Chapter 2
It was still rather early in the morning, and while he’d have liked to sleep longer the young brown haired man wasn’t exactly given the chance. Someone, a rather noisy someone at that, had knocked once on the door to his room before coming in.
“How can you still be in bed?” The annoying person asked, and the young man sent his sister a glare. As he wasn’t fully awake yet it didn’t have much backing it.
“Maybe because normal people aren’t up at the crack of dawn, Reina...” He grumbled, wanting to pull his cover over his head, but got up anyway.
Yawning the young man looked for his cell phone. Having only arrived the day before the place was still a bit unfamiliar, and it took a moment for him to remember where he had put it the night before. Once he had the phone Rahul rubbed his eyes a little and then checked the time. He’d set his alarm for seven when he’d gone to sleep the night before. Surprisingly it wasn’t as early as he’d thought it may have been. His alarm would have gone off in another nine minutes.
Looking over at his sister he made a shooing motion with his free hand , “Go away so I can get up.”
“You better not just lay back down Rahul. If you take too long I’ll be back with a bucket of water.” She warned him as she left.
Rolling his eyes a little he murmured, “I’m getting up…” Once the door was closed behind her, Rahul set his phone back down and got out of bed. The hard wood floors where a little cool under his feet, but not enough to really be a bother. Going to the suitcase he’d placed in front of his bed last night, Rahul started to rummage around for some clean clothes and his toiletries. Once he had what he needed to get ready for the day he left the small room and walked across the hall to the bathroom on the second floor.
The house was a lot smaller then what he was used too, the room he was using was about half the size of his back home, but Rahul was fine with that. He’d been more worried about Reina having a problem. Sometimes she could come off as if she thought things weren’t good enough for her. Not too often, but it did happen now and then.
Entering the bathroom Rahul looked at the square mirror hanging over the sink for a moment. Thanks to the little bit of curliness to it, his hair was right mess. The brown locks sticking out every which way. It was like this every morning. Setting the pile of things he was holding down on the counter in the room, Rahul shifted stuff around looking for his brush. He ran it though his hair a couple times before it looked a little better. He’d need to wash it before it would really look decent.
Looking away from his hair, Rahul looked towards the tub and was glad to see a shower head on the wall. He’d not been sure there would be one. Or even if the place would have running water. The house was rather old. Like all the buildings in the tiny village. Though considering the house had electricity, maybe shouldn’t have been wondering if it had running water as well.
As he got into the tub to wash off Rahul wondered if most of the village had power and running water, or if only a few places did. None of the other houses he’d seen had looked any newer then this place. He made a mental note to ask where the power and water came from.
Once he’d finished washing and dry himself off, Rahul dressed a pair of tan pants with a dark and light green scale like pattern down the sides and a dark green tee shirt with stylized lime green flames along the right side. Before leaving the room he combed out his damp hair brown hair once more. He thought he looked good enough that his sister wouldn’t nitpick his choice of clothing. Having a sister that designed clothes for a living could be annoying at times, but at least he knew know how to ‘dress well’.
’Not that I care if I’m wear the latest fashion.’ Rahul thought as he headed down the stairs to the ground floor. His sister might, but he wasn’t the type to care. As long as his clothing didn’t clash and was comfortable he’d were whatever.
Hearing sounds coming from the kitchen he crossed the open main room and entered the little kitchen. His father over by the stove cooking up something that made his stomach demand it got to try some and his sister was sitting at the table watching him work. Going over to join his sister at the table he sat down. “What are you making?” He asked a bit curious.
“Omelets,” Isha informed him as he glanced over his shoulder at him for moment before returning his attention to their food. “Yash brought over some fruits, vegetables, eggs and a little cheese over a little while ago. He said village has a large community garden we can use while where here, but that there’s no store on the island. So if we need anything else we will need to take a boat to the main land. He offered to take us out on his this afternoon as he’d been need to do some shopping in a city anyway. Want to come?”
“Uhmm…” Not sure Rahul shrugged his shoulders. He wouldn’t have minded going with his father normally, but kind of wanted to look around the island instead of leaving it again so soon. He know they’d be back and he’d be able to explore a little then, but still wasn’t sure what he wanted to do.
“I’d like to go.” Reina spoke up from next to him.
Their dad nodded as he flipped the omelet he was making to a plate. “It’ll be a couple hours before we leave,” Isha told them both as he turned and held the food out to Reina, “So you’ll have some time to decide if you want to come.” He added looking over at his son.
“Alright.” Rahul told him.
“What do you want in yours?” Isha asked, gesturing to the veggies the counter. Rahul didn’t know what everything was, but there was enough he did recognize to be able to pick out what wanted. Mostly cheese and spinach.
Leaning forward Rahul folded his arms on the table and lay his head on then. “Do you know how the village gets its power?” Rahul asked after a minute or so as he waited for the omelet.
“I’m not sure.” His father answered thoughtfully. “Maybe from the wind or sun, though as we’d not seen any turbines off shore I’d guess they’ve got solar panels.”
Rahul thought his father was likely right, but planed and asking the village leader about it sometime to satisfy his curiosity. Next to him Reina slowed in eating her breakfast.
“I hadn’t realized there was a chance there’d have been no power.” She muttered.
“You’d have survived.” Rahul said rolling his eyes. “You enjoy camping out in a tent and hiking with me.”
“Yeah, but I know to expect it then… and that’s normally just for a few days.” Reina told his shaking her head. “We’re going to be here a while. Right?” The last was directed at their father as nether was sure just how long he was planning on staying. The original plan had been for there father to come out alone to let the islanders know he’d finalized the inheritance process with the lawyers. Rahul had managed to talk him into letting him come with as he wanted to see the island, and Reina thought it would make a great getaway so had wanted to come too.
Finishing up Rahul’s omelet Isha nodded slowly. “Yeah, well stay we’ll stay at least a week or so.” He gave his son his food and started on one more for himself.
“So yeah, I’m glad we weren’t in for a surprise.” Reina told him.
Knowing there were no really point in arguing about it, anyway she was sort of right that it was nice there was power; Rahul nodded and started eating his breakfast. Still he didn’t think it would have been as big a deal as his sister seemed to think. There was a time everyone had lived without electricity or running water. They’d have been fine.
It wasn’t long before their father finished making his omelet and joined them at the table. They ate in silence for a bit till Reina looked at her cup of water. “We should get some juices while where shopping.”
“Get me some apple grape juice if you can find it.” Rahul told her.
“You’re not coming for sure then?” His father asked as both he and Reina looked over at him.
“Yeah, I want to look around too much.” Rahul admitted.
“Just don’t go getting yourself lost. I don’t want to have to go looking for you.” His sister teased.
“Are you ever going to let me forget that?” Rahul asked looking over at his sister, who just smiled at him. She seemed to love bringing up the time he’d wondered off on his own at the zoo and gotten lost when he was 8. Grumbling to himself about annoying sisters he went back to eating his food, and tried to ignore her smug look.
“She’s right though; do make sure you’re careful. I’m sure the jungle isn’t like the woods you’re used to wondering around it.” His father got up to take care of his dishes.
“I know…” Rahul said a little irritably as he got up too. He knew he’d need to be careful… it wasn’t like he was just planning on running around like a kid in a candy shop. Placing his place in the sink his father had started to fill with a little water he left the room and headed out the back door.
He half expected his sister to come after and try to cheer him aback up. She normally did when she irritated him with her banter, but this time he was left on his own. Which he was happy for. Most of the time he didn’t mind it, but like now there were times he wanted to be away from his twin.
Walking down the paved stone path around the house he made his way to the rest of the village. His grandfathers… well now his father’s house was part of the small village, but was also a little away from it. It was closer to the jungle the rest of the buildings and had a bit of a pathway leading up to it. Looking at the village he wondered if that was even the correct name for the place. In total there were maybe 15 buildings, including the house they were using, spread out of make up the place. Still he like the way village sound a bit better then a hamlet, so figured he think of the place as a village regardless.
As he walked down the paved street he looked at the buildings. The design for all of them were mostly the same. All seemed to be built up off the ground on a double or single layered platform of cement and mortared stone. The houses themselves were all made a dark reddish wood. Most were single story and rectangle in shape with a tall slanted rusty red shingled roofs. The house they were staying was the only two story building, though a couple others where L shaped instead of rectangle in shape. Most also had large covered porches that looked a lot like rooms without walls.
As he looked around he noticed something he’d over looked the day before. On a lot of the roofs he could see solar panels. That answered one question, but brought up another. How had the tiny village been able to afford them? He knew from his desire to make their home more environmentally friendly that they weren’t cheep.
“Good morning.” Someone called out to him in Hindi, before repeating it again in thickly accented English. Looking away from the panels Rahul turned around a little to see the village leader Dipak coming towards him.
He wasn’t fluent in Hindi like his father was, but did speak it well enough. Much better than his sister anyway. She’d tried to learn it with him when he’d picked it as his language course he’d need to take in collage, but her interest wasn’t all that into it.
“Good morning.” Rahul called back in Hindi.
Looking at him the old man smiled, “I hadn’t realized you knew Hindi as well. Did you father teach you?”
“A little, but I took learned most of what I know in collage a couple years ago.”
Dipak nodded. “Ah, it’s good to be educated. Though it’s important not to lose track of what’s truly worth knowing. So, how are you enjoying the island? Any problems with the house?
Not sure just what the old man meant Rahul just nodded before answering his question about the house. “Everything’s been fine with the house so far. We need to get some food but every things working.” Rahul told him. Pausing he looked up at the solar panels again. “I was wondering about where the water and power comes from though. Seeing the solar panels sort of answers my curiosity about the power, but I do wonder how the village got them in the first place.”
“Your grandfather Mahesha bought them all just before he’d passed away.” Dipak said looking up at the one Rahul was looking at. “He’d been working on updating the village a bit. He’d also helped those that wanted to remodel their homes a little.” Guessing he meant giving the home bathrooms and such Rahul nodded. Considering how old the houses looked to be he’d not be surprised if they’d not originally have any indoor plumbing. “And as for the water, there are a number of fresh springs on the island. A couple have been routed to a holding tank under the village. From there it’s cleaned and piped to the houses.”
Looking at the ground under his feet Rahul imagined the tank down there. After a moment he looked back up at the old man. “It seems my grandfather turn the island into a perfect little paradise.”
Laughing a little Dipak nodded. “He wanted to keep the island a natural as he could, but also make life for those that live here easier.”
Looking towards the forest he could see past the houses Rahul was felt glad the island was still in as much an untouched state as it was. The little village seemed to fit the island, but he felt it would be wrong to build much more here. “The place seems perfect as it is.” Rahul said as he looked back at Dipak.
“I’m glad you think so. We quiet like it.” The old man said with a smile. “Are you out for a walk? I could show you my favorite path if you’d like? It’ll take you thought the jungle a little and then down towards the dock. Are you going with when Yash takes your father to the main land?”
“No, but my sisters going with.” He said answering his last question first. “And I guess I was out for a walk, had to get away from my sister for a little while.”
“Ah.” Dipak said nodding. “We’ll if you’d like to follow the path it starts over there.” He said pointing down a side path leading off road they were walking down.
“Alright, thanks.” Rahul said looking where he was pointing. Parting from the old man he started walking that way but stopped to look back as Dipak called out some last words.
“The jungle might see inviting, but it can be dangerous. Keep to the trail.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Rahul called back. The old man watched him for a moment then headed to his own house. Turning back Rahul kept walking down paved path between some of the houses. Soon though it turned into dirt trail that disappeared under leafy canopy of the trees. Feeling content to just follow the trail Rahul kept to the path. It round about between some of the larger trees, but never went to deep in to the jungle.
As he walked Rahul took in the sight and sounds of nature. He could see a lot of plants he couldn’t even hope to identify and could hear a great many animals. A lot more then he’d have expect so close to the village, even if it was tiny. The place just seemed rich with life.
Maybe half an hour later the trail come out of the trees and he found himself looking down at the beach he’d been told it lead too. Of to the left he could see the small dock with a few ships. The largest was about half the size of their sailing yacht. He wasn't surprised though, his grandmothers old yacht was more like a small sailing ship really. It had a four man crew and a row boat.
He could see his father and sister on the dock. It looked like they were getting ready to head out. He sat on sand near the path and watched for a little bit as they boarded one of the ships, a long thin sail boat, and then headed out to sea. Rahul watched the ship for a bit before his eyes looked past them to the mainland. It was just barely visible on the horizon for where he was. He wondered how long the trip from there to the island was.
After a while Rahul looked away from the sea and got back to his feet. As peaceful as it was to sit here, he still wanted to explore a bit. So he started walking down the beach.
~~~
A few hours later found Rahul a good distance for the village and thinking maybe he shouldn’t have walked along the beach for this long. For one he’d forgotten to bring himself something for lunch, and two it wasn’t a good idea to wonder to far without someone knowing where to look for you. Shaking his head he started to retrace his footsteps. For the most part the walk back was just as uneventful as it had been coming all this way. But after about thirty minutes movement in the jungle drew his attention to the thick trees though and he paused.
This wasn’t the first time Rahul had heard something moving in the tree’s, he’d even heard things near the village, but this sounded a lot nosier than anything he’d heard before. And from where he was the trees grew close out along the beach, leaving only in thin strip of sand. The tree’s where also thick, making it had to see anything hidden in the foliage.
He heard a sudden squeal and the next thing Rahul knew a wild pig came darting out of the trees, followed moments later by something that made him freeze in stunned shock. Rahul didn’t know if he believed what he was seeing. Some kind of completely green half man, half serpent creature. It had the upper body of a man, though one with pale green skin and emerald green hair, and the lower body of a long serpent. It came flying out of the trees and tackled the pig to the sand. After a few moments the snakeman started to constrict the squealing animal in its emerald green coils.
Rahul wanted to run, fee from the monster before it noticed him, but the still working part of his mind warned him doing that would draw its attention. Heart pounding he tried to think what to do. Maybe if he was slow and quiet it wouldn’t realize he was behind it. His mind begging for the green snakeman not to notice him Rahul slowly took a few steps back, his eyes locked on the creature the whole time. Hearing the crunch of a shell under his shoe Rahul’s heart jumped into his throat. The snakeman twisted it body around and Rahul found his light brown eyes locked with the creature’s bright amethyst colored ones.
Rahul stood frozen, not sure what to do as the two watched either other. If he’d not been so scared himself, he might have seen the shock in the purple intelligent eyes. For a few minutes neither moved, both just watching the other, then the green snakeman uncoiled from around the unmoving pig. As if was a signal, Rahul turned and ran.
He didn’t get far though before pale green hands grabbed him from behind. One grabbing his left arm and the other his shirt. Before he could break free he was pulled back against a bare pale green chest and it arms wrapped around him.
“Help!” Rahul screamed, struggling to get free. His panic grew as he felt the creatures long tail coil around his legs. In his mind he could see the pig still, wrapped tight in the green coils. He felt a sharp stinging where his shoulder and neck meet and after found his mind getting fog. He wanted to keep struggling but his limbs felt heavy and unresponsive. Before long he slumped, unconscious, in the green snakeman’s arms.
