Posted by
Leon Weinstein on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 12:00:00 AM
13. Island of Peace
“You must remove your weapons and leave them with the Port Authority. They will be returned when you leave our Island of Peace,” said the smiling customs officer who greeted us at the small port of this lovely green island. It was indeed peaceful here; we understood perfectly why the islanders didn’t want visitors going around with swords on their belts.
What was strange is that border guards, customs officers and even police were not carrying weapons. “There are no weapons on the Island of Peace,” they explained. “We don’t believe in violence.”
“I like their attitude,” Ninoh said. “Think about it, weapons are bad. People feel powerful when they hold them. It might be a good idea to outlaw all weapons. Many lives could be saved.”
I wasn’t sure about that. I was told many times that weapons are not bad unless they fall into the wrong hands, and I believed this simple truth. But if they were taken off everyone’s hands, they couldn’t fall into the wrong ones, right?
We wandered the streets of the capital city. Everyone on the island was really kind and nice. We went to a farmers’ market. We watched clowns perform on a stage and agreed that, if things got rough again, we’d try our luck with a circus. There were many exotic fruits to try, and an abundance of nuts and fresh lemonade. “Don’t you have real fights here?” Ninoh asked one old farmer whose goat cheese we favored among a dozen we tasted. “Not clowns making fun of each other, but people defending their honor, for example, or just losing their temper?”
“Of course we do,” he answered. “We’re people, some of us with quite a temper—like my missus. But we reason with each other and since there are no weapons anywhere, it almost never comes to a tragic end. We even outlawed sharp knives. Sometimes it’s very inconvenient, but it’s worth it.”
“Wait a second,” Ninoh said, “what about soldiers? They have weapons, right? They can enter into a quarrel. Or a little boy can find daddy’s gun and fire it at his friend. Don’t tell me that’s never happened here!”
The farmer smiled. “You just gave me another good reason to ban guns forever,” he answered. “We don’t have an army. We don’t need it. We’re not planning to attack anyone, and we can reason with anyone who’d want to conquer us. We’re not a rich island. There is nothing here that would attract fortune hunters.”
Ninoh’s eyes flashed. “I’ve known people who sought power for it’s own sake They wanted to conquer just to conquer, to torture for the sake of torture. Those are bad people, and you can’t reason with them. You have to fight, and fight hard!”
“That’s where you’re wrong, young lady,” the farmer said with a smile. “You can reason with anyone. You can explain to them that trade and friendship is better than fighting. They have families too, and they’ll understand.”
I looked around; a small group of passersby had gathered and stood there listening to us, nodding their approval of the old farmer’s words.
“What you would do if such bad people came to your land?” asked a girl about our age, who carried a basket filled with fruits and vegetables. Ninoh’s hand moved to where her sword used to be. “You see,” the girl said, “you wouldn’t even sit down with them to discuss why they’re doing what they’re doing. Maybe they have problems, or maybe they just crave attention.”
“First I’d kick them out of my home,” Ninoh snapped, “and then I might be ready to reason with them and find out what their problem is. You, young lady, have got your priorities wrong. First kick their butts, then talk sense.”
“We’re pacifists here,” smiled the girl, “and pacifists think differently. We’re way past those violent thoughts and discussions. Violence is never the answer.”
“Excuse me.” I decided to join the conversation. “What would happen if those good people you’re talking about decide to kill a couple of kids here on this island?”
“You’re sick,” said the old farmer. “Don’t be ridiculous,” scoffed another. “What a disgusting thought,” spat a third. The crowd turned their backs on us and melted away while the farmers returned to their stands and ignored us completely. The girl remained, still smiling. I rather liked her. She was small, with a round, friendly face and very short light hair. She didn’t agree with what we were saying, but she didn’t dismiss us just because we thought differently
“You must excuse my countrymen,” she said. “They don’t like hypothetical conversations about killing children. They can’t stomach it. But you came from a violent world, where killing and waging war is normal. If you decide to stay here, you will come to understand that human beings are basically good, just confused. When you talk to them . . .”
“You mean you’d keep talking to someone who says he’s going shoot your children?” Ninoh was stunned.
“My name is Mona,” said the girl, “and I am too young to have children.”
“Well, Mona,” Ninoh said as they shook hands, “I want to ask you something, since you can stomach hypothetical questions about killing children. Let’s say there are two kids standing in front of a stranger, who has a gun and is about to shoot them. You beg him not to, but he says he doesn’t care and is about to squeeze the trigger. Suddenly you see a gun within reach. You can pick it up and shoot the murderer. Would you?”
“We don’t have guns on this Island, so there’d be no gun to pick up and shoot anyone,” Mona replied sweetly. “And yes, I’m quite sure I could talk this guy out of killing innocent children. He probably had a rough childhood and needs someone to talk to.”
“Are you ready to take a chance that he won’t kill one of the kids?” Ninoh insisted, but Mona smiled her widest smile and turned and walked away. It was probably too much even for her to stomach.
“Can you believe that?” Now Ninoh was angry. “I hope they never live to regret their words.”
How little we knew.
Everywhere we went, we asked about Hugh. No one had heard about any newcomer. No one saw any boys flying with kites during a full moon. No one had any weapons. No one could give us any reason for a good fight, or for waging a war. They simply couldn’t see any reason why a person would want to kill or hurt another. Not one.
“Nice people,” Ninoh grunted.
I agreed.
“I can’t stand them anymore,” she added.
My feeling exactly.
We walked back to the port to retrieve our swords and leave this sickly-sweet island when we heard loud cries coming from the marketplace. We ran towards the conflict along with dozens of islanders.
A huge crowd surrounded the stage where the clowns had performed. Unable to see anything behind the silent mass that was staring at whatever it was, we elbowed our way closer. Finally we got to the first row and saw five midgets walking up and down the stage, holding armed crossbows aimed at the crowd. Near the stage lay a dead peace officer with an arrow through his neck. Another officer lay bleeding and moaning face down on the stage, two arrows in his back. The midgets ignored them completely.
The tallest of the midgets was addressing the crowd. “If anyone tries to leave this Island without my permission it will be considered a crime, and crime is punished by death. If anyone disobeys any orders from any of my men, it’s considered a crime. And crime is punished by death. If anyone is on the streets after sunset, it will be considered a crime. And crime is punished by death. I am Draga the Warlord,” he roared, thrusting his armed crossbow into the air, “and I will personally execute the offenders and their families. Do I make myself clear?”
The crowd sagged with shock. The answer to Draga’s speech was deafening silence. I signaled to Ninoh: Only five of them? Her eyes slid from side to side and I saw six or seven more, armed with crossbows and knives, walking behind the crowd. Then the crowd parted and we saw a tall man in his sixties who was led to the stage by two armed midgets.
“And who is this?” demanded the self-proclaimed warlord.
“I am governor of this Island,” the tall man stated clearly, “and I demand an explanation of . . .”
Draga shot him through the heart without even looking at him. The crowd gasped and cringed.
“No one speaks to me until they’re spoken to,” he said coldly. “Now, since your governor has had a most tragic accident and no longer can fulfill his duties, I hereby appoint myself in his stead. Is there anyone to oppose me?”
No one answered. No one even inhaled. “Good. That’s what I thought.”
“Excuse me, sir.” I heard a voice and saw the old farmer whose goat cheese we liked so much making his way through the crowd. I wanted to stop him but he was too far away.
The little leader gaped at the old farmer at utter disbelief. “Didn’t I just tell them that they can talk to me only when they’re spoken to?” he asked one of his minions who stood nearby, still aiming his crossbow at the crowd.
“I am an old man, sir,” the farmer continued, coming closer, “and I’d like to tell you that what you did was absolutely unnecessary.”
“And why is that?” Draga sneered, fingering the wicked-looking knife at his belt.
“We’re all civilized people here,” the old farmer said soothingly. “We can talk to each other. We can resolve problems. We can negotiate . . .”
Draga’s knife flew across the stage and deep into the old man’s chest. The farmer collapsed, bleeding and unconscious.
“End of negotiations,” Draga spat. “I won.” He scanned the crowd. “Anyone else?”
I saw movement within the crowd and then a glimpse of Ninoh grabbing a young girl and pushing her down and out of the crowd. Ninoh’s hand covered her mouth, but I recognized Mona.
“What was that?” The stunted warlord whirled in their direction. Two midgets immediately began moving toward the disturbance.
I thought fast. “Lord Draga,” I said loudly, “may I speak, my lord?”
I had their attention and the girls were safe for now. “Go ahead,” he growled, towering over me from the stage.
“My lord,” I repeated with a deep bow, “I think we understood. May we go now? Or do you wish us to do something?”
Draga’s growl turned into a roar of laughter. “I like this boy,” he grinned at me. “I might use you. Come tomorrow morning and we’ll talk.”
He turned to the crowd. “You people got a very valuable lesson today. Now, clean up this mess, and bring food and wine to the governor’s residence—or a few more of you will be dead in the morning.”
When I found the girls around the corner, Mona was crying. “I’ve known him all my life,” she sobbed. “I’ve been buying cheese from him as long as I can remember. And the governor is my uncle. My mother’s brother. He taught me to read and write.”
“Do you know where those midgets came from?” I asked her urgently. “How many there are? How they got here? And how we can get our swords back?”
“Are there any weapons on this island?” Ninoh broke in. “Any people who could fight Draga’s little army?”
Mona didn’t know where those terrible people came from, or how many were on the island. But she knew that their ship had come to the island about a month ago, and they’d set up a big tent and performed circus acts. They had ridden fine horses, walked on ropes, and boasted that their best number was throwing knives, which for some reason were prohibited on the Island of Peace.
“Ship, eh?” Ninoh nudged me, and off we went to the port. There was a three-misted yacht in the middle of the marina. Several armed midgets patrolled the deck, and they all looked bored.
“I’d guess no more than fifty aboard,” Ninoh muttered, “and I’d bet on about thirty. What do you think?”
“The element of surprise,” I answered, “will serve us best if we attack tonight. They’re so sure of themselves, they’re already careless.”
“People?” Ninoh raised an eyebrow.
I shrugged. “Let’s hope that today’s show made a lasting impression on the islanders. But are they ready? I don’t have an answer.”
“I’ll fight,” Mona said quickly, “but I don’t know how. No one on the island knows how to fight. No one’s had a gun, a sword or even a knife in our hands for years, because we have none. But you can count me in.” I was proud of her.
“People first.” Ninoh’s tone was once again that of commander-in-chief and Third to the Throne. She was born and bred to lead in difficult situations; in critical moments something clicked inside her and she assumed leadership effortlessly. “We don’t need many, but about a dozen fighters is a must.”
“Have you a plan, my Lady?” I asked with a wink.
Ninoh grinned savagely. “In my head are all the plans ever developed on my island—which was notorious for fighting,” she added for Mona’s sake. After a short mental count she added, “There are about a dozen plans created for this very situation by the Supreme Lady’s staff alone, for kicking invaders’ butts and freeing an island of medium size. However, no one ever planned on using pacifists instead of soldiers, but we’ll try to manage. I hope they’re not cowards, just pacifists. Yes, I have a plan.”
“I know where all the important people will go today,” Mona offered. “I’ll take you there.”
It was almost dark, and armed patrols glared upward suspiciously at everyone on the streets. Mona quickly led us to an old mill on the outskirts of the city. “This is where we come for important occasions,” she told us. “There’s a stage and a dance floor, where we celebrate. There’s also our Museum of the Dark Ages, which contains many historical objects from our past. I’m sure other people who want to end this terrible situation will find their way here.”
We entered the mill and found about thirty to forty men and women, all grim, some in tears. A bold bulky man of about forty, whom Mona called Karl, was speaking when we came in. “We need to form a delegation of our most trusted citizens and discuss future arrangements with the new regime. We need to know what we will and will not be allowed to do, otherwise our relations with the new government will be strained. We need guidelines; that’s the most important task for tomorrow. We don’t even know how to address our new governor.”
A tall, well-dressed woman of obvious influence picked up where Karl left off. “We absolutely must learn how to live with the new government or we won’t be able to perform even simple everyday activities. I was planning my vacation, and now I’m not even sure my passport is still valid. I hope nothing will happened to destabilize the situation, and that we’ll find a way to cooperate. We’re all people, after all. We must work together to allow regular folks to live their normal, everyday lives without distractions, am I right?”
“What about freedom, Adulia?” demanded an older woman who looked like a school teacher. “Won’t you even consider fighting for your life?”
“This is exactly what I was afraid of,” Adulia sneered. “You’re only a museum curator, Mirra. What do you know about real life?”
“We’re surrounded by our history,” Mirra snapped back. “We’ve had great moments. We stood for something called principles, and we evolved from a society of barbarians to one of high moral values. Look around you; what do you see?”
I looked around. The island’s history was reflected in the costumes of previous generations, in samples of their furniture, utensils, and handicrafts. And ancient weapons. Not much, but something.
The curator continued, “We must never allow those murderers to make us a society of slaves. We must resist with all our might. We must learn how to fight again. Some things are more important than life itself!”
“Nothing is more important than life,” said bold Karl. “The new government . . .”
“The midgets, you mean,” Ninoh interjected.
“Don’t call them that,” Adulia snapped. “I personally have always preferred shorter men. And these gentlemen are not short enough to call them . . . that despicable word. They may be a little harsh, but that’s probably because insensitive people like you call them that.”
A timid young woman suddenly brightened up. “Do you think they might want to marry local girls? There have always been more women than men on our Island. We women suffered and no one cared.” Mona whispered that her name was Klara.
“I don’t care who’s in charge,” said a guy dressed like a working man but with manicured nails. “Everyone needs workers and workers need us organizers. They’re like little children without us.”
A well-dressed man in his forties named Utti spoke up. “There are many good things that can happen as a result of the change in regime. We badly needed fresh air, so to speak. Our government was corrupt, and I personally voiced my opposition to many of the former governor’s decisions. Second, I’m sure they’ll hire people to help with the day-to-day work. Someone will have to supervise the common folk, and I for example know our people well and can be invaluable. And don’t forget, if some other power tried to conquer our island, we’d have warriors who will protect us. So you see, it’s not so clear who is using whom. They need us as much as we need them.”
“I’m ashamed of you,” Mona broke in hotly. “I brought foreigners who can help us fight back, and you’re already surrendering everything we’ve stood for all these years.”
“She has a personal animosity toward the new regime,” Adulia. “The previous governor was her uncle, and she wants to use us to retaliate for her family loss. How selfish!”
“Thank you, Mona,” Mirra said. “I’m glad there’s at least one person on our Island who hasn’t lost her courage and personal integrity.”
“I’d fight,” said Arthur, a short plumpish man in his thirties, “but I always was taught that fighting is always wrong; that no matter what, one human being can’t harm another. Now my wife and kids can be harmed and I can’t do anything about it.”
“But you can!” Ninoh said urgently. “There are no more than three dozen of them. And more than a thousand of you. They won’t be expecting a counterattack tonight. They’ll be drunk soon, and even their guards will become careless. Yes, some of you will be injured, some may even die—but you can take back your freedom, your dignity. What you will be teaching your kids if you give up now?”
“Who is this person?” Adulia demanded, looking down her long nose at Ninoh. “Who gave her the right to open her mouth here and teach us how to educate our children?”
“We have no weapons,” Karl said, ignoring her outburst. “If we had good weapons, we could fight. But we don’t.”
“What about the ones hanging on the walls?” I asked. Everybody began looking around eagerly.
“This junk?” Klara wrinkled her nose. “They’ll wipe you out with their crossbows. Didn’t you see how fast and how far they can shoot?”
A guy who looked like a college freshman came forward. “If we don’t argue, if we obey, they’ll have no reason to kill us. What are they asking for, after all? A little respect. And if we start fighting they’ll kill some of us and there goes any hope of compromise. We need to keep our doors open for future discussions. We haven’t even tried yet. And as a matter of fact, I don’t want to die. Is it a crime to want to live and enjoy life?”
“Those short soldiers may turn out to be nice people after all,” Klara added. “We don’t know the first thing about them, and we’re already rejecting them. That’s not fair. We must give them a chance to prove themselves.”
“They kill people,” Mona said flatly.
“No one said they’re perfect,” answered Klara.
Ninoh turned and spoke to me. “I don’t want to fight for these people. They make me sick. They’re not worth fighting for.”
She instantly became the focus of everyone’s attention.
“How many fighters do you have?” Adulia intoned, drawing herself up to full height. “And what do you want for helping us get rid of those bloody midgets?”
“I have no other fighters,” Ninoh grinned. “It’s just me and him.” She pointed, and I grinned too. “You pacifists confiscated our swords when we landed today, and now your port authority is controlled by the invaders. But my friend and I are willing to use your ancestors’ weapons right alongside you, and help you in any way we can—if you are also ready and willing to fight. But if you’re not, you’re not worth fighting for—and we’re leaving.”
“Wait!” Mona cried. “I’m ready to fight.”
“Me too,” said the old curator.
“I will,” Arthur piped up, and three or four other voices echoed his words.
Ninoh looked at me. Was it worth saving this island for the sake of a few righteous men?
A boy dashed into the mill yelling, “You’ve got to see this!” and everyone rushed out. It was already dark and the full moon lit the skies. Twelve teens were descending from the skies, using kites and carrying soda bottles.
“The Emperor’s death squad!” someone cried. “Sharks!” yelled another. “Hugh!” I hoped.
The first boy landed in front of us, looked us up and down, and announced, “The Emperor sent us to help.” There was silence while the other boys and girls landed. Each wore a sword and a backpack. I didn’t see Hugh among them.
The old curator stepped forward. “I, that is, we, thank you,” she stammered, “but who you are and how you can help?”
“The Imperial Guard, ma’am,” the boy replied briskly, “and I am captain. The Emperor sends his regards, and a warning. The midgets are very dangerous and bloodthirsty. They already invaded two other islands and left a great deal of suffering in their wake. They seek out islands without weapons because they’re the easiest to conquer.”
“And how you can help us?” asked Karl. “I don’t see any warriors, just twelve boys and girls without weapons or armor.”
“We will get rid of the invaders before they inflicted more damage,” the boy politely assured him. He was smiling quietly and meeting the eyes of everyone he spoke to, but somehow I got the feeling he was watching everything and everyone.
“And what happens to us if you all get killed?” intervened Adulia. “We could suffer even more if you all die.”
“Yes, ma’am. You might suffer more as a consequence of our deaths,” he acknowledged. Now all the Guards was looking at Adulia with interest, even amusement. “But I can assure you that, if we weren’t up to the task, we wouldn’t have been handpicked for His Excellency’s Imperial Guard.”
Adulia’s mouth opened and then snapped shut.
“We thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” Mirra said, “for your willingness to die for strangers. May I ask why the Emperor is helping us? History teaches us that the only place you can find free cheese is a mousetrap. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but this is an important practical matter for us.”
“I fully understand,” the young captain said earnestly. “I appreciate your directness and honesty, ma’am, and I will reciprocate. The Emperor doesn’t want to add your island to his holdings. He doesn’t want any tribute or payment from you in any form. He wants you to continue to be free, hopefully be our friends, but we’re not asking you to sign any treaty or agreement. Just be free, and prosper.”
There was a long silence, and then Mirra spoke out clearly. “God bless you all.”
“So it’s settled,” said the boy, and all twelve Guards moved forward, nodding and smiling. “Now, who can tell me where the midgets’ headquarters are, and describe in detail the building they’re occupying?”
“I can,” Mona offered. “I practically grew up in that building.”
“Excellent! Next, I’ll need volunteers. We must capture their yacht and enter their headquarters without losses on our side. I need help. The midgets might know our faces and we don’t want to alert them ahead of time.”
“I’ll help,” Mona said again.
“Count me in,” Arthur added.
“If I can help, I will,” Mirra promised.
Ninoh and I exchanged a silent agreement, and she turned to address the Guards. “Not one of these people has any battle experience, captain. My friend and I are travelers. We have been slaves and emerged victorious from the arena as gladiators. Don’t be fooled by our age and appearance. We can help.”
Now all twelve were staring at us. “There is never a connection between appearance and courage,” the captain replied, and saluted us. “We accept your offer.”
Those of us who were ready to fight returned to the museum and selected weapons from the exhibits. I found two short fighting sticks linked by a rusted chain; Ninoh located an ancient whip and grinned from ear to ear.
We caught a stray cat, put it in a sack and planted it on a narrow street not far from the governor’s residence, which three midgets were patrolling. The cat began mewling and all three ran around the corner with their crossbows armed. As they closed in on the sack, lassos flew from the windows of nearby buildings and in seconds the midgets were bound and gagged and hanging upside down in the school gym. The entire operation took less than two minutes, without a single sound to alert others.
“Now for the yacht,” the young captain whispered.
Ninoh and I borrowed a rowboat and headed for the yacht. As we drew near, two midgets loudly demanded to know where we were going. “Lord Draga,” I yelled back, “said to deliver a sample of the local wine to his loyal guards.” I stood and held up several bottles, and their snarls turned into smiles.
“About time someone remembered us,” one said. “Hey, boy, bring it up over here.”
“Lord Draga,” Ninoh added, “ordered us to deliver one bottle per person, not a drop more. But he didn’t tell us how many of you there are.”
“Give us the whole case,” said the second midget, and they both laughed.
“Oh, no!” I said. “He’ll kill us. We’d better go back and tell him that, since we didn’t know how many . . .”
“Now, now,” interrupted the first midget. “You can hand us six bottles. That will do.”
“May I see all of you together?” I asked nervously. “I don’t want Lord Draga to punish me.”
“Lord!” scowled one of the midgets. “If he’s a lord, I’m a horse. You just wait right there; I’ll call the others.”
When all six midgets stood looking down at us from the deck, I began to count loudly and slowly. “One, two, three . . .”
At “four” the Imperial Guards descended onto the yacht. Three midgets raised their crossbows; Ninoh and I quickly dispatched two and left the third to the first Guard who landed. The other three midgets fell to their knees with hands in the air, scared to death. They were tied up and gagged and delivered to the school gym. We collected their knives and crossbows, located an arsenal of other weapons and loaded everything onto our rowboat.
When we came back ashore we were met with good news: two more patrols had been apprehended, and the only midgets still free on the island were the warlord and six of his henchmen, all still in the governor’s mansion. But I felt the greatest joy when Mirra handed us our swords. “Carry them with pride,” she said.
It was already dawn when the entire resistance force—twelve Imperial Guards, Ninoh, myself, and both armed and unarmed islanders—surrounded the governor’s residence, which stood on the largest square in the center of the city. Then the big discussion about the midgets’ future started. Some said that we cannot harm human beings and the midgets must be set free after giving up their weapons, but were unclear as to what would happen if the midgets refused to disarm. Others said that the killing innocent civilians must be punished by lifetime imprisonment, but since the Island of Peace had no prisons, they should find another island that did and pay them for holding the midgets there. Opponents of this idea argued that many “war heroes” are actually killers in disguise, and if they were free and honored then the midgets should also be set free.
In my opinion, they just didn’t want to pay for the midgets’ incarceration.
Still others said that the midgets must give their word that they won’t come back to this island, and then they can go anywhere they want. There were many noble and smart ideas, but not one that would help to prevent future invasions.
The Imperial Guards were patiently waiting for the outcome of the discussion, and I had a chance to approach the captain. “Excuse me,” I said, “have you ever heard about a boy who flew to this empire on a kite like yours? His name is Hugh.”
“Why do you want to know?” he asked.
“Hugh is my friend,” I said. “I am looking for him. If you know anything, please tell me.”
“Noble thing, to look for a friend,” the captain replied, his eyes on mine. “Which island did you say you came from?”
I remembered that most islanders have no idea about the outside world. “The Island of Honor and Justice,” I said after a moment of hesitation.
“So this Hugh is from the same island?” he asked. “And was he a slave like you and that girl who fights like a man?”
Just then we noticed movement in the group of the island’s big shots. Utti, the critic of the previous regime, walked cross the square and stood in front of the mansion. He picked up a pebble and tossed it at a second-floor window. Soon the window opened and Draga looked out. He scanned the armed crowd watching him from all sides of the square, spotted Utti, shot him right between the eyes, and slammed the window down.
For ten seconds the square was deathly quiet. Then the mob burst into a frenzied roar. “Kill them! Kill them all!” The twelve Guards scurried into position as armed citizens closed on in the mansion from all sides. Some carried torches, threatening to burn every occupant alive.
I looked around but couldn’t find Ninoh. Noises sounded from inside the house, yelling and running footsteps and a few loud thumps and crashes. A few moments later the front door opened and out came Lord Draga, an empty crossbow in his hands and a gaping slash across his neck. He took three steps forward and fell down dead. No one came after him from within the now silent house.
The islanders stormed inside and found all six of Draga’s bodyguards dead, with either fatal cuts inflicted by a sword or throwing knives still stuck in their bodies. Suddenly Ninoh appeared at my side, outwardly calm, her nostrils flaring like a racehorse’s. She volunteered no explanations and I decided not to ask.
“Bury the dead,” ordered the captain of the Guards, “and then inform everyone there will be a meeting here in the square this evening. There’s a thing or two we need to tell you.”
Exactly what Ninoh and I thought would happen. One invader was defeated, but another one had come in disguise and was planning to stay. They had only pretended to be guardian angels, but they were obviously Sharks. We called for our own meeting first.
“You have weapons now,” we told the islanders. “Here’s the arsenal we took from the yacht and from the midgets on the island. The new occupation can be even bloodier than the midgets’. We’ve heard the horror stories about Shark Island, that it’s the worst place in the entire Thousand Islands Empire. You must show these Sharks that you won’t bend, won’t let them enslave you and your children. All you need to do is surround them with your weapons while we’re talking to them. We’ll let them say what they want at the meeting—and at our signal, they’ll get an answer they didn’t bargain for.”
We came to the meeting in full force—more than a thousand citizens of the Island of Peace, all armed and ready to defend their lives and their freedom. It was late evening and the Moon showed us the way. When we arrived the Guards were waiting for us on the steps of the governor’s mansion. Each one carried a kite and a soda bottle, and wore a sword and a backpack.
We hid our weapons and surrounded them. We even sent islanders in through the back door so they could take aim at their backs through the windows. When the square had filled with people, the young captain’s voice rang out.
“Citizens of the Island of Peace, your freedom is once again in your own hands.” He saluted us and all twelve threw their kites into the air. One by one they floated off and soon disappeared into the night sky.
“What happened?” demanded those at the rear of the crowd. “Where did they go?” asked those at the front. “Why did they come here?” queried others. “What did they want from us?” wondered many who hadn’t seen anything but had heard the story.
Rumors began to fly. “They were in on it with the midgets, and everything was staged by the Emperor.” “They had a hidden agenda all along.” “They heard we were going to attack, and they got scared and ran away” (very popular among the island’s youth). Someone even said, “They’re building a zone of influence,” and since few understood what that meant, many believed and often repeated the statement.
We heard things like “inhuman treatment of animals” referring to the cat in a sack we’d used to lure the patrol into a narrow street. “They should be sued in for excessive force and disproportional response” was repeated often in the local independent newspaper. We overheard Adulia telling a crowd of supporters that, if not for the Sharks’ “interference with the peace negotiation process,” there wouldn’t have been any casualties. Most memorable was Klara’s disgust with the “terrible example of discrimination against short people.”
Safe on our raft, Ninoh turned to me as we rowed beyond the surf. “Do you think the Sharks will return to the Island of Peace?”
“They will if there’s trouble again and they believe they can help,” I assured her.
She frowned and shook her head. “I don’t get it, Nik. Whoever has the force to occupy another island never leaves until they’re forced out. No island or country in the world would come to the rescue and then leave voluntarily.”
I thought about that a bit. “Actually,” I said, “I live in such country. That’s where I came from.”
And for the first time during my journey, I felt like something was missing. I wanted to go back to my own home, to be among my family and friends. I’ll find Hugh and then go home, I decided.