Chapter 55

I was going over in my mind all that had transpired today while I followed them back to the hut we had been in previously. I had more questions than answers, and regardless of Kat's changes, she hadn't seemed to change towards me in any way. We went in and again were served tea and sweet honey cakes. Quanta seemed deep in thought and I waited for him to speak as we sipped our tea. We were watching him when he seemed to snap out of his deep thoughts and looked back at us.

"Jon, for the first time in my marriage, my wife has refused to answer my questions. She would only tell me that Kat had imparted a message to her, and it was for the women of the society. It did not concern the torch bearers in any way. She also told me that what it was she said to you and Koma on the path would never be repeated, as she seemed to have forgotten what she said. My wife said her eyes have indeed changed into the emerald green you described, but that Kat seemed to be unaware of any changes. Jon, I have seen many changes over the years, but none were as strange as what has transpired here today. I cannot rationalize it and say that I understand everything, but I will say you have seemed to find the one who is a perfect mate for you. I also have good news; you will be a father of two boys and a girl. Sylveen says that somehow the fetuses are already aware of what's going on around them. Congratulations, my friend, we are happy for you."

I sat and looked at him in shock, thinking about what he had just said. I had a hundred questions, but somehow I knew that he wouldn't be able to answer them. I just sat and sipped my tea, lost in thought. For the next hour, there wasn't a word spoken in the hut. Everyone seemed to be lost in the contemplation of all that had happened today. Finally, Pala spoke as if he was talking to himself, and we all just looked at him in total disbelief.

"I have spent days in meditation, thinking about my many years as shaman of this village. Today has been an epiphany for me because I have witnessed a miracle. I have seen a long forgotten God come back to us through the mouth of a torch bearer's wife. I have intensely studied all that is known about our society, and this has happened only one time before, almost four hundred years ago. The messages at that time were quickly passed on by the bearer and promptly forgotten about. Even the bearer of the message had no inkling it had happened. Jon, I too have seen Kat's aura, and it is the aura of peace and love. I know you are skeptical about this because of your training and background, but believe me when I say it is the truth. You are new to our society, and I can sense your doubt as easily I feel the wind blowing through the trees. I know you will never completely accept what we believe, but I hope you do keep an open mind. It will guide you through some of the difficulties that lie ahead of you. Trust in your wife and listen to her council. You will be one together for the many years and in all things, and it will be a great help to you. I sense that the blending ceremony tonight will not be necessary, because your spirits and hearts have already become as one. In my years of living here and in the outside world, I have never seen two people so strongly connected as you and Kat."

Both Koma and Quanta looked at him in surprise when he finished speaking. Then they looked at each other before Quanta spoke.

"Although I am not a shaman nor do I claim to be one, this is almost word for word what my wife told me earlier. Jon, I believe that there will be much happiness in your future. Our society has gained much more from you being one of us than you will ever know. Jon, before your children are born, I would ask that you and Kat make the journey to the temple in the mountains. I think what you both will find and see will have a great effect on your future together. The only living torch bearer who has the four torches is the head monk of the temple, and deep inside I feel that he needs to speak to the both of you as soon as possible. I know that you have many chores to complete, but will you consider the trip as a personal favor to me? I will make all the arrangements and I will personally guarantee your safety the whole time."

"Quanta, I know you are my friend, but I do not wish to put Kat in any danger. I know how upside down it is in South Africa today. If she is pregnant, as all of you seem to believe, I will not take any chances of her or the babies coming to any harm. I personally would love to visit the temple and talk to the monks, but taking Kat along in her condition is not something I want to think about. What I have witnessed today with my own eyes is unsettling enough, and not what I would have wished for when we came here. I have gone along with it all because she is happy, but I draw the line at putting her in any kind of danger. She has become my whole life in this short time and I won't take any chances with that."

"I understand but you still don't seem to realize how safe you both would be. Even if you stopped in the middle of a war and were surrounded by the battle, neither of you would be harmed because all there know what would happen to them if they harmed you in any way. The whole country would rise up and wipe the tribe who was responsible out of existence. This they all know, and believe me when I say it would happen. If two tribes were warring they would declare an immediate truce and come together to make you both welcome as though you were King and Queen of the land. Jon, I have never lied to you nor would I ever. You have to believe me when I say you both would be safe in your journey. This is the power that the society has in my part of the world. It is absolute and all know this. Please, talk it over with Kat and reconsider doing it and soon."

Quanta was right, and I felt it deep inside, but I still worried about Kat. In all the years I had known him, he had always been there when I needed him, and had never misled or lied to me for any reason. I would talk it over with Kat, but for my own reasons. I had wanted to visit this temple, ever since Koma had told me about it and all its magical wonders. I felt that Kat would relish going, but I still had that little nagging doubt in the back of my mind. Oh well, I would leave the decision to her, as her wants were more important than my own doubts. Who knows, I thought, maybe I could even sneak Sally and Myrna into the luggage and take them too. I knew Sally would love it, but Myrna would be another matter because of how she felt about staying home and tending the house. I didn't get any further in my thoughts, because Pala stood up and said it was time for the final ceremony to start.

I followed him outside, with Quanta and Koma, keeping a respectful distance to our rear. We walked to the cove facing the sunset out over the ocean. I immediately noticed two new huts about a hundred feet apart with the openings facing the sunset. Tiny and Maggie as well as Kat were there, and all three were talking and smiling as we approached. When they caught sight of Pala, they all knelt facing the sun. I went to Kat's side and knelt on her right, the same way I saw Tiny doing with Maggie. Just as the sun started to disappear, Pala started speaking to us.

"These two before us facing the setting of the sun are bound together by love and their love for each other. As shaman of this island, I would normally do the ceremonial cutting of the palms, but I have been told by the Gods this is not necessary for these two couples. Tiny and Maggie are already bound by love and devotion to each other. They have raised one child and now have the coming of another to bless them even more. They are as close as I have ever seen a married couple. The ritual blending would only serve to reinforce what has already been shown to me. I can and will bless their union in the name of the Sun God. As he goes to sleep, so shall they go to their hut to show their love for each other."

I watched as they were served a drink from the same cup and listened as Pala chanted as he bid them to drink all of it. When he was done, Koma took both their hands and escorted them to the hut on their side, and stood at the door as they entered. When he was finished, Pala came back over behind us and stood. Then he stepped in front of us and looked intently into our eyes before he started speaking again.

"This couple before me are as one already, but I do not understand how this has happened so quickly. They have just become man and wife, but to look at one is to see the other, their spirits and hearts are so closely bound together. Fire Hair and The Protector shall always be as one in all things, and I gladly give the Sun God's blessing to their union. I have had the honor of giving The Protector his torch, and have had the blessing to tell Fire Hair she is to be the mother of three. Those children will be a great influence to all who dwell in this land. In all my years as shaman, this is the first time I have felt like I should be the one to kneel and ask for their blessing upon myself and my people. Go in love, and may the Gods always look upon the two of you in favor and enlightenment."