The searing rays of the afternoon sun blared down on the metal of the fuselage heating it up even more. The protection that our shredded compartment carried was welcome at night, in fact it kept us reasonably dry during the previous night's rainstorm, but during the day it was oppressive. Hot and stuffy, with the slightest hint of mildew tinging the air.


Andrew ventured out for water just before the sun reached its high. But we'd yet to find food. We rationed out what was left of the plane's snacks, but after a week out here, our supplies were dwindling. I'd told Andrew we needed to find a food source, but he kept insisting that staying close to the wreckage was our only hope. He was convinced that a rescue boat would find us. That everyone was out looking for two lost souls at sea. But time was passing, and each day I grew hungrier and hungrier, scarfing my few bites of snack mix and cookie down faster and faster. 


It was during Andrew's water run that I decided to take charge.  I grabbed a branch from one of the fallen trees near the plane, pulling the leaves and bark off with my bare hands. Sharpening it took a great deal of effort, but I managed to make a rather sharp point using the rent edges of metal from the back of the plane. I peeled off my clothes, tied the spear to my arm, and ran out toward the crystal blue waters lapping at the edge of our beach.


Swimming was quite a struggle with the push and pull of the waves and my makeshift spear, but I skirted the edge of the beach staying in water just deep enough to allow fish. Several failed attempts cued me in to the problem my type of weapon produced in the water. The velocity was slow at best and the small fish nearby were gone before the spear made it halfway there. So, I changed tactics, moving over to a small rock outcropping further away. The swim was hard, but I hoped for trapped shellfish drenched in butter. Practically salivated at the possibility actually. 


That's when I saw her, or should I say him? A sea turtle poked its head up, breaking the surface of the water. It moved toward the rocks. I slowly slipped below the water and pushed myself closer. Several other turtles swam below me, but I only needed one. So, I pushed myself toward the rock, holding back my waiting breath, and got as close as possible to his perch. 


Once I felt the rough edge of the outcropping, I jumped up out of the water and grabbed hold of my dinner.