Island of the Sequined Love Nun

How civilized.
    Some of the men acknowledged his presence as he moved into the circle, but the old chief only stared into the sand between his feet. There was a stack of magazines at his side.
    "What's going on, guys?"
    A panic made its way around the circle to land on Abo, who looked up and said, "Your friend is shot by the guards."
    Tuck waited, but Abo looked away. Tuck jumped in front of Malink. "Chief, is he telling the truth? Did they shoot Kimi? Is he dead?"
    "Not dead," Malink said, shaking his head. "Hurt very bad."
    "Take me to him."
    "He is at Sarapul's house."
    "Right. I'll look it up in the guidebook later. Now take me to him."
    Old Malink shook his head. "He going to die."
    "Where is he shot?"
    "In the water by the minefield."
    "No, numbnuts. Where on his body?"
    Malink held his hand to his side. "I say, 'Take him to the Sorcerer,' but Sarapul say, 'The Sorcerer shoot him.' " Malink then looked Tuck in the eye for the first time. His big brown face was a study in trouble. "Vincent send you. What do I do?"
    Tuck could sense a profound embarrassment in the old man. He had just admitted in front of the men in his tribe that he didn't have a clue. The loss of face was gnawing at him like a hungry sand crab.
    Tuck said, "Vincent is pleased with your decision, Malink. Now I must see Kimi."
    One of the young Vincents stood up. Feeling very brave, he said, "I will take you."
    Tuck grabbed his shoulder. "You're a good man. Lead on."
    The young Vincent seemed to forget to breathe for a moment, as if Tuck had touched him on the shoulders with a sword and welcomed him to a seat at the Round Table, then he came to his senses and took off into the jungle. Tuck followed close behind, nearly clotheslining himself a couple of times on branches that the young Vincent ran right under. The coral gravel on the path tore at Tuck's feet as he ran.
    When they emerged from the jungle, Tuck could see a light coming out of Sarapul's hut, which Tuck recognized from his day in the cannibal tree. He turned to young Vincent, who was terrified. He had charged the dragon, but had made the mistake of stopping to think about it.
    "Kimi's with the cannibal?"
    Young Vincent nodded rapidly while bouncing from foot to foot, looking like he would wet himself any second.
    "Go on," Tuck said. "Go tell Malink to come here. And have a drink. You're wigging out."
    Vincent nodded and ran off.
    Tuck approached the door slowly, creeping up until he could see the old man crouched over Kimi, trying to pour something into his mouth from a coconut cup.
    "Hey," Tuck said, "how's he doing?"
    Sarapul looked around and gestured for Tuck to enter the house. Tuck had to bend to get through the low door, but once inside the ceiling opened to a fifteen-foot peak. Tuck knelt by Kimi. The navigator's eyes were closed, and even in the orange light of Sarapul's oil lamp, he looked pale. He was uncovered and a bandage was wrapped around his middle.
    "Did you do this?" Tuck asked Sarapul.
    The old cannibal nodded. "They shoot him in water. I pull him in."
    "How many times?"
    Sarapu held up a long bent finger.
    "Both sides? Did it go through?" Tuck gestured with his fingers on either side of his hip.
    "Yes," Sarapul said.
    "Let me see."
    The old cannibal nodded and unwrapped Kimi's bandage. Tuck rolled the navigator gently on his side. Kimi groaned, but didn't wake. The bullet had hit him about two inches above the hip and about an inch in. It had passed right through, going in the size of a pencil and exiting the size of a quarter. Tuck was amazed that he hadn't bled to death. The old cannibal had done a good job.
    "Don't take him to the Sorcerer," Sarapul said. "The Sorcerer will kill him. He is the only navigator." The old cannibal was pleading while trying to remain fierce. A sob betrayed him. "He is my friend."
    Tuck studied the wound to give the old cannibal a chance to gather himself. He couldn't remember any vital organs being in that area. But the wounds would have to be stitched shut. Tuck wasn't sure he had the stomach for it, but Sarapul was right. He couldn't take Kimi to Curtis.
    "Do you guys have anything you use to kill pain?"
    The cannibal looked at him quizzically. Tuck pinched him and he yelped. "Pain. Do you have anything to stop pain?"
    "Yes. Don't do that anymore."
    "No, for Kimi."
    Sarapul nodded and went out into the dark. He returned a few seconds later with a glass jug half-full of milky liquid. He handed it to Tuck. "Kava," he said. "It make