Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived

by Ralph Helfer

  “It was wonderful. Even though everything seemed in chaos, there wasn’t a movement without purpose. Each thing was done to perfection and in the same breath. I hope I am accepted.”

  “It’s not that easy to be a mahout, Bram. These men have dedicated their lives to their work. Their elephants have trained for years in the special tasks needed to perform the duties. You and Mo would have to pass many tests. Why, it could take years!”

  “I’m ready, and so is Mo. Her body’s at a hardness that is comparable to these others. She is strong and intelligent. Many things I see being done here, she has done; others I will show her and she’ll learn.”

  Bram’s tenacity for the job was so intense that she was amazed at his determination.

  Bram figured there were about fifty mahouts, maybe sixty assistants and keepers, ten cooks, fifteen kitchen assistants, a smattering of camp boys, security guards, and a rather large number of wives and children who were allowed to stay with their husbands and fathers. A good-sized village, to be sure!

  Many of the elephants were large bulls, carrying heavy tusks. Most females either didn’t have tusks, or their tusks were much smaller. If tuskless, they were known as haulers. They did heavy duty work, like pulling and pushing timber.

  The large males used their tusks to pick up the heavy teak and balance it with their trunks, either stacking it in sections or carrying it to the trough, where the teak was sent cascading to the river far below.

  If a male became unmanageable, special hardwood balls were screwed onto the tips of the tusks so they couldn’t inflict injury on others.

  Mo’s tusks were coming in at a fast rate and were quite large in comparison to those of other females. This was most unusual although Bram had seen some large tusks on the female elephants up north.

  In a quiet place standing under a huge teak not far down the river stood a giant elephant. His tusks were massive. The trunk hung loose, the ears forward…the body lurched forward. In two strides he stood in the sunlight.

  Astride the elephant was a man with long silver hair. His body was lean and muscular. He wore a loose-fitting sleeveless white cotton shirt and white wrap. Bram’s eyes locked with those of the old man for a moment. Bram turned to Sian.

  “Who’s that?” he asked.

  “Kalli Gooma, the head mahout. He’s very old. No one knows exactly but it’s told that the date of his birth coincided with the first revolution. That was seventy-five years ago! He stays strong, works every day, and is respected by all. His word is law to all the mahouts.”

  When Bram looked again, they were gone.

  The meeting took place in the headman’s residence. Bram thought it a bit unusual, but Singh was a man of comfort and enjoyed his afternoon Pimms cup in a proper setting. He had also asked Bram to bring Mo along. Hands were shook all around, seats offered, and Mr. Singh began the conversation.

  “Well, boy, I am informed that you are interested in working for Teak, Ltd. in the position of a mahout. This is, of course, impossible as you have had no training in this most difficult field. Why, there are those who wait many years to be accepted.” Singh glanced at Modoc, who was busy eating the flowers on the veranda. “And a fine specimen she is. I can offer you a job in the kitchen or maybe assisting the mahouts. In your off time you would be allowed to help the elephant staff and in so doing, learn the trade. In a few years, well, we will see, but meanwhile your elephant, what’s her name, Modoc, would have to be put in the lineup and worked by another more experienced person.” He looked at his watch. “Well, what do you say?”

  Bram was dumbstruck. He didn’t know what direction to take. “I…ah…sir, please. Sir?”

  “I’m sorry but that’s the best I can offer.”

  Singh got up to see them out. Bram stood but rather than leaving, he hesitated.

  “May I speak for a moment, sir?” he asked.

  The headman was a bit taken aback by the young man’s insistence. “Very well, but please, a brief moment.”

  “Sir,” Bram started, “please don’t think me rude or disrespectful…but I have come a long way.” He saw a frown creep across Singh’s face. “I have experience in the fields you speak of. I worked under my father in a circus in Germany. He taught me things that make me qualified to be a mahout. Please sir, give me some time…maybe two weeks. Let me study the ways of the mahout and what is required.”

  The headman sat down. Never had he heard such a request. “Why…I…don’t believe I hear you correctly.”

  “Sir, I will sleep elsewhere, supply my own food, cause you no grief. Just let me observe. Then let me be judged by Kalli Gooma. And if he approves…would you then accept me?”

  The headman looked at Ja. Ja raised his eyebrow with a noncommittal smile. “Very well, this is a bit crazy, there’s not a chance. Maybe it’s the Pimms but, well…give it a try. I will allow you this…ah…unusual request. However, if you fail, you will be assigned to the kitchen staff and your elephant given to another of our choice to work in the forest. Agreed? Huh!”

  Bram was perplexed. He knew in his heart that he and Mo could do it. But what if he failed? He didn’t mind the kitchen duty, but what about Mo! Working for another. He didn’t know if she would. What if the man was cruel?

  “Yes! Very well, thank you, sir…I…”

  “Now please be good enough to leave me to my…ah…lunch,” Singh cut him off.

  “Sian! Sian!” He raced toward a prearranged meeting place near the river.

  She was waiting to hear the news; she would be there to comfort him or share in his delight. Bram found her as planned. She was dressed in a thin white cotton wrap, her tan skin against the white, her dark hair like a soft blanket of silk. Bram burst into the clearing.

  “I got the chance! He said okay.”

  He held her in his arms. Anxious, out of breath, she felt his excitement, his eagerness, and her eyes darted from one side to another, as she consumed every word.

  Bram stopped his burst of energy; he had felt her tremble. The look on his face caused her eyelids to drop. When she did look, his lips were on hers, warm, moist. Their arms encircled each other. Bodies perfectly fitted to each other. It was a time of Nirvana.

  26

  THAT NIGHT BRAM LAY AWAKE; his thoughts were of Gertie. Such treasured moments! The time she danced on Modoc…and almost fell! Running through the field flowers, swimming in Cryer Lake, their first kiss and his promise to return. The thoughts blinked tears onto his cheeks.

  The next few weeks moved quickly for Bram. He knew now that he had to let Gertie go. He had to tell her about Sian and set her free. To have her keep up her hopes, especially now, would be unfair. He loved her as he loved Sian, but Sian was here and now. He could touch and hold her, and their life in the forest was full of happiness.

  How was it possible that a man could love two women equally? It shouldn’t be! A man should love one more than all others. Why not him?

  Bram’s thoughts went to his mother. She, too, must be told he was alive and well. And Curpo, his dear friend. He wondered if Curpo still watched over his mother.

  He realized, maybe for the first time, that he had given his life to an elephant. Warm and wonderful as Mo was, she was still an elephant. He had forsaken all. His mother, the girl he loved, everything for Mo. Was she worth it? Maybe so. But wasn’t it selfish to hurt his loved ones the way he had? To leave as he had? And, worst of all, not to tell them what had become of him? How horrible it must be for them not to know whether he was alive or dead. Sometimes that was more difficult to deal with than knowing the worst. If there was to be suffering, then it should be his alone. He would no longer hurt his loved ones.

  That night he made the choice. He would keep in touch with his family. He would not tell where he was, and hope that North would not find the letters. He realized the postmark would reveal his whereabouts, so the letters would have to be mailed as far away from the village as possible. He remembered the letter North had sent the maharajah. This m
an was determined to find them! He was rich and probably had hired many people to look for them. North figured they were somewhere in India. Bram knew once the letters were mailed, he would have to live incognito. Live as secret a life as possible. If he heard that North was near, he would move on. If North found him, he would deal with it. One thing he knew for sure, North would never give up his search for Modoc. Bram would write a letter the very next day.

  Now another thought sprang into his mind. Would he have done this had his father not asked him to? The shock of that thought made him sit upright in bed. Had he been using his father’s dying message to cover what he would have done anyway? Was it easier to blame his father? Whatever happened, he could always say his father “asked him to do it.” The truth was, he would have gone regardless. He simply couldn’t allow North to take Mo, or have Jake handle her.

  But there was more. There was something else Bram suffered from…guilt. Guilt for taking another man’s property. To steal, to be a thief! His parents taught him never to do that! Yet, on his deathbed, his father had asked Bram to “take care of Mo.” For a moment, Bram felt a hatred for his father. How could he ask two opposites of him? Two things impossible to do! How could Bram take care of Mo when she didn’t belong to him? Well, he had tried. He felt he had done all that could be expected of him.

  The night had been long. Maybe the longest he would ever know. Maybe the most important.

  The next morning he wrote two letters. The first to his mother and Curpo. He spoke of the ship sinking at sea, of the Elephantarium, of the attempt to steal Modoc, of missing them, of his fear of North, of his decision to speak out, and…about Sian. That was the hardest part. He asked them both for their forgiveness and understanding.

  The second letter was to Gertie. He told her most of the same things but in greater detail, more explanation, as though he were stalling, not wanting to get to the part of the letter about his relationship with Sian. But then he wrote:

  My future was in the past…the farm, being with you and my family and friends. But now it’s too late. Where I am going is so uncertain that it is best we part. I may never be able to return. My life is so unsettled—never knowing when or where North will come.

  Then he spoke of Sian. How they had met. How understanding she was. He spoke of the pain he was going through, loving them both. He had been feeling selfish until last night. Then it all came to him. He could never give Mo back to North, and therefore he would never return home. He had to keep going, and this meant that he might never see Gertie again.

  You are too beautiful a girl to stay idle waiting for something that may never be. How long this could take, where I may end up, are unknown, and therefore you must get on with your life. I will always love you, Gertie. You will be on my mind and in my heart forever. Sian will be told this, and I know she will understand, as I hope you do now. Be well, my love. If our God deems it, we may meet again. But for now, let us both send beams of happiness to each other.

  Love,

  Bram

  A runner was sent with the letter and as he vanished into the forest, Bram felt the tension leave that had been his far too long.

  Bram asked in the temple, in prayer, how one man could love three ladies at the same time? Gertie, Sian, and of course Mosie. He didn’t count his mother. That was different. He hoped his prayer would be answered soon.

  Though he carried the pain of loving Gertie with him, the next two weeks were the most joyous Bram could remember. He had much to learn about emotions of the heart. For he had truly fallen in love. He and Sian were inseparable.

  There was talk in the village of Bram and Sian’s closeness. To be as intimate as they had been was not accepted. To be as close as they were was unknown in their faith and tradition. Although Sian’s mother and father, as well as the villagers, had kind and warm feelings for Bram, he was of another race and religion. It could not continue. It was Ja who first spoke of it during a walk along the shore of the river.

  “Bram, I have something important to speak to you about.” Ja’s voice was hesitant yet firm. “It’s regarding my daughter and—you.”

  The men stopped their walk, gazing gently at each other. Both had learned to care for and appreciate the other’s honesty and truth, and they both realized that what was about to be said was of great importance.

  “You and Sian can no longer be…well, as intimate with each other as you have been. There is no future in this relationship. You are not one of us, at least in race and religion. And therefore you could never marry her. It is not allowed.”

  They had stopped alongside a giant fig tree, and hearing the news, Bram stretched his hand out to support the unsteadiness that now coursed through his body.

  “Ja, what are you saying? Sian and I love each other. The love is stronger than all you have said. We can overcome these things. Sian told me of her faith and said, as you did, that it was not allowed. But she is prepared to leave with me if it becomes necessary. We could never be apart!”

  Ja’s voice became stronger. “Did she also tell you that she would become an outcast, that she would never be allowed to see her family and friends again? And, worse, that she would be considered a whore! My little girl—a…”

  He could not repeat the word. His voice had become shaky. “I…am…sorry, Bram, but I know of no other solution.”

  Ja left, brushing his hand over Bram’s shoulder. Bram stayed at the tree until the sun no longer warmed the village.

  Bram could think of nothing but what Ja had told him. Not to be with Sian was as bad as not being with Mo! His depression was affecting his mahout training. He found himself blaming Mo for his own mistakes. Precious time was passing, but try as he might, each day was a struggle to work without thinking of Sian and the thought of being without her.

  All was being lost! He knew that the way things were going, he would lose both Sian and the opportunity to be a mahout. Bram had just finished working with Mo and had taken her down to the river to be scrubbed and bathed. He heard a voice.

  “Sometimes it is better to accept help than to suffer the consequences without it. Only men suffer the pride and ego that they themselves have created. The Creator never gave animals these burdens. They are of little use, but it is my guess that He had to test us to see if we could overcome.

  “All life is built upon steppingstones that reach into the Beyond. Without them we would never reach our goals. Use them, you have earned them, and they are yours.”

  For a moment Bram contemplated what he had just heard, then turned to confront Kalli Gooma. He found no one there! Even though he had never spoken to Kalli Gooma, he knew it was his voice he had heard. Instinctively Bram knew that Kalli Gooma was speaking of his friendship with the maharajah.

  The word spread fast. Bram was the chosen son of the maharajah! Such an honor was of the rarest form, even rarer than being his actual son. For that would have been a natural thing, but to be chosen…one out of multitudes of millions! This was a rare privilege indeed!

  The village had gathered. Bram had shown them the amulet. Oohs and ahhs were heard outside the door for the waiting ears of those who pressed close, awaiting the outcome.

  The son of a maharajah surely…most certainly…was qualified to become a member of Ja’s family.

  Bram wore the amulet from that day on, for all to see. He wore it proudly, with dignity, for he had earned it!

  The day for the test approached. The whole village was eagerly awaiting the outcome. They offered to pitch in and help. They hauled ropes and wagons full of teak for Bram to teach Modoc with. Ramps were set up to simulate those in the compound, as he was not allowed to practice there.

  Bram had become a popular figure, and now with his love for Sian so obvious, the village supported him even more, encouraging him every step of the way.

  Modoc worked every day to learn the intrinsic nature of the teak. She worked the routine and repetition of the task at hand. The pushing, pulling, all were tough and complicated. The s
aving grace was the rapport between Bram and Modoc; they had emotional codes between them that allowed things to be done without others knowing how they were accomplished. Above all, it was quicker, and more efficient. The mahouts were amazed when they saw he rarely used the choon.

  As the days passed, Bram noticed Kalli Gooma watching from afar. When Sian asked him for a meeting with Bram his answer was “Another time.”

  “But he sees me making mistakes,” sighed Bram.

  Sian tried to assure him that Kalli Gooma would be fair and judge him only on his performance at the test.

  With the test being the following morning, Ja thought it would be nice to invite Bram to dinner in an effort to encourage him. Both of Sian’s brothers and an older sister were there. Her mother, as usual, was a delight, as they spoke of the pending test and what the future would hold for him and Sian.

  Sunday. This was the morning of the day of the test. Bram, along with Sian, went to temple early so he had time to prepare for the day. Then, with a kiss from Sian, and good luck wishes from her family, he left.

  He took Modoc to the river and bathed her. The water was quiet and low on the banks. There were no ripples. There had been no rain for a month. The odd fish would surface for a gnat, then disappear in the murk. Mo lay on her side, her trunk building sand hills, sloshing the water while Bram scrubbed and picked her skin clean. Her nails had been trimmed and rasped, her eyes and ears cleaned. She righted herself so he could give her a final brush. Then a quick dip in the cool water and Modoc was ready.

  “This is an important day, Mosie.” He rested his head on her leg. His fingers felt the velvet skin on the back of her ears. “But I want you to know that it’s okay if we don’t get the job. I mean, well, that’s just how it’s meant to be.” He reached up with both hands and hugged her tightly around the neck. She belly-rumbled to him as though to say, “I know, Bram, I know.”