“And in case you didn’t hear, Charley’s not our only new arrival. Heesham roped a cow yesterday.” Several boys whooped and shouted. Thad smiled, raised his hand, and kept talking. “Jason says she’s a Holstein—that’s a dairy cow, people—so fresh milk is on the menu. Feel free to ask Jason for a lesson in milking. Last but not least, tonight’s a Nil Night.”
More whoops and smiles from the crowd. I was grateful he’d introduced me first, then the cow and the Nil Night, whatever that was. I was no longer the center of attention. If that had been his plan, it was awesome.
“So let’s get busy, and get lucky.” Thad saluted. As the conversations resumed, a boy strode over to us. Tan and wiry, the boy had dark hair that fell to his shoulders like Thad’s.The standard male island haircut, I thought.
“Hola, Charley.” The boy’s voice was soft. “I’m Miguel.” The carver, I remembered.
Before I could say hello, he turned to Thad.
“I need you, amigo. There’s something you need to see.” The intensity in Miguel’s voice gave me chills.
Thad nodded at Miguel. “Okay.” Turning to me, Thad’s eyes were dark. “Charley, why don’t you grab a bite? I know you’re starving. I’ll be back in a minute.” Then he smiled. “Watch for zebras, okay?”
Look for them or watch out for them? Because somehow zebras seemed the least of my worries. Thad was already walking away, listening to Miguel, who spoke too fast for me to catch. My eighth-grade Spanish was weak to start with, and it hadn’t aged well.
And my island guide was gone.
Unsure what to do, I stood there in my ridiculously short skirt, feeling self-conscious and oddly alone.Here’s your tribe, I thought, looking around. But I felt like I was joining after the merge, late in the game.
Not a game,my mind corrected sharply. Nothing here felt like a game.
Natalie came over, along with the other girl I’d noticed wearing a halter like mine. Taller than Natalie and thinner, with deep ebony skin, the girl’s collarbones jutted against the halter. I wondered if my shoulders looked as bony as hers; I almost looked down but didn’t.
“Hi, Charley!” Natalie smiled up at me. “You probably don’t remember, but I’m Natalie. How’s your head?”
“Better. And I remember a little. Thanks for yesterday.”
Natalie waved it off. “Please. Like I really did anything. This is Sabine. Sabine, Charley.”
Sabine smiled. “Welcome, Charley. I’m rather new, like you. Fifty days and counting.” Her speech had a delightful lilt. She pointed to my shirt. “Nice wrap.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I’m just happy I didn’t put it on backward.”
“If you had, no one would have cared.” Still smiling, Sabine shrugged.
Following Sabine, more people introduced themselves. I found myself nodding and smiling and saying nice to meet you and privately wondering how the heck I would ever remember all their names and when I’d get to eat.
“I’m Jillian.” Dark-brown hair, freckles, two long braids tied with twine. “Day One Hundred Fifty-two.”
“Bart. Day Ninety.” Cocky smile, sunburned shoulders. Close talker.
“Samuel.” Strong grip. Quick nod. Massive shark tooth around his neck. “Too long.”
“Stop.” A girl stepped up—the only person I’d noticed who was even slightly heavy—and elbowed him lightly in the ribs before turning to me with a huge grin. “I’m Macy. Been here sixty-one days.”
“Julio.” Young, with a baby face. He mumbled three numbers in Spanish; I caught one. Literally,uno.
Odd, I thought. They wore their days like a badge of honor. Names and numbers began to blur.
“Raj.” At least I think that’s what the next boy said as he bobbed his head. Focusing on his introduction, I missed another girl’s altogether.
“Talla.” Straight blond hair, knockout body. I missed her day count because I was so distracted by her chest. No one should get boobs and muscles, but Talla had gobs of both. Her spear seemed out of place.
A tiny Asian girl with chin-length hair bowed. “Li,” she said softly. “Day Three Five Four.” Her accent was so thick it took me a minute to register the number.
Day Three Five Four.
She’d been here 354 days.
