Once Count Olaf is left alone on the coastal shelf, Friday offers the Baudelaires a coconut cordial as a token of her hospitality, since the island has no fresh water and nothing else to drink but fermented coconut milk. So the kids will have to get used to it. She talks about the other customs on the island like storm scavenging in which islanders have to present their finds to their facilitator Ishmael who keeps his feet covered with clay due to a “foot injury.” While the sheep usually drag away anything he determines unnecessary to an arboretum where inhabitants are banned from. Except on an occasion called Decision Day. As Friday explains: “Once a year, the tides turn in this part of the ocean, and the coastal shelf is completely covered in water. It’s the one time a year that it’s deep enough to sail away from the island. All year long we build an enormous outrigger, which is a type of canoe, and the day the tides turn we have a feast and a talent show. Then anyone who wishes to leave our colony indicates their decision by taking a bite of bitter apple and spitting it onto the ground before boarding the outrigger and bidding us farewell.” If no castaway leaves that year, then they burn the outrigger since entertainment options are few. She then takes them to Ishmael who welcomes them and allows them to stay as long as they’re nice and follow their customs. That means changing into robes and giving up their belongings (though they don’t make good on the second one. Yet, Ishmael allows Klaus to keep his glasses). He also tells them the inhabitants trade tents every day. Of course, he says he doesn’t force people to do his bidding, except he does.

Since this book revolves around an island, it was only a matter of time where I’d put in the Kinks’ “Apeman” which I put in for this part. The original version pertains to how the narrator yearns to live for a simpler life in the jungle away from the stresses and worries of the city. In this version, I have Friday, Ishmael and the islanders welcome the Baudelaires, talk about their customs, and ask to join them.

“Apeman” (ASOUE Version)

Friday:
Come take a coconut cordial, cause you’re all very nice
Like a good homo sapiens
Cause all around us, all the water is so salty all the time
And there’s no freshwater in sight, man
So I storm scavenge for some any useful thing
Which I present unto Ish, man
If he deems it unnecessary, it’ll be dragged out by sheep
I am an apeman

There’s a large arboretum where an apple tree grows
Where the islanders are banned
Except when the coastal shelf’s flood and deep enough to leave the island
Known as our day of decision
We spend a year building large canoes
So you can leave if you’re wishing to
If there’s no takers, we use them for a bonfire and make like an apeman

Islanders:
I’m an apeman, I’m an ape, apeman, oh I’m an apeman
I’m a King Kong man, I’m a voodoo man, oh I’m an apeman
‘Cause compared to the sun that sits in the sky
Compared to the clouds as they roll by
Compared to the bugs and the spiders and flies I am an apeman

Ishmael:
My name Ishmael and I’m the facilitator
But call me Ish, it’s casual
Since I hurt my feet in the past, so I cover them with clay
Friday, know the rules
‘Cause the only time that I feel at ease
Is looking up and down at the coconut trees
Oh what a life of luxury to be like an apeman

Islanders:
I’m an apeman, I’m an ape, apeman, oh I’m an apeman
I’m a King Kong man, I’m a voodoo man, oh I’m an apeman
You look out the night sky and you can see the sky
You won’t believe how they all shine so bright
The breeze blowing here is so mighty fine
We all get by living bland simple lives and make like an apeman

Ishmael:
Oh, come on and join us, be nice apeman kids
And we’ll be so happy in our apeman world

Islanders:
I’m an apeman, I’m an ape, apeman, oh I’m an apeman
I’m a King Kong man, I’m a voodoo man, oh I’m an apeman
Live on our island where life is great
Wear these white robes and we’ll let you stay
You’ll live in the tents you’ll be trading each day, just like an apeman

I’m an apeman, I’m an ape, apeman, oh I’m an apeman
I’m a King Kong man, I’m a voodoo man, oh I’m an apeman
Since you came and washed up ashore
Stay with us till the tides up once more
Live among us to see whatever’s in store and make like an apeman