"Howie Needleman?" The four Monkees exclaimed together.
"I go by Howard now." Howard said, "How did you...oh yeah, now I remember! You boys are from that chimp act, aren't you?"
"We're the Monkees." Mike replied.
"Oh, yeah, that's right that rock group. Here, could one of you please tie the boat?" He handed up a line with a loop at the end. Micky took it and placed the loop over a short post. Then Howard climbed up onto the dock.
"So, I can tell you four are surprised to see me." Howard said, straightening his coat and tie.
"Yeah, that begins to cover it." Davy replied slowly.
"So now you're working at the Ocean View Resort?" Mike asked.
"Yep, I just started here a month ago. After that fiasco at WXIU, I was washed up. Nobody would hire me. Fortunately, the owner of this resort had kids who liked the Captain's show and he finally offered me a job."
"What a break." Micky remarked.
"It's a living." Howard replied, shrugging his shoulders, "Well, time's a wastin'…" He walked over to the boat once again, "Let me help you four with your luggage." He turned to see the four Monkees still standing in the same place, silently staring back at him.
"Well? Aren't you coming?" He asked.
"If you're here, where's your buddy?" Micky asked.
"My buddy?" Howard replied, looking puzzled.
"Yeah, Captain Crocodile." Peter replied.
"Oh him. He's no buddy of mine." Howard replied with a snort. He walked back over to the Monkees. "I'll tell you boys this once and then I don't want to ever talk about him again." He said angrily. "As you know, after he was fired I was given the job and I changed the name of the show to Monkee Menagerie."
"And immediately proceeded to squirt us with seltzer." Micky responded with a frown.
"Well...I am sorry about that." Howard admitted, "I tried to keep the fun spirit of the Captain's show. At least I let you boys perform on the air."
"In wet clothes." Mike added, "Not very safe when playing an electric guitar."
"But soon word spread about what happened to the Captain." Howard continued, ignoring Mike's remark. "Parents wouldn't let their kids come to my show. The ratings went into the cellar and..." Howard trailed off, waving his hand. "I was finished. "Like I said, the resort owner's kids liked the Captain and gave me this job."
"So where is the Captain?" Peter asked.
"Who knows and who cares." Howard replied bitterly, "His ego and paranoia ruined his career and mine." Howard took a breath and let it out. "So now, will you join me?" He asked motioning to the boat.
The Monkees looked at each other. It was clear Howard had as little love for Captain Crocodile as they did.
"I'm ready for some relaxation." Mike said, "How about you three?"
"We're ready!" Davy exclaimed.
Micky and Peter said the same thing, so with Howard's help they quickly loaded the boat with their luggage and climbed aboard.
"Ok, boys!" Howard said as he untied the boat, "Get seated and get ready for the trip of a lifetime!"
The Monkees sat down on the cushioned seats along the sides and Howard went into the wheelhouse. The engine roared to life and soon the boat was on its way to Boring Boring.
As the Monkees talked excitedly amongst themselves, Howard, inside the wheelhouse, reached inside his coat and felt the cold hard steel of his gun inside its holster, thankful he didn't have to use it.
When the shore receded to a hazy outline on the horizon, Howard brought out a cooler from the on-deck locker and asked if the Monkees wanted anything to drink. All four said they would take soda and Howard dutifully served them the drinks. It was a beautiful day, and water was calm, so Howard had no trouble navigating the boat. As the Monkees drank, Peter's attention was drawn to an island some distance off the starboard side. The island was dominated by a large smoking volcano.
"Is that Boring Boring, Howard?" Peter asked, pointing to the island.
Howard came out of the wheelhouse and looked to see where Peter was pointing.
"No, that's Crackatoe Island." Howard replied.
"Why is it steaming?" Davy asked.
"It recently became active again after several centuries."
"Are we in any danger?" Peter asked, looking serious.
Howard shook his head. "Naw, it's just making a show. There's Boring Boring." Howard pointed to another island becoming visible in front of the boat's bow. The Monkees stood to take a look.
Boring Boring was a tree-covered island with a small volcano rising up from the center.
"Yep, that's Boring Boring." Howard repeated with a smile. "It's about ten miles in diameter, and except for the resort, it's been untouched by humans. Its volcano is about a half-mile high...and dormant."
The Monkees chuckled at that.
As they came closer to the resort, the sound of tropical music could be heard wafting through the air. Peter was still looking thoughtfully at Crackatoe.
"What's the matter, Peter?" Micky asked.
Peter looked over at Howard and then back at his friend.
"I remember hearing something on the news about Crackatoe island." He said quietly.
"What did you hear?" Micky asked.
"That it had erupted." Peter said.
Micky now looked at the island and then back at Peter.
"What's the big deal?" Micky asked, "Volcanoes have been know to come back to life after several centuries."
"Well, Howard said it was just making a show. Why didn't he tell us it had erupted?"
"Maybe he didn't know." Micky replied.
The dock was now visible from the boat and slightly inland the Monkees could see a large building made to look like a thatched-roofed hut. A stone-paved walkway led from the dock to the building.
"We're almost here!" Howard shouted happily, "What you see in front of you is the check-in center. You'll go in there to check in and get your room numbers. You can also see what activities are planned and sign up for whatever ones you'd like."
"Where's the rooms?" Davy asked.
"They're behind the center." Howard replied, "They're also made to look like native huts, but don't worry, you'll have all the modern comforts of home."
As they came closer to the dock, Howard cut back on the motor, letting the waves glide the boat in. It was then the Monkees noticed something was wrong. The tropical music coming from the loudspeakers on the dock's lampposts were the only sounds coming from the island. There was no other sounds, and the place seemed to be deserted.
"Where is everybody, Howard?" Mike asked, standing up.
With a sigh, Howard turned to Mike. "I'll be honest with you boys." He said, shaking his head, "Business has been pretty slow lately, people are going to other resorts or to Disneyland."
"Why?" Peter asked, "Could the eruption of Crackatoe have something to do with it?"
"What are you talking about?" Howard replied.
"Crackatoe erupted last year." Peter answered, "Maybe people are afraid Boring Boring might do the same."
"I didn't know about Crackatoe erupting." Howard replied, looking surprised, "Maybe that's why I was able to get this job, nobody wanted to work here either."
"Told ya Peter." Micky whispered.
Anything Peter would've said was interrupted by the boat gently bumping into the island pier.