“Honey, go on over and wake up your sisters, would you?”

Connie groaned like it was a chore, but she followed orders. While she was on her way to where Thelma and Kimberly were sleeping, I got to my feet. I checked on Billie. She was sitting up and rubbing her eyes. One of her elbows was in the way, so I couldn’t see much of her bikini top.

I turned my attention to the others. Connie nudged Thelma with her foot and said, “Guys, wake up.”

Thelma, flat on her back, blinked up at her and scowled.

Kimberly was covered to the shoulders by a blue blanket. (It wasn’t the good one that we’d brought with us to spread on the beach for our picnic. Andrew and Billie claimed that one.) Kimberly’s blanket had been retrieved from the inlet. A survivor of the boat explosion, it was missing a corner, had a rip down one side and a bunch of burn holes with dark, chaired edges. I could see her skin through some of the holes.

She didn’t move when Connie said, “Guys, wake up.” Then came, “Keith’s disappeared.”

Kimberly threw the blanket aside and sat up fast. Frowning, she swung her head from side to side as she got to her feet. She was still in her white bikini. She looked terrific. She also looked worried.

Andrew and Billie were already striding toward her. (Billie had straightened her bikini top so nothing showed that wasn’t supposed to.)

Kimberly said, “Dad, what’s going on? Where’s Keith?”

“We don’t know, honey. He was supposed to wake up Rupert at four, but he didn’t. From the look of things, he’s been gone a long time.”

Kimberly suddenly shouted “Keith!” toward the jungle. She got no answer, so she cupped her hands to the sides of her mouth and belted out, “KEITH!”

Then we all started yelling his name.

We even tried calling out in unison. That was Billie’s idea. She counted to three, and we all yelled “KEITH!” at once.