A Son Of The Sun

by Jack London

  "You've taken a lot on your shoulders," Grief grinned.

  "'Tis the white man's burden. These rapscallion traders have beenputtin' it all over poor Tui Tulif, the best-hearted old monarchthat ever sat a South Sea throne an' mopped grog-root from the imperialcalabash. 'Tis I, Cornelius--Fulualea, rather--that am here to seejustice done. Much as I dislike the doin' of it, as harbour master 'tismy duty to find you guilty of breach of quarantine."

  "Quarantine?"

  "'Tis the rulin' of the port doctor. No intercourse with the shore tillthe ship is passed. What dire calamity to the confidin' native ifchicken pox or whoopin' cough was aboard of you! Who is there to protectthe gentle, confidin' Polynesian? I, Fulualea, the Feathers of the Sun,on my high mission."

  "Who in hell is the port doctor?" Grief queried.

  "'Tis me, Fulualea. Your offence is serious. Consider yourself finedfive cases of first-quality Holland gin."

  Grief laughed heartily. "We'll compromise, Cornelius. Come aboard andhave a drink."

  The Feathers of the Sun waved the proffer aside grandly. "'Tis bribery.I'll have none of it--me faithful to my salt. And wherefore did you notpresent your ship's papers? As chief of the custom house you are finedfive pounds and two more cases of gin."

  "Look here, Cornelius. A joke's a joke, but this one has gone farenough. This is not Levuka. I've half a mind to pull your nose for you.You can't buck me."

  The Feathers of the Sun retreated unsteadily and in alarm.

  "Lay no violence on me," he threatened. "You're right. This is notLevuka. And by the same token, with Tui Tulifau and the royal armybehind me, buck you is just the thing I can and will. You'll pay themfines promptly, or I'll confiscate your vessel. You're not the first.What does that Chink pearl-buyer, Peter Gee, do but slip into harbour,violatin' all regulations an' makin' rough house for the matter of afew paltry fines. No; he wouldn't pay 'em, and he's on the beach nowthinkin' it over."

  "You don't mean to say----"

  "Sure an' I do. In the high exercise of office I seized his schooner. Afifth of the loyal army is now in charge on board of her. She'll be soldthis day week. Some ten tons of shell in the hold, and I'm wonderin'if I can trade it to you for gin. I can promise you a rare bargain. Howmuch gin did you say you had?"

  "Still more gin, eh?"

  "An' why not? 'Tis a royal souse is Tui Tulifau. Sure it keeps my witsworkin' overtime to supply him, he's that amazin' liberal with it. Thewhole gang of hanger-on chiefs is perpetually loaded to the guards. It'sdisgraceful. Are you goin' to pay them fines, Mr. Grief, or is it toharsher measures I'll be forced?"

  Grief turned impatiently on his heel.

  "Cornelius, you're drunk. Think it over and come to your senses. Theold rollicking South Sea days are gone. You can't play tricks like thatnow."

  "If you think you're goin' on board, Mr. Grief, I'll save you thetrouble. I know your kind, I foresaw your stiff-necked stubbornness. An'it's forestalled you are. 'Tis on the beach you'll find your crew. Thevessel's seized."

  Grief turned back on him in the half-belief still that he was joking.Fulualea again retreated in alarm. The form of a large man loomed besidehim in the darkness.

  "Is it you, Uiliami?" Fulualea crooned. "Here is another sea pirate.Stand by me with the strength of thy arm, O Herculean brother."

  "Greeting, Uiliami," Grief said. "Since when has Fitu-Iva come to berun by a Levuka beachcomber? He says my schooner has been seized. Is ittrue?"

  "It is true," Uiliami boomed from his deep chest. "Have you any moresilk shirts like Willie Smee's? Tui Tulifau would like such a shirt. Hehas heard of it."

  "'Tis all the same," Fulualea interrupted. "Shirts or schooners, theking shall have them."

  "Rather high-handed, Cornelius," Grief murmured. "It's rank piracy. Youseized my vessel without giving me a chance."

  "A chance is it? As we stood here, not five minutes gone, didn't yourefuse to pay your fines?"

  "But she was already seized."

  "Sure, an' why not? Didn't I know you'd refuse? 'Tis all fair, an' noinjustice done--Justice, the bright, particular star at whose shiningaltar Cornelius Deasy--or Fulualea, 'tis the same thing--ever worships.Get thee gone, Mr. Trader, or I'll set the palace guards on you.Uiliami, 'tis a desperate character, this trader man. Call the guards."

  Uiliami blew the whistle suspended on his broad bare chest by a cordof cocoanut sennit. Grief reached out an angry hand for Cornelius, whotitubated into safety behind Uiliami's massive bulk. A dozen strappingPolynesians, not one under six feet, ran down the palace walk and rangedbehind their commander.

  "Get thee gone, Mr. Trader," Cornelius ordered. "The interview isterminated. We'll try your several cases in the mornin'. Appear promptlyat the palace at ten o'clock to answer to the followin' charges, towit: breach of the peace; seditious and treasonable utterance; violentassault on the chief magistrate with intent to cut, wound, maim, an'bruise; breach of quarantine; violation of harbour regulations; andgross breakage of custom house rules. In the mornin', fellow, in themornin', justice shall be done while the breadfruit falls. And the Lordhave mercy on your soul."

  III

  Before the hour set for the trial Grief, accompanied by Peter Gee, wonaccess to Tui Tulifau. The king, surrounded by half a dozen chiefs, layon mats under the shade of the avocados in the palace compound. Earlyas was the hour, palace maids were industriously serving squarefaces ofgin. The king was glad to see his old friend Davida, and regretfulthat he had run foul of the new regulations. Beyond that he steadfastlyavoided discussion of the matter in hand. All protests of theexpropriated traders were washed away in proffers of gin. "Have adrink," was his invariable reply, though once he unbosomed himselfenough to say that Feathers of the Sun was a wonderful man. Never hadpalace affairs been so prosperous. Never had there been so much moneyin the treasury, nor so much gin in circulation. "Well pleased am I withFulualea," he concluded. "Have a drink."

  "We've got to get out of this _pronto_," Grief whispered to Peter Gee afew minutes later, "or we'll be a pair of boiled owls. Also, I am to betried for arson, or heresy, or leprosy, or something, in a few minutes,and I must control my wits."

  As they withdrew from the royal presence, Grief caught a glimpse ofSepeli, the queen. She was peering out at her royal spouse and hisfellow tipplers, and the frown on her face gave Grief his cue. Whateverwas to be accomplished must be through her.

  In another shady corner of the big compound Cornelius was holding court.He had been at it early, for when Grief arrived the case of Willie Smeewas being settled. The entire royal army, save that portion in charge ofthe seized vessels, was in attendance.

  "Let the defendant stand up," said Cornelius, "and receive the just andmerciful sentence of the Court for licentious and disgraceful conductunbecomin' a supercargo. The defendant says he has no money. Very well.The Court regrets it has no calaboose. In lieu thereof, and in viewof the impoverished condition of the defendant, the Court fines saiddefendant one white silk shirt of the same kind, make and quality atpresent worn by defendant."

  Cornelius nodded to several of the soldiers, who led the supercargo awaybehind an avocado tree. A minute later he emerged, minus the garment inquestion, and sat down beside Grief.

  "What have you been up to?" Grief asked.

  "Blessed if I know. What crimes have you committed?"

  "Next case," said Cornelius in his most extra-legal tones. "David Grief,defendant, stand up. The Court has considered the evidence in the case,or cases, and renders the following judgment, to wit:--Shut up!" hethundered at Grief, who had attempted to interrupt. "I tell you theevidence has been considered, deeply considered. It is no wish of theCourt to lay additional hardship on the defendant, and the Court takesthis opportunity to warn the defendant that he is liable for contempt.For open and wanton violation of harbour rules and regulations, breachof quarantine, and disregard of shipping laws, his schooner, the_Cantani_, is hereby declared confiscated to the Government ofFitu-Iva, to be sold at public auction, ten days
from date, withall appurtenances, fittings, and cargo thereunto pertaining. For thepersonal crimes of the defendant, consisting of violent and turbulentconduct and notorious disregard of the laws of the realm, he is fined inthe sum of one hundred pounds sterling and fifteen cases of gin. I willnot ask you if you have anything to say. But will you pay? That is thequestion."

  Grief shook his head.

  "In the meantime," Cornelius went on, "consider yourself a prisoner atlarge. There is no calaboose in which to confine you. And finally, ithas come to the knowledge of the Court, that at an early hour of thismorning, the defendant did wilfully and deliberately send Kanakas in hisemploy out on the reef to catch fish for breakfast. This is distinctlyan infringement of the rights of the fisherfolk of Fitu-Iva. Homeindustries must be protected. This conduct of the defendant is severelyreprehended by the Court, and on any repetition of the offence theoffender and offenders, all and sundry, shall be immediately put to hardlabour on the improvement of the Broom Road. The court is dismissed."

  As they left the compound, Peter Gee nudged Grief to look where TuiTulifau reclined on the mats. The supercargo's shirt, stretched andbulged, already encased the royal fat.

  IV

  "The thing is clear," said Peter Gee, at a conference in Ieremia'shouse. "Deasy has about gathered in all the coin. In the meantime hekeeps the king going on the gin he's captured, on our vessels. As soonas he can maneuver it he'll take the cash and skin out on your craft ormine."

  "He is a low fellow," Ieremia declared, pausing in the polishing of hisspectacles. "He is a scoundrel and a blackguard. He should be struck bya dead pig, by a particularly dead pig."

  "The very thing," said Grief. "He shall be struck by a dead pig.Ieremia, I should not be surprised if you were the man to strike himwith the dead pig. Be sure and select a particularly dead one. TuiTulifau is down at the boat house broaching a case of my Scotch. I'mgoing up to the palace to work kitchen politics with the queen. In themeantime you get a few things on your shelves from the store-room. I'lllend you some, Hawkins. And you, Peter, see the German store. Start inall of you, selling for paper. Remember, I'll back the losses. IfI'm not mistaken, in three days we'll have a national council or arevolution. You, Ieremia, start messengers around the island to thefishers and farmers, everywhere, even to the mountain goat-hunters. Tellthem to assemble at the palace three days from now."

  "But the soldiers," Ieremia objected.

  "I'll take care of them. They haven't been paid for two months. Besides,Uiliami is the queen's brother. Don't have too much on your shelves at atime. As soon as the soldiers show up with paper, stop selling."

  "Then will they burn the stores," said Ieremia.

  "Let them. King Tulifau will pay for it if they do."

  "Will he pay for my shirt?" Willie Smee demanded.

  "That is purely a personal and private matter between you and TuiTulifau," Grief answered.

  "It's beginning to split up the back," the supercargo lamented. "Inoticed that much this morning when he hadn't had it on ten minutes. Itcost me thirty shillings and I only wore it once."

  "Where shall I get a dead pig?" Ieremia asked.

  "Kill one, of course," said Grief. "Kill a small one."

  "A small one is worth ten shillings."

  "Then enter it in your ledger under operating expenses." Grief paused amoment. "If you want it particularly dead, it would be well to kill itat once."

  V

  "You have spoken well, Davida," said Queen Sepeli. "This Fulualea hasbrought a madness with him, and Tui Tulifau is drowned in gin. If hedoes not grant the big council, I shall give him a beating. He is easyto beat when he is in drink."

  She doubled up her fist, and such were her Amazonian proportions and thedetermination in her face that Grief knew the council would be called.So akin was the Fitu-Ivan tongue to the Samoan that he spoke it like anative.

  "And you, Uiliami," he said, "have pointed out that the soldiers havedemanded coin and refused the paper Fulualea has offered them. Tell themto take the paper and see that they be paid to-morrow."

  "Why trouble?" Uiliami objected. "The king remains happily drunk. Thereis much money in the treasury. And I am content. In my house are twocases of gin and much goods from Hawkins's store."

  "Excellent pig, O my brother!" Sepeli erupted. "Has not Davida spoken?Have you no ears? When the gin and the goods in your house are gone, andno more traders come with gin and goods, and Feathers of the Sun has runaway to Levuka with all the cash money of Fitu-Iva, what then will youdo? Cash money is silver and gold, but paper is only paper. I tell youthe people are grumbling. There is no fish in the palace. Yams andsweet potatoes seem to have fled from the soil, for they come not. Themountain dwellers have sent no wild goat in a week. Though Feathers ofthe Sun compels the traders to buy copra at the old price, the peoplesell not, for they will have none of the paper money. Only to-day have Isent messengers to twenty houses. There are no eggs. Has Feathers of theSun put a blight upon the hens? I do not know. All I know is that thereare no eggs. Well it is that those who drink much eat little, else wouldthere be a palace famine. Tell your soldiers to receive their pay. Letit be in his paper money."

  "And remember," Grief warned, "though there be selling in the stores,when the soldiers come with their paper it will be refused. And in threedays will be the council, and Feathers of the Sun will be as dead as adead pig."

  VI

  The day of the council found the population of the island crowded intothe capital. By canoe and whaleboat, on foot and donkey-back, the fivethousand inhabitants of Fitu-Iva had trooped in. The three interveningdays had had their share of excitement. At first there had been muchselling from the sparse shelves of the traders. But when the soldiersappeared, their patronage was declined and they were told to go toFulualea for coin. "Says it not so on the face of the paper," thetraders demanded, "that for the asking the coin will be given inexchange?"

  Only the strong authority of Uiliami had prevented the burning of thetraders' houses. As it was, one of Grief's copra-sheds went up in smokeand was duly charged by Ieremia to the king's account. Ieremia himselfhad been abused and mocked, and his spectacles broken. The skin wasoff Willie Smee's knuckles. This had been caused by three boisteroussoldiers who violently struck their jaws thereon in quick succession.Captain Boig was similarly injured. Peter Gee had come off undamaged,because it chanced that it was bread-baskets and not jaws that struckhim on the fists.

  Tui Tulifau, with Sepeli at his side and surrounded by his convivialchiefs, sat at the head of the council in the big compound. Hisright eye and jaw were swollen as if he too had engaged in assaultingsomebody's fist. It was palace gossip that morning that Sepeli hadadministered a conjugal beating. At any rate, her spouse was sober,and his fat bulged spiritlessly through the rips in Willie Smee's silkshirt. His thirst was prodigious, and he was continually served withyoung drinking nuts. Outside the compound, held back by the army, wasthe mass of the common people. Only the lesser chiefs, village maids,village beaux, and talking men with their staffs of office werepermitted inside. Cornelius Deasy, as befitted a high and favouredofficial, sat near to the right hand of the king. On the left of thequeen, opposite Cornelius and surrounded by the white traders he wasto represent, sat Ieremia. Bereft of his spectacles, he peeredshort-sightedly across at the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  In turn, the talking man of the windward coast, the talking man of theleeward coast, and the talking man of the mountain villages, each backedby his group of lesser talking men and chiefs, arose and made oration.What they said was much the same. They grumbled about the paper money.Affairs were not prosperous. No more copra was being smoked. The peoplewere suspicious. To such a pass had things come that all people wantedto pay their debts and no one wanted to be paid. Creditors made apractice of running away from debtors. The money was cheap. Prices weregoing up and commodities were getting scarce. It cost three times theordinary price to buy a fowl, and then it was tough and like to dieof old age if not immediately so
ld. The outlook was gloomy. There weresigns and omens. There was a plague of rats in some districts. The cropswere bad. The custard apples were small. The best-bearing avocado on thewindward coast had mysteriously shed all its leaves. The taste hadgone from the mangoes. The plantains were eaten by a worm. The fish hadforsaken the ocean and vast numbers of tiger-sharks appeared. The wildgoats had fled to inaccessible summits. The poi in the poi-pits hadturned bitter. There were rumblings in the mountains, night-walkingof spirits; a woman of Punta-Puna had been struck speechless, and afive-legged she-goat had been born in the village of Eiho. And that allwas due to the strange money of Fulualea was the firm conviction of theelders in the village councils assembled.

  Uiliami spoke for the army. His men were discontented and mutinous.Though by royal decree the traders were bidden accept the money, yet didthey refuse it. He would not say, but it looked as if the strange moneyof Fulualea had something to do with it.

  Ieremia, as talking man of the traders, next spoke. When he arose, itwas noticeable that he stood with legs spraddled over a large grassbasket. He dwelt upon the cloth of the traders, its variety and beautyand durability, which so exceeded the Fitu-Ivan wet-pounded tapa,fragile and coarse. No one wore tapa any more. Yet all had worntapa, and nothing but tapa, before the traders came. There was themosquito-netting, sold for a song, that the cleverest Fitu-Ivannet-weaver could not duplicate in a thousand years. He enlarged on theincomparable virtues of rifles, axes, and steel fishhooks, down throughneedles, thread and cotton fish-lines to white flour and kerosene oil.