horrible mess on the rocks far below and stood up.  

  “Let’s get back to the others,” she said.

  Ruth was very weary when they came back to the others near the cave.  Not only because she had slept little the night before, but also a sudden weariness had come over her once Kath had fallen to her death.  There was little relief, despite the knowledge that the crisis was over.  And she was afraid that this was not the end of their sadness.

  When they got back she went immediately to where the badly injured Patrick was lying on a makeshift bed.  He was in so much pain and was so weak already that they were afraid to move him.  The other Patrick and Ruth sat beside him, and Ruth joined them.  One look at their faces told her enough.  

  The Ruth of this world was holding his hand.  She looked pale and unwell too, with a new scratch from the creature’s claws joining her older bandaged wounds.  But she was nothing compared to Patrick.  

  The other Patrick was nervous and edgy, seemingly unsure what to say or do, and so was silent.  But he was present.  Ruth looked at him, understanding something of how he must be feeling.   It had been bad enough when she first met the other Ruth, watching her suffering.  How much worse for him to watch himself dying!  

  The injured Patrick looked up at his Ruth and spoke, the most coherent speech Ruth had ever heard him make.  “I’m sorry,” he said.  “I shouldn’t have run off like that after the crash.  I didn’t even know you were injured, I was no help at all.”

  “It’s all right,” Ruth said, squeezing the hand she held a little.  “It’s not your fault.  You were upset, and no wonder after what happened.”  Ruth, watching, remembered her dream of the crash these two had suffered, remembered their attempt to save a friend only for her to die...no wonder Patrick had been upset.  

  “No, I am sorry,” Patrick said.  His voice was very faint.  

  “It doesn’t matter now,” Ruth said. “You saved my life by jumping on that thing.  Thank you.”  He tried to shake his head but couldn’t manage it.  She looked up quickly at Ruth and Patrick, who felt at that moment like the strangers from another world that they were.  Ruth realised that although having had similar lives formed a bond between them and their other selves, it  was not the same as having shared experiences with one another.  She watched as the Ruth of this world bent over the Patrick of this world, and whispered something that she could not hear.  He smiled.

  “I know,” he said very faintly, looking directly up at her.  The other Ruth felt a lump in her throat as she watched them, still feeling like an intruder.  The other Patrick was rubbing his eyes, a gesture she knew well.  

  That was all that was said.  The four of them stayed like that, unmoving, unspeaking, while Patrick’s breathing grew more laboured.

  Suddenly the other Patrick winced and bent over.  “Ahh,” he said.  

  “What is it?” Ruth asked.

  “Just a pain,” he said, embarrassed.  “Nothing really.”  Ruth felt, rather than saw or heard, that something had changed.  She bent down to where Patrick lay, unmoving.  His breathing was now silent.  She lifted his wrist and felt for a pulse, looking up into her other self’s sadness-filled eyes.  She knew.

  “He’s gone,” she said quietly.  “It’s over.”

The story continues...

Misplaced 7, part 5.

A hush descended on the island. Although the greatest threat there had been destroyed, somehow it didn’t seem right to celebrate. Nick jumped down from the rock and approached the remains of the Creature carefully. It was certainly dead, skull crushed in by the falling rock. Tom picked up the radio from where Kath had thrown it.

Ruth watched from the cave. But the relief she felt soon drained away as she heard a voice- her voice- calling for help. Turning to look, she saw the other Ruth had struggled to her feet and was now crouched beside Patrick, who was bending over the body of Monkey Patrick. He was not moving.

Forgetting the rope that held her she tried to run to them, but was brought up short.

“Let me go,” she cried. “Let me go to them.”

“You are still our prisoner, our hostage,” Kath growled. “You’re going nowhere.”

“Please,” she begged. “He might be dying.”

“And what could you do to help?” came the scornful reply. Ruth subsided, knowing that she could do no more than any of the others. But she looked up.

“I could be there,” she said. “To show that I care. Unlike some people.”

Kath kicked her. “Come on, let’s see what’s happening,” she said.



By now all the others were crowded around Ruth and the two Patricks. Patrick from this island was lying on the ground while the others tried to bandage his injuries. Ruth sat beside him, her hand on his. He seemed to be finding it hard to breathe. The other Patrick was crouched beside them, looking helpless and uncertain what to do.

“Good riddance to that thing,” said a voice behind her, and she turned to see Kath and her gang standing there. Ruth was straining at the rope, trying to get closer, but Emma held her tight.

“But at a cost.” Nick said, turning to face them. “Will you let us through the cave now, so we can get help for these two? Patrick’s seriously injured and what medical supplies we have are on the other side.”

“You tried to trick us,” Kath said.

“The radio doesn’t work now, it’s true,” Nick said. “But with the right tools and knowledge- which are available through there- I think it can be made to work. So if you let us through, we can fix it and bring it back so you can get help. Or you could just kill us, but I don’t see how that’s going to help you.”

“Well, here’s a plan,” Ernest said. “You go through-” he pointed at Nick, “and sort the radio out while the rest stay here. You bring the radio back mended and then you’re all free to go. Does that sound fair?”

Nick looked around at the others and shrugged. It seemed likely that it would be the best offer they would get.

“All right,” he said. “But what if it’s too badly damaged and I can’t mend it?”

“You had better mend it,” Kath said. “If you don’t, the people you’ve left behind here will suffer.”

“They are already,” Rachel said, interrupting the conversationn. “Patrick needs help now, Nick, it can’t wait till you’ve mended the radio.”

“I’ll try to send some help through,” Nick said.

“Are there others on that island?” Ernest asked.

“There are,” Nick said reluctantly. “But they won’t help you if you hurt us.”

“If they care about you that much, why aren’t they here?” Kath demanded. “Why have they abandoned you to us?” Nick could not answer. It seemed all too close to the truth.

“Well then, you’d better get a move on,” Kath said, stepping to one side and lowering the gun. “Before time runs out for your little friends here.” Nick began to head towards the cave. Ruth, who by now had given up trying to break free, turned to watch. Someone was emerging from the cave. Several people, in fact; all those who had gone back and refused to help. David and Becky, Amy and Sophie, Kath, Ernest and Emma. And they were led by Adam.

Ruth gasped. She still thought that the Adam from this island had died in falling off the cliff, and in all the confusion of the Creature’s attack had not noticed that the one Adam remaining with the group was the one she had thought was dead, rather than his other self. Now she looked from one to the other with relief and renewed hope.

All at once the tables had been turned. Kath’s crew were now heavily outnumbered and almost surrounded. They were also stunned at the sight of identical copies of themselves. But they still had one thing in their favour. The gun.

Emma grabbed Ruth by the shoulder and wrenched her round so she was between them and the newcomers. Kath’s group had shrunk back on each other, forming a tight little cluster behind Kath and Emma, who was obviously determined to use Ruth as a human shield against the advancing newcomers.

“Stop,” Emma said, “Or we’ll kill her.” Kath held up the gun.

“We’ll use it if we have to,” she said.

“But you don’t have to,” the other Ernest said, coming forward. “Adam’s told us about the radio. Once it’s fixed we can all get help and leave here, there’s no need to fight about it.”

“How can we trust you to let us use it?” Kath said. “How do we know you won’t just keep it for yourselves and then sail off and leave us here?”

“We wouldn’t do that,” Ernest said. “I promise we wouldn’t abandon you. Surely you can trust us- you know us better than anyone else, we’re the same, more or less.”

“Yes, and because we’re so nearly the same I know just how much to trust a promise like that,” Kath replied. “I wouldn’t trust myself.” The newly-arrived Kath looked angry at the implied insult.

“This is none of your business,” Kath said, looking round at the newcomers. “Get back to your own island, and take the rest of these scum with you if you choose. But you don’t come here looking for food and that radio stays here.”

“But if you let us mend it-” Nick began.

“Shut up and go,” Kath said. She gave the gun to Emma and took the radio from him. “Remember, we’ve got a hostage for your good behaviour.” She indicated Ruth.

“Go on,” Ruth said, trying to stay calm. “There isn’t time to argue- Patrick needs help.”

Suddenly something pushed against her and she struggled to stay upright. While all attention was on the newcomers, the two Toms had tried to creep up on their opponents and grab the gun. But their attempt failed. Emma’s grip was too strong and she fired, at point blank range, straight at Ruth.
 
 
The story continues...

Misplaced 7, part 4.

The Creature emerged from the trees, and raised it’s head to sniff the air. Everyone outside the cave, friend and foe alike, stood absolutely still and silent, watching it. For those from the other island it was their first sight of the monster, while the others had only half-seen it in the dark and the terror. It was a far more hideous thing by daylight, and no one dared take their eyes off it.


Then Mick whimpered and cowered down behind Nick. The monster’s eyes seemed to gleam. It had caught their scent. Slowly at first, but accelerating quickly to a phenomenal speed it headed up the slope, directly towards them.

“Run!” Kath yelled, but there was no time for anyone to get clear before it was there, amongst them, and chaos reigned. Pat, reverting in terror to his time alone in the forest, jumped up on top of the rocks and hid, beyond anyone’s notice. Others threw stones in an attempt to drive the Creature away, but it was too big to be scared by such puny challengers.

Kath’s group had turned and run, until they were in the cave itself, where they hid. Emma still had hold of the rope and had dragged Ruth with them; she stood in silence, watching her friends being attacked, listening to their cries for help. It was no use begging her captors to help. They would not risk their precious skins on behalf of the others. Yet although Ruth did not see it, being too concerned with her own misery, some of her captors were experiencing misgivings about leaving the others to their fate. But the instincts of fear and self-preservation were too strong. All they did was to watch.



Ruth was still sat helpless on the ground when the Creature arrived. She tried to struggle to her feet but in the confusion and panic she couldn’t move far. She looked round, uncertain what to do. She heard a cry and saw Adam, close by, being knocked to the ground by the creature. It raised it’s head and for a moment that seemed to last for hours it met her eyes. It seemed to recognise her as unfinished business. She was too frightened to run- it seemed that if she stopped looking at it the Creature would pounce. Slowly she saw it raise its head still further and give out a tremendous roar.

Suddenly free of the mesmerising glare, she turned and tried to run in terror. But she had only gone a few steps when she felt the warmth of it’s breath on the back of her neck. It was then that she tripped and fell. A claw reached out towards her, pinning her to the ground. She could not get up. She twisted her head, and saw another claw reaching out towards her.



All this Ruth saw from the cave. She wanted to turn away, but could not. She saw Ruth fall and flinched as the claw reached out towards her. Then she gasped in shock. A figure jumped from the top of a rock and landed on the Creature’s back. Immediately it raised its head and its claws and roared, bucking and jumping and turning in circles trying to throw the weight off it’s back. But the figure clung on determinedly.

“It’s Patrick,” Ruth whispered. She could not tell which one at this distance. “Oh no- it’ll kill him!”

The Creature did indeed seem to be doing its’ best to kill Patrick. Fortunately he was out of reach of the thing’s short fore claws, but it was doing its best to unseat him. It ran too and fro across the open space.

“Please, can’t you shoot it?” Ruth begged Kath. “It’ll kill them all.”

“It’s too far, and I’m not going any closer,” Kath said. “If I didn’t kill it the first time it would just make it madder.”

“Please, let me try,” Ruth begged again. “If I fail, then what is it to you?”

“Give you the gun? Do you think I’m stupid?” Kath asked contemptuously.

“Let me have a go,” Ernest said suddenly. The others all turned to look at him.

“No,” said Kath and Emma simultaneously. “I’m not having you get killed,” Emma said, taking hold of his hand. Ruth, whose hopes had been raised for a moment, looked down again. She could see Kath’s excuses for what they were. Kath was afraid. Well, so was Ruth, but she would have taken a risk to try to kill the Creature. She realised that for all Kath’s posturing, in all the time she was on the island the gun had never been fired. It seemed odd. But there were far more pressing things to worry about, and at that moment a scream called her attention back to the Creature.

Patrick was only just managing to hang on now. The Creature’s gesticulations had meant that he had swung round to a position where the Creature’s claws could now reach him. A trail of red dots was left as the Creature ran here and there among the rocks.

But although there was still panic out there, Ruth thought she could see some order too. Charlotte, Emily and the other Patrick had long sticks and seemed to be herding the Creature towards some high rocks. Looking up, she saw Nick and the Toms standing on the high rocks, next to another smaller rock which Mick was half hiding behind. The Creature was very near them now.

“Patrick! Let go!” Nick called. Patrick let go the Creature’s neck. It lifted it’s head and roared, free at last from its’ unwanted burden, and turned to swipe with all its’ claws at Patrick who was lying where he had fallen in a crumpled heap. The other Patrick yelled and poked it with his stick. Distracted and confused by the similarity, it turned on him and he ran towards the rocks where the others were stood. The Creature followed, and as it passed the rocks Nick and the Toms rolled their rock over the edge and it fell onto the Creature. It roared once more as it realised the trap. Then it was silent, and did not move again.
 
 
The story continues...

Misplaced 7, part 3

They set off, but it was a slow procession. Nick was carrying the precious radio. Ruth had to be carried most of the way, and Adam was still half concussed and unsteady. He was quiet, ashamed of what he had done and been implicated in. The others were fairly silent too, still feeling uncomfortable about leaving Ruth behind.


“Once we’re through, we can organise a rescue party,” Nick said, but he knew, as the others did, that it might already be too late.

“So you fell off the cliff, and you woke up lying on the beach?” Rachel asked Adam, who nodded.

“I must have been knocked unconscious when I hit the water, or a rock or something, and been washed up on the beach. I was lucky, really. I knew roughly where your camp was so I thought I’d better come and warn you about what the others were doing- and to apologise. I was stupid to follow Kath, but I never thought she’d go as far as she has done. And by the time I realised, it was too late, I couldn’t leave or she’d have- well, you can see for yourselves. And I think some of the others are the same.

“Couldn’t you have tried to stop Kath?” Tom asked. Adam shook his head, then said;

“Well...perhaps. She had the gun all the time, and I’m pretty sure she’d have used it if she thought it was necessary. Maybe there was something we could have done. But I was too scared. I’m sorry.”

“We’ve all been scared,” Tom said. “It’s not going to do any good blaming people now. We’ve just got to get out of here.”

“That could be a problem,” Patrick said. He and his other self were at the front of the group. “Look.”

They stopped and looked. Peering anxiously down towards the edge of the forest, she could see movement. Her heart sank. It was them- she could see them all, including Ruth, still with wrists tied- and Kath with the gun.

“Come on,” Nick said urgently. “We’ve got to get to the cave first.”

They hurried on down the hill. But Ruth, half walking, half carried, could see that they weren’t going to make it.

“I’m slowing you down,” she said. “Put me down and keep going. I’ll follow you when I can.”

“Don’t be silly,” Tom said. “We can’t just leave you.”

“The others would find you,” Rachel said.

“Better than them catching all of us,” Ruth said, but she had to shut her mouth quickly to stop an ‘ow’ escaping as she stumbled and was jolted. She gritted her teeth and kept going, as fast as she could. But she knew it was no use.



Below them their enemies were hurrying uphill towards the cave, led by Amy and Sophie. They didn’t have to carry anyone or anything, although Ruth, being led like a dog on a lead by the rope attached to her wrists, hung back as much as she could to try to slow them down. At least, she did until Emma began whipping her with the end of the rope to keep her moving.

They reached an open space just in front of the cave mouth and stopped. Nick and the others were not far away, and arrived only a minute or two later, hot and out of breath, and in Ruth’s case exhausted. She sank to the ground as soon as they stopped, everything else fading to a dangerous background as she tried to breathe deeply and control the pain.

Ruth looked at her, knowing that she had failed. Her friends could not now escape, and even if they had their secret was betrayed, and their enemies would find the other island. And there was the radio- no longer secret, but obvious for all to see. Her plan, and all chance of escape, had completely disappeared.

“So then,” Kath said, stepping forward. “It looks like we have a certain stalemate.” Then she stared. “But...what?” She pointed at Tom, and then at Tom; at Rachel, and then at Rachel; at the two Patricks and at Nick and Mick; at Ruth, sunk on the ground, and then looked back to Ruth who stood behind her, wrists tied, staring at the ground.

“Let us through,” Nick said. “Can’t you see these two-” he indicated Ruth and Adam, who had sat down beside her- “are ill?”

“Oh yes,” said Kath. “And why are you so keen to get into that cave?” At that moment, Sophie and Amy, who had been exploring the cave, came running back to Kath.

“It...it goes through to somewhere else!” Sophie shouted.

“Somewhere else?” Emma said. “Where?”

“Another island,” Ruth said, still staring at the ground, and all Kath’s side turned to look at her. “Another island, just like this one, only- a bit different. That’s the island I crashed on, with my friends. We are stranded too, just as much as you are, so you can’t escape that way. We found that out when we came through here, hoping the same thing.”

“No escape that way, perhaps,” Ernest said. “But that’s what you’re carrying?” He pointed to the radio Nick was clinging to like a lifeline. Nick’s expression changed to one of panic, as he tried to think what to say.

“Just some stuff we found,” he said, trying to sound casual. But it was no good. Ernest knows, Ruth thought. He just doesn’t want to sound like he does.

“It looks like radio equipment to me,” Ernest said mildly.

“A radio?” Kath said. Nick stood his ground, but he looked worried.

“Well then, I think we’ve got a plan,” Kath said. “You give us the radio, and we’ll let you through.”

Nick’s group looked at each other. The radio was their one hope of escape. But right now, with Kath and the gun in front of them, it didn’t seem unreasonable to trade it for the comparative safety of escape to the other island. But what would the others say- or do- once they found out that the radio did not work? None of them had the skills to repair it, or the tools.

“We’ll give it to you if you let Ruth go,” Nick said. Ruth looked up, half hopeful, half wanting to object.

“All right,” Kath said.

Nick put the radio down. Ernest began to untie Ruth, but Emma stopped him. “Check it first,” she said. Kath picked the radio up.

“It’s broken,” she said. “It doesn’t work.” She threw it to one side. “You tried to trick us,” she said, raising the gun. The others took a step back. Ruth tried to pull free but Emma had a firm grip on the rope and jerked her back.

“You’re going nowhere,” she said, but then stopped and turned as the howl of the Creature cut through her words. It sounded frighteningly close.
 
 
The story continues...

Misplaced 7, part 2.

"What have you done?" Ruth screamed. She wrenched herself out of Ernest's grip, taking him off guard as the shock struck home. She crouched down at the edge of the cliff, staring down at the sea for any sign of Adam, but she was dragged back before she could see him.


"Murderers," she sobbed. "You didn't have to do that."

"We've got to survive," Sophie said uncertainly.

"Do you have to kill people to do that?" Ruth shouted. "He wouldn't have hurt you, nor would anyone else on this island. Why do you have to do things like this?"

Kath swung round and kicked out at her. For a moment Ruth was afraid she would be made to follow Adam, but Ernest pulled her away and turned to leave.

"Come on," he said. "Let's get back."

"What about her?" Amy said, pointing at Ruth, who was still staring at the place where Adam had fallen.

"Bring her with us," Kath said. "If nothing else, she's a hostage."

The group were silent as they walked back to the camp, as if even they were worried by what had just happened. Ruth was quiet. She was shocked at the callous treatment Adam had received. She felt a deep sense of guilt that this had happened because he had tried to help her. And after the hope she had felt at the prospect of escape, it was doubly hard to think of what might happen to her now.

“Stop dripping like a waterfall,” Kath commanded Ruth. “I knew you were a drip but I didn’t think you were that wet.”

“She’s always wet,” Ernest said.

“Stop crying? Don’t you care about what just happened? If Adam hadn’t been trying to help me he’d still be here, and you say I’m wet because I’m upset he’s not? Well, at least I’m still human!”

“Oh shut up,” Emma said.

“We’re still no closer to finding out what they’re up to,” Kath said. “You two-” indicating Amy and Sophie- “go and scout round near their camp and see what they’re up to.” Ruth desperately hoped that the others had gone, that at least some people would be safe.

But it seemed no time at all before Sophie came running back.

“Nick’s wandering round in the forest,” she said excitedly. “And- he’s got Adam with him!”

“Adam?” Emma exclaimed. “Are you sure?”

“I’m certain!” she said. For a moment Ruth’s heart rose, then she realised the most likely explanation. Of course, it was the other Adam.

Amy wasn’t far behind. “Nick’s gone back towards the camp,” she said. “But Adam went into a sort of cave in the rocks.” Ruth bowed her head in despair. The secret was out.

“A cave?” Ernest said. “I heard them say something about a cave, when they were here for the parley yesterday.”

“Then why didn’t you say?” Emma demanded.

“It didn’t seem important. Sorry.”

Ruth sagged. Ernest looked at her, half apologetic, she thought. But really it didn’t matter now, except to save his own skin. The damage had already been done.

“Come on!” Kath said. “We’ve got to go to that cave. It might be our way out of here! And bring her- she could be a useful hostage.”



Ruth had managed to stand up and take a few steps with the help of Rachel and Patrick, but she knew she would not be able to walk far. She felt guilty that she would slow the others up and burden them even more. She sat down on a rock, trying not to use up all her strength. She stared down the hill.

“There’s someone coming,” she said. Everyone turned to look, some expecting Nick, some fearful that the others were attacking. But instead there was a single figure, stumbling up the slope, evidently not sure where it was going and looking extremely worse for wear.

“It’s Adam,” Rachel said, immediately going towards him. The other Rachel followed her.

“But...it can’t be,” Tom said. “He should be through to the other island by now.”

“He is,” Nick said, appearing from a different direction. I saw him go through.”

“Come here,” Rachel shouted, urgency in her voice. Nick and Tom and the rest hurried over to her. Both Rachels were supporting Adam, who looked barely able to walk.

“It’s the other Adam,” Rachel explained. “The one from here, who joined the others.”

“Then what’s he doing here?” Tom asked, looking suspicious. Adam managed to raise his head.

“They threw me off a cliff,” he said.

The others looked at each other in horror. Despite all their fears, they had still believed, deep down, that their former friends would not hurt them. Surely they wouldn’t. But now they had proof. Adam’s condition- soaking, dazed and dejected- spoke for the truth of what he had said. Briefly he told them the story.

“I don’t know what they’ll do to Ruth now,” he said. “If she still won’t talk- well, they tried to kill me...”

“We’ve got to do something to help her,” Rachel said. The others looked at each other, and then at Ruth.

“There’s nothing we can do,” she said sadly. “Is there? I mean, they’ve got the gun and everything. What could we do against that?”

“She’s right,” Nick said.

“There must be something?” the other Rachel said. “Can’t we try and talk to them again?” Nick looked at Patrick, who had been quiet up till now.

“You were there before,” he said. “Do you think talking would make any difference?” Patrick fidgeted uncomfortably for a moment before replying. “No,” he said. “It wouldn’t make any difference. And I think- I think Ruth wouldn’t want us to try.”

“You think she wanted us to just leave her?” Rachel exclaimed.

“It was her plan that we get the radio and take it to the other island,” Nick said. “She knew she was in danger, but she wanted us to be safe.”

“You’re right,” Ruth said quietly. “We’ve got go, and go now, otherwise it’s all been for nothing; if we can’t get the radio to safety we’ll never escape this place. It’s what she wants. I’m sure of it.” It was a struggle to say it: she felt that she was betraying Ruth, and yet- not to say it would be a betrayal too. Because she knew that Ruth would not want the others to put themselves in danger trying to rescue her. Or at least, she wouldn’t want to want it.

“Then let’s go,” said Nick.
 
 
The story continues...