The Cove

A short story; an entry for the Short Shots March 2025 Entry

We all like to go places that might be considered tranquil. This is exactly what Michael was looking for. He thought about taking a backpacking trip but the whole idea of shopping for the equipment he would need and didn't have eliminated that idea fast. Being on his feet for such a long period of time was a drawback since he does that most of the day at his factory job. No, he needed something more secluded, more remote but still with beauty. After thumbing through travel magazines, searching the Internet and a few phone calls to friends, one suggestion he received was find an isolated cove.

After spending several days of kicking around this idea of a cove and several hours researching on the Internet, Michael was sure he had the right place. He would make all the arrangements needed and go. The cove was located off a small island called Pirate's Landing off the coast of Tortuga. Most folks have never heard of this particular place. He figured he would need a small tent, food and water for five days tops, clothing and appropriate shoes. He would need minimal clothing as it is very warm in the summer, change of bathing trunks mostly. Getting to the island itself would not be hard. Michael's friend Scott had a business where he used a sea plane to fly people into remote areas near oceans and lakes. After talking to Scott, he concluded it would be a piece of cake.

Everything was coming together for this amazing trip that Michael was going to partake. He would be flying out on Tuesday and by that weekend, Scott was schedule to pick up Michael on Saturday morning.

Tuesday morning, Michael drove down to the airport and boarded the sea plane with his gear. Scott was already gassing up doing his walk around checks of the aircraft. Scott felt a little unsure about this cove stay. What if something went wrong. How was Michael going to contact anyone. Michael reassured Scott that what could possibly go wrong. He was healthy, an excellent swimmer and wasn't going to do any rock climbing or heavy swimming. The Coast Guard does monitor it. He would be fine.

After loading the airplane, Scott begin to check the weather and obtain a flight plan from air traffic control. He continued to perform a pre-flight checklist. He was given an all clear and proceeded to start the engine and taxied on down the runway. Once in position for takeoff, Scott increased the throttle and began liftoff. The weather was relatively clear and it wasn't to long when Michael was getting some zees.

When Scott had the island in view, he circled around to get a better view of a spot he wanted to drop her down. Michael was a excellent swimmer and planned on swimming from the drop off to the cove. Scott would sit tight until Michael was safely up on the shore. Michael's belongings were packaged in a water tight sealed duffle bag, which Scott would swing back and drop at the front of the cove once he was ready to leave.

Michael's swim was easy. He all most forgot how good the water could feel. Once on land, he checked out the cove to be sure no one had taken up residence. It looked clean of any signs of usage so he went back to the shoreline, waiting for Scott. Once Scott was in view, Michael gave him the signal for the drop. All went as planned.

After unpacking his bag, Michael scouted a little more of the island. It was beautiful, clean and did have coconut trees but little of anything else usable. He went back to the cove entry, arrange his bag, which converted into a sleeping bag, set up his water supply and basic food source. He had figures 3 days of water and on that fourth Scott would be returning. The food source consisted of water, meals ready to eat (MRE), food bars, coffee and a few energy drinks. Michael didn't care about the food. He just wanted to get by. He needed to drop some pounds anyway and this should do the trick.

The nights were lovely at the cove. Stars were shining bright as there were no background light to interfere. The nights were warm, little breeze and nothing much was happening in the waters except occasional Coast Guard runners.

Dinner was done and Michael was getting ready to settle in for the night. He did some journaling; thinking to himself, no one would believe this crazy trip he took. It had been a long day and he was ready to hit the hay. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. He thought that he might enjoy all this solitude. Anyway, he wasn't going to be gone long from the normal rate race so he would enjoy the silence while he could. He bed down and was asleep with in minutes.

It wasn't too long though that something woke Michael. It was a noise, it was a feeling. It felt like something was moving under him. He thought maybe sand crabs might be under his bedding so he investigated. He didn't see anything. It was just him, trying to adjust to all that quietness.

Back at camp, Michael noticed something was different. Something was out of place. He had a small battery operated lamp that he used at night when out and about; it was gone. He could not understand what had happened to it. He search and search to be sure he didn't misplace it. But seriously he didn't have that much stuff with him. He started to doubt himself. Did he really bring it or not? Well, he would make do without it. After breakfast, he would sit and make some notes about his visit as it had gone so far.

After noon was very warm and Michael decided to go for another swim. The waters were a little choppy in the afternoon but still he enjoyed the water. He was out for about 30 minutes and then decided to head back to the cove. After doing some writing in his journal, he was ready for dinner. He was getting ready to make coffee and could not find he coffee pot. What the hell was going on. He was sure he made coffee early that morning. He never did solve the mystery of the lamp missing but that was probably because he forgot to bring it But the coffee pot, that just can't be. He looked harder around camp and then decide to walk a little more around the area that encompassed the cove. He even thought maybe someone else was there with him. Maybe it was Scott. Maybe Scott came earlier and decided to play a trick on him. But, no where did he see Scott's airplane. No signs of other footprints on the beach but his.

The next morning, Michael cooked up some powder eggs and heated some pre-cooked bacon. This would be his special breakfast since he didn't bring much for this short trip. He missed his coffee and could not stop thinking about where the pot and the lamp went.

The only thing that seem to ease Michael at this point was a swim. Out he went again for another swim. He usually stayed out for no more than a half hour. But he wasn't comfortable with the way things were going back at camp so he decided to return. Back at the cove, Michael immediately noticed his pillow was gone. WTF! This was not funny. There had to be someone else or something on the island. He walked around and around again; up and down the beach. Nothing, no one. He went back to the cove.

As he approached the entrance of the cove, he could not believe his eyes. There standing and going through his belongings was a small elf like character no more than three and half feet tall. He yelled stop! The little man turned and then ran to the back side of the entrance. Michael ran after him. It could not have been more than a few minutes but the elf was gone. He wasn't in the water as the shoreline was further out. No one could get to the water that fast. Michael walk around the cove area as much as possible, checking rocks and little dip areas in the sides but nothing. He would just have to wait and see if shorty comes out again. Thank God that Scott would be back tomorrow morning. He will be glad to get off this crazy island.

Michael thought to himself, nobody would believe him about what has happened. He could not stop thinking about it. Who is this guy and where did he come from or where does he go. It was getting late and time for dinner. Michael pulled out one of his MRE meals and started a fire to heat some water. Mac and cheese tonight. God, will I be glad to get back to a steak and potato meal.

Later that evening, Michael awoke hearing the same little noises. Quietly he looked up and there stood the little elf. The elf must have heard Michael because he turn around and their eyes met. Frozen in his stance, the little man rambled off something that must have meaning in someone's vocabulary. He moved slowing back into the cove and disappeared. He never came back out again.

Michael was up early the next day. He packed all of his gear, after making an attempt to brew coffee in his cooking pan. Scott should be along soon as he promised an early arrival. Michael walked around the area, looking again for the small man, but no signs. He could not even find any tracks. He could not stop thinking about the elf. What would he tell Scott? Hell, he couldn't as Scott would think he was crazy.

The sound of an airplane was approaching and Michael could see Scott's plane from a distance. He walked out further in the open so Scott could see him. As Scott was closing in toward the shore, Michael made sure all of his gear was ready to go. Scott made his approach, landing back from the shore to what Michael thought was to far away. However, he had forgotten that Scott would be rowing to shore in an inflatable boat.

"Hey, long time no see." said Scott as he rolled closer to shore.

"Yes, glad to see you." Michael stated.

"Really? I thought you would want to stay longer. You mean you hunger for the rat race?" stated Scott.

"I guess. Starting to get board with this gig. Missing Susan's cooking." Said Michael.

After getting his gear and himself in to the boat, Scott pushed off and got the little boat out into the water. General conversation continued until the boat approached the airplane. Scott had Michael climb up in the craft first, gave him his gear and the paddles used in the boat. Then grabbing the line attached to the boat, climbed up into the airplane. Once us, the two pulled the boat, wrestling with it, deflated it and got it into the airplane. What a struggle that became. Might have been better just to leave it.

Once in, Scott began to do his flight check routine, started up the plane and turned the airplane around. He offered Michael some coffee from his thermos.

Scott asked, "Well, was it everything you thought it would be?"

"Yes, it was. Very quiet, nothing much to report." stated Michael. He struggled a little to get that out of his mouth.

"Are you okay?, Scott asked. "You sound a little stressed."

"I am fine. Just a little tired from wrestling with your boat I guess." he laughed.

"Alright, well let us get you home." said Scott.

Word Count: 1998


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Sandy West 3/8/2025