Background
If John Morgan were a tree, he'd be an oak; others find shelter from his strength. A character firmly rooted, drawing others to his circle of family and friends: under the shadow of the Eden Tree.
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On the Friday morning, Sean introduced Ignacio to "fishing how my daddy used to do it".
Pushing Ignacio behind a rock, Sean threw a stun grenade into the water near the coral. A torrent of seawater exploded around them, along with cascading pieces of rock and seaweed. Fish were cast into the air ten feet, some landing on the sandy beach, others splashing back into the sea. Sean and his small helper gathered the stunned fish from the surface of the water and those on the beach that remained intact. Their bucket full to the brim, they looked up when they saw Rachel running down the beach towards them to investigate the noise.
Ignacio jumped up and down, shouting, "KABOOM!"
"When I was three years old," Sean explained to Rachel, "my da', on leave from the parachute regiment, took me to a lake and demonstrated 'fishing the way ya da does it', by throwing a dynamite stick into the water."
Rachel laughed, her hands holding her sides. "But is that legal?" she asked.
"Err...I think the Filipino government banned the use of cyanide and dynamite by fishermen because dynamite damages the coral and seriously reduces fish stocks. But water, food, shelter, and wellbeing are more important to us than legislation," he replied meekly, although with a hint of mischief.
Leaving the bucket of flopping and splashing fish with Rachel, Sean went to help Iggy who was struggling up the beach with a five-foot-long black marlin that had been stranded on the beach in the explosion. It was still alive and was dangerously turning its lithesome silky body to bite young Ignacio as he pulled it by its tail towards the camp. Sean dispatched it quickly by driving his combat blade through its head.
Sean explained as best he could to his young comrade that the island region was a dangerous place. The sea harboured stinging jellyfish and sharp coral. In addition, there were venomous sea snakes.
That night Rachel learned how to gut fish, no longer squeamish. "You know how to give a girl a good time," she said, holding her nose.
an afternoon nap in the afternoon, Sean and Rachel went for a romantic stroll. Coming across a turtle's nest, Sean asked Rachel if she had thought about having children.
"Well I don't want 200 like that turtle," she joked.
Sean took her in his arms, kissing her tenderly on the lips, whispering, "Practice makes perfect." She slapped him playfully on the arm, running away and giggling. Sean chased and caught her. Breathless and hot, they arrived at the campfire at evening mealtime. Ignacio seemed quiet; it was the first time there had been any tension in the camp. He walked away morosely in the failing light, kicking at the sand furiously.
Rachel announced, "I'll go look for him."
Ten minutes later, Sean was worrying.
Suddenly a voice yelled, "Meester Sean! Meester Sean!"
The young Filipino was sprinting towards the camp followed closely by Rachel. Both were running as if their lives depended on it, churning up the sand in their wake. Taking in the situation, Sean retrieved his pistol from the campsite and ran hurriedly towards them.
A wild boar, fiercer and more bloodthirsty than a Rottweiler, was pursuing them, its muscular haunches working ferociously as it skidded left and right.
Bravely, Ignacio jumped up and down, waved his arms and continued to shout and throw rocks at the panting monster.
Sean shouted, "Rachel, lie down now!"
He crouched and took aim. "CRACK!" The first round sailed over Rachel's prostrate form grazing the pig's back and leaving a red streak. It squealed in pain but did not slow down. The large hairless mammal, its sharp teeth protruding from a slobbering jaw, was now just 15 feet from Rachel.
"STAY DOWN!" Sean shouted. "CRACK!" The second round flew through the air and hit the beast in the forehead. A small hole oozed blood, the exit wound as big as a man's hand.
The animal skidded to a halt, rolling over, splattering blood, bone and gristle all over Rachel. A dark pool appeared in the sand and an awful mixture of smells followed: cordite, blood, faeces, and animal stink.
Ignacio was still jumping up and down shouting at the pig. He mimed shooting a pistol and shouted "BLAM! BLAM!" Helping a shaky Rachel to her feet, he walked her back to Sean.
Ignacio's excited chatter ceased after a few minutes and he again became sullen and morose, standing with his arms crossed. Sean shrugged at Rachel, who took Iggy to one side. Finally, Iggy wandered off down the beach, his shoulders slumped.
"What was that all about?" Sean asked Rachel as she sat on his lap and they cuddled.
"He feels when we leave he has no one. For the first time in his little life, he has a family, and he'll lose it in a few days. I have an idea, Sean, but I don't know how you'll feel about it." She whispered something in Sean's ear.
"Mmm, OK, I can't stand women crying," Sean said, going to get the satellite phone.
"John? Yes, it's me, who do ya think it is, Einstein?" Sean spoke into the black handset, a cord stretching to a yellow box. "No, sorry, it's not an emergency. No, we're not having a row. Listen, John, you're the planner, the calm forward thinker. Listen to Rachel's plan and see what you can do."
Sean passed the handset to Rachel, who outlined her plan.
Before it became too dark, Sean invited Iggy to help cut up the wild boar. Carrying the heavy carcass to the snare area, he showed him how to skin and cut up a large animal, tying cross pieces of acacia to suspend the beast.
That night, the trio had starters of fish and a main meal of fried pork and vegetables. Pudding was bananas. Around the campfire, they had a singalong, Sean and Rachel singing The Righteous Brothers' Unchained Melody and Ignacio singing in Spanish Gloria Estefan's Rhythm is Gonna Get You, his hips moving in time to the music.
Later, Iggy asked Rachel to translate his story. There followed a harrowing tale of eight brothers and sisters, an alcoholic and violent father, a mother washing wealthy families' clothes for a few dollars, and the breakdown of the family unit when Iggy was taken to an orphanage as a toddler. Any foster parents only wanted Iggy to work for nothing, so he ran away five times and at the age of eight, he was thrust onto the streets where he survived by his wits for four years.
said, with Rachel translating, "My father was killed when I was five. I was a rebel until eventually I joined the paras. They became my family."
rose from sitting cross-legged in the sand and hugged him, although neither of them was used to shows of emotion.
On Saturday morning, after coconut and bananas for breakfast, Sean decided to check the snares. The island was becoming familiar territory to Sean and they had just one more day to explore.
Rachel turned to Sean. "By the way, how did you find this place...no, don't tell me, you bring all your girlfriends here."
"James used Google Earth," Sean said, "and you're the first, and the last."
Approaching the snares, Sean could tell that animals and reptiles had been through the cogon grass. He drew near to the area bloodied by the pig's entrails and noticed a fresh but faint trail in the grass.
"Stay here in the sand, Ignacio," Sean indicated with his eyes, "it may be a harmless snake like a green tree snake, a rat snake or a bull snake." He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the olive brown body with lateral stripes of a harmless garter snake. "OK, come on, Mowgli," Sean called.
Ignacio joined Sean and excitedly pointed to the snake. The amphibian had stretched its mouth around the rat caught in Sean's snare, partially swallowing it, but the wire noose held the rat aloft. Rats had been introduced to the islands, like many animals, by sailing ships from Europe. Sean clubbed the snake with regret, knowing that it would not release its hold and that it would die anyway trying to swallow the snare wire.
The hunters then ate, slept, fished, and explored for the rest of the day. They loudly munched on sugar apples with ravenous appetites and ate fish with pechay cabbage. That night they all finished the remainder of the turtle eggs. The desalinator had provided fresh drinking water for the island group for the days they had been there. They were starting to lose track of time and checked their watches for the time and date.
"Last night on Paradise," Sean said, easing into his sleeping bag.
Aww, I'm gonna miss our little island," Rachel spoke in the darkness.
following day was Sunday, the day they were going home. Informed of the day, Ignacio went onto the beach, knelt and prayed. Considering the hardships he had known it amazed Sean and Rachel that he maintained his religious beliefs.
Rachel translated the boy's rowdy petitions. He was praying for their safe and speedy return home, for a baby for Sean and Rachel and that he would find a mother and father. Maybe, they thought, the answer to Ignacio's prayers was closer than he realised.
*
The sun had been hidden by clouds during the morning, presaging a storm just a few hours away. Rachel heard what she thought was thunder but Sean pointed to the skies as a chopper approached with a "WHOOP! WHOOP!" of its blades. "It's our taxi," Sean said. "Good job it's the navy; I've no more traveller's cheques."
The trio hugged one another and watched as a blue Filipino navy rescue helicopter descended towards them.
The grass near the beach was flattened by the draft from the blades and a sandstorm whipped up and stung their eyes as they waved to the pilot. Diesel fumes filled the air. Rotors slowing, the pilot called from the cockpit and made hand signals.
Sean left the emergency kit on the beach. "You never know who may need it." Ducking their heads and shielding their eyes, they clambered aboard and headed for civilisation and a wedding.
The navy helicopter landed with a judder and bounced on an "H" circle at a navy base on the outskirts of Cebu. Sean asked the pilot to deliver the borrowed equipment to the commercial airport, and then shook the navy captain's hand. He carefully placed the handgun on the passenger seat, pointing to it with a nod and a thumbs up.
A battered yellow and white Audi taxi took them to the UNICEF building for Rachel to say her goodbyes. Sean asked the taxi to wait. Young Ignacio swung open the rear door and bounded away, his legs pumping incredibly fast. Sean and Rachel called him back but he paid no attention to them, turning left on a street corner and vanishing. A black and white police car idled outside as they entered the building.
"It's the police, Sean," Rachel pointed to the patrol car. "All his life he's learned to avoid them."
After Rachel said her farewells, they returned to the taxi, which took them to their B & B accommodation, passing markets, mobile food vehicles and hordes of wandering people. Sean told the taxi driver to wait again and climbed the stone steps to the B & B. The owner appeared at the top, grappling with a young Filipino at the front door. The owner was losing, nursing his shins from repeated kicks from the urchin.
"Leave him alone," Sean commanded with a smirk, "he's a friend."
Ignacio ran to Sean and Rachel, hugging them both. He stared daggers at the owner of the guesthouse and gave him a rude sign. The manager retrieved Sean's luggage from the cellar and struggled with it to the taxi. When they pulled away, Sean laughed as the man on the stone steps rubbed his leg.
Rachel showed Ignacio the blue and white airline tickets. Ignacio looked nervous, never having been beyond Cebu City's streets, apart from their stay on the island.
In the airport lounge, they ate flame-grilled burger and French fries. The flight number was announced and the three of them walked down the departure corridor. On the plane, Iggy stared out from his window seat, clearly nervous. The helicopter had been a thrill, but then he could see all around him: the plane was different.
As the powerful engines roared and the plane sped down the runway, Iggy gasped, "Mama mia!" going pale when the plane banked.
