Cheyenne Mountain

On a small island about two hundred nautical miles from the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Pacific Ocean.

On the beach covered by the shadow of swaying coconut trees, a man in a life jacket was lying face down on the beach.

On the beach behind him, there was a long mark that extended to the edge of the sea.

Obviously, he was washed up by the waves when the tide rose.

After an unknown amount of time, the man's eyebrows moved, and a painful growl came out from his throat, followed by violent coughs. The seagulls perched on the palm trees were all alerted and flew away. He pushed the sand with his hand, barely managed to roll himself over, then leaned against a coconut tree.