The World Duology (World Odyssey / Fiji: A Novel)

by Lance Morcan

  The elder nodded to himself knowingly. Kamisese pushed himself to his feet as fast as his arthritic knees would allow and approached the couple, indicating to them they should follow him outside. He led them down to the beach and stopped alongside three canoes that were being watched over by a toothless matagali who stood guard over them. The old man was armed with one of the muskets Nathan had supplied.

  Nathan noticed the canoes were laden down with something that was hidden beneath pandanus mats. Kamisese motioned to the American to inspect the contents of the nearest canoe.

  Lifting the mat from the bow of the canoe, Nathan was stunned to see the craft was full of dried sea slugs. “Beche-de-mer,” he murmured. A huge smile crossed his face.

  Kamisese was delighted by the young man’s reaction. Using Susannah to translate, he told Nathan that Joeli’s last instructions to him had been to fill two canoes with the precious sea slugs in return for the muskets. Because Nathan had returned the golden tabua safely, Kamisese had taken it upon himself to throw in the extra canoe-load.

  Nathan was delighted to hear this. With Joeli and his warriors gone, he’d given up on ever being recompensed for his muskets. Now, he’d been more than compensated. The profits from this would set him up nicely. He looked at Susannah and smiled. She could see he was pleased.

  “It is good?” she asked.

  “It is good.” He would tell her later the ramifications of the villagers’ generosity. This was not the time. Right now, his delight was tempered by the sadness at having lost so many friends and by Susannah’s loss. Material success somehow seemed unimportant now, but at the same time he wasn’t going to turn his back on it.

  Nathan had never been into self-analysis, but he realized he’d grown over the past few weeks. Things that not so long ago had meant everything to him—like money and riches—suddenly weren’t so important.

  I’ve changed!

  The realization hit him like a lightning bolt. Suddenly, family and loved ones were all that mattered to him.

  Susannah could see a change in him, too—and she liked it. She put her arms around Nathan’s neck, pulled his head down toward hers, and kissed him. Kamisese and the toothless matagali looked on, smiling.

  26

  Two days later, the Rendezvous arrived at Momi Bay as scheduled. As it anchored offshore not long after sunrise, Nathan and Susannah joined others on the beach to welcome the schooner’s master and first mate ashore.

  Nathan noticed Lemeki and some of his warriors mingling with the Qopa. The Mamanucans had remained in the village and were showing no signs of leaving any time soon. Nathan thought this promising. He believed the impressive ratu and his followers could be the salvation of the Qopa and was confident Joeli would approve were he still alive.

  As they were being rowed ashore in the schooner’s longboat, Captain McTavish and the Irishman Eric Foley smiled when they saw the white couple in the reception party on the beach. When the Rendezvous had left Momi Bay, Nathan had been close to death after being wounded in the outcasts’ raid on the village. Now they could see he was a picture of health apart from the dressing that still covered his recent head wound. And they couldn’t help but notice he had his arm around Susannah.

  “I see ye lived to fight another day, Nathan,” Foley shouted as the longboat nosed up onto the beach.

  Nathan greeted Foley with a firm handshake and a hug as soon as the hardcase Irishman stepped down onto the sand. “Yes, I wanted to see your ugly mug again,” Nathan laughed. Looking at Susannah, he added, “And I had the best nurse in the world caring for me.”

  Susannah smiled.

  Foley and McTavish glanced at each other knowingly. McTavish looked at Susannah and doffed his cap in her direction. “Ma’am.”

  “Hello, captain,” Susannah responded.

  Addressing Nathan and Susannah, Foley cheekily said, “Last time we saw you two together, you weren’t talkin’ to each other.”

  Nathan and Susannah both laughed. “Things have changed, Mr. Foley,” Susannah said.

  “So I see,” said Foley, winking at her.

  Leaving Susannah to talk to Foley, Nathan took McTavish aside. He quickly filled him in on the events of the past few weeks and negotiated a berth for himself and Susannah to Suva. Arrangements were also made to ship his stockpile of beche-de-mer. Terms were quickly agreed on and arrangements were made for an immediate departure.

  Nathan then sought out Kamisese and, with Susannah translating, advised the matagali he and Susannah would be leaving aboard the Rendezvous.

  This came as no surprise to Kamisese. He had already sensed the American and his Englishwoman had decided to depart their village. They were still on a journey, he realized, and Momi Bay was only ever going to be a stopover on that journey, not a final destination.

  “We must drink kava,” Kamisese insisted. Without waiting for a response, he turned and shuffled slowly back toward the village.

  “Apparently, you are to drink kava,” Susanna advised Nathan. “He insists.”

  Nathan rolled his eyes and followed Kamisese, pulling Susannah after him.

  “Women are not allowed to participate in a kava ceremony!” she reminded him.

  “I need a translator, remember?”

  Susannah realized Nathan was right, so she followed along quietly. She didn’t mind. Walking beside Nathan, holding his hand, felt so right. She was utterly content.

  #

  After the first calabash of kava, Nathan’s lips were already feeling numb. Now, drinking his fourth serving of the traditional drink, his cheeks were feeling numb, too.

  Nathan and Kamisese drank in companionable silence on the veranda outside the meeting house. As usual during a kava ceremony, a slave boy was waiting on them. Because Susannah was present, the Qopa headman had determined they could not proceed with the ceremony inside. This suited Nathan better: sitting outside they could view Momi Bay and enjoy the sea breeze.

  In the continuing silence, Susannah realized her translation services may not be required on this occasion. And they weren’t. Kamisese didn’t need to talk to Nathan at the moment. He just wanted to enjoy his company one last time and drink kava with the man who had returned the golden tabua to Momi Bay.

  27

  Later, the villagers and their Mamanucan guests congregated at the water’s edge to farewell Nathan and Susannah. The young lovers were preparing to board a longboat that would take them out to the Rendezvous. Nathan’s cargo of beche-de-mer had already been loaded into the schooner’s hold.

  Lemeki was also here to farewell the couple. The ratu was standing nearby with his arm around the waist of a fetching village maiden. She touched the scar on his face and giggled when he whispered something to her. This wasn’t missed by Nathan and Susannah. They also noticed several other Mamanucans had paired up with Qopa girls.

  “The cycle of life looks set to continue at Momi Bay,” Nathan whispered. Susannah nodded in agreement.

  Lemeki caught Nathan’s eye. The two nodded respectfully to each other. If Lemeki had decided to adopt these villagers into his clan then that augured well for the Qopa, Nathan decided.

  While Foley helped Nathan load the last of his and Susannah’s possessions into the longboat, Susannah stood with her arm around Sina. The young women had become close and they dreaded parting.

  Susannah asked, “What will become of your people?”

  “Do not fear for us,” Sina said, smiling at a handsome Mamanucan who stood openly staring at her not five yards away. “Our friends the Mamanucans will protect us.”

  The Mamanucan, who immediately struck Susannah as a Waisale look-alike, flashed a smile at Sina and walked away. The likeness had occurred to Sina, also.

  Susannah asked, “And what of you, my dear Sina?”

  Sina nodded toward the retreating Mamanucan and smiled shyly. “He will look after me.”

  Susannah noted there was not a shred of doubt in her voice.

  Behind them, Captain McTavish ann
ounced, “We best be going now.”

  Susannah looked around to see McTavish beckoning to her and Nathan to board the longboat. She turned back to Sina and hugged her. “God be with you, Sina.” She hurried over to Nathan, who was waiting to assist her into the boat. Nathan hesitated as he saw Kamisese approach.

  The old headman studied the young American for several moments in his own unhurried way. “The Qopa people owe Nathan Johnson a debt of gratitude,” he said in his native tongue. With Susannah translating for Nathan’s benefit, Kamisese continued, “Without your muskets, Rambuka’s dogs would have slaughtered all my people. And without your bravery, the golden tabua would have been lost forever.” The headman placed his right hand on Nathan’s shoulder and said, “Take this as my blessing.”

  Nathan was moved deeply. He placed his hand on Kamisese’s shoulder. “I originally came here to seek my fortune,” he said, waiting while Susannah translated his words. He continued, “Instead, I ended up being involved in your tribal battles.” Kamisese listened intently as Susannah translated. His voice brimming with emotion, Nathan said, “I learned the meaning of loyalty, and of love,” he added, looking at Susannah. “I will never forget the lessons I have learned here.”

  Susannah finished translating. The two men looked at each other a while longer before Nathan turned away and helped Susannah into the longboat. When everyone was aboard, oarsmen began rowing the craft out to the Rendezvous.

  From the longboat, a subdued Nathan and Susannah looked back at the equally subdued Fijians who watched in silence as the distance between them and the boat increased. Sina and Susannah waved to each other.

  Behind the Fijians, Nathan noticed rain clouds forming over Viti Levu’s interior.

  #

  Within minutes of boarding the Rendezvous, the schooner was readied to sail. Sailors scrambled over her decks and riggers scaled the masts as Foley barked orders at them.

  As the Rendezvous set sail, Nathan and Susannah stood at the stern waving at the Fijians on the distant beach. The young lovers held each other tightly and looked into each other’s eyes.

  Susannah was feeling sad yet content at the same time. She knew, instinctively, Nathan was her soulmate. She felt safe and secure in his arms.

  A thousand different feelings coursed through Nathan. He felt sad over the loss of Jack and Joeli and others he’d become close to, but thrilled to have Susannah at his side. Although he was unsure what the future held, he knew he’d be sharing it with her. He kissed her forehead tenderly. She snuggled in closer to him.

  On shore, Kamisese was leading the Qopa villagers in a chant of respect for the departing couple. It was an emotive chant.

  At the same time, on the headland behind the village, a lone figure blew into a conch. Its haunting sound echoed around the bay. Nathan looked directly at the distant figure, trying to identify him. He thought it may have been Lemeki, but the man was too far away to recognize.

  The conch blower was, indeed, Lemeki. Looking directly at the Rendezvous, the Mamanucan ratu blew into the conch once more then walked away.

  As the schooner neared the reef, the thunder of the ever-present waves crashing against it drowned out all other sounds. Moments later, as the Rendezvous sailed through the reef and out of Momi Bay, Susannah’s eyes were drawn one last time to the mission station where her beloved father lay in eternal rest.

  Next to her, Nathan studied the highlands of Viti Levu’s interior. Touching the whale bone pendant that once more hung from his neck, he watched the highlands until they disappeared behind a curtain of rain.

  #

  The following day, as the Suva-bound Rendezvous sailed eastward off Viti Levu’s Coral Coast, Nathan stood alone at the port-side rail studying the many fishing villages dotted along the distant shore. He recalled Jack had mentioned he lived in the Coral Coast village of Koroi, but the American didn’t know where that was exactly.

  Thinking about Jack reminded him he probably owed his life to the cheeky Cockney. He was grateful Jack came into his life when he did and vowed he’d find out where Koroi was and ensure his friend’s wife and children were looked after.

  I owe him that much.

  Another village caught his eye. Nathan wasn’t to know, but it was Koroi, Jack’s village.

  #

  In Koroi at that very moment, the villagers stopped what they were doing to admire the Rendezvous as it sailed by. Jack’s wife, Namosi, now only days from giving birth, took special interest in the schooner. It reminded her of her beloved Jack. She wondered when the lovable rascal would be returning home.

  The baby inside her suddenly moved. Namosi knew instinctively it was a boy. She’d already decided she would call him Jack.

  #

  On board the Rendezvous, Nathan was joined by Susannah at the port-side rail. Without a word, they kissed, then, in blissful silence, watched the Coral Coast shoreline pass by.

  Alone with their thoughts, each sensed the cycle of life and death was set to continue in Fiji—as it had for centuries. However, they had yet to discuss their plans, so at this point had no idea Fiji’s future and theirs would forever be intertwined.

  Epilogue

  After personally delivering his precious beche-de-mer to China and consolidating his already considerable wealth, Nathan married Susannah. They settled in Suva, Fiji’s future capital.

  Operating as Johnson Traders, Nathan built a trading empire, contributing in no small way to Fiji’s prosperity, while Susannah returned to teaching and opened a school in memory of her father. And, of course, Nathan did ensure that Jack Halliday’s wife and children were well cared for.

  The Qopa villagers, of Momi Bay, rebounded in fine style and, through intermarriage with the Mamanucans and other clans, eventually became a thriving community once again. The muskets they’d inherited from Nathan helped protect them from their enemies, and the golden tabua brought them good fortune.

  Without Rambuka to lead them, the surviving outcasts soon disintegrated into disorganized rabble and were never heard of again.

  Had he lived, Reverend Drake would have been impressed by the efforts of successive Methodist missionaries who met with wide success as Fiji’s indigenous people forsook their old ways and embraced Christianity.

  By the time Fiji became a British colony in 1874, the Johnson trading empire, operating as Johnson & Sons, had expanded throughout the islands of the South Pacific. Nathan and his two sons, Daniel and Joseph, played a major role in lobbying the Fijian Government to bring in indentured Indian laborers to cut sugar cane. Little did they know that in less than a hundred years Indians would make up nearly half Fiji’s population.

  With the influx of Indians came a new set of problems. Indigenous Fijians resented the new arrivals; resentment soon turned to violence and bloodshed, and the Johnsons became caught up in the resulting mayhem.

  Despite the upheavals, Nathan and Susannah both lived into their nineties. Their twilight years were as peaceful as their younger years were tumultuous. The proud parents of two fine sons and grandparents to five loving grandchildren, the couple died within a month of each other.

  In accordance with their final wishes, they were buried in adjoining plots on the headland behind the Qopa village at Momi Bay.

  THE END

  If you enjoyed this book, the authors would greatly appreciate a review from you on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/World-Duology-Odyssey-Fiji-Novel-ebook/dp/B00HMQRMFG/

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