Tarana and the island of immortality. Michel Montecrossa

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      Then both of us ate. I was at peace and felt a golden current of life flowing within me.

      Without thinking about it I had become much calmer and relaxed.

      I finished my meal, warmed by the rays of the rising sun.

      I had a clear plan.

      I took another sip of water then stood up, packed my bundle together and walked over to the steep slope that led down to the coast. The squirrel followed me and jumped onto my shoulder.

      I felt strong and rested.

      I took the spyglass and aimed it at the Mayflower II. I could see that several dinghies had been lowered into the water. I supposed that a search was being started for me in the desperate hope that I would still be alive and floating somewhere on the ocean.

      I was happy because this strengthened my resolve to follow the plan I had formed.

      I heaved myself unceremoniously over the edge of the slope and slid down over pebbles and sand followed by the nimble squirrel.

      When I reached the bottom, I scrutinized the sandy beach, which here formed a small bay. And indeed I found what I needed to put my plan into action. Not far away I spotted some large pieces of wood that the storm had torn from the forest edge.

      I immediately got to work. I gathered several large and medium-sized pieces and tied them together with my rope to form a small raft. It was just big enough to enable me to lay the upper half of my body on it and it offered secure handholds for me to cling to.

      With the help of the raft I might be able to reach the Mayflower II – this was the plan that had formed in my mind as I sat by the pile of fruit. In the bay the water was fairly calm but further out on the coral reef I would have to deal with larger waves, which I hoped the raft would help me overcome.

      When I had tied the wood together tightly, I paused and said a quiet prayer. The squirrel was sitting next to me.

      Then I stood up and waded into the water. The first meters were quite shallow. I carried the raft and, as the water became deeper, I put it down and let it float.

      The water now very quickly got deeper so that my feet no longer touched the ground. I lay across the raft, which I propelled forward by kicking my feet and paddling with my hands. When I reached the larger waves and they began to wash over me I was able to hold myself on the raft and propel myself forward with powerful swimming movements using my feet and hands.

      I turned my head once again and saw that the squirrel, which now looked very tiny, was still sitting on the sand and watching me.

      But now I needed to concentrate exclusively on the open sea.

      I made good progress and the hope that was growing within me lent me additional strength.

      If the Mayflower boats were moving in the direction of the island then this would perhaps shorten the distance I had to travel. I looked straight ahead but was only able to make out the Mayflower II in the far distance for a few moments when a wave lifted me up.

      The only thing I could see clearly was the coral reef, which I was steadily approaching.

      And then I reached it.

      I rested on one of the coral banks that were sticking out of the sea.

      From here I was able to make out the Mayflower II clearly, and I felt absolutely certain that I would reach her.

      The late morning sun bathed the reef and the clear ocean water in a powerful light.

      Then I commenced my risky voyage.

      I paddled on between the tips of the reef projecting out of the water, buffeted by the waves crashing around me. I felt almost delirious, and the approach of my goal filled me with cheer and strength.

      I soon made my way through the bends and turns in the reef and now finally was able to steer towards the open sea.

      However, I had barely left the reef area when I realized that the ocean in front of me was beginning to glow ever more brightly!

      It was as if I was swimming directly into liquid silver!

      But I was driven forward by a powerful desire. I wanted to reach the Mayflower at any price.

      I paddled on.

      Yet the more powerfully I pushed myself forward using my arms and legs, the brighter and more blinding the ocean became.

      Finally the light was so harsh that I could only look into the shimmering glare through blinking eyes, and I had soon lost all orientation. Silver light was everywhere and I seemed to be floating in an indeterminable sphere of light with no sense of what was up or down, or forwards or backwards. Only the slowly tiring movements of my arms and legs provided a sense of where I was. The harsh light and the saltwater, which I now only felt but could no longer see, burned infernally in my eyes. Tears ran down my face, tears of pain and tears of despair.

      “Now I must get through!” I screamed inside myself. But my strength was waning rapidly and I now lost all sense of which direction I should be moving in.

      Then everything happened very quickly.

      The light became so powerful that I had to close my eyes completely. I lost control of my movements and a large wave swept me off my raft!

      I tried to grab hold of it – but without success. I sank like a stone. The shock had caused me to hold my breath. I forced my eyes to open and saw that even under water I was surrounded by the harsh light. I had no choice but to quickly close my eyes again.

      In my state of mortal fear time seemed to stretch out infinitely and during the brief moment my eyes were open I was able to make out the raft as a shadow above me along with two rapidly moving forms that were heading directly for me.

      As a I sank deeper I felt myself beginning to lose consciousness. The rush of water in my ears gave way to a gentle sound, and it suddenly seemed as if I was once again gliding through the foliage towards an unknown being with golden hair.

      However, with this last image everything faded and I lost consciousness.

      When I came to awareness again I found myself looking up into the blue sky. Water was splashing around me and under my body I felt something living steadily carrying me forward. I quickly regained my senses and realized that I was being borne along by two dolphins. From the brief glimpse I was able to get, I concluded that I must be back in the bay.

      I was utterly exhausted and allowed myself to be carried along. As soon as the dolphins reached shallower water near the beach they carefully allowed me to slide from their backs and, using the last of my strength, I dragged myself onto land.

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