He made it back to the environs of his camp, and sat out in the open, so
he could have an all round vision of the approaches.
These last few days, Tom had been quitely looking for another location, and had found one, on the further reaches of this little atoll.
It was cited higher up the rocky outcrop. and was approachable by him
wading around the scattered rocks on the waters edge.
With a little work, he had made it habitable, and comfy, and also added
some water and provisions.
This, was all achieved at night, when he had the advantage of slipping
off into the scrub directly behind his main camp.
Within two days, he had made the shift, and decided to not arrive at the
weekly meeting, as it was'nt clear as to whom Paul had decided to back.

When Tom did'nt show at the meeting, Peter was ropable, and flew into a
rage, threatening to kill Tom on sight.
Paul did'nt protest, instead he knew that nothing would calm the tempest
now being performed before him, his heart was torn between Tom and Peter
as he loved them both.
Led by Peter, they searched for three days, but never found Tom, it was
like he had never existed.
Meanwhile, Tom only ventured out of a night, wading around the rocks on
his way to the spring to replenish his water supply, and then sweeping his tracks away, before he returned.
He had smoked some fish, and stored it before he left, but now this was dwindling. There were oysters he could eat raw, and the mangoes were
back in fruit, and the only time he could light a fire was at night,
when an off shore breeze was blowing, but still it was good when it did
as he made full use of the fire's availability.

Four months had passed, and still Tom was enconnced in his hideout, in that time, he had glimpsed his former family occassionly in the vicinity
of the spring, and yearned to resume their friendship, however the die
had been cast, and he was resolved to never ever speaking to them again.

This fine morning dawned over the little atoll, and Tom had decided to
live a little dangerously this day, and venture outside for a while to
give his body some sunlight.
He had only stepped outside his refuge for maybe five minutes, when he
froze at the sight now before him.
There in full view, about two hundred yards out to sea, laying at anchor
was a small ship.
It looked as if the crew were beginning to launch a boat, as he watched astounded, Tom realized from their direction, they were heading for the small beach.
Immediately, he descended the rocks to the tidal mark, and began to head
towards the shoreline where they would pass, all the time waving his old shirt, and shouting. It seemed as if his calls were being ignored, in a
desperate final lunge, he began to swim out towards them, just as he did
the little boat turned towards him, and he was pulled aboard.
The astounded looks were equally shared between Tom , and the crew, as
they turned towards the mother ship with this unexpected marooned man.
The rest of the day was spent in conversation about his survival, and the length of time he had been ashore.
This little ship, was a research ship stationed in Brisbane Australia, it had been sent to the little atoll on a seabird nesting expedition.
Tom, was quick to offer his services in showing them the easiest way to the nesting sites, and steer them clear of the little family's cave.
He had convinced them to anchor off the main beach, as it was easier to
approach the nest sites from there.
His second reason was, that the ship would be seen more easily from the cave, and they could hide in the scrub,
Despite all the upheaval now brewing between them, Tom still felt a duty
to protect them from exposure.

Two weeks had elapsed since the little ships arrival, and Tom was glad
to learn of their departure tomorrow.
In the two weeks since his discovery, Tom had made contact with his friends and family, and expected a very newsy welcome home.
He had decided to keep the little family's secrets, and hoped that they
continued to enjoy their little haven, and that time was their friend.

Tom, after a goodly spell ashore, again took to sea, plying the watered
sea routes until his eventual retirement in The Whitsunday Islands.
His usual daily routine, was sitting on his front patio, and chewing the
fat with whoever enquired about his past travels, before falling into a
nanny napping afternoon.
Many years later, he was sitting on the patio, when a younger man came and approached him.
Tom looked at him squarely, as he was asked if he was indeed Tom the man
rescued from an atoll years before.
"Well, your looking at what's left of him young fella, actually you look
similar to someone I used to know"!
"My name is Tom Curtain, you knew my father Paul Curtain, and he sends his love, and to tell you thanks for the education you gave him.
Also that Peter unfortunately fell while collecting eggs, and died two years ago.
My father, now works for the Australian Marine Authority, and maintains
the protection of the seabirds on the atoll.
Over the remaining years, young Tom Curtain became a welcome visitor to
his namesake. who died peacefully in his sleep this afternoon.