on the island i would often waken at midnight and go strolling, wearing shorts, sandals and a tee shirt i would walk away from the main area and set my navigation system to the private area where the expensive beach huts were, the ones that overlooked the ocean and had their own private lagoon secured from sharks, mantas barracuda's and other unpredictable sea life. some nights the clouds had dissipated and i was left with a starless magestic apparition of the indian ocean,  that turquoise now a deep black colour and the gentle wash as tiny waves washed along hitting the sand. 

i'd slip out of clothing and walk into the warm water, a hint of phosphorescence and the smell of clean air,  unspoilt air, silent and only a couple of balcony lights showing a long arc, a strange curve reaching outwards from the shore. i didn't want to go anywhere near the huts lest i disturb a honeymooner couple or solo smoker enjoying a late night cigarette. 

i'd splash around for a while until i became self conscious or the eeriness overwhelmed me and then standing on the shore i'd shake myself dry and slip my clothing back on.

unfortunately the unpredictable conditions, it being wet season meant i couldn't do this each night and in the short time i was there only managed three times out of seven nights.

on the final night as i was walking back to the shore i couldn't help notice a silhouette before me, obviously female as it was slender and with long waves of hair, and as i drew nearer was entranced by her dark skin and nakedness. 

the sand felt good between my toes and the self consciousness i would normally feel in a situation like this seemed to fade as my body gained posture and a confidence it usually struggles for. after all we were both vulnerable before one another. she was about the same hight as me, much more alertness in her eyes than i would ever have, she was also strikingly beautiful in that classical way, a slender feminine beauty and mystery.

we stood inches from one another, there was not much i could say but we did meet eyes and i'm certain i caught a wry smile.

there was a sudden intrusion, a bird call, it shattered our stare and i smiled, attempting to appear friendly and engaging, 'hello.'

she did not answer but just looked at me as if i were not there, then i understood she was not looking at me at all, but beyond me. right through me at the sea. my hand waved slowly in front of her face but she showed no register, as far as she was concerned i was not even present. her interests lay beyond me, somewhere out there in the indian ocean.

look, it wouldn't be the first time a naked beautiful mysterious woman had ignored me, not even noticed me, but what could she be doing alone at night on this island and even more perplexing who could she be waiting for.

then i heard the lapping of the waves, the gentle rhythm change as a second sound intruded, the sound of oars. as i gazed out i could see the man jump out from his tiny fishing boat and wade towards the shore pulling the boat behind him with a length of rope. he secured the small boat and ran towards the woman and i gave them space to embrace. they kissed passionately and then began to walk towards one of the smaller huts.

certainly these cannot be tourists, they belonged from an ancient time, the man just wore a sarong and held a line with some fish attached, his catch.

'hussan, hassan, i have missed you so much. the beast has been twice now, twice. always asking the same questions, always asking if i saw it.'

'aminabi, you must never say you have seen the creature for it will devour you.'

'hussar, it will return again, soon.'

'then we must be ready my love and create a new strategy, one that works for us.'

i followed them, invisible to both, to the hut where they entered. i waited lingering in the warm air, a few moments passed. this place was beautiful, i had never felt so relaxed in many years, the air, the climate the tropical atmosphere, all i wanted was to drink coconuts and stay here but my time was running out and soon i would have to leave, return to sydney and the thick of it. return to work, the stress, the constant bickering, backstabbing, idiocy and pointless competition. here i was free of all those games. but what was this beast hussan and aminabi spoke of, that sounded frightening. 

once again the silence and the ambient gentle lapping of waves was broken by a heavy breathing, somewhat raspy and loud, the beast was just a shape against the night but gradually i could see it's sinister body, a twisted gnarly thing shuffling upon two long lanky legs and holding something in one of it's hands close to it's chest, something that looked like a snake. a long snake, that wrapped around it's waist like a belt. it's other arm ended in a clump where it's hand should have been.

it approached me but ignored me, and went straight to the door, banging upon it with it's clump of a hand.

'woman, woman. i ask you again, did you see foodhugigu?'

bang! bang!

'human woman, did you cast your gaze upon me?'

bang! bang!

it was terrifying, i watched because my legs were frozen and despite being invisible to this drama all i wanted to do was hide.

'woman, i ask again, did you see me?'

'yes foodhugigu, i'm sorry but when i was at the well you fell upon my gaze, it was a strange sight, you made me curious for i had never seen anything quite so ugly and brutal. and you were involved in a bizarre activity with a human skull.'

then looking again i noticed the clump at the end of his arm was indeed a skull. a human skull.

foodhugigu leapt into the air, he wailed out in a loud howling and his face contorted, savage animal teeth gnarling like a wild savage bear, as drool and foam seemed to froth from his mouth. he made guttural sounds like a wounded beast and then unwound the snake from his waist and began to feed it through a small hole in the hut. only it was not a snake, it was an umbilical cord, his own.

it was long and dripping, glinting in the moonlight. and then as it reached it's limit i saw foodhugighu be pulled towards the wall suddenly and then scream out. the door flew open and hussar leapt out with some rags and his beautiful wife carrying a bowl. hussar dipped the rags into the bowl and then dabbed the wound where the umbilical cord had been detached from foodhugigu. 

'chilli paste foodhugigu! you must leave my wife alone.'

the creature screamed out, an inhuman scream, a tortured wailing like a deep sea creature, it picked up it's cord and shuffled away. passed me, into the jungle.

aiminabi hugged her husband, kissing him passionately, she pulled him back into the hut and the door closed, leaving me standing alone.

as i wandered back to my own room, i looked nervously towards the foliage, wondering and hoping i had remained invisible to the beast they called foodhugigu.