The Secret Island (Ch. 01-03)

Author's Note: Set somewhere in the East China Sea, the story is rewrite of an older piece. The setting is fictional but loosely inspired by places in the region near the Korean peninsula and Japanese islands.

Chapter 1 -- Newlyweds

A vision flashes: of a sun dappled swimming pool by the sea with a young wife washing dishes at the sink, bay window overlooking the water, while a man whose face she cannot identify brushes her shoulder. She turns and smiles, but her eyes are empty as she stares over his shoulder into the roiling sea that has somehow surrounds them. It churns. Something dark swims underneath the surface but it bides its time. The man's face approaches hers but it remains blank and formless.

There is a roar in the background that keeps rising and rising.

A vast figure rose up from the ocean, towering over her and she stands before it, exposed and quaking. But it wasn't fear that permeates her, but something just as primeval. The roar turns into a shriek.

She is startled awake from the announcement to fasten seatbelts. The plane was about to land.

Her husband leaned over, "Are you okay?"

"It was just a strange dream," she replied, leaning her head onto his shoulder.

***

Jet lagged but giddy, the newlyweds grabbed their luggage from the carousel and tumbled out into the blinding sun.

She was taller than her husband and obviously a foreigner with bright blond hair tucked under a baseball cap and a ponytail. Jessica had a sleek runners frame, tall and athletic. In fact, she'd briefly been in a member of her high school track team but had never pursued it beyond that. Still, she still liked to run, muscled thighs stretching her white shorts. Her strapless top did little to camouflage her ample chest. Dozens of honeymooners swarmed around them, some of them staring curiously at the immodest American.

The majority of them had dark brown hair, slim figures, and the moderate statures of the mainland Asian populace. Many wore matching casual outfits and the same dazed look as cabbies and hawkers harangued them for attention in the busy exit zone of the airport. There were a few other foreign tourists, but even they were mostly from other Asian demographics. A skinny cabbie ignored her completely and solicited James Choi, her new husband, for his driving services in rapid fire local dialect.

Although her accent was rough, Jessica was still able to surprise the local when she spoke in their tongue to demur the services. "I'm sorry, but we have a rental car." The man took it in stride and moved on to other targets. Some of the other people nearby held their hands to their mouths and gossiped. It was closing in on the turn of the millennium but many people were still stuck in their old ways.

James gathered their luggage and went ahead toward the car rental office. He was a handsome man, having done well enough in sports that he had a decent physique; yet, he had a habitual shyness that made it difficult for him to interact with strangers. Hence, he was the one with hunched shoulders trying to avoid the stares and comments as Jessica followed along closely, her long, tanned legs flashing in the brilliant sunlight that poured through the airport's glass windows. He was the moon to her sun.

After checking in at the rental office, they loaded their bags into the small Korean sedan and drove off with Jessica navigating, map unfolded on her lap, while James peered around at the signs.

"I really don't recognize anything around here," he said. "It's been so many years."

"Take the next right, it will hit a highway that will take us around the island," Jessica pointed. "You were young. I barely remember my own grade school back in the States. I'd never expect to find my way around their either."

"It's just so strange to be back. I never expected it, and definitely not with a hot new wife," James smiled, squeezing her leg. She slapped his hand when it attempted to ride up her shorts.

"You're wrinkling the map!" she exclaimed. "Did you call your relatives ahead of time?"

"Of course, I borrowed the rental office phone. They've prepared a welcome dinner, so we can't be late. I'm sure grandmother had something to do with it," he winced. His eyes kept wandering to his bride's lovely figure.

"Jim, you're acting like this is our honeymoon. Keep your eyes on the road."

Ironically, they were probably the only newlyweds who weren't on the island for a honeymoon. They had taken theirs in Europe a few weeks before their arrival at James birthplace: the semi-tropical Tamru Island which the brochures insisted was a mini-Hawaii. There was no way Jessica was going to pass up the offer of renting a small villa by one of James relatives.

"I'm going to have to fly every week to the mainland. It's a short commute but I'll only be home for weekends..." The short commuter flight was relatively cheap and he'd be staying at a corporate long-term residence, part of the perks of his employment.

"Stop worrying. I'll be fine. The teaching job will keep me busy. With both of us working, we can set aside some money. Look at this paradise."

"For you, while I have to slave away in an urban sprawl," he jibed. She pinched him. A car honked when he accidentally turned down the wrong way onto the highway.

James had been barely more than a kinder-garden student when his mother had taken him from the island to move overseas. He really didn't have one place he considered a permanent home as they had travelled a lot, including Japan, Europe and finally the US where he had gone to university and met Jessica Martin, now Jessica Martin-Choi.

"Honestly, it almost feels like some parts of Irvine," Jessica remarked. Indeed, an influx of investment had meant the rise of luxury condos, shopping centers, villas, and tall apartment complexes that looked, from a distance at any rate, not much different than such in Orange County or similar upscale seashore communities in the States.

James whistled, "Wow. They really built things up, but my hometown is on the far side of the main island across a sea bridge. It's kind of isolated and from what I recall it wasn't this modern, but who knows."

Jessica took out her disposable camera and took snaps as they traveled down the highway. Traffic was light so it was an easy drive. The peak of the long quiet volcano that had formed the island group rose up in the distance. As they came closer to their destination, there were more pastoral scenes and some of the traditional lava stone fences, as well as some of the famed stone idols of various fertility gods that dotted the island. The landscape was mostly agricultural by this point. A string of students in matching uniforms and white caps walked along the side of the road, miles from any obvious school house. She leaned out the window and took a photo wondering if they were farmers' kids.

"We'll have plenty of time later to sight-see," James warned as his wife took in all the scenery with wide eyes.

"Aww. Can we stop just for a few minutes?" She pleaded as they crested a rise over a picaresque town nestled in a cove.

"Fine, we're almost there anyways, I can see the bridge from here. We just cross that and we'll arrive." He found a place to park. The sea breeze was stiff and refreshing. Jessica took a few more snaps, thumbing the manual advance wheel. She had more if this one ran out. He couldn't help but glance at his watch, but he conceded, "It's beautiful."

"Hey, look. They have some shops and stuff down there," Jessica pointed down the slope. She skipped down before James could object.

"All right, I guess we can spare some time. I just wanted to be early," he sighed.

She oohed and awed at the tourist junk being sold in the roadside stalls. The smells of battered food, fish and burning oil wafted down the narrow street. Jessica picked up a replica stone idol in the shape of a small man with a big head that resembled the tip of a phallus. She chuckled, "Is this what I think it is?"

The vendor, a wizened old matron, winked at James, "Good luck for happiness and babies." Other items on sale at the booth were various aphrodisiacs, male potency pills, ginseng, and similar items targeted at horny honeymooners.

"Heh, this place is already living up to its reputation," Jessica said sassily. She stroked the figurine.

Blushing, James put the item back in the display, "That's all marketing crap hyped up by the boosters."

"Yes, but isn't the island famous for having many more women than men? Must be really enticing for a guy, eh? You could start a harem." She batted her eyes.

"Hey! I only have eyes for you, hon. Most of the difference was due to fisherman being lost at sea due to typhoons and fifty years ago the wars took a big toll. It's not that bad now. Only a few still practice polygamy."

"Well, I read the women run the households in these parts, so there's that," she argued. She looked at the various people walking around the vendors. Something caught her eye. Her troubled look made James concerned, "Are you OK? Did you see something?"

Frowning, she shook her head, "No. I must have been seeing things. Never mind. It's not a big deal." She laughed. "No, don't look, you'll embarrass me. I already feel like an outsider in these parts." She pulled her cap tighter on her head and pulled him back to the car.

James already knew better than press her, but he glanced around to see what had startled her. All he saw were the shoppers, tourists, and townsfolk milling about the public area.

Jessica tried to remember the haunting sight: a tanned girl with long dark hair walking nude through the booths being ignored by almost everyone. It was only a moment, and the milling crowds quickly obscured the girl from view.

Probably some exhibitionist, she thought. She'd seen worse at rowdy nightclubs or drunken sorority parties back in her college days but something had struck her as strange even in this island known for its sexualized attractions, since its inhabitants were considered fairly conservative. Morality was strictly enforced by tradition, or so she had heard. Though there were tales of ancient shamanistic rites in many island societies of the region, she had no idea if any of them applied to this one.

Jessica couldn't help but think about that girl's confidence, and for the lack of a better word: grace. Jessica shook the image from her mind.

A rusty two-lane bridge connected the large island with one of the smaller ones where they would be staying. Already, she felt like they were traveling back in time, as the buildings on the other side seemed from a different era. It reminded her of the quaint old world villages in Italy or Greece though the construction was different. It was very rustic, which appealed to her as a change from the plastic modernity they had driven through earlier. At last, Jessica felt she had truly left her old world behind. The car's wheels thrummed as it crossed over to the other side.

Jessica was overwhelmed when they arrived at the grandmother's home, really a compound with a multistory main house and several other buildings.

There were dozens of introductions, passing of gifts that they had brought, and a lot of bowing to elders in succession that culminated with the three eldest women who seemed to hold court. The most senior was James grandmother, who appeared to be a wizened queen. The matriarch's firm grasp of her hand seemed to indicate her benediction, and the other members of the family who had seemed a bit tensed at first, smiled and gossiped freely.

One of the uncles, slightly stooped with scoliosis and a liver spotted bald pate, gave James a jealous thumbs up. Some of the youths were excitedly zooming about and pestering the couple. A silver haired grannie, one of the three matriarchs, barked orders, "Let them rest. We're having a feast tonight, we can talk more then. You two, shoo, go get unpacked."

After a short drive down a narrow island road, the couple had a chance to explore their new home. It was a surprisingly large place that resembled a hacienda with an inner courtyard, high walls and modern furnishings within view of the sea. They were renting it, at a steep discount, from an extended relative who had insisted on making sure the newlyweds were well accommodated. There was a short path down the hillside to the water although the rocky shore was unsuitable for wading or swimming. There were dangerous currents that swirled in the volcanic crags of the shoreline. Still, it was amazing, like having a beach house in SoCal which would be worth millions. Of course, the local market was probably a fraction of that.

"I had no idea your family was so important in this town," Jessica grinned. "This place is fabulous. Your grandmother's mansion was huge too."

He shrugged, "I wasn't old enough to notice it until now, but they're a big fish in a tiny pond. There are three families that are considered the elders of this place, so everyone knows them, even on the main island. When grandmother passes, I think they were hoping I would take over the ancestral homestead. Father never lived up to their expectations and there is no female matriarch to take the mantle after her in the younger generation."

"Why is that? What about the other two elders?"

"They're of the same generation as grandmother, so they can't really run things for long. A couple of my aunts passed away young, and the others simply are not interested, or moved away to the mainland. Plus some of the other family members don't like the idea of a man, never mind an Americanized one, taking over headship. It's a lot of pressure, from both sides." He seemed a bit grim for a moment.

"Wow, you sound like a prince in line for the throne."

"Some of the elders kind of think in those terms, yes. I'm surprised at the reception actually. They seem to be taking it well. Maybe times have changed after all."

"Thanks for bringing me into this little succession war without warning!" she joked.

"Don't worry, there aren't assassins waiting to remove the interloper who dares to threaten the blood line," he laughed. "I guess we watched too many old dramas."

They did some light unpacking before it would be time to return for dinner.

As evening fell, she had also been unsettled by the stares of some of the male relatives, but she refrained from mentioning this to her husband as they brought forth toasts, pouring soju from green bottles to each other, and she felt as if she had been appraised like a lamb at a market. The food was fresh and delicious although she could not identify half of it, nor did she quite want to.

The elders had also enjoyed teasing the new couple with innuendos all evening. The matriarch had even pressed a box of special "medicine" into her hands as a parting gift.

"It's natural tea. Drink this every night before bed, and you will have a happy husband," the elder had winked. James was given a case of male vitality herbs that he had accepted with an abashed expression.

Chapter 2: Settled Life

The weeks soon turned into months turned the early excitement into an endless routine. James spent a lot of time at work, sometimes not even coming back for weekends. She had little in common with the people on the island, even the other young wives had interests that did not coincide with hers. Her small class had a light workload and it was hard to tell if she was succeeding as a teacher.

Jessica would go jogging but didn't like the looks the men seemed to give her as they peered from their stoops or looked up from their work as she wound through the tiny streets so she found herself estranged to early mornings on back trails of the island she'd discovered. She'd stare at the twilight ocean that swirled ceaselessly against the shores looking for something that never rose. She could see lights out in the distance, of fishermen trawling the deep black sea.

She'd been having trouble sleeping, with odd nightmares that she attributed to the loneliness that had hit her with a sudden force, like a dread weight on her stomach whenever she made preparations for the night in the villa alone. Sometimes, their relatives dropped by with gifts or gossip but she found the company to be taxing rather than comforting and, sensing this perhaps, they had been visiting less often.

She fought a yawn from escaping her lips. She'd almost nodded off while the students had been working on an essay.

A commotion in the classroom startled her from her reverie. Myth or not, the students consisted mostly of girls with only a handful of self-entitled boys who sat in a group at the back and liked to cause trouble. Their awe of the foreign teacher had quickly faded and it was another item of stress Jessica had to deal with during her days.

As usual, it was the elder son of one of the big families in the town that was at the center of the new outburst. Groomed as an heir, he was a snobbish twat in Jessica's opinion. He also eyed her with open desire that had put her on alert. The island supposedly had a low crime rate, but she didn't trust his mercurial eyes. He was of legal age and would soon be eligible for military service but Jessica thought of him as a boy. He was certainly immature.

Two or three girls had begun tussling over something that he had dangled like bait on a lure. Jessica managed to restore order, confiscating the item. She could guess it was another game that Ahn, the troublesome boy, had conjured up for his amusement. It was a simple piece of jewelry: essentially a leather strap run through a hole of a stone decoration. The object itself was matte black and worn down, suggesting great age. It was clearly a phallic symbol. Sighing, she confiscated it and put it in a drawer as some of the students giggled. Ahn only stared at her with his coal black eyes; neither angry nor amused. In fact, he seemed satisfied.

"What the hell? It's just some piece of junk," she thought to herself. "Why were they fighting over it?"

She noticed that Yuna was observing her carefully, as if about to raise a question. She looked away when she saw Jessica had noticed her. Yuna had a striking resemblance to that pale girl she'd seen that first day on the island, but it couldn't be her. Yuna's hair, although princess cut in a similar way, was only to her upper shoulders. That other woman's flowing hair had reached the top of her buttocks. Of course, she could have cut it...

She pushed away her meandering thoughts and quickly forgot about the incident with the necklace.

A few days later she woke from yet another dream, sweating profusely. Her sheets were strewn about and her clothes were askew. She'd kicked off her bottoms and her shirt was halfway up her chest. Groggy, she sat up, wondering what she'd been doing in her sleep.

Jessica stared at her fingers, "God, I didn't? Did I?"

She wasn't a stranger to masturbation but she'd been doing it more than usual lately. James was away for too long. "I'm not one of those...am I? A frustrated wife? Shit."

It was warm and humid, summer still a few more weeks from turning into fall. She had a box fan turned up to full speed but it did little to help. She tossed aside the sweat stained shirt and padded, naked, to the kitchen for a glass of water.

Unable to go back to bed, she stepped out into the cool morning of the inner garden. It was still dark and the walls kept any neighbors from being able to see her so she felt safe sitting on the cool stone bench set out next to a koi pond. It wasn't stocked at the moment so its waters were still. She tried to settle down but the images from the dreams kept coming back.

"Am I going nuts?" she wondered. Her dreams had been filled with strange images: an amalgam of past lovers as well as new, recognizable, faces that disturbed her. She didn't find some of them attractive even as purely fantasy partners, never mind the hint of infidelity. "I shouldn't be cheating, even in dreams." She insisted to no one in particular.