by Karen Badger
“And what you’re planning will accomplish that?” Spencer asked.
Makenna stepped forward. “What we’re planning will make it near impossible for Hawai’i to survive without annexation.”
“So what is this plan?” Spencer asked.
“Not so fast,” Leilani said. “We can’t tell you anything else unless we know you’re in. In fact, we’ve told you too much already.”
Spencer stood up and walked a few feet away. “Something doesn’t feel right about this. This plan of yours was formulated long before I came along, so why involve me now?”
Frankie took Spencer by the shoulders. “To be honest, the fact that you’re here at all complicates things. Spencer, we can’t allow you to leave this ship if there’s any chance you’ll expose us to the authorities. Our only recourse is to give you a stake in the success or failure of this venture, or hold you hostage until it’s through. I hate to put it that way, but that’s the bottom line.”
Spencer looked at Makenna. “Mak?”
“I’m, torn, Spencer. On one hand, holding you hostage definitely has it perks, but on the other hand, we sure could use your presence as an ally on the docks.”
Spencer walked around the room, contemplating her options. “I can’t tell anyone about this?”
“You can’t tell a soul,” Leilani confirmed.
“That’s unfortunate, because the dock workers are all in favor of annexation. It’s good for their business, if you know what I mean. They could be a huge help when the time comes.”
Leilani shook her head. “Sorry, Spencer. You can’t tell a living soul. If you can’t commit to that, then the deal is off.”
Chapter 19
On Monday morning, just before dawn, Spencer tied the gun holster to her thigh and strapped her sword to her hip before venturing out onto the docks to do her rounds. By the time she made it to the end of the dock, the sun was peeking over the horizon. She stood on the dock and looked at the ship moored in the harbor. The ship was positioned so that the captain’s cabin was visible to her from where she stood. A rush of heat and emotion filled her as memories of lovemaking in that room filled her heart and mind.
The previous night, before they left the ship, Spencer had gone to the captain’s quarters to say goodbye. As soon as she opened the door to the cabin, Makenna grabbed a handful of blouse and pulled her inside. She closed the door, pushed Spencer against it, and held her there with a searing kiss that she felt all the way to her toes.
Out of breath and fighting back tears, Spencer touched her forehead to Makenna’s. “Promise me you’ll be careful,” she whispered.
“I will,” Makenna choked out.
“Will I see you again before it happens?”
“I don’t know. I need to leave tomorrow to collect the troops, but I’ll be back in a few days. My heart hurts knowing you will be so far away.”
Spencer pointed to Makenna’s heart. “I will always be here.”
Just then, Spencer heard Leilani’s voice calling her. She looked over her shoulder toward the sound. “I have to go. Be careful, Mak. Please come back to me.”
One more tender kiss, and Spencer let herself out of Makenna’s cabin.
Leilani, Frankie and Spencer climbed aboard the skiff and rowed across the harbor late in the evening to attract as little attention to themselves as possible. Spencer slipped into her room at the docks after midnight and spent the rest of the night dreaming of a crescent moon and a trail of stars.
***
“Good Monday morning to you, Red!” Spencer was startled out of her reverie by the sound of Bear’s voice.
Spencer turned around and shook Bear’s hand. “Good morning. Sorry I jumped. You scared the living daylights out of me!
“You were pretty deep in thought there. It must have been a good weekend for you!” Bear winked at her.
Spencer had the decency to blush. “It was. And how was your weekend?”
“Pretty quiet. I didn’t stray much from the docks. I noticed, however, that you were nowhere to be seen.”
Spencer was both alarmed and annoyed that Bear was monitoring her whereabouts on her days off, but thought better of challenging him on it. “I stayed with some friends. Like you guessed, it was an enjoyable weekend.” Again, Spencer blushed.
Bear slapped her on the back and laughed. “You’re making this old man jealous, young lady!”
“How were things on the docks for the past two days?” Spencer asked out of curiosity.
“Nothing directly affecting the dock, but there seemed to be some activity around the ship in the harbor. Some comings and goings.”
“Really?” Spencer was desperate to know if there was cause for alarm in his words.
“Yes. Nothing substantial, mind you...and of course, nothing illegal, but the ship sailed on Friday evening and returned later in the day on Saturday.”
“Hmm. I wonder where it went?”
“No telling. But nothing illegal happened as far as I know. Rumor has it the people on that ship are part of the unrest we talked about a few days ago.”
“Is that so?” Spencer hoped she sounded naively interested. “They’re a sitting target out there in the harbor. If they were involved in the unrest, wouldn’t the monarchy be doing something about it?”
Bear looked out at the ship. “There’s no crime in sitting. So far, other than intimidating the authorities, nothing illegal has happened. I supposed they’ll grow tired of it and move on at some point.”
“You’re probably right. In the meantime, I’ll continue to monitor the situation for anything that appears strange,” Spencer promised.
Bear put his hand on Spencer’s shoulder. “I like you, Red. I’m glad you’re part of our team. Well, I guess I should get something to eat followed by some shut-eye. You know where to find me if something out of the ordinary happens.”
“That I do, Bear. Sweet dreams.”
Spencer watched her foreman walk away, and then turned her attention once more to the ship in the harbor. By this time, daylight was in full bloom, so when Spencer lifted her telescope to her eye, she could clearly see the ship’s details. She scanned the bow and then raised the eyeglass to look at the second deck. Her heart caught in her throat when she came eye to eye with Makenna looking back at her.
***
“Kaukau Ali’i Kanhanamoku, you have the ear of the people of Kauai. What are their feelings on the treaty?”
Leilani was distracted by the disruption in plans brought on by Spencer’s interjection into the situation. The sound of her name forced her to back to awareness. “I’m sorry, could you repeat the question?”
“I asked how the people of Kauai feel about the treaty,” the counselor from Molokai said.
“Counselor Mahelona, as you know—as we all know—this is not an issue about whether the people of Hawai’i agree with the treaty, or even wish to extend the treaty. I believe it is safe to say that both the kingdom and the United States have benefitted greatly from the past nine years of this relationship. No. This is really an issue about annexation, and I think the sooner we admit that and discuss it freely and openly, the sooner we can come to some agreement and a path forward.”
Counselor Kekoa from Maui stood and slammed his hands on the table. “It is evident to me Kaukau Ali’i Kanhanamoku, that you are in favor of annexation. Does Chief Kanhanamoku agree with your position?”
“Counselor Kekoa, I am in favor of peace and prosperity for the people of Hawai’i. I expect that to be everyone’s goal, who sits at this table. The unrest in this kingdom is anything but peaceful at this moment...and why, I ask you? Because this council is seriously considering ending the very thing that is making them prosperous. And to answer your second question Counselor Kekoa, my father also supports peace and prosperity, but like most of you at this table, he is unsure how to achieve that without giving up autonomy for the Kingdom of Hawai’i. I am sorry to put it this way, e na luna, but we may not be able to achieve both at th
e same time.”
“But why not? Why can we not have both?” the counselor from Lanai asked.
“Because sir, we are vulnerable right now to attacks from outside forces. The way I see it, we can either leave ourselves open to a hostile takeover from a government, who may or may not respect our native ways...or we could voluntarily enter into a relationship with a nation who is open to at least our cultural autonomy, and to continue down the path to prosperity we have been following for a decade.”
Counselor Hekekia from O’ahu rose to his feet. “One thing we have yet to consider is whether King Kalakaua would agree to a provisional government, because that will be a requirement if the Kingdom of Hawai’i is annexed by the United States, or any other foreign power for that matter. A provisional government will render him powerless.” Counselor Hekekia walked slowly around the table as he spoke. “We have representation here from eight Hawai’ian nations, Niihau, Kauai, O’ahu, Lanai, Molokai, Maui, Kahoolawe and the big island of Hawai’i. In a show of hands who agrees that annexation would be good for the Kingdom of Hawai’i?”
All eight members of the council raised their hands.
“Now, who among us believe King Kalakaua will see the wisdom of this, and welcome annexation?”
Counselor Hekekia walked slowly to his seat and sat down. He looked across the table at the show of no hands. “You have your answer, ladies and gentlemen.”
***
Spencer finished her first round of inspections by nine that morning. She took a break for a much needed breakfast of biscuits and ham, which she purchased at a local vendor on the docks. She carried her breakfast fare back to her room and sat at the table near the window to eat, keeping an eye on activities on the dock. While sitting there, she saw a familiar person pass by her window. “What the hell?” she whispered.
Spencer moved quickly to open the door and looked in the direction her passerby was headed. “Well, I’ll be damned,” she said. “He’s normally sleeping by now.”
Instead of returning to her breakfast, Spencer decided to follow him at a distance far enough not to be detected. He led her through a maze of buildings, until he finally disappeared into one of them.
Spencer crept forward, with her back against the wall of the building until she reached the door, which stood ajar to allow the early morning heat to escape the room.
“Will we wear something to cover our faces so we won’t be recognized?” Spencer recognized Donovan’s voice instantly.
“That’s not a bad idea, Don.” Bear!
“How about handkerchief?” another voice suggested.
“Also a good idea,” Bear replied. “I also recommend we do not wear our normal dock clothes. We will still need our jobs after this is finished so we need to safeguard ourselves from being recognized.”
“What about weapons?” Donovan again.
“No. This is supposed to be a non-lethal event.”
“But what if they shoot at us first?” Donovan asked.
“None of you will be in the line of fire. Your job is to create a distraction—not to be directly involved. Is that clear?”
Spencer felt as though someone had punched her in the stomach. Mak! That’s Mak’s voice!
“Speaking of distractions, Makenna, how are we going to keep this from Red? She is obsessed with watching your ship whenever she gets the chance—especially after she spent the weekend on board with you.”
A chorus of ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ rang out from those in the room.
“That’s enough,” Makenna said good naturedly. “You leave her to me. I have plans for her.”
Spencer felt sick. She stumbled away from the door and found an alley to throw up in. She washed her mouth with water from a rain barrel nearby and then leaned against the wall in the alley to compose herself.
Before long, she heard voices and watched quietly as the dock workers filed past her alley to return to their bunks. Bear was one of the last to pass by, but not before he stopped to talk to Makenna, close to where she was hiding.
“Sorry about the guys teasing you,” Bear said.
“I’ve endured worse,” Makenna replied.
“Just so you know, they like Red. She defeated Donovan soundly with her sword the day we met her. She fits in well with the crew. I just don’t want you to think any less of her.”
“Don’t worry about it, Bear. She’s my issue to deal with. Go on now. Get some sleep.”
“Will do. Oh, James is waiting for you at the end of the dock. You’ll need to leave soon or you’ll be stuck here until after dark.”
“Got it. Thanks.”
Spencer watched Bear walk by and then waited with intentions of confronting Makenna. When Makenna didn’t appear, Spencer realized she must have walked in the opposite direction. She was right. She stepped out of the alley in time to see Makenna turn the corner of the building. It didn’t take long for her to catch up.
“Since when am I a problem you have to deal with?” Spencer said loudly.
Makenna froze.
“Since when, Mak?”
Makenna turned around. “It’s not what it looked like, Spencer.”
Spencer walked slowly toward her, with her hands held out to her sides for emphasis. “No? Tell me then—what the hell was that all about?”
Makenna looked down and ran a hand through her hair.
By this time, Spencer had closed the distance between them. She crossed her arms and leaned forward. “You lied to me, Mak.”
Makenna’s head snapped up. “I did not lie to you.”
“Oh, yes you did. I asked you about recruiting the dock workers and you made me promise not to say anything to them. It turns out you already had them in your pocket. Oh...and it appears they know what happened between us as well. Did that mean anything to you, Mak? Did it?”
“I had to tell them, Spencer. They saw my crew kidnap you.”
Spencer took a step away and threw up her hands. “Are you fucking kidding me? Has this entire thing been just a setup? Jesus Christ, Mak! I thought...I thought. Oh, hell, I don’t know what I thought.”
Makenna just stood there and shook her head.
Spencer put her hands on her hips. “You’re not even going to defend yourself? Fuck this shit. I’m done!”
Spencer turned around and walked rapidly in the direction of her room.
“Spencer, stop. Spencer, please stop,” Makenna yelled.
Spencer ignored her and continued to walk, which forced Makenna to run to catch up with her. Makenna grabbed her arm.
Spencer swung around and shook Makenna’s hand off. “Don’t you fucking touch me.”
Makenna hauled back and slapped Spencer across the face.
“What the fuck!”
“Stop saying that! A little respect would be good here!” Makenna pointed out.
Spencer leaned into her face. “Who is disrespecting who?”
“We need to talk in private. Let’s go to your room.”
Spencer pushed the door to her room open and shoved Makenna inside. She closed and locked the door behind her.
“Can you please close the shutters as well?” Makenna asked.
“What’s the matter? You don’t want to be seen with me?” Spencer spat.
Makenna walked to the window and closed the shutters herself, casting the room into near darkness. “No, I don’t want you to become a target.”
“Why would I become a target?” Spencer asked.
“Guilt by association.”
“What?”
“Spencer, I’m already under heavy suspicion. All I need to do is breathe wrong and I’ll be locked up. Why do you think I’ve been staying on the ship as much as I have? I am being watched, and I don’t need you to be targeted.”
“But yet, you’re here now.”
“Yes. I am here now because Bear and his men give me cover. In fact, thanks to you, I’ve missed the ride back to the ship that Bear arranged for me.”
“What are you talking about
?”
“One of the local natives, a man named James, launches every day at this time to go fishing. No one would suspect he was carrying illegal cargo as long as he sticks to his routine. I’m afraid that is now a missed opportunity.”
Spencer sat on the bed. “You wanted to talk in private, so talk.”
“I don’t want you to be involved in this insurrection.”
“I thought my only choice was to be involved or to be held hostage on the ship. I’m wondering now whether being your concubine would have been a better idea.”
“Don’t say that, Spencer.”
“Why not? Thanks to you, isn’t that the impression the dock workers have of me now?”
Makenna approached Spencer and reached out to touch her face, but Spencer pulled back. Makenna dropped her hands to her sides. “I’m sorry, Spencer. I didn’t want them to know you were involved. I didn’t want you to become my weakness.”
Spencer looked away. Even in the dimness of the room, the muscles in her jaw were visible as she clenched them in anger.
“Why don’t you want me involved?”
“You don’t have a stake in this, Spencer. You’re obviously not from here. One day, you will go back to where you came from. I want you to have the freedom to do that. If you become involved in this insurrection, and if you’re caught, you will go to jail for the rest of your life...or worse.”
“And what about you?”
“That ship has already sailed. It’s too late for me. If we manage to get away with this, I will be on the run for the rest of my life. I don’t want that for you.”
“I don’t want to walk away from this, Mak. I know I’m just a haole. I know I’m an outsider, but you are involved, and so are Doc and Leilani. You three are my whole world right now and I won’t desert my people.”
“You complicate things for me, Spencer. I can’t be fighting for the future of my people and focused on you at the same time. Please don’t make me choose.”