Tempest

Tempest is a suspenseful thriller/adventure, focusing on a compact island community that lives in isolation from the rest of the world. The story is revealed from the point of view of three very different characters; Kerisan, the son of the village chief, who prides himself on his strength and morals yet is conflicted when his actions put a close friend in danger, and finds himself tormented by doubt and anger; Mathus, a carpenter boy who longs to escape the island and what he sees as a pointless existence; and Aiya, Mathus’ sister and one of the youngest villagers, whose carefree life is unsettled by the death of her closest friend and the persecution of a mysterious stranger. When a young boy called Sammus vanishes in forbidden hunting territory, a group of fishermen led by Kerisan hunt him down and discover his lifeless body next to a freshly erected shelter. They are surprised to find a strange man wielding a knife, who they manage to subdue and imprison back in the village. Sammus’ parents want the stranger put to death, and Kerisan finds himself conflicted, torn between his morals and his desire for justice. He is overbearingly protective over his lover, Eva, and finds himself arguing bitterly with his mother over the fate of the newcomer. Many of the villagers are curious about the stranger’s origins, while the appearance of Sammus’ body, deathly pale and without wounds, is a source of fear and speculation. To further exasperate the situation, the stranger does not speak their language and is soon regarded as mentally unstable. Growing storms force Kerisan and the others to stockpile supplies, while paranoia continues to grow amongst the previously peaceful community. When the villagers discover the stranger has somehow escaped, their fear reaches a critical peak and the blame is put on Mathus, who was charged with guarding the man. Kerisan confronts him, but a shocking revelation leads to a violent and startling climax. At this point the story is revealed from the perspective of Mathus, and then Aiya, with each re-telling revealing more about the mysterious stranger and the tragic death of Sammus. Only when all three tales have been told is the full truth revealed.