The map was an old survey of the island, done about twenty years ago. The location of the beacon was circled in red. "It figures" Achillies thought as he realized that the beacon was on the top of the mountain that was in the center of the island. Sighing loudly Tra unzipped his jacket and started walking towards the peak. After two hours of moving through a dense jungle, Tra stumbled into a clearing. Stopping to rest for a moment he looked around as he sat on a large rock. A shallow river separated him from the mountain. The only good thing he could see was that the jungle was not quite as thick on the other side.
Tra reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out his father's cigarette case. It was one of the only two items that he ever carried with him from his parents. The other he had given to someone that he had thought loved him. Shaking off the memories of her Tra walked to the river and plunged his head in. Drinking the cool clear water until he thought he would burst Achillies pulled his head out and wiped the water off his face. Shaking his head he threw the excess water from his hair he pulled out a cigarette out of the water tight case. He lit the cigarette and sat back down on the rock. After twenty minutes he stood and turned back towards the river. Then casting his eyes once again on the summit of the small mountain he crossed the river and resumed his march.
Achillies reached the base of the mountain as the sun rose to the middle of the sky. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Achillies started to climb. For the first few hours the climbing was easy, until he reached the sheer face of the mountain. Looking at his map he saw that he could either climb the sheer face of this cliff or go around to the other side of the mountain and have an easier climb.
"Well, no one ever said I did things the easy way" He mumbled to himself as he started the free climb of the cliff.
Seven hours later Achillies pulled himself over the top of the edge of the cliff. Standing up he looked over the island. He could see the beach where he had dragged himself out of the water, the reef that seemed to surround the island and the ocean that seemed to go on forever. Sitting down Achillies watched as the sun dipped into the sea and was swallowed. Darkness settled over the island as the twin moons rose casting everything in a ghostly light. Deciding that he didn't want to explore the top of a mountain in the dark, Achillies sat down and Pulled out his half ration. Eating his dinner quickly then laying back, Achillies watched the stars until his eyes closed and he fell asleep.