Chapter 50 Chapter 50
A new day is a new hope. Who was it that said those words? She didn't know. She stretched and headed to the bathroom to shower. When she finished her morning routine, she went down to the shore where Arnold was talking to an old fisherman in the local language.
"I'll pay you, Tay, just take us to the next island." He pointed to an island shaped like a turtle.
"What's happening?" she whispered to the young aswang.
"I'm negotiating with the old man to take us to the island."
"Is that the island of Garantiara?"
"Not yet. But there’s a boat there we’ll use to get to Garantiara. That’s our only source of transportation to the island. Did you check the map?"
"No. Later." She chimed into the conversation, hoping her charm might help. "Tay, please, take us to the island, we’ll just pay you," she pleaded.
"Hays, young lass, I don't understand what you're saying because I don't understand yout dialect."
"What did he say?"
"He said he doesn't understand you because he doesn't know your dialect."
"Oh, fine, you do the talking then."
"Tay, I'll pay you five thousand, just take us there. We really need to get there today."
"I really can't agree, son, even if you pay me fifty thousand, because I don't want to die yet. What use would the money be if I'm dead?"
"What did he say?"
"He says he doesn't want to because he doesn't want to die."
"Why?"
He just shrugged at her question.
She figured there was something about the island they were heading to; if the old man was afraid to go there, there was a reason. She wanted to intervene, but they wouldn't understand each other. Honestly, her nose was practically bleeding from trying to follow their language. It was funny to her that even though they were the same nationality, they couldn't understand one another.
"Why are you afraid of that place, Tay?"
"It's not just me who's afraid, son. Everyone living on this island is afraid to go where you're headed because all the fishermen who went there never returned and were never seen again."
"He says he really won't do it and there’s nothing we can do because everyone here is afraid to go to the island since no one who goes there ever comes back."
"Teleporting?" she whispered very softly so the old man wouldn't hear.
"Nope. That's the last thing we should do because the island might have a barrier; we might end up straight in the water, which is dangerous because we don't know what's underneath."
"Why don't you just buy the boat?"
"That's my plan." He turned back to the old man. "How about I just buy your boat, Tay?"
"This is my only livelihood, son, so I won't sell it to you."
"I'll buy your boat for a hundred thousand, Tay. Will you agree?"
The old man’s eyes widened at Arnold's words. "Why?" Aurora asked.
"I offered him one hundred thousand."
"You're such a cheapskate!"
"Well, Tay? What’s your decision? Because if you don't agree, we'll just buy someone else’s boat."
"Are you serious about the hundred thousand, son?"
"Yes, Tay. We really need the boat."
"Alright, son, I agree. Come with me to get the gasoline."
When the old man left, she thought he had gotten angry at the two of them.
"Let's go, he wants us to follow. The gas is at his place."
"It's good he agreed."
"He's probably tight on cash."
They followed the old man to a house made of bamboo. The house looked cute with the plants surrounding it. It looked refreshing with trees all around. Arnold reached into his pocket to get the money for the old man.
"It's beautiful here, isn't it?" the young man said to her.
"Hmm, very fresh. It’s like this at Yfraim’s mountain."
"It was like this on our island before, too."
"Who lives on your island now?"
The young man didn't get to answer because the old man was approaching them with two soft drinks and a heart-shaped banana leaf. But when she smelled the gasoline, she realized the soft drink bottles were actually filled with fuel.
"This is all I can give you, son. Some grilled fish and rice so it won't spoil."
She took the food from the old man while Arnold took the gasoline. Arnold also handed the envelope of money to the old man.
"I gave a bit extra, Tay, so you don't have to work at sea anymore."
The old man opened the envelope and peeked inside. When he looked at them, his eyes were tearing up.
"Thank you so much, son, to both of you."
Aurora also handed a small bag to the old man. "As a thank you, Tay." When he tried to look inside the bag, she stopped him.
"Look at it later, Tay, once we’ve left."
They bowed to him and departed.
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Once the two had left and were out of the old man's sight, he looked inside the bag. His eyes widened, not with joy, but with fear.
"Encantos!!!" he shouted loudly. His children and his wife, who had stopped washing clothes because of his shout, came running to him.
"What's wrong with you?! Why are you shouting like that? Have you lost your mind?!"
"Look at this, Indang! Look at this and tell me if I'm crazy!" He showed the bag containing sapphires and diamonds to his wife.
"Where did you get this? Did you steal it?!"
"What do you think of me, Niknik, a thief?! The two who bought my boat gave that to me because they’re going to Isla Muerte!" He also showed the envelope full of money. "Look, they even gave me a thick stack of cash!"
"Oh, great gods!" The old woman shouted before fainting.