CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Knowing that they could do nothing during the light of day, the men on the island stayed hidden, although it almost seemed unnecessary. They’d only witnessed one pair of guards walking around and they didn’t seem interested in the villagers at all any longer.
Now was the time to get them off the island.
Marguerite stared at the men, then looked out the window again.
“I’m not leaving,” she whispered.
“Marguerite, you will come back, you have my word,” said Frank. “We cannot leave you here. If everyone is gone and you’re still here, who do you think they’ll blame?”
She seemed to be thinking about that outcome and her face told them she knew it would not be a good end for her. Still. She didn’t want to leave her home.
“Marguerite, we promise that you will come back here and if they do anything at all to your home, we will rebuild it exactly as you wish. Please,” pleaded Bodhi, “we cannot leave you here.”
She nodded, standing to gather a few things for her small shoulder bag. The men assured her they wouldn’t be gone long, returning home within a week or less. No one understood how they could promise that but they took them at their word.
As darkness covered the island, they gathered small groups of villagers beneath the stealth blankets and walked them to the beaches where Luke and the others were waiting.
Each boat could hold a dozen people. When they reached the mainland, they would be staying at a waterfront hotel where they could see their island in the distance. They hoped it would make it less painful for them all.
“Do we have everyone?” asked Ben.
“No,” said Marguerite. “Diana. Where is Diana?”
Her husband was in Cam’s boat with their two children, and he panicked looking around.
“She was right behind me! She was walking slower because she hasn’t been feeling well.”
“No,” said Ben. “Shit.”
Ben turned, running up the hill, Frank behind him. Diana’s small home with her husband was empty, so they turned and began backtracking toward the beach. Frank gripped Ben’s arm, stopping him in his tracks.
“Do you hear that?” he asked. The soft sounds of someone moaning echoed toward them. As they followed, they spotted the brown sandal on Diana’s foot.
“Diana?” whispered Ben. “Diana, it’s me, Ben.”
“H-here,” she said in a strained voice. The two men kneeled beside her. “I’m in labor. I’m coming fast.”
“Shit,” muttered Frank. “I’m going to pick you up and carry you to the boat. Try not to scream, Diana. I know it’s hard. Once we’re away from the island you can cry out.”
“I-I’ll try,” she said through clenched teeth.
Frank lifted the heavily pregnant woman and carried her toward the boats. Behind them, they could see the guards walking through the village again.
“Move it,” said Ben.
“Hold on, Diana,” said Frank. He started a slow jog, not wanting to jostle the woman too much. As he neared the beach, Bodhi and Dalton came forward.
“She’s in labor. We have to move fast,” said Ben.
Carrying Diana to the boat where the midwife was, they lay her next to Marguerite.
“I guess he decided to come early,” smiled Marguerite.
“We don’t know if it’s a boy,” said Diana breathlessly.
“It’s a boy,” smiled Marguerite. “You can count on them to always mess up your plans.”
The women in the boat laughed nervously as the men pushed all the boats away from the beach and into the still choppy sea. They rowed as far as they could, then started the small outboard motors.
Hoping the wind and surf would silence the sound, they circled the island toward the mainland and then picked up speed. But the sea wasn’t cooperating. The boats bounced up and down and the people held on for dear life.
Diana couldn’t help it. She screamed.
“This baby is coming!” said the midwife.
“We have no choice,” said Adam. “If we stop now, they’ll see us for sure. Do your best.”
Cam reached over the side of the boat touching the water as if he could magically communicate with Poseidon. He said a small prayer, praying for the safe arrival of the baby, knowing it would mean everything to the people.
When he drew back his hand, the world seemed to stop. The winds quit howling, the sea became calm, and their path was now clear and smooth. Only a few moments later a sound broke the quiet of the night. A baby’s cry.
“It’s a boy,” said Marguerite. “Told you.”
“That seems appropriate,” smirked Bodhi.
With just a little further to go, they could already see the men on the dock had called for an ambulance and were waiting patiently for the new arrivals.
“You guys always have to cause shit, don’t you?” smirked Liffey.
“We do our best,” laughed Luke. “A boy. The woman had a boy.”
“Damn hard way to deliver a baby but good on her. He looks healthy,” said Remy.
“The rooms are all ready for you. We’ve rented the entire hotel and we have a surprise for you,” said Hex.
As the villagers filed into the lavish hotel lobby, they were handed towels, cups of tea and coffee, water, and pastries.
Seated in the waiting area of the lobby was someone they were all familiar with.
Nicolai.
“You’re alive,” whispered Marguerite. “I spoke to you, I saw you but I didn’t believe it. You’re alive.” She hugged the man, as each man and woman from the village stepped forward to do the same.
“Is Diana well?” he asked.
“She’s fine. They’ve taken her to the hospital to be looked at,” said Cam.
“No, she’s not at the hospital,” said the woman chuckling. Diana was seated in a wheelchair, holding her newborn son. “Women on the island have been delivering babies via mid-wife for centuries. I am no different. I’m perfectly fine and I don’t need a hospital to tell me that.”
“I think I understand Marguerite’s toughness now,” smirked Bodhi. “It’s an inherited island trait.”
“Get everyone checked into their rooms,” said Luke nodding at Liffey and Garrett. “Make sure they get whatever they need. Food, clothing, anything they want. I need them to be comfortable and happy for the time being.”
“What about you guys?” asked Garrett.
“We’re going to see what’s on that damn ship.”