Ekewane - The Sorceress Read online

  Chapter Fifteen.

  The Frigate Bird Game

  The frigate bird and roost

  It was easier to go down the mountainside. The girls kept slipping trying to keep up with Emarr and Bagonoun, they would laugh and keep going. Ekewane’s sight of the mysterious bird was forgotten.

  They reached the camp before sunset. Emarr was right it was not that far away, and nobody had noticed their disappearance. However, they felt something had happened whilst they were away, so Ekewane went to find her mother.

  “The men have formed teams and are going to go to the other side of the island and catch the frigate birds. And women are not allowed to go!” She looked meaningfully at her daughter. Ekewane was about to complain but thought better of it.

  That night as the four met at their usual place she asked Emarr, “Will you and Bagonoun go to catch the frigate birds?”

  “Yes” both boys answered proudly. “First we will have to prepare and build two bird roosts, and we will have to sleep in a special place.”

  “Why can’t we come?”

  “Because women are taboo! We will not be able to eat fish, only eat coconuts.” replied Emarr.

  It was called a game, but he knew that it could become very serious. The tension within the tribe had escalated and the ‘game’ could become dangerous. He was glad Ekewane and Eiru were not allowed to be there; it could get out of hand. He had seen men kill themselves after loosing the game. It was not so much the ability of each player, but went deeper; those that won were believed to have the strongest more powerful ancestors, and the losers were made to feel inferior. Emarr and Bagonoun had never played the game before; only selected men of the tribe could play. However, they had been allowed to watch.

  The next morning her mother was sitting alone in her hut and Ekewane joined her. Their ancestors’ bones were still in the casket, they had not buried them in front of the hut, because were not sure if they would remain there, or build their hut somewhere else around the island. She was sitting rocking backwards and forwards chanting. Ekewane knew that her mother was calling the spirits of her ancestors to come from the spirit world. She felt a slight tremor and a little anxious, but sat down beside her mother and joined in her chant.

  For how long they remained there she did not know. She had lost track of time. She felt her spirit leave her body and float high above in the sky, looking down at the huts and people below. She saw Emarr and Bagonoun fishing in their canoe. She saw Eiru gathering dry wood ready for the night fire. She saw children playing in the rock pools, and still she soared high above the island. She saw that the island was not vey big; a lot smaller than her old island. The lake they had found was large and sparkling under the clear blue sky. She flew higher to the top of the mountain. The leaves of the enormous tomano trees swayed with the breeze, and then her spirit circled around the island and slowly came down.

  Her eyes opened wide in wonder. She had not been afraid flying free high above in the sky, and wondered if once her spirit left her body that is the way she would feel - death then would not be so terrifying. Ekewane looked at her mother surprised.

  “Your spirit left your body,” she smiled and then stood up and left the hut.

  “Her mother knew! Had she also soared above in the sky like a bird?”

  That night as the four sat at their place, they were all subdued, each thinking about the frigate bird catch. Ekewane and Eiru looked worried and Eiru asked, “How do you catch the frigate bird?”

  Bagonoun explained: “There are two teams. Two men from each team throw pieces of fresh fish in the direction of the wild frigate bird flock: They have to entice the birds to fly down low. These two players are not allowed to catch the frigate birds. The men that will play the game will have one knee to the ground and when the bird is near, he will throw his sling.”

  “Like the one I used to catch the noddy birds, do you remember?” continued Emarr.

  Both the girls nodded.

  “ The man will aim at the bird’s feet and try to snag and entangle its legs. Then pull the string so the bird will fall down. Then they run to it and tie its wings. But it depends on where the bird will fall; it must fall on the area assigned to each team. The frigate birds will then be tamed and kept on a roost in front of the chief’s hut,” continued Emarr.

  None of the four spoke, each was visualizing the game.

  “Why can’t I come?” complained again Ekewane.

  “Because you are a woman!” replied Emarr exasperated.

  That night in her hut she did not think about the frigate bird game, but the sensation she felt when she was flying in the air that afternoon. Eiru was asleep she could hear her peaceful breathing. “She is probably dreaming of Bagonoun,” and smiled to herself.

  Ekewane thought about her mother and grandmother. She knew they were sorceresses; the women of her family had always been sorceresses. She knew that there were two types of sorcerers, some would use plants and massage for healing the body, but the others more powerful could contact the spirits. Her mother was one of the few that could do both, and she felt proud that these skills and power were flowing within, and as if to agree with her the high-pitched shriek screamed louder than ever in the night sky.

  That night it rained. Ekewane woke up to the sound of the rain on the roof of her hut. She loved the rain, it was reassuring; the trees would flower and there would be fish. She remembered her island and why they had left, it had not rained for many years.

  The morning brought with it a clear blue sky and a hot sun. The men were packing long thin branches and other belongings. Ekewane stood a little distance away watching them and felt sad: “Why am I a woman?” she murmured to herself. She still hated thinking herself as one, but others now saw her that way, so she just sighed turned around, and headed for their place. She sat there silently, already missing her friends.

  “Emarr!”

  He just smiled at her and sat beside her. They did not speak, but Ekewane was happy just for him to remember her before he left.

  “Be good Ekewane, don’t go up into the mountain without me,” he touched her arm, smiled and left. She felt again a deep stirring within her; Eiru made her feel peaceful, Bagonoun made her laugh and Emarr could always make her feel safe and cared for. She loved her friends, “I will never let them go,” she thought stubbornly to herself.

  The days went by very slowly. In the evenings she would sit with Eiru in their favorite place. Eiru was often very quiet and Ekewane knew that she too missed their friends, and wondered what they were doing. She wished she could fly again and see the men play the frigate bird game, but somehow knew that she was unable to use these strange powers whenever she wanted to.

  All was not peaceful in the camp. Emet and Iud always snickered when they walked past. Ekewane wondered again why they did not like her; true she did not like them, but in her defence had never spoken to them. Emet would often make comments like “Your family think they are better than others but you are not.” Or, “you think Emarr prefers you to me, just look at yourself you think and act like a boy! He only sees you as a boy! Then she would laugh. Ekewane did not mind being seen as a boy. She was happy that Emarr liked her as he liked Bagonoun.

  One day she saw Emet and Iud whispering to Eiru and felt angry. “They can’t say Eiru is a boy! She is sweet and lovely and never says anything hurtful about anyone!” She stomped across to where the girls were speaking, but Emet and Iud had seen her coming and walked away laughing.

  “Eiru, are you all right?” Eiru looked at her and just nodded and they walked away together.

  That night Ekewane curious asked: “What did Emet and Iud say to you?”

  “They just said you were unnatural, neither girl nor boy, they said I should join them and the other girls.”

  “W-what did y-you say?”

  “You are my friend no matter what they call you,” she replied smiling.

  Ekewane hugged her friend and put her he
ad on her shoulder. “You are my closest friend.”

  The two girls stayed there for a while longer, then decided they would go to bed. They missed Emarr and Bagonoun.

  The day finally came when they saw in the distance the men returning. Ekewane and Eiru joined the other members of the tribe and ran towards them. She saw her father walking in front of the group, he was laughing and joking with the other members of his team. Further behind walked the second team; they were solemn walking with their heads sagged down.

  “I told you that our ancestors are the more powerful!” her father’s voice boasted loudly, wanting all the tribe to hear. He was the head chief and he knew it. “Emanear! You and the other women prepare a feast in honour of our victory,” he laughed. “The other team are weak! Their ancestors are not as powerful as ours!” he continued to call out.

  That night there was a great celebration in honour of the winners. The losing team did not show up, but Ramanmada had little choice but to attend. He was the leader of the other team, he had to be there and listen to the insults and taunts thrown at him. Ekewane did not enjoy the celebration, so sneaked away to her favourite spot. She had not spoken to Emarr or Bagonoun since they had returned.

  When she reached their spot she was surprised to see both the boys sitting there waiting. Eiru was also there; she had not seen them leave and sat down next to the other three.

  “You won,” she said flatly.

  She was happy for them, but deep inside she felt that things in the tribe were not going to get any better. The image of the blood pouring out of the bodies of the men of her tribe still haunted her.

  “We won, but there are troubles ahead. This game was the start of things to come, and I am afraid for our tribe,” said Bagonoun.

  The other three nodded in silence. Ekewane’s heart beat faster and faster, she could see the blood from her tribe, it was drowning her, and it became more difficult to breathe.

  But then she felt her hand being squeezed lightly, a much bigger warmer hand was holding hers and she forgot the image and felt safe again.

 

 

  Chapter Sixteen.

  Unrest comes to Volcanic Island