The Island Ch. 03

What Bobbie didn't know was that Craig was absolutely besotted with her. He spied on her and followed her whenever he had the chance. Craig might have been the least intelligent person on the island and the men often treated him like a simpleton but wasn't totally stupid.

Craig knew that rescue was unlikely and even if it came it would be a long time coming so he could afford to play the long game.

Craig knew that John Fitzgibbons and Steve Ford were lovers. He didn't get what they had for each other but he understood the need for companionship and physical love.

Craig knew that deep down that under her makeup, perfume and lingerie Bobbie was really Robert, the survivor of the C-47 crash, but just as Bobbie had rid herself of all vestiges of Robert when she decided to live as Bobbie, Craig had done the same. To him Bobbie's life had started that Wednesday movie night when she had first performed for them.

So with John and Steve out of the picture the only other man on the island he considered his competition was Ray Millward and Ray and Bobbie hated each other. He had followed Bobbie up to the freshwater pool and witnessed Bobbie and Ray arguing at the signal pyre prior to her going for a swim. He had masturbated, hiding in the undergrowth, watching her change into her swimsuit. He had not seen the aftermath when Ray had rescued Bobbie from the water. Craig was back at the barracks going through Bobbie's intimates.

Craig liked to steal Bobbie's intimates, masturbate with them and put them back. Knowing that she was unwittingly wearing underwear that he used to gratify himself excited him. He deliberately left the crusty stocking under his mattress with the girly magazines for her to find. Didn't Bobbie realise that it was her and not the girls in the magazine that fulfilled his fantasies? Craig had forgotten all about his high school sweetheart Karen who Ray had often drunkenly told him was being regularly ploughed by some college quarterback in his absence.

Ray was an asshole but Bobbie had saved him last night. She had tended to him, bathed him, nursed him and in a final betrayal of trust, she had slept with him.

Craig could no longer play the long game and wait for Bobbie's hatred of Ray to drive her into his arms. He had seen the mess on the back of her négligée and he knew what it was. He had washed his own semen stains out of her intimates many times. Then he had dried them, folded them and returned them to her room.

Craig knew that Ray still disliked Bobbie taking into account what Ray had had said about her in the mess this morning but Craig needed to claim what was rightfully his before Ray changed his mind. Ray had done something to her last night; the evidence was there for him to see. The thought of Ray pressing his manhood against the woman he loved drove Craig wild with jealousy.

"I've brought you some flowers," Craig offered the pathetic bunch of wildflowers he had picked for her.

In Craig's mind they were a beautiful bouquet, artistically arranged blooms that would delight any woman. In fact they were an amalgam of foliage and weeds that grew conveniently close to the compound, hurriedly picked. Bobbie was sure that the spray included a cutting of poisonous lantana but she smiled sweetly at him and took the preferred bouquet and set it on her desk.

"Let me get a vase and some water," Bobbie came around from behind the desk and approached the door.

Bobbie was wearing her white uniform skirt and blouse and she unconsciously smoothed her skirt. She could feel Craig's eyes on her legs.

"Your skin is so smooth and creamy Bobbie. The rest of us are all burnt and wrinkled," Craig remain steadfastly in the doorway refusing to move.

"I stay out of the sun Craig and I use moisturiser that I make from coconut milk," Bobbie explained but she wished Craig would move.

"You're pretty too. So very pretty Bobbie," Craig reached out to touch her and Bobbie recoiled instinctively.

She wished she hadn't when she saw the anger flash across his face before his usual vacuous grin returned.

"Don't you like me Bobby? I picked those flowers for you. I'm wearing my best uniform for you. I'd like us to be more than friends," Craig stepped into the office and closed the door.

Bobbie forced herself to smile but she stepped back until she felt the desk against the back of her thighs.

"Of course I like you Craig. I like all of you men; you're like brothers to me but I've told you before that I don't think about you that way," Bobbie forced herself to smile.

"But what about the Chief? What about Ray?" Craig looked confused.

"What about Ray, Craig? He's the boss; he's the Chief, he's our leader," Bobbie reached behind herself and felt around the desk, hoping to find something to defend herself with if Craig became violent.

She had never felt scared in his presence before. Although he was older than her she treated him like a younger brother... a simple younger brother. She was suddenly aware of how big Craig was. The rest of the men were rangy but Craig liked to eat, he was a little overweight but under that fat there was a lot of muscle from all the manual labour he performed.

"You and him are always arguing; always fighting. He heckles your shows and behind your back he calls you 'that bitch'," Craig said solemnly.

Bobbie couldn't help but smile.

"He calls me that to my face too Craig," she replied.

"When you're not there he tells us that you are undermining him. That you are undoing all the good work he has dome maintaining discipline and running Harris Field just like it was a ship," Craig's mind seemed to wonder, something outside the window caught his attention.

He was easily distracted.

"We have our differences Craig but we live with them. Now let me go and get that vase," Bobbie stepped forward but Craig didn't budge.

He looked to be in a stupor, his thick lips twisted into a snarl and his eyes burned from under his thick brows.

"You were with him last night. You nursed him while he was naked. I saw you," Craig growled.

"That's right Craig I was nursing him. He was naked to I could bathe him and try to bring down his temperature," Bobbie replied evenly.

"You slept with him. You slept with him and he was naked and you were wearing that négligée that I like," Craig seemed to be ambling, unsure of his thoughts.

The comment about the négligée threw her. Why did Craig like it? Had he even seen her dressed in it before?

"John and I found you this morning. You were in his bed. He was cuddling you," Craig adopted an accusatory tone.

"He was sick Craig. He thought I was his wife. He was delirious. I nursed him and comforted him, that's all," Bobbie protested.

"I saw it when you bent over the bed. I saw it on the back of your petticoat. Did he sex you?" Craig's voice rose to a high-pitched scream.

"No he didn't sex me Craig," Bobbie stamped her foot angrily and blushed.

"I know what that is. I could smell it! I should know... I sex your stuff all the time," Craig's face was screwed up into an evil grin.

The thought of Craig masturbating with her intimates repulsed her but Bobbie tried to keep her face neutral.

"Ray was sweating. You saw him! I told you that he thought I was Elaine and he just cuddled me. I couldn't get away from him so I let him. He was so hot and sweaty that he probably sweated right though my nightgown," Bobbie hoped Craig would buy the lie.

"Bullshit he sexed you. But not anymore Bobbie. You're going to be my gal. The only person sexing you will be me. I think when we're done here I'll go and find Ray and he won't be a problem anymore. It will just be you and me and John and Steve. That will work better," Craig pulled the Colt 1911 pistol from his waistband.

The 45 calibre weapon had been tucked behind his back, hidden under his tunic.

Bobbie froze and a shiver of fear ran through her. Craig was insane and she was trapped in this office with him. From what he was saying she gathered he intended to kill Ray and keep her as some sort of concubine.

"Maybe I should take care of him now. I'll lock the door and go and take care of Ray and then I'll come back for you. You can live with me in my quarters and we will love each other forever and ever," Craig's demeanour was maniacal.

He paced up and down in front of the door then he reached for the handle.

"No Craig! Don't go yet! Stay here and show me how much you love me and then we can go and see Ray," Bobbie was scrambling for anything to change Craig's mind.

If she could delay Craig maybe one of the others would come looking for him or for her? Maybe Ray would have time to leave the camp and go up to his precious hilltop signal pyre? From up there he would be able to see Craig approaching. This was all she could think of. She somehow had to save Ray.

The lights dimmed and a sudden clout of thunder rent the silence and the sound of a tropical rainstorm pounding on the tin roof of the Q store became almost deafening.

"Yeah maybe I should rethink my priorities. Ray isn't going anywhere and I've wanted you for so long Bobbie. Come over here Bobbie," Craig waved the pistol at her.

Bobbie doubted that Craig would kill her; not if he loved her like he said he did but who knew what a psychopath really thought? He could certainly hurt her.

Bobbie forced herself to let go of the desk and she took the few steps required to stand directly in front of Craig. His aftershave was almost overpowering, he had cut himself shaving and the blood had congealed in a roll of flesh above his collar. Up close, the look in his eyes was truly maniacal and Bobbie began to tremble.

Craig pressed the pistol into Bobbie's waist.

"Show me how much you love me Bobbie," he whispered.

Bobbie had never told Craig that she loved him but now was not the time to undermine his fantasy.

She tentatively reached out and put her arms around Craig's neck. Craig pressed the pistol harder into her flesh reminding Bobbie what would happen if she tried anything underhanded.

She stood on her tiptoes and put her face to his, closing her eyes so that she didn't have to look at him. His lips felt cold wet and flabby, they felt repulsive. He jabbed his thick tongue into her mouth and pulled her to him with his free hand. She could feel his hard penis through her clothing. He kissed her awkwardly, his inexperience evident.

Ray was fuming and not just because all three of his subordinates had called him an asshole this morning. He was pissed off because he knew they were right and he knew that he would have to apologise to Bobbie. He was also pissed off because Seaman Bowen was supposed to swing the generators this morning so that the one currently supplying the load could be serviced. The men knew how important it was to keep the equipment they had well maintained because it was all they had.

Ray found John and Steve tending to the cornfield which was their duty station this morning.

"Have you guys seen Craig Bowen?" he called out to them.

"Last time I saw him he was coming out of his quarters in his dress whites. I figured you had told him to put on his best uniform to appear before your mast. I heard him call you an asshole this morning," John could get away with the jibe, being a First Class Petty Officer.

"Well there appears to be more than enough assholes to go around today," Ray grunted.

"Better find him quick Chief; there's a storm coming," John nodded towards the west from where dark clouds illuminated by flashes of lightning where rolling in.

"I bet he's gone to follow that bitch around like a puppy," Ray mumbled to himself.

Ray wouldn't admit it but it irritated him that Craig fawned over Bobbie. But why should he care?

Ray got soaked crossing the runway and when he opened the door to the Q store he was livid. The store was dark even with the overhead lighting because the storm clouds obscured the sunlight that naturally streamed through the windows. The sound of the rain on the roof was almost deafening. He could see Craig Bowen in Bobbie's office dressed in his whites. He seemed to be concentrating on something but there was no sign of Bobbie Bingham.

As Ray got closer to the office he could see why Craig was concentrating. Bobbie Bingham was on her knees fellating him.

"Fucking whore!" Ray screamed and scrambled for the door.

Then he saw the gun in Craig's hand. It was pressed to Bobbie's head and she was crying, choking while Craig used his free hand to push her face onto his cock. Ray snapped, suddenly filled with rage and unbridled fury.

He ripped the door open so fast that it came off its hinges. Craig was so shocked he had no time to defend himself when Ray slapped the gun away from Bobbie's head whilst simultaneously slamming a roundhouse punch into the side of Craig Bowen's head.

Craig fell to the floor but he refused to let go of his pistol but Ray ignored him. He helped Bobbie to her feet and looked into her tear-filled eyes with genuine tenderness and remorse.

"Are you ok? Did he hurt you?" Ray searched her face for signs of injury.

Bobbie just shook her head. She couldn't speak. She was too ashamed of what Ray had witnessed.

"Stand aside Chief. Bobbie and I have unfinished business," Craig was on his feet pointing his gun at them.

Ray saw the maniacal gleam in his eyes and realised that Craig was insane. He pushed Bobbie behind him and shielded her with his body.

"Give me the gun Seaman Bowen and we can talk about this. We can work it out; I'm sure there is some sort of misunderstanding," Ray held out his hand and it was rock steady.

"Bobbie loves me and I love her. We're going to live together but you keep getting in the way," Craig said in a voice that seemed disembodied.

"Ok. I can stay out of the way. Why don't you take me somewhere where we can talk about it? Leave Bobbie here to keep doing her work, she's very busy," Ray spoke to Craig like he was talking to a child.

"I want her to watch when I kill you! I want her to see how much I love her!" Craig rambled.

"That's ok Craig. I understand. But wouldn't it be better to let her go so she doesn't have to see it? She will think you're the better man for it. Let her go and she can freshen up for you, maybe put on some nice clothes for you, and you can take care of me here when she's gone," Ray said matter-of-factly as if he was offering an alternative to dinner.

"No!" Bobbie cried from behind him.

Ray turned his head to her, still shielding her with his body.

"Let me handle this Bobbie. Let Craig do what he has to do while you go and change into something nice for him," he gave her a knowing look which meant for her to escape and to get to John and Steve as soon as she could.

"Women, eh Craig? They never know when to just do what they are told," Ray said to Craig, smiling at him like he was a true friend.

"I think you are tricking me Chief. I think you want Bobbie to leave so you can take your chances with me. You think I'm stupid," Craig droned, spittle running down the side of his mouth.

Ray wondered if Craig was having some sort of psychiatric attack.

"Give me the gun Craig," Ray changed his tone.

He was gruff and demanding and he thrust out his hand.

"Fuck you Chief!" Craig levelled the pistol at Ray.

It all happened instantly.

Ray turned and flung Bobbie out of the way so that when the bullet passed through his body it wouldn't hit her. Craig pulled the trigger and the hammer came down on the firing pin striking the 45 calibre cartridge in the chamber of the Colt 1911 pistol. Craig had not changed out the ammunition or cleaned the pistol since he was shipwrecked on the island and it was faulty and misfired.

Craig look at the pistol in disappointed then he slammed the pistol into the side of Ray Millward's head as hard as he could and ran out of the office as Ray collapsed on the floor.

Bobbie dropped down beside Ray who was unconscious with blood streaming down his face. She shook him, trying to wake him, all the time scared that Craig Bowen was going to come back and finish what he started.

Ray slowly came around and staggered to his feet with Bobbie's assistance. He held onto the desk and shook his head; blood sprayed onto the floor and onto Bobbie's skirt and blouse.

"Are you ok? Did he hurt you?" Ray lifted his face to Bobbie.

"I'm supposed to ask if you're ok Chief. I'm fine except for the obvious indignity. Let's get you to the mess so I can tend to that wound, also I need to make sure you're not concussed," Bobbie was still supporting Ray who had an arm around her shoulders.

As incongruous as it seemed, she quite liked having Ray's strong arm around her.

"You've only just recovered from your fever Chief, I want to do a full examination," Bobbie continued.

"Look at you being all nursey. I came over to thank you for caring for me yesterday but that's probably not my priority right now, nor is you tending to my wounds. We gotta find Craig before he finds a weapon that works. There's plenty in the armoury," Ray grunted, he was obviously in pain.

Bobbie helped Ray through the warehouse and made him wait at the door while she checked outside for any sign of Craig. The coast was clear but the rain was still teeming down. Ray put his arm around Bobbie for support and she helped him across the runway to the main buildings. They expected see Craig at any time but they didn't.

Bobbie's skirt and blouse were saturated and they clung to her flesh. Her hair was moulded to her head and her mascara and eyeliner, already ruined from the tears she had shed while Craig defiled her, ran down her cheeks.

When they gained the shelter of the first building Ray made her stop.

"Let me get my breath. You look down that side and I'll look down this side of the building. If the coast is clear we run for the mess and find John and Steve," Ray panted, his hands on his knees.

Bobbie nodded and tentatively poked her head around the corner of the commissary building and saw nothing but sheets of rain. Craig could be hiding anywhere. She went back to Ray and shook her head indicating she'd seen no one.

"Ok. Are you ready?" he stared into Bobbie's face questioningly.

She nodded.

"One last thing," Ray wheezed.

Bobbie looked at him unsure.

Ray pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She moulded her wet body to his, feeling his flesh through her sodden uniform. He held her tight and kissed her long and hard, his tongue exploring her mouth. He released her as suddenly as he had embraced her.

"Sorry I'm an asshole; let's go," he took her hand in his and they ran from building to building without stopping until they reached the mess.

They were both pleased to hear John and Steve's voices as they approached.

They too had been caught in the storm and had taken off their sodden shirts and were playing around. To those who knew no better it would look like two very masculine men horsing around but Ray and Bobbie could tell there was lot more to their playful cavorting.

"Jesus!" John cried when he saw the blood on Rays face and Bobbie's skirt and blouse.

"What the fuck happened?" Steve asked as he assisted Ray inside and sat him down at the table.

The field medical kit was still on the table and Bobbie went straight to it.

"Craig had gone crazy. He attacked me and the Chief; he tried to kill the Chief. He's got a gun but it doesn't work but he'll probably get another one and then he'll come after us again... sorry Chief," Bobbie realised that she was babbling as she rummaged through the first aid kit.

"What Bobbie said is basically right. We need to find him. He's not right in the head. Try to reason with him if you can but if he's armed and he threatens you then shoot him," Ray winced as Bobbie put a disinfectant-soaked compress on his wound.