Finally back at the camp, Mack breathed a sigh of relief as he stretched out on his cot. He could hear the bustle of activity around the camp. The sounds of working, conversing, even some laughter -people going about the considerable work of creating a new life for themselves.
They had hiked far into the night stopping only to rest briefly, relieve themselves and eat some fruit for energy; they hadn’t even bothered with a fire. Everyone was anxious to get back- to share their experiences, their finds and discuss how what they now knew about the island would impact their future.
As usual, Mack had not retreated to his hut for rest as much as for solitude to think, meditate, pray and plan. He mentally went over the list of supplies they had, including what they had brought back, estimating what the several gardens might yield, considering when, where and who the next hunting party should be-how much ammunition could be spared, what traps they had, what materials they had to build more. Life had become very precious and very simple – each day was full of providing just for that day.
(tmb)

Mark watched Bianca as she struggled with her thoughts. He wanted so much to have a vision such as it seemed Bianca had because she looked so radiant and alive. (pjk)

Bianca walked silently along trying in her own mind to find the words to describe the vision she experienced. Were there words to describe it and do it justice? The colors were vibrant, magnificent and glowing. The sounds so sweet, so melodious. The smells so scrumptious. Could mere words tell the story? Was her experience meant to be told or was each person supposed to have their own experience and would they all be different? (pkj)

Mark gently bumped shoulders with Bianca as they walked along the beach headed back to camp. Bianca glanced up at Mark with a face that still shone with some mysterious light. "Did you really have a vision, Bee?" Mark spoke softly so the others wouldn't hear. Bianca just nodded her head and smiled a far-away smile. They walked on in silence each thinking their own thoughts as they kept the fast pace Mack was setting. Finally, Mark asked, "What do you think it means, Bee?" Bianca laid her hand on Mark's arm and turned her blazing eyes to him, "It will all be made clear to us, Mark. I am not worried at all. We will not just survive, we will take dominion and rule."

The group ran to Bianca and knelt down at her side. Even as they noticed her exhausted state, they couldn’t help but see something more. Her face was aglow like the northern lights. Her eyes were shining like something they had never seen before. They didn’t know where Bianca had been but they couldn’t help but see that what ever she had witnessed had to be awesome. Mark could hardly contain himself wondering if Bianca had found the land of freedom. (pkj)

Mack was abruptly shaken from his memories by a loud crashing sound coming from the thick forest to their left. The group turned as one when they heard their names being called out from amidst the thick of the trees. Suddenly Bianca burst out onto the beach. Sweating, panting and holding her side she fell to her knees in the sand.

As Mack continued his reverie he remembered (like everyone else) exactly where he was and what he was doing when the first pulse hit the electric grid – at the NYC zoo learning about animals he could add to the eco-system on Veilhella, for his clients who paid big bucks to make their survival vacation as real as possible. After EMP-0 zoo security systems across the nation were disabled allowing wild animals of all kinds to roam freely. Many didn’t survive, some headed for the hills and others it seemed – spanned the waters and ended up on the islands, where over the years they adapted.
Compared to the rest of the country, that was only now beginning to look anything like civilization again, Veilhella was a near paradise-in spite of the wildlife population. At the main camp site were several gardens, make-shift green houses, gravity fed indoor plumbing, and may other “luxuries” that hadn’t been seen in the US since EMP-0. (tmb)

Back at the beach the scavenging party was diligently following Bianca’s trail while still scouring the area for anything that they could take back to the main camp site and use.
As they walked Mack trailed behind. He liked to keep his group in front of him to ensure their safety. He had one missing he would not let anyone else disappear. He couldn’t help these feelings of responsibility. They were partly from his military training and partly from the fact that it was at his lead they were all here.
He allowed his mind to wander back – Almost 12 years ago he had been a very successful business man. He had retired from the USAF after years in a highly classified and stressful intelligence career and had finally seen his dream of a survival vacation business come to life.
He would be a liar if he said he had never dreamed that he would have to use the survival tactics he taught his clients in everyday life. He had always suspected (perhaps even slightly feared) the day would come. For most people EMP was just something they heard in a news blurb or maybe read in science fiction, but for Mack is had been a very real part of his everyday work.
Thank The Creator that they had been able to reach Veilhella Island! And praise Unus the old camp site was still more or less intact. It had been so long since it had bpeen safe to say God or Jesus in public that he found himself saying The Creator and Unus even in private.

As Bianca was contemplating her situation her friends were beginning to agree with Mark that it may be time to go look for her. The group knew that Bianca could take care of herself in most situations but they also knew that she could get lost in a fog of daydreaming at times. After some discussion they decided to split up, leaving one person behind, and go looking for her.
Bianca was wondering whether it would be best to stay on the ledge and pray for her friends to look for her or to plunge into the darkness of the cave. The thought of feeling her way around the dark cave was not a pleasant one but neither was the thought of being on the ledge alone when darkness came.
Bianca walked gingerly into the cave. After her eyes became accustom to the dark she could make out a tunnel. As she moved slowly into the tunnel she began to see a small amount of light in the distance. (pkj)

Bianca groaned and turned her head gingerly, reaching her hand up to touch the tender spot where she had grazed her head. Slowly she sat up and took in her situation.
She was on a ledge looking into a deep dark cave. She looked up to where she had been before she slipped. Closing her eyes the fall came back to her in a flash. It was like it had happened in slow motion. Slipping, grappling for any kind of hold to stop her fall, holding her breath and waiting for the plunge to the bottom over 30 feet away, but instead she had only fallen about 10 feet landing with a thud onto a small ledge.
Rising slowly to her feet, she peered over the edge. The scene below was just as beautiful as before-pure white sand and crystal clear water stretching out both ways as far as she could see, but now looking at the outcrop of jagged rocks at the bottom of this hill the view gave her a chill as thought of what might have happened if she hadn't landed on this ledge. She breathed a prayer of thanksgiving for guiding hands unseen.
Feeling a cold breeze on her sweat soaked neck she turned back toward the cave. After the intensity of the sun bleached sand, and noon time sun the cave opening appeared opaque black-too dark for any light to penetrate. As she put forth an enquiring hand she almost expected to touch a wall of unyielding blackness. (tkb)

Oblivious to time of day or her friends back at camp Bianca made her way up the incline. All at once she came to the crest of a hill and wandered to the edge. In amazement Bianca looked down at the sight below.
As Bianca turned, thinking to head back to camp, her foot slipped and she hit her head. (pkj)

Back at the 'camp' the remaining group had cleaned up themselves and their area and were discussing the days agenda while awaiting Bianca's return.
Mack glanced again at his sports watch and seeing it was nearly 10am wondered again if he should go to look for Bianca.(tmb)