Chapter Five #3
“There are some poisonous varieties. From what I recall, they tend to be prickly and spiny. I guess we’ll see what we catch. I’ve seen some TV shows on tropical fishing, so fingers crossed. I know what pufferfish look like, and we definitely won’t eat those.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t risk it.”
“We’re out of protein bars. We’ll be careful. Start with a bite at a time. I don’t see what else we can do. We need protein, especially if…”
Troy swallowed hard. “Right. Okay.” He rubbed a hand over his stubbly face, thinking about the now. “Oh! Where’s the mirror?” Brian passed it to him, and Troy lined up the light through the hole and scanned the horizon.
He took a break from the mirror as they ate their coconut, debating whether the chirruping noise they often heard was some variety of cicada or something else altogether. “Maybe they’re nargles,” Brian said.
With a big, real laugh, Troy grinned. “I didn’t peg you for a Harry Potter fan.”
“Sure, why not?”
“I dunno. You’re like…a pilot. Who knows all this technical stuff. I guess I never think of people who are pilots and doctors and do important things reading Harry Potter.” He raised an eyebrow. “Or maybe you’ve just seen the movies?” He teased, “Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I guess.”
“I solemnly swear I have read all the books. And am up to no good, of course.”
As they discussed random Potter things, it felt good to talk about something normal.
Troy could have sat there all day chatting about Hogwarts, but the tide was retreating, and Brian had carved a makeshift fishing pole with clear line triple knotted around the end.
He explained the lures and hooks, and they walked out on the wet sand, nearing the reef.
“Wow.” Troy squinted at the colorful coral some distance ahead. The water sloshed around his ankles, and he shifted the empty coconut shell he carried from one hand to the other.
“You stay here. Just in case. Have to be careful not to step on any stonefish or eels or whatever else might be down there.” Brian had brought the sole pair of flip-flops and slipped them on now.
“Okay.” Troy examined the water for any sign of snakes or things that might bite or sting. But all he saw around him was sand.
He waited while Brian carefully picked his way closer to the reef, the water coming up closer to his knees.
Brian wore his hat, and Troy was glad he’d put on the orange bandanna.
He was used to the sun, but here in the tropics it was much more powerful.
He’d already gotten a deeper tan, his skin peeling in places.
“Whoa!” Brian yanked up the pole and grabbed the line.
A bright fish flopped around on the hook.
“That was quick!” He stumbled a little and regained his balance.
“These flip-flops make it too hard to stand. Can’t get any grip.
” He reached down and took them off. “Should be fine if we keep clear of touching the reef. Get near it, but stay in the sand.”
Troy came a little closer, watching every step. He thrust out the makeshift pail. “Sounds good.”
Brian met him and handed over the flip-flops before carefully taking the squirming fish off the hook and dropping it into the coconut husk. “Let me try for a couple more if they’re this quick. Then we’ll cook them right away. In this heat, we can’t wait long.”
It only took five minutes to get two more fish even bigger than the first. Smiling, they splashed back to the beach. “I guess this is what hunters felt like back in the cavemen days, huh?” Troy said. He beat his chest.
Brian’s laugh rumbled, a dimple appearing in his cheek. “Definitely. Now let’s see about cleaning these. I watched Grandpa do it a million times, but I’m not sure how much I’ve retained.”
“You didn’t fish in Australia?”
“No. I guess…” He went quiet, his eyes distant. Finally, he said, “I guess it reminded me too much of him. The things I didn’t have anymore.”
“I’m sorry. I can do it next time if you want? It looked like shooting fish in a barrel, so I think I can manage.”
“It felt good doing it again. We can take turns.”
“For now, I’m totally okay with staying well clear of the sea snakes. I know, they could really be anywhere there’s water, but just let me believe that all the dangerous things are in the reef.”
Brian grinned. “Okay. Now let’s clean these. Too bad we don’t have a boning knife, but we’ll have to make do.”
By the time Brian was finished and thought he had most of the bones, his hands were covered in guts and the fish were quite a bit smaller. They laid the pieces of flesh on a flat stone by the fire’s edge and waited.
“This is like watching a pot boil,” Troy said. “Not that I’ve done that much. It’s like watching a microwave count down.”
“It is indeed.” Brian poked at a chunk with a stick. “We need a spatula.”
“Some lemon would be great.”
Finally, they deemed the fish cooked and pushed the crumbling pieces into coconut bowls. Brian took a tentative bite. “Tastes like…”
“Chicken?”
He smirked. “I was going to say fish, actually.”
Troy laughed. “Well, that’s good, since it’s fish and all.” He put a chunk in his mouth and chewed slowly, pulling out a little bone and flicking it into the fire. “Yeah, like…fish. Plain fish. Not bad.”
“Well, at least we know we can survive on coconut and fish as long as we have to.”
“Oh shit.” Troy put down his shell and pulled out the mirror. “Almost forgot.” He flashed the rectangle rhythmically. “Maybe it’ll be today. I think it will be.” With hot food in his belly, optimism fueled him.
“Maybe.” Brian kept his eyes on his meal, going back to work on the shelter when he was finished while Troy continued with the mirror, waiting to spot salvation.