Stormy ride

It was a bit cloudy as they departed, clearly not the season for camping, but it was nothing they worried about as they set course to an island Madline had pointed out earlier as a good isolated camping spot in the archipelago.

It was a fair distance to it, over some fairly open waters if they cut right for it, but it was going to be worthwhile, fresh water and a wind covered clearing for the tent.

The small engine whined all the way, a sound they eventually got used to. But it started making more pained sounds as the propeller got out of the water with the waves when they grew in ferocity with the wind.

The small fishing boat was not designed to ride big waves, they both started to get bothered as the raft crashed down violently on a wave that shook their bones. The bags jostled around from their positions tucked under the benches.

Another few waves and the bags got free, both Madeline and Fredric was preoccupied of bracing against the waves to immediately recognize where they would be going.

Fredric who sat on the bench in the middle of the boat saw one of the backpacks try to make a daring escape over the edge, he managed to hook the strap by extending a foot.

But the next crash of the waves put him off balance and he could only watch as one of Madelines backpacks flew off board, her sleeping bag and most of their canned food sunk quick into the waters. With pained expressions they watched it vanish.

Fredric managed to secure the bags again and after another 15 minutes of harsh waters it finally started to die down. The rain instead begun where the wind had left off with an exceptional downpour.

They knew their heading as they saw the island before the wall of water hit them, and eventually the contours showed up as they came close.

Madeline steered the boat into a small rocky beach and without saying anything to each other they helped pull up the aluminum boat to the shore, securing it to a tree trunk with a roll of rope.

They both had the same mind as they unpacked the boat and headed to the clearing to set the tent up. The beating from the waves and the drenched clothes left little else to think of.

Warmth and shelter was droning on both their minds.

It was not until they had set up the generously sized tent with a big annex for cooking that they finally felt some ease.

Fredric was cooking water on the portable **** stove, a warm drink would do them both good he thought. But as they both watched the stove flame that was insufficient to heat them Madeline broached the subject.

“I am going to have to head back for food and a sleeping bag. I brought a small fishing rod but that is too much of a gamble, I’m not much of a fisherman neither are you I suspect.” She said staring at the pot that now started to rumble under the pressure.

Fredric handed her some of the tea he had poured up in a plastic cup, and served himself too.

Too impatient to feel the heat down his throat he started to try to sip the recently boiling liquid that had not been brewing the tea for long.

“I realize that I can’t go as they are specifically looking for me, but I still don’t like it. You did make it clear that you are with me flooring those two earlier.” He said and promptly started to blow some air on the liquid to speed its cooling along.

“You better remove your clothes and tuck yourself into the sleeping bag after the tea, getting a cold would not be good right now.” She said looking at his drenched hair and outfit, herself not much better off.

“We can take turns in the bag before you go. You can’t leave in this weather anyway!” Fredric protested as he thought her comment meant she was about to leave to get the supplies.

Madeline just sat on the inflatable camping cushion cross legged and watched him in silent contemplation, not cluing him in of what her thoughts were.