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WHEN ALEX AND TANK got Cutter back to the hut, Tank immediately revealed the wound on Cutter’s left calf. While he assessed it, he kept his features neutral even though it was clear to all of us that Cutter’s leg was severely infected.
The cut was deep, and a yellowish fluid was seeping out of it. The skin around the gash was red and swollen, and there appeared to be red streaks spidering out from it, as if they wanted to claim his leg for their own.
Even I knew that what I saw wasn’t a good sign. In fact, it was a dire sign. From growing up on a farm, I knew enough to know that the wound I was looking at had likely affected his lymphatic system, which meant that the situation was indeed severe. Cutter needed whatever penicillin we had left, but from what I was seeing?
Even that wouldn’t be enough.
While Tank tended to him, I took Alexa aside.
“We have four shots of penicillin left,” I said. “But from what I’m seeing on Cutter’s leg, that’s not going to be nearly enough. What’s in this jungle that can help him now?”
“Agar is very good as a topical treatment,” she said. “And I’ve seen plenty of it right around our hut, so there’s that. Believe it or not, kelp also can help, and that’s everywhere on the shore. The trick is to get it when it’s as fresh as possible, just as the tide is going out, as it is now.”
“What else?”
“If we can find it, thyme can be used as a disinfectant. But St. John’s wort is perhaps the most powerful armor we can find. It’s strong in situations such as this, and I’m fairly certain that it grows here. That said, rose petals also are powerful against infection, if you can believe that. And so is echinacea, which is plentiful on this island. And then there is peppermint, which also should be applied topically. I’ve seen that here as well.”
“Then we need to go in search of all of those. Are you up for that?”
“I’d do anything for Cutter,” she said. “The sky is still bright. Let me grab a bag, and then let’s get to it.”
* * *
BY THE TIME WE WERE leaving, Tank already had given Cutter his first shot of penicillin.
“Where are you two going?” he asked.
“In search of plants that can help Cutter.”
“Don’t wander far, and don’t be gone long. The sun will set in the next five hours.”
“It won’t take us that long,” Alexa said. “Since we’ve been here, I’ve already seen most the plants that we need. We just need to find them—starting with what’s right in front of us.” She pointed over at the shore. “The kelp.”
* * *
IT TOOK US THREE HOURS to find what we needed for Cutter, who was in some sort of dream-state when we returned.
“It’s not good,” Blackwell said when we approached the hut. “His fever is high. Tank gave him Tylenol to keep it in check. But I think he needs more at this point.”
“Then give him more,” I said, showing her our bag filled with plants. “We’ll also try this. We’re not giving up.”
“What did you find?”
“Everything but the thyme. We found kelp, agar, St. John’s wort, echinacea, and rose petals.”
“Rose petals?”
“They have antibacterial properties,” Alexa said. “If we use a bit of water to mash all of it together into a thick spread, we can smear it into his wound, and hope that that buys us time. We got plenty of everything, but all of this needs to be reasonably fresh to work efficiently. What we gathered must be applied now, in the morning, and in the afternoon, at which point Jennifer and I will go for more. Along with the penicillin, we might be able to manage this.”
“What if we can’t?” Daniella said.
“That’s not a question,” I shot at her. “We’re going to save his life. Understand?”
Her eyes widened at the sharp tone in my voice. “I only want the best for Cutter,” she said. “You have to know that.”
“Then be with him,” I said. “Talk with him. If he sleeps, hold his hand and comfort him, just like you did for Alexa when those spiders bit her. Support him. That’s what he needs from all of us right now—our support and our love.”
“Cutter saved my life on that plane,” Daniella said. “I know what he did for me. I was behaving like an idiot. I regret all of it. And I want all of you to know that I apologize for how I acted. Obviously, I have some growing up to do.”
“To say the least,” I said to her. “Now prove to all of us that you’re up for that challenge by helping Cutter. Where is Tank?”
“He went into the jungle not long after you left. He said he’d be back by sundown.”
That surprised me. “Where did he go?”
“To look for the boat.”
“If a boat even exists, how would he know where to look for it?”
“Cutter told him the general location of their camp. It’s on the other side of the island.”
“On the other side of the island?”
“Apparently, the island is narrow. Cutter said that getting to the opposite side of it should take no more than two hours.”
“Tank went alone?”
“Alex went with him. Tank has his gun. He gave his knife to Alex.”
“Jesus Christ,” I said. I turned to Blackwell, who was standing at the hut’s entrance. “What were they thinking? Those people know that Cutter knows where their camp is located. They know that Cutter would share that information with us. Because of that, they’re now on hyper alert, armed and ready if any of us dare to come anywhere near them.”
“What’s done is done,” she said. “Daniella was their confidante. They left without saying anything to me.”
“And how does that sit with you?”
“Not well.”
“What are they going to do if they find this boat that may or may not exist? If it does, certainly they will be guarding it. Maybe some people even live on it in an effort to protect it.” I turned to Daniella. “Did Tank or Alex say anything about that?”
“They didn’t.”
“Then I don’t see the point of any of this. Are they planning on stealing the boat? They’ll be shot if they do.”
“I think they want to see for themselves what we’re dealing with,” Blackwell said.
“Cutter has already told us what we’re dealing with.”
“Hearing and seeing are two different things. I’m not excusing what they did, but I think they wanted to judge for themselves the enormity of what’s at hand.”
“They already know from Cutter, who told us that there are hundreds of them on this island. What more do they need to know? I’m sorry if I’m being a bitch about this, but that’s my husband out there—and he doesn’t have Tank’s training. So, yes, I’m concerned. And I’m pissed off. Hopefully, Tank will enlighten me on why he decided to do this when they return.”
“I believe he will. Tank is no fool. He did this for a reason, and he’ll share that reason with you.”
“It better be a good reason,” I said. “The other half of my life is out there with him now. And if anything happens to him, there will be hell to pay. I can promise all of you that.”
* * *
THREE HOURS LATER, the sun had set, it was twilight, and neither Tank nor Alex had returned.
At that point, Alexa and I had cleaned Cutter’s wound again, applied the herbal paste to it, and wrapped it in fresh, water-soaked kelp and palm leaves so the mixture could settle deeper into the cut. With his temperature rising, we administered more Tylenol, which thankfully we had plenty of. As for the penicillin, I wasn’t sure when to give him another shot, so I didn’t, but hoped that Tank would return with Alex soon so he could inform me when the time was right.
The problem was that they didn’t come. And my concern for their well being deepened as we all built a fire and sat around it while Cutter slept in the hut.
As I sat there with Blackwell, Alexa, Lisa, and Daniella, it occurred to me that none of us had eaten since morning. But it was too late to fish now, or to bother trying to smash open one of the coconuts. So we just sat there, hungry for something to eat and waiting for the men to arrive. And while we did, it was clear to us that we weren’t alone. Others were in the jungle—I could hear them moving. Twigs snapped. Leaves rustled. I could hear footsteps closing in.
They were watching our every move, and the very thought of it terrified me.
