Murder on Easter Island (17 page)

Too close . . .

Daniel was in for a restless night.

T
he glow of the sun was peeking over the eastern horizon. Daniel was up and excited to spend some time with Mahina. It was going to be a glorious day, perfect for a hike — with Mahina, yes, Mahina. He couldn’t get her out of his mind.

As Daniel hurried down the gentle incline and approached ‘Anakena, he found it bustling with activity. Smoke rose from earth ovens, men and women were up and about, and children were at play. The sight of Mahina, standing in front of her home waiting for him, warmed him to the core.

“Good morning, Mahina,” Daniel called out to her.

“Good morning, Dan-iel, are you ready for our three-day trip?”

“Three days?” Daniel said — surprised.

“Yes, three days. There are far too many wonderful places for you to see in just a day or two, so father said we could take three.”

“There’s nothing I would like more,” Daniel said as he reached her side. “But what about food and water?”

“Dan-iel,” she said with a smile, “do you not trust the daughter of the ‘ariki mau to think of such things? There are many natural springs along the way, and I know every one. We do not need to carry water. As for food, my people are most generous and will gladly share with us. But to be on the safe side, I will carry a bag with some chicken, bananas, and yams. We will have plenty to eat.”

“One more thing,” Daniel added, hesitating, “Pakia and Uka expect me back this evening.”

“Dan-iel,” Mahina said with an exasperated sigh, “must you worry about
everything? My brothers, Kai and Poki, have promised to visit their hut this afternoon and let them know you will be gone for more days.”

While Mahina spoke, Daniel was at long last able to look closely at her. He guessed she was in her early twenties and tall for a woman, perhaps five foot eight. Her body was a shapely slender to medium build, with her shoulder width closely matching that of her hips. Her Polynesian skin was a fetching light brown, and her soft dark hair hung to just below her shoulders.

She couldn’t have been more beautiful.

While Daniel was slowly becoming accustomed to all of the women being topless, Mahina was different — very different. Her breasts were perfectly formed and glistened in the morning sun as he looked at them.

“Dan-iel?” he heard someone say.

“Dan-iel?” Mahina repeated.

“Sorry,” Daniel said as shook himself from his reverie. “You were saying?”

Mahina looked quizzically at him.

Daniel couldn’t help but wonder if she knew what he was thinking.

“Let us be off,” she announced as she turned and walked toward the west.

“Where are we headed?” Daniel asked as he picked up his pace to keep up with her.

“First we will walk along the coastline, and then we will head inland to Akivi, where there are a number of interesting caves. We will spend the first night at my uncle’s home.”

“Caves?” asked Daniel, his curiosity piqued.

“Yes, caves. Our island has lots of them.”

“Are there some close to ‘Anakena?”

“In all directions,” Mahina said as she raised her arms and turned around in a circle.

He sighed, disappointed. How am I ever going to find my way back home? he wondered.

Oh, well, he figured, now was now, and as he looked at Mahina, he realized there was no place
or
time in the Universe he’d rather be. He smiled at her as they walked across the pristine beach of ‘Anakena, leaving behind the solitary moai standing on its ahu, which, thanks to Daniel, was still standing.

They walked for hours in silence along the rocky coastline. They came across scattered groupings of huts, but much of the time the two were alone. Mostly they walked side by side, but when Mahina walked ahead of him he was able to examine her only tattoo — positioned between her shoulder blades.

A number of the Rapanui had tattoos. Many fell short of being an art form, but Mahina’s was tasteful. It was white, circular, about three inches in diameter and appeared to be a near perfect representation of the full moon. The detail was astonishing, showing the dark and light portions and many well-defined craters. Daniel knew Mahina meant “moon” in Rapanui, and seeing it move up and down before him as she walked along gave him great joy.

When they reached the northernmost part of the island, Mahina paused and sat on a large rock facing the ocean. Daniel settled down on one beside her. She pulled some bananas from her shoulder bag and handed one to him.

Mahina looked out over the ocean. “Tell me about your home, where you lived before you came here.”

“My home is called Oklahoma,” he replied, thinking it was wonderful it was to hear that word spoken in this time and place.

“I have never heard of it.”

Daniel pointed to the northeast. “It lies in that direction, far across the ocean.”

“Is your ocean as beautiful as ours?”

“Oklahoma has no ocean; it is surrounded by land.”

“No ocean?” A puzzled look came across her face. “What do you mean, no ocean? Everyone has an ocean.”

“Oklahoma doesn’t.”

“The ocean is our mother,” Mahina explained. “She feeds us with her fish and cools us with her wind when the days are hot. And if you sit at her shore, close your eyes and breathe, she fills you with peace. I can’t imagine no ocean. It must be awful!”

“It’s really not that bad. In Oklahoma, we also have a mother, and she is the rolling hills and plains. Mostly it is very flat there.”

“Flat? How is that possible?”

“It is possible,” Daniel said. “So flat, that when the sun is setting, you can see far, far away.”

“Like when the sun is being swallowed up by the ocean and the light shows everything floating upon it?”

“Exactly.”

Mahina asked, “Do you have chickens in Oklahoma?”

“Yes, and many other different animals.” Mahina’s eyebrows rose in curiosity.

Daniel grinned at her reaction and said, “In the past, our plains were once inhabited with large herds of buffalo —”

“Buffalo?” she interrupted. “What is that?”

“It’s a large furry animal with a big head and horns. Here, let me show you.” He grabbed a nearby stick and scratched out an outline in the dirt. “Unfortunately, they were nearly wiped out by hunters, and only a few small herds remain. In the past, this animal was very important to my ancestors for food and clothing.”

“What do you do in Ok-la-ho-ma?” she abruptly asked.

“I catch those who do wrong and bring them to justice.”

Mahina looked troubled — a long silence followed. When she spoke, she said, “Dan-iel, I have heard that you killed many in the battle at ‘Anakena, including Hito.”

“That is true.”

Mahina asked, “In your work, have you ever killed anyone?”

“No.”

“What was it like to kill other humans?”

Daniel thought for a moment. When he spoke, he fashioned his words carefully. “Killing anyone is wrong. But there comes a time when it is necessary. I had to be a warrior and put aside any other feelings — I couldn’t think that they had families and others who love them. I knew if I did not kill them, they would kill me. If I were killed, then my people would be harmed.”

“Do you consider us to be your people, even though you are from far away?”

“As strange as it may sound, more and more so.”

“What you say pleases me, Dan-iel. I must also share that I am grateful for your actions. Because of what you did, I am still here with my family. As for me, I could never take the life of another person.”

“I understand.”

“Enough talk. If we wish to see the caves before it gets dark, we must go now.”

They both stood and swiftly walked along an ill-defined trail inland. Like his grandpa, Daniel had a strong sense of direction and knew they were headed to the southeast. He kept his eyes open for anyone who might be watching them. Still, it didn’t matter; Daniel suspected the killer was fully aware of their every step.

After an evening meal of baked chicken and yams, Daniel lay outside of the hut of Mahina’s uncle and aunt, Moaha and Kiri. They had eight children and had only enough space for Mahina. It was okay with Daniel, though; he needed time by himself to think.

As he lay on the cold ground outside the hut with his head resting on yet another strangely comfortable stone pillow, he thought about the caves they had explored earlier that day. Several went deep into the mountain, and in many ways they were similar to the time cave. If he happened to find a cave near ‘Anakena, how would he
know it was the right one? And if and when he was able to ID the killer, what would he do then? How would he bring him to justice?

There were too many questions — and not enough answers.

D
aniel and Mahina were on the trail at dawn, headed in a southwesterly direction. Mahina had assured him that if they didn’t leave before everyone else arose, they could be stuck there for a lengthy time. Her relatives seemed to have all sorts of questions about Daniel, and the longer they stayed, the worse it would get.

“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.