"Bertie. Bertie."

"Shush Aristotle." Bertie eased the green and red bird back onto his perch and held out a seed for him. "Now let me get on with making breakfast."

Bertie went through to the cooking area and threw the gutted fish onto the table. He carefully placed a few twigs on the embers of the fire and softly blew on them, breathing life back into the fire. Soon the house was filled with the tantalising smell of grilled fish.

Vicky walked out into the small open courtyard and yawned. She saw Bertie by the fire and smiled; he was always the first up! Still naked she went over to her young lover and stood by him silently, her hand resting on his shoulder. She was lithe and muscled the same as Bertie, her skin the colour of butterscotch. The sun had enhanced her freckles and they were sprinkled over her cheeks and nose making her even cuter. Bertie turned and kissed Vicky's smooth hip.

"Morning sleepyhead" said Bertie smiling.

"Morning. Those fish smell lovely."

"It's the early worm that catches the fish" he joked. "Is Zeb awake?"

"Yes I am." Zeb's voice preceded him out of the bedroom and then he appeared, also naked, scratching his hairy stomach. "It smells like you've been working hard while Vicky and I slept."

"Well... You two were loving so late last night I thought you needed the rest."

Vicky blushed delightfully while Zeb looked down at his tired prick, hanging flaccid between his legs. "You should join in more" urged Vicky. "You know I love you just as much as Zeb."

"Don't push him Vicky" said Zeb frowning. "You know Bertie prefers to limit himself to the times he can have you to himself."

"Well yes... It's just that it is so exciting when all three of us make love."

"Stop being greedy Vicky. Bertie will join is when he wants to."

"Okay."

"Now, if you have both finished discussing me" interrupted Bertie "Breakfast is ready!"

The three lovers sat down on bamboo chairs and tucked into their meal of papaw sprinkled with lime juice, fresh fish, and cool clear water from the spring. After they had finished, Zeb and Vicky went to the stream to bathe and returned clad in simple loincloths of tanned goatskin. Bertie was whittling a stick, Aristotle perched on his shoulder.

"What do you want to do today Bertie?" asked Vicky, ruffling the 9 year olds hair as she spoke.

"I was going to go up to Lookout Hill to check that the signal fire is still set alright. Wanna come?"

"Oh yes! I love the smell of all the blossom on Lookout Hill."

"If you children want to do that, I'll just potter around here. That hill is getting too much for me..."

"Okay. Come on Vicky let's get going."

Bertie set off from the house at a blistering pace, a shadow hanging over him. Vicky kissed Zeb on the cheek and then ran after the young boy. She caught him up and they walked through the towering coconut palms; each silent, keeping their thoughts to themselves. The ground began to rise and the palms gave way to a brightly coloured mix of Flame Trees and Bougainvillaea. The sheer beauty of their surroundings calmed the two children and soon they were walking hand in hand; still silent but content to be so.

The climbing got tougher and Bertie had to help Vicky over the rougher parts until, finally, they broke out into the open and it was just a short climb to the summit. The peak of the hill was bare except for a thin covering of grass, kept short by the ubiquitous goats. Going over to the signal fire, the two young friends rearranged some of the branches that had been dislodged by the goats climbing on the branches. They checked that the centre of the fire was still dry; it was their main hope of signalling to any passing ships and so it had to be kept ready at all times.

With their work done the two 9 year olds lay down and soaked up some of the sun, silently chewing on stalks of grass. Finally, when both were drowsy and relaxed from the warming rays, Vicky spoke up. "Bertie... You seem unhappy about something, you hardly talk to Zeb now. What's wrong?".....(cont)