Downfall/Evening Day 1C ISC FR 0-0-0-0
From Create Your Own Story
It is amazing how fast day changes into night. The dusk period lasts much shorter than at home. You use the remaining light to bolster the bare ground with foliage and dried grass Cate collected earlier. This bedding is much more comfortable than sitting on bare ground, especially with your clothes still drying on the line.
In the shine of the fire you can see Cate sitting with her arms around her knees, like a small child would do. Occasionally she waves her hand to drive away the gnats, as do you. You aren't in the mood to talk; you still worry about Will, Debbie and Kirsten, but Cate is right - it wouldn't do you any good stumbling around in the darkness taking the slight chance one of them would simultaneously arrive at the beach. Still - your thoughts revolve around them and how you are going to survive until help arrives.
Only now you notice how silent it can be when you are away from the city. You can hear the distant sound of waves crashing onto the beach and the constant crackle of the bonfire, but then there are long periods when no other noise can be heard. And just then you can hear rustling from the underbrush or an indistinguishable animal call that shatters your confidence as a human not trained for life in the wild.
Cate stands up and walks over to the fire to throw more wood on. Her figure against the bonfire looks like a solar eclipse; a tar black silhouette ablaze at the edges. She returns and sits down again. You keep brooding until you hear Cate say: "Jules?"
"Yes?"
"How long do you think we're going to be here?"
"A few days? Rescue must be on its way, and then they are going to search the area. It's only a matter of time until they find us."
"I don't know."
"Don't know what? Cate?"
"Didn't you notice? We are the only ones here. No other lifeboats or rafts have stranded here."
"Not that we know of", you reply.
"Please, don't be like that. There were over a thousand passengers on the ship, they had to have so many lifeboats we would have seen at least some. We may be outside the area they are going to search."
"Don't worry, they'll find us. And by the way, when did we switch roles? Wasn't it you who cheered me up just now?"
"I'm just trying to be realistic. The kids are all right, they are supplied. There is no immediate danger for them unless the weather gets weird. But we, we haven't eaten for more than a day. Aren't you craving for something to eat?"
"Of course I am hungry, but one day without food won't kill me. We will find something to eat in the jungle; in the jungle there is always something edible."
"Sure, but will you be able to eat it?"
"What do you mean, Cate?"
"This isn't the jungle book, Jules. There won't be a fruit around the corner, and fish won't be jumping out of the water into our mouths."
"There are animals, they have to live off something, and not only leaves."
"Let's be realistic here. Do you know what it will boil down to?"
"I am sure you're going to tell me, whether I want to or not."
Ouch. You can tell by the look on Cate's face that you've hurt her. It's always been like that between you; in her attempts to bring order to the universe, she cannot help but to lecture. You always have been the more playful between you. You encourage her to speak on, as the subject clearly is important for her.
Cate says: "Have you ever seen a 'survival show'?"
"Oh, you can't be serious, Cate!" you exclaim. "Survival shows?"
"You can learn a lot of useful things from them, Jules."
"No, you can't. They are a load of bullshit."
You argue for a while, but you cannot reach common ground, so you stop talking. You know it's best to leave her alone for now. She'll have calmed down in the morning, she always does. You get your own clothes and dress, except for the shoes and the bra. Silently you lie down and settle for the night. You expect to lie awake, unable to sleep, but the day was exhausting, and you doze off almost instantly.
| Status | ||
| State of Clothing | T-Shirt; Shorts; Panties |
Contacts |
| Inventory | Bra; Sneakers | |
| Surroundings | Bonfire; Roof | |
