"Hey, what did you just say?" Jim asked, puzzled.
"I don't know what this place is," she said back, "just that someone must always be here until the next person comes to take their place. I took someone's place before me, just like you are letting me leave."
Jim tried to ask more questions, but suddenly she opened a door and quickly went inside. As soon as the door shut, it vanished, and the girl was gone. Only the impression her body had made in the sand remained.
Jim scratched his head, only to realize his hair felt a bit bushy. Did he need a haircut that baddly? Well, he couldn't take care of that now. It would have to wait.
Jim took stock of the situation. Ocean as far as one could see in one direction. Beach stretching endlessly in two directions. High, treacherous cliffs in the other direction. Swimming into the ocean was suicide - as far as he knew he was on the east side of Australia facing thousands of miles before he could reach land that way. If he was going to try to get out of this place, he would have to go along the beach or try his luck climbing the perilous cliff.
It didn't help that an annoying itch was bothering his chest and crotch. Damn sand, he thought, as he decided what he was going to do.
Sun Aug 21 11:23:20 2005