Koopah

I laughed and said, “I’m in a story. It’s the only explanation.”



It was a couple days after I taught her about anal. I was now on the shore, looking out at something on the horizon. It started out as a little dot, but over the next hour or so, it grew and grew, until I saw that it was a motorboat. Then it became bigger, and I saw the people on it. It was a rescue crew. Whatever had brought me to this island, they were investigating it and looking for survivors.

As the boat neared the shore, I looked toward Maraadah, standing near the jungle border, and motioned for her to stay there. I turned back, and the boat had beached.



There were two men on board. One hopped off and said, “Hello there!”



I helloed back, and asked what brought them here.



The man still on board said, “This is the area a ship called the Marie Claire last made contact with the marina back in Miami. Do you know anything about that?”



I said, “I was on that ship. It sank. The details are fuzzy for me, but I guess I’m the only survivor.”



The man on the shore was looking at Maraadah. He said to his partner, “You see who I see?”



The other man looked over, and his mouth almost dropped. “Looks just like her mother.”



I looked back at Maraadah, then to the men. “What are you talking about?”



The first man started walking toward her. “I think that’s the missing Vasquez girl.”



The name sounded familiar… but I couldn’t place it. “Who?”



The second man said, “Vasquez Industries.”



I looked at Maraadah, saying, “The computer people? That’s her family?”



The second man: “They disappeared near here. Did you find her?”



I turned back to the boat man. “Technically,” I said, “she found me.”



The man’s eyes widened some. “Uh, you might want to get her.”



I turned again, and saw Maraadah trying to fondle the man talking to her. “Maraadah!” I ran over and took both of her wrists, holding them together firmly, but not to hurt her. I shook my head, saying, “No. You don’t do that.” I turned to the man. “I’m sorry about that. I’m the first man she’s seen in who-knows-how-long.”



Maraadah said, almost in a pouting manner, “Koopah…”



I said in her ear, “Later. These men are here for us.” I turned back to the man. “You are, right?”



The man nodded. “Our mission is to gather any survivors and take them back to America.” He turned to the man on the boat. “John! Get a couple blankets!” He then said to the couple, “There are clothes in the cabin, but you can take care of that later.”



I nodded, holding Maraadah, and suddenly feeling scared.