Then we waited, but no reply came.

“Do you have any idea where he might’ve gone?” Andrew asked Kimberly.

“No. Are you kidding? He wouldn’t go anywhere, not when he’s supposed to be keeping watch. Not Keith. Except maybe for five minutes, if he had to go to the john. He wouldn’t take off for hours. No way!”

I’d never seen her this upset. She wasn’t hysterical, though. She didn’t cry, but her voice sounded tight and she had a frantic look in her eyes like she wanted to scream for help.

“Something’s happened to him,” she said. “He’s had an accident, or…” She shook her head. “We’ve gotta go and find him.”

We might’ve started a general discussion about the various possibilities, but Kimberly didn’t hang around. She picked up her shoes and started running toward the jungle.

“Kim!” Andrew yelled. “Wait for us.”

Still running, she glanced back over her shoulder.

“Stop!” he ordered.

She quit running, turned around, and walked backward toward the jungle.

“Somebody should stay here,” I suggested. “You know, in case Keith shows up. If he comes back and everyone’s gone…”

“Good idea,” Andrew said. “You wanta stay?”

“No, but…”

“I’ll stay,” Connie volunteered.

“I don’t want you here by yourself,” her dad said.

“Rupert’ll stay with me.”

“I want to help search for Keith,” I said.

The skipper pointed at me. “Stay with her.” He dug into his pocket, came up with the lighter, and tossed it to me. “Get the fire going, Rupe.”

“Aye-aye, sir.”

Andrew, Billie and Thelma spent a couple of minutes picking up odds and ends such as shoes, hats, and sunglasses. Then they hurried to catch up with Kimberly.

Before long, they vanished into the jungle. Connie and I stood by ourselves on the sand.

“He’ll turn up,” Connie said.