New Island Breezes RPG Story Thread

[Blossom]

The feel of the bright sun streaming down on Hayley’s head and shoulders was glorious as Chris walked her to the Japanese garden. Her still-damp curls were quickly dried, and the frustration the memories of the lab had dregged up was soothed by the tropical warmth.

She and Chris chatted a little as they walked, exchanging pleasantries about what they had each been up to since Hayley’s last visit to the island. Although they steered clear of that topic, Hayley could feel the dark recollections pressing heavily on their light conversation.

“Here we are,” Chris opened the gate to the Japanese garden with a smile, which Hayley returned as she stepped through.

The garden held a peaceful, quiet atmosphere that was somewhat at odds with the rest of the island. Its design was authentic as well as beautiful, reminding Hayley of the couple of old Japanese prints she had hanging in her apartment in London and making her feel that she should be wearing a kimono and have her hair twisted up. She also felt the urge to use the few Japanese phrases she knew.

Anya and Blake were stood at the other side of the garden by a few chairs and a small table of refreshments. Hayley had the distinct impression that she and Chris and just interrupted a conversation, and she also felt mixed pity and sadness at Anya’s apparent discomfort.

“Dr…” She paused briefly then started again, “Dr. Marsden, welcome. We were just discussing your invitation to the island.”


Hayley smiled, “Nice to see you again. I have been wondering why I was invited back.”

After they were seated, Anya continued, “This journal,” she indicated a small, reddish book that Blake was holding, “belonged to a young lawyer, Jonathan Ivans, who brought his sister here, back when the hotel was first built, in its heyday, having been told that the climate would be good for her. It worked, she became healthy and strong.”

Anya paused, while Hayley wondered what a journal had to do with her presence. Then Anya met her gaze and she knew it was important. “Then she contracted a fever and died.”


Hayley felt her skin prick with excitement as she realised what this could mean. Reaching for a drink, she took a sip while she absorbed it, then, trying to disguise the anticipation in her voice, asked, “Does he say what sort of a fever this was?”

[Foxee]

“It is difficult to tell exactly, his entries wander from fact to myth and back, calling the fever a curse on the white man. Apparently native Islanders rarely get it.

But it appears that the fever would get worse and get better then spike again. When it finally seemed that his sister was getting well it went up again worse than before, couldn’t reduce it, and she died. It sounded familiar.”

Anya twisted her fingers in her lap.

“I think Jonathan died of it here, too. The diary is unfinished but from the sound of it this building may have become a sanatorium for all of the ill guests. I don’t think Derek was told the truth when he bought this place.”

[IvanTiger118]

He looked around the small quarters. Nobody seemed to be around. Smiling to himself, he pulled a small iPod out of his pocket. This is the first time he would be using this device. It was given to him by one of the students at the high school. Last night he had fiddled arould with the device and finally figured out how to work it. He placed a small earpiece into his ear. The sounds of Van Halen entered his ears. He bobbed his head up and down to the music.

[Blossom]

“No, I suppose he wouldn’t have been. Though I wonder if the previous owners knew about it … a sanatorium would have been something to hush up or disguise.” Hayley leaned back in her chair and took a sip of her drink. The implications of the diary explained why she had been called back; though from the sound of it Jonathan Ivans had not been able to find a cure for this mysterious disease either.

Except … “A curse on the white man? It would be more plausible to me if the natives have found some way to cure or prevent this fever.” Hayley leaned forward again, “Does the diary mention a cure?”

[Aurasheild]

It hadn't taken that long to clear the dining room, as it was cleaned quite to the extreme for their meal the previous night. Adiel and Marissa had inquired about cleaning products, what is to be touched, what wasn't and where they would find the cleaning utensils.

Both had a small cardboard box with them, each filled one a set of cleaning products, utensils, brushs, clothes and a small hand duster. The mop and other large equipment were left behind as they could easily return for them.

"Sorry about earlier, I kinda speak what I shouldn't be thinking, and think what I should be saying. I hope I didn't offend you too much."

They gradually got into it and after a few moments, both were working like a team.

Sighing, Adiel and Marissa had just finished the dining room, it hadn't required much, only after a quick dusting and the table was washed, they were just about to move on, when Adam came in.

I thought that I would allow Adam to join us for the next room, rather then come in during it. Is that alright? If not I can remove the part where he comes in.

[seigfried007]

Adam wheeled a small cleaning cart into the dining room as Adiel and Marissa were packing up supplies to leave. He smiled widely and nodded to each but didn't bother taking his hands off the cart since he'd arrived to late to be of any use cleaning this room.

"Mrs. Jean-Marie has asked that I aid you in cleaning since I have finished the small chore of organizing cans. Where are we going next, and is there a specific facet of cleaning either of you dislikes?"

[Suzip]

“When I come back I won’t be a kid anymore,” Tai said, “I guess I’ll have to figure out what I want to do, too. What do you LIKE to do?”

Again with the questions, Kari thought. She really liked him but wasn't very comfortable with the constant interest, especially as she hadn't quite worked out what story she was going to tell everyone yet.

She watched Tai at work with the rake, gathering debris. He seemed quite proud by the statement about not being a kid anymore. Maybe she could deflect his question with a question to draw the attention away from her.

"Why what's happening on your time off Tai? What exactly will be happening?"

[Aurasheild]

Adiel smiled kindly as Adam introduced his presence.

"Not really, whatever needs doing. But if you don't prefer a certain aspect, i'd be happy to take it off your hands."

Adiel was unsure whether the man was being kind, or if he just wanted an assigned task.

"Which room shall we prefect next? Any takers? What room would you like Adam?" Adiel asked quite cheerfully. He smiled awaiting his answer. Marrissa had been quite this whole time and it was beginning to become quite unsettling.

[crazed scribe]

"Nice job! If you want to . . . uh . . . dump the little guy over there on the grass, I will see if I can find a garbage bag."

Little guy? More like dead rodent! Obediently she hastily flicked the body so it landed on the grass. It had bee heavier than it looked although that was probably because it was a dead weight.

"Do you think anyone will notice if the bodies just at the bottom of the rubbish? We do't have to bury or cremete it do we? I don't think I could stand doing that!"

Smiling she tried to forget about the corpse as she enjoyed cleaning the pool in the warmth of the sun.

[Foxee]

“A CURSE ON THE white man? It would be more plausible to me if the natives have found some way to cure or prevent this fever.” Hayley leaned forward again, “Does the diary mention a cure?”

Anya leaned forward and smiled at Blake, taking the journal from him with a nod of thanks and paging through it.

“He never mentions a cure. As for the natives all I can put together is that they were a suspicious bunch in his day and apparently most of them had a natural immunity. Jonathan was more than a little frustrated with how they treated visitors.”

She found the page she’d been seeking.

“Here,” Anya went on running her index finger down the page, “where did I see… yes, here it is…

‘The natives of the island are friendly enough to trade with, telling wild stories and tall tales. However, even the most sociable of these will become tight-lipped and silent regarding traditions or mention of the sickness. Even though I implored Jaaken and Paolo regarding my sister’s illness they replied that she was in the hands of gods and doctors and changed the subject…’”

Anya closed the small book and handed it to Dr. Marsden.

“I realize it may be as frustrating as the illness itself. Still, he may have written clues without knowing it. I know this was a long way for you to travel, still, if there is a lead I knew you’d want it.”


"WHY, WHAT’S HAPPENING on your time off Tai? What exactly will be happening?"

“I’m going surfing!” Tai raked energetically and shot a grin at Kari, “Really big waves after last night. And there will be a party.”

He kept his back to her after that. His uncle had sworn him to silence on some things and he wasn’t going to say anything he shouldn’t. Still, he couldn’t be rude, could he?

“There will be a ceremony, after all, I’m turning fourteen.” He couldn’t keep the pride out of his voice, nor the dread.

[Blossom]

Hayley eagerly accepted the book from Anya, and immediately began leafing through it. Bound in soft, cracked red leather, the pages were yellowing and clearly old, covered in a fading, elegant script and occasional ink sketches. Hayley handled it carefully, skimming the various passages while Anya continued.

“I realize it may be as frustrating as the illness itself. Still, he may have written clues without knowing it. I know this was a long way for you to travel, still, if there is a lead I knew you’d want it.”

“Definitely.” Hayley looked up. “I’m glad you called me. I’ve kept going over my notebooks, looking for anything, any tiny detail I might have missed. I brought them with me, so comparing them with the journal might show something …”

She stopped at the passage Anya had previously read aloud.

‘The natives of the island are friendly enough to trade with, telling wild stories and tall tales. However, even the most sociable of these will become tight-lipped and silent regarding traditions or mention of the sickness. Even though I implored Jaaken and Paolo regarding my sister’s illness they replied that she was in the hands of gods and doctors and changed the subject…’

Looking up again, she added, “And am I to assume you’ve not mentioned this to anyone else?”

[alanmt]

"Do you think anyone will notice if the bodies just at the bottom of the rubbish? We don't have to bury or cremete it do we? I don't think I could stand doing that!"

"Well," Chad said, perplexed, "I don't know. I guess I'll ask. But for now, let's bag it."

He looked around. There was a small, elegant bar in the shadow of the house. A closer examination revealed that it was well-stocked; there were liquor bottles, mostly unopened, standing in rows like soldiers; various crystal glassware, from squat tumblers to tall arrogant stemmed martini glasses with wide rims for salt to delicate dolphin-tipped drink stirrers; napkins and small bowls and plates and -yes! - a box of garbage bags. Chad pulled one out and approached the dead animal.

It didn't look right somehow, all wide-eyed, its lips frozen in a death snarl. Chad carefully slid the edges of the garbage bag around the little corpse without touching it. He grabbed it through the thin plastic and flipped it, then quickly tied the top tight and deposited the entire bag in the little garbage can behind the bar.

"That's that!" he said, wiping his hands briskly together in a gesture of finality. "Now back to work!"

He resumed his pool duties cheerfully, whistling to himself, and glancing now and then at the pretty girl working with him. In the bright morning sun, the island seemed full of opportunities, of all sorts, and Chad was happy.

[IvanTiger118]

The next song on the iPod comes on and Conrad continues to dance. He wonders when it will be lunchtime.

[Blossom]

Hayley sat at her desk in the lab, frustratedly drumming her pencil on the surface while she bent over the journal, reading it yet again for any clues. Her notebooks from when she had been treating Derek were spread out around her, and a new pad was covered with impatient scribbles gleaned from the journal.

After she had realised what the journal might mean to her research she had been impatient to start reading it, and as soon as her meeting with Blake and Anya had been wrapped up she had all but run back to the lab in her eagerness. Without a watch or clock she was unsure how many hours had passed since then, but the slant of the sunbeams over the journal’s pages suggested midday had come and gone and they were now well into the late afternoon.

At some point someone had come in and placed a lunch beside her, but she had eaten on autopilot, two absorbed in her work to notice who it was or what she was eating.

Now she was rereading Jonathan Ivan’s description of his sister’s illness. Before they moved to the island she had been pale and tired; wan, languid, often without the strength to get out of bed for days on end. After the move, she had become stronger, healthier, with colour to her again.

Then, nearly a year before her death and months before her sudden fever, Jonathan suddenly had concerns for her health again.

She says she is fine, but she has changed somehow, he wrote, It is as if the strength and cheer this island has given her is fading away. She does not stay in bed as before, but once again she seems listless and fatigued … ofttimes I will see her shivering out in the hot noonday sun. I feared her newfound strength was too good to be real.

Then, a few months later, was a passage Hayley found particularly interesting.

While I was with Jaaken and Paolo today I mentioned my sister’s increasing ill health. They looked alarmed, and inquired after her symptoms. I explained, and mentioned my intent of sending for a doctor – but they exchanged significant looks, as if any actions are futile. When I asked, they said they hoped my sister would improve and they would pray to the gods for her. Something about that exchange has left me uneasy, and I cannot sleep now for worry.

Jonathan did not mention his sister’s health to the natives again, until two months later when she suddenly developed a high, burning fever, aches and pains all over her body and started vomiting. She declined rapidly, unable to eat or drink without bringing it back up, and the fever inducing delirium. Doctors could not diagnose her, and after a month she died.

It was a much more rapidly progressing version of Derek’s illness – which had presumably been staved off by the various antibiotics and treatments given to him. But Jonathan’s sister had seemed to suddenly decline almost overnight, the fever springing from nowhere. Hayley paused, turning to her notes. Tiredness … then a sudden fever ….

Could it be …?

Alarmed and excited, Hayley jumped to her feet, journal and notebook in hand, and in a few short strides was out of the lab and hurrying down the hallway … and running straight into Paula.

“S-sorry!” Hayley stumbled back, glasses slightly askew, just holding onto her books. She blinked, and her vision focused. “Paula! Sorry about that – but it’s excellent timing, actually. I don’t suppose you know where Blake or Anya is?”

[Foxee]

Anya and Blake were lost in their fifth game of checkers when Hayley came back into the Japanese garden at a near-run, Paula hustling behind her. The young doctor looked slightly mussed and wild-eyed. Anya dropped a red checker, ignoring it as it rolled off of the table, uneasy at the sudden closeness.

“What’s the matter?” she asked Hayley.