Tao's Choice

Esteban and Zia sat on the black sand beach watching the white foam waves rolling onto the shore. They watched as several of the local tribesmen skillfully ride the waves with long, flat boards of wood with rounded edges. Esteban, in particular, was fascinated with this display of balance and, what he could only term as, water acrobatics. He watched as a particularly adept rider sailed over the crest of a wave that was much taller than he was. The water streamed around him and he seemed every moment a heartbeat from crashing into the rushing ocean. But the rider skillfully maneuvered his board through the wave and sailed cleanly out the tumbling water. Esteban continued to watch, his mouth slightly agape wondering how he could try this water play.

They all had been very relaxed over the last two weeks, enjoying the peace and beauty of their surroundings. Tao was busy almost everyday with his grandfather learning about this new heritage that he hadn't even known existed. None of their group was willing to deny him an opportunity that many of them would have given much to have: the chance to find their family and spend time with them.

Esteban had even taken the elderly chief on an aerial tour of the island the day after they had arrived. Tao had served as copilot and they had flown not only over Hilo, but also over neighboring villages. Eventually they had flown over other islands and Chief Ali'imalu had delightedly pointed out other landmarks and communities on their shores. Tao had been so proud of the great bird of the Hiva people, and his grandfather complimented them both on learning to control such a machine. The day had ended at sunset when they returned to Hilo landing on the dais surrounded by many of the people of Hilo, amazed at the flying machine and cheering its occupants.

The rest of their company had pursued their leisure in their own manner. In the days that followed, Zia and Esteban spent the time exploring their region of the island and learning about the people of Hilo, who were curious and hospitable to the strangers who had come with their lost son.

Even Kokapedl had found a flock of birds of his same kind and Esteban and Zia often would find him where the flock roosted. They could only smiled at the blue bird's preening as he showed off his plumage to the female members of the flock.

Pedro and Sancho used much of their time trying to divide their gold, and each was sure that he was receiving less than the other. Hisoka suggested smelting the gold into ingots, but the island people did not seem to possess any metal working technology and were quite interested in the gold that the Spaniards toted around with them. This made the pair suspicious and they refused to let anyone from the village see the yellow metal. So they hid in a secluded part of the jungle, trying to measure out their shares with a crude scale they had devised. This had kept them busy, arguing, and happily fondling their treasure for days.

Hisoka and Anda disappeared for long stretches at a time, usually returning in a day or two. They were used to being on their own and didn't quite fit in company. The rest of them did not even ask what they were doing.

Mendoza was also difficult to find some days, and when Esteban had asked him about it, the navigator said that he was studying. Only later, when the boy had seen him near the Condor late one afternoon as the sun was setting, did he realize that Mendoza had meant he was learning from the golden sphere in the giant bird.

"Esteban!" a voice called, making the preoccupied youth jump. The child of the sun turned and saw the navigator himself walking toward him without his cape or his boots in the heat of the morning sun and the shifting sands of the beach. "Have either of you seen Tao today?" Mendoza asked the two children as he drew near them.

Zia replied, "He left very early this morning with Chief Ali'imalu, but he had been up almost the entire night before working on some project."

Mendoza frowned. "Do you know what it was, Zia?"

She shook her head, but said, "I think it had something to do with the village farms."

The older man nodded. "Then I will look for him there."

"We'll go with you," Esteban volunteered, throwing one last look at the water and saw that it was Tao's cousin, Ali'ikai, who he had seen riding the waves. With a friendly wave to the older boy Esteban turned and followed Mendoza, missing the dark look that Ali'ikai cast in their direction.

Mendoza and the two children walked up to the beach towards the village, the navigator pausing where the dark beach met the emerald trees to pick up his boots. They walked on until they had passed the outskirts of Hilo and were hiking into the hills above the village. Here the travelers had been shown the farming terraces during their first days on the island, and here they found Tao supervising the renovation of several irrigation ditches. He stood calling out orders and carefully checking measurements as if this leadership was what he had been born to do. Mendoza, in particular, was struck by how much the Hivan boy seemed to have grown since he had met him all those long months ago.

Esteban called out to his friend. The other boy glanced in their direction and smiled tiredly when he saw the trio walking towards him. Tao gave the foreman a few more instructions before turning to his companions. Esteban surveyed the work going on and asked, "What is this all about, Tao?"

"The village needs to expand its taro fields and the terraces need a steady supply of fresh water for the plants to grow properly. These ditches are old," Tao pointed to where a mass of men were working with stone tools, "but by carefully measuring the grade of the slope and lining the channels with stone, they will be more efficient and require less maintenance." Esteban didn't really see the difference between the various watercourses, but he trusted Tao to know what he was doing.

"Tao, we need to talk," Mendoza said. The boy nodded, but did not move. "Privately," the navigator added.

Tao sighed, obviously not liking being pulled away from his work, but he followed the older man into the shade and relative seclusion of the forest edge. He stood underneath a tall palm, his arms folded, waiting for Mendoza to say what was on his mind.

"I've been studying the charts from the golden globe, Tao, and from what I have seen I believe we need to fly to Nipon and perhaps into the heart of Chin. There are other symbols there, like the one on this island. There may be a city of gold in the heart of the continent."

Tao dug the toe of his sandal into the sand under the tree, and did not meet the eye of the navigator. "I don't know. It just may mean that Hiva had another colony in that area, not that there is a city of gold there."

"True," Mendoza admitted, "but there were similar markings near the first city of gold and the various other sites we visited in our travels. I believe we will find valuable information there. We should leave here soon."

Tao's head shot up. "No, not now," he said firmly.

"Tao," Mendoza cajoled, "we have been here for two weeks already. We have never stayed so long in one place especially when the trail was so clear."

"You forget," the boy shot back, "that I have never been interested in the cities for their gold. I am in no hurry to find the rest."

"But you are interested in knowledge, and in spite of this island's connection to your family, I have seen little evidence that there are other ties to Hiva or its heritage."

"You don't know that!" Tao argued, his voice rising. "My father wouldn't have traveled all the way here, without even the Solaris to help him in his journey, if this island wasn't important."

"Lord Ka'eo," a concerned voice behind them intoned, "is all well?"

"Yes," Tao replied coolly, his eyes still locked with Mendoza's. "My friends were just leaving." He walked away without another word.

Esteban stood aghast at the exchange that had just occurred. He had never seen his friend act so hostile toward the navigator, or at least not since he had saved Tao's life in the temple that had housed the Golden Condor. Mendoza's admiration for Hivan science had also been part of winning the boy over, and Esteban was disturbed by the sudden change in behavior.

Mendoza sighed, looking like he had expected this resistance but not the attitude that went with it. He turned without another word and strode quickly back toward the village. Esteban was torn between following him and staying with his best friend, who seemed to be more intent on his work than ever.

Zia sensed this hesitation and said, "Go with Mendoza, Esteban. I'll talk to Tao and help him to calm down. I think I understand his reluctance to leave better than Mendoza does."

Esteban felt relieved and looked at Zia with appreciation, "Thanks! You're terrific!" Then he ran after the navigator. After a few minutes he managed to catch up with the older man farther down the hill. "Mendoza!" he called.

The navigator paused and looked back over his shoulder. "What is it, Esteban?"

"Don't you think we should give Tao some more time?" the boy asked, persuading. "He didn't know this side of his family still existed and I don't blame him for wanting more time with them."

"And that's the problem, Esteban," Mendoza replied shaking his head. "I know you think I am heartless, but we really must leave here soon."

"But why?" Esteban voiced was full of confusion.

Mendoza looked around, facing the ocean clearly visible in the distance, an impossible shade of blue. "This island is too comfortable," the navigator said shortly. Esteban was about to demand what was wrong with that, when he continued, "It would be all too easy to stay here another week, another month. We certainly have earned the rest. But at what cost?" He looked back at the boy, "Something is not right. The people of Hilo are gracious and generous, but there is something else going on here as well."

"What is it?" The child of the sun was now curious.

Mendoza smiled at him tiredly. Even after all they had been through the boy was still such an innocent, willing to believe the best in everyone. The older man knew he had to tread carefully. "I won't say. I can't prove my suspicions, but we need to leave this island."

"We can't do that yet! What about Tao?" Esteban protested. "He just found his family and he…"

"I know Esteban, but it would be better if we just went about our own business and didn't interfere with these people." Mendoza saw Esteban's jaw tighten and he hurried to speak before the boy could protest further. "I suppose I will have to show you what I mean. We will talk again soon." He turned from the boy and walked away into the palm forest.

Esteban could not help but feel a touch of disquiet as he watched the navigator disappear into the trees, wondering what the man would do to convince him and Tao that it was time to leave their island sanctuary. He sat down on a large flat-topped black rock thinking, and waiting for Zia to come to join him. Above him in the sky, dark clouds gathered and a wind whipped the ocean waves with white foam.

The weather of the island remained dark and threatening for the next week, and the diminished sunlight meant that it was impossible for the Golden Condor to fly. Yet it never more than sprinkled and Tao's work on the irrigation ditches continued unimpeded. Finally the new canal was finished and the whole village gathered to watch as the clear water flowed through it, cheering the completed work.

Kahuna called the people to silence after some time. "People of Hilo! The gods seem well pleased with our efforts. Tonight there will be a luau held to honor our returned prince, Ka'eo, for his leadership in this feat. Truly he shows the wisdom of a chief many years his age." The people began to chant Tao's name and the boy was obviously pleased, but a bit embarrassed.

As the people continued to celebrate, Esteban stepped toward his friend. "Well done, Tao."

The other boy made a happy, chortling sound in his throat. "This new channel will help the village be more productive and prosperous. It was the least I could do to help them." Yet he looked and was beginning to sound very tired. The long nights of planning and the longer days of overseeing the project were catching up with him.

This was obvious to Zia. "Tao, come and rest! You won't even be able to stand tonight if you don't come and get some sleep."

"Yes, alright," the descendent of Hiva agreed with a loud yawn, and he followed his friends back to the village. As they left, they caught sight of Hisoka standing among the trees saying something to Andeanna at his side. It had been many days since any of them had seen the pair, and they did not seem to share in the crowd's enthusiasm.

Zia walked deliberately closer to them and called, "Are you coming to the feast tonight?"

Anda smiled at her and nodded. "Yes, it should prove to be a very interesting night."

Esteban didn't quite like the tone she said those words in, but by now Tao was practically falling asleep on his shoulder. They moved away, leaving their two new companions to watch the water in the channel flow into the taro fields.

Although Esteban now understood that it was taboo for women to eat with men on the islands of Hawaii, he missed Zia very much during the dinner feast that night. He would have loved to be able to talk with her, discuss the delicious meal and wonder what Mendoza was up to, for he was not present during the feast. Tao spent most of his time talking with Kahuna and his grandfather, only asking Esteban to pass the sweet potatoes. Hisoka also sat by them, but he was never much for conversation and Esteban felt like his silent companion was watching everyone and everything with more attention than was usual this night.

Finally the food was taken away and everyone wandered outside the hut into the warm night air. Esteban craned his neck, looking for a certain dark head. He soon spotted Zia walking towards the village center followed by Anda. "Zia!" he called.

"Ah, Esteban!" she seemed as pleased to see him as he was to see her.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward where a crowd was forming to watch the hula for the celebration. He hoped that Zia would join the dance again tonight. The other village girls had shown her some simple motions and he could not help but be entranced by it. Yet Zia was very shy and did not like to have so many people watching her.

Just as they arrived at the front of the throng, the drums ceased to beat and Chief Ali'imalu stood, his hand raised for silence. The children looked to him in surprise, for the chief of the village had not spoken at a gathering since the first night when they had been welcomed to the island.

"My people!" Ali'imalu voice rang out through the silent villagers. "It has been many days since our lost son Ka'eo returned to us from the distant waters of our ancestors. He has proven himself a wise and cunning lord, a prince among men." The old chief looked proudly at his grandson, and Tao tried not to look embarrassed. "For these reasons I have consulted with the gods, a weighty decision in my mind."

At these words, Esteban began to feel very nervous. A sudden wind picked up, causing the torches to flicker and nearly go out. Then the chief continued, "The gods have spoken and I obey their word. My people, when I make the last journey to our ancient home beneath the waves, Lord Ka'eo will become king in my place!"

The crowd stood aghast for a moment then they began to cheer Tao's new name. Tao himself looked shocked and stood speechless at his grandfather's side. Zia looked at Esteban with a sudden fear in her eyes, but neither of them had a chance to speak before Ali'imalu spoke again and it became quiet. "To seal this act and to create a new alliance with our neighboring villages, Ka'eo will marry Princess Noelani in three days time!"

And with those words, the people of the village began to chant and cheer again, louder than ever. Esteban could not believe what he had heard, and he looked to his friend with apprehension. For Tao, although he looked astounded, did not protest, but continued to stand by his grandfather.

Others, however, were not pleased with this new pronouncement. "I object to this concord, grandfather!" All eyes turned to see Ali'ikai, Tao's older, taller, and, by all appearances, stronger cousin, stepping toward the dais where the chief and the Hivan boy stood. "As a prince of Hilo, I demand that Ka'eo prove his worth in a duel!"

Chief Ali'imalu looked sternly at his other grandson, with disapproval clearly etched on his face. "That is your right as a prince, but think well before you defy the will of the gods!" Ali'ikai stood fast, his face still as if carved from stone. The old chief sighed angrily, but said, "As you wish. You will battle Tao for the right to take my place. The gods will show their favor and protect their chosen one."

"Esteban," Zia pulled on his arm to get his attention. "What are we going to do?"

The child of the sun looked at her for a moment then shifted his eyes back to his best friend. "Tao will have to decide what he thinks is the right thing to do. All we can do is support his choice."

"It seems I am too late," a new voice said. The pair whirled to see Mendoza standing behind them, looking weary and concerned. "Now things are worse. We should have left days ago!"

Esteban wanted to ask what he meant, but the noise from the now anxious village people stopped him. "We need to talk to Tao. Alone!" the navigator declared watching the boy in question as he sat down, looking worried but resolute. Yet Esteban felt sure that whatever Mendoza told the other boy, they would all have to see this through to the end. Whatever that end might be.