Chapter 45

I sat back and made myself as comfortable as I could under the circumstances. To my surprise, a woman came in with thick woven mats for us to sit on. They were a lot more comfortable than the hard bamboo floor. Then the same young girl came in with a small table and set it down between us. She returned in a few minutes with coffee and some small cakes for us to snack on. I sat and sipped my coffee and tentatively helped myself to one of the cakes. To my great delight, they were sweet sesame honey cakes and had to be the best I had ever tasted. When Mikey saw my obvious delight, he just smiled and bit into the one he had picked up. I expected him to start talking, but it was Quanta who started the tale that would stretch my senses and beliefs to the almost unbelievable stage.

"Jon, there is something I need to clear up for you before Mikey speaks. When you rescued me and my family, you couldn't have known the importance of what you were doing. I was the last of the chiefs of my people, and the rebels wanted me dead, regardless of what it took. That's one of the reasons they followed us almost to the center of your camp. They wanted me and my family, the last of our people, dead by any means. Their leader used to be one of your soldiers, and how he found out about our society, we were never able to find out. He systematically exterminated every member who had the small tattoo on their arms. Jon, the tattoo goes back thousands of years and it denotes wisdom and the ability to seek freedom for the oppressed, and a whole lot more, that Koma will explain to you. Jon, in all the history of our society, there has only been one other white man that was ever accepted. That was in 1826 in India. He saved a village from a white man's disease, and was asked by the chief to accept the honor. Jon, the history, which Koma will explain, goes back to the days of the great wars in the Middle East between the English and the Arabs. I don't know if you have noticed, but every man in the village above the age of fifteen has the monkey tattoo. The one with the torches in their hands denotes a chief and a bearer of the ancient knowledge. What Koma will tell you, has been handed down by word of mouth for centuries from chief to chief. I would love the honor of telling you, but it falls on Koma, since he was the one who offered the invitation. I can tell you that your acceptance will be known all over the world within thirty days, and that wherever you go you will be watched and protected by members of the society."

I took a sip of coffee, trying to absorb all this, and wondered why in all the countries I had been in I had never heard of this society. Then I figured out who had been after Quanta and his family, Boudrie. He was the only one I knew of who had been a Legionnaire and went over to the other side. Although my curiosity was aroused, I could tell that there would be no more information forthcoming until I talked with Koma in two days. Then I realized that Koma hadn't disappeared, but had traveled to Nigeria to talk to Quanta to get help for his people from another member of this society they talked about. I smiled to myself, thinking about what kind of pressure Quanta and the bank had brought on the previous owner to make him suddenly sell out. I decided I didn't want to know, because I had a feeling it hadn't been pleasant at the end of his reign here. This time Mikey talked. What he had to say shook me up, but at the end of his explanation, I realized that all he said made sense in a twisted sort of way. I would have to accept it and hope Myrna or Kat didn't find out, or I would be toast.

"Jon, you have said you will have some of your troops staying here for rest and to help with the protection of the island, right?"

"Yes, that's true Mikey, why do you ask?"

"I have to explain something to you that I know you are not going to like. There are women who don't have mates because of the shortage of men and the fact that we have so few of our tribe. We do what I am about to explain for our survival. The unwed women will be visiting your friends at night on a regular basis. They will continue this until they become pregnant, then another will take their place. This is the only way we have to stop inbreeding in our tribe. I know this sounds crude to you, but we have done it every time a stranger stays on the island. It is our custom, and I have to ask that you do not interfere in this matter. The only reason you and your friends weren't asked to accept a temporary mate, was because you are soon to be married. Jon, we ask you, as the owner of this island, not to interfere because our very existence depends on fresh blood being infused into our tribe. I know it sounds crude to you, but it has been this way for hundreds of years. With the death of so many men over the years, we have not been able to find mates for many of our women."

I looked at him and lost it. I was laughing so hard I couldn't get a breath. Mikey and Quanta were looking at me like I had finally gone over the edge. I was finally able to get myself halfway under control, but every time I thought about it, I broke out in chuckles again.

"Mikey, I am sure the men who will be rotating in and out for the next few weeks will be absolutely thrilled by the idea. If my wife to be or any of the other women find out, I will send them to you for an explanation though. Mikey, if this is a custom and it's not forced on the women just to infuse fresh blood, I have no objections. I will ask, no, I will order that if any of the women are mistreated in any way, you will report it to me immediately. If any of the men don't act like gentlemen or get too rough, I will want to know and right away. If you don't agree to this, I will put a stop to it by posting guards around the house and grounds. Do we understand each other?"

I noticed he looked at Quanta before answering, and did so only after Quanta slightly nodded his head.

"I must tell you that some of the women have a forceful nature. They want to be taken, not coddled, by the ones they choose to bed with. Others want to be held and treated like the man appreciates what they are giving them. I do not know how this will work out, but I hope it will not cause problems. As you know, all men and women are different on how they approach things."

"Mikey, I know the nature of men and women as well as any man who has spent time in the Legion. I have been all over in my assignments, and I did not practice celibacy during my time in the Legion. If any woman is bruised, then it went too far. What the women want can be accomplished without any of them getting hurt. I will talk to the men when I get back, but again it is up to you to make sure that no woman is forced and none who are under eighteen are to be picked to participate. Where I come from, that is rape and I will have the man who takes her brought up on charges and the woman banned from the island. Mikey, I mean every word I say, and do not try to trick me or I will have Koma become involved. I don't think he would like it if I was disobeyed, being a member and a chief of the tribe."

He just looked at me in shock, and then Quanta had the final words on the subject.

"He is correct, Mikey, as a chief he has the last word on the rules that are to be followed. I know that Koma will back him completely. When you meet with the women, I suggest you better make sure they understand what their chief has ordered. It would be best if you pointed out that their chief has set rules, and what will happen if they are broken."

With that we both got up, with me chuckling again and Quanta looking at me in a strange way. When we got in the cart headed back to the villa, he couldn't stand it any longer and had to ask.

"Jon, why the sudden mirth? You have been acting strange since Mikey told you their customs."

I broke out in laughter again before getting myself back under control enough to answer him.

"Quanta, I came here to get married, and now I am running a bordello for the natives. Do you have any idea of what is going to happen if Kat or Myrna gets a whiff of this? I guarantee you they will be burying me here, and probably pretty quick, because between the two of them, they will tear me to pieces. Also, the men coming here have strict orders not to touch or fraternize with the native women in any way, under the threat of lashes or a firing squad. Now, suppose you tell me how I am supposed to work this one out to everyone's satisfaction?"

"I don't know Jon, but you're the chief now."

He was laughing at the look I gave him, and wouldn't do anything but look at me and laugh all the way back to the house. By the time we got back I was about ready to clobber him. When we walked around the corner, there were men sitting at the tables chatting and drinking coffee and all were in shorts and t-shirts. At first glance, I could see these were all senior men, and I doubted that any of them were less than thirty years of age. When I was spotted, they all stood up and came forward to greet me in the traditional French way. To a man, they all thanked me for letting them use my villa for some down time. They told me they all had their kits as well as side arms, and had orders to follow my lead concerning anything to do with security. While being greeted, I was thinking fast. I decided the best way was to just tell them the truth, but away from the house. Since Sally and maybe Carver spoke some French, I didn't want them to overhear the conversation I was about to have. God, I was thinking, how come I always get myself into these situations? I told them to fall in and follow me, as I led them on foot, back down the road we had just come up. When we got out of sight of the house, I told the rear two men to watch our backs and told them all to be seated. It did look kind of strange with these nine men sprawled on the trail, but I had seen odder sights.