The Sacrifice

by Joanna Orwin

  Harris and Thorssen were waiting for the Travellers. The older man glared at them. ‘You bunch of no-hopers. You were meant to win. What went wrong?’

  Thorssen protested: ‘That’s a bit rough. They gave our boys a run for their money. Nothing in it at the end.’ Then he echoed what Dyer had said. ‘Wouldn’t want to be those marshals, having to decide the winner …’

  Taka asked what would happen if the marshals were undecided.

  Thorssen replied first. ‘They report to Mister Goddard.’ His voice filled with pity. ‘No matter what decision they push, it’s the Mister who has the final say.’

  ‘Exactly my point,’ Harris grumbled. ‘You failing to win outright means the Mister can decide the outcome whichever way he wants. I’ll lose my bet, for sure.’

  Taka watched the marshals come ashore and approach the raised platform where the Mister sat with Choi Yu and his retinue. He watched Mister Goddard bend to listen to what they had to say, then shake his head and wave them away before resuming his conversation with his companions. He watched Cleo shrug indifferently, and wondered what was being said. It was hard to be optimistic. He looked up beyond the crowds on the sea edge to where the red-stained plume of steam again cloaked the twin summits. He knew Thorssen was right. The Mister would reach some arbitrary decision, one that might be influenced by the whim of his unpredictable daughter, one that was bound to go against the hapless Travellers.

  The feasting dragged on, people enjoying the endless supply of food provided by the Mister. Even the Mara were present, given space at the entrance near the hot pool. The Travellers’ harvest mentors had risen to grasp their hands as they passed through, pressing noses in the time-honoured fashion of kinship. Taka had forgotten how good it felt to be with like-minded people. People who didn’t shun his very presence as though he was tainted. He wished they could be seated with Utaru and Rauwai, but the impatient spear carriers thrust them onwards, using the butts of their weapons against those still waiting to greet them. The unresisting Mara fell back and were soon lost from sight behind the Sanctuary crowds who filled the main gathering place.

  Now Taka took his allotted position with the other Travellers on a mat just below the raised platform, Dyer and his team occupying an adjacent mat. A continuous line of well-wishers filed past, mostly intent on congratulating their own paddlers. A few mentioned the efforts of the Travellers, but their voices were condescending.

  ‘They’re taking it for granted the Mister will decide in Dyer’s favour,’ said Piko after yet another man had stopped to express his commiserations.

  ‘What did you expect?’ asked Kai. His voice was resigned. ‘This is about politics, not about who actually won.’

  ‘Another metre — half a metre — and we’d have pulled ahead,’ said Matu gloomily.

  Taka knew he would be thinking of that fatal moment of hesitation. It had cost them the race, and deep down he suspected it was his fault. Although he couldn’t be blamed for not being race-ready, he’d had no sleep and his concentration had been all over the place. His emptied stomach knotted with regret and remorse. He had no idea how he could make amends.

  There was silence for a moment, then Kai spoke. ‘You couldn’t have done any more, Matu — none of us could. We all gave it our best shot.’

  ‘What’s your take on this?’ Piko looked at Taka, who was toying absently with his food. ‘You must have some idea what the Mister’s likely to do.’

  Taka shrugged awkwardly. ‘He doesn’t talk to me. I’m just an entertainer in his eyes.’

  Kota pointed at the fire-jewels around Taka’s neck. ‘Did he give you those?’

  When he explained that Choi Yu had presented them to him, that he felt obliged to wear them in his presence, they said nothing. Taka saw Kota make the demon-averting sign.

  Matu said suddenly, ‘What about the Mister’s daughter?’

  ‘What about her?’ said Taka. He felt the colour rise up his neck.

  Kai looked at the line of small tooth marks where Taka’s neck muscles angled into his shoulder and sighed heavily. ‘You fool.’

  When Matu let out a crow of admiration and envy, Kai quelled him. ‘Don’t you Understand? This might change everything.’ He spelt it out. ‘If she liked Taka’s performance, and I’m not talking dance here, she’ll persuade her father to declare us the losers so we’ll be forced to stay.’

  ‘And if she didn’t?’ Piko ignored Taka’s increasing embarrassment. ‘What then?’

  ‘Who knows?’ Kai spread his hands. ‘Depends whether she cares what happens to him — or us.’

  They all turned and looked enquiringly at Taka. He shook his head, misery tightening the knots in his stomach. ‘I’ve no idea where I stand with her.’

  ‘Thought as much,’ said Kai. ‘If she’s as fickle as the spear carriers say, she’s not likely to care about our fate.’

  Taka wished he could disappear. Kai was right, he was a fool — naïve enough to think having her on his side would help their cause, naïve enough to think a fire-goddess’s daughter could fall in love with him the way he had with her. He cursed himself for letting desire overrule his head. Yet how could he have prevented what happened last night? Kai seemed to forget they were all at the mercy of the gods. He shrank into himself, his head down. After a while, the others continued eating, but Taka pushed his platter aside, the food turned to dust in his mouth.

  It was some time before his cousin took pity on him. Kai nudged him gently, his words echoing Taka’s own defensive thinking. ‘I doubt you had any say?’

  ‘Not really,’ Taka muttered. ‘I suppose I could’ve refused her, but …’

  ‘Say no more,’ said Kai. ‘It’d take a better man than any of us to turn her down. It’s unlikely you sleeping with her would make any difference. She’s got her father wound round her little finger.’

  And anyone else who crosses her path, thought Taka forlornly. He watched Choi Yu bend down to talk to Cleo, his posture complacent and proprietary. He watched her respond demurely. She’d not spared him a single glance all evening.

  As night fell and the feasting drew to its close, the servers scurried to light the torches set in their sconces around the open space. The drumming started, and Thorssen came to fetch Taka to put on the performance he’d promised his novice troupe. Reluctantly, he followed the spear carrier to where the boys were waiting, dressed in fresh loincloths, their bodies oiled and gleaming in the torchlight. As soon as they saw him, they clustered around, talking in voices high with excitement and nerves. Taka pulled himself together. He calmed them down with some breathing exercises, then signalled the drummers to announce them.

  Although the routine he’d taught them was simple, the boys did well for a first performance, following his lead as though they’d been dancing all their lives. Despite his tense anticipation of the awaited decision, Taka couldn’t help feeling proud as he stood with them at the end, bowing to the assembled dignitaries and acknowledging the enthusiastic applause of the gathered crowd. He couldn’t look in Cleo’s direction.

  After the boys filed off, all bounce, their faces lit with elation, Mister Goddard commanded Taka to dance solo as usual. He didn’t have the heart or the energy for this, not tonight. Standing before the raised platform, he raised his head and looked directly at the Mister.

  His voice loud and clear, he said, ‘This night belongs to Sanctuary’s performers. I ask that you excuse me.’

  Amid the shocked hiss from those near enough to hear, the Mister considered him thoughtfully, his stone-grey eyes unreadable. Taka could sense that Cleo was now also watching him, but kept his eyes firmly on the Mister. After a long pause, Mister Goddard made up his mind and dismissed him impatiently. Bowing slightly, Taka turned and made his way back to the other Travellers. When he sat down beside his cousin, Kai gave him a searching look but said nothing.

  At last the moment they’d all been waiting for arrived. A spear carrier approached each team and directed them to line up in front
of the dais. All around the open space, the voices died away until the only sound was that of the summoning drums. Then they, too, were quiet. Taka could feel the tension in the other Travellers standing beside him. The Mister stared at them, those eyes again unreadable. Then, before he could speak, Dyer stepped forward.

  ‘I have Something to say,’ the redhead said, his voice firm.

  ‘Yet another stripling bold enough to challenge our authority?’ The Mister turned to Choi Yu and spread his hands in mock helplessness. His retinue laughed obediently, but unease rippled through the crowd.

  Dyer refused to be intimidated. ‘The two canoes reached the finish line at the same moment.’ He gestured at the Travellers. ‘Our opponents deserve justice. The honour of Sanctuary rests on your decision.’

  In the stunned silence that followed, Taka heard the song from the steam columns murmuring in the background. He saw the momentary flare of blue-tinged flame from the taller columns behind the dais. His nostrils caught a waft of pungent demon breath.

  ‘You dare talk to us of justice, of honour?’ The Mister was affronted.

  Dyer said nothing, but held his ground. His head high, he looked back at the Mister.

  Taka studied his feet, watching his toes instinctively bunch. He felt Kai shift beside him, let out his breath in a soft whisper of despair. Part of him admired and respected Dyer. Another part of him suspected, like his cousin, that, despite his good intentions, the redhead might just have ruined any hope of justice.

  The Mister was drumming his stubby fingers on the arm of his carved seat. To Taka it sounded like the drum of doom. Choi Yu murmured Something in his ear. At last the Mister was ready to speak.

  His tone was measured. ‘Our guest reminds us that youth often speaks with intemperate haste, but sincere conviction.’ He stared at Dyer until the young man lowered his gaze. ‘We will overlook your misguided intervention — just this once.’

  This time Dyer had the sense to say nothing. He bowed and stepped back into line. Taka could see the painful flush that reddened his pale skin.

  The Mister was continuing. ‘Nevertheless, what you say is true. Our marshals confirm both canoes touched the finish rope at the same time. There is no clear winner.’

  A mutter ran through the crowd, then died away. Taka tried to stand tall. His legs shook uncontrollably.

  As soon as the Mister had the crowd’s renewed attention, he spoke again. ‘We now have the matter of the prize we offered these strangers should they succeed in winning. They did not win. But they indeed performed valiantly.’ He nodded at Dyer. ‘We have therefore decided to grant them their two canoes and the food plants they desire.’

  Taka turned towards Kai, his eyes shining. He was about to embrace his cousin, but Mister Goddard hadn’t finished. Taka stilled, instinctively sensing menace in the soft, high-pitched voice that now spoke words he struggled to register.

  ‘We have but one condition. We are much taken with the work of the dancer and the entertainment he provides us. The dancer stays to continue his work of training our boys.’ He addressed the Travellers directly. ‘If you accept our condition, the rest of you can leave our shores.’

  Amid the following hubbub, Taka stood transfixed.

  Beside him, Matu was protesting. ‘He can’t ask that of us. We all go or we all stay.’

  Taka knew what he had to do. Evading Kai’s attempt to hold him back, he took deliberate steps forward until he was once again standing alone below the dais. The Mister looked him up and down, his moon-white face impassive. Cleo, Choi Yu and the retinue surrounding the Mister blurred into indistinct, irrelevant shapes at the edges of Taka’s vision. He steadfastly returned the Mister’s stony gaze. The air between them chilled.

  Taka waited until the crowd at last fell silent, then spoke, outwardly calm, his voice steady. Inside he was trembling with the enormity of what he was about to say.

  ‘We accept your condition. I will stay.’

  ‘I blame that girl.’ Matu’s voice was rough with misery. ‘She’s a demon-witch. She’s warped your mind, got you just where she wants you.’

  Before the Travellers left the space in front of the dais, waved away by an indifferent Mister Goddard, Dyer shook hands with all of them, squeezing Taka’s hands hard, his face sharp with distress. Taka returned his grip, but his heart was too full for him to speak. As the Travellers pushed their way across the gathering place, only Matu continued to mutter curses and imprecations, threatening to kill the Mister. The others kept quiet, but they stayed close to Taka, surrounding him protectively as they walked unsteadily through the noisy crowd that jostled them, shielding him from the thrusting faces, the shouted questions, the mocking jeers.

  Near the entrance, they reached an unexpected oasis of stillness: the Mara, standing shoulder to shoulder in silent ranks, forming a narrow passage for them to pass through. The familiar brown eyes of home gleamed in the torchlight, warm faces exuding support and solidarity. Some of Taka’s numbness receded.

  When they at last reached the outskirts of Sanctuary, Harris was sensitive enough to wave them on alone. ‘You need time to yourselves.’ He’d not reacted to Matu’s threats.

  Once they were back inside the dusty haven of the hen house, Kai took Taka in his arms and hugged him. He had trouble not weeping. The others gathered close, reaching out to pat the two Repo cousins.

  When Kai at last released him, he said, ‘You do know we can’t let you make this sacrifice?’ His eyes searched Taka’s, bright with concern.

  The others agreed vehemently, their voices raised in curses against the Mister that Taka knew were futile. He waited until they ran out of words. ‘What choice do I have? We have a god-directed quest to fulfil.’ He turned to Kai, his voice firm with resolve. ‘You yourself said we have a duty to return home with the sacred food plants.’

  ‘We — that means all of us,’ Matu interjected.

  ‘Perhaps this was meant to be,’ said Taka quietly. ‘My staying here could be what the gods intended from the very beginning. This is my destiny.’ His conviction of the truth of this firmed as he spoke.

  But Kai held no such faith. ‘How can you base your future on such beliefs?’ He seized his cousin again, this time shaking him roughly, each word emphatic. ‘None of us know what the gods intend. We don’t even know for sure what role they play in our lives.’

  Taka pushed him away gently. He managed to smile. ‘You forget that Hina said my destiny was to dance. By staying here I’ll have the freedom to do just that. Dance my own way. That’s what I’ve always wanted.’

  In the silence that followed, Taka heard movement outside and a quiet cough. Before any of them could react, the door creaked open. A tall figure stood silhouetted in its opening. Taka recognized Utaru as he stooped and came inside.

  ‘I waited to be sure your spear carrier wasn’t returning,’ said the Mara leader. ‘He’s safely drunk, back in Sanctuary.’ He squatted on his heels and peered at Taka in the dim light. ‘I’ve come to offer our help.’

  ‘I don’t see how anyone can help.’ The kind concern in Utaru’s voice undermined Taka’s determination to be strong, and he faltered. He couldn’t stop the tears that now welled.

  ‘We’ve worked out an escape plan.’ Utaru explained that the Mara wanted them to behave as though Taka was indeed staying behind. But when the rest of the Travellers boarded their voyaging canoe to leave, they were to make sure it was at midday, so they wouldn’t reach the end of the harbour until nightfall. A beacon fire would then guide them to a safe anchorage in the last bay before the hidden exit to the open sea. ‘Once everyone in Sanctuary is sleeping, Taka here needs to make his way to the outskirts. One of us will be waiting. We’ll bring him to you by dawn. You’ll be on your way well before anyone in Sanctuary notices his absence.’

  ‘Why would you risk doing that for us?’ Taka objected, though a contrary hope fractured his resolve and made his voice crack. ‘The Mister would guess you were involved.’

  Kai
said slowly, ‘Taka’s right — we can’t accept the possible consequences.’

  ‘That is our choice.’ Utaru rose to his feet. ‘You are kin to us, sent by the gods across the ocean. For too long we’ve allowed the Mister and his kind to walk rough-shod over us.’

  When none of the Travellers said anything more, he nodded. ‘Good. It’s agreed then.’

  And before Taka could sort out his jumbled feelings, Utaru had gone.

  Chapter 20

  Best stay away from us,’ said Kai. ‘We need to be careful nothing arouses any suspicion.’

  Piko was quick to endorse his suggestion. ‘Keep busy with those boys of yours. Don’t do or say anything that suggests you might be having second thoughts about agreeing to stay.’

  ‘It wouldn’t occur to anyone in Sanctuary to think he has any choice.’ Matu felt they were being unnecessarily cautious.

  Taka, torn apart by conflicting emotions, found it easier to do what he was told. So he avoided the activity at the landing place where Dyer and his team were helping his companions link two of the largest fishing canoes to make a voyaging vessel. Instead, each morning he focused fiercely on training his troupe of young dancers. The boys strove to please him, buoyed by the success of their first performance and their assumption that Taka was staying on. Every now and then he heard echoes of his father’s voice in his own as he instructed them. These echoes, reawakening a longing for home, swayed him towards accepting Utaru’s escape plan. At other times, when his young troupe met his expectations or he performed exceptionally well before the Mister, his conviction that the gods intended him to dance took hold once more. How could he even contemplate ignoring that? Was he seriously thinking of turning away from his true destiny?

  On a dark night when he risked meeting up with Kai outside the hen house, he tried expressing the turmoil that gripped him. His cousin misunderstood. ‘Stop worrying. Utaru’s plan is simple, which gives it every chance of success. It seems foolproof to me, so have a little faith, eh?’