Carlos only gave her a long look. When the killer whale swam towards them, Debbie was so frightened she clutched Carlos tightly. "Run! Run!" she screamed, scrunching her eyes closed, too spooked to open them.
She heard water thrashing behind her, but soon it was quiet.
"Open your eyes," Carlos coaxed her.
When everything was quiet, Debbie's fear fled. She opened her eyes slowly. Her jaw dropped when she caught sight of what was right in front of her.
Carlos was stroking the killer whale's head!
"Are... are you crazy? I-I-it's going to eat you!" Fear filled her. She clung to his arm even tighter.
Since they boarded the boat, they'd been through a lot. Her day was filled with moments of terror and danger. She wondered if she would die from a heart attack soon.
For example, right now, her heart was pounding like it would burst through her chest, and she couldn't feel her legs.
Carlos, however, didn't seem scared at all.
Noticing the incredulity on her face, he explained, "About the only people these guys attack are their keepers. They like people."
As if to prove what he had said, the killer whale moved its huge body towards Debbie and butted its head against her playfully.
"Ugh! Help!" she cried. Suddenly, she wanted to be home. She really missed a bunch of people: Piggy, Curtis, Colleen, Kasie, Decker, even her mom. "Boo...hoo..."
Carlos smiled. He gave her a pat on the back and said, "It likes you."
'What? ' Debbie stared at Carlos in shock. Cautiously, she looked back. The killer whale seemed to be smiling at her.
Seeing her look at it, the killer whale swam out farther, jumping out of the water and slapping its tail against the surface. Just when Debbie thought it was leaving, it leaped out of the water and dived in again, and sea spray cascaded upwards.
Debbie was impressed by the performance. Her heartbeat steadied. "The dolphins in the aquariums are like this. So adorable."
"Wave to it," Carlos said quietly.
Her fear was gone. Even though she couldn't see the whale anymore, Debbie waved her right arm excitedly and called out, "Hey big guy, over here!"
Just as if it understood her, the killer whale came swimming back. It finally surfaced only a couple feet in front of Debbie and Carlos.
Once again, Debbie recoiled, startled. She patted her chest, feeling embarrassed that she was scared again. She wondered if she was just too timid.
Carlos pressed his cheek against the killer whale's. Then he asked Debbie to do it too. 'Seriously?' she thought.
She swallowed, stretched out her arms slowly, and held the whale's big head. She didn't press her cheek against its until she was certain that it wouldn't attack.
'Wow! It feels smooth and cold.' Smiling, she gave the big guy a kiss on the head.
Just then, the killer whale suddenly opened its enormous mouth, baring its two lines of sharp teeth. Debbie let it go in a hurry, screaming and retreating into Carlos' arms.
Carlos was amused. "It was playing a practical joke on you."
Debbie glared at the killer whale, which had closed its mouth. "That was not funny!"
"You're too jumpy. Relax," Carlos said.
Debbie snorted in denial. And that was when the killer whale started to push them towards the shore.
"What's it doing?" she asked.
Carlos shook his head.
When they finally stood in about 4 feet of water, the whale broke off and made for deeper waters. Then when it came back, the killer whale rubbed its head against Carlos' shin, and circled around him.
Only then did Debbie notice that his leg was bleeding. He had been injured in the water somehow. The shark must have smelled the blood.
She squatted to examine the cut. "I'm sorry I forgot you were hurt. We were in the water a long time. Why didn't you say something? The sea is salty. That must hurt like hell.
Carlos looked at the deserted island and said, "It's nothing."
"How did it happen?"
"A fish scratched me. It happened so fast I didn't have any warning. It looked like a swordfish," Carlos replied.
Debbie stood up. "No disinfectant, no bandages. I guess you'll have to tough it out."
"That's okay," Carlos said.
Debbie sat on the sand, looking at the vast ocean. "I don't want to swim ever again," she said. She had stayed in the water longer than she ever had. In fact, she wondered if she'd spent more time in the water than her entire life combined. When she jumped over the side, it was more terrifying than when she had fallen into the river three years ago.
Sitting next to her, he could feel the depth of emotion in Debbie's soul. He took her into his arms and kissed her on the lips.
'Thank you for being alive. Thank you for not leaving me alone.'
Their mouths were dryer than tinder, but they kissed passionately anyway.
After a long while, Carlos let her go. They were both panting. "Don't worry. I'll go find a way out of here," he reassured her in a husky voice, their foreheads touching.
"Okay." She felt safe around him.
Carlos found an open space and formed an SOS with stone. Then they started searching. For things, for people.
They walked and walked. After a long while, they still hadn't walked all the way around the island yet.
There were no paths. Wild grass and dead marine animals were everywhere. Clearly, this island was deserted, and always had been. Each step they took was difficult.
Carlos asked Debbie to wait for him on a flat spot. But Debbie was afraid that some scary creature might be hiding in that small grove. It was at least big enough for a person. She decided to stick close by him.
They found nothing. No people, nor anything that could float in the water.
After making two circuits around the island, they finally gave up. The sun was high in the sky, and the heat was punishing.
Carlos took Debbie to a big tree and sat her down. It provided a fair amount of shade. Then he found two sticks and some dry grass and began to make a fire.
A few minutes later, when she saw the flame, she praised, "Old man, you're my one and only hero." He was her omnipotent superhero.
Carlos smiled, "You must be hungry. Stay here."
After stirring the fire, he walked towards the sea.
But Debbie followed. "Stay here? Where would I go? Let me help you."
"I'm catching fish."
"Catching fish? How?"
Carlos looked around. Then he found a piece of driftwood, and hacked at it with a rock until the end was sharp. Under Debbie's amazed gaze, he walked into the water, wielding it like a spear.
Just then, Debbie pointed out toward the sea and shouted, "Look! Big guy is here!"