Jason shook his head. “So it was a mistake then? There must be something wrong with the equipment?”
The guy with glasses rebuffed that idea. “No, I checked everything. It’s all working fine. And there’s no way every single machine could have malfunctioned at the exact same moment, you know they’re not all linked.”
As one, everyone moved to the main tent that contained a motley collection of chemistry gear, canvas folding chairs, a couple of camp beds, accumulated piles of dirty clothes and beer cans. I wrinkled my nose – apparently even scientists were messy. The men seemed to have forgotten I was even there, which suited me just fine. I found a chair to perch on and continued listening. Apparently, a few minutes before, all their equipment had registered heat and seismic energy levels so high that they could only have been possible had we been in the middle of a full-blown eruption. Only there wasn’t one. And just as quickly as they had spiked, the gear had stilled back to normal. Well, not quite normal. All the readings were now several notches up from what they had been, but still nowhere near eruption levels. I was thankful the men were too involved to notice me, because all of a sudden it hit me. I realized what had made their machines go crazy. The timing was right. It all made sense. They were monitoring geothermal activity in Matavanu. And I had just set foot on Matavanu for the first time. I had spoken to her and she had answered. Even the memory of that spine-tingling meeting had my temperature rising several notches and brought a smile to my face. The earth goddess had chosen me. I don’t know why or how. I still wasn’t sure that I wanted it to. But I could no longer deny it – the earth goddess had chosen me. And deep within me, I was answering.
My visit to the volcano came to a rushed end that day. Jason still wasn’t convinced that Matavanu was trustworthy and, as he shortly informed me, there was no way he wanted an extra person to be responsible for if the volcano did decide to blow. He sent the team back up to the peak to monitor their machinery for the duration of the night, until they could be sure that the spike was not the forerunner of something far more dangerous. He hurried me back on to the helicopter and was rather distracted for the remainder of the trip back home. When the truck pulled up at the house, he turned to me with serious eyes.
“Leila, I would appreciate it if you didn’t mention this morning to anyone. At least not yet. We aren’t sure what’s going on up there and I would hate to panic anyone unnecessarily. Please?”
There was no more teasing as I gave him an answering smile of reassurance. “Of course Jason. I won’t say a word to anyone. Not even to Nafanua. Well, especially not Nafanua. It will drive her nuts.” We laughed together. “Seriously though Jason, you will tell me if anything does happen? It was fascinating being up there today and if things quiet down enough, I would love to take another trip to Matavanu, that is, if you don’t mind dragging me along again?”
Blue eyes were warm in their response. “Definitely. You didn’t get to see much today, that wasn’t really what I had in mind for your first meeting with a volcano, must have been kinda boring for you. Tell you what, next Saturday, if she hasn’t blown up in my face by then, I’ll take you up again. And this time, we’ll go down to the funnel okay?”
I was ecstatic as we said goodbye to each other. Jason didn’t realize it, but today had been of earth-moving significance for me. Today I had met my earth spirit. Today, Matavanu had spoken to me far more than Jason and his horde of instruments could ever understand.
Nafanua was waiting for me when I walked inside, a vague air of apprehension tinged the room.
“Well, how did it go? Did anything happen?”
I smiled at her nervousness. I laughed. “Oh Nafanua, it was amazing! Matavanu spoke to me. She really talked to me. I don’t quite know how to explain it, but she’s alive, she’s real. And she knew me. As soon as I set foot on that volcano, I could feel her. There was this incredible rush of … joy. Like nothing I’ve ever felt before. And then all Jason’s equipment went nuts and had them freaking out, it was hilarious. And I hated to scare them like that, but it was amazing nevertheless.” I took a breath. “Nafanua, for the first time today, I felt like this telesā thing really could be a gift and not a curse. Like, maybe it’s not so bad to be this after all.” I turned to her with pleading, confused eyes. “Does that make sense? Is that wrong of me to actually, maybe like this? I thought all I wanted was to be able to get rid of this thing, but today, I don’t know, maybe it is possible to be telesā and still be me? Maybe telesā IS me?”
Nafanua looked exultant. She took a few steps forward and carefully held my hands in hers. “Leila, hearing you say this, gives me great joy. I haven’t wanted to force this on you. I know how frightening this has been for you, and I have wanted nothing but for you to be happy. To be at peace with this gift. Because, Leila, it IS a gift. Once you have full control of Fanua, then you have no more need to fear it. To worry that you will hurt people. Your gift can be glorious Leila, it can do great things – if you just let it.” She paused and then carried on. “If you are ready, Leila, then our sisterhood would gladly welcome you. We are Matagi but we can carry out the final steps necessary for you to be truly telesā. If you are ready …” her voice trailed away as my gaze dropped down to her malu. The tattoo markings seemed to ask me their own question. Are you ready? Are you truly ready Leila?
I thought again of how it felt to be at one with Matavanu. Of that day I had stood naked in the sunlight with a single flame burning in the palm of my hand. Knowing that I had summoned it, knowing that I could make it bend and weave, burn and rage – and then still and smolder. Maybe this was the path for me? This power, this fire wasn’t going anywhere. And if I wanted to be its mistress then I needed to complete the training necessary to make sure it would always do my bidding. Because how else could I be totally sure that I wouldn’t accidentally hurt people one day? I took a huge breath and clasped Nafanua’s hands tightly in mine.
“I’m ready Nafanua. I want to get a malu.”
For the first time since I was a child, my mother hugged me. And for the first time since arriving in Samoa, I felt like I truly belonged.
A malu is a tattoo given to women in Samoa. It is applied using hand instruments. Mini chisels and adzes with razor sharp edges made from animal bone are used to repeatedly tap and cut the skin open while hands pull the skin taut and tight. When the skin is pierced and blood flows, the adze is dipped in the pigment ink. And the adze taps again, cutting into the skin, leaving its markings. While the tattooist does their work, women sit there beside the recipient. They sing songs of her ancestors. They tell stories of the women who walked before her. The lives they led. The battles they fought. The children they bore. The men they loved. They trace her lineage back to Nafanua the war goddess. Back to Tangaloa-lagi, god of the earth. They distract her from the pain of the instruments. The biting gnawing pain as the adze cuts and cuts again. They wipe the sweat from her brow and if there are tears, they will wipe those away too. When she cannot continue a moment more, they will pause with her, give her cold water to drink. Help her walk down to the beach to bathe in the ocean, supporting her with strong arms as she flinches against the bite of the salt. The cut of the whipping wind and the grate of the sand. And then back to the biting adze. When the pain builds in waves, threatening to overwhelm her, they will hold her hands in theirs, holding her firmly to the earth, holding her captive to consciousness. Keeping her firmly anchored to this mind-numbing agony. They will not let her escape it. But they will her the strength to endure. Endure. Endure. Endure. We are with you. Endure.
My malu took three days to complete. My mother ground the pigment herself from bark and roots she had grown with her own hands. My ink was made for Fanua Afi. To the ink she added the red burn of chilli pepper – to make fire burn strong. And the root of red ginger – because fire is beautiful. There was black rock from the lava field of Matavanu – to give fire the enduring strength of the earth from whence it sprang. And a sprig of mi
nt and lemon leaf – because fire is a cleanser. She stirred in the rich roasted koko bean – because fire is sweet heat and passion. And finally, she added vanilla bean. Her personal gift to me. Because fire can be comfort and warmth. Fragrant and uplifting.
My mother watched while the telesa held me down, pulled my skin taut, and cut me. I heard her voice sing to me through a haze of endless pain. And tell me the stories of ancient telesa. At night, when the moon called to a silken sea, she helped carry me to the ocean so I could bathe the open wounds in the salt water. And she cut fresh banana leaf fronds for me to lie on, their coolness soothing the cuts that burned with chilli pepper and lemon leaf. And when the malu was complete, my mother fed me with vaisalo and succulent baked crab. Salty limu and raw fish in coconut cream. Slices of papaya soaked in lemon. Food for healing. Food for strengthening. By day five, my malu was just a dull ache. And the telesā matagi planned the celebratory feast for the displaying of my tattoo. The house was filled with the aroma of Netta’s cooking. The excitement of women planning a festive occasion. My mother helped me dress. In a brief piece of unpatterned siapo cloth, soft and gentle against the healing skin. A shift that ended where the malu began, at the thigh, so as to better display its beauty. They rubbed my skin with mosooi coconut oil and put a red hibiscus in my hair. The celebration was outdoors. Feather-edged mats spread out underneath the trees, awaiting the first time I would expose my completed malu to the sun. My mother led the way. I sat next to her at the feast. It was just us telesā. Six matagi and now one fanua afi. The sun was a glorious blaze of gold and the gardenia was in full bloom. I sat there and looked at these women, my sisters. My malu spoke to theirs, adding to the story of our ancestry. I was telesā.
TEN
My buzz lasted about twenty-four hours. Until Nafanua informed me that she thought I was ready to go back to school on Monday.
“Leila, you’re ready to rejoin society, honestly, you’re making far too big a deal about this. You’ve made great progress with controlling your fire and there is no way you are going to set anyone on fire. Not unless you want to of course.” she laughed lightly. Her voice took a serious edge. “Leila, no daughter of mine is going to be an uneducated simpleton. Telesā need the knowledge of the Western world if they want to be able to use it for their purposes. You’re going back to school tomorrow. And that’s final.”
It was a surprisingly typical teenager-mother conversation. One that ended with me stomping up to my bedroom to throw my pillow across the room in silent fury. But that was about the full extent of my tantrum. Because even though I was dreading the thought of school after being away for a month, I was aflame with nervous excitement at the idea of seeing Daniel again. My mind danced slowly over the memory of his face, his crooked smile, his laughing eyes. What would he think when he saw me? Would I be strong enough to stay away from him? Instinctively, my hands went to my malu, as I longed for it to give me strength, for control. I prayed silently to whatever gods were listening for help, for the strength I would need to keep Daniel safe. From me.
Nafanua didn’t leave me alone to sulk for long. There was a sharp rap on the door before she walked in. I sat upright at the sight of her unusual outfit. I had never seen her wear pants before, or all black. She seemed hesitant, unsure of herself.
“Leila, umm, I was wondering if you wanted to join us –my sisters and I – tonight. We’ve got some work to do that will involve us using our powers, and I thought you might be interested to see just what it is that we do. And, we could kind of use your help. Please?”
I was puzzled but intrigued. It only took a moment for me to decide. “Sure, where are we going? What do you need?”
“Oh, you’ll see when we get there. Wear something dark that covers your legs, they might get scratched. We leave in ten minutes, the others will be arriving any minute now.” As she turned to go downstairs, we both heard the roar of more than one truck making its way up the long driveway.
I peered from the bedroom window as Nafanua went out to greet the women. Tonight none of them wore the usual tropical colors. All were dressed like Nafanua, in black – long pants and figure hugging tops. It would have been funny, kind of like a gaggle of women playing at being night assassins or something, with their black outfits and hair slicked back, standing beside their monster trucks. Yes it would have been funny, if I didn’t know what they all were. Telesā. Every one of them capable of a lightning strike. Calling a cyclone. Summoning a whirlwind. I stifled a slight edge of unease as I quickly changed into a similar outfit and tripped down the stairs. The disquiet dissolved though as I joined the women in the kitchen. They were chattering, laughing, helping themselves to a platter of Netta’s banana fritters and greeted me with open, smiling faces and warmth. Everyone except for Sarona. But I was used to her thinly veiled antagonism so it was no problem to ignore her.
“Hi Leila – so you’re joining us tonight? How fun!”
“Nafanua must be thrilled to finally have you on the team ay?”
“Ready for a great night out Leila?”
Sarona merely regarded me with confronting eyes then turned to ask with bored impatience. “Well, are we going to get moving or what?”
Nafanua only smiled as she called everyone to attention. “Alright ladies, shall we make a start? Leila has school tomorrow and can’t be up too late.” Everyone laughed as I grimaced at the reminder. I resolutely put the next day’s torment at the back of my mind, following everyone outside and joining Nafanua in the front seat of the Land cruiser.
“So, when do I get to find out where we’re going?”
Nafanua smiled, there was a buzz of excitement in the air as we drove out the driveway and down the Aleisa road with three other Land cruisers following behind us. “Patience, patience! Youth can never wait for anything.” A laugh. “Just wait until you’re a hundred, then maybe you’ll have learned a bit of patience.”
I winced at the reminder of the longevity thing. Until my dad died, I had never thought much about death, but I did know that there was no way I wanted to be a hundred years old. My mind skipped, as it so often did, to Daniel. Where would he be when I was a hundred? Long gone probably. I scowled in the darkness. Who wanted to live that long if the people you loved weren’t with you?
Nafanua interrupted my dark thoughts. “Well, it’s not much further so I suppose I better brief you a bit. Her tone had turned serious. “You remember I told you that telesā are guardians, protectors of the land? Our mission has gotten more and more difficult with time. More of our people are embracing new ways of living and turning their backs on what gives them life. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you about how man is polluting the earth – the water, the air, the very ground we walk on.” Her eyes were trained on the road ahead but I could hear the edge of anger. “We do our best, but at times, it feels like we are fighting a losing battle, like what we really need is to do something cataclysmic, something that will force our society to sit up and take notice. To finally comprehend the gravity of what they are doing, how they are living. Anyway, every now and again, we are called upon to do something a little more drastic to set things right. We’re here.”
The truck passed a fenced compound filled with the dark shapes of warehouses and storage tanks. A soft drink bottling company. Security lighting scattered shadows intermittently and there were two guards at the front gate. The men looked up as our car drove past and then turned back to their card game as we continued on down the road. Not until we were out of their line of sight did Nafanua pull over in a cluster of trees by the roadside. The other cars didn’t follow though and I looked questioningly at Nafanua.
“Where are the others?”
“They’ll distract the guards. Come on, we don’t have much time.”
“Wait, distract them from what? Wait up!” I hurried to join Nafanua as she moved to stand beside the perimeter gate. “What are we doing here?”
She didn’t answer as she busied herself with a pair of wire cutters, snippi
ng expertly through the chain link and pushing open an entry for us.“Shh, come on. Follow me.”
I had to run to keep up with her, still trying to get answers. “Nafanua what’s going on? Would you please tell me what we’re doing?”
She pulled me to a halt beside her, whispering over her shoulder. “Look, there. See that tank? The one connected to that pipeline?”
I peered around her in the dimness. “Yeah so?”
“So that’s what we’re here for. That tank is filled with a chemical solvent that the company has been using to clean their bottles.”
I struggled to keep the impatience out of my voice as Nafanua started running again, darting through tanks and past to where the pipeline began its journey somewhere in the darkness. “So? That still doesn’t tell me why the heck we’re here. Nafanua?”
Telesa - The Covenant Keeper Page 31