by Gary Conrad
Daniel stood up, saying, “Pakia! Uka! Guess who’s coming?”
When Pakia and Uka realized it was the ‘ariki mau and his daughter, they immediately jumped to their feet. From their reactions, a thousand eastern warriors might have been approaching. They both began frantically cleaning up the area around their hut.
Upon arrival, Hotu Iti said, “Greetings, Pakia and Uka! Greetings, Dan-iel! May we sit with you?” Mahina stood by his side, a serene smile on her face.
Daniel couldn’t help but stare at her, and he hoped no one noticed.
Pakia shook like a leaf as he said, “Yes, most esteemed ‘ariki mau.”
Uka’s hands trembled. “Come, let us sit down. May I offer you some water?”
“No, thank you, kind Uka,” replied the ‘ariki mau.
They sat in a circle in front of the hut. The old couple sat as close to each other as possible, trying to find comfort. Daniel sat next to Mahina, who softly smiled at him, sending a shiver up and down his spine.
Hotu Iti said, “First, I must tell you news of Tavake. She is able to get around more and more, thanks to the splint and some wooden crutches Paoa made for her, but the uphill walk to your village would have been too much.”
Hotu Iti looked at the large bruise on Daniel’s chest and asked, “How is your injury?”
“Much better.”
“Good,” said Hotu Iti. “Paoa said the salve he gave you would help.”
“Please give him my thanks,” Daniel added.
Hotu Iti nodded. “We came here to thank Dan-iel for saving Mahina’s life. It is my belief that the giant Hito would have defeated any other warrior who might have confronted him. Dan-iel, your mana must be very great to have won such a battle.”
The ‘ariki mau then looked over at his daughter. “Mahina?”
Mahina spoke with a lilting voice that mesmerized Daniel. She gazed at him with sparkling brown eyes and said, “Dan-iel, I must thank you as well.”
“I’m glad . . . you weren’t . . . seriously hurt,” Daniel somehow stammered out.
Hotu Iti announced, “Dan-iel, I believe such bravery should be rewarded. What boon can I grant you?”
“Nothing. I was just glad to help.”
“But you must have something. It is my wish.”
Daniel glanced over at Mahina. “Very well, then. Since the reconstruction of ‘Anakena is almost complete, I would like for Mahina to guide me around the island and show me some of its beautiful places.”
“Daughter, is this agreeable with you?”
“Oh, yes.”
Hotu Iti said, “Dan-iel, you may see only the western parts of our island; the eastern are occupied by our enemy. Mahina will know the areas that are safe, so there will be no need for you to carry a weapon. When would you like to begin?”
“Tomorrow,” Daniel and Mahina said simultaneously.
Pakia and Uka both smiled at Hotu Iti, and he smiled back. It was as if they shared a secret.
Hotu Iti confirmed, “Tomorrow it will be. Now, Dan-iel I want you to understand some things about us. Perhaps you are not aware that I, as the ‘ariki mau, am a direct descendant of the gods. In years past I ruled as a god and had absolute authority.”
Daniel nodded and started to understand the apprehension of Pakia and Uka. After all, in their belief system, they were sitting before a deity. How could they not be uneasy?
Hotu Iti continued, “Since the resources of our island have begun to diminish, the warriors have used this as an opportunity to take this authority from me. What happened days ago, the attacking of the ‘ariki mau and his family, has never happened before and hopefully will never happen again.”
Pakia and Uka both shook their heads from side to side and whispered together, “Never again. Never.”
Hotu Iti smiled at them. “Atamu and his warriors, as fellow Miru, will continue to protect me and my people and will follow my commands, but like the warriors of all the clans, they no longer respect my supremacy. They have also replaced our ancient sacred ancestors, represented by our moai, with the bird god Makemake. Do you understand?”
“I believe so,” answered Daniel, as he recalled Tiare’s teachings. “You are saying that some of the people, because of their hardships, have lost faith in the mana of their ancestors, and have been led by the warrior class to revere Makemake?”
Hotu Iti said, “Yes. The ancient ways are changing right in front of my eyes, and there is little I can do to stop it. But enough of this. Another reason we wished to come here was to hear Pakia tell one of his stories. Dan-iel, have you heard any of Pakia’s tales?”
“As a matter of fact, I have,” Daniel replied.
“Then you already know Pakia is the best storyteller on our island. No one else is so good. Pakia, would you?”
“I would be delighted.” Pakia took a sip of water from his gourd and stood.
Daniel grinned. Pakia might have been on stage — about to perform. Daniel waited in anticipation.
“This evening I will tell the story of ‘The Woman with the Long Arm.’” Pakia paused a moment, as if for dramatic effect, and went on, “In our ancient past there lived an old woman who had a very long arm. She was quite evil and would capture children with her long arm and eat them.”
Daniel flashed back to those cannibalized back in present-day Rapa Nui. Is the killer still moving back and forth between times? Are the murders still occurring?
“After a while,” Pakia continued, his eyes bulging ever so slightly, “there remained only two children on the island. One was a boy who she had adopted, and the second was a boy who lived in Hanga Roa.
“One sunny summer day the two boys were playing together. The boy of the Woman with the Long Arm told the other boy, ‘Prepare to die; my mother is going to kill you.’ The other child said, ‘She won’t kill me, because I am going to catch the largest kahi in the ocean and give it to her to eat.’
“The next day the adopted child said to his evil mother, ‘You should leave the other boy alone. He is my best friend, and he has said he will catch the biggest kahi in the ocean for you.’ His evil mother shrugged and said, ‘I won’t kill him. Tell him tomorrow morning I will fetch a boat, and he and I will set to sea so he can catch Grandfather Kahi for me.’
“That night the two boys met, and the adopted son of the Woman with the Long Arm told his friend of the planned fishing trip. His friend said, ‘After we sail off, set up ten heaps of stones around your house.’
“At dawn the Woman with the Long Arm and the boy pulled a boat into the water, and sailed out to sea in search of Grandfather Kahi. Her adopted son, as instructed by his friend, set up ten large rock cairns around her home. When the canoe approached the area called Hakanononga, the boy pointed to the rock heaps outside her house and said, ‘Look! There are people standing around your home. They are trying to rob you! Perhaps you can grab them with your long arm.’
“The Woman with the Long Arm smirked and said, ‘Of course I can reach them.’ When she stretched out her arm over the ocean, the boy saw his chance. He pulled out a piece of sharpened obsidian he had hidden on the boat, chopped off her long arm and threw it into the ocean. The old woman screamed and grabbed for the boy with her normal arm. He twisted away from her, dived off the boat and swam for shore. When he looked back, the Woman with the Long Arm was lying dead in the boat.
“And that,” Pakia said, “is the end of the story.”
Contented sighs went up from the audience.
Hotu Iti proclaimed, “Good, storyteller Pakia! I’ve never heard it told better than that, and I’ve heard it many times before.”
Pakia blushed. “Thank you, o gracious ‘ariki mau. Your words honor me.”
Daniel said, “Pakia, where I come from, after a tale is told we always ask what the moral of the story is. Well?”
Pakia didn’t think long. “The moral of the story is this: if you happen to have a long arm, do not stretch it out across the ocean when there is someone in your boat
with an obsidian knife!”
They all roared with laughter.
Hotu Iti stood and stretched out his hand for Mahina. “Daughter, we must go. Dan-iel, we will see you in the morning. Pakia and Uka, thank you for the evening. Good night.”
Mahina took her father’s hand and added, “Dan-iel, please come to our hut at dawn. We have a long hike to do tomorrow.” She turned to Pakia and Uka and added, “Good night.”
“Good night,” Daniel, Pakia and Uka called out to the retreating pair.
Hotu Iti and Mahina walked downhill toward ‘Anakena, and Daniel followed them until they were no longer visible. He was bubbling inside and couldn’t wait until morning.
All at once, Daniel sensed they were being watched. Someone was spying on them, he was sure of it. Then the feeling disappeared.
The murderer might be still going back and forth between times, Daniel reasoned, but only a few moments ago, he had been close at hand.
Too close . . .
Daniel was in for a restless night.
Chapter 6
The glow of the sun was peeking over the eastern horizon. Daniel was up and excited to spend some time with Mahina. It was going to be a glorious day, perfect for a hike — with Mahina, yes, Mahina. He couldn’t get her out of his mind.
As Daniel hurried down the gentle incline and approached ‘Anakena, he found it bustling with activity. Smoke rose from earth ovens, men and women were up and about, and children were at play. The sight of Mahina, standing in front of her home waiting for him, warmed him to the core.
“Good morning, Mahina,” Daniel called out to her.
“Good morning, Dan-iel, are you ready for our three-day trip?”
“Three days?” Daniel said — surprised.
“Yes, three days. There are far too many wonderful places for you to see in just a day or two, so father said we could take three.”
“There’s nothing I would like more,” Daniel said as he reached her side. “But what about food and water?”
“Dan-iel,” she said with a smile, “do you not trust the daughter of the ‘ariki mau to think of such things? There are many natural springs along the way, and I know every one. We do not need to carry water. As for food, my people are most generous and will gladly share with us. But to be on the safe side, I will carry a bag with some chicken, bananas, and yams. We will have plenty to eat.”
“One more thing,” Daniel added, hesitating, “Pakia and Uka expect me back this evening.”
“Dan-iel,” Mahina said with an exasperated sigh, “must you worry about everything? My brothers, Kai and Poki, have promised to visit their hut this afternoon and let them know you will be gone for more days.”
While Mahina spoke, Daniel was at long last able to look closely at her. He guessed she was in her early twenties and tall for a woman, perhaps five foot eight. Her body was a shapely slender to medium build, with her shoulder width closely matching that of her hips. Her Polynesian skin was a fetching light brown, and her soft dark hair hung to just below her shoulders.
She couldn’t have been more beautiful.
While Daniel was slowly becoming accustomed to all of the women being topless, Mahina was different — very different. Her breasts were perfectly formed and glistened in the morning sun as he looked at them.
“Dan-iel?” he heard someone say.
“Dan-iel?” Mahina repeated.
“Sorry,” Daniel said as shook himself from his reverie. “You were saying?”
Mahina looked quizzically at him.
Daniel couldn’t help but wonder if she knew what he was thinking.
“Let us be off,” she announced as she turned and walked toward the west.
“Where are we headed?” Daniel asked as he picked up his pace to keep up with her.
“First we will walk along the coastline, and then we will head inland to Akivi, where there are a number of interesting caves. We will spend the first night at my uncle’s home.”
“Caves?” asked Daniel, his curiosity piqued.
“Yes, caves. Our island has lots of them.”
“Are there some close to ‘Anakena?”
“In all directions,” Mahina said as she raised her arms and turned around in a circle.
He sighed, disappointed. How am I ever going to find my way back home? he wondered.
Oh, well, he figured, now was now, and as he looked at Mahina, he realized there was no place or time in the Universe he’d rather be. He smiled at her as they walked across the pristine beach of ‘Anakena, leaving behind the solitary moai standing on its ahu, which, thanks to Daniel, was still standing.
They walked for hours in silence along the rocky coastline. They came across scattered groupings of huts, but much of the time the two were alone. Mostly they walked side by side, but when Mahina walked ahead of him he was able to examine her only tattoo — positioned between her shoulder blades.
A number of the Rapanui had tattoos. Many fell short of being an art form, but Mahina’s was tasteful. It was white, circular, about three inches in diameter and appeared to be a near perfect representation of the full moon. The detail was astonishing, showing the dark and light portions and many well-defined craters. Daniel knew Mahina meant “moon” in Rapanui, and seeing it move up and down before him as she walked along gave him great joy.
When they reached the northernmost part of the island, Mahina paused and sat on a large rock facing the ocean. Daniel settled down on one beside her. She pulled some bananas from her shoulder bag and handed one to him.
Mahina looked out over the ocean. “Tell me about your home, where you lived before you came here.”
“My home is called Oklahoma,” he replied, thinking it was wonderful it was to hear that word spoken in this time and place.
“I have never heard of it.”
Daniel pointed to the northeast. “It lies in that direction, far across the ocean.”
“Is your ocean as beautiful as ours?”
“Oklahoma has no ocean; it is surrounded by land.”
“No ocean?” A puzzled look came across her face. “What do you mean, no ocean? Everyone has an ocean.”
“Oklahoma doesn’t.”
“The ocean is our mother,” Mahina explained. “She feeds us with her fish and cools us with her wind when the days are hot. And if you sit at her shore, close your eyes and breathe, she fills you with peace. I can’t imagine no ocean. It must be awful!”
“It’s really not that bad. In Oklahoma, we also have a mother, and she is the rolling hills and plains. Mostly it is very flat there.”
“Flat? How is that possible?”
“It is possible,” Daniel said. “So flat, that when the sun is setting, you can see far, far away.”
“Like when the sun is being swallowed up by the ocean and the light shows everything floating upon it?”
“Exactly.”
Mahina asked, “Do you have chickens in Oklahoma?”
“Yes, and many other different animals.” Mahina’s eyebrows rose in curiosity.
Daniel grinned at her reaction and said, “In the past, our plains were once inhabited with large herds of buffalo —”
“Buffalo?” she interrupted. “What is that?”
“It’s a large furry animal with a big head and horns. Here, let me show you.” He grabbed a nearby stick and scratched out an outline in the dirt. “Unfortunately, they were nearly wiped out by hunters, and only a few small herds remain. In the past, this animal was very important to my ancestors for food and clothing.”
“What do you do in Ok-la-ho-ma?” she abruptly asked.
“I catch those who do wrong and bring them to justice.”
Mahina looked troubled — a long silence followed. When she spoke, she said, “Dan-iel, I have heard that you killed many in the battle at ‘Anakena, including Hito.”
“That is true.”
Mahina asked, “In your work, have you ever killed anyone?”
“No.”
�
�What was it like to kill other humans?”
Daniel thought for a moment. When he spoke, he fashioned his words carefully. “Killing anyone is wrong. But there comes a time when it is necessary. I had to be a warrior and put aside any other feelings — I couldn’t think that they had families and others who love them. I knew if I did not kill them, they would kill me. If I were killed, then my people would be harmed.”
“Do you consider us to be your people, even though you are from far away?”
“As strange as it may sound, more and more so.”
“What you say pleases me, Dan-iel. I must also share that I am grateful for your actions. Because of what you did, I am still here with my family. As for me, I could never take the life of another person.”
“I understand.”
“Enough talk. If we wish to see the caves before it gets dark, we must go now.”
They both stood and swiftly walked along an ill-defined trail inland. Like his grandpa, Daniel had a strong sense of direction and knew they were headed to the southeast. He kept his eyes open for anyone who might be watching them. Still, it didn’t matter; Daniel suspected the killer was fully aware of their every step.
After an evening meal of baked chicken and yams, Daniel lay outside of the hut of Mahina’s uncle and aunt, Moaha and Kiri. They had eight children and had only enough space for Mahina. It was okay with Daniel, though; he needed time by himself to think.
As he lay on the cold ground outside the hut with his head resting on yet another strangely comfortable stone pillow, he thought about the caves they had explored earlier that day. Several went deep into the mountain, and in many ways they were similar to the time cave. If he happened to find a cave near ‘Anakena, how would he know it was the right one? And if and when he was able to ID the killer, what would he do then? How would he bring him to justice?
There were too many questions — and not enough answers.
Chapter 7
Daniel and Mahina were on the trail at dawn, headed in a southwesterly direction. Mahina had assured him that if they didn’t leave before everyone else arose, they could be stuck there for a lengthy time. Her relatives seemed to have all sorts of questions about Daniel, and the longer they stayed, the worse it would get.