Sister of the Sun (28 page)

As she tried to interest herself in the dancers, Tepua kept asking herself what lay behind Cone-shell's smug expression. Her thoughts began to wander, her eyelids feeling dry and heavy. The brief sleep at dawn was all she had gotten this day. Now she wondered how she would keep her wits keen for the discussions that would come later. Cone-shell had presented his gifts. He would ask for something in return.
 

The afternoon passed slowly as she watched the performers. Several times Tepua's head slumped forward and she woke with a start from momentary sleep. Then the food arrived from the ovens and Cone-shell demonstrated his prodigious appetite.
 

At last the moment came for the other guests to disperse, leaving Tepua and Varoa's chief alone in the place of honor at the edge of the assembly ground. She sat on her high stool, and he, facing her, on his lesser seat. Under the long shadows, guards looked on, but they stood well out of earshot.
 

"It is good," Cone-shell began, "that we have found a way to resolve our differences."

She agreed, watching him closely, trying to read his thoughts. He had exhausted all light conversation. Soon he would reveal his desires.
 

"I have heard nothing from you about the foreign goods," he said in a casual tone.

"That is because nothing has changed."

His tone hardened."You said you needed time to learn to speak with the outsiders. By now, you certainly must know enough about them and their things."
 

"I do not know enough yet. The tools are sharp, as you have seen. With a foreign chopper, a man can cut down a tree far too easily. Think what that would mean in war." Tepua thought she had reason for concern. In fighting between islands, a common tactic was to destroy food trees of the enemy. Such attacks would prove even more cruel and wasteful if warriors had the new implements.
 

"Yet," Cone-shell countered, "Paruru encourages his new brother to use foreign tools. I hear that the red-haired one is building a canoe. The work moves quickly."
 

Tepua tried to conceal her surprise at that news. She had let Paruru keep the chopper, but had not guessed how he would put it to use. "Nika can handle that tool without getting hurt. And I am certain that he is well supervised in his work."
 

"I, too, could have the benefit of such tools, if I had someone like Nika to use them...." Cone-shell's voice trailed off, and Tepua felt as if someone had aimed a blow at her stomach. It was all too clear now where Cone-shell was heading. With her wits dulled from lack of sleep, she had given him the opening he needed.
 

"Cone-shell, are you short of canoes?" she replied. "I always thought that Varoa had more craftsmen than any other clan."

"Think about trade! Do you know how much those lazy Tahitians will give for a
pahi
, even a leaky one? Think about pork! And rolls of bleached bark-cloth."
 

Tepua knew that canoes were sometimes sent to Tahiti in exchange for high-island goods. Cone-shell certainly had a weakness for such things. "It is possible that Faka-ora will release a chopper to you," she offered. "But do not blame me if your craftsman slices off his fingers."
 

"Would Kiore slice off his fingers? Do you mean that the outsider cannot handle his own chopper?" As she stared at Cone-shell he leaned forward and laughed.
 

It was not his joke that so amused him, she thought. Her expression had given her away. "What are you saying about Kiore?"

"Tepua, let us not circle each other forever. What I ask of you is no more than you have given Paruru, who is not even a chief. He has adopted Nika into his clan. Let me take Kiore. What could be more reasonable?"
 

I am not ready to give him up
! She held herself back from shouting those words. "Nika went willingly. Paruru was already his friend. Kiore knows nothing of Varoa Clan. He would be a stranger there."
 

"We will make him welcome."

"What are you thinking? Kiore is not a child, and he is surely no kin to me. I do not have the right to give him away."

"You are the high chief. You will find a way." He stretched out his legs and paused, a derisive smile forming at the edge of his mouth. "You will do this because you need something from me."
 

Tepua answered coldly. "You have already given me all I want. Ask for whatever foreign goods you wish, and I will try to oblige you in return."
 

"I want more than goods, Tepua-ariki. Listen to what I tell you now. Soon after Paruru made Nika his brother the two of them brought me a turtle."
 

"Paruru gave you a peace offering in my name. Why should that worry me?''

He seemed taken aback when she answered so easily. Had he thought that she knew nothing of this? Tepua did not reveal that Paruru's explanation had struck her as odd.
 

Cone-shell drew in his legs and sat upright, glaring at her from beneath his heavy brows. His jovial mood was gone. Now she saw the fierce fighter who had long ago won renown in battle. "Since the day of that turtle feast," he said, "the waters off Varoa's shore have been troubled. When the tide is changing, the current suddenly becomes wild and unpredictable. Two canoes have been wrecked on patch reefs, and several others have come close."
 

She felt Cone-shell eyeing her, measuring her reaction. He continued, "My priests blame these incidents on the turtle offering. The spirits were angered by it. Fortunately, only one priest knows the reason for this anger."
 

"Fortunately?"

"Yes. I have told only Raha, and he knows how to keep a secret."

Raha
! She wanted nothing to do with Cone-shell's unpleasant brother. She felt an urge to flee, to refuse to listen to what Cone-shell was about to say. Umia had warned her about Nika....
 

"I know the cause of our problems," said Varoa's chief harshly. "After the turtle feast, a frightened fisherman came to me, His teeth were chattering so that he could barely speak." Cone-shell paused as if savoring the words he was about to say. "The fisherman had seen Nika attacking a turtle with a long spear. Nika alone. Paruru's story of the capture was full of lies."
 

"Fisherman ..."

"If you doubt me, I will bring the one who saw this, and let you question him."

Tepua was too stunned to reply. Paruru's explanation had seemed contorted; his mood had been uneasy, his words evasive. Since telling her of the gift to Cone-shell, Paruru had taken pains to avoid her.
 

Now she could not help believing that Cone-shell's version was true. Why else would Paruru be acting as if he had committed a misdeed? The outsider had erred and his new brother had tried to hide the mistake....
 

"So you see how I can assist you," Cone-shell continued. "The offense to the gods must be wiped clean. Raha is willing to take care of that, at a private ceremony. No one else need know. But if I let the news out, then what do you think will happen to your foreign guests? Every priest on the atoll will demand an end to them before they do even more damage."
 

"No!" She felt weak, dizzy, exhausted by his onslaught.

"Then you agree."

"What will happen," she asked hoarsely, "if your own people find out about that turtle? You were the one who accepted it. Your priests made the offerings. If the gods are offended, then you must share the blame."
 

"Yes," said Cone-shell, "I will suffer for a time. It will cost us both if we do not settle this."

"Then maybe you are bluffing, like the strutting warrior who hopes to spare himself a fight."

"Do you wish to try me?"

She closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her strength. At last she understood why Cone-shell had come. He could take anything he wanted from her now, even Kiore. "It is easy to frighten people with words," she answered. "How do I know that Raha can appease the gods? Let him try. If he succeeds, then you and I will have something to discuss."
 

Cone-shell's mouth formed an ugly grin. "If he succeeds, then you will give me what I want."

She thought of a parrot fish thrashing inside a trap. There was an escape, but the fish could never find it. "Tell Raha to get ready," she answered hoarsely.
 

 

Tepua knew that she must sleep before confronting Paruru. If she spoke to him now, tired and angry as she was, she might open a rift between them that could never be closed.
 

She went to her mat and lay down, but sleep seemed far off. Her stomach felt hot and tight, still full from the feast. She wished that she had eaten less. She also wished that she had somehow foreseen what would happen with the chief of Varoa.
 

How foolish she had been to let herself care for the foreigner. How foolish to take the comfort and happiness that Kiore gave—only to lose him to Cone-shell.
 

In the morning she walked across the island, coming out of the forest above the windy seaward beach. It was here that Paruru could usually be found with his lookouts.
 

"
Maeva ariki
!'' he called to her from his spot beneath the palms. His face appeared haggard, his eyes without luster. "The sea is empty this morning," he reported. "No sign of raiders."
 

She paused and frowned. "You sound as if you expect an attack."

"Another trader has seen Pu-tahi canoes...within one day's sail."

"I keep hearing such reports," she answered impatiently. "If Pu-tahi are planning to attack us, they seem in no hurry."

"I cannot explain that,
ariki
. But I promise you they will not creep up on us this time."
 

"Then I must tell you something else." She glanced up at the swaying palms to make sure that the sentries were out of earshot. "Cone-shell has talked to me," she whispered harshly. "He knows the truth about the turtle you gave him—how Nika killed it. He found out too late, after it was eaten!"
 

Paruru paled as he took in her words. He gripped his spear and sagged against it the way an old man leaned on a walking stick. "
Ariki
, forgive me," he whispered. "I was afraid of what might happen. The turtle had to be properly offered at a
marae.
I saw no other way." His face contorted as he struggled to express himself. "I do not know if the gods are angry. There have been signs—"
 

"The priests have not said what the signs mean," she answered hotly. "But we dare not leave this unfinished. Cone-shell's brother will make amends for us, and the cost will be high. Cone-shell is demanding Kiore."
 

Paruru's eyes widened.

"Cone-shell wants to take him away. Perhaps you will welcome that news."

"
Ariki
, I was trying to protect the foreigners—"
 

"But there have been too many mistakes. From mat first night, when women went to their boat—"

Suddenly Paruru threw down his spear. "Then choose another
kaito-nui
. I served your father, but he is gone and my obligation is done. I tried to please you, but I have failed."
 

Tepua had not expected this response. How easy it would be to take him at his word.

But no. It was not possible to deprive him of his rank. Not now, when questions would be asked on every side. "Paruru, pick up your spear," she said firmly. "You are still my
kaito-nui.
"
 

"But I am in disgrace."

"Then you must redeem yourself. Put Sea-snake in charge here for a short while."

"He is able. But—"

"Then take Nika to Varoa's priest. Let Raha make amends for the sins you both committed. I will try to forget what has happened."

Paruru paused, narrowing his eyes. "You are too forgiving,
ariki
," he answered at last. "You have given me a way to save my brother as well as myself. I do not know how to repay this kindness."
 

Her throat felt tight. She swallowed, trying to hold back her anguish. "When you go to Varoa Clan, try to persuade Umia to visit me again."
 

"I will try."

"And one more request. Think about this. Cone-shell expects to get a share of the foreign goods through Kiore. If the goods disappear, then Kiore won't do him any good."
 

"Disappear? How?" The warrior raised his eyebrows. "Ah, I see. Perhaps the priests can help. I will speak with Faka-ora when I come back."
 

"With aid from your men, I'm sure the priests can arrange it." As she turned away from her
kaito-nui
she wondered why she still trusted him. Perhaps because they had one wish in common—to keep Cone-shell from seizing her chiefhood. If that threat ended, she could not say what Paruru would do.
 

 

A short time later Tepua walked with Maukiri to a sandy point of land, a preserve of the chief of Ahiku Clan. Tepua stopped where she could sit beneath the dangling needles of an ironwood tree. Maukiri sprawled on her stomach and toyed listlessly with a pile of clamshells.
 

Tepua knew the cause of her cousin's sullen mood. "I have happy news for you," Tepua said. "Paruru is going back to Piho Clan. When he returns here, he will bring his new brother."
 

Maukiri glanced up warily, as if afraid that Tepua might retract her words.

"He told me that Nika is eager to see you,'' Tepua added.

"Eager? Why, when he has Piho women wherever he turns?"

"Not so many as you think. Most of the pretty ones are close kin to Paruru. Nika can only rub noses with them."

Maukiri began to smile. "I had not thought of that, cousin. He must be wishing now that he had not accepted Paruru's offer!" She tossed the clamshells aside and rolled over onto her back. "I'll find ways to keep Nika from wanting to go back to Piho Clan."