Murder on Easter Island

by Gary Conrad

  “Where are we headed today?” Daniel asked as they marched along.

  “Today we are going to Rano Kau, the dormant volcano where the Birdman competition takes place. Do you know of this?”

  Daniel recalled his conversation with Tiare. “Yes, but tell me more.”

  Mahina explained, “This is the contest during which the Birdman for the next year is selected. The contestants leave Orongo, climb down the steep cliff of Rano Kau, and swim across the ocean, floating on a bound bundle of reeds called a pora. Eventually they arrive at the islet of Motu Nui, and there they stay in a cave and wait for the arrival of the manutara birds.

  “When the manutara lays her eggs and the contestants find them, they place them in their headbands, swim back across the ocean and once again scale the cliff of Rano Kau. Whoever arrives first at Orongo with an unbroken egg is the winner. If the warrior leader himself is a contestant and gets there first, he is declared the Birdman. If his proxy arrives first, he will give the egg to his warrior leader, who is then acknowledged as the Birdman. It is a very exciting competition, and great reward comes to the winner.”

  Just as Tiare had described it, Daniel thought.

  He said, “I have a question for you. While in the village, I thought I saw you with a number of children. Are you a teacher?”

  “I am. It is my life’s calling,” Mahina declared proudly. “Even before I was born, Paoa told my parents that I would be a keeper of the customs of my people and would pass that knowledge on to children. Many feel the ways of outsiders, those who come on ships, are more important than our own, but I know they are not.”

  She stopped walking, paused in thought, and asked, “May I tell you a secret, one which you cannot share with anyone?”

  “Yes.”

  Mahina moved close to him as if someone might hear. Daniel noticed that she did not carry the off-putting odor that drew him into and through the cavern to the Rapa Nui past. Rather, she had a sweet, attractive fragrance, one that reminded him of flowers.

  She whispered, “My father has taught me the secret of reading rongorongo.”

  “What?” Daniel exclaimed. “I thought that tradition was shared only among the elders, and never with women.”

  “That is true, and that is why this has to be kept secret. My father wants me to be a strong woman, one who can take care of herself. In spite of what is generally believed, I am certain that women are very much as capable as men, and that goes for interpreting rongorongo as well.” Mahina gave Daniel a probing look. “Dan-iel, do you agree?”

  Daniel did not hesitate. “I do. My tribe, the Cherokees, has a tradition of strong women. In fact, one of our past chiefs, Wilma Mankiller, was a woman.”

  “Really? A chief?”

  “Yes.”

  Abruptly Daniel felt a prickly sensation on the back of his neck.

  Someone is close . . . too close . . . is it the murderer?

  Daniel couldn’t hear anything, but his finely-tuned senses screamed to him that something was awry. He put his index finger to his lips and whispered to Mahina, “Be still and listen.”

  She silently nodded.

  Suddenly Daniel and Mahina were surrounded by a large group of warriors, all holding spears pointed at them. A tall, stately man, who appeared to be the leader, stepped forward.

  “My name is Ropata,” he announced, “and I am the leader of the Marama warriors. You have entered our territory without permission. Who are you and what do you want?”

  Daniel stepped forward. “I am Daniel of the Miru, and I —”

  Ropata interrupted, a look of amazement on his face, “Dan-iel? The same Dan-iel who defeated Hito?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then you are my friend and not my enemy. Hito had killed many of my warriors, and I am forever in your debt.”

  Ropata glanced at Mahina and smiled, “Your face is familiar. Are you not the daughter of Hotu Iti?”

  Mahina did not return the smile. “I am,” she answered.

  “Very well, then,” Ropata said. “You may be on your way. What is your destination?”

  “Rano Kau,” Daniel replied.

  Ropata said, “I will send a runner to notify the Hau Moana clan of your coming so their warriors will stand aside. Are you returning to ‘Anakena soon?”

  “Tomorrow night.”

  “Good. It is said that in two days the shamans from all of the clans will decide on those for this year’s Birdman competition. It will be the largest ever, with two from each clan. I’m sure you will want to be there for the choosing. I hope I am one who is selected.”

  Before he turned away, he added, “Safe travels, my friends. You will meet no enemies among the Marama.”

  “Safe travels to you as well,” said Daniel.

  Ropata and his warriors walked over the hillside and soon they were out of view.

  As Daniel and Mahina continued their hike, Daniel hid his concern. He realized that with his growing attraction to Mahina, he had let his guard down. He promised himself:

  It won’t happen again.

  Farther down the trail, Daniel once again thought of the killer he was pursuing. He remembered his previous conversation with Tiare and wanted to know more.

  “Mahina, I need to ask you a question, which may be a little . . . well . . . touchy.”

  Mahina studied him and said, “Dan-iel, when two people are friends, there should be no subject about which they cannot speak.”

  Her words warmed him. Daniel was a bit more comfortable when he asked, “Is cannibalism part of your culture?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “Just curious.”

  “The answer is mostly no. But it has happened.”

  “Such as?”

  “There have been rare reports of it when people are confronted with starvation, but it mostly occurs in the warrior class for one of two reasons: Either they wish revenge on their rival warriors or they want to become stronger. Warriors believe that when one consumes part of their enemy’s body, they also take in their mana. The greater the number of their enemy they consume, the stronger they become in all ways, but especially in battle.”

  “I see. So if I were looking for one who practices cannibalism, the most likely place would be among warriors?”

  “Yes,” Mahina said, a questioning look in her eyes.

  They trekked on . . .

  It was late in the evening when Daniel and Mahina stood at the edge of the sea cliff of Rano Kau, overlooking the ocean. They had first walked through the bustling village of Orongo, where the people prepared for the upcoming Birdman competition.

  As they hiked, on nearby trailside boulders Daniel noticed numerous carvings of human figures with the heads of birds. He could only guess they represented the Birdman. Also, he saw engravings of a particular face, mask-like in their appearance, with prominent noses and eyes. From his prior readings he knew they were representations of the Rapanui creator of humanity, the fertility deity Makemake.

  A cool wind blew in their faces as the sun sat just above the horizon. Daniel could easily see the three islets — motu — in front of him. The closest was the needle-like Motu Kao Kao, then the flat Motu Iti, and farthest away was the final destination of the Birdman participants, Motu Nui.

  Daniel recalled that Tiare had said it was almost a mile swim. He shook his head; it looked a lot farther than that.

  Mahina pointed to a breach in the wall of the inactive volcano. “The contestants start from inside the crater, and go over the breach, called Kari Kari. From there they work their way down the cliff to the ocean below.”

  “Is it dangerous?” Daniel asked.

  “Many have fallen to their deaths, not only going down, but also coming back up. There is also the risk of sharks.”

  Why did she have to remind me? Daniel thought.

  “But for now,” Mahina said, “let’s sit and watch the sun set over the ocean.” She took long, deep breaths and closed his eyes, as if meditating.

&
nbsp; As they sat, Daniel had a hard time keeping his eyes off Mahina. Over the past two days he had felt more and more attracted and yearned to touch her. But it wasn’t the right time — not yet, anyway . . .

  Daniel shook his head. He needed to concentrate on the task at hand, that of finding the killer.

  Isn’t that what I’m here for?

  Daniel focused his sharp mind on who the most likely suspect was. Could it be the first person who confronted him — who was somehow close to him when he emerged from the cave? The one who despised him because of Mahina’s attraction? The one who hated outsiders? The warrior — the one who wished him dead?

  Atamu?

  Chapter 8

  Daniel and Mahina had awakened early and were working their way back down the steep hillside of Rano Kau, headed toward the southern coastline. Daniel let his thoughts drift back to last night. After they watched the sun set, they shared from the provisions Mahina had packed. It was not a heavy meal by any means, but Daniel was learning to subsist on smaller portions, far different than what it was like in the United States. Mahina had packed a barkcloth blanket in her bag, and they covered themselves with it and drifted off to sleep.

  He enjoyed feeling the heat from her body under the blanket.

  By mid-morning they walked alongside the gorgeous coastline. The temperature was comfortable, and the cool wind combined with the rhythmic crashing of the surf felt calming and meditative. Settlements dotted the area, and there was plenty of private time in the space between them.

  When the sun was directly above them, Daniel and Mahina stopped at a home and asked for food. They were given generous helpings of fish and taro root. They took their donated lunch and sat on large stones facing the ocean.

  After they finished their food, Mahina abruptly said, “Dan-iel, I heard the words you said to my father when you first arrived, but I don’t believe it is an accident that you are on my island. So, tell me, why are you here?”

  Daniel started to protest then thought better of it. “Mahina,” he said, “I am looking for a murderer, a man who has killed many people.”

  “A murderer, here on our island?”

  “Yes.”

  “How would he get here without my people knowing about it?” Mahina looked confused.

  Daniel felt caught. How much should I say? Can she handle the truth?

  Finally he added, “Mahina, the killer is one of your people.”

  She put her hand to her mouth and gasped.

  “It is not possible.” “It is,” Daniel insisted. “And the reason I asked you those questions yesterday about cannibalism?”

  “Yes?”

  “The killer has cannibalized each of his victims.”

  “No!”

  “It’s true,” Daniel confirmed.

  Mahina studied Daniel with open curiosity, and Daniel could tell she was measuring her words before she spoke. After a long pause she said, “Something is not right. I know there is something you are hiding from me. Do you trust me enough to tell me?”

  “I do.”

  “Well?”

  Daniel knew at some point this subject would have to come up, but he wasn’t quite ready to talk about it now. After some moments of uncomfortable silence, Daniel blurted out, “Mahina, I am from the future.”

  Mahina’s expression did not change and she calmly asked, “Well, man from the future, how did you get here?”

  Daniel couldn’t tell if she was humoring him or taking him seriously. “I came through a cave, a passageway from my time to yours.”

  “Where is this cave?”

  “Somewhere near ‘Anakena. I had just emerged when Atamu attacked me. I have no idea of the exact location.”

  “Do you have any thoughts about who the killer is?” Mahina asked.

  “Anything I say would be a guess, but after our conversation yesterday, I believe he is likely a warrior.”

  Suddenly Mahina began laughing, at first a little giggle, then a full-fledged belly laugh. “Dan-iel,” she said between bursts of laughter, “I believe you are crazy.”

  “I am not!”

  “Oh, I think you are. What you have said is, well, it makes me laugh. Is this a joke?”

  “This is no joke.”

  Mahina laughed even harder, and Daniel felt his face burning with embarrassment. “Is there anything I can say that will convince you?”

  “Not a thing,” she answered, wiping the tears of laughter from her face. “Come,” Mahina said as she stood, “let us head back to ‘Anakena. I promised father I would be home by midnight.”

  Daniel stood and walked behind her. With that one conversation, his hopes and dreams were dashed. He felt like crying.

  Daniel and Mahina had been in complete silence since their conversation earlier that day. He could tell she was deep in thought and chose not to interrupt her.

  The dark of night began to surround them as they approached the summit of Mount Terevaka. Daniel recalled now — it seemed forever ago — when he first came to Rapa Nui and how he had dreamed of the time cave in this location as he napped. As far as he could tell, the surroundings were the same as before, except the eucalyptus trees were missing; they had been planted in later years.

  Daniel quickly scanned the area with not only his eyes, but also his inner senses. He could detect no other presence, evil or otherwise.

  At the peak, Mahina stretched out the blanket on the grass and said, “Dan-iel, lie down and gaze at the stars with me.”

  In the darkening sky the Milky Way sparkled brightly in spite of the crescent moon just peeking over the horizon. Mahina pointed at the cluster of stars and asked, “What do they call that in your country?”

  “It’s called the Milky Way. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “There are stars seen in your sky that we cannot see in Oklahoma.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes,” Daniel said. “For example, one such group of stars is just above us, the Southern Cross. Many other stars are here that I don’t recognize.”

  They lay quietly watching as the night deepened, and the stars became brighter and brighter.

  “Dan-iel, I have given much thought to what you have shared with me,” Mahina said, breaking the silence. “I must be honest. I don’t believe you are from the future. No one can go back into the past, and no one can go forward into the future.”

  “Before my experience in the time cave, I would have said the same thing.”

  “But just for fun,” Mahina smiled and added, “for the moment let me join you in your delusion. Tell me what the future is like.”

  Daniel said, “I live in a time that is many years in the future, and a number of wonderful things have happened. We have developed engines —”

  “What are engines?”

  “They are devices that make things move. In this way, we are able to travel without walking, not only on the ground, but also in the air —”

  “In the air?”

  “Yes. We have invented ships that fly higher than you can see, and some time ago we were able to send a man to the moon.”

  “That is not possible!”

  “Oh, but it is. And many diseases have been healed. Because of that, people live longer and longer.”

  “It all sounds wonderful. But what about hunger? Is everyone fed?”

  Daniel said, “Well . . . no.”

  “What about water? Does everyone have water to drink?”

  “No.”

  “What about war?”

  Daniel was starting to get a little embarrassed. “We still have that.”

  Mahina said, “Here on our island, we have a strong connection with Mother Earth. Do you?”

  Daniel confessed, “I’m sorry to say that most in my world live in cities, and they rarely step on the earth itself.”

  In the dim light Daniel could see a look of confusion growing on her beautiful face.

  “Dan-iel, I’m not so sure your world is as wonder
ful as you say. You tell me you are chasing a murderer across time from my island. So murders still happen in the future?”

  “Yes.”

  Mahina concluded, “It sounds to me your world has some of the same problems as we have, and perhaps more.”

  “In many ways, you’re right,” he said.

  Mahina asked, “What about my people? What happens in the future?”

  Daniel sighed. “There will be much devastation for your people. You will be afflicted by continued warfare among yourselves, diseases, and you will be horribly oppressed by outsiders.”

  Mahina’s lower lip began to quiver. “What about our traditions. Will they survive?

  “Many will, but the art of rongorongo will be lost, as all those who knew how to decipher it will be killed. Most rongorongo tablets will be lost or destroyed, and the twenty-five left are priceless artifacts that are scattered across the Earth.”

  “None left behind on my island?”

  “None.”

  Mahina stayed silent for a long time, though finally her quivering and her look of concern changed into a soft smile. She lay up on her side and edged close to him. Her pleasant scent surrounded him, and the rising moon lit up her face.

  “Dan-iel,” she said, “I am certain you are out of your mind, and I’m not sure I believe anything you have said. But I’ve never met anyone like you. You are strong, wise, and there’s something about you that attracts me. If I had to guess, I’d say it’s the goodness in you.”

  Daniel could barely talk. He somehow managed, “Mahina . . . I am strongly attracted to you as well.”

  “A question?”

  “Yes?”

  “Suppose, just suppose, that what you’ve said is true. When you find your murderer, will you go back to where you came from?”

  “I will.”

  “Do you love me?” she asked.

  “I do,” Daniel affirmed.

  “Dan-iel, I love you too. I believe with all my heart that surely, somehow, we will find a way to stay together.”

  “I certainly hope so,” Daniel said.