An Island in the Sun
22 May 2020Maggie Oz
TODAY'S POST CONTAINS SOME MATURE CONTENT"Hello Mags," said James "How's things?"
"Going well, how about you?"
"Oh yes all fine, usual command headaches and all that but can't complain"
"When do you next have a stand down?"
"Ah, tomorrow actually, I have weekends 3 out of every four now. The four Senior Department Commanders take it in turn to be Duty Officer"
"Super, do you fancy an outing?" I asked
"Will you be there?" he said jovially
"Well duhhh," I said and he laughed "I was thinking of heading over to Ienpalang on Friday afternoon, coming back Sunday night"
"Ienpalang, I've not heard of that, what is it?"
"Paradise, a Tropical Paradise"
"OK sounds grand, I'll pack my trunks"
"I'm sure you will," I said with a sultry inflexion, "I'll see you Friday at 17:30. Be sure to leave a docking clearance for Always Forever with flight control of Ach' W'
"OK, Will do, see you then"
Unlike our last outing, this one, I had plenty of time to plan. Not that I needed much.
Bikini, two Sarongs and wrap top pretty much covered all bases.
The only problem with making your plans for the weekend on Thursday is getting through Friday!
I suppose I shouldn't complain as it's not as if I actually work or anything like that but still, the prospect of an exciting future can make the present drag.
I filled in most of the day with more of Roy's beating of the hustings in the nearby sectors and opening a new high school.
I had to seriously restrain myself not to leave too early, doesn't do to appear too eager. As it was I had to hold short of the jump point to Facece for 15 minutes lest I get to the James' ship far too long before the docking window.
"Been waiting long? "I asked as he floated in through the airlock
"About 20minutes! " he laughed, "pretty keen to get going."
We kissed and he floated to the co-pilot couch and strapped in.
"It won't be long, only 2 and a wee bit jumps to Ienpalang now I have a Guardian booster"
"Nice one"
Ienpalang A3 is an Earth like terraformed world. A touch smaller than Earth so with a lower gravity but a pleasant and clear atmosphere. Its equatorial temperatures are very high, in the 50 to 60 C range so most unpleasant to be outside. However, the Northern and Southern latitudes are much more comfortable, sitting at an Earth tropical norm of around 25 to 35 C.
The Northern region is blessed with a vast array of archipelagoes that stem from the more equatorial landmasses. This has given rise to a crenellated chain of 10's of 1000's of islands ranging from almost continental in size right down to a small speck only large enough for a single dwelling.
It was one of these tiny islands that I had booked for our getaway.
We docked with Doyle Survey, a fairly spartan Military base on the moon above A3. It does seem odd that the main Earth like of a system has no station however that is part of the attraction of coming to Ienpelang, it's about as exclusive as you can get.
We were 1 of only 15 couples that were on the planet this weekend, it was the "low" season of the Galactic Year. In the high times, the place would be see a lot more couples, wedding parties, family holidays, Skegs looking to drop in on one of the best beach breaks in the Galaxy and the Sun Bunnies that follow them.
We ditched our flight suits in quick time and donned our tropical casual kit. A simple bikini with a light cotton shirt and sarong for me and a pair of "boardies" and a Rugger Jersy for James. We grabbed our overnight bags and I pointed to two elongated Nylon bags, shaped not unlike a terrestrial boat hull.
"Grab one of them," I said to James, he obeyed, I grabbed the other
"What's this?"
"You'll see," I said with a wink
The shuttle ride to the surface was mercifully short and we were dropped off on "our" island. The guide gave us a basic safety brief and showed us the bure we'd be staying in and it's facilities. It was very well equipped with all the food and drink I had pre-ordered. We also had a ground to orbit com unit to yell for help if we needed it.
"There shouldn't be any issues. The weather is looking good for the next few standards. There are some squalls about that will blow up from the equator, nothing dangerous, just lots of rain, maybe thunder. The swell is pretty bomb this week too," our guide explained, looking at me on the last. "Enjoy your stay"
"Thank you, I'm sure we will," I said, James nodded and thanked him as well.
"The swell is pretty bomb this week", what the hell does that mean?" James asked once the shuttle had lifted off.
"I'll show you" I said unzipping the nylon bag I was carrying and taking out my surfboard I bid James to do the same
I dropped my shirt and sarong where I stood "Follow me,"
The bure was, as you would expect, on the lee side of the small islet, sheltered in a small copse of coastal trees.
We walked a short distance, feeling he wind grow in strength on our faces as we wended our way to the windward side.
We broke out of the tree line at the top of a magnificent white coral sand beach and before us was the full majesty of the open ocean. The waves were about a 3 meter break that started around 100m offshore and swept in almost exactly parallel, crashing down around 10m from the tide line.
"Wow, It's beautiful," said James, "Those waves are amazing, I had no idea they could form like that"
"Have you not been to a beach before?" I asked
"Nope" he laughed, shaking his head
"Well, this," I said pointing at the sand at our feet and then out to sea, "is a beach. You can swim can't you?"
"Oh yes, I've swum in lakes and pools and things. But never something as big as that" he said pointing to the ocean.
We stood and watched the waves crash for a while, the salty air in our faces, so pure and clean.
A particularly large wave crashed onto the foreshore.
"Wow," said James "Such power"
I turned slowly toward him and gave him a wicked look.
I put my finger on his chest "You just have to know how to tame it ..." I said twirling a small circle. I hefted my surfboard.
"What are you doing with that? "
"Watch"
Centuries ago, when I was just a little girl my father taught me how to surf. It was a family tradition spanning back into the mists of time to ancient Earth. He showed me how to design and make surfboards and throughout all of my lives, I have continued it as my one, complete escape from everything out there in the black.
I walked into the breakers and once in deeper water, leapt onto the board and paddled out. I got out the back easy enough and sat on my board waiting for the next set.
As it rolled in I paddled to catch it and dropped as the wave built. I'm a goofy foot so the left break of the wave meant I had to backside which put my back to the wave and I faced the tube, skimming the face as it formed around me and I rode it to the break, plunging into the water as the wave spent itself on the shore and surfacing just in front of where James stood.
"Holy shit," James said as I walked out of the breakers to join up with him again. The saltwater played merry hell with my thick locks and stung my eyes but I couldn't have been happier.
"Your turn," I said
"I can't do that"
"Never know until you try!" I shouted running back to the water, James clutched his board and ran after me.
I spent the remainder of the afternoon doing my best to teach James how to surf. He was an amazingly quick study.
Being from a hi-grav world he was strong with highly dense bones, so now in the lower gee of Ienpalang he became amazingly nimble and mastered the art of dropping in pretty easily. Before long he was tubing like a pro.
We paddled out for what must have been the twentieth run for the day when there was an ominous rumble. We both looked seaward and sure enough, the obligatory afternoon storm front was rolling in .... and rolling in fast. Like a billowing centipede, it scuttled towards us on wickering legs of electrical discharge.
"Ride the next one in and then back to the hut I !" I shouted
"Aye aye!" James called and started to catch the oncoming wave
He got it and set off for the beach, I turned and saw the next one ........ -oh shit, it's a storm surge- . The next set rode a 1m high platform of water, forced upwards by the drop in pressure and the wind the storm was bringing on, the lead wave would be topping out at around 4 to 5m.
"Gnarly Daddy! " I screamed to the howling wind and oncoming wall of water in memory of my long dead mentor and hero.
I turned and paddled for dear life to catch the onrushing avalanche of water, making it just in time and it rose and rose and rose, I was on the top of a mountain of water, 6m at least and rocketing downhill at breakneck speed. I used every ounce of skill and experience I had to keep myself from faceplanting the wave and being smashed on the sand.
I was rapidly gaining on James who almost made it all the way in, wiping out just short of the break. He recovered and made it into shore as I thundered down upon him. The break was a messy one and I was hurled head over heels into the whitewater washing machine, getting tumbled over and over in the murk.
I broke clear and flicked my hair back behind my head again and ran out of the surf, board in hand.
"Whooooooooo!" we shouted at each other then an almighty bolt of lightning and crack of thunder snapped us out it.
We ran up the beach trying to get to the bure before the squall hit ..... we failed.
The monsoonal downpour slashed down upon our skin within meters of the hut and we ran laughing and squealing onto the verandah and crashed inside as the storm swept across the island.
I grabbed a towel off the back of a chair and threw it to James, then turned to get one for myself.
James walked up behind me and encompassed me running the towel over my wet body as I shivered from the exhilaration and coolness of the rain.
I turned to face him and wrapped the one I had around his broad shoulders.
Our breathing calmed and face to face we stood, each studying the other ..... "I love you, Maggie," said James in a quiet but firm voice.
I reached up and drew his lips down to mine and kissed them lightly, once, twice then a hunger overtook me and they became more passionate, primal.
He responded, running his hands along my side from hip to chest and I shuddered as he pulled me close where I could feel his warmth through the coolness of my soaked clothing.
A hand on my bottom and another between my shoulder blades held me in a strong and powerful yet gentle embrace. I pushed myself against him, pressing my hips against his. He deftly pulled the knot on my bikini top and it fell to the floor, the resulting brush of my breasts against his chest sent a thrill through me from toe to head. He kissed my neck, shoulder ... then worked his way down, his touch was like fire.
James lifted me and carried me to the bed, not pausing his tantalising kisses. As he walked over I released the straps on my bikini bottom, they fell away the moment he lay me on the bed. I groped for his trunks and slid them down, he completed the move and lay above me, looking in my eyes.
I returned his gaze, wanting, begging.
We joined gently, easily, such was our arousal and a wave of electricity swelled from my loins, coursing through my body taking away every moment of the past, all thoughts of the future, there was only the here and now and I pleaded for it to never to end.
Outside the rain lashed down even harder, the thunder rolled and lightning flashed all the more intense from its proximity and our wild abandon.
I rolled us over and lay upon James' solid body, moving and squirming with pleasure. I felt the buzz within me growing steadily, reaching for the crescendo. My movements became more fierce and I began to cry out, James rose from the bed, effortlessly lifting us both and slammed me hard against the wall of the bure. I wrenched his head back by his hair and savagely bit his lip as he crashed into me for a final time and we both cried out in a shuddering paroxysm every muscle in our bodies locked as the waves of ecstasy coursed through us.
We stayed locked together, rigid, breathless, in shock ...... a mighty crack of thunder from the storm broke the spell and James lowered us to the floor where we lay in an intertwined heap.
Some time later.
The storm had passed and all was quiet. My vision returned to focus, I looked upon James, his gentle smile and his deep, endless eyes.
In my mind's eye, I stood, on a precipice looking out at the abyss before me. My dilemma, do I trust or do I not, do I take the risk or do I stay safe?
I put one foot out to the void and shifted my weight forwards
"I love you too James"