I didn’t hop down as much as I sort of fell into the water, my cramped legs no longer working for me. It took me a little time to swim to shore, and my muscles were aching and I was pretty sure my lips were blue with cold. But Chip put that necklace around my neck - a thick, ropey twine with a big sunburst medallion at the end - and I felt damn good.
Whatever happened, I was here for another three days.
That was for you, Jendan.
Chapter Eighteen
“Being on the jury’s not so bad. Nice clean bed, all you can eat…company’s kind of shit, though.” —Jendan Abercrombie, Juror Number 2, Endurance Island: Power Players
“We need to talk,” Kip whispered as I huddled in the shelter, wrapped in my blanket. I’d managed to steal it back from Leslie and had been hogging it all day. I figured I deserved it after freezing my ass off out on that pole all day yesterday while the others had feasted.
I glanced over at Kip, who was poking a stick at the fire and trying to seem all casual. “So talk.”
“Not here,” he hissed, glancing around. “You should go get some water.”
I just stared at him. Really? I hadn’t left the shelter all day because I was coming down with a cold. The others had taken care of me for that day - either trying to curry my vote or out of genuine sympathy - while I sniffled and sneezed. Like they’d believe I got a wild hair up my ass and decided to retrieve water for the group.
“Come on,” Kip said, casting another quick look down the beach. “Tell everyone you have the shits or something.” He got up and stalked away.
I watched him go. No one else seemed to have notice Kip’s disappearance. A few people were down the beach, and Kissy was under a tree a short distance away, sitting on a pillow and trying to weave herself a grass skirt.
I guess I had to talk to Kip after all. I sighed and crawled out of my nice warm bed, moving across the group camp to get my canteen.
“You okay?” Kissy asked, concern on her motherly face. She touched my forehead. “You’re still hot.”
“I’ll be fine. Just need to take a walk in the woods.” I gave her a weak smile. “Stomach trouble.”
She clucked and then returned to her grass skirt. “Take it easy out there.”
“I will.” I ducked into the trees before anyone else could stop me, and headed down the path to the water well.
Halfway down the path, Kip stepped out of the trees. He glanced over his shoulder, then moved toward me.
“So, what’s this about?” I asked, though I could pretty well guess.
“I’ll just come right out and say it,” Kip said. “No dancing around the subject. You need me.”
My eyebrows shot up. Kip was the last person in the game I needed. The last person on earth that I needed. Period. Full stop.
“It’s true,” he continued, obviously missing my skepticism. “You don’t have anyone on your side anymore but me. Jendan’s out, and the others are afraid of you.”
“Afraid of me? Why?”
“You’re a challenge beast,” he said. “Must be those big manly shoulders of yours.”
All right, I was going to kick Kip in his balls if he said something like that again. “Where is this going?”
“Like I said, you need me. I have Kissy on my side, and I worked a deal with Saul. That’s three votes. I’m pretty sure I can get Emilio, too. It’s in your best interest to vote with the majority, so I’m letting you in on the ground floor of this thing.”
I said nothing. He did have a point - it was in my best interest to vote with the majority. But I wasn’t sure he was telling me everything about his plan.
“This is our chance to take control of the game,” he said when I was silent. “What do you think?”
“Who were you thinking of voting out?” I asked.
“Leslie,” he said immediately, telling me that he’d already given this a lot of thought. “Saul wants to keep Alys for a bit longer.”
“I see.”
“So, are you in?”
“If I am…who are you taking to the finals with you?”
He looked surprised at my question. Then, he said, “I might as well not lie. I’m taking Saul.”
“I appreciate that you’re telling me the truth,” I said smoothly, not letting my real feelings show. Jerk.
“I’d tell you it was you, but we both know it’s not.” He smirked. “You probably sealed up Jendan’s vote while you guys were alone, and he’ll sway Rusty to your side. Cooch is a powerful thing.”
Dick! I narrowed my eyes at him. “If you want my vote, this is the wrong way to go about it.”
“Look, I’m just being honest with you. I can take you to the final four, but no further. After that, you’re not useful to me. Still, fourth is better than sixth, right?”
I pretended to consider it. Inside, I was seething. He wasn’t even trying here. He was just throwing me scraps and assuming I’d jump on it, like a scared little girl. “All right,” I lied. “I’m with you.”
I held my hand out to him. Dry.
He smacked his hand into mine, a gleeful look on his face.
I turned and walked back down the path, choking back a cough. We had six hours before Judgment tonight.
Time to rally the troops.
~~ *** ~~
With my immunity medallion bouncing against my belly, I went down the beach, looking for Leslie. Kip was taking a nap in the shelter, and Saul and Emilio were laying in there, talking about baseball and who would go to the series. It was a hot day and it would only get hotter, so I didn’t blame them for hanging out in the shelter…but I also wanted the girls to see that.
Alys was swimming, a fishing spear in her hand. I decided I’d tackle her later. Low-hanging fruit first. I found Leslie and Kissy - the two older women - in the shoals, looking for snails and crabs. “Hey ladies, you got a minute?”
Kissy frowned at me. “Should you be up?”
“I’ll be okay,” I said, and ruined it by sneezing. I waved it aside. “There’s something important we need to talk about.”
“Oh?” Leslie’s suspicious face lit up. Jackpot.
I moved closer to them and nodded at the shelter on the far end of the beach. “The guys are all hanging out in the shelter while the women work.”
“Do you think they’re sick, too?” Kissy asked.
Leslie snorted. “Or just f**king lazy.”