Any Port in a Storm: Chapter 26

Tony's Story

Marama and I make much better time than I thought we would.  Not long after leaving the trail I was able to find another walking stick.  With the added support for my leg and Mara carrying the bundle it made it far easier for me to focus on travel.  The underbrush, while thick and gnarly in places, mostly consisted of pliant ferns and other easy to pass vegetation.  Woody stalks or cutting thorns were rarely an issue.

By the time the sun was high in the sky I knew we were well hidden in some of the deepest parts of the island's jungle forest.  It would take the tracking skills of an ancient Apache or an incredible stroke of luck for the others to find us here on the first day, assuming they even knew we were gone yet.  When we come across a narrow trickling stream in the shade of a great banyan tree I felt confident in taking a break.  After six or so hours hard constant travel I was more than ready for one.

“Let's rest.”  I say as I peer into the mass of vertical vein like above ground roots, my eyes then scan upward at the expansive canopy of the giant.  “What a tree!  Wow.”

Mara had set down the bundle and, pitcher in hand, was heading toward the stream.  “I hear water.”  She says as she makes her way.  As she gets close she spots it and hurries to check it out.  In the mean time I find a thicker bit of trunk and sit down with my back against it to give my aching leg a rest.  I watch my fey companion test the water.  “Tastes good.”  She reports before filling up our pitcher.

As I allow myself to relax I feel the true fatigue I'd been holding at bay set in.  I had been feverish just the night before, I was still injured, and I still hadn't had a proper meal since arriving here.

Leaning my head back I say in tired voice.  “You know, this might be a good place to hide out for the day.”  I let out a long breath and let my muscles to slack.  “I think...I think I have to just stay here for a while.”

Mara approaches with the pitcher in both hands and kneels down beside me and facing me.  She offers it and I take a long deep drink straight from it.

“I like this place.”  She says as she looks around.  I could imagine that for her eyes this place was just a green lit blur, though the gentle breeze blowing through the leaves combined with the gentle trickle of water did make for a nice soundscape.  Without even asking she begins checking on my wound.  Satisfied it was okay for the moment she wraps it back up again.

“I wish we could have brought some food.”   I complain.  “I am so hungry.”

“Your appetite is a good sign.”  She then sighs.  “I would search for food if I could but...I cannot.”

I give her a long hard look.  She looked defeated before having even tried.  This would not do.

“Who says you can't?”  I motion out.  “Why don't you go take a look around.  Maybe you'll find something.”

“But...”

I cut her off.  Picking up the pitcher I tap it loudly three times.  “I'll do this every minute or so.  You'll always know where I am.  Just stay within earshot and you'll be fine.”

She looks from the clay pitcher to me and back again.

“Or you could just follow the stream.  You won't get lost if you keep the stream at your side.”

“I...I know that.”  She says.

I laugh.  “Well then, what are you waiting for?  Get!”

She smiles and lets out a happy giggle.  “Yes!  I will gather food!”

“There ya go.  If you do get lost just stop and stay where you are.  Sing a song while you wait and I will find you, I promise.”

She nods excitedly, her copper hair bouncing to the movement.

She springs to her feet with that boundless energy I recall having when I was 19.  Choosing a direction seemingly at random she strikes back out into the forest.  I take another drink from the pitcher, wait about thirty seconds, then tap it hard three times.  I continue to do so at regular intervals as Mara explores the immediate surroundings.

I wasn't expecting much honestly, but within twenty minutes I see her returning with three plump yellow fruits in hands.  As she approaches I recognize them.

“Star fruit.  Nice find!”

She was beaming with an ear to ear grin.  “There is a tree not far from here.”  She dumps them on my lap, displaying her forage proudly.

“I did it! I did it all by myself.  I brought you food.”

This bringing of food seemed to be a very big deal for Mara.  I recalled her mentioning it as something her husband would do for her.

“Yes you did, you brought US food.  Thank you Marama.”

“I-I can bring more if you wish.”  She says brimming with new confidence.  “I can bring many more.”

Her joy was infectious.  I chuckle.  “No, this is fine for now.  Great job Marama.”

I sit up and lean in to give her another friendly hug.  Mara stuns me by instead entering my embrace with a firm kiss to the lips!  I could taste the sweet fruit on her fine lips.

“MMM!”  I push her back.  “Mara!”

She blushes and bites her bottom lip.  “Sorry.”  She scrambles to take a fruit from my lap and put it in my hand.  “Here, eat.  Gain your strength.”

I smack my lips...I could still taste her in my mouth.  A taste I very much liked.  I nod and bring the food to my lips and begin to eat.  It was glorious!

Mara watches me eat as if it was the most amazing thing she'd ever seen.  She lets out little giggles and gasps as I obviously and vociferously enjoy her tasty offerings.  She was sitting way too close but I don't say anything.

“Mmmm, delicious.”  I swallow the last bit of the second star fruit and lick my sticky lips.  “Marama, I...”

My words are cut off as she suddenly leans in for another kiss, this one harder and more desperate.

“Mmmm!  Mmmmph!”  I take her by the shoulders and hold her back a foot.

Her warm breath washes over my face, her parted lips reached out for me.  “Tony, lay with me.  Lay with me as if I was your wife.”

“Mara, I'm already married.  Stop this.”

She licks her lips and swallows hard, but continues to push toward me.  Her slender hands grasp at my shirt as she stares into my eyes with a powerful desire.  “It can be our secret.  I won't tell Ashley, I swear.”  She pleads brazenly.  “I will...sin to be with you.  My soul is forfeit.  I do not care.”  She straddles my right leg and slides her right hand under my shirt.

“Mara, no.   Get off of me.”

But she does not get off of me and I do not make her.  “Take me Tony.”

“Mara.”  I say more softly, my will wilting before her beauty.  “No...”

“Tony...my body needs you.  I can't describe it.  I have a fire inside of me, I have an...an...emptiness.  Ohhhhh god.  I want you Tony, I need you.”

“Mara...Mara...”  I stare into her wide pale blue eyes.  “We...can't...  Mara...   We......can't......”  My voice fades into silence.  She blinks and lowers her chin and gets very quiet.  We gaze into each other's eyes and an understanding that needed no words is acknowledged.

Shit.

All my life I always thought that the men I knew that had cheated on their wives were such idiots.  Such short sighted and weak willed fools, and I was probably right.  Yet here I sat, looking at the most beautiful woman in the world, and knowing beyond all doubt that I was about to make the biggest mistake of my life.  I was being short sighted and I was being a fool, yet things weren't so clear cut in the momentum of it happening.  

It was a strange thing.  It wasn't even the heat of reason crippling passion or the velvet bonds of true love as much as it was an acceptance of the inevitable.  If I turned her away now I knew beyond all doubt it would happen later today or tonight or tomorrow.  I deeply yearned to be with Marama in a way I never felt with another woman.

I knew I would regret it even as I pulled her slender body into mine and pressed my lips hard into hers.