Ultimate Justice

it?”
    â€œRealised where it was going to go before she hit it.”
    â€œWell. Yes. She is good is your sister. I watched her yesterday. She doesn’t just hit the ball anywhere, she puts it where you don’t think you can reach it. I knew where she would aim so I suppose I was already moving.”
    â€œGreat stuff, Adnak,” said his brother who wasn’t noted for complimenting him. “Did you hear the kids chanting your name?”
    â€œGlad you played?” smiled Shaun. “You’re a natural in goal.”
    â€œThanks,” said Adnak.
    When everyone had finished drinking it was time for more activities.
    â€œWho here can swim?” asked Kloa.
    Not one of the children raised their hands, only the leaders.
    â€œWell it’s about time you learnt,” said Kloa. “Each of you children… when I say… Fran you don’t know what you’re doing yet… wait. When I say… find a leader to teach you… wait for it… if there are more than two of you, find someone else. Wait… Go!”
    Adnak and Shaun were rushed at by the boys. They all wanted them. But it soon worked out. They all took off their T-shirts and shorts. It was now mid-afternoon and this was the first time anyone had glimpsed a swim-suit. The children, on the other hand, had no swimming things, but they did not hesitate before ripping off all of their clothes and trotting down the beach naked. The waves were gentle in this part of the inlet and the beach shelving, ideal for safe swimming. Kakko wondered what it must be like to own an island. Beautiful view, lovely sand, blue sea – but lonely. (She needed her friends and family around her on a beach.) Without anyone to share it with, you could be very sad. It wasn’t surprising that the island was uninhabited.
    Soon the leaders were demonstrating and then holding the children while they tried the strokes. It was interesting for Kakko, Shaun and Bandi to watch because in this place it appeared they all began learning on their backs.
    The kids were definitely nervous, but all of them brave. Some of them were noisy, some quiet, some out-going, some shy – but they were all brave.
I guess they have to be to survive without parents,
thought Kakko. Her mother had taken her to the swimming baths for as long as she could remember. She couldn’t really recall learning to swim any more than she could remember learning to walk. But this was probably the first time these children had even tried it. They made good progress for a first lesson and Kloa congratulated them all.
    Then she led them all off to the shade of some trees that overhung the beach. They dressed and put large quantities of sun-oil on their faces and exposed skin. This was a game in itself.
    The day concluded with a nature tour of the island with Kloa and the others finding interesting shells, leaves and flowers. They even saw the nest of a ground-nesting bird with little chicks in it. They left it carefully covered up. Needless to say, they didn’t see any goof-adders.

    ***
    â€œTime to go, I think,” called Kloa eventually.
    â€œOh. My binoculars! I left them in the house,” said Adnak. “I meant to go back there but I never got a chance. I’ll go and get them.”
    He charged up towards the house while the kids filed onto the boat. Within minutes he was back.
    â€œI need help,” he yelled to the crewmen. “There’s a man in there who’s hurt. Get the first aid kit… and a stretcher.”
    The crewmen, Shaun and a couple of the leaders arrived at the house to see a man laying twisted on a heap of broken wood, unconscious. He had clearly come through the ceiling. There were bits of it everywhere.
    â€œLooks like he’s broken his leg,” said Shaun. “And he’s definitely hit his head. This is bad… what was he doing here?”
    â€œPaparazzi,” said Adnak, picking up a camera with a