Usual rules Guys and Girls
Shipwrecked
Chapter 5
Responsibility Shared
The next few weeks saw a great change in the camp. Boys that were bonding indulged in mutual acts of a sexual nature even if they weren't gay. At sixteen and seventeen the hormones are raging and a complete lack of female company was having an adverse effect some would say on the manner in which the boys acted.
Ray's two sidekicks weren't gay, but they enjoyed fooling around with him but no penetrative sex took place, several other pairs did the same.
Wayne and Alex definitely were way over halfway to gay and Ray was only a little upset when another two man hut was built and Wayne moved into it with Alex leaving Ray to concentrate on Ian.
Seb and Jason were completely gay. Even straight laced Robbie accepted that their environment was responsible for a lot of the sex but convinced himself that when they were rescued most would revert to heterosexuality.
Seb, now a very contented young man also became more liberal. Three months after their shipwreck and with a camp now looking more like a village with almost all huts having no more than three in them he called a meeting. He enumerated their achievements.
"During our three months the farming side has progressed well with the fruit plantation inland now under the care of Matt who is from a farming family in the UK. The plan to trap wild pigs by digging pits for them to fall into has been curtailed because one of our number fell into one of them, but the idea of fresh meat has kept that one on the boil. Fish is fine and there is plenty of it but it gets monotonous so some fresh meat would be nice.
I believe that we have matured into a responsible and civilised community. Most of you, like me believe that if we are rescued it is going to be a stroke of luck. We must therefore, in my opinion, become more like a society that we have grown up in and here grown into. If we are sensible we will pick the good out of it and apply it to our society and leave the bad in our supposedly old civilised world. We should I believe now plan to build our lives here on a long term basis. We have lived by the law of the jungle up to now. Marty, Matt Zack and I as the strongest have ruled you paying scant attention to the democratic process. I think that should now change."
There were a lot of surprised faces and disbelieving looks among the boys.
"We are twenty eight in all. I propose that we elect three of our number to be leaders. It will be done by secret ballot. The three guys with the highest number of votes will be given one month to prepare a manifesto detailing how they would run our community and canvass the rest of us just like politicians do in the UK. At the end of the canvassing period we will go to the polls again to elect one of the three as our president. The winner will pick three supporters, much the way I did and run our community for six months. He will have the power to enact new laws and bin old ones he doesn't like, but the ruling four must stick to the manifesto the leader canvassed under. We must never do what our politicians do and that is break manifesto promises. At the end of six months we will go to the polls again but we will vote the winners in for one year. At that time all three leaders and two supporters each will draw up a constitution so that future leaders cannot subvert the basic principles under which we live."
"How far into the future are you thinking and planning Seb?"
That was from Peter who was the one handling the shipwrecked status the least well. Ray put an arm around him and hugged him while Seb considered his answer
"Ray and I have discussed this with Robbie who as you know was a Geography buff at school. We don't think we are close enough to any other island to consider building a raft to leave, although I am not discounting that possibility. My planning therefore is for us to have an indefinite stay on this island. I'm sorry."
Peter burst into tears and took a long time to calm down. Seb realised that their community was quite fragile in this respect, depression was to be expected but no one here had the expertise to handle it, or even at times to recognise it.
"Does anyone want to add anything, change anything I have said, suggest something different or can we go ahead with my plan."
Everybody was a little numb, thinking their own thoughts about what Seb had said and Peter's reaction to it. No one made any further comment so Seb organised paper and pencils for the vote. Everyone wrote a name on a piece of paper which was then placed in a bag. With 28 pieces counted Robbie, Ray and Seb sorted them, counted them and confirmed their numbers. Seb brought the meeting to order again and laughing said.
"You can all come and check our count if you like because the three invigilators are the three winners. Ray, Robbie and myself will take our chances with you all in one month's time."
No one bothered because no one else's name had been put forward.
Seb had very little to do. He had no intention of changing anything if he was elected so he just canvassed on the basis of his past actions and a commitment to setting up a working party to build a substantial raft if a referendum he would hold wanted to try for it. He was also going to institute an education programme with a scribe to write down everything they knew in all categories and to keep a daily record of activities in the camp. He had been doing so secretly since the big storm.
Ray canvassed on the basis of no more corporal punishment with very little else changing.
Robbie would clear out most of the old punishment code, no cp and no sexual punishment. He also wanted a journal to be kept but didn't think an education programme relevant as there would not be another generation if they weren't rescued.
The result a month later was a close run thing with Robbie winning by the narrowest of margin over Seb. Seb was quite upset that he had not thought about a runoff from the two leaders, but decided to suggest it.
"Robbie, I never thought about it at the time but first past the post could mean you governing as a minority leader. I would like to suggest that we have a second vote with just you and I on the ticket so that we know without doubt you are governing by majority assent. I am however not going to insist because that would be like moving the goal posts to try to keep power."
Robbie looked at Seb and then around the remainder of his peers.
"By a show of hands, who thinks Seb is correct?"
Everybody raised their hands so Robbie allowed a second poll and still won. Seb shook hands with him and said loud enough for all to hear.
"Well done Robbie, you will have my support for your six months, and good luck." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It all starts to unravel.
True to his word Robbie struck the penal code from the books but failed to replace it with anything else. It was a slow process but within a couple of months anarchy reigned on the island. If a boy did something wrong Robbie chastised him verbally but no other punishment was rendered. No one was afraid of Robbie so they just continued to do what they liked. Fitness slipped as well because if a boy didn't want to exercise he simply didn't turn up. The village started to look scrappy because boys wouldn't carry out their rostered duties. The latrines became unusable because no one carried out latrine duty so people wandered off into the jungle for their bowel movements but peed anywhere they fancied. Of course there were exceptions like Seb and his old triumvirate but eventually Marty, Matt and Zack said to Seb
"Sorry buddy but we didn't sign on to be the servants of our lazy classmates."
After four months Seb needed to say something.
"Robbie, I want you to call a meeting of all the guys and enforce attendance. This place is going to hell and it has to stop or we are going to be living worse than animals."
"The guys are living the way they want to, I'm not calling a meeting and I'm not changing anything."
Seb shrugged and went off to find his three buds.
"Robbie isn't going to take the guys to task, he says they are living the way they want. Do you want to do something about it?"
Matt spoke up, "Seb, leave it for another few weeks, let's not rush in without a specific case to justify it."
It was agreed but Seb regretted it afterwards because two of the boys got into a serious fight resulting in one of them being rendered unconscious with an internal problem. He was in and out of consciousness for a few days before passing on.
The camp was devastated but still Robbie did nothing.
Seb at last took action. He made sure he contacted everyone and told them to be at the punishment tree by a certain time.
"I will send Matt, Marty and Zack to collect anyone not there and the first order of business will be to give them a sound thrashing."
There was a load of dissent particularly from Robbie who Seb floored with one punch. Seb stood over him, eyes blazing.
"I lay David's death firmly at your door, your total lack of firm government has cost us a life. You will never hold power in this island again while I live."
With that he stormed off to find his henchmen.
"Democracy has not worked guys. If you will support me I am going to reinstate my dictatorship."
The three were delighted they had offered up plenty of criticism of Seb for democratising to early.
The meeting was short. Two boys had to be dragged to it and Seb had them strung up and beaten before addressing the rest.
"You elected a democracy and used it to promote anarchy. Your failure to behave like civilised adults has cost us a life. While I live understand that will not happen again. For his total dereliction of the duty he was elected to perform I am awarding Robbie twenty lashes of the whip. Democracy has ended, the laws put in place four months ago are reinstated. The punishment for fighting will be doubled and I personally will administer it. I promised you all that as the strongest I would fight to keep you all alive. Robbie has made my words a lie. No one will get the chance to do that a second time. Matt, Marty, string Robbie up."
There was a short scuffle but Matt and Marty were too big to fight off and no one came to support Robbie. Seb was vicious and had Robbie whimpering and then screaming very quickly. Seb threw the whip down when he had finished, turned to face the others and said.
"New rosters will be posted tonight, anyone failing to carry out his duty tomorrow be prepared for some grief. Ray, I will double up on all working parties. I want this village and the latrines looking like new by sunset tomorrow. Wayne, I want you and Alex to carry out a complete inventory of the stores. Zack, take your partner and do lookout tomorrow and let me know what the state is up on the hill. Any one unhappy with what I am doing, tough."
With that Seb stomped off and drew up new rosters. The camp was a buzz of conversation as small groups gathered to discuss what had just happened.
Two days later they buried David in the new cemetery and twenty six young men were astounded when Seb broke down sobbing and apologising to David's coffin for not protecting him. Jason helped him back to their hut and comforted him while the remainder realised how deeply Seb felt about his responsibility. Robbie started seditious talk with the idea of wresting power from Seb by weight of numbers and was surprised when Seb had his next lookout duty day to find himself strung up and thrashed by his colleagues.
"We are all to blame for David's death, we were all irresponsible, but you were the worst because we gave you the mandate to look after us, now you support Seb or we will do this to you every day he is not in the camp."
Robbie was shattered at this support for his enemy.
The week after Seb became leader again Ray restarted fitness training. The boys realised how sloppy they had got with the sloppy regime Robbie had run and worked hard to return to fitness. Seb wanted to start competitive games again but not wrestling or rugby because injuries were too easy to sustain.
Next meeting of all the boys.
"I would like us to start playing football and volleyball guys if any of you can think of some method of making us a football."
"A pig skin filled with palm fronds would be quite good Seb, a bit spongy but adequate."
"Yeah ok Josh but how do we get hold of a pig skin?"
"Some intrepid trapper or hunter is going to have to kill one of the wild pigs."
Everybody laughed but a couple of the boys did decide to try the pits again if Seb would allow it.
"Ok, find a trail used by the pigs and dig your pit but make sure it is well marked and tell the rest of us. If you throw some fruit on the top when you finish that might induce the pigs to walk onto the trap."
Every few days Josh went to check and after about a week he raced into camp one day and screamed, "We've caught one, we've caught one."
Looking down on a very angry wild pig in the hole Seb laughed and said, "Great, whose going to hop down there and kill it?"
Plenty of laughter but no bright practical ideas. Josh had crept away while all the hilarity was going on and found a substantial length of bamboo which he cut and sharpened one end. When he arrived back at the hole most boys had left but a few were sitting round the edge watching the antics of the pig. They all looked in amazement as Josh plunged the sharpened bamboo into the pig killing him with the first lunge. Seb stood open mouthed with Ray as they watched the boys emerging from the jungle with the pig slung between the pole that had killed it.
Roast pig was on the menu that night and Josh had to start working on a piece of skin that was to become the new football and volley ball.
Amazing how the act of killing the pig and eating fresh meat for the first time in ages improved the moral of the boys. It looked as though they were going to put David's death behind them and get on with their lives.
Before they knew it their first year anniversary on the island was upon them. Another pig had been caught for a celebration dinner and Seb used the occasion to advance a new initiative.
"We have been keeping a lookout for more than nine months and never seen a ship anywhere round the island. I want volunteers to commence the building of at least two substantial rafts. Before we start, one of you practical guys draw up plans. We will build up here clear of the water. We build them on a set of rollers and then roll them into the sea on other rollers that we cut. I want so many turns of liana on each section that however rough the sea they are never going to be pulled apart. I want fresh water storage to be in the centre of the rafts in heavily protected bins and other bins for fruit as well. We will need paddles and masts with sails made from palm leaves. We can vote on it nearer the time but I believe we should all go. If you want to stay we will try to get back for you if we make it successfully. No time scale on this, we have to get it right because we will only get one chance I think. We all have a life jacket thanks to Ray's quick thinking a year ago so no one is going to drown whatever happens."
Not surprising, the two little carpenters took on the design work.
Seb and Jason went back to their hut after the meeting and Jason curled up in Seb's arms to voice his disquiet.
"Seb I can't go with you on the raft."
Seb was shattered, "Oh Christ Jase, you have to, I can't leave you here but I really have to go as the leader particularly if most of the others do."
"I don't care, the thought of the rafts breaking up and tossing us all into the sea in the middle of a storm terrifies me."
Seb started to caress the little body that had given him so much joy.
"I can't leave you Jase, I love you so much. I will spend the remainder of my life here if I have to, to be with you."
"Truly Seb."
"Yes little man, I want to grow old with you even if I do get fed up to the eye teeth with coconuts and bananas."
They both laughed but their eyes, while looking at each other were serious and full of love.
Nick and Peter came up with a design for a substantial raft easily big enough to take fifteen people. They would use whole trees as the main base, each lashed together with miles of liana, on top would be a layer of smaller trees or saplings with all of their smaller branches still attached to give a more comfortable base for sleeping. A rudimentary steering system was included and Seb insisted on a strong point fore and aft for tow ropes.
"The two rafts are to remain together if at all possible so when we have established which one is the fastest it will have a line attached from its stern to the other ones bow."
A mast would be stepped in a hole in one of the main logs and be stayed at four points. They were only intending to run before the wind so the sail would be square with sheets running to each aft corner of the raft and the facility to raise and lower it in case they hit heavy winds. A central cabin, quite low, would house all the water and food and it would be lashed to the main raft base with loads of liana. A pile of palm leaves would be shipped with them to protect them from the worst of the sun and the clothes they had virtually never worn would now be worn all the time to stop sunburn becoming a hazard. The whole looked very impressive and all the boys wanted to be part of the construction teams.
"Ok guys, lookouts will continue, camp and latrine duties and cooking duties will still be done, the remainder of us will work under Peter and Nick on the two rafts. Robbie you will divide up the labour each morning so that each team is given the expertise it needs on any particular day."
Robbie would end up working harder than anyone to build the rafts, he couldn't get away fast enough, he boiled with resentment at the way Seb had treated him.
The construction looked very impressive, good sized tree trunks were used for the main bases and made the rafts very heavy. Seb checked at intervals to make sure the boys were strong enough to move them. As they neared completion he had to look at who was going to remain and how the boats would be crewed. One evening when they were all chatting around a big open fire in the village Seb broached the subject.
"How many of you are not going on the rafts?"
The silence was almost palpable for several minutes then Wayne and Alex stood up.
Wayne took Alex in his arms and said, "We are staying here. I don't ever want to leave this man or risk losing him so we are staying."
Ray and Ian stood next, "We are staying as well."
Seb felt guilty when he stood up. "Jason and I are staying because Jase won't go on the raft but I would like to leave the island if we ever get a proper rescue. Is there anyone else?"
No one else spoke, they were all thinking about the implications of their decisions.
"I won't allow Robbie to Skipper either raft because he has proved himself incapable of leading, the rest of you are candidates. We will vote on it later, it will be an elimination system until we have two overall winners."
Seb caught Ray after the meeting closed.
"I have to assume that Ian is definitely gay then Ray and not just fooling around."
Ray grinned, "Yes Seb and like you and Wayne with your partners so I am with Ian. I'll put up with coconuts and bananas to keep him with me forever."
The lads had been so used to the triumvirate being in control that when they voted for the skippers Marty, Zack and Matt were the three front runners. Zack was eliminated on the last ballot. Matt became the diplomat when they were selecting their other crew members.
"I'll take Robbie as my number two, he is sensible and practical even if he isn't a good disciplinarian." That got Matt a friend for life.
Marty took Zack as his number two and the selection continued. Peter and Nick naturally went on the rafts they had been in charge of constructing.
The day before they had decided to go the rafts were brought to the water's edge and the stores of food and water were put aboard. Everything they could carry was put on. Each boy picked up a life jacket and the skipper and mate each had a watch. Seb made them wrap their clothes in plastic taken from some of the old packing cases that had been washed ashore.
"When you are rescued I want you to look smart. I don't want people to think we lived like aniamls for our year on the island."
The next morning, early, before the water over the reef became too disturbed by the wind they set off, pulling on the paddles to get into the wind lane.
If they were rescued the powers that be would be able work out from the prevailing winds and the time at sea the whereabouts of the island.
The village felt deserted with only six of them there. Ray tried to lighten it up by jokingly saying, "Well, now that there are just us six queers here we can have open air orgies if we want to."
While the idea was quite appealing to Seb he felt very protective of Jason so he didn't go along with Ray. Changing the subject Seb asked if they thought the lookout was still required, not the best subject change because he knew it would be. They still had to look at the idea of being rescued independently of the others. Storms were a common feature so the others could conceivably all be lost. The thought made Seb shiver, they had become a good community here and to lose the others would be a terrible blow. Something Seb hadn't considered with the departure of the others was an increased likelihood of depression. They all missed their mates and with only six left games were limited, three aside football wasn't a sustainable activity. Three aside volley ball was ok but you could only play that for so long, the same with swimming and sun bathing. After a month though all six were as black as it was possible for a white man to get. They were also supremely fit and all looked like bronzed gods. They would be seriously lusted over back in civilisation by both sexes that was a certainty.
The hillside look out had fallen into abeyance because only four in the camp was even more depressing. Occasionally one of the boys would wander up the hill when he wanted some solitude and it was on one of these days almost three months after the rafts had departed that Ian came barrelling into the camp screaming, "A ship, a ship, I've seen a ship."
The others gathered round him and after he had calmed down enough to talk rationally Seb asked him, "Did you light the signal fire?"
Ian looked aghast, "Oh God no."
All six then ran hell for leather for the hill, Seb turned back after a few hundred yards and collected another box of their precious hoard of matches, just in case.
Rescue and retribution in the last chapter.