فصل 17

17

The Lightning God

Enele dropped to one knee, then Adam and the rest of his men followed. “Elder Malakai,” Enele said. “It is my honor to see you again.” “Stand. Stand,” the elder said. “It is my great, great joy that you have come. I have prepared a meal for you. Come to my humble home and eat.” Enele picked up the bicycle and offered it to the elder, but he deferred. “I will walk with you, my friend. I don’t often take my bicycle. I’m too old for it. But I was told you had finally landed, and I didn’t want you to have to wait.” Enele smiled. “You are very kind.”

“How did you know we would be here?” Adam asked.

The old man looked at him but didn’t answer.

“So the Elgen are all gone,” Enele said.

“For the time being,” Malakai replied. He pointed to a grass hut fifty yards ahead of them. In the yard was a fire burning inside a ring of coral rocks. “That is my humble home.” Enele grimaced. “You once lived in a magnificent house,” he said. “Not so many years ago.” “An Elgen officer decided that he wanted it,” Malakai said.

“I am sorry,” Enele replied. “It is an injustice to be corrected.” Malakai just smiled. “It is only a house, a fleeting thing. I have a roof; it matters little.” The house was of typical Tuvaluan design—small with woven walls and a thatched roof. The men sat in the yard while a young woman brought out pi (drinking coconuts), lolo (taro leaf in coconut cream), and then fish wrapped in banana leaves.

After they finished eating, they went inside the small house. There was a long mat on the floor made of woven palm leaves.

“We will sit,” Malakai said. He spoke to the young woman. “My dear, bring us kaleve.” “You are very kind,” Enele said.

“It is still our way to be hospitable when a guest arrives.” “But you must have prepared for days.”

“I knew you and your men would be hungry when you arrived.” “Then perhaps you already know why I have come.” The elder nodded slowly. “I knew before the great flash.” “The great flash,” Enele repeated.

“Tell me your story,” Malakai said.

Enele wiped his mouth. “We escaped from Hades—I mean Niutao—with fifty of our people, then sailed to Nanumaga. We met little resistance from the Elgen. There we brought on five hundred more and confiscated four large Elgen ships.” “A wise plan.”

“Thank you. Next we sailed to Vaitupu and again took the island. We have filled our boats with weaponry and are ready to fight. I came to seek your counsel.” “Time is of the essence,” Zeel suddenly interjected. “It is time we liberated Funafuti. The Elgen are gathering from around the world as we—” Elder Malakai raised his hand and stopped him. “They have already gathered, my eager friend.” “The Elgen have been crippled,” Nazil said. “It’s time that we gather and fight.” The old man looked down for a moment. When he looked up, he said, “Kāfai e t ō te vaiua k ā ‘ siu t ātou.” He spoke in an ancient dialect unknown to any of the men except Enele.

“What did he say?” Zeel asked.

“He said, ‘When it rains, we shall get wet.’ ” “What does that mean?” Nazil said rudely. He looked at Malakai. “Elder, this is no time for cowardice. This is the time to fight, while our enemy is weak.” “Wisdom is not always cowardice. Boldness is not always courage. The evil man is not as weak as you think, my son. If you fight now, you will die, and then the evil man will have the land always. It is patience and wisdom that opens the blossom, not force. The time will come.” “What time?” Zeel asked.

“There will be a moment of opportunity,” Malakai said. “You will know when it comes. It is when he comes.” “When who comes?”

“The one the ancients spoke of. Uira te Atua.” Enele looked at him quizzically. “Uira te Atua?” “What does that mean?” Adam asked.

Enele turned to them. “The elder speaks of the lightning god.” Zeel looked angry. “This is no time for silly tradition.” He raised his fist. “It’s time for revolution!” “Yes. It is,” the old man said calmly. Then he was quiet for a very long time. “But not in the foolish manner you have planned.” “Foolish!” Zeel shouted. “This is ridiculous. We’re wasting valuable time. We need to go to war! Now!” “So eager to die, are you?” The old man looked at him with dark, steady eyes. “You want war? Fear not, you will have your fill of it. But don’t worry. You need not rush to it. It will come to you. All you can decide is where you shall meet it. But I warn you. If you meet it in the open sea, the water shall be your grave.” He looked at the other men. “Did I not warn the people that the Elgen would come?” “Yes, Elder,” Enele answered. “You did.”

“Did I not warn the people to not take the gift of electricity?” “Yes, Elder.”

“So now I tell you that someone will come to liberate us. Will you not believe me?” “Forgive our lack of faith, Elder,” Enele said.

“If you truly wish to be liberated in a means other than death, listen to me. The Elgen have already built their army from without. They have brought in soldiers from other nations to fight their war with us. They have brought in navy ships and cannons. If you meet them on the sea, then your demise is assured.” He turned to Zeel. “Funafuti is not as weak as you believe. If you go to Funafuti, you will all die. Then who will liberate our home?” “Where shall we go?” Enele asked. “Shall we wait here?” “No. Nui cannot be defended. You will go to Nukufetau, the island the evil ones call Plutus. There you will find a fortress that will, for a time, stand against the Elgen host.” “The great vault they are building,” Enele said. “For just a time?” “Yes. It will fall. All fortresses fall in time. But there will be enough time for Uira te Atua. He will come. He will deliver you. Then you will know that it is time to expel the evil one and liberate Funafuti.” “The lightning god,” Enele said again. “Are you sure?” “Most assuredly,” Malakai said. “I have seen him. I have spoken to him. When he is ready, he will come.”