Chapter Four: Black Mass — Part 10

Jynx and Daria return to Camp, sweaty and tired, but both girls are emotionally lighter than either of them have felt in their immediate memory. Daria has her head down, partly in thought, partly ashamed, but mostly afraid. Jynx stops them before she is in earshot of the camp. She’s been bracing herself against her spear and Daria for over half the trip back, and she needs to get her wind, but she also needs to know what Daria is thinking. The woman is coy and mischievous, and if her thoughts are left idle, Jynx knows Daria will cause trouble for herself and all those around her. She squeezes Daria’s shoulder gently, her lungs burning from the effort of the hike.

“You’re still down?” Jynx says. “My lungs feel like water balloons, so I know why I’m pissed. What’s gotten into you? I’d think you’d be happy right now.”

“I have always been in charge.” Daria begins. “You know in bed, in love, in lust. There has always been a system of punishment and reward. If Jacob — ”

“Elliot.” Jynx snaps, unintentionally. “Sorry, continue.”

“If Elliot wasn’t a good man, a good lover, and everything he taught me is a lie, how am I to punish myself when I fuck things up?” Daria says, sounding too serious for the question.

Jynx is too tired to laugh at her friend. “How about sucking up your pride and saying ‘I’m sorry’ once in awhile.”

“That’s it?” Daria says.

“I’m not going to get into the kink of your mind and tell you what to or not to do with Kevin or Paige.” Jynx says, starting to feel uncomfortable for entirely different reasons than her health, “You like things a little rough, and I think that would have been true no matter what happened with Elliot. But this whole punishing yourself because you tried to do the right thing and it went down wrong, it’s just got to stop, you know?”

“Okay.” Daria says. “I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted.” Jynx says kindly.

They manage to walk another ten yards or so when Daria speaks up again. “You should probably apologize as well, you know.”

“For what?” Jynx snaps, knowing she will never apologize for dumping Elliot the Serial Rapist in the desert to die.

“You pulled my hair pretty hard last night.” Daria says, a playful wine in her voice. “It hurt.”

Jynx smiles, her eyes focused elsewhere. “You liked it.” She says.

“Yes, I did.” Daria giggles.

Joe sees them and waves, and Jynx waves back, forcing herself upright so she can look stronger than she feels. “Go find the boys Daria, I’ll fill Joe in on what we found.”

She walks steady, slowly, eyes focused on Joe. “Captain Joe, it’s good to see you this morning.”

“You’re pushing a little hard, girl.” Joe says quietly.

“I’d argue if you were lying.” Jynx snaps back, catching her tongue before she says something even less courteous. “Daria and I found a pig rut, pig bones everywhere. Looking at the remains, it looks like a fungus with a perfect kill record. I don’t there’s a pig on this island still alive.”

“Like mushrooms?”

“Like flesh eating mushrooms.” Jynx says. “I’m thinking that if it takes an interest in humans, we’re gonna be fucked.”

Joe looks concerned, as Jynx isn’t one to worry about needless things. He whistles to Blake, who had been sewing a patch into a torn tent tarp until called, and who walks up quickly, massive canvas needle left hanging for Heath to take over his work. She does so with some considerable effort, as it proves harder to use the needle than she anticipated. Jynx watches this until Blake immediately blocks her line of site. His hands flash symbols quickly at Joe, who flashes a number of symbols back. The two don’t talk. Joe nods, and Blake gives a signal that Jynx finally recognizes.

“North by Northwest, an hour’s walk.” Jynx says. “I didn’t have a chance to do a spiral perimeter sweep, so it may not be the only death patch out there.”

Blake signs a query, and Joe nods, leaving Blake to go and relay the message to the rest of the crew.

“We’ll keep out of the forest.” Joe says. “We haven’t found anything like what you described between the ocean and camp, or the arch and camp, so we’ll leave those paths open.”

“Mushrooms that eat pigs?” Heath says loudly to Blake, “What if they taste like bacon? Can you imagine that? Bacon flavored mushrooms? — Oh come on, let me at least try to cook some up.”

Joe shakes his head, knowing that Blake will sort things out with Heath. “That girl scares me sometimes.”

“I was thinking we should leave soon.” Jynx says.

“Oh no.” Joe warns. “We aren’t doing that until you’re healed.”

“I’m fine.” Jynx snaps.

Joe looks suddenly sympathetic, hands Jynx a handkerchief. “Wipe your nose dear.” He says gently.

Jynx wipes her chin and pulls back a white cloth covered in a blood. She doesn’t say anything, but the dour look on her face says it all.

“You need to go lay down, let Heath and Paige pamper you.”

“I don’t do weak well, Joe.” Jynx says.

“None of us do, girl.” Joe says. “We’re not leaving for another three weeks no matter how you feel, so you’d best just rest up and let us all do for you what you’ve been doing for us since the first day we met you.” Joe is quiet for a moment, trying to read through the defiance he sees flittering through Jynx. “Don’t make me issue an order.”

“Don’t make me encourage a one person mutiny.” Jynx smiles playfully, and then adds, “Since I have to play the whole weak and sick role, could you, uh, help get me onto my back? Because if I try to do it myself, I don’t think I’m going to be on a cot in a tent, if you know what I mean.”

Joe smiles gently and picks Jynx up. She is so small and light, he wonders if this must be what it feels like to carry a child. He tucks her into the cot, smiling gently to her, but she is asleep before he can say anything encouraging. He steps out, finding Heath and Paige in nurse outfits, awaiting his orders. He smiles at the two of them, patting Heath on the head, which causes Heath to smile unexpectedly. Joe realizes, rather suddenly, how much he loves his crew, how wonderful they are.

“Girls, our patient is sleeping. In a couple of hours she will need her bandages checked a decent meal, and her medicine. If your nose agrees with mine, you might want to help her bathe as well. Jynx is not to move around unassisted for at least another week. Nor is she to go hiking for at least two weeks.” Joe walks away, leaving the nurses at their post.

Deep down he suspects the entire crew, including himself, are crazy, but the girls look cute in their nurse outfits, and he can’t begrudge them their fun. Blake joins him in his walk around camp, squeezing Joe’s hand affectionately. Joe doesn’t know what to say, immediately, he’s thinking he could use a nap.

“It’s going to be a long three weeks.” Blake signs gently, causing Joe to laugh.

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