Gabe wavered. “Yes…”
“Come on, then. If you calm down, you can even drive the boat.”
“Fuck you.”
Damian just laughed.
They climbed down and set off, that lush breeze warm, the sea’s scent almost something they could have bitten. Fresh. Salty. Gabe sat, holding Armando, the kitten at his feet in the carrier. His heart tight, but Damian seemed unfazed, steering that boat rushing towards that surprise. Gabe fumed silently. Asshole.
Gabe got up after hours, his eyes wide on an island approaching fast. Palm trees swaying in the wind on that white sand.The jungle…his heart almost fell out of his chest as he sprang to his feet.No, no, no…In utter shock and disbelief, but he held Armando tight as he got up and walked next to Damian. Putting a hand on his heaving shoulder. Their eyes met, that sad amusement in Damian’s eyes.
“This…?”
“Yes.”
Gabe’s lips wobbled, his tears rushing out of his eyes.
Damian grinned. “Hey… don’t cry… I need to make sure we get to shore.”
Steering the boat close, he circled the island until he found that small bay. Securing the boat, they put everything in a small dingy, circling back to that beach. Pulling it far on the sand.
Damian wiped his forehead, the tears out of his eyes. Kicking his shoes off, his toes sinking into that scorching sand. His eyes roamed the beach, that narrow path which the jungle had almost claimed back.
Gabe stood close and took his hand, watching Armando run around, holding his pig. He looked at Damian, both having the same thought, but they kept quiet. Damian went to the boat and took a large machete out of an orange bag, and another one, holding it to Gabe.
“This time, we’re equipped. These, other stuff for survival, and a satellite phone when we want to fuck off.” He grinned above his tears. “Like the surprise?”
Gabe pulled him in his arms, still in a state of mild shock. “You… you could have told me.”
“What for?”
“But… how? And where… are we? You know where we are?”
Damian stroked his face. “Home.”
Gabe searched his eyes. “I know that…” An icy rush down his back at the look in Damian’s eyes. “You… you didn’t…” The magnitude of it too much for his brain, he had to grab Damian’s shirt not to collapse.
“But I did. I’m sorry…” Grinning wide, holding him tight.
“Jesus… how… how much?”
“A lot. But we still have some left. Enough to finish our lives and leave some to the kid.” His eyes drifted to Armando, who had pulled his shoes off and was running around in the sand. “Come. Let’s see what’s left of our house.”
Damian took his hand and grabbed the machete, whistling at the boy. Gabe had taken the kitten in the carrier, and they set off, hacking at the branches and vines, their hearts beating in that soft breeze making the jungle sing. Damian’s heart tight when their hut emerged, the vines and trees claiming back their place, but it was not too overgrown. The pig pen empty, littered with dead leaves. Damian’s heart sank, but he kept on a brave face. Armando was running around, discovering all those places he’d only heard of in Damian’s tales.
He rushed to his father, his face alight. “Where’s Walter?”
A kick to Damian’s chest. “I don’t know.” His eyes met Gabe’s, and he took his hand.
Gabe’s soft voice. “He went back to his wild life.”
Damian breathed. “Yeah… I guess…”Or he’s dead…Swallowing his tears.
They cleared the camp, hauling their luggage up from the beach. Damian had stripped down to his boxers, stripping Armando too, lathering him with sun cream. They had let the kitten loose, and she just curled up on a stump, hurt, her yellow eyes like pools of contempt. Cleaning the hut too, making a bed for Armando. Their eyes meeting over their bed, filled with lust. Their blood rushing.Home. Home. Gabe was drunk on Damian’s eyes. How he’d changed in a few hours, soaking in the sun, breathing that air in which they had loved.
Going to bed later when they had eaten some rehydrated food. Damian had brought a water filter, and some dried food, and cooking equipment, but he’d assured Armando that next day they would hunt.
Sleeping under the stars, Armando huddled between them because that dark night was still scaring him.
