The day dawned with a blue sky and a gentle breeze, as was typical for the island. The palms on the beach swayed so gently and one could hear the swishing sound of wavelets on the beach. The fishing boats who kept the Island supplied with fish had gone round the other side of the island and would only bring back bony fish or small sharks that were clearly unaffected by the drugs in the water.

An information tree had been activated where ten households had been warned of the meeting, and each had to inform ten others, and so on until the whole Island was informed about the impending meeting later in the afternoon. Only one parent from each family was asked to attend as there was not enough space in the village square for more.

The Mayor stood on his dais and banged a gavel to call the meeting to order and invited James to tell the Island what had been discovered. The residents listened in silence until he had finished.

The meeting was told.

Do not eat any fish from the area where the yacht sank.
Do not go beach casting into that area.
Discard any fish from anywhere that look thin and are too easy to catch.
Cats must not be allowed to eat fish offal or any dead fish on the beach. These should be burned.
Do not eat any other animals from the contaminated area like Oysters, Clams, Squid or Octopus.

Look out for changes in cat or child behaviour. Getting thinner, or being aggressive is a warning sign of changes of personality.

Any child appearing to change personality should visit Bart as soon as possible, and any cat showing similar behaviour may need to be euthanised. We cannot have children or adults being bitten or scored by their claws.

The large group was silent, but one or two hands did go up.

“Why did we not know about this before?”

“We had no reason to look for this information. It has only been in the last few days that these thin unhealthy fish have been caught.”

“How long will this last? My husband is a fisherman. We cannot live on no money.”

“The fishermen have been fishing on the other side of the island today on our advice. We will see what sort of catch they have made. Some of the fish will be tested for Cocaine. If the fish seem healthy and the Cocaine test is negative, then the fish should be fit to eat.

“We plan to examine fish from the area where the yacht sank, regularly. We have every expectation that the Cocaine will disappear from the water in a matter of months as the fish and various predator species die from the Cocaine poisoning.”

“We have the ability to produce more of our protein on the island. Chicken and other birds can be produced for slaughter and I know one family on the other side of the island who breed rabbits for the pot.”

“We will come through this together. No one will go hungry. We have just got to be careful, and be on the lookout for unexpected changes.”

“Shouldn’t the authorities on the mainland be informed?”

“Remember that the authorities on the mainland can do very little here. The Cocaine cannot be removed from the water, and we know to stop eating fish from that part of the shoreline. The information will draw media attention and the cartels may develop an unhealthy interest in two of our children.”

“The population drifted away in small numbers. There was a lot of discussion amongst them.”

“I do hope that the fishing industry here is not destroyed. It is not their fault that the water is contaminated. At least the pollutant is not a disease causing bacterium or virus.”

“Lets go and look at today’s catch and see what we think.”

“The fishermen looked relieved and Bart took samples of several small sharks to look at under the microscope for changes in their muscles, but they looked healthy and the Mayor said they could be offered for sale. ”

Whether anyone would buy them was a different matter, of course.

The ad hoc committee returned to the Mayor’s office.

“I think we could have seen the worst already”, Bart offered.

The others looked up.

“The cats have an exclusively meat diet of discarded fish parts. They are small and also drink less as their food is wet. The children, and particularly the adults, have a mixed diet and are physically bigger once weaned. The cocaine is lost from the body in less than two hours, up to five hours for the derivatives. I was going to suggest that we got in more tests for the human population but long before they arrived, the whole population would be free of the drug.”

“This is looking better, the Mayor, replied for all of them.”

“… so the whole population should be free of the drug by tomorrow morning at the latest?”

“… that is the sum of it, as long as they do not get another dose.”

“What else do we know?”

“Cocaine is not excreted from fish as quickly as it is in mammals and it gets concentrated in the eyes and the ovaries of the fish.”

“Are you saying that the fish offal and the heads would contain most of any cocaine in the fish.”

“Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. The cats get a double whammy as it is the heads and offal that they eat.”

“Can we issue an all clear for the fishermen if the fish are filleted before sale?”

“On the information I have, I think we can.”

“Do we all agree?”

“I think we need to talk to the fishermen and explain that filleted fish carry very little risk, if any. If they will agree to remove heads and offal before sale and not sell any intact fish, then I think we can.”

The message was sent out to the population, but most families had decided to give fish a miss for the time being at least. One fishing boat was laid up in a week, then a second a month later.

The third vessel was used primarily for inshore work and continued to deliver fish from the coastal waters for those who were prepared to buy it.

Eventually the population began to forget about the cocaine, and after several negative tests of animals from the area, the exclusion area was removed and life seemed to return to normal.

One of the fishing boats returned to work, and the inshore boat remained in work. Only the third boat remained out of service. It was the oldest of the three and there was some doubt as to whether it was going to be serviceable after the lay up.

Mariposa and Sophia were sitting on their veranda looking at the garden with its mass of fruit and vegetables. Their sarongs were placed carefully on a coffee table in front of them. The day had been busy but now was the time for the two women to relax. They had been in their relationship for some months and starting a family was never far from their minds.

Mariposa started the conversation this time, although it was about equal.

“Have you had any more thoughts about suitable men to father our children?”

“I have gone through all the islanders I know; in my mind. All have some reason that makes me reluctant. Mostly it is that they would want to have permanent relationships with one of us. They couldn’t be dispassionate about our needs.”

“I have one suggestion. It is not a straightforward one, but I rather like it.”

“Fire away. I am game for suggestions, as I am out of ideas.”

“My idea is to approach Coral to see how she would feel about James fathering our children.”

“That really is left field. James is happily married to Coral. What makes you think that he would even consider fathering children with us?”

“Firstly Coral has told me that with the difference in their ages, that James would like more children but she is has gone through the change and cannot have any more.”

“Secondly, we know them as a couple and look after their children regularly.”

“What are you suggesting? Talk to Coral and get her agreement, then approach James and see if he will agree.”

“He is certainly a suitable father for our children. We have both had sexual relationships with men, and whilst they are not fulfilling emotionally, they are not inherently distasteful as they are with some lesbian couples.”

“I think James could have sex with either or both of us, but remain detached from us emotionally. He could be as involved with the children as much or as little as he wished.”

“I am warming to the idea.”

“How do you think we should go about this plan?”

“I think we need to ask Coral to meet us, perhaps here, for a meal, and we should broach the subject then.”

“Right, we invite Coral up here, and say sorry to James as he would have to look after the children.”

“Would next Saturday be too soon?”

“I don’t think so. We only need to plan a nice meal and get a bottle of wine.”

Coral was pleasantly surprised about the invitation, but it was explained as a girls night out, so she agreed.”

The following Saturday Coral made her way up the path to Mariposa’s and Sophia’s home. After a brief guided tour of the garden they settled down on the veranda with a glass of something cold and fizzy in hand. In common with the normal behaviour of the island their sarongs were folded neatly on a chest inside the front door. Coral looked beautiful with her skin glowing from a coating of some of her favourite body oil. The oil had a subtle perfume that Mariposa and Sophia were aware of, but it didn’t compete with the perfume of the garden flowers that cascaded down the cottage wall.

The trio talked about all sorts of matters to do with the Island and its residents. They talked about the children and how well Giant Clam and Squid were doing with their English at School.

Eventually these things of domestic importance dried up and Mariposa drew a deep breath and broached on the subject that was the real reason for the visit.

Sophia had prepared a nice salad for their meal and their glasses were topped up.

“We have an ulterior motive for asking you here.”

“I thought you might have a reason that hasn’t been mentioned yet.”

“We know that James would like more children.”

“Yes, I told you that, but I am post-menopausal now so no more motherhood for me.”

“That is true, of course, but there might be motherhood for us.”

“If I judge this rightly, you are saying that one or both of you would like to become pregnant.”

“Yes, we would both like to become pregnant as soon as it is possible.”

“What is that to do with me.”

“We would like James to father our children.”

If Coral’s mahogany coloured skin could become ashen, then she would have become ashen.

“Are you saying that you want James to leave me?”

“No, not at all. We are looking for a kind man who can look at this act dispassionately. Can be involved with the children as much or as little as he wishes and does not want a permanent relationship with either of us. The last thing we want to do is to take James away from you.”

“Tell me how this would work.”

“We can be flexible. Both of us have had relationships with men. We don’t dislike having sex with men, but enjoy each other much better. If James were agreeable we would invite him here at the right time and he would agree to having sex with either of us or both. He would ejaculate into whichever one of us he wanted.”

“He would then come back at say, three day intervals and repeat the acts until one or both of us was pregnant.”

“What do I do during this meeting?”

“You are welcome to supervise. He is your husband and you have every right to be involved.”

“If you wanted to, you could be intimately involved as long as one of us received his semen.”
Coral was silent for several minutes. Mariposa and Sophia stayed quiet and had a sip of wine every so often.

Eventually Coral seemed to come to a conclusion.

“I think I have come to a conclusion. I would not have expected me to feel this way walking up the hill to your home.”

“I think I would like to share the relationship I have with James with you both. I have often wondered what it would be like to have an intimate relationship with a woman and you are both very attractive.”

“Are you saying that we could have an ongoing relationship, or a series of one-off nights?”

“Either.”

“Coral was running her fingers through her moist public hair, obviously excited over the prospect.”

“Mariposa went over to her and stroked the older woman’s hair and Coral buried her face in Mariposa’s breasts.”

“Please say yes.”

Mariposa looked at Sophia. Sophia nodded.

“I think we could have a lighthearted relationship. It would be fun.”

“How will this affect James?”

“He has to enjoy the arrangement as well, and this cottage is well away from prying eyes.”

“What will you do with the children?”

“We have a babysitting circle that works well. We have tokens and use them with various sitters who can spend them at the shop or use them to get someone to help with their children.”

Coral stood and wrapped her arms round Mariposa’s shoulders and used her thumb and forefinger to tweak one of her nipples.

“Do you mind?” she said looking over at Sophia.

Sophia was both surprised and amused.

“Not at all. I will come and do the same for you.”

Coral opened her legs wider in an inviting pose and Sophia managed to stroke the older woman’s nipple and clitoris simultaneously.

“I could get used to this” Coral said and opened her legs wider still.”

Sophia guided Coral to a chair and used her tongue to full effect.

After some minutes, Coral began to squirm and exhaled very loudly.

They all laughed.

“That is a promise for next time.”

“ I would stay longer, but I promised James that I would not be late.”

“Talk to James when you feel ready. Decide how you would like things to go. If you are open with him about wanting to join us sometimes then that is good, but if you want to keep quiet about it then that is also ok.”

“I always share all my thoughts with James. Our marriage is based on trust. I know that you will not want to have sex after you are pregnant, so he might feel that we ought to stop then.”

“We may want more than one child each so there is an avenue for it to continue.”

Coral wrapped herself in her sarong but gave Mariposa and Sophia each a deep kiss whilst stroking their buttocks.

“We will be in bed together before you are 50m down the path.”

“Can I se you together before I go?”

“Of course.”

… and the two women clung to each other in a deep embrace for some seconds, touching each other intimately.

“Good enough?”

“Yes, Good enough. I will sleep with that sight in my memory.”

Sophia and Mariposa were as good as their word. Coral turned round before she lost sight of the cottage and the two women were in an intense embrace. She was going to wave goodbye, but she knew that neither of her hosts was paying any attention.

It was not far to the village from the cottage and Coral was soon back with James and the sleeping children.

“How did it go?” He asked.

“I enjoyed myself. I need to talk to you but need a drink first.”

James got her a cup of instant coffee.

“OK. Let me begin. I will try to get this in the right order.”

“Mariposa and Sophia want children. Probably more than one each. They have been looking at suitable men who could father the children. They do not want a relationship with a man, but will entertain a man or men for simple sex in order to get pregnant.”

“How did that involve you?”

“They have thought this out very carefully.”

“They want someone who can look at the sex acts dispassionately as a means to an end. The man can be involved with the childrearing as much as they wish, but there would be no longterm relationship.”

“And …”

“…. the and is that they have chosen you!”

James coughed repeatedly as his mouthful of wine went down the wrong way.”

“Me, why me?”

“Because you have a successful relationship with me, and we have children together, but I cannot have any more and you would like more. I also like Mariposa and Sophia and it feels right that the three of us could have a successful evening together from time to time.”

“Are you saying that you have lesbian feelings towards them?”

“Yes. We had a bit of exploratory play tonight and I enjoyed it.”

“This is all rather strange. I am expected to have uncomplicated sex with two attractive women without feeling any emotion for either of them. At the same time, you will be having wanton sex with them.”

“That’s about it, but please remember that they want more than one child each so you will be called upon again.”

“That would be about two years from now! What happens in-between?”

“You and I will have our relationship exactly as we have had it since we married.”

“I doubt that our relationship can ever be exactly the same as it was before. It might be better or worse. I cannot really tell at this stage, but I do not want to be cuckolded.”

“There is no reason why any of this should become common knowledge.”

“I am sanguine about that. No knowledge is completely secure in a village like this.”

“I need to talk to them honestly. I am sure they did the right thing by talking to you first, but I have known Sophia a long time now. I have known she was lesbian for almost as long. She has never shown any interest in me before as a partner, and now I am expected to ‘perform’ like this.”

“I do think you need to talk to them. They are in earnest about wanting children and trust you with something that is really important to them.”

“I am flattered by their trust. I will probably agree to their request if only because it is important to you. You are right that I would like to have more children, and this is probably the only way that that can happen.”

“I think I am coming to terms with it, but how well I will perform with them is something I cannot gauge. I have been naked with one or both of them many times, buy have never become aroused.”

“I will be there to help you become aroused. I know all the tricks on that score.”

“I know you do. I think I would like you to try some of those tricks now.”

“I thought you would never ask.”

… before they knew it, it was morning and the three children were climbing all over them.

The following evening Coral did the child care and James walked rather uncomfortably up the hill to the engineer’s cottage.

Both women gave him a chaste kiss and as was normal, James added his sarong beside the two sarongs that were already folded neatly on a side table.

Mariposa moved and placed James’ sarong on top of both Sophia’s and her own sarongs.

“That move is clear enough.” he said.

“We all know why you are here. What beat about the bush?”
“I am here to create some sort of framework that fits for me. I know that Coral wants to experience some intimacy with one or both of you. I have no particular objection to her having a wider experience and I am sure that she would want to become involved with your children once they are born. Being unable to have any more children yourself does not stop a yearning for motherhood. Certainly not in Coral’s case.”

“How do you two see this developing over the next few years?”

“We would like you to father probably two children with each of us, and for you to be involved with the upbringing of those children as much as you wish.”

“Do you want one of you to have a pregnancy first or be pregnant both together?”

“We would prefer to be pregnant together, but it is a matter of what is possible as much as what we want.”

“How is this arrangement going to work?”

“The way we have thought it out is for both of us to monitor our cycles and plot when we get a temperature rise to show ovulation. We then send a message down to you and one of us makes sure the other one is aroused for you. She will also help you if the whole thing is too impersonal using her fingers and tongue on you.”

“That sounds possible. It is a good idea for any man to have two or three days between ejaculations to build up the sperm count. Have you a rough idea of when either of you is likely to ovulate?”

“We tend to have our periods at more or less the same time. This may make it difficult to get us both pregnant in the same month. We will have to see how it works.”

“When do you expect to need me for the first time?”

“In about a week from now, but we will not have had time to do a whole month of temperature readings.”

“If you want to use this cycle, then I can hold back with Coral for a few days and come here as soon as I get the message.”

“Yes, do start this month. Mariposa will start before me, so expect a message in three or four days from now.”

The message came four days later. As soon as James had finished work he walked briskly up the hill to the cottage. Mariposa was lying on the bed she shared with Sophia and had clearly been aroused by Sophia’s efforts. Her chest was flushed and a film of sweat covered her pretty face and chest. Her labia were engorged and her legs wide open. With such a sight, James needed no extra stimulation, his sarong was shucked off in seconds and was inside Mariposa without any delay.

He was overstimulated and his release was very quick. It was almost as if Mariposa used her vaginal muscles to suck the semen out of him.

The whole thing was over in less than five minutes. It could never have been called lovemaking. He was providing a service, pure and simple.

Mariposa stayed on the bed with her bottom on a cushion while Sophia made all three of them a cool drink.

“That was even easier than I thought it would be.” Sophia commented quietly.

James flushed but didn’t do anything to cover his shrinking erection.” I was overcome with the sight of Mariposa like that. I couldn’t have made gentle love to her however hard I tried. It was purely animal lust. I am not proud of that. I would always try to give the woman as much pleasure as I have.”

“Please remember James, that this is not lovemaking. We love each other but need you to help us. I know it was a biological necessity and that is how it should have been. I hope it will be the same with me. I want to make love to Mariposa, but I need unrefined sex with you and become pregnant promptly. ”

“I expect to need you in three or four days. Can you be ready for that?”

“If it is three or four days, then that should be fine.”

James walked down the hill back to the village. He was very uneasy with what had happened. Mariposa had made it very easy for him. When he reached their home he unburdened himself with Coral. She listened to his tale. His lack of restraint, his feeling of guilt mixed with the feeling of the inevitability of it all.

“These are my friends. I have had philosophical arguments with them and have discussed music, theatre and so on. They are my intellectual equals and I don’t want to see them on their backs with their legs wide apart waiting to be penetrated. I hate myself for giving in to those base instincts.”

“It is what Mariposa and Sophia need. You cannot experience the need most women have to be mothers. It can be all consuming. They need you, but cannot love you. They needed the act to be dispassionate. You will have their thanks, and that is all. If you are involved with their children you will be very welcome, but there is no obligation to be involved.”

“Of course I will be involved. It is in my nature to want to be a supportive even if I am not acknowledged as a parent.”

“Have a shower, because you smell of sex, then we will have a beer and forget about it for a few days until we get the next message. I hope you get them pregnant soon. I don’t want you feeling guilty for giving way to the animal in you.”

In fact it was five days before Sophia sent the message.

James walked up the path and found Sophia arranged on the bed as Mariposa had been. Mariposa had done whatever she could to get the young woman ready and it had worked. Sophia has a film of perspiration over her face and chest. She was very ready. The event took five minutes at best. James would say afterwards that there was enjoyment in his climax, but he doubted very much if Sophia had achieved any sort of enjoyment. She said thank you as the three people had a cold drink, but that was it.

James trudged down the path feeling as dejected as before. He sobbed into Coral’s shoulder as he explained how he felt used and abused.

“If you cannot do it again, you must explain to Mariposa and Sophia. Both of them really need you to do this.”

“I will have several weeks before being needed again. I do not like what I have done, but I know it is the only way with us being so far from clinics on the mainland.”

Mariposa and Sophia were only too aware of the distress James was feeling, and wanted to make the event the best they could. They both had periods a few days after James’ visit but decided to plot their body temperatures every morning to establish their most fertile time to make it more certain for him.

James was called to the cottage nearly four weeks later. He was prepared both mentally and physically, and went in and did the deed with very little emotion. He was relieved as he walked down the path. If he could keep his emotions in check, everything would be alright.

After the second round there was still no positive result, but Sophia didn’t have a period after his third visit to the cottage, and she had bouts of morning sickness. Not unreasonably, they decided that it was only Mariposa who needed a fourth visit.

It was after the fifth visit that Mariposa missed her period.

James was relieved that his duties appeared to be at an end for the next couple of years at least.
He had not enjoyed the experience. He wanted the women as friends and he hoped that what they had happened between them would not taint that friendship.

Coral would visit the couple one night a week, and would return in the morning tired, but relaxed. James did not enjoy being left for the night, but knew that Coral needed to express herself in this way, and he accepted that.

Coral, for her part was unhappy that James felt left out, and wondered if there was a way for them to introduce another woman into their lives to make James feel better when she was absent.

“Have you thought of making our marriage an open one?”

“I have wondered about it. I know that when the babies are born, you will be spending a lot of time at the cottage helping with all the things babies need.”

“Who would you approach on the Island?”

“I always get on very well with Gracie, the barmaid. She makes me laugh and has made several suggestive comments over the years as to what could happen if I was available.”

“Gracie is easygoing. I doubt if she would be possessive about you. She would enjoy the lovemaking for what it was. An event to be shared between two open minded adults.”

“I will be away tomorrow night. Invite her over after the bar has closed. What happens after that is up to you.”

James went to the bar as soon as Coral had left for the night. He had two beers, and bought Gracie two glasses of wine. On suggesting that she come to his cottage after the bar closed, she winked. “I will be there by 11pm.”

James and Gracie enjoyed another drink and Gracie’s capacious bosom laughed with her as it always did. She had removed her sarong when she arrived, as was the polite thing to do, and soon after the situation had been explained, she stood and put James sarong over hers. Walked over and put her arms round his neck. The rest was predictable, and Coral found them in bed together fast asleep in the morning.

Gracie woke first and sat up with her chest very obvious and developing a blush. Coral laughed. You seem to have enjoyed yourselves last night.

Gracie became even more red with embarrassment.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I suggested that James invite you over here.”

“That is very broadminded of you. I think.”

“It is the best for both of us. One day I will explain why, but not yet. You are welcome to stay and make love again before the bar opens, but the children will be here soon after their sleepover, so that may hamper your style.”

“I think having sex in front of your children is probably a step too far.”

“I will go for a swim, and then go home, but I am happy to repeat this little adventure as often as it is offered.”

“The adventure, as you call it, can be quite often, but don’t be surprised if I join you. I enjoy sex with women as much as James does.”

“I am not really into sex with women, so I am not sure that that would rock my boat, as it were. I thought my involvement was to give James a relationship in your absence.”

“You are right, of course. You are an attractive woman and I was letting myself get carried away with a little fantasy. I need to make sure that I respect your wishes, and James’ wishes; as he is respecting mine.”

“That is reassuring. This arrangement does depend on having goodwill on both sides, of course.”

“What happens if you become pregnant?”

“I have had long and short relationships with many men. I used to take precautions, and never got pregnant, but then I wanted a child of my own, and stopped the precautions, and still did not fall pregnant. If it happens I shall be overjoyed, but I don’t hold out too much hope.”

Gracie jogged down the beach and swam for a few minutes before returning. She picked up her short sarong that only stretched from waist to thigh, slung it over her shoulder and left for some breakfast. Her laughter could be heard across the bay some minutes later.

“Did you enjoy Gracie’s company?”

“I did. She is a good companion and, as you said, has no inhibitions as regards uncomplicated relationships.”

“I didn’t think she would have, but you might have to share her with other men.”

“Yes, I am sure that is true, but that goes with the relationship being uncomplicated.”

Over the weeks, Gracie was a frequent visitor to James’ and Coral’s cottage. Sometimes the children had a sleepover and sometimes Gracie and James were quiet so as not to disturb the children. In a village with no doors and no windows there was every opportunity for children to observe adults doing what adults do, and it really was so commonplace that children didn’t really see any need to take much notice.

Several times one or more of the children had a bad dream or were just wakeful and would snuggle down with either James and Coral, or James and Gracie without a sideways glance.

Every morning the smell of freshly baked loaves and pastries drifted over the village and residents almost clambered over themselves to get into the queue at Justine’s bakery. Anyone having a sleepless night might see Justine creep out from Enrique’s cottage and tiptoe over to her bakery and start the first batch of the day at 5am. Whether the age gap was too big for anything more is unclear, but Enrique did wake up every morning with Justine beside him and just as quickly went back to sleep for another couple of hours after she had left. There were always several croissants or pain au chocolat from yesterday’s last batch in his cool box to be washed down with lashings of coffee for his breakfast.

After the day’s baking was over Justine would return and envelop him in those arms and thighs, and he would be squeezed against her substantial chest and abdomen, and he would rub the tips of his fingers over the curves and creases that he loved so much.

Sometimes they would make love quietly and slowly, savouring each moment, and at other times she just held him until they both drifted off to sleep, not knowing if he would wake.

The inevitable happened after some months. Justine returned after work to find that Enrique must have not woken from his second sleep. She was very sad, and she and Mariposa cried into each other’s shoulders when the news spread.

Enrique had left a note for whenever he passed away. In it Justine read…

“You are the best thing that happened to me since arriving at this lovely place. You embraced me and loved me with every curve of you. You enveloped me with your smile and your love and I was held enraptured with our sleeping together wrapped in each other’s arms. My spirits were raised when I saw you every morning when you had to go to work, and the smell of fresh bread and pastries reminded me of your love when I awoke for the second time each morning. I loved your smell when you were aroused and your laugh when we relaxed afterwards. I am so pleased that I was able to give you pleasure with my aged body. Your moans at the moment of climax were memorable. They reminded me of when I was much younger. Since meeting you, you encouraged me to achieve what I thought I could no longer enjoy. You have made an old man very happy and know that I have died contented, surrounded by the love we had for each other.”

———————————————————————————————————————————

Without refrigeration, funerals took place within hours of someone passing. There was a place away from the village where wood was collected and there was always a pyre there in readiness, kept dry by a tarpaulin.

Enrique’s shrouded body was carried by donkey cart to this place and many villagers who had got to know him attended.

The Minister, Brian, said a few words then Mariposa threw a lighted torch onto the pyre and Justine was given the privilege of adding a second torch.

Enrique’s most recent sarong was cut into two and both parts were added to the flames.

A sad party walked back to the village. Their way was marked by the pyre that would burn for many hours.

The bakery workers had worked throughout the morning to put on a meal in the village square. It was a happy event tinged by the inevitable sadness, and Mariposa played some of Enrique’s favourite music on the village keyboard. One only had to look up to see the smoke from the pyre visible through the trees.

The cycle of life continued for the village as inevitably it must.

Mariposa was very pregnant, she was the village organist and was seeing several young men as part of her psychotherapy clinic. It was difficult for some of her clients who really wanted to be girls, but fate had taken a hand in their development.

Sophia was getting bigger by the day and had had to make preparations for when she couldn’t climb the ladders into the solar panels that provided much of the power that the villagers needed.

Harriet had finished her training and was able to act as a midwife with supervision by Bart, the doctor. Fernando maintained his blog and the clients filled the boarding house much of the time.

One such was a woman of about thirty-four or five. She was carefully dressed in a business suit with a skirt that reached down to her calves. Her black hair was worn in a strict cut and it had streaks of grey even at her age. She wore rimless glasses, but her severe look meant that one could easily imagine her in horn rimmed glasses. Her look was primarily one of discomfort at being there.

She had a booking at the Boarding House and walked with some difficulty over the sand in her most unsuitable shoes until she reached the front door.

She had already been tagged by the villagers as a potential troublemaker, and looked completely out of place on the Island.

After checking in, she marched to the mayor’s office and presented a document that purported to be a document from childcare authorities on the mainland.

The mayor photographed the document and asked her to sit and explain her purpose in visiting the Island. The photograph was sent to James who activated the special code given to the village by the military policeman those years ago.

“I understand that you have some children fostered here. It is my purpose to check on these arrangements and return the children to the mainland if I do not fine the arrangements satisfactory.”

“Who are the children that interest you?”

“I understand that Gabriele and Santiago are resident here. They were the children of parents who died of drowning when their yacht capsized here.”

Within minutes a message was received. The woman was an impostor. In a country which ran on a mixture of corruption and wishful thinking, there was little chance of an official to do with child welfare being sent to a remote spot to check up on two children. There were, after all, thousands of street children in the capital who existed by begging and prostitution, and nothing was done to improve their conditions.

The military police confirmed that the woman was a senior member of one of the drug cartels and seemed to be currently out of favour. Under no circumstances should the children be handed over.

James sprinted over to the mayor’s office, with a plain grey sarong in hand.

The mayor had spent twenty minutes with her and had told her about life on the island in more detail than was necessary. She looked bored, but was not ready to walk out but she needed his co-operation. She wanted to take the children back with her on the ferry with as little fuss as possible, but could call on a fast speedboat if necessary.

James stood guard over the mayor’s office while Coral went to the boarding house and removed all the woman’s luggage for inspection, but a shoulder bag was heavier than it should be and contained a Sig Sauer P365. A second sarong was left in the place of the suitcase which said in island code. “Do not trust this person.”

Justine arrived shortly after James, and both went into the Mayor’s office.

The woman whose documents said she was Luciana, leapt to her feet.

“Your name is not Luciana, but Samantha. You used to be the plaything of one of the drug lords on the Mainland. This ruse of yours is to try to get back in his favour.”

“I am exactly who I say I am. I am from the Child Welfare Department in the capital.”

“We both know that that isn’t true. Your luggage has been seized and your gun, confiscated.”

“Now we must check you.”

“Please remove those ridiculous garments you are wearing. You were obvious from the moment you arrived. I have a plain sarong for you. Nudity is normal here as you will find out, but Justine is here as a women to protect you in case you feel that you are being violated in some way.”

“I understand that you spent a lot of your life in a bikini around a swimming pool until someone took an interest in you for an hour or two. Now you are no longer thought as attractive as you once were, and have lost the interest of your masters. Soon you would have been handed over to the bodyguards who would have made a real mess of you.”

Samantha knew that no one would give her the time of day on the mainland since she had failed in her quest at the first hurdle. With a scowl on her face she stripped off and various documents slipped from concealed compartments in her bra and jacket. There were also sachets of white powder.

“No drugs are allowed here. If this is cocaine for personal use, it is confiscated and will be destroyed. If it is something to sedate the children then you are likely to be here for a very long time.”

Knowing that the next steamer was not for two weeks, and having been found out, Samantha sat naked in the mayor’s office with Justine and the two men sitting beside her.

“You may wear the sarong as we all do here. It will identify you as a criminal, or you can go naked. No one will care.”

Samantha got up and wrapped herself in the sarong, but she got it upside down.

Justine laughed.

“You have got a lot to learn. The sarong is upside down. Women’s sarongs of this type have more material at the top.”

Justine’s sarong ended at her waist.

“Don’t you feel vulnerable in just a short sarong?” Samantha said quite plaintively?

“No one is vulnerable and everyone is vulnerable. The sarong means much more than clothes do. You will find out about that in the next few months.”

“I am due to return on the next steamer.”

“No, you will not. The steamer will not carry you, and you are ‘over the hill’ as far as the cartel is concerned. They are not interested in older women as sex workers when there are so many young and pretty girls just begging to take your place. If you go back without the children you will end up on a rubbish dump very dead.”

Samantha knew that this was true. It had been the ‘last roll of the dice for her’. Failure meant death.

“What do I do now?” she cried as the tears began to flow.

“You stay here. For the time being you will be fed and clothed. You can go anywhere on the Island, except the school. Everyone will know who you are. You will be introduced to the village tonight at a meeting. If you manage to steal a boat, the police and the cartel will be informed and you will have a very short life. Here you will have a safe and I hope, contented life. You will work in my bakery to earn your keep. The other women will keep an eye on you. You will sleep in the Boarding House tonight and one of my workers will pick you up at 5am. to start work. You will finish work at 3pm as we all do at the bakery.”

“I will have an apron for you and some sandals to wear. Your sarong stays outside so it doesn’t get spoiled with the flour and dough. Your long nails will be cut when you get to the bakery, and the nail varnish removed. No makeup is allowed in the bakery, but those products have already been taken from you. There is soap in your room to scrub your face.” Oh, and by the way. Your phone contract has been cancelled and your phone destroyed. You will not be allowed a phone until you are named.”

Samantha continued to cry.

Through her sobs, Samantha asked if she could contact her family.

“When did you last contact them?”

“It was two years ago.”

“Then no, there is no point.”

“It is pointless crying. We knew someone would eventually come to try and move the children. We had a plan in place and you fell into the trap. What we are offering is a worthwhile life in a community. In time you will be accepted as a full member of our society and be named. At the moment your sarong is anonymous and identifies you as a criminal. It is up to you to decide if you wish to become a useful member of our Island community or not. If you work … you eat, and in time you will gain acceptance. If not … then that is your choice.”

“Wear your sarong with pride. It makes you the lowest of the low with that design, but with hard work you will gain acceptance and get a new identity here.”

“I will try.” Samantha said through her tears. I have never had to work with my hands before.”

“You will find that honest toil is really good for each of us. I am sure you have had to prostrate yourself before many evil men who have used you without any consideration. In time you may forget the brutality that formed you. You will not be exploited here, or discarded like a worn out shoe when your fading youth becomes undeniable.”

“You will be taken from here now to the doctor’s surgery where a full medical history will be taken and you will be examined. Any infections will be treated and then you will be taken back to the boarding house. The money you were carrying has been converted into vouchers that you can spend on meals, and you will be paid in the same vouchers at the end of each week. After a week you will be given accommodation at a nominal rent paid in vouchers. Everything else will be explained in time. Oh, and I recommend seeing the village psychotherapist. She is about to give birth, but after that I think she should be able to explore some of the trauma you have suffered over the years.”

“I don’t recommend rejecting these terms, but I have to ask?”

“Do you accept the life that we are offering?”

“Can I have a partner and maybe a family later?”

“Yes, when you have been named and then you can choose a partner with everything that goes with that.”

“I don’t understand about naming?”

“That is understandable. When a young person, or someone from outside has demonstrated that they are suitable to be a full adult in our society, then there is a ceremony where they are named and they take on the role of an adult, be betrothed and wear an adult sarong.”

“You will have to prove that you can take on the responsibility of being an adult, then our naming of you will open all the other doors to living here. The village committee will be the judge of your suitability.”

“Then I have to accept. I suspect that what you are offering is more than I deserve, but I was desperate. I was on the point of being discarded as I have seen happen so many times.”

“Are you dependent on any drugs, because we don’t have any here.”

“No, I am clean.”

“Good, because the packets of white powders in your clothes and bags have been destroyed.”

Justine went with Samantha to Bart’s surgery and 30 minutes later she was declared healthy and allowed to leave.

“What do I do now?”

“You are free to explore the Island or watch TV, or go for a swim. You have the freedom of the Island, except the school, but you must be available for the meeting at 8pm and you need to be up at 5am, so I recommend getting some sleep as soon as you can.”

“How do I get a towel for a swim?”

“No one uses a towel. Just sit on the beach and the warm breeze will dry you.”

“I cannot just sit on the beach naked, can I?”

“Of course you can. Everybody washes in the sea and dries in the breeze. You have a lot to learn about this Island.”

Samantha didn’t answer. Her silence was eloquence enough

Some months later, a little boy was born, an then another. In nine months, approximately half the babies born were boys.

How was it that after generations of late gender confirmation that the Island was becoming normalised?

The original committee reconvened to investigate the phenomenon.

Bart opened the discussion. “Late gender identification must relate to diet. The cocaine spillage made many islanders stop eating seafood and now we are getting a more normal distribution of boys and girls amongst the newborn.”

“What could be triggering this?”

I have done some online research on this and I have drawn a conclusion. Like many other fishing areas, our fishermen catch Sleeper Sharks. These huge fish live in the deeper parts of the ocean. They are caught when they come to shallower sea to feed close to the edge of the coastal shelf.”

“I have seen steaks of the Pacific Sleeper Shark available here on many occasions. Sleeper Shark species, together with other marine life contain a chemical called trimethylamine oxide that is used to prevent the animal’s flesh from freezing in the deep ocean. Trimethylamine is toxic to humans and our pets, and causes neurological problems or worse. For reasons that are not clear to me at least, this can build up more in women’s tissues than men.”

“The cats were eating the offal because of their small size, and less fluid in their diet they showed those symptoms readily.

“A closely related species of our sleeper shark found primarily in the Arctic has meat that is dangerous to eat unless treated very thoroughly to deactivate the toxin. What I am suggesting is that consumption of relatively large amounts of Pacific Sleeper Shark meat, combined with a significant amount of trimethlyamine oxide from other sea life, is causing trimethylamine levels in our women’s bodies to be raised, and that suppresses expression of the Y chromosome of the foetus during pregnancy and beyond. Over the years of childhood continuing to eat this meat is suppressing sex hormone levels in all children, but particularly those children destined to become boys.”

“There we have it. I cannot prove any of this, but until someone can come along with a large research grant, it will only remain an idea.”

“I think it is a very well thought out idea but what do we do about it?” James said.

He continued “I don’t think we have a great deal of choice. This is information that the whole population needs to know about. If we make this very laudable guess widely known then a very valuable source of protein may be lost from the diet of the islanders, and most of our culture is dependent on this unusual pattern of childhood.”

“If we make this information known, then it could be that some parents will want their children to develop in the normal way with both genders, and in other cases they may want what is our normal. It is an ethical problem.”

The doctor continued.

“It is a matter of whether is is ethical to withhold information that affects our children, or is it better to consider the greater good over the rights of the individual.”

The group sank into a thoughtful silence.

“We cannot prove that eating sleeper shark meat during pregnancy and beyond slows the development of male characteristics. Releasing that information makes it almost certain that there will be division amongst the population. I can see the population splitting over this, and that makes the management of the small population genetics more difficult.”

“If we don’t release the information then it will almost certainly leak out sooner or later.”

“That is undoubtedly true. Can we be certain that our Society will be damaged by this information?”

“One cannot be certain, but as the doctor here I am aware of many meetings with expectant parents where they are happy with the current situation.”

“What do we think will happen to children who are say, eight or ten if they stop eating shark meat?”

“No one knows, but my guess is that they will go through the transformation to being boys much sooner when they were least expecting it. That may make it harder to transition successfully?”

“When a transformation takes place in their late teens, the school and their parents have prepared them for this event for several years. The transformation taking place randomly without the same support could be very damaging.”

The Mayor thought that the discussion had gone on long enough and was not going to be resolved any time soon.

“I think we need to think about this overnight, then involve the teachers at the school and the Minister, and gauge their reaction to our hypothesis. We will meet again at the school tomorrow after the school day.”

(Author’s note - (Trimethylamine (TMA) and its oxidized form, Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), are emerging as significant markers in human pregnancy, particularly concerning complications like pre-eclampsia (PE) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Elevated levels of TMA are associated with increased inflammation and vascular dysfunction, which can impact both maternal and foetal health, but it is a convenient fiction in these stories that TMA affects gender in human foetuses.)