فصل 4

4

The Bati Kadi

It was shortly before noon when Enele’s three boats sailed nearly due west for Nanumaga—the diamond-shaped Tuvaluan island that Hatch had renamed Demeter, for the Greek god of agriculture.

Demeter island was nearly the same size as Hades, but the similarities stopped there. Hades had been a vast, ugly wasteland even before the battle. At Hatch’s command, the Elgen had slashed and burned their way through the once beautiful island, stripping it of its foliage, making it more difficult for prisoners to escape or hide. The uglifying of the island had another effect that worked well with the Elgen’s plans. It made the island look like death. The Tuvaluans said of Hades, “No one ever comes back.” Demeter was the opposite of Hades—it was a lush, tropical paradise abundant with vegetation and farming. Originally, the Tuvaluans grew only a few crops on the island: copra, coconuts, and breadfruit, all largely for export. But the Elgen had interest only in their own self-sufficiency, so they now grew only what they needed and consumed: tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, cabbage, eggplant, arugula, strawberries, taro, and, at Hatch’s request, jalapeños.

Demeter was sixty-two nautical miles from Hades, which took the small boats almost three hours to traverse. With Enele in the lead boat, the small Tuvaluan force landed on the island’s northern shore beneath the inland cover of a partially submerged mangrove forest. They hid their boats among the trees, taking only the weapons they could use, and then made their way, on foot, to the labor camps where the Elgen had forced their families and friends into slavery.

The Elgen had realized that one of the advantages of operating on a small island was that there was no need to build fences to keep the workers in. Without boats, there was no escaping, and the only fences were those around the Elgen compound, for protection in case of a slave uprising, and the fences around the Tuvaluan sleeping quarters, to keep the slaves under control at night.

In addition, the workers had all been injected with RFIDs, radio-frequency identification, technology that the Elgen had mastered when their headquarters were still located in California. By tagging each of the slaves, the Elgen could not only track their movements, but even monitor how much work each person accomplished or not, and punish them accordingly.

The force stopped when they reached the edge of the forest. Before them lay acres of crops tended by hundreds of Tuvaluans. It made Enele angry to see the condition his fellow Tuvaluans were in. Their clothes were dirty and torn, some barely covering the emaciated bodies that wore them. The Elgen fed them little, making the threat of withholding food a severe punishment if not a death sentence.

“Look at them,” Zeel said. “I will kill the first Elgen I see.” “I don’t see any Elgen,” Enele said. He turned back. “Nazil?” “None.”

“They may be watching their slaves from cameras,” Enele said. “They love cameras.” He turned to the men. “I will take just two with me, Adam and Raphe. Divide the rest of our people into two groups. Nazil, take your group to the south side of the field and work your way through, gathering soldiers as you go. Zeel, you keep your group hidden here. If the Elgen attack, they will not suspect a hidden force, and you can attack them from behind. Understood?” “Yes,” Nazil said. “But what will you and the two young men do?” “We will be the Bati Kadi.”

Zeel and Nazil both nodded. Bati Kadi, meaning “the pinchers of the black ant,” were the ninjas of the South Pacific, stealthy warriors who infiltrated the enemy line to slay their unsuspecting foes.

“We’ll sneak into the Elgen’s headquarters and take them by surprise.” “Why don’t you take more men against the compound?” Zeel asked. “It is their most fortified place.” “That is why, Zeel. It is their most fortified place and far too powerful to attack with as few men as we have. But a mouse may enter where a lion cannot.” Enele leaned over and strapped a holster around his leg, instructing his two new companions to do the same.

The two men Enele had selected were brothers, Adam and Raphe Sopoaga. Enele had met the brothers in prison on Hades, where they had been sent for beating up an Elgen guard who had tased an elderly Tuvaluan woman for the amusement of it. Enele had gotten especially close to Adam, who was the younger of the two brothers, but more outspoken in his passion for liberty. They were young and nimble, traits more important than size when playing the role of Bati Kadi. But even more important, both of them had spent time working as slaves on the island before being sent to Hades. Adam had even been inside the compound before being transferred off the island.

“If we do not return,” Enele said, “you will lead your new soldiers back to our boats and arm all you can. Then you will attack the Elgen compound. After you have defeated them, take their weapons, reclaim the rest of the weapons from the boats, and then take their boats and sail to Vaitupu for weapons. Free our country.” “Yes, Enele,” Nazil said. “But let us hope that you return.” “That is my hope as well.” Enele saluted them. “Go with strength.” “Go with strength,” they echoed.

The soldiers separated. Enele and the brothers moved quickly north through thick foliage toward the Elgen’s compound. Enele hoped that Hatch had depleted his Demeter forces in his attack on Hades, but he didn’t count on it. When they reached the edge of the compound, Enele crawled beneath a bush to get a better look at what they were facing. He didn’t like what he saw. Getting into the compound undetected seemed nearly impossible. The compound was completely fenced in, and the Elgen had motion detectors and cameras mounted almost every twenty yards. Still, surprisingly, they could see no guards in the watchtowers or patrolling the grounds.

“There are more secluded places near the back,” Adam said. “Follow me.” As they circled back around the compound, Raphe spotted what looked to be a weakness in the compound’s security. At the far back side of the building, dark in shade, a giant dakua tree limb partially extended over the barbed fence. The windows facing out toward the tree were frosted or covered with blinds as well as metal bars.

The guard compound hadn’t been built by the Elgen. It had originally been the island’s sole school building, but the Elgen had added the fence and security, along with other adaptations. The fact that the tree limb was still there seemed to be a huge oversight, a sign of Elgen arrogance, or a trap. Raphe inspected the tree to see if there were any wires attached but found nothing out of the ordinary.

“Maybe there are land mines in the yard,” Adam said.

“Perhaps,” Enele replied. “Just a moment.” He walked a little way into the forest and came back with his arms full of large green coconuts.

“Keep back.”

One at a time he lobbed the coconuts over the fence, and each landed on the leaf-strewn ground beneath the limb. Nothing happened.

After tossing the last one, Enele said, “I think we’re good.” He checked once more to make sure no one was watching. Then one by one they shimmied up the tree and across the bridging tree limb, dropping about eight feet to the ground below. They ran up against the side of the building then, crouched down, and drew their handguns, before cautiously making their way to the first door they could see. It was a heavy iron door with a vertical, mesh-reinforced Plexiglas window not three inches wide. Not surprisingly, the door was locked.

“We need to go in through the front,” Adam said. “I’ll go first.” “We’ll go together,” Enele said.

Using the surrounding foliage for cover, the three stole quietly around the side of the building to the front door. There was a long row of windows covered with bars, and video cameras panning along the front walkway into the building. But there was still no sign of Elgen anywhere.

Enele crawled up to the first window and peeked inside through the partially drawn blinds. He could see several desks, but none of them were occupied. He pulled his gun into his chest and turned back to the others and waved them on. They crawled under the windows to the front door, then stood, hidden behind a brick frame.

Enele pointed at the door, counted down from three with his fingers, and then threw the door open. Adam and Raphe stormed inside, their arms outstretched with their guns, prepared for battle.

Nothing.

Enele stepped inside, looking around with caution. They walked across the open lobby to an office, looked inside, then went in, crouching behind the door.

“Where is everyone?” Raphe asked.

Adam shook his head. “I don’t like this.”

“I like it more than a building full of Elgen,” Enele said. He slowly opened the door, then turned back. “Can you smell that?” Raphe nodded. “Coffee.”

“Someone’s here.”

“Maybe they’re in a meeting,” Adam said.

“I wish I had a grenade,” Raphe said. “Finish them all at once.” “I’m sure they have grenades,” Enele said, “if we can find their armory. Do you know where it is?” “I never got that far,” Adam said.

“Let’s keep looking.”

The three of them felt as if they were walking through an abandoned building. But it clearly wasn’t. In addition to the smell of coffee, they could faintly hear rock music playing from some distant room.

“Music,” whispered Adam, pointing toward a long corridor. Just then an electric camera panned toward them.

“Hide!” Enele said, pushing Adam back through a doorway into another empty office.

“I think we were too late,” Adam said. “If anyone’s watching the control panels, we were just seen.” They waited a moment for a reaction—any reaction—an alarm or a siren, a PA announcement, the crash of Elgen boots. Nothing came.

“This is weird,” Raphe said.

“Very,” Enele replied.

“Maybe they’re all out in the fields,” Adam said.

As they crept farther down the hall, the music grew louder. Then Enele looked down a darkened stairwell and pointed his gun. The music was coming from downstairs. He turned back to Adam, who nodded. All three of them slowly walked down the stairs, their guns extended, with Raphe covering their backs.

When they got to the bottom of the stairs, Enele looked both ways, then walked toward the music, which seemed to be coming from a room nearly halfway down the corridor.

As they got closer, they could hear low voices coming from behind the door. Enele looked at the other two, making a gesture toward the room. They both lifted their guns. Enele slowly turned the doorknob, looked back at the other two, who nodded, and then threw open the door, stepping inside with his gun ready to fire. “Hands in the air!” In front of him were three Elgen guards sitting at a table playing poker. They looked over at him in surprise, but no one raised their hands or made a move toward their guns or weapons. In fact, there weren’t any weapons visible. None of the men were dressed in regulation uniforms, rather they were in various stages of undress. Only one of them had shoes, two wore only wrinkled pants and T-shirts, and the third’s shirt was unbuttoned and he wore exercise shorts with black Elgen socks.

The table they sat at was littered with cans of beer, and there was a nearly empty bottle of vodka.

“Put your hands in the air,” Enele repeated.

One of the guards threw down his cards angrily, then raised his hands. His voice was slightly slurred. “Just when I finally get a winning hand. Look at that, a straight flush.” Adam and Raphe moved in on opposite sides of the table.

“One move, and we open fire,” Enele said.

“Calm down. No one’s goin’ anywhere,” the largest of the guards said in a thick Australian accent. He turned to one of the others. “I told you to lock the front door. That could have been a Zone Cap’n comin’ ‘stead o’ this brown skin.” “I did lock the door,” the other returned.

“No, he didn’t,” Raphe said.

“Where are the others?” Enele asked.

“They all went off to war and never came back.”

“Who’s watching the workers?”

“They don’t need watchin’, mate. Once you get it into someone’s mind they’re a slave, they act the part. Like sheep herd’n’. One man can drive a thousan’.” “You,” Enele said. “Stand up, hands on your head.”

The man stood.

“Raphe, check him for weapons.”

“I got none.”

Raphe patted him down. “Nothing.”

Oddly, the man in the gym shorts still had his utility belt.

“Take that,” Enele said to Raphe. “And handcuff him.” Raphe took the man’s utility belt, then handcuffed him and pulled him aside.

“Now you two, on your stomachs. Hands behind your back.” The other two men got on their knees, then stomachs. Adam handcuffed them. Then he cut a nylon cord from the blinds and tied their feet together. He took the extra cord, hooked it around their feet, and lifted them up, tying one’s legs to a sink faucet, the other to a refrigerator handle, raising them on an incline so their weight was mostly pressing on their chest and face.

“This ain’t the most comfortable,” the smaller of the guards said.

“Would you like a pillow?” Raphe asked.

“Be mighty decent of you,” he replied.

Raphe slapped the guard on the back of his head. “You’re as stupid as you are ugly.” Enele approached the man still standing. “Who’s in charge here?” “I am.”

“What’s your position?”

“Commandant.”

“That’s your new name, Elgen. Commandant. Take us to the main control room, where you keep the surveillance.” “No problem, mate.”

“I’m not your mate. Where’s the rest of your men?”

“You just tied them up.”

“The rest of them.”

“That is them.”

“How many are outside?”

“None, I told you. It’s only us.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“I’m tellin’ the truth, mate. Do you think we’d be dressed like this if there were others around to report us? Hatch picked the bone clean for his last escapade. We expected them back by now.” Enele put the barrel of his gun to the back of the commandant’s head. “If you’re lying, if I see one other Elgen, I pull the trigger. No explanations, just lead through your head. Care to change your story?” “No. You won’t find another guard outside this building. Not unless they just landed.” “You should hope they didn’t,” Enele said.

They walked behind the commandant out of the room, and Adam shut the door behind them. With his last stretch of nylon cord, he tied a grenade to the door handle, then looped the end around a fire alarm, then brought it back, tying it to the grenade’s pin.

“What are you doing?” Enele asked.

“They open the door, it blows up.”

“Where’d you learn to do that?” Raphe asked.

“The telly,” Adam said. “MacGyver.”

“You totally MacGyvered it,” Raphe replied. “Love that show.” In spite of the commandant’s assurance, or partially because of it, Enele expected more guards. They walked back up the stairs using the commandant as a shield, but still encountered no one else. The commandant led them down the hall to the surveillance room. The room was fairly small but had more than three dozen video monitors. The surveillance room was empty.

They could pretty much see everything on the island, including Nazil leading several hundred natives to the compound. They could also see the compound’s entire circumference. Had anyone been paying attention to the monitors, Enele and the boys would have been captured or killed long before they’d made it to the building.

“How did the battle of Hades go?” the commandant asked.

Without looking back, Enele said, “You lost.”

“Crikey,” he said. “Four thousand men against a dozen of them electric kids?” “And us,” Enele said. “But yes.” Enele could see Nazil creeping through the fields, rounding up the Tuvaluan workers. Although he looked as if an Elgen attack were imminent, there were no Elgen visible on any monitor.

“Is there a PA system?” Enele asked.

“It’s those buttons right there next to the microphone. Push them all down, that will get you to the whole island.” Enele sat down in front of the microphone and pushed down the row of buttons. They all lit.

“Fellow Tuvaluans, this is Enele Saluni, grandson of Prime Minister Saluni. We have taken this island. It is time for us to fight for our freedom. Do not be afraid. Nazil, Zeel, there appear to be no guards outside the compound. Bring everyone to the Elgen compound.” Enele turned to the commandant. “Where are your weapons?” “What are you going to do with me?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“If you’re going to kill me anyway, I’ve no reason to cooperate. Just get on with it.” “I’m not going to kill you.”

The commandant looked at Enele skeptically. “You promise on your ancestors’ souls?” Enele thought it an odd thing for him to say but went along with it. “I promise.” “All right, then. One thing I know about you people, when it comes to your ancestors, you Toovoos keep your promises. The weapons locker is down at the end of this hallway, and there’s a full armory downstairs at the end of the corridor where you found us. You’ll need my fingerprint to open it.” They first went down to the weapons locker. It held about twenty rifles, utility belts with radios, and grenades and ammunition. Enele, Adam, and Raphe put on utility belts, then upgraded their handguns to automatic weapons. “Nazil and Zeel are likely close by now,” Enele said. He turned to the commandant. “How do we open the front gate?” “There’s a switch in the guard booth. Says ‘open.’ Can’t miss it.” “Raphe,” Enele said, handing him two radios. “Go open the compound gate. Give Nazil one of the radios and tell him to gather everyone together so we can arm them. Adam and I are going down to check the armory. Keep your radio on. I’ll meet you out front.” “Yes, sir,” Raphe said, running off down the hall.

As Enele, Adam, and the commandant started back downstairs, there was a sudden grenade explosion. “I guess they got themselves untied,” Adam said. “Should have done as they were told.” The commandant led them past the still-smoking room to the other end of the corridor. The armory was a large, broad room almost identical to the armory on Hades, with all walls lined with weapons.

“We can use all that,” Enele said.

“Like candy,” Adam said.

Just then Enele’s radio chirped. “Enele, this is Nazil. Can you hear me?” Enele lifted his radio. “I’m here.”

“I’m coming inside; we’ve got a problem.”

“I’ll be right up.” He turned back. “Come on, Commandant. Let’s get back up.” By the time they returned upstairs, Nazil had already entered the building with five of his original men. The grounds outside the building were crowded with more than six hundred native Tuvaluans, men and women, who had worked the fields.

“What’s the problem?” Enele asked.

“They won’t fight.”

“What do you mean they won’t fight?”

Nazil’s face tightened. “They are cowards. They refuse to fight the Elgen.” “I’ll talk to them,” Enele said.

“Just a minute,” Adam said. He ran back downstairs, returning with a bullhorn. “You’ll need this.” Enele took the bullhorn, then walked outside, followed by the others. He lifted the bullhorn to his mouth. “Fellow Tuvaluans. The time has come for us to fight for our freedom and reclaim our country from the Elgen enemy. Now may be our only chance. What say you?” No one answered. Then a young woman stepped to the front of the group. “You do not order us. We will not fight. Tuvaluan people are peaceful. We do not murder. We do not shed blood.” “What do you know of the shedding of blood?” Enele said. He looked at her carefully. Enele knew many of the people in front of him but not this woman. “Who are you?” The woman looked at him proudly, her chin up, her arms crossed at her chest. “I am Tabisha. And these people listen to me.” “Where are you from, Tabisha?”

“I am a Tuvaluan citizen, if that’s what you’re getting at. I was born in Niulakita. But I was educated in Melbourne. I had just returned a year earlier when the Elgen came.” Enele looked at her suspiciously. “Tabisha, why do you seem . . . better fed than the others?” Her eyes narrowed. “We will not follow you.”

Enele again lifted the bullhorn. “Tabisha is right. Tuvaluan people are peaceful people. We do not provoke war. But neither do we accept the peace of slavery.” “We don’t carry guns!” Tabisha shouted to the people, shaking her fists above her head. “If we act in violence, we are no better than them. We are only lowering ourselves to their level.” “Lowering ourselves?” Enele said. “How much lower can you fall than slaves?” Enele looked at them with disgust. “What has become of you? Fools. You won’t carry arms? Then you’ll carry chains, and so will your children and grandchildren. That is the future and legacy you leave them. As for me, I will fight for my freedom and my future children’s freedom. And, though you don’t deserve it, I will fight for yours as well. Even if I must fight alone. But make no mistake. If you get in my way, I will treat you as the enemy.” He turned to walk away.

Then someone shouted, “I’ll fight with you!” A young man standing near the front of the group turned and looked back at the others. “Do you not remember what the Elgen did to us? To our elders? Our families? I’m not a coward. I’d rather lie in a grave than bend as a slave. Enele Saluni is right. You used to be men. You used to defend your women; now you hide behind their skirts. Go back to working your fields and to your hunger and fear, you cowards! You, with the hearts of slaves, you belong in the fields. Go back to kissing the Elgen feet.” He walked toward Enele. “I will fight with Enele. And, if need be, I will die with Enele.” “As will I,” another man shouted.

Then two other women came forward. “We’re with Enele.” Then an older woman shouted, “Tabisha is with the Elgen! Last week I saw her with one of the guards behind the compound. They were drinking wine. . . .” “She’s lying!” Tabisha said. “That’s not true. I’ve made life easier for all of us.” “Our life is easier?” the woman said. “Easier than what? You’ve made it easier for yourself.” An elderly woman next to her crossed her arms. “Where were you the night before last, Tabisha? I waited for you. You know we are not allowed to leave our cages after dark. And yet, somehow you always do and somehow you are never punished. Where do you go?” Tabisha looked around fearfully. “Who are you going to believe? I have attended the University of Melbourne. I have two degrees. I am educated; these common people are not.” “Common!” a man shouted. “A college education does not make one wise; it just fills your head with others’ voices.” His voice lowered. “I have often wondered why it is the Elgen don’t whip you when you stand around while we sweat.” “She’s an educated fool,” shouted a man.

“She’s a traitor,” someone else shouted. “She’s with the Elgen!” “She is an Elgen!”

Tabisha looked at the angry crowd gathering around, then suddenly ran off.

“Let her go,” Enele said. “She can’t do us any harm.” He looked at the young man who had started the small revolution. “What is your name?” “Niko. I am the grandson of Malakani and Tevita, who have passed.” Enele nodded. “I knew your grandparents. They would be proud of you.” “Thank you, but I am not seeking honor, just freedom.” “Which is why you deserve honor. Thank you for bringing these people to their senses.” “How may I help?”

“I will need your help organizing these people. Do you know how many boats we have?” “Right now there are four large shipping vessels docked.” “How many people will they fit?”

“They are all different, but more than a hundred each. One will hold more than two hundred.” “Are any of them military ships?”

“No. They are used for shipping food to the other islands.” “That’s okay,” Enele said. “If there is still an army of Elgen on Vaitupu, it’s best they only see the arrival of a shipping boat. That will not cause suspicion. Who do we have who can pilot the boat?” “We have many skilled boat captains. The best are Pita, Daniel, Jimi, Noa, and Pio.” “Zeel, go with those five and whomever they choose to prepare the boats. Nazil, arrange the people who are willing to fight so we can arm them. Take as many soldiers as you need and retrieve our weapons from the boats.” “Yes, sir.”

“Adam, gather fifty to help us distribute the compound weapons.” Adam shouted, “I need fifty strong men and women to come with me to get weapons.” More than fifty hurried up to the front of the building.

“Single file,” Enele said to Adam. “Give us a minute to prepare.” Then Enele and Raphe went back downstairs to the arms closet. A moment later the first of the fifty appeared. They loaded each worker with as much as he or she could carry, moving through a steady line until the entire arms room was emptied.

When Enele went back upstairs, Adam had all the weaponry, ammunition, and clothing, piled by type, on the ground in front of the building. As far as Enele could tell, nearly all the Tuvaluans had volunteered to fight.

“Who of you have experience in using a gun? Please come forward.” Only two dozen from the group stepped forward.

“Okay. You are the patrol leaders. Each of you will select twenty-five soldiers to lead. As soon as Nazil returns with the others, we will begin arming you.” Fifteen minutes later Nazil and his people came out from the trees, each carrying multiple weapons.

“If you can use your weapon, keep it,” Enele said. “Bring the rest up here.” Within ten minutes the rest of the weapons were arranged and the squad leaders began arming their squads.

“This is good,” Enele said. “We are still few, but we know our islands. It’s time to sail for Vaitupu.”