Chapter 12 Scene 1

At the end of Chapter 11, Tom had just defeated the second stone monster at the Excavations. Kuruka, Machk, and Braden were with him, and they heard Professor Langst's second recording. Bridges to the other three islands were all down. John was in the jungle by one of the idols and Olof was at his eel farm. Corc was missing. Left on the beach were the gravely ill Amelia, her daughter Sophia, and Nicole.

Tom, Kuruka, Machk, and Braden are standing at the broken bridge that leads to the northeast island.

"The village is on this island," Braden points to the northeast.

"We either have to build this bridge or clear the railroad tunnels," announced Machk. "I'm not sure which option is better."

"Can some of us work on each?" suggests Kuruka.

"I built a bridge before," claims Tom. "The one the led to the northwest part of Sanctuary Island, where Keja lives. I can chop down some trees in the jungle and use a railroad car to bring them here. We'll also need lots of rope, but we can get that from the liana."

"That sounds possible," says Braden. "But we have to be very careful. There may be sharks in the water below. I'd like to see the tunnels."

"You can come with me, I'll show you," answers Machk. "I'll take the pickaxe."

Kuruka is fine with the arrangement. "I can work with Tom. Let's get started."

On the beach, Amelia is stirring.

"Mom! You're awake!" Sophia is excited and Nicole rushes over. Nicole says,

"Amelia! Take it easy. Can you talk? How are you feeling?"

Amelia opens her eyes. "Sophia? Nicole? What happened?"

Nicole answers, "Tom killed that stone monster that attacked you. But you've been sick for days after that. We've been trying to reach other people on this group of islands. There was a first aid kit on the ship and Kuruka's herbs helped, but you need more medicine."

"Stone monster?" Amelia thinks. "Oh yes, but there was something else. A snake bit me."

"You mean like those little snakes that you see near the liana? Those shouldn't have cause such a severe reaction."

"No, it was larger than that. It bit me right before the stone monster came after me, and then ... I woke up here."

"Oh Mum, I'm just so happy you're better!" exclaims Amelia.

"Your mother still needs to take it easy." Nicole doesn't want to take chances. "I'm not sure how the snakebite is affecting her. But she must have some water, or something more substantial, like a fruit cocktail."

"A fruit cocktail sounds wonderful," agrees Amelia.

"Great. Sophia, stay here with your mother and I'll make the fruit cocktail. Actually, I might as well make one for each of us."

Quest 1: Make three fruit cocktails.

"Okay." Sophia agrees as Nicole goes off to collect the ingredients. She gets three watermelon seeds from Olof's store and plants them in the garden. Next, she gathers nine kiwis and three sugar canes, and then crosses to the east side of the beach to collect nine oranges and coconuts. But as she bends down to pick up the coconuts, she hears a snarling behind her.

Nicole turns around to see a hyena approaching. She can run away, but the hyena turns back and runs at Amelia and Sophia. Not having any weapons, Nicole gives chase and throw the coconuts at the hyena, but they have no effect. She has to warn the others. "Sophia! Amelia! Watch out!"

Sophia, kneeling at her mother’s side, look up at Nicole's warning, and gulps when she sees the hyena approaching rapidly. Sophia tries to help her mother up, but Amelia is barely conscious and isn't well enough to even sit up.

It is going to be a miserable and violent end to their long adventure.  Sophia is now frozen in fear as she watches the hyena run toward her and Amelia.  All she can do is let out an ear-splitting scream as the hyena gets set to pounce.

But instead of watching the hyena pounce as the last thing she will ever see, Sophia feels something whoosh over her shoulder and a split-second later the hyena howls in agony as it has been pierced by an arrow in its side.   Within five seconds the hyena is struck by two more well-aimed arrows, and it collapses on the ground dead.

Shaking, Sophia slowly turns around to see who their savior is.  She is surprised to see a boy just a little bit taller and older than she.  That he is slender and athletic-looking and his skin tone matches that of the natives left behind on Sanctuary Island is evident as he is wearing only a blue loincloth.  He is also carrying a bow and a quiver nearly full of arrows slung on his shoulder.

Sophia stares at the boy for several moments, unable to speak while finding him to be very handsome. The boy looks at her with an unflinching serious look on his face.  Finally Sophia composes herself.

“You saved my and my Mum’s life.  Who are you?”

The boy is silent for a few moments before answering.

“My name is Phato.”