Psychologist Neil is a civilian embedded with a division of Marines sent out as part of a peacekeeping mission overseas in the Pacific. When the local political situation erupts into open civil war, the American troops are ordered to evacuate. Neil escapes in a small plane, along with several military personnel. The plane crashes into the sea, with only Neil and a Marine surviving. They're swept over a reef and deposited in the lagoon of a deserted island. As they work together to survive in the hopes of being rescued, mutual respect warms into friendship. But Neil's feelings grow deeper, and he keeps them hidden from his companion. How would the Marine react if he knew the feelings Neil harbors for him? Can what they share in isolation carry over if -- or when -- they're rescued?

Marooned with a Marine

“I remember reading, or seeing a program, or whatever,” I began, speaking quietly, my head still lowered. “It was years ago. It talked about how modern people are cursed with too much freedom.”


I raised my head to look at my companion, and was surprised to see him nodding.


“Yeah,” he said. “That’s why a lot of young people join the military. It’s why I did, I guess. And I wanted to be—challenged, I wanted something to push against—” He paused.


“So you can feel alive,” I suggested, and he nodded again.


“That’s right. It’s like,” he pushed one fist against the open palm of his other hand in front of him, “that.”


“Yeah,” I agreed, appreciating to an almost dizzying degree how wonderfully this gesture of male preening showed off the man’s muscles. “I mean, liberation—okay. But that’s not enough.” I nodded toward him. “Like that—something to push against.”


Chapter 26