A Dolphins Dream
Page 36
Keli and Sinaca had lived nine joyous years in their bure on the East Point when one day, while diving the deep reef, Keli disappeared. It was reported that he had drowned on a deep dive. His body was never recovered.
Sinaca went into mourning. She would see no visitors other than Moses who would bring supplies from the store on Taveuni. In the course of the weeks and months that followed, it was rumored by more than a few fishermen that Sinaca had been seen gamboling with a dolphin in the deep water off the East Point. The story was eventually confirmed when a boatload of Fijians came upon her as she was embracing a dolphin in the calm water between the finger reefs. The old women said that she was making love to it.
For the next two years Sinaca lived an isolated existence and had no visitors save for Moses, who continued to drop off necessities. He never stayed long and asked no questions. On one such day he made a stop and found Sinaca near death on the bed. She had eaten a fish that had consumed the worms that come out of the sea floor on a full moon in late fall, making its flesh poisonous. She died that evening from ciguatera. The old woman said that the Sea God had finally reclaimed her. Moses and Jokatama buried her in the garden behind the bure on the East Point, for the village preferred that she not be buried on their grounds. This suited Jokatama for he didn't wish the women to speak unkindly of his daughter.
Three days after her burial Moses, returning from Taveuni, swung by close to Orchid Beach to admire the orchids, which were in full bloom. He noticed a large shape resting on the sand. Pulling the boat into shore, he discovered a dolphin had dragged itself up and over the coral, beaching itself high on the sand near the sea wall. It was severely lacerated and had lost a great deal of blood.
He went to the kitchen and made tea and brought it to the beach and sat next to the dolphin. Its skin was dry and split and it bled from its belly, laboring painfully with every breath.
Moses gently stroked its head. "Keli, you have come to be with Sinaca, eh. I thought you might. I remember when we drink tea together here on this beach and talk about ourselves, trying to bring each other to understanding. Here we are again and I think we have the understanding, eh."
The dolphin exhaled a weak breath.
"The dolphins and the whales sometimes push themselves on the beach to die because they have fallen in love while they dreamed a human. A dolphin has only one love for its life, eh. You wish to lie next to your Sinaca. Do not worry my friend, it will be done."
Moses stayed with the dolphin through the night and was with it when it died near dawn. He fetched Aprosa and they carried the dolphin to the garden and dug a pit next to Sinaca where it was buried in a grave unmarked.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
For reasons I can scarcely begin to understand much less explain this book has required 25 years of incubation and 3 incarnationso realize its present state. In that time many have lent hands and hearts. In the beginning in New Zealand where the first draft was written and then later abandoned were John and Judy Hare. On Taveuni Rick and Do Cammick. I hope you are all alive and in good health. To Margaret, my wife, who never lost faith, even when I did. David Smith, the book’s wonderful editor and a dear friend finally confirmed Margaret’s undying belief in the value of this work and gave his enormous talent to its conclusion. Finally, I am grateful to Tom Milliken for all he has done in behalf of this and so many of my creative journeys.
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