Dizzily, Bastian awoke ashore, spitting sand from his lips and tongue. Sea water, rushing through his trousers as he lay disoriented, on the red pebble beach. The high hanging sun beat down on his aching skull, eyes unable to discern his surroundings as he struggled to lift his head. Where am I? He could only barely fathom the question as he mustered the strength to pull himself up to a seated position.

  As he made every attempt to gather his wits he observed his surroundings about him. The forest that hugged the shore was thick and the trees were towering over him. Then for some strange reason he sensed an overwhelming presence of birds and lizard-like creatures. Neither of them really concerned him. The truth of his whereabouts was infinitely more pressing. Then, in an instant he recalled the plane, crashing into the ocean.

  Frustrated, he pulled off his boots one by one and dumped the pools of water and sand from them. Then returned them to his feet. It was then he stood and cast his glance around him. Alarmed when he spotted another person lying lifelessly on the shore, he sprinted over. It was Barney, the old man he was seated next to on the plane, lying lifeless on his back. Bastian fell at his side and began beating on his chest, and blowing into his mouth.

  “Come on Barney!” Bastian continued to pump his chest, “Breathe, you son of a bitch!”

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  And in a moment of sheer brilliance the old man spit out the water from his chest and regained his consciousness.

  “Bastian?!” Coughing, “Mother of God!”

  “Alright, alright. Easy there, old man.” Bastian helped sit the man up.

  “Good heavens.” In disbelief, looking around “We’re alive. We actually survived that nightmare.”

  “Yeah, we did. Where on earth we are is another question. Are you hurt?”

  “No, I don't think so.”

  "You're bleeding."

  "So are you."

  Bastian helped the old man to his feet. Barney gazed around at the thick forest that skirted a glorious mountain, “What the fuck?!” He threw up his arms in frustration, “What the fuck are we supposed to do now?”

  “I’m right there with yah, man.”

  “Well… we’re going to die.”

  “I don’t know. Have you ever seen the movie, Cast Away. Tom Hanks made it work.”

  “What are we going to do for food?”

  “There’s probably some berries in that forest over there.”

  “Well… I don't see that we have much choice about it. We must venture into these woods in search of food and civilization.”

  “After you.”