Boom!
BOOM!!
KABOOM!
Three more massive explosions took place about forty five seconds after the second one. Their sensitivity sensors proved to be sensitive all right.
And yet while Dylan was responsible for setting off the first one with a harmless throw of an object from forty to fifty feet, and Silly Willy and Tibs could be easily blamed for the second one, the only thing left to assign the responsibility for the other blasts were the shock waves or something similar that could trigger the other three mines.
By now, half of the island was in flames. The pirates maintained their stations awaiting word otherwise. That is, the pirates who were still alive.
The last trio of explosions was strong enough to level some of the pirate village. Houses collapsed on people. And no one was there for any rescues. The pirates who were still alive were well armed and ready for whatever enemy was out there to blow them away.
Still, the enemy never showed themselves.
While the pirates were in red alert mode, the captives were unsure of their next move. With all of the explosions and the fierceness of them, all turned afraid to make any bolder moves of escape.
The fifth blast rocked the captive’s sleeping quarters so intensely that debris started caving in from the roof. The only thing saving those vacationers at the moment was those sturdy heavy wooden slabs they called beds.
The fear was present, passionate and all accounted for.
Each minute was like an hour to every single one of them.
Burning tree branches and jungle debris landed in the prisoner compound. The fire could be seen from the area. And yet no one could move to help their situation.
The fire expanded throughout the island as time wore on. The morning blasts and smoke could be heard and seen from other islands in the distance, but were there anyone there to witness them?
And as time moved forward, more explosions ruled the island. The sixth blast was a series of explosions as the fires had reached the pirate marina where their modern day speedboats were docked. They were not mines, but the gas tanks associated with those boats.
As those explosions took place, another large part of the pirate village came crumbling down. Pirates who were manning a battle station at the docks were killed instantly by the series of explosions. Those speed boats went up in flames as did the docks.
The pirates who were still alive then made a run from their village to their large row boats not far from the prisoner compound. Their concerted effort to get off the island was going well for the moment until another large explosion took place from yet another mine, with pieces of that mine showering the compound, the shore and the inlet area. It was the sixth mine to erupt unannounced.
To the dismay of the eight or so pirates in one of the boats, a large chunk of white hot mine landed in the middle of the boat taking out all eight of them instantly. The two men and six women had just reached the boat and were getting situated when the blast took place and the uninvited chunk decimated the vessel.
That left one boat that was filled with what looked like sixteen pirates made up of four men, six women and six children. It didn’t appear that Rusty, Jewel or Briggs were with them. Most were in some phase of urgent hysterics, especially the women and children. The men were rowing for dear life.
Their direction was the only floating ships left, the pirate ship and the rented yacht.
The challenge was in front of them. Each knew the consequences that could take place as flaming debris was also raining down throughout the lagoon and around each of the boats.
The whole scene was pandemonium.
And it appeared as though the vacationers were to be trapped on the burning island.
The sleeping quarters did collapse with the sixth mine detonating. From anywhere within a couple of miles of the island, anyone could have sworn that the island had a volcano erupting.
But there was no one within that distance that witnessed it. Or was there?
Most of the group of first time adventurists was buried alive by the collapse. The moans and groans of people suffering and in pain were heard throughout. But none of those could be reached. The few who did escape the rubble tried in vain to free some of the others, but they couldn’t and tried to free themselves from the island.
Rushing out of the collapsed mess of wood and stone were Alan, Hunter and Elaine. They ran out of the one time structure saying prayers.
They each got as far as the water line when another mine blew loud and clear.
Alan stopped and turned toward the rubble.
“I can’t leave them…” he said.
“I know how you feel, Alan, but we were in there. We all know that nothing else could have been done…” Hunter said putting an arm around Alan’s shoulder.
“But I can’t leave them…” Alan mumbled again. “I know you’re right, but I can’t leave them.”
“Dude, that’s suicide. Come on, let’s get swimming…” replied Hunter.
“As much as I don’t want to die, I still can’t leave them…” Alan went on. “You guys go. Swim fast. I want to make one more check. Heck if I can get even one person out, that’s one more than right now…”
“You sure? You want me to stay with you?” Hunter asked.
“No, take Elaine and go. You have each other. Swim. I already lost Scotty. I have no one now. Go quickly. I need to get back in there…”
Hunter hugged Alan. Elaine did as well.
Alan made the first move and ran back to the piles of wood and stones. Hunter and Elaine looked at each other in pause and then agreed to go. They turned and ran into the water coming up in full swim stride. They had the same challenges ahead as the one row boat that was now about halfway to the pirate ship with the addition of one other…they were swimming.
Alan got to the debris quickly and started tossing wood and stone away from the collapsed structure. He made some pretty decent headway to the voices that were still alive but trapped.
The fires were edging closer and could easily be seen from the prisoner camp. The smoke was thick and black and could be seen for miles.
Suddenly, there was another tremendous explosion from the pirate village. Most of the village was now going up in flames and the smells of burning wood, metal, and life were permeating the camp.
Alan turned nauseas and tried to keep his stomach. But the smells became stronger and stronger. He held steadfast, bending to move the structure materials. He got to a wooden slab and freed two of the girls, Gianna and Eryan. Both were hurt, but both were able to assist Alan in moving some wood and rock to try to get to other wooden slabs. Although all of the slabs were buried by now, there were some air pockets that were keeping some of the captives alive.
“Help! Someone help!” was heard above the moans…
“Anyone out there? Help me please!” was another.
Alan answered them.
“Hang on, I’m trying to get to you…” he shouted in support back. “Hang on…”
Gianna and Eryan were not succeeding as well as first hoped. Although both were trying, both were hurt and weak. Alan understood their issue.
“Ladies, go swim to the boat. Can you both do that?”
“I don’t think so…we’re both hurt on our sides” Gianna said. “We will still try and help though…”
Alan smiled and thanked them for their effort and support.
All three turned their attention to moving boulders again when another explosion took place. Again, debris came showering upon them in the camp.
This time they were not so lucky.
A large chunk of metal rained down right on top of them, crushing any further efforts…