SURVIVORS
Chapters 73. Pearl Oyster Hunting
The day was still the light of the ground, the sun had not even fully appeared as the five men came out of the hut and got ready. Some wear shoes, some prepare baskets.
"Where are you going in the morning?" ask Niken who just returned from the river with Angel. They held the torch of coconut leaves as a path light.
"To the beach, to see the sunrise," replied Gilang with hilarious behavior.
"You're looking for a crab that's coming home late" said Leon did not want to lose.
Angel and Niken nodded then walked past.
"Don't be late at the beach, the breakfast will be cold" Angel reminded.
"Ready." said the two together, then immediately followed Robert, Liam and Chandra doctor who did not wait for them.
Angel added grass to the place where the four horses were moored. Sniff with the lovely white darling.
Niken started boiling the medicine in the kitchen, letting it go to check on Indra.
**
The five cool men scrape together the beach sand collecting shells and squid buried in the sand. They found a lot of shells because they came early.
"Have enough yet? Let's go find the pearl oyster." Doctor Chandra reminded them of their ultimate goal.
"OKAY. Got a basket already." Liam showed me the basket he was holding.
"All I got was put together with you" said Leon pouring the basket. Others followed in his footsteps. The basket is full now.
Robert closed the top of the basket by tucking the rope into each other hooks tightly enough to keep the crab from escaping out of the basket despite being left behind.
The basket is placed near the rope ladder to be carried later. Now they walked merrily towards the small alcove to hunt pearl oysters.
The place was quite far from the beach they used to explore. That part of the place was filled with large and small rocks here and there. Behind one of the large rocks was a small and low alcove, filled with sea water. There were many pearl oysters trapped there as the sea level dropped.
His expression was no longer hidden. They cheered to see quite a lot of big oysters there.
"Okay, let's take the big one. Let the little ones return to the sea when the tide rises" Dr Chandra said.
"Ready dock, do it!" Leon, Liam and Gilang answered nimbly. They picked up large oysters deftly, and put them in baskets.
Robert and Chandra's doctor took the other part and put it in the basket they were carrying.
It didn't take long to comb through that little niche. The hands were nimble to choose large oysters, even those tucked between the rocks.
"I am helping you who are caught between stones. So thank me," said Liam silly on the oyster shell in his hand.
His words made both of his friends laugh.
"Yes, we just want to help you get rid of a big rock tucked in your skin." Leon spoke to the oyster shell in his hand.
His laughter exploded again.
"It's noon, let's go home. Tomorrow can still be searched again big." Robert ended his three.
"Well, comeon. It also feels that there is no longer a large size," said Gilang.
They marched back to the cottage carrying the seafood in their respective baskets.
**
Laras, Niken, Angel and Silvi were chatting in the kitchen when the five men returned with so many baskets. But they just pay attention.
Robert and Liam lifted the basket filled with clams and crabs, and the basket was put in a fish pond. While let it stay there, until the time the women want to cook it.
Gilang, and Leon was busy telling stories near the kitchen, how they were looking for the pearl oyster.
"If you want to open it now, you can. So the oyster meat can all be included in the spicy soup sauce we made," said Laras.
"You make spicy soup?" Leon asked back. Her eyes beaming. He really likes spicy soups filled with seafood.
"Yes, we opened the pearl that Dr. Chandra gave us yesterday. There was quite a lot of oyster meat, so we decided to make some spicy seafood soup to make it taste delicious" Angel replied.
"Then, our oysters will be opened later in the afternoon, for our dinner" Dr Chandra said.
"Yes, we're very hungry. Is the breakfast ready?" ask Gilang.
Laras nodded and went into the kitchen, followed by Niken, Angel and Silvia. They were also hungry as they waited for the men to return for breakfast.
"You're disgusting" Angel's scolding glared at Liam.
"You add too much chilli in the soup. Very cruel," murmured Liam protest.
"You always protest spicy, but eat the most" recalls Gilang.
"Hahahaa.." everyone laughed at Liam who was grumbling.
"Of course, spend it all. After this we still have to dry the oats," doctor Chandra interceded.
"Okay doc." replied Gilang and Liam.
"So we boiled another beeswax last night. Maybe the afternoon can be printed into a candle" Silvia reported.
"Yes, wait to freeze." Robert nodded.
"Ahh, if only we can also make soap, then it can take a cleaner bath. You can wash clothes cleaner too" Angel said with a laugh.
"To make soap, we need oil. We don't have oil" Robert said.
"How about we make coconut oil? Besides being able to cook, it can also make soap, right?" Silvia.
"What do you think? Can coconut oil make soap?" ask Robert.
"could. Coconut oil is great for laundry soap," replied Robert.
"Can't do soap?" asked Silvia in wonder.
"Actually it can be, only usually for bath soap selected softer oils. Generally, handmade bath soap made from the main raw olive oil, plus other oils according to the designation of the soap." Robert explained the difference.
"Is making soap the same as making wax that is only printed and frozen?" tanya Gilang curious.
"Haha.. Of course it's different. There's another important additive and process again before it can be frozen." Robert explained.
"Yes, if so we try to make laundry soap first. How's it?" ask Niken.
"You make the oil first, I'll teach you how to make the soap."
Robert wanted to let the women try to make their own oil, before they were sure they wanted to make a soap that needed a lot of oil.
"Relax, I know how to make coconut oil" said Niken proudly.
"Okay, we'll get ready tomorrow." Laras eager.
Robert smiled faintly, then turned his attention to the doctor Chandra who was drying oats. Robert approached and saw the lights there. Actually the grain is dry enough and can be ground with wood so that the skin covering the grain breaks and comes off. Robert showed Chandra his way.
Both of them clean the oats while drying. The job was done quickly. Both breathed.
"Can this be made into porridge?" ask Dr. Chandra to know.
"It can be made into cookies or bread if it is made into flour." This time Leon answered.
"What if I make the flour later? I want you to take a look at the pool of warm water I found yesterday" Robert suggested.
"Then, wait a minute. I have to check on Indra first, just calm down to be left."
Doctor Chandra stepped into the water shelter and washed his hands. Then we went into the cottage followed by Niken.
"Bring your change of clothes, if you want to soak in warm water." Robert patted Gilang's shoulder.
"okay."Gilang, Liam and Leon. Then get into the cottage.
"Robert, I just found this falling out of your sun-dried clothes." Angel thrust the colorful stone in her hand at Robert.
"Ah, thank you. This is the rock I found in the hot pool yesterday."
Robert took the stone and went into the cottage to get a change of clothes. Before long, the five men exited the cottage.
"We want to check the hot spring first" said Dr. Chandra to Laras and Angel who were tidying and cleaning coconut shells and shellfish to be used as a candle container.
"alright. In the meantime we'll make candles for lighting tonight." Laras nodded towards Dr. Chandra.
The five men immediately walked towards the river in hope. Because they have to find a way out of this place. They also have to find Marianne and Michael, as well as Dean's team one day.
***