Dim-Dims and Dugouts

7/31/2019 Dim-Dims and Dugouts

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Dim-Dims and Dugouts

The sun had just appeared above the sea when I awoke, turning it fiery with colours. Irolled over on my sago palm sleeping mat and listened to the sounds of the village.Mothers were awakening and lighting the cooking fires, pigs grunted as they looked forfood and my kitten, Sama, snuffled in her sleep. I hugged her close to me, feeling thewarmth from her silky black fur, spread through my chest. For many minutes I lay,comforted by the sound of the waves rolling onto the beach and the gentle breathing ofmy family. My brother Wesley lay on the mat next to me and my parents slept on theopposite side of the room. I had heard other grown-ups call them Jared and Judy, but tome they were just Mama and Papa.

Outside the cock crowed and my mama stirred. She sat up quickly, looking horrified at thelate hour. The movement awoke my father as well and he yawned, stretching his handsinto the air. My brother slept on. He is lazy and is always the last awake. Even though I amyounger than him, I still do more work.

The fire crackled as Mama poked it alight, sending sparks cascading into the air. Theylooked beautiful, like the sun on the water or stars twinkling against a sky as dark as squidink. I like squid, but we almost never have them, because they are hard to catch and theyare getting rarer. As I sat thinking about the delicious taste of calamari, a log on the firecrumbled, sending up a cloud of smoke. I coughed, my eyes streaming and realised mymother was talking to me.

Priscilla, she said turning her head, can you please get me some water from the well.We have none left.

Yes Mama, I replied, climbing to my feet. Sama grumbled as she snuggled into the warmspot left by my body. I smiled. She was so cute!As I stepped over my brother I nudged him with my foot. Wake up, sleepyhead, I hissedat him raising my leg to take the last step to freedom.

Wesley grabbed my ankle and I toppled like a coconut tree in a storm. Shaking withlaughter my brother tickled the sole of my foot. I kicked out and connected with hisshoulder.

Aaaoeeeeeiiiiiggggggghhhhhhh, he screamed. Mama, she kicked me.

Wesley, be quiet, my mother snapped. You deserved it. She turned to me, Hurry upwith that water, and next time, leave your brother alone. I know how to wake him up!

I bowed my head. Yes Mama, I said again. I grabbed the bucket from next to the doorand stepped out into the fresh air. I took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the oceanand the fragrant flowers that grew along the shore. The well was 200 metres from the hut,right on the edge of the village. Already a line of other children were waiting with bucketsfor their turn.

I waved to my friends. Hi Bala, Hi Zazi. I called bounding over to stand behind them atthe back of the line. They are both 7, the same age as me. Their older brothers are friendswith Wesley. We always ignore them because we know that all boys stink.

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They smiled back at me. Zazi leaned towards me. When you have done all of your chores,get away from your brother and come to the Hideout.

OK, I whispered softly. They grinned at me and turned back to the well.

The Hideout is a cubby that Bala, Zazi and I have found. A tree had fallen down manymoons ago and vines and brambles had grown up around it. When the tree rotted away, ithad left a hollow space tucked in the middle of a thick tangle. The main clearing or room,

is about the size of a medium-sized hut and there are lots of little passages and rooms offthe main area. The tree had fallen right next to a rock face and there is a passage thatleads from the centre room to the base of the rock and there we had found a little twistingcrack that leads right through the cliff and out the other side. The best thing about this isthat you couldnt see the opening from the other side unless you knew exactlywhere tolook. And so, if the boys are ever chasing us we could squeeze through the back door anddisappear from sight. The front door is a hollow log that we have to crawl through andthen we push through a curtain of vines and come to a series of passages. The right-handone leads to a little room, the centre one leads to the middle (the main area that we callBase) and the left-hand one leads to series of twisting passages that are all dead ends. Weonly found it a few weeks ago and we are busy clearing out all the dead wood.

Somebody prodded me in the back and I turned, jolted out of my daydream. Byron wasstanding behind me, Its your turn now. He said, tapping his foot impatiently.

Oh, OK. I said, hitching my bucket to the pulley. I heard the bucket splash into the waterand the weight increased. I yanked on the rope and slowly the bucket rose. My arms wereburning by the time it reached the top, but I gave one last effort and pulled it to safetybefore it dropped back down.

Priscilla, can you please move. Byron said from behind me. Youre holding up the whole

line. He sounded really annoyed now. I decided it was time to get out of there.

Sorry. I said, hefting the bucket. I hurried back to the hut, noticing as I did so that thesago palm roof was drying in the sun. It was no longer the green colour it had been a fewdays before when the thatch was changed, but a rich honey golden hue.

I stepped through the doorway and passed the bucket to Mama who was waiting for me.

She smiled, Thank you.

About time, my brother grumbled from behind me, obviously still bitter from before.

I turned and stuck my tongue out at him. He grinned cheekily and did the same back. Notto be outdone, I puffed out my cheeks, widened my eyes and then stuck my tongue out.Wesley scowled, but after a minute he brightened and wagging his behind at me, stuck hishead between his legs and smirked up at me.

Mama sighed gently and Papa chuckled quietly to himself. Wesley, he said to mybrother, after breakfast you can chop more firewood. I want the pile completelyrestocked. And then you can clean out the pigpen. And Priscilla, he said turning to me,after you have been up to the gardens with your mother, I want you to tidy the hut. Isthat clear? He asked sternly.

Yes Papa. We answered together.

He nodded, satisfied. Good.

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We sat down, cross-legged, and Mama handed round a half-coconut each. Coconuts areone of our main foods. We always eat it. I like the green ones best because they havenicer milk and the flesh is creamier. I only ate half of mine and then I put the rest aside toeat later. While Bala, Zazi and I have been clearing out the Hideout, we have been takingour lunch with us to eat. Our parents dont mind us not being at home for lunch as long aswe have done all of our jobs. I took the piece of red papaya that Mama passed me. I lovered papaya. The yellow one is good as well, but the red is a lot sweeter. Just then the

kettle whistled and Mama took it off the fire and passed around cups of ginger tea. I blewon mine to cool it down. If you drink the tea too quickly, it burns your tongue and then ithurts for the rest of the day. I took a tentative sip to see if it was cool enough. It was so Itook a big gulp. It is quite cold in the mornings and while the fire warms up the outside ofyou, it doesnt warm your middle. But tea does. I love feeling the warm tingle spreadthrough my body. Sometimes it makes me shiver even though its hot.

Papa finished his and set the cup down on the ground. Time for me to go, he saidcheerfully. See you for lunch. Or, he said with a twinkle in his eye, Ill see most of youfor lunch, I think.

He kissed Mama on the top of the head and ruffled Wesleys hair in passing, leaving mewith mixed feelings. He knows! I thought to myself in panic. But he didnt say anythingelse and he hasnt forbidden me to go to the Hideout. I argued with myself. Maybe he is onmy side and wont tell Wesley.

I blinked and with surprise realised Mama and Wesley were staring at me with concern. Imust have had a look of frozen terror on my face.

Are you OK, Priscilla? Mama asked, her tone worried.

Yes, yes, Im fine. I replied hurriedly. I didnt need more adults prying into my business.Mama might say I cant go.

Mama nodded and turned back to the washing up. Knowing that as soon as she wasfinished, we would leave for the garden, I scrubbed my face clean with warm water andpulled another t-shirt over my head. Wesley was heading out the door with the axe slungover his shoulder and a look of resignation on his face. I grinned. My brother hateschopping wood and he detests the pigs. Then my smile faded as I looked around the hut. Itwas very dirty. I hoped Mama wouldnt need me for too long up in the gardens, becauseotherwise I would never get to the Hideout.

Priscilla, are you coming? My mother called impatiently from outside the hut. Guiltily Igrabbed my basket and joined her.

The village gardens were situated high up on the mountain behind the village. From therethe women who worked could also watch for changes in the weather or boats on their wayto the island. If we were very lucky, a Dim-Dim boat might come. I had never seen a Dim-Dim before. The last one had been on the island before I was born. My Papa has told mestories about them. They come over the sea from far away. From a big land, far to thesouth. Instead of using a sailing canoe, they have big white boats that sit on the water likea bird. They have big masts, much bigger than the ones on our sailing canoes. Sometimes,there are little holes along the side of the boat that you can look through. Once my daddywent out to trade some coconuts and while he was waiting, he looked through a hole andsaw a box with moving pictures in it.

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I heard the whir of a cricket and saw a worm in the mud by my feet. The paths up to thegardens were like little rivers. When it rained (which was nearly always) water gusheddown and made it slippery and muddy. Looking up I realised that we were nearly at thegardens. There was just one more hard stretch and then an easy 50-metre walk. I reachedup and grabbed a well-worn hand-hold. Above my head was a tree branch. With my sparehand I hooked my basket over a twig and grabbed a rock on the opposite side of the path.This was a daily ritual. It was the only way to get to the gardens and it happened that thisrock face was right in the middle of the path. We couldnt even go around it because on

one side was a steep drop and on the other an impenetrable barrier of trees. All of thewomen climbed this cliff at least once a day. Maybe more if they had forgotten something.Coming down was easier because there is a sloping section of rock that has been wornsmooth by years of water flowing over it. At the bottom is a pile of sand, which has beenbrought up from the beach. To get down, we just slide down the smooth rock. It is so muchfun! It is my favourite part of going to the gardens. I pulled my self up the last bit and sat,panting, on the muddy ground. Then, I reached over the edge and unhooked my basketfrom where I had hung it. Sitting down on a rock I waited for my Mama to climb the cliff aswell. When she did, I continued up the path. I rounded the corner and stepped out into theray on sunlight that shone on the gardens. Women were at work everywhere. Some werebringing water from the stream that ran down the mountain. Others were fixing walls that

kept the soil spilling out, but most were weeding, planting or harvesting crops.

I followed Mama around the edge of the gardens until we reached ours. It is about the sizeof our hut and we grow taros, tapiocas, bananas, rose apples, sweet potato, yams andpaw-paws.

Priscilla, can you please weed around the paw-paw and banana trees. Mama said.

OK Mama. I answered kneeling beside the banana tree and pulling out a handful ofgrass. After finishing the trees I continued onto the yams and taros, freeing them of the

plants that were choking the life out of them. By the time the sun was about 3handbreadths above the horizon, I had finished. I got to my feet, stretching my achingback and feeling my knees cramp.

My mother looked over at me. You have done good. She smiled. I think you can go backdown now. Take a basket of bananas and some more paw-paws with you please.

Yes, I replied, happy at being able to finish this early. I still had plenty of time to tidy thehut and get to the Hideout.

I filled my basket with the chosen fruit and started down the hill. About 10 metres from the

top of the cliff, I veered of to the left and came to the top of the slide. Sitting down, Iplaced my basket on my knees and pushed off. It was a short ride, barely a few seconds,but thrilling all the same. I never tired of it. I flew off the end and landed on my backsideon the sand. Clambering to my feet, I continued down the path. Five minutes later Ireached the base of the hill and headed straight for home.

Setting down my basket on the table, I put on some water to boil and picked up a broom.Taking the sleeping mats outside, I hung them on a tree and beat the dust out of them.Leaving them to air in the sun, I then swept the floor, ridding the hut of spiders and bugs.When the kettle boiled, I washed the dirty clothes and hung them out to dry. Then I putthings back where they belonged and washed up the bowls from the night before. Finally, Ibrought the mats back inside and put them in their place.

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I glanced at the sun. All of that work had only taken me a short time. Happy, I grabbed mycoconut from breakfast, picked up a paw-paw and a couple of bananas and headed out thedoor for the Hideout at last.

Soon I was crawling through the log, splinters digging into my legs. I winced. We wouldhave to fix that. I came to the curtain of vines and ducked my head under the swingingleaves. Looking straight ahead, I followed the winding path to the centre, eager to escapeback to the world of fun. I burst out into the middle of the Hideout, startling Bala and Zazi

and making them shriek.

When they saw who it was, big smiles split their faces and they jumped on me and pinnedme down. Zazi tickled me and I fought back, gasping for breath. With a tremendous effort,I pushed her away and got to my feet. All three of us were giggling like crazy lunatics.

I paused for breath and heard the sound of a twig snapping and the soft sound offootsteps. I pulled Bala and Zazi down and clapped a hand over their mouths, stoppingthem laughing instantly. In quiet whispers I told them what I had heard and we went intoaction.

Zazi packed all of our stuff away, the food we had brought, baskets and woven mats,hiding it in a hole we had dug and covering the opening with strands of vine. Bala wentback to the front door to cover the opening with a mat of prickly thorns and to listen forfurther sounds. It was my job to guard the back door and this I did, weaving my waythrough hanging plants and dodging thorns. We had decided to keep the tunnel to theback door overgrown and as threatening as possible. We knew the way to go and couldget to the rock face very quickly, but anyone else would be overcome by thorns and thenumerous side passages that led off the main path.

When I reached the tunnel that led through the centre of the cliff, I slipped inside and

headed for a little cave at the end that was just big enough for me to stand without beingseen. From there I could see the bush that spread out around the rock face. I lookedcarefully, examining the flora for a sign of human life. Moving grass? A tousled head?Nothing. The back entrance was safe. Just to be certain, I quickly untied a rope that hungabove my head and watched as it silently released a tangle of vines and brambles that fellover the opening and hid it from view. I waited quietly for another few minutes, just incase anyone had seen the plants fall over the entrance. Then I slithered out of the caveand made my way back to the Base. Bala and Zazi were already there. I gave my reportand then Bala told me what she had heard.

She had got to the front door and covered it with the prickly mat without a mishap. Then,

she had waited for several minutes. Just as she was about to come back, she had heard aslight noise. It had sounded like a twig being brushed aside. She had frozen and waitedwith ears straining for something else to happen. It had. She had heard a low murmur ofvoices and distinctly heard my name. Then after another minute, someone else had saidher name. That was the last she heard because soon after, they left and the voices fadedaway.

We knew it was the boys and it worried us. We didnt want them to find the Hideout. It wasthe only place we could escape from them. I gazed at my friends, the worry clear in myeyes.

What are we going to do? I asked them. We cant let the boys find this place,

I know. Zazi said, as worried as I was. If they find us, well never have any peace.

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Oh, calm down, why dont you. Bala said leaning against a log and grabbing a bananafrom the pile. I dont think they even know we are here. They were probably just talkingabout us.

I relaxed, realising that she was right.

Of course, Zazi said in relief, they were probably just planning some trick to play onus.

I nodded and sat down. Why dont we clean up the Base today and make some morebarriers. The side passages are all done. We dont want to make them to easy to getthrough.

Sure. Bala replied, but lets have lunch first.

I picked up my coconut and lay back, looking up at the tangle of branches that blocked thesky. They were so thick no rain came in. The only problem was that it made it really dark.We couldnt come on a rainy day because it was so dark inside we couldnt see. We werein the process of building a fireplace and hopefully when it was finished it would bring light

to our darkened abode.

A shout went up from the direction of the shore and it was soon followed by a roar ofsound. I sat up quickly and looked around. Bala and Zazi were staring wide-eyed at me.

Quick, I gasped, jumping to my feet. The beach.

I hurtled down the tunnel with my friends close behind. Yanking open the thorny mat ofthe entrance, I flung it aside and climbed inside the log. I went as fast as I could, knowingmy friends were right behind me, but also wanting to get to the beach as soon as possible.

I emerged into the fresh air and waited impatiently for Bala and Zazi. As soon as theyclimbed out, I set off again, running for the beach as fast as my legs could carry me.Panting and breathless, I came in sight of the village and skidded to a stop at the back ofthe crowd that had formed. Bala and Zazi halted beside me.

Whats going on? What happened? I asked throwing my question at the kids that stoodaround me.

They replied in a babble of answers, falling over each other in their excitement.

What. What? I asked again, trying frantically to make sense of what they were saying.

Byron stepped forward. Dim-Dims have come. There are Dim-Dims in the bay. He criedin excitement, pointing out to sea.

The crowd parted as Bala, Zazi and I pushed our way to the front and stood gazing at thetwo boats that were sailing into the anchorage of our peaceful island. Dim-Dims had come.What a day this was turning out to be.

Suddenly the spell broke and I turned and ran back to the hut. This could be my onlychance to see Dim-Dims. I burst into the hut and saw Mama. She was waiting for me.

Are you going out to the Dim-Dim boat? She asked me.

I nodded.

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Good, take some fruit out to them. As she spoke, she grabbed a basket from the shelfand filled it with bananas, coconuts, paw-paws and rose apples. Handing it to me she saidsternly, Make sure you are polite and cheerful. Be a good girl and talk to them. Tell themabout yourself.

I nodded again, still too surprised by the appearance of the fabled Dim-Dims in our bay tobe able to talk much. My mother frowned.

This isnt like you Priscilla. Snap out of it.

Yes Mama. I said, my voice filled with joy as the spell of silence was broken. I steppedforward and gave my mother a brief hug, before turning and running out the door, thebasket of goodies clutched to my chest. Hurrying back to the beach, I threw my basketinto my dugout canoe and dragged it into the water. Grabbing the paddle, I pushed it outpast the breakers and climbed in, making sure nothing fell out.

Looking back at the shore, I saw that other people had the same idea and dugouts werebeing pushed in to the sea all along the beach. Just because I was young, it didnt mean I

couldnt talk to the Dim-Dims as well. If the adults and big boys came out, they woulddominate, and I wouldnt stand a chance.

I gritted my teeth and dug the paddle harder into the water. The canoe shot forward. Ipaddled with all my might. I would meet the Dim-Dims first and no one would stop me. Iglanced up at the boats. One seemed to be made from one canoe, whilst the other hadtwo side by side. Which one would I go to first? Just then, the Dim-Dim boat that had onlyone canoe dropped a smaller boat into the water and five Dim Dims climbed into it. Thenthe little boat started moving towards the other Dim-Dim boat. When it got there, they tiedit up and went onboard. I heard them laughing and talking.

One of the Dim -Dim mamas went inside and came out with cups and a pot. I gave one lastheave with the paddle and pulled up alongside the boat. The older girl came over to helpme tie up.

Hi, how are you? she said, passing me a rope.

Fine. I said shyly, tying it to the outrigger.

The other Dim-Dims came over and started talking.

Hello, Im Joanne. Whats your name? Asked the Dim-Dim mother that had come fromthe other boat.

Priscilla. I replied.

How old are you? Said the older boy.

I am 7, I said, starting to feel more confident. I brought you some fruit.

I passed up the basket and the girl with hair the colour of the sand, took it and put it onthe deck.

Thank you very much, one of the men said. We will enjoy these very much.

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A little boy was standing behind his mother, looking as nervous as I felt. Maybe he was shyas well. The fathers and the older boy had now gone over to the other side of the boat andwere talking to other people from the village. I saw Byron in his dugout holding onto theback of the boat.

The younger girl and the girl with sand-coloured hair disappeared back inside. They cameback a minute later with a pile of stuff in their arms.

Here is a colouring book and a pencil, said the younger girl, passing it to me.

Thank you. I said.

And here is a t-shirt and a lolly. The other girl said. I put the shirt in the bottom of theboat and the lolly in my mouth. I sucked on it and felt a warm glow spread through mybody.

The Dim-Dim mother from the boat I was on smiled at me. This is for you mother, shesaid, passing me a packet of rice and some tea bags. Can you please thank her for thefruit?

Yes, I said, and thank you.

Youre welcome. Oh, and Im Lucy. She replied.

Would you like to come up? The older girl said.

My eyes must have bulged with excitement because the older girl noticed my nervousnessand said, Its OK, youre welcome to.

I rested my paddle on the outrigger and climbed over the front, onto the steps.

I sat down on the seat and looked around nervously.

My name is Tilly, the older girl said. This is Sass, pointing to the young girl, Ella withthe sandy-coloured hair, Anthony the older boy, and Hugh the little boy.

Would you like to have a look around? The younger girl, Sass, asked me.

I nodded. Yes please.

I followed her and the girl with sand-coloured hair inside. They showed me their sleepingmats. They each had a sleeping room of their own. The seats were covered in soft mats. Ifthe seats were that comfortable the beds must have been even better. They had a bigtable and in the kitchen there was a hollow basin that water went into. The fire was in abox. Then we walked down into one of the canoe parts. There was another sleeping roomand the place where they went to the toilet. It was a magic box. You did what you had toand then pressed a button and it disappeared. In the other canoe was another sleepingroom and a place where they made hot rain fall so they could clean themselves. And therewas another box that kept food cold!

Then they took me outside and showed me more. There were ropes that criss-crossed andyou could lie in them and look down at the water. We went back to the rear of the boatand I realised everyone else from my village had gone back to the shore apart from myfather. He smiled at me.

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Hello Priscilla.

Hi Papa. I couldnt contain my excitement. Isnt it great!

Yes, it is. But come now, we must go back ashore. Dont worry, he said seeing mydisappointed look, Mark and the others will be coming in soon.

I nodded, pleased.

Priscilla, said my father, this is Mark and this is Peter.

I shook hands with the big men, relieved to feel calluses on their hands that meant theyworked for a living.

Papa said something to the men and then he climbed back into his dugout. I did the same,untying the rope and leaving it on the deck. Picking up my paddle, I glanced back over myshoulder at the Dim-Dims, still amazed that they were so nice. I wondered over theirstrange looks. Ellas especially. Her hair was such a strange colour. I had never seenanyone with sandy-hair. And her eyes were the colour of the sky. The rest of the Dim-Dims

didnt look as strange, apart from their teeth. Whoever heard of somebody with whiteteeth? Red or orange was the colour they should be. But then maybe they didnt havebetel nuts where they come from.

A shout from the shore made me look up. My brother was standing waving frantically atme.

I stood up. What? I yelled back at him.

He cupped his hands around his mouth. Behind you!

I spun around so fast that the canoe overbalanced. I tottered, trying to regain my balance.Just as I stopped wobbling, a bigger wave than the last, rolled under the dugout, and I fellinto the water with a splash. I surfaced, spluttering, choking on the salt water. I glancedback at the beach, wondering what had been behind me. I had been so busy trying not tofall that I hadnt managed to get a look.

Wesley was standing there, looking horrified. Then he turned and ran to the village, yellingfor help.

What was wrong with him?

A sound behind me made me turn my head. A sleek grey fin was slicing through thewater. My heart missed a beat. No wonder my brother had looked scared for me. Thedeadliest predator in the sea was churning the waves and he wanted me. I didnt panic. Ihad to keep my head. I glanced around. My father was still at the boat, talking to one ofthe Dim-Dims. With short, fast strokes, I headed for the canoe and attempted to right it. Itwas too heavy. Water was pouring in over the sides and the dugout was gradually filling.

I heard the sound of voices. Women were crying, children screaming and men yelling. Thewhole village was running down the beach. I saw a group of men rush for the canoes, butit was too late. The shark was upon me.

I saw its mouth open wide and could have counted its teeth if I had cared to stay thereany longer. But I didnt. I took a breath of air and dived underneath the wooden beams ofthe outrigger. The shark shot past where I had been moments before, going at an

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incredible speed. It halted with a flick of its powerful tail and turned again. I felt its skingraze my arm and heard the click of its massive jaw.

I closed my eyes and waited for the inevitable. There was no way I could escape this time.I tensed waiting for the impact and the agony that would soon come.

It didnt. I heard a roar and felt a shock thrill through the water. I opened my eyes. I wasntdead!! The shark was floating belly-up in the water, dark blood staining the waves. The

two Dim-Dim men had saved me. They had come in one of the little boats and shot themonster with a spear. They pulled the boat around beside me and helped me in.

I sat there, frozen with fear and shock, just as the men from my village paddled up. Two ofthem righted the canoe and towed it back to the beach. Another four examined the shark,while the rest crowded around the boat, thanking the Dim-Dims and making sure I was allright. I was taken back to the beach in a dugout, while the Dim-Dim men went back totheir boats to get the rest of their families.

As soon as I stepped out onto the beach my mother swept me into her arms. Dont youever scare me like that again. She whispered fiercely into my ear.

My brother stood next to her, his face pale. Im sorry. He said, trembling. If I hadntstartled you, you wouldnt have fallen in.

I hugged him. No, without you telling me, I wouldnt have known it was there and I wouldprobably be fish food by now.

I swayed on the spot and put a hand to my side. I felt a sharp pain in my ribs. My handcame away wet. I looked down with growing horror. Blood had congealed along the tornedge of my t-shirt. The shark must have got me in passing and the adrenaline and the

shock of the moment stopped me from feeling any pain.

Mama, I whispered. My sight blurred, then everything went black and the groundswallowed me up.

* * *

I awoke to a tumble of voices raised in high shrill shrieks and low, anxious rumblings. Itried to sit up. Instantly the sound ceased and I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked upinto the anxious eyes of one of the big Dim-Dims.

Just lay still. He told me gently.

I lay back down and realised for the first time that I couldnt feel any pain. I touched myside gingerly and felt a soft, stretchy swath of material. Someone must have bandaged mywound while I was still unconscious.

Vaguely, I was aware of the worried murmurings of the Dim-Dims. I heard one of thewoman say to the other, Theres nothing else we can do that will make a difference.Weve done everything we can, but I think she needs hospital help.

Their voices faded away as I realised that I was badly injured. Mindless panic rushedthrough my body and I had to fight hard to bring myself under control. I clenched my eyesshut and concentrated on taking deep even breathes. My mind drifted and I thought backto when I had awoke this morning. I would never have guessed what was in store for me.

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I gasped suddenly as a line of fire ran through my body. It felt like a machete had cleft mein two. My back arched as the pain grew and then it just stopped.

I felt cool hands on my head, forcing me gently back down. Something was slipped undermy tongue and I drowned into a hazy darkness.

* * *

Wesley:

I stood on the edge of the crowd and watched the people hustling around my sister. Thisdidnt even feel real. It was like a dream. I couldnt believe this was happening.

I glanced down the beach where my uncle was cutting up the shark. The fin would be soldto the Japanese market in Alotau. There it would be sent to an expensive food stall to bemade into soup. The skin would go to someone who made clothes and the teeth would bekept for necklaces.

I wandered over to him. What type of shark is it? I asked in a disinterested voice. I

wanted to know so that I couldI dont know, get revenge? I wanted the knowledge ofwhich shark had done this to my sister.

My uncle glanced up swiftly, not deceived by the tone of my voice. A mako, one of thebiggest Ive ever seen. His face softened. You did a good job telling your sister it wasthere, Wes. Without your warning, she would be in a worse condition than she is now. Hemust have seen the spasm of pain that shot across my face, because he glanced furtivelyaround before pushing something into my hand and saying in a low voice, here, this is foryou. Give it to your mother. Shell know what to do with it and shell help you.

He turned away abruptly and went back to his work. I slipped whatever he had given meinto my pocket. He hadnt wanted anyone to see it so I wouldnt either.

I ambled back up the beach just in time to see my sister awake. I stood on the fringes ofthe beach, in the shadows of the growing dusk. I heard Priscilla shriek in pain and saw awild, mindless look in her eyes as her back arched with the fire that was racing throughher body. The crowd shifted closer and I lost sight of her.

Just then it occurred to me that there were no children in the huddle of people around mysister. It was the village elders and the priest as well as a few men and women. My mouthgrew dry as I wondered why this was. Instantly I had to wrench my thoughts away from

such a grim suggestion and I turned and hurried away.

I walked and walked, lost in the turmoil of thoughts that spun around my head like a waterdevil. I wasnt thinking about where I was going but my feet must have remembered thefamiliar path, because they carried me past the village and up the side of the mountain.Soon I heard the murmur of voices and knew that they had all come to discuss recentmatters. The adults must have banished them from the beach.

Before going any further, I stood on the cliff top and gazed at the horizon. The sun wasslowly bleeding, turning the sapphire waters into a fiery red, the same colour it had beenthis morning.

I turned and continued along the rocky ledge. After a dozen paces, I came in sight of theentrance to the kids cave. This wasnt like the little hideout place my sister and her friendshad found. The one they didnt think I knew about. Maybe if they didnt talk so loud This

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was a huge natural cavern, big enough to hold thirteen of our huts. It had several rockycrevices that were large enough to fit five children each. Off to the side, a little waterfallsplashed down the mossy stone and tinkled along the floor in a natural basin it had carvedout of the black rock. In the middle of the grotto a hollow had been dug out of the groundby long-dead hands. Here we had made our fireplace. A hole in the roof opened onto theheavens and allowed the smoke to filter out, disappearing into wisps impossible to see asit was hidden by a tangle of brambles.

None of the adults knew of this place. Only the kids were allowed. Of course, in a fewyears the adults would know when the older children left our ranks and became boringgrown-ups. This place had been found by Byron, six moons ago and it had been the homeof many a game since.

I had lingered by the crack that led inside while these thoughts rushed through my head,but now I stepped out of the shadows, into the dusky orange glow that shone downthrough the skylight.

Instantly, all talk ceased and as one, heads turned to look at me and rustling filled thecavern as children shifted for a better look.

Joel, one of the older boys, stepped forward, out of the still ranks and strode forward untilhe was close enough to scrutinise my face. What news? he asked me, his normallymischievious voice darkened by the gravity of the situation.

The look on my features must have been answer enough, but I answered for the rest ofthe children as well.

Not good. I fought to keep myself under control as I swallowed past the lump in mythroat. The elders and the pastor are with her now.

Shock appeared on Joels face but he quickly exchanged it for a calm, neutral look. Heknew that the rest of us looked up to him. He also knew that if the pastor was there, thechances of survival were pretty slim.

I pushed that thought away savagely. I had to stay positive. In the dim background, Iheard Joel telling the rest of the kids what had happened. I collapsed into a corner andwatched the play unfold.

My sisters best friends, Bala and Zazi, were crying into each others arms and I sawseveral other girls in hysterics.

My best mates Michal and Zac were hurrying towards me, weaving through the throng ofchildren.I knew that they were coming to check on how I was holding up. They were good friends,but right now I didnt feel like talking to anyone.

Before they reached me, I turned and slipped into a crevice that led away from the maincave. I followed the twisting turns until I felt a breath of fresh air on my skin. Slithering likea snake, I struggled out of the thin crack in the rock.

I scrambled up a boulder, hanging on tight with my hands. I climbed with a mindless fury,my thoughts focused on one thing. To get away from the nightmare today had become. Ireached the top of the rock and crawled to the middle. Glancing down through the hole, Isaw the cavern I had just left.

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Joel, Byron and the oldest boys were huddled in a corner deep in discussion. Several otherboys were lighting the fire and a line of girls were over by the waterfall in the kitchen.The kitchen was a corner of the cave that very conveniently had many handy holes in thewall to store things. A low rock wall ran around three sides and this was used as a table.

We had petitioned the adults to let us have one night a week where we could be out lateand they wouldnt come looking for us. They had been more than happy to agree, so longas we supplied our own dinner.

So we had. The way I had just come up the rock was the trail that we all used. Us boyshad brought buckets of soil up here and in a little hollow, we had made a garden. It wasthe younger girls job to care for the garden and the older girls cooked dinner once a week.Byron and Joel, along with the older boys would sometimes go out fishing.

I sighed as I turned away from the view. I didnt want to hang around here any longer. Ishivered. There was a chill wind blowing from the south. Suddenly, I couldnt wait to getback inside the warm cave. As I turned away from the hole, I got a face-ful of smoke. Icoughed and the sound must have travelled because, Sophia, one of the oldest girlsglanced up from the kitchen.

Wesley, she called, her low voice carrying.

I peered back down. Yea?

A few other kids looked up, but they were so used to people calling across the room thatmost didnt even notice anymore.

Can you please bring me some sweet potatoes down

I nodded once and she turned away.

* * *

Sophia:

I watched Wesley move away from the hole in the roof. He was quickly swallowed up bythe purple twilight.

I sighed as I turned back to my work. Poor kid. It was harder on him than anyone else. I

didnt want to ignore the fact that his sister had just been attacked by a shark and mightnot survive, but he didnt need to dwell on it. I wanted to distract him so he didnt have tothink about it too much.

A sound near the entrance made me turn my head. I wasnt the only one. The sound wastoo loud to be one of us. And I was right.

Silhouetted against the stars, the pale figures of the Dim-Dim children stood, lookingaround curiously at the bustle.

A wisp of silence threaded its way through the cave as one by one children fell silent. TheDim-Dims looked around, surprised and uncomfortable with the less-than-friendlywelcome.

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Limping slightly, I picked my way through the undergrowth, back towards the caveentrance. It was hard to see it in the dark, but I knew this area so well, that I couldprobably find it in the middle of the night with my eyes closed. Luckily though, there wasno need for that.

I squeezed through the bushes, grimacing as thorns pulled at my skin and making mesmart and sting. The graze on my knee burned as it rubbed against a rock and a tear onmy arm dripped blood.

I stumbled and fell again. My leg banged the ground and the dust that I had disturbedsettled all over me, worming its way into my cuts.

Sighing I got to my feet and brushed myself off. Using my ragged shirt as a bag, I gatheredthe potatoes and rounded the last rock. I slipped in between the crack in the cliff andfollowed the passage back to the centre. I emerged into the cave, standing between thelight and the dark. The middle of the cavern was lit with flickering warmth from the fire,whilst the outside was hidden by shadows that crept through the darkness, seeking toconquer the light.

I was startled by a voice in front of me. It came from a tall pale figure standing in front of asilent crowd. With a thrill of shock, I realised that it was the eldest Dim-Dim boy. The restof the Dim-Dim children stood next to him. I scanned the cave for the white parents,thankfully finding that the children were alone.I wondered how they had found the cave. Then I saw Byron standing in the gap betweenthe Dim-Dims and the rest of the kids and realised that he must have brought them here.

I heard Joels words echo around the cave as he declared the Dim-Dims could stay, but towait for me.

I hurried forward, not wanting to miss anything. Im here. I said. You dont have towait.

* * *

Priscilla:

I was sinking into darkness. Pain. Agony. I was alone. Completely and utterly alone. I knewthat I was dying. And that when I left this world, I would be even more alone. No one could

travel with you into the black void. From the mightiest chief to the lowliestdog?Everyone was by themselves when they went.

Despair gripped me like the fire that controlled my body. My mind was a hazy pool of ink.Blacker than the darkest night. A dark, brooding evil night.

I screamed, a mindless sound that resonated through the recesses of my aching limbs. Itdug deeper and deeper as I sunk further away from the bright world above.

I was at the end of a dark tunnel. Only a thin sliver of light showed at the other end.Behind me, all I could see was the blackness that was rapidly swallowing me up. I knew, assure as my name was Priscilla, that when the light from the far end was gone, that I wouldcease to exist.

It was close now. I could feel it.

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* * *

Wesley:

As I stepped into the circle of light, cast from the fire, the youngest Dim-Dim girls jumpedin surprise and the little boy looked around fearfully.

Joel stepped forward thankfully. Wesley. He greeted me.

Sophias eyes widened in shock as she took in my bedraggled appearance and a murmurgrew from the other children. What happened to you, Sophia gasped.

I fell over. I grimaced as my knee stung. Instantly, she took charge.

Come with me. Sophia commanded, grabbing my arm and dragging me over to thespring.

As I looked back over my shoulder, I saw the eldest white girl take something out of herbag and hand it to the girl with sandy hair, speaking to her in a low voice. She nodded andwalked over to where I was getting the life scrubbed out of me.

Excuse me. She said to Sophia but I have some medicine here that might help. Shecrouched down next to us and opened a small bottle. As she poured the liquid onto mycuts, she talked to Sophia. I listened with one ear as I watched the other Dim-Dimsaddress my friends.

The eldest Dim-Dim girl spoke. Now that Wesley is here, we want to tell you something.

She turned to the mass of children that stood, jostling each other. Our parents are talkingwith the chief and the elders about Priscilla, but they said we could come looking for you.We have something to give you.

She knelt on the floor and opened her bag. The other Dim-Dims stood next to her, takingwhat she passed them. The younger girl grabbed a plastic bag and started handing thingsto the little boy who then distributed them among the crowd. The elder boy took a bag andwalked over to talk to Joel. I saw him hand the bag to him and watched as he opened itand peered inside. He said something to the Dim-Dim in a low voice.

The Dim-Dim girl with the sandy hair smiled at me. Ok, you can go now. I bounced to my

feet and as I got up, the potatoes that I had completely forgotten about, tumbled out ofmy shirt and onto the floor.

Sophia knelt. Thanks for getting these, Wesley.

Thats fine. I replied, my eyes on the crowd. I turned away from Sophia and walked overto the Dim-Dims.

As I reached them, the eldest girl spoke. Wesley. We waited for you for a reason. Ourmothers helped us make toffee this afternoon to give to everyone, but they also gave ussomething for you.

The Dim-Dim girl handed me a box. I thanked her shyly and then peered inside. Therenestled like an egg in a nest, lay a shiny bottle-thing. I had never seen anything like it. Iwondered what it was.

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I looked up at the Dim-Dim girl, eyes wide as I waited for her to say something.

Its a torch, she said by way of explanation. But you dont need batteries for it. If youshake it, it charges itself. Here, Ill show you.

She took it from me and shook it vigorously, before pressing something at the side. I thinspear of light shot through the dark, catching people by surprise. The girl turned it off and

then gave it back to me.

Thank you so much. I stammered out.

She smiled at me and the little Dim-Dim boy took her hand nervously. Youre welcome.

I turned to leave but was stopped by a call. Wait. Hughie has a toffee for you.

The little boy handed me a shell and I realised that there was something in it. Lick it. Hesaid.

I did as he asked and was surprised as a sweet tingle spread over my tongue. The girllaughed as she saw my face.

Nice, isnt it?

I nodded.

* * *

The Searching Spirit:

Searching. Drifting. Flowing over the water. Land! Lights shone. Fires flickered. The sweetbreeze that circled the earth surrounded me, filling my senses with memories of deserts,mountains, and snow filled ranges.

I was stuck. Stuck in this form until I had fulfilled my debt. I had only one more life to saveand I would be returned to my body.

Many millennia ago, I had been a genie; a gift-giver, a wish-fulfiller. Then, I had fallen foulof a Svike, a being that was half-man/half eagle. Instead of filling his cave with yellow

gold, a fortune to rival a king! something had gone wrong, and I had flooded it with honeyinstead. And all of the bees within 100 leagues had been drawn to the sweetness. I stillremember the Svike glaring at me from beneath the stickiness and the bee stings.

Svikes have an incredible temper and this one was the worst of them all. He had broughta terrible curse down on me that meant I had to save 1000 lives before I could be returnedto my body. Until then, I was stuck as a mere wisp of thought, echoing down through theages. For over 20000 years, I had been slowly fulfilling my debt. And I was so close.

I floated over the sand that surrounded this island somewhere in the SouthernHemisphere. There! Just in front of me, appearing over the curve of the earth, I sensed afading life. This would be my last life to save and then I would be free.

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* * *

Wesley:It was late when I left the cave. The Dim-Dims had gone a long time ago. Back to theirfloating canoes. Most of the other children had left right after dinner. I had stayed, talkingwith Michel and Zac.

I felt a rush of cool air on my face as I stepped into the fresh night. The stars shonebrightly but the moon was blotted out by a dark shadow. A bad omen. I headed down thepath, back to the village. Slipping between the twisting shadows, I reached my home andbrushing aside the curtain over the door, entered the blackness.

I felt around in the dark, trying to locate my sleeping mat. The floor was clean, no coconuthusks or rocks. My sister must have cleaned it that morning. I thought back. Of course,Papa had punished both of us for being silly. Ooops! I had forgotten to clean the pigpen. Ihad been distracted by the arrival of the Dim-Dim boats and then the shark attack.

I sighed as I lay down. It had been such a weird day. It had started off like normal but then

everything changed. Putting my hands behind my head, I gazed out the door at the sky.Only a few stars showed. The rest had disappeared behind a veil of clouds. I rolled over onmy side and fell instantly asleep.

* * *

I was awakened by a rush of wind and the sound of voices calling. I sat up blinking, tryingto get the sleep out of my eyes. I was still confused by the haziness of sleep.

Mama. I called. Papa?

No one answered. Suddenly afraid I stood up, squinting through the darkness. I pushedthrough the door, trying to make sense of what was happening. A gust of wind nearly blewme off my feet. Staggering, I grabbed hold of a tree to support myself.

Somebody ran past. I cried out, desperate to know what was going on. The figure stopped.

Wesley? A voice asked in surprise.

It was my mother.

Mama. Whats happening? I shouted over the roaring sound of the wind tearing throughthe trees. A coconut fell at my feet and I stepped back.

One of the Dim-Dim boats has dragged and is almost on the reef. The men have gone outto help. And tree has fallen on the pastors house. She yelled back.

Is anyone hurt? Please dont let anything else bad happen. Please. Please. Please.

Not that I know off. But I have to go. Some other houses are leaning dangerously in thiswind. If you want to help, you can get the children on the beach. Theyll be safe fromfalling trees. Mama turned to leave.

Wheres Priscilla? My question stopped her.

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She turned with a sad sort of smile on her face. At your uncles. Then she was gone.

I stood rooted to the spot for a moment before remembering my mission. Uprooting myselfbefore I got blown over, I raced away, through the village. The first children I found wereAila and Alon three year-old twins.

I grabbed their hands and headed towards the beach, collecting two year-old Malli, her

sister Elia and their cousins Rena and Kino. None of them were older than five and theyhad awoken to find their parents gone and the storm raging around them.

As I passed the last house before the beach, I met Bala. She was standing open-mouthedat the chaos. When she saw me, burdened with children, she picked up her little sister;Liza aged three and came to meet me.

Where are you going? She asked over the wailing of the twins.

Im taking them to the beach. I shouted back in reply. Can you come and help me?

She nodded and grabbed Emmas hand, following me towards the sand.

I found a large rock and set everyone down. The children huddled together and I took Balaaside.

You stay here and look after these lot. Ill go back and get as much help as I can.Without waiting for a reply, I turned and sprinted back towards the village.

Just as I reached the trees, I stopped and looked back out over the boiling sea at the Dim-Dim boats. Lights shone over the water and figures were moving. Canoes surrounded the

boat with only one part. A tumble of voices drifted over the waves. I didnt botherwatching any longer. I had a job to do.

While the forces of Mother Nature battled around me, I searched through the village,moving children out of harms way. I was soon joined by other, Joel, Zazi, Byron, Sophia.Together we helped the little ones to escape from our destroyed village. Soon the beachwas packed. Those able, the elder boys and the adults were rushing through the villagegetting family out of huts.

Finally, we all gathered on the beach. Joel and Byron did a head count and Sophia tendedto wounds.

I stood up the front. Is everyone here? I called. Are we missing anyone?

There was silence for a few minutes while they crowd sorted themselves, looked forfriends and family. Nothing.

Good. I began. Now w..

I was stopped by a shout from the back. A feeling of panic spread through the crowd andhustling broke out.

What is it? Joel called from next to me. Who was that?

A tear-stained face emerged from the gloom. Wheres Samuel? Wheres my brother?

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* * *

Priscilla:

As I drifted further away from the light, I began to think less clearly. My thoughts becamefaded and fuzzy, as if I was asleep. Somehow, I knew that this was the beginning of thelong sleep from which I would never awake.

Only a tiny pinprick of light still showed. It shone like a firefly, like the stars, like athousand sparks from a giants forge.

There, I was befuddled, speaking in riddles, turning myself around and around like a dogchasing its tail, or like my kitten Sama, tangling herself in a ball of wool.

Sama! With a jolt I remembered my kitten, my brother, my parents and my friends.Everything I was leaving behind.

I began to struggle. Fighting to reach the light. I strained against the invisible bonds that

held me, that bound me in this place of darkness. Pain cut into me like a knife, only thispain was inside me. In my heart. I didnt want to leave my home. I wanted to stay hereforever and ever. Even though I knew that it wasnt possible to live forever, I wasnt readyto go yet. I fought as hard as I could, but I was weak, drained of all strength.

I slumped, panting for breath. It was no good. I just wasnt strong enough. With a suddenflash of hope, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, flare into brightness. Maybe mybattle had succeeded.

But no, as quickly as it had come, the light faded and then dwindled away into nothing. I

was alone. Alone in the utter darkness of death.* * *

Wesley:

Chaos reigned. Children were running. Screaming. Searching for little Samuel. I sighed.This was making my head hurt. I stood up.

Be quiet! I thundered at the top of my voice. Instantly, everyone stopped and looked atme in shock.

I turned to Joel and Byron. Ill go and look for Samuel. The rest of you stay here.

Wesley Joel stepped forward. Maybe I had better go.

No. I replied fiercely. I have to do this.

For a moment I though he was going to stop me, but then his eyes darkened and henodded.

I pushed past him and disappeared into the trees. Running through the village I headed forthe far end where Samuel and his sister lived. When I got there however, the house was inruins and there wasnt a sign of life.

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Panic rose in me. Where was he? I had to find him. I sprinted through the devastation,searching for a little figure. The village was empty now. The women had gone to the beachand the men were at the Dim-Dim boats. I was alone.

Frantically, I looked everywhere. His grandparents house, the church, even the pastorshouse but little Samuel had disappeared.

Finally I stopped, exhausted and frustrated. Where could he be?

Suddenly, I heard a scream from the direction of the trail that led to the kids cave. A chillran through me. Surely he wouldnt have tried to climb the rocks in this wind? It wasdangerous enough coming back down in the dark, let alone in the middle of a storm.

I found an extra ounce of speed as my feet carried me through the tangle of fallen trees. Idodged a log that lay in my way and then splashed straight through a puddle. I reachedthe foot of the steep path and halted for a second, wondering what I was to do now.

A massive tree, dark and wrinkled with age, its bark stripped and its branches droopinghad fallen right at the base of the rocks. I didnt need to check to know that there was no

way over it. The trunk loomed above me, slippery and straight. Not even a cat would beable to get a paw hold on that monster. There was no way around either because it fellaway into a deep crevice on both sides.

I slumped to the ground in defeat, lying amidst the dirt and the mud, the torn leaves andthe sharp rocks. A worm wriggled past, not a care in the world. I lay face down in thegrime and cried. After a few minutes, my breath started to come in racking sighs as Ibegan to come to my senses.

Sitting up, I wiped the mud out of my eyes and looked around. Maybe Samuel had come

this way. My hopes were dashed as I heard another shrill scream from beyond the fallentree.

As I stood up, my eye caught a glimpse of light, coming from beneath the trunk. Crouchingdown, I peered underneath a branch. The tree had fallen so it was lying on two rocks,which lifted it off the ground. There was a thin space between the trunk and the ground,making just enough room for a small boy to wriggle through.

I lay down on my stomach and pushed myself forward with my feet. Panting with theeffort, I wriggled and squirmed underneath the mass of timber that lay above me. Finally, Iwas out the other side and I got to my feet, and stood, caked with mud.

A faint light grew in the east as I headed to where I head heard the scream. Dawn wasbreaking.

Samuel. I called as I walked. Samuel, where are you? Every few feet I stopped andlistened waiting for a reply.

Finally, I heard something. A thin voice, weak and trembling echoed through the trees.Here.

I came to a halt in front of a large overhang. A sago palm tree had fallen and blocked theentrance. Its roots lay twisted in the air and the once glossy leaves dangled limplybeneath the trunk.

Samuel? I asked tentatively. Are you here?

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The answer took an age to come and when it finally did, it was a broken word, choked outwith effort. Yes.

The voice came from beneath me. Glancing down, I leapt back in shock, a gasp ofsurprise escaping from my lips.

A shallow depression had formed underneath the tree trunk, probably from the rain. In this

basin, curled up like a wounded animal, lay Samuel.

He looked up at me with terrified eyes. I want my mama. He sobbed. I want to gohome.

I knelt down beside him and soothed in a calm voice as I scraped away the dirt. He wasonly just trapped. The tree was caught on another branch and it was by a lucky chancethat Samuel had escaped serious injury.

As I dug around him, he helped by pushing the dirt away with his feet and hands. It waslong and tedious work but as the sky lightened, I could see that he was nearly free.

Eventually, with Samuel kicking and wriggling, the little boy was free. He fell into my armsand started to cry. I said nothing, just picked him up and started walking back to thevillage, as the first rays of the sun appeared over the horizon.

* * *

The Searching Spirit:

At the end of a dark tunnel, I felt the flickering light force fade. Suddenly, it was gonealtogether. I felt a rare panic. I had to save this one. I needed this life.

I hurtled along the dark tunnel, going so fast, that I was stretched out like snake. I reachedmy goal, just as the last traces of consciousness started to disappear.

I twined around the spirit of the young girl, feeding her with my own life force, making herstrong again. With each life I had saved, I had grown a little stronger, had a little moreenergy. The first person I had saved, had nearly taken too much from me, but now, I wasat the height of my power.

I flooded the girl with life, feeling it pour into her very fibre. She would soon be verystrong.

Finally, she was so full of life that she was close to overflowing. I broke the connection andfelt myself being drawn away, back to the body I had been fighting for.

I smiled to myself. I was glad that I had saved this one.

* * *

Priscilla:

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I opened my eyes to a glorious sunrise. Colours flooded the island, making it glow likenever before. I caught my breath at the sheer beauty of it. I was glad I was alive to witnessthis.

I frowned to myself. I had been in a dark tunnel. Alone and dying, because of the sharkthat had attacked me.

I put a hand to my side, expecting to feel the pain that came from the slice the monsters

teeth had made in me. Nothing.

I sat up quickly. Scrabbling under the blankets, I lifted the edge of my shirt. Nothing. Noteven a scar showed on my brown skin.

The thing that had come to me just as I entered that dark place that I could only dimlyremember must have completely healed me.

I lay back and drifted off on the waves of sleep.

* * *

Race you to the beach. The call came from Bala. I grinned as I drew level with her. I wasa week since the shark attack and I was fitter than I had ever been before.

Everybody had been shocked at my swift recovery, but extremely pleased to have meback. Especially Wesley, who had been doing all of my jobs and rarely left my side,convinced that it was his fault the shark had got me.

The village was slowly being rebuilt after the terrible storm. I was glad that I hadnt been

awake to witness it, especially as I wouldnt have been able to do anything. The Dim-Dimboats had been slightly damaged by the storm but had now been repaired. And Samuel,the boy who my brother had heroically rescued at the risk of his own life, was fine.

I looked up, focused on the race. Bala was behind me. I didnt have to worry about her.Zazi, however, was several lengths in front of me. I put on an extra spurt of speed,amazed at the strength I had. Just as I stepped onto the sand, I passed my friend.

Yes! I punched my fists into the air and then fell laughing onto the ground. Beat you.

The others collapsed next to me, panting. Wow, Priscilla. Youre so fast. Bala gasped

between breathes. No-one would think you had been attacked by a shark a week ago.

Girls. The voice came from behind us.

We looked up quickly to see the Dim-Dim mothers, Lucy and Joanne standing there.

Lucy smiled at us. You are looking well, Priscilla.

I smiled back. I know. I feel great.

Joanne nodded. We are going soon, but we have something for you.

Youre leaving? Zazi asked. Are you going to come back and see us again?

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Maybe, but probably not this year. Jo pulled something out of her bag and handed it tome.

I gasped as I saw it was a beautiful dress. It was the colours of the sun and covered it littlesparkly things. Thank you so much. I said, blushing in amazement that anyone wouldever give me something so amazing. I love it

Its a get well present that you obviously dont need. You look better than when we first

saw you. Lucy said. She turned to Bala and Zazi. Here is a necklace each for you.

Thank you. We all said together as they turned leave.

It is our absolute pleasure. They replied.

I had indeed got a lot of gifts this week. Papa and Wesley had given me a necklace carvedout of the biggest tooth from the sharks mouth. Mama had made me a new basket andthe biggest surprise was from all of the kids. They had organised a party in the cave withlots of food. Everyone had given me something. I had got fish, fruit, flowers and a carvedcoconut from Byron. But the best present was that I was alive and with my family and

friends.

I turned to my friends, glowing with happiness. Come on. Lets go to the Hideout. I said.And we raced off into the sunset.

* * *

The Sahara Desert:

A man stood, high on a sand dune. He was looking across the rolling dunes at the setting

sun. The colours melted into the desert, burning the yellow into crimson fire, lacedthrough with scarlet and orange and at the very centre, black.

As the last colours disappeared, and changed to a silky blackness, the man wavered andfaded as well. The Searching Spirit was getting his wish. He could now go where hewanted instead of being at the mercy of the winds. He could experience the joys of eatingand sleeping, something he had not been able to do for eons. The man now known asAmal could feel the fire of heat, the burn of icy coldness. He loved and felt pain. And hewas happy.

The End

Dim-Dims and Dugouts

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Transcript of Dim-Dims and Dugouts