Lost In Kakadu (20 page)

But she was pleasantly surprised to see how thin her face had become. Something else was different too. It took her a while to work out what it was—an absence of makeup. Up until a couple of weeks ago she wouldn’t have been caught without it regardless of what activities were planned for the day. Even in the middle of Kakadu, the first thing she’d done every morning was apply her makeup. Initially, when it ran out, she’d consciously avoided getting too close to Mackenzie. But now it didn’t bother her one bit. She smiled. It was unexpected freedom that she would never have found if it wasn’t for the crash. Spencer would have disowned her.

Her weight loss had been dramatic too and she now fitted into the diminutive travel reporter’s more practical clothing. She took off her shirt and ran her hands beneath her breasts, feeling her ribs. The roll of fat that usually sat there was gone.

Before the trip, she’d hated what she saw in the mirror. Her eyes were too close together, her lips insipid pink and her freckles just dark blemishes on her milky pale skin. But now there was a natural glow to her skin and her cheeks and lips were a delicate rose colour. Staring at her reflection again, she thought she didn’t look so bad. “Hello, Abi,” she said to herself.

The sound of Mackenzie humming made her jump. Without any rational thought, she snatched up her shirt and tugged it on as she raced to the other side of the stream and hid behind a large tree. She peered around in time to see him arrive at the bottom of the path and when he looked around she assumed he was looking for her.

She smiled to herself.
I should play a trick on him
.

“Abi?” he called.

Her heart thundered as she remained hidden. Mackenzie walked to the rock platform and removed a backpack from his shoulder. He wore nothing but a small pair of blue shorts. His body was lithe and athletic with sculptured muscular arms and broad square shoulders that tapered to a narrow waist. He was hot, and she was heating up just watching him.

Abi felt like a school girl spying into the boy’s locker room and gasped when he stepped out of his shorts and stood naked with his back to her. With his arms above his head, he stretched from side to side and his bottom cheeks bulged and relaxed with each movement. She couldn’t take her eyes off his white buttocks. Suddenly he bent over and she quickly looked away covering her mouth to resist a giggle. She looked back just in time to watch him do a beautiful swan dive off the rocks into the lagoon below.

Taking the opportunity, she quickly moved to another tree so she could see the entire lagoon from the base of the waterfall to the boulders that formed the far edge.

Mackenzie stretched out and backstroked toward the waterfall. He settled under the tumbling water, letting it bounce off his head and shoulders. Diving back in, he swam a few laps across the pool then glided underwater to the large boulder at the opposite end. He climbed out in one swift athletic movement and she held her breath as he lay back on the boulder. The golden sun glistened off his body and the purity of the scene was magical; she felt exhilarated and alive.

After several minutes, Mackenzie got to his feet and faced her, allowing her a full view of him naked. An exquisite sensation that she’d never felt before stirred within her. Mackenzie’s confidence with his body excited her and with a pounding heart she realised she was holding her breath. As she silently released her breath she tried to remember the last time she’d seen Spencer naked, but couldn’t.

Mackenzie walked along the edge of the lagoon and she watched him climb the ladder. At the top he dressed, filled the water bottles, placed them into the backpack, and then retraced his steps up the steep cliff, humming his favourite tune. She didn’t recognise the tune and made a mental note to ask him about the humming one day.

Abi waited until he disappeared through the bush, then grinning like a crazy woman, she came out from behind the tree. At the top of the waterfall she recalled Mackenzie’s naked body diving so elegantly into the lagoon below.
I can do that
. Her heart skipped a beat as she anticipated what she was about to do.

She stripped down to her underpants and before she could change her mind, she jumped. Squealing like a child on the way down, she closed her eyes and plunged into the lagoon. The crisp water took her breath away. She pushed up to the crystal surface, swam to the edge, climbed from the water and stretched out on the giant boulder just as Mackenzie had done. The warmth of the rock on her back was as pleasant as the sun on her breasts. She closed her eyes and felt invisible as she absorbed the serenity of her surroundings.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Mackenzie’s voice startled her.

She sat up, folding her arms over her chest. “Are you spying on me?”

With his hands on his hips, he gazed at her from the other side of the lagoon. “As a matter of fact, I thought I’d be saving you. I heard you scream and thought you’d fallen in.”

“Oh.”

“Mind if I join you?”

“Um, well, um …”

“Come on. Don’t be shy.” Mackenzie whipped off his shorts and before she could say anything he dived in, glided under the water and popped up before her. Her eyes bulged as he simply climbed up on the rock beside her and stretched out.

Abi made a conscious effort to avert her eyes. Blood rushed to her neck and cheeks and she hoped he wouldn’t notice her blushing. With her arm across her breasts she lay back against the rock but it was uncomfortable and the more she thought about it, unnecessary.
He’s not going to look. He’s gay. Isn’t he?
Her mind drifted to an earlier conversation they’d had. Always attracted to both women and men, he’d said. Torn between covering her nakedness and leaving herself exposed to enjoy the freedom, she gradually allowed her arm to fall to her side. Her nipples tingled with excitement, she could hardly breathe and she hoped Mackenzie didn’t speak to her, afraid her voice would belie her bravery.

They lay in silence for such a long time Abi wondered if he’d fallen asleep. Peeking at him through one eye she watched his chest rise and fall with each breath. His silver necklace laced through his dark chest hair and she tried not to giggle at the small ring on the chain, now loosely circling his nipple. But she snapped her eyes away when she caught sight of his pubic hair glistening in the sun.
Wow
. Her body tingled with exotic sensations and she chewed on her bottom lip trying to keep it all real.

She heard him moving and turned her head toward him. To her horror, he was now on his side, head propped up on his hand, looking right at her. Too afraid to speak she forced a smile, willing her eyes not to roam.

“Shall we go for a dip then?” He grinned.

He stood up above her and she absorbed the full view of his naked body, his manhood exposed for the world to see. Her breath caught in her throat and she was stunned beyond breathing, frozen in time. With flawless olive skin that moulded over perfectly sculptured muscles, his body would make any man jealous and any woman swoon. Finally he dived into the pool and she could breathe again.

“Come on in, Abi. It’s fantastic,” he called from the other side of the lagoon.

Struggling to her feet, she was certain her wobbling knees would drop her into the valley below and quickly jumped into the fresh water.

Seconds later, he swam beside her. “Have you seen the cave?”

She frowned and shook her head.

He playfully splashed a wall of water over her. “Come on … it’s neat.” Before she’d even had a chance to push her wet hair out of her eyes he grabbed her hand and dragged her forward. Holding hands, they dived under the water, then he let go to swim ahead and she viewed the rocky bottom through the green tinge. Abi forgot about her bare breasts and felt free, exhilarated. When she reached the surface, Mackenzie was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’d he go?” she wondered aloud.

Suddenly he dove through the waterfall over the top of her.

When he popped up she barraged him with scoops of water and to her surprise, he picked her up and tossed her away. Laughing as she submerged, she swallowed cool mouthfuls. They splashed in the water until Abi was panting with exhaustion and lay back floating on top. “Okay, you win.” She was no longer concerned about her exposed breasts, and loved it.

“Come on. I’ll show you the cave. Follow me.”

She kept close behind him as he passed through the waterfall. The water beat down on her until she was through the other side, breathless. They were now standing on a large boulder at the edge of a cave. Mackenzie climbed up into the cave and she couldn’t take her eyes off his bottom. She looked away just in time though when he turned to offer her his hand. He lifted her with ease, as if she were as light as a child.

She marvelled at the cave’s existence and spun in a slow circle with her arms wide. “This is amazing,” she yelled above the thundering water. “I bet we’re the only people in the world who know this exists.”

“I reckon. And watch this.” He took a couple of steps back, ran a few paces and dived through the waterfall. Moments later, she heard him on the other side. “Come on, your turn.”

She didn’t hesitate and copied his move. For a brief moment, she felt pounding water on her back and legs before she plunged into the lagoon. When she surfaced, she was laughing.

“Fun, hey?”

“Wonderful!” She couldn’t stop smiling.

“Are you hungry?” Mackenzie finally said.

“Famished.”

Abi swam to the rocks, climbed the wire ladder and at the top she dried off with her shirt before putting it on. During the walk back to the campsite images of Mackenzie standing above her completely naked came back to her mind again and again. Heat rose up her neck and she knew her cheeks were red. She thought of Spencer and an overwhelming sense of guilt took her. Not because of Mackenzie, but because of her sudden comprehension that she’d been contemptible throughout their entire marriage. Spencer devoured every adventure and only now could she see the attraction. For years they could have enjoyed incredible mind-opening experiences together.

Her mind wandered to their third anniversary. Spencer had surprised her with a helicopter ride to a deserted island. Three things were wrong with that. First, she hated surprises—it took the control out of her hands. Second, she was scared of flying, and he knew it. And third, a deserted island, for goodness sake! She didn’t do deserted islands. And finally to top all that, once they got there, he wanted to make love to her, right there on the beach. But there was no way she was taking her clothes off in the middle of nowhere. But now look at her, today she’d practically skinny dipped with another man. And she’d loved it. Her third anniversary could’ve been a truly magical day but she’d completely ruined it with her prudish attitude.

Abigail was on the verge of tears. All these years she’d blamed Spencer for their dreadful relationship. Nothing he did was enough. She’d pushed him away when he wanted affection. Their occasional sex wasn’t enough and the way she’d treated him, it was no wonder he pursued other women. The demise of their marriage was just as much her fault as Spencer’s. With each passing day she spent in Kakadu, she felt her dignity, which she’d once held so high, crumbling away.

* * *

Mackenzie knelt beside the freshly prepared woodpile and flicked the lighter. Sparks sprang from the flint but no flame appeared. It was empty. He’d dreaded this day. Crouched down, he rested on his heels as he racked his brain for a solution. They had to keep up with the smoke. Even though it seemed unlikely another helicopter would fly over at this point, he’d never give up hope. Over the last few months he’d tried many times to make a fire by rubbing two sticks together, but it was impossible.

He paced toward the luggage and paused at Charlie’s grave to touch the headstone. He brushed away a couple of vines that threatened to cover the stone. “So old man, got any fire starter tricks in that book of yours?” There was no doubt Charlie’s book had played an integral part of their survival so far. Mackenzie had been through that book many times and considered it now, hoping something would occur to him. “I didn’t think so.” This time, it was Mackenzie who’d need to find a solution.

He re-examined their eclectic collection of salvaged equipment, and Tom’s enormous camera caught his attention. It had shattered almost beyond recognition in the crash, and despite Mackenzie’s exhaustive attempts, he’d never managed to bring it back to life. The large battery seemed promising, but no practical use for it had presented itself yet.

The glass lens had somehow survived the impact. It flashed in the sun, winking at him, and he knelt down, unscrewed it and turned it over in his hand. It was about the size and weight of a coffee mug and when he peered through it the magnification triggered a rare, pleasant memory from his childhood. He remembered playing with a school friend, whose name escaped him. They were crouching on a patch of grass, using the sun’s rays and a magnifying glass to melt little plastic army men. Afterwards they’d rolled around in the grass laughing at some of their hideous creations.

Mackenzie knelt beside the fire and held the lens at an angle that allowed the sun to penetrate the glass. He directed the focal point to a mound of dried grass and stared at the spot, waiting for something to happen. Moments later, a grey thread of smoke drifted from the pile.

He carefully blew on the kindling. “Yes!”

The flames grabbed the dry sticks and a few beats later the morning fire blazed.

“Hey Charlie, I did it. Mackenzie … fire maker.”
Now for breakfast.
He grabbed his pack and headed into the bush.

Soon the broken body of the plane was just a white shape in the distance. He flicked open the thin, two-inch blade on the knife and tested its sharpness by running his thumb across it. It was as blunt as a butter knife and completely useless. He returned it to his pocket and removed the axe from the backpack; it too had dulled from repeated use, however it was better than the knife. Pausing at a large eucalyptus tree, he chopped at the bark carving a notch at eye level. This was his third marking for the day in a series of markers along his travelled path.