Chapter 2: A Hidey Hole

“We just have to survive and avoid capture for four years.”

Mom is not cheerful or optimistic.

“Maybe we can build a raft and leave here for a different island?”

“Doesn’t sound practical.” Rod glumly dismisses my idea.

Rod is correct, and Mamma’s pessimism is well founded. We have to think of something.

“Listen my darlings. Your mama doesn’t have any experience or skills as a fugitive, I’m not sorry to admit, but sorry I’m not more help.

Solving problems I do know something about. First we need to stop worrying and stop being depressed and afraid. Clear our minds of unhelpful emotions and pessimistic ideas.”

“How do we do that, Momma? Can’t just switch them off.”

“Yes you can and must.”

“How?”

“Switch! Stop thinking sour thoughts and think positive. Every cloud has a silver lining. It’s darkest before the dawn. Count your many blessings. There is some good in everybody. Seek and ye shall find.”

“What’s that all mean, Momma?”

“It means, humans have recognized the power of positive thinking for ... for a very very long time. They created these sayings to help remind them, you can consciously decide to look on the bright side rather than the dark side. You can switch between thinking negative and positive. Turn off the dismal.”

“Maybe grownups can do it, I’m just a kid.”

“Okay, a demonstration is in order. The sun is coming up. Promises to be another beautiful day. You don’t care? You should. Where will those leafy green former playmates of yours spend the day?”

“Up on the rim soaking up rays.”

“Which gives us the daylight hours to scavenge and seek places of refuge before night. And set traps.”

“Gee, Mom, I’m feeling better already.”

“Another happy thought. The Leafies don’t see in the dark any better than we do. Hunting us in the dark, the dark benefits us more, nearly as much as the light attracting them does.”

“Then we aren’t helpless.”

“Absolutely not. Think of more things that benefit us. Help me count our blessings.”

“Well, we are surrounded by a freshwater sea, so we won’t get thirsty.”

“The Leafies aren’t eating up any of our human provisions. They re-energize usng photosynthesis. We won’t starve if we can protect or hide the provisions.”

“We have several priorities. Find a secure place to hide before nightfall. One with a backdoor and a fall back position to refuge in, is best. Second, move enough provisions into several caches, each sufficient for our needs over four years. If one or two caches are discovered, removed or destroyed, we need others to avoid deprivation.”

“What about the stasis pods?”

“Two heavy and awkward for us to relocate.”

“True, Mom, but shouldn’t we seal them away and camouflage the entrance? If all our other options evaporate, we could hide in cryo for four years.”

“Excellent idea, Brenda.”

“Earlier, you had another excellent idea. Build a boat or raft.”

“Thanks for trying to cheer me up, Rod. You were right the first time, it’s not practical to attempt to escape to another island.”

“Of course I was right, but the purpose I’m thinking of for a boat or raft is only to make the Leafies think we tried to get off the island.”

“How will that help?”

“If we decide to hide in cryo, we don’t want them looking for our pods. We’d be sitting ducks.”

“You’re really smart for a little guy, Rod.”

“I can easily become a big guy, just eat a few grapes.”

“Don’t you dare and never mention it again.”

Volcanoes frequently have lava tubes. Our island is honeycombed with them. We begin exploring and mapping. Eventually we find a network of tubes with multiple entrances to the caldera crater and the outer slopes. Also enough side passages and dead ends to make a chase through the labyrinth interesting, and multiple caches for supplies easy.

“Okay Momma. Are you satisfied with out little underground fort?”

“No, I suspect there are other labyrinthine networks, and we should discover every one we can. For today, we need to disguise, camouflage the interior entrances from the crater. Have either of you ever seen any of the Leafies on the outer slopes?” Nope.

“Tomorrow, we’ll start searching the outer slopes for fall back positions. Now. Who’s hungry?”

Fortunately, we have a very talented mom when it comes to cooking.

Another blessing in surprise are these insidious hybrid grapes. Mash a few under foot in front of a lava tube opening, and in less than a week, the entrance will be completely choked and hidden with grape vines. Best camouflage there is, meld in.