The Island: Pt. 21 - Murder Death Kill

Taking the device he mumbled, "What will it do?"

Now with one hand free the woman drew a long, vicious-looking knife from the sheath strapped to her well-muscled thigh, it was a wicked-looking thing with a heavy curved blade, and she cheerfully tapped him on the chest with the razor-sharp point, "Press. Send. Now."

Swallowing nervously, he pushed the button.

They were hundreds of yards from the small cove where he had hidden his boat but even from here the thunderous explosion was almost deafening. He couldn't see the blast through the trees, but he felt the shockwave and did see the burning bits and pieces of his boat sailing hundreds of meters into the air.

Florence couldn't resist, she turned to the man with a broad smile and announced in the worst Cockney accent imaginable, "You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off."

Marcus stared at her dumbly and she gave an exasperated snort, "I dunno why I fucking bother... That was a World War Two anti-shipping mine. I think it was probably Japanese, but I cannae be sure. I found it scuba diving, really unstable after all these years. Just a stupidly dangerous thing to leave lying around, so obviously I kept it. I mean, who wouldn't? You never know when you might need a couple of hundred kilos of highly unstable military-grade explosives. By the way, it took me fucking ages to get it under your wee boat, so I hope you appreciate the effort. Might have been a wee bit of overkill now I come to think on it mind."

She turned back to the man, "Where were we?"

"Are you going to kill me?"

The woman laughed out loud, "Oh Jesus that's funny. You raped a friend of mine, of course, I'm going to fucking kill you."

"I can pay! A million bucks! I'll give you a million bucks if you'll let me go."

Florence tilted her head, "It wisnae on the boat was it cos that could present a wee problem?"

"It's in an offshore account. Get me to a phone and it's yours."

"Deal!"

Marcus was stunned, "What? Really?"

"Aye, a million bucks? Have you any idea just how many Smarties you can buy wi a million bucks?"

"I... I don't understand."

"Never mind, you just unrape my pal and hand over that cash and I'll be on my way."

"Unrape your...?"

"Oh, you can't do that, can you? Oh well, back to Plan A I guess."

The blade of the kukri in her hand glittered and the last thing he saw was the feral gleam in her eyes and the snarl on her lips.

...

Marta hadn't slept a wink all night. Stefan had flown to the hospital on the mainland with Barabus while she remained behind, waiting. Eventually, she had gone to bed but there was no way she could sleep, and she had sat up with her arms wrapped around her knees worrying. She jumped each time there was a noise and twice she ran to the door thinking she had heard someone coming in, but there was no one there. Tears trickled down her face and she found herself rocking gently back and forth.

She never heard a thing, but as the sun was rising the smell of toast wafted its way into the bedroom from the kitchen. Marta hurled aside the sheets and almost tore the bedroom door off its hinges as she threw herself from the room.

Florence stared at her from the living room, toast in one hand, a cup of tea in the other.

Marta stared at the woman.

"Hi doc, I'm b... FUCKING HELL!"

Tea, toast, and cup flew in all directions as Marta hurled herself bodily into the woman's arms with a cry, "You bitch! Why didn't you tell me you were alright you ginger-haired, freckle-faced, fucking maniac!"

Florence laughed and picked the woman off her feet in a fierce hug, "I didn't want to wake you."

Marta looked up into her face and for the briefest of moments, she thought there might have been a wet glitter in those green, unreadable eyes. She swallowed, "Did you get him?"

"Aye, I put his head in the fridge, is that okay."

Marta stared, "You're kidding! I mean you are kidding right?"

Florence looked into her eyes silently for a long moment before grinning and squeezing her tightly and kissing her, "Of course I'm kidding. I forgot to take a bag so I'd nothing to carry it in."

...

Natassia walked with Susan on the beach. It was a beautiful evening, warm and clear. Behind them, the sounds of laughter and music could be heard, and the wonderful aroma of the barbeque was carried on the light breeze. The blonde had been withdrawn since her encounter with Tuco but other than that one shuddering nightmare she had suffered she appeared to be recovering.

As they looked out at the waves, Natassia took hold of Susan's hand in her own, "Susan?"

"Hmm?"

"Will you come to Italy with me?"

Susan looked at her lover, "Italy?"

Natassia looked almost bashful, "I've never been but I heard it was beautiful and romantic, and I would really love it if we could go there together."

"Is this your surprise?"

Natassia blushed, "Yes."

"I have a surprise for you too."

"Oh?"

Susan passed the girl a small dark blue box.

...

Natassia wore a spectacular smile when she showed off the velvet-lined box containing the ring to her friends. The ring looked old, and the band was engraved with a strange design. It looked like two hands holding a heart between them and set atop the heart was a crown. It was quite beautiful, and Natassia looked a little way across the beach at Susan as she walked along the shore looking out at the waves.

Helen, Kady and Margaret cooed over the ring, admiring its detail.

"Hey, that looks old."

"It's very pretty."

"Interesting engraving."

Natassia held the box up and gazed at it. "She got two, one for herself. They're both identical, isn't that romantic."

"Why don't you put it on?"

"I'm not sure, she said to wait a bit first and we could put them on together later. I think it's like a friendship ring or something."

"It's a Claddagh Ring."

Natassia and the others looked at Florence, "A what?"

The green-eyed woman sipped her drink and gave the girl a small smile as she looked at the ring and nodded. "Your Susan's maybe deeper than she lets on."

"Huh?"

"It's a Claddagh Ring. An old Celtic design, worn by the Irish, and sometimes the Scots. The hands represent friendship, the crown loyalty, and the heart is a symbol of love. How you wear it tells a story. I remember my mother had one."

"What story?"

"Well, you can wear it on either hand. If you wear it on your right hand with the heart pointing away it means you are single, but if you wear it with the heart pointing back towards you it means you are in a relationship."

"Aww... That's sweet. Hang on, you said you could wear it on both hands, what if you wear it on your left."

Florence smiled at her, "Ah well, if you wear it on your left hand with the heart facing you then it shows you are married, but Natassia if the heart faces away, it means you are engaged."

Natassia looked at the ring and swallowed, "Did... did she just give me an engagement ring?"

Florence smiled at her and gave a wistful little shrug, "I would suspect that's up to you."

...