Murder on Easter Island (16 page)

Paoa explained to Hotu Iti, “Kai and Poki were worried the invaders would steal the rongorongo boards, so they took them and hid in a cave off to the west. After I took care of Tavake, I began searching for them, and they came to me when they heard me calling their names. The cave was well hidden in the wall of a cliff. Otherwise I never would have found them.”

Paoa looked at the unconscious daughter of the ‘ariki mau and said, “Dan-iel, I see you were able to find Mahina.”

“I was. Her kidnapper was the largest man I have ever seen. I was able to put a mata‘a through his throat.”

Paoa first grimaced and then smiled. “You killed the most feared warrior of the eastern clans. His name was Hito of the Ure ‘o Hei. Did anyone of the enemy see you kill him?”

“Yes, and they fled.”

“Good,” said Paoa as he slapped Daniel on the back. “The eastern warriors will now be afraid of the great mana you have. Perhaps this will keep them away for a while.”

Paoa saw the large bruise on Daniel’s chest and asked, “Thrown rock?”

Daniel nodded.

Paoa carefully palpated the area. “You do know it’s broken, don’t you?”

“I might have guessed.”

Paoa pulled a wrapped up banana leaf from the bag slung around his neck and handed it to Daniel. “In this is some salve. Rub it on your chest twice a day. It will decrease your pain, and the bone will heal quicker.”

A few moments later Mahina began to rouse and opened her eyes. “Mother,” she asked as she looked up at Tavake, “is everyone all right?”

“Yes, my daughter. Your brothers are fine. Your father and I have been injured, but we are alive and that is what matters.”

Hotu Iti walked with his two sons over to his daughter and wife, smiled at all and announced, “Thanks to Dan-iel and Paoa, all of us will be fine.”

At that moment, Atamu and Rapahango arrived, both carrying bloodied spears. “Honorable ‘ariki mau,” Atamu proclaimed with pride, “the eastern warriors have been vanquished, and we are once again safe. I will increase the guard here until we are certain ‘Anakena is secure.”

Hotu Iti said, “That should have been done long before now.”

Atamu scowled at him but said nothing.

Paoa asked Atamu, “Have you heard the news about Hito?”

“No, how many has he killed this time?”

Paoa said, “Actually, it is Hito who has been killed — by Dan-iel.”

“What?” exclaimed Atamu. “It is not possible!”

“It is not only possible, it has happened,” Paoa said. “Dan-iel also rescued Mahina from his clutches. For years Hito has defeated your warriors. You should thank Dan-iel for what he has done.”

“I will never thank Dan-iel for anything. I would have killed Hito myself if I had the chance.”

Paoa cracked a wry smile. “Oh, I’m sure you would have.”

Atamu seethed and moved toward Paoa.

Daniel stepped between them and warned, “One more step and you’ll have to deal with me.”

Atamu started to raise his spear, then dropped it to his side. He spat at Daniel’s feet and said, “Another time, Dan-iel. Another time.” Then he and Rapahango walked away.

Five steps removed, Atamu turned around, glanced at Mahina and asked, “O great Hotu Iti. Is Mahina all right?”

“Yes, because of Dan-iel.”

Rage gathered on Atamu’s face before he once again turned away.

T
he days that followed were spent in recovery. Daniel’s main job during this difficult time was reconstructing the burned-out huts. While his chest hurt with every movement, he fought through the pain. Thankfully, the salve provided by Paoa helped.

Along with other coworkers, he replaced the framework above the rock foundation with native toromiro wood, while the thatch was placed in layers of reeds, grass and sugar cane husks. To his disappointment, the huts he was assigned to rebuild did not take him near the home of the ‘ariki mau.

In spite of the somber circumstances, every so often he heard the distant giggling of children. Once, when he rested for a moment, he gazed in the direction of the laughter. A large group of children were sitting cross-legged around a woman who seemed to be instructing them.

Mahina? Daniel wondered.

Daniel labored mightily for the hard-working Rapanui people, and he came to care for them more and more. He wished he could somehow save them from their upcoming travails.

The warriors had heightened their patrols, and regularly they would walk by with their spears, on watch for another attack. They kept a wide berth around Daniel, though, and he could sometimes hear them whisper in awe, “Look, there is Dan-iel. He killed Hito.”

Daniel smiled to himself. They were afraid of him, and the positive aspect of his newfound fame was that he was not harassed anymore. Daniel didn’t hear anything from Atamu, and he was glad for it.

At the end of three days of hard work, Daniel walked back to his new family’s hut. For their part, Pakia had continued to fish near their village, and, when he delivered his catch back home, Uka cooked it and served those working at ‘Anakena.

It was late in the evening, and all three were exhausted. They sat on the ground and quietly ate the meal Uka prepared: chicken, sugar cane and bananas. They had just finished their food when Daniel glanced over his shoulder and saw two people approaching from the east. As they neared, he recognized Hotu Iti and Mahina.

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.