22 AREAREA (Fun)

There was a kind of a picnic atmosphere on the beach; everybody seemed to be there and there must have been about a hundred people decorating the building, setting up drums, and spreading blankets on the grassy areas.

"You will have a party tonight?"

"Tamaaraa," Tahitian feast for popaa, a ‘Welcome' for European guests. The people will perform a Tahitian Maeva tonight. Better rest a little." Leilani looked coyly at Ivan and Gábor, wondering if they'd be interested.

"There are many vahine and potii here and not many men and they welcome the opportunity to dance with men rather than other women all the time. You're not married, are you?"

"Not yet. What are you doing after the party?" Laughing out loud, Leilani scanned over Ivan and Gábor thoroughly. Both men had that certain magnetism and charm that attracted Leilani. If they had been brought up in the old Polynesian ways, she would invite them both for hauti (play, making love). She could see herself with either, but Gábor was married, regrettably, and that was the line she wouldn't cross unless invited.

"Probably sleeping, but it depends on what the night wind blows in."

"Are you going to the Maeva?" Ivan inquired.

"Wouldn't miss out on it when there are new people around."

"Okay, count me in then." Ivan had an anticipatory look on his face, and Gábor also was looking forward to the festivities and wished Helena was here too. He thought about Leo and his heart tightened in his chest. Would Leo ever be accepted enough to see these kinds of performances, go to concerts or any cultural festivities? Gábor heart ached and all of sudden he didn't want to be here, not when his family could not be. But he also looked forward to seeing Leilani at the festivities and hoped he could see her dance. Beautiful as she was, he was curious how she danced and moved.

Ivan noticed the shadow on his friend's face and guessed what was going in his mind. He had a date with a gorgeous woman while Gábor was away from his wife. For sure he must be missing Helena. Feeling compassion for him, his resolve to go through with the plan he had in his mind, strengthened. He thought about how to introduce Leo as an ambassador of another species. These people here were eager to accept strangers and he wondered how they would react to beings other than human.

Leilani's remark about intelligence in dolphins and birds came back to him, and he wanted to know more about her and her views. Tonight would be a good opportunity to get to talk to her and he hoped to get to know her better. Crossing the throng of bodies, they continued toward the ‘hospital'. As they approached the clinic they saw a young woman from a distance at the entrance looking expectantly toward them.

"Ah, she's back," said Leilani, the pride in her voice subdued, but still perceptible as she spoke about her daughter.

She was as beautiful as the woman beside them; slender and very pretty, her youthful figure filled to full ripeness. The resemblance to Leilani was uncanny, more like a younger sister to Leilani than her daughter. Wearing a hibiscus flower above her ear like all the women and men here, Gábor noticed that some wore it over the right and others over the left ear and he asked Leilani about it. He had read somewhere that there was a significance as to on which side it was worn but forgot what it meant.

"I read some time ago that a flower over her right or left ear designates whether a woman is available or married, but I forgot which is which. Would you remind me, please?"

Leilani looked at him as if she wanted to guess his intention as to why he wanted to know. Was he interested in her daughter, or was his question out of curiosity? She was sure that the ring on his left finger was a wedding band, but the look on his face showed more than fleeting interest.

Was he the kind of men that came to the islands because they thought the females were exotic and easier than the ones back where they came from? Did he lust after other women like her husband had after he married her and had a child with her? Gábor didn't strike her like that at all, and she wouldn't like to think that. Having studied long enough in Europe she had enough insight into western culture and customs to know the jealousy and moral guidelines that ruled their lives, but under that was the secret reality.

In Polynesia of yore, things were very different and she had been brought up much closer to the old values and concepts and had imparted that in her daughters. Regardless of that, she would not tolerate her daughter being exploited by those people who were only interested in a quick roll in the sack. Quietly she explained.

"The difference is whether she is married or not. Over the right ear she is available, over the left, she is married or seriously involved with someone and is taboo, but sometimes a woman has a flower over her right ear even if she has a husband. With that, she indicates that she is available and open for a possible engagement, but that doesn't mean they won't take intimacy seriously. Approaching and flirting is okay and may lead to something, but it's up to her. Many boys have their eyes on her, but as it happens, Vai is not looking for a man as yet. Cheap thrills are not what it's about for her or most of the women here."

That was a shot across the bow and both men got it and understood the implied rule. They were now close enough to be audible and Gábor stopped talking and scanned over the young woman, keenly aware that her mother was observing him.

No shoes on her feet, she stood about the same height as Helena. Her oval face and high cheekbones, wide forehead, and big, observant blue-green wide apart eyes, topped by eyebrows rising in a gentle curve over her eyes were that of a supermodel. Her long, deep brown wavy, almost black hair framed her shoulders and hung down to the middle of her back. It was held in a barrette similar to her mother’s. Natural long and dark eyelashes contrasted with her bright eyes. Her straight nose and sensual mouth with full lips and a good chin were all set into a skin of golden brown complexion. The swaying palm fronds alternately exposed or shadowed her face. Her beauty stunned Gábor and Ivan. This young woman appeared to be between seventeen and twenty-five, depending on the light, and involuntarily, the two men's eyes scanned the two figures. Both female's bodies and the facial bone structure was such as they would remain beautiful into a high age, and both had the fine lines of athletes.

Leilani's daughter wore a blue pareu with red and orange flowers printed on it, and it wrapped around her body in a way that she looked like a picture postcard model. Her fully developed breasts, high, firm, and just perfect, not too big or too small, and fair sized nipples showed through the fabric as if she were cold. Her eyes revealed intelligence, alertness, and deep wisdom. The keen and observant expression on her face changed into a broad smile as she looked at Gábor, then Ivan and back to Gábor. An almost undetectable flicker of curiosity and interest flashed in her eyes that seemed to change color between bright emerald green and blue, depending on the playing light.

With a soft, singing voice, very similar to that of her mother, she greeted them. "Maeva. So you are the two popaa the whole community talks about."

Leilani faced the two men and with a smile, she introduced her.

"This is Vai, my youngest daughter," raising her left hand and using the right she touched one finger on her left hand saying. "She looks after the patients when I leave the Med-shack," then she touched another. "She wants to study to be a veterinarian and sometimes practices on humans," touching her ring finger she continued. "She has some funny ideas about people and society and finally, she is rebellious when it comes to education," she concluded laying a finger to the last small finger.

"Next year she plans to go to Europe to study in the Czech Republic. She also has a set of ears that hear every circulating rumour, and she is up for crucifixion next for her heretic views. She just finished school, but let that topic rest or she'll launch into a lecture without end."

Vai looked at her mother and in English with a slight French accent, she sweetly returned her mother's remark.

"Mother is the one to talk." Mimicking her mother she reiterated her mother's hand gestures, but made only two points.

 "She went to England because in Paris they thought her to be an anarchist. They didn't think it was chic and were happy when she went to London. I think she just wanted to escape the wrath of god. Point two; she left it to me to battle through school and endure all that what she had escaped. Did she not tell you that?" She smiled and then added more seriously.

"It's true. I want to study in Europe where there are better opportunities and not so much religious indoctrination. I'm interested in facts, not dogmas, and fairy tales. I think missionaries running schools stinks. They are more interested in brainwashing than allowing one to learn. I'm glad school is finished here and I don't have to listen to stories they want us to believe are true. I've never believed in stories unsupported by facts or at least strong evidence, and things that I can't explain, I will not explain with another improbable hypothesis, like those priests. So that explains my pending crucifixion."

Leilani spread her arms to her side, palms up and looked at the two men still staring at Vai. "See what I mean about lecturing?"

"It's never too early to drop out of school." Ivan injected, pouring fuel onto the girl's fire. Leilani looked with reproach at Ivan.

"Are you saddling her horse? She is just nineteen and needs to finish her education. She started three years late and had to catch up with the other kids, which she did remarkably well despite her rebellion," she smiled proudly at her daughter and put her arms around her shoulder. Turning her head she faced her with a smile. "Her rebellion had her nearly expelled from school."

"Supporting another does not necessarily mean ganging up on you. I have no schooling to speak of. I survived so far on my own wits, and nobody yet has discovered my ignorance until now. You two are the first to know," responded Ivan apologetically, but with a laugh in his voice. Leilani looked at him with played disdain. Vai nodded to his words with admiration and Gábor had a grin on his face. He knew Ivan well enough to know when he made fun of himself. Ivan was very intelligent and used his capacity well, but often letting others think he was an oaf. That way he knew more than others thought he did and used it to his advantage.

"Education is important," her mother insisted.

"Only the kind that allows one to learn instead turning one into a parrot," injected Gábor. His brush with the educational system had left enough fears with him to last a few lifetimes. He knew what this young woman meant. Vai looked at him with bright eyes and smiled, grateful for the moral support.

"Exactly what I'm saying. I love to learn and I want to know a lot of things. Discoveries and research from teachers with genuine knowledge based on evidence and facts I'm interested in, not beliefs or pseudoscience. I'm just not happy to be forced into studying things I'm not interested in just to pass grades. What do religious studies have to do with science or medicine? I want to study as you did Ma. None of the stuff the Fathers and Sisters tell us about has any scientifically supported evidence and is based only on faith. I doubt whether any of these priests, including the Pope, would jump out of an airplane with only their faith that says god will save them. Yeah, of course only after splattering on the ground. But they want us to follow them and their bible. Have faith, they cry, jump, they say, but they are making sure they would have a parachute." Gábor looked at Ivan who listened with a grin on his face. He liked this girl.

"Everybody needs schooling, Vai," insisted her mother.

"Ever saw a fish going to school, Ma? They have all the knowledge they need to live life without schools."

"Most are found in schools," said Gábor wryly.

Ready to battle Vai turned to him.

"And they study religion to pass grades so god could save their souls? I seriously doubt that."

Gábor stepped back lifting both hands chest-high. "Peace. I'm on your side," he laughed. Vai looked pacified.

"She has fire and some very good points," remarked Ivan. Leilani consentingly looked at Vai then to Ivan and admitted: "There are no schools around here without a religious slant and she must pass through them in order to advance," then, turning to Vai she continued.

"You're through and can go along your own path.  You know I will be behind you all the way."

"I know, Ma. I'm sorry if I upset you. We talked about this and I know you're with me on this. It is just very frustrating to listen to that nonsense every day. I'm not some dumb child. I'm glad I'm through, no more school for me here. I want to see more of what’s out there."

Ivan looked at the two women and saw the very strong likeness in their faces, and if the young woman were any indication of her mother's influence, they would make a great team, but veterinarian? Where could she possibly find work here? Tahiti would be the best place in the South Pacific. Perhaps some other islands had need of them. She would know more about it than him.

Leilani excused herself; she wanted to tend to Lundy, grabbed some items, and went inside through the garden to a fare, a Tahitian style building on posts with a bit of French influence in it. Vai offered them tea and they accepted. They had their packages still on the porch and Vai asked them where they wanted to go.

There was another fare here they could use, she said, glancing pointedly at Gábor. The men informed Vai that her mother had offered it to them as long as they needed it. Lundy was the only patient in a two-bed fare; another one was available. Vai looked happy and flashed a smile at Gábor.

"Sorry to have been harsh with you. Let me help you with that," she said and grabbed one of the backpacks before Gábor got it, and with a smile, he took the other small package he intended to give to someone as a gift, while Ivan picked up his backpack. Vai walked in front of Gábor and he admired her round butt and legs and the sway of her hips. Vai had the same sexy walk as Helena and their bodies were nearly identical. There was the same dance in her walk as in Helena.

While the water heated up, the men followed Vai and entered the other fare behind her. It was a clean place with two beds, a table, and a few hooks for clothing, a cabinet for personal items, nothing fancy, but very practical. A string curtain made from shells separated a shower stall from the room, which contained a toilet as well.

They put the small items on the bed and the backpack on the floor and accompanied the young woman back to the main building. The water was boiling and Leilani put petals of Jasmine flowers into the pot and poured hot water on them. Vai got the cups and Gábor used the time to look the two women over while Ivan engaged them in a bit of talk about the imminent festivity. Leilani was about fifty kilo and when she stood in front of him her eyes were at the height of his lips. Her blue eyes had dark rings around her iris and bore witness to European blood in her. Her open, heart-shaped face, bronze-tanned and bright, smile dazzled the two white men. Perfect white teeth flashed behind her sculptured, generous, full lips and took both men's breath away. She had a figure very much like Helena; slender and willowy like that of a teenager. Her hair was loose from the nape of her neck down, where a hair clip made from shell material held it, and from there it fell to the middle of her back and ended in another hair clip close to its end, perhaps to keep her hair together and not to get in the way when she worked.

She had a stronger flare to her hips than Vai, evidence that she had children, and with her hourglass figure, she looked very sexy indeed. Her round buttocks were high and firm and ended in nice legs, shapely calves, and fine ankles with small feet. Her youthful slender frame had all the right curves and her moves were graceful and elegant as that of a dancer.

She had changed into a western style skirt and a blouse with a v-cut just to the middle of her sternum and a necklace of black pearls decorated her neck and chest. Her round breasts, close together and a bit larger than Helena's seemed firm and he caught a glimpse of the dark areolae when she bent a bit forward as she did now while filling their cups with the aromatic Jasmine tea. Her golden skin showed no blemishes anywhere. He looked at her heart shaped face, wide, large eyes, straight nose, and full lips when she straightened up again.

Her age was hard to guess, but if Vai was nineteen and had an older daughter, the mother had to be about forty unless she had a child at a very young age, yet she didn't look more than thirty.

Vai was the younger version of her mother and there was no doubt the two women were related and they could easily pass for sisters. If Vai resembled her mother, her sister would too. Leilani's parents had passed down a great genetic bloodline and he wondered if he'd ever meet Vai's sister to affirm his observation.

He noticed Vai looking at him, and smiling as if expecting an answer from him and with a jolt, he got out of his scrutiny of the doctor's body.

"Hm-um, I was out of it for a minute. What did I miss?"

"Maybe a few things, but not much, I'd think," Vai smiled, having noticed his eyes on her mother's body. Gábor's face flushed. Leilani glanced at him and smiled, obviously enjoying his interest in her.

 "I asked what you are you doing here in Polynesia. There is not much here on Niau." He thought fast. What were they doing here?

"Uh, I work with Ivan on the same case. We came for holidays and then we decided to do this job, to find a person who fell overboard," he answered fast and turned toward the door to hide his face. He knew he wasn't a good liar.

"Insurance agents? You don't look like one. Sounds like a boring line of work."

"The money pays the bills."

"So when will you take Mr. Lundy to Papeete? What will you do after, I mean, after checking out the sights," she smiled and threw a glance at her mother, then looking at him again she continued. "Checking out the girls? Cultural events? The island; clubbing perhaps?"

"Vai, Aren't you a bit nosy?" her mother tried to restrain her daughter's inquisitiveness.

"It's okay Leilani, I don't mind. In fact, I enjoy it. It is not often that a young woman talks to me or is interested in what I do in my spare time." He turned to Vai again and delighted in her attention. She had a great smile and fascinating eyes and she was openly curious.

"I practice archery and martial arts when I'm in Canada, but here I am checking out the sites of your forefathers and I want to know about the living culture, how we foreigners have affected your lives and how the original people cope with it. It is like studying the cause and effect on people."

"That sounds interesting enough. Are you married? Wife, family, pets, any serious attachments?"

Leilani looked very uncomfortable, but when she looked at Gábor, she saw authentic interest in him to reply and answer her younger daughter's interrogating questions.

"Yes to all, Helena and ... Uh, we came together to Tahiti." He stumbled when he mentioned his family and the women noticed it, he was sure of that and quickly continued to cover up his faux pas.

"Yes, we have pets in Canada, two cats, and an old dog."

"I have a few dolphin pets and when I have time, I go swimming with them and have a lot of fun. They are very smart and sometimes I think they have more brains than the men do, at least here. I mean they have it more together, you know what I mean?"

Leilani broke into the conversation. "Vai means "Water" in our language and it fits her to a "T". She spends all her spare time with them and when I see them together, it is as if she is a dolphin too; she swims like one, plays like one, and I swear, she can talk with them too. If you have a chance to see her, you'll agree. She goes to the beach sometimes and when she whistles, they come, even if they prefer the southern beaches."

"Ma gave me the Va'a to use, my father's outrigger canoe, and I cross the lagoon to get to the southeast coast."

While Leilani spoke, Gábor contacted Leo. He was there and so was Helena, of course, and he wanted to share with them. This was interesting stuff. Ivan got in too and they ‘listened' to this conversation.

"Can you really speak to the dolphins?"

"I don't know if they speak as such, but they seem to understand concepts, and I can tell for sure when they are upset or happy. They "speak" with their body, with ultrasound, which of course we can't hear and then the way they move through the water. When they want you to understand something, they get physical, bumping you or coming at you with great speed, scaring the lights out of you, and then veer off, leaving you in their wake like a stunned fish. It sometimes gets like a boxing match and you have to watch out. You are better off getting out of the water when that happens."

"Did you consider studying Marine Biology?" asked Ivan.

"Yes, as a hobby or perhaps as a sideline, and I love cats, dogs, and horses, all kinds of animals, really. I love to cuddle with them, look after them when they need help and that is not possible with dolphins, at least not here. They live in a different world. They would die on land, and I would die in the water. As much as I love them, I must respect our differences. I think accepting our difference is the key to true love."

 "That's a very wise thing to say from someone so young, Vai. I've met someone else who is also very young and wise for his age. Perhaps I will introduce you to him one day, but I must talk with him and his parents first. I'm sure you'd like him."

Ivan breached a sensitive issue, he knew, and looked at Gábor and saw in his eyes a question. "Are you talking about Leo?"

"He is." Leo and Helena thought as one. "You know. Why are you asking?"

"I have a hard time believing it. You are risking exposing Leo."

"Sooner or later he will be known, Gábor. We cannot hide Leo forever. And we have to start somewhere."

"Leo is not ready."

"Maybe not and neither are you, but I did not mean to introduce him today. I need to know more about Vai and Leilani. When Leo says he is willing to meet her, then we will see how best to do it.  For now, I just want to prime the girl. Her mind-field is ready, Gábor. Leo needs friends and peers who can be with him and support him when he gets into the outside world and she could be one of them if I see it right."

All this dialogue took less than a second and the women experienced only a fraction of a pause in their conversation with Ivan.

"Helena, what is your take?" Gábor wanted to have her input, but Helena needed time to think about it and conveyed such.

"Let's get back to Vai and Leilani. Stay tuned."

"So where is this person you are talking about and who is he?" Vai asked.

"He is from Canada and lives in the woods. One day, if he is willing to meet you, I'll let you know. It's a promise."

"Canada is a long way from here."

"He promised me a dinner in Canada…what was it, Ivan… Horseshoe Bay?" Leilani told Vai and her eyes sparkled.

"What? In Canada? But… but you don't know him," groused Vai in mock outrage over her mother's apparent frivolity.

"I will by the time when I'm back here," Leilani shot back with a wicked smile.

"Ma, I thought I knew you." Vai laid her hand on her chest and her mouth formed an "O". "You're shocking me."

"Oh, thank heaven. I was afraid I'd lost that edge." Leilani laid her hand on her chest, just like her daughter. It was a game they played, intended for the popaa that were not used to the direct and immediate expression of feelings and danced around an issue that led almost always to the reason that man and woman existed.

Leilani had brought up her daughters in the way of her old culture that wasted no time with what so-called civilized cultures practiced called ‘getting to know each other'. In her view, once the acknowledgment of the attraction to another was established, there was no sense in useless conversation before the parties involved got down to the business of pleasure. There was no better way to get to know one other than becoming intimate with them.

There was no faking or conventionalism in this form of relating, no game playing where the partners got married and found out in the marriage that they fell for pretence and now were trapped and locked into a situation from which conformity made it difficult to escape from. People got to know each other very fast and if it was good, they continued with their relationship, and if not, they found another. The partners based a relationship on the experience with their chosen mates and not on ownership of the person.

Ivan and Gábor looked at each other and Gábor smiled at his friend even though he was a bit miffed with him. Leilani seemed to like Ivan, judging by her willingness to take him up on his offer to have dinner with him in Canada, but he wanted to know what ideas Ivan had and he needed time to link with Leo and Helena so he could have the whole idea of what was going on in Ivan's head. Helena and Leo in the background seemed to get the picture, and their thoughts were aligning with Ivan. Gábor squinted.

Leilani excused herself again and got up to see after Lundy. This time Ivan went with her and Gábor and Vai followed behind like colleagues would, but he stayed behind her. Vai walked in front of him, her hips swaying almost erotically and he caught himself looking at her buttocks and hips as he had earlier. Her slender frame was very feminine and trim. She had a smooth walk and somehow reminded him of Helena. Helena in the background snickered and was pleased too.

"I'm pleased to see you are still receptive to the female charms. I like her; she is sexy. I can see us becoming close friends. We could meet them after you come back, and we all could check out Papeete and she could be our tour guide. She has the kind erotica you like. Leilani is just as beautiful and Ivan seems to have caught on fire. I'd like to meet them sometime." The image from Helena was warm and fuzzy.

He had to agree; this young woman had something of a natural erotic emanation very similar to Helena's. Leilani too was very attractive. Good for Ivan. Gábor looked past Vai. Lundy was in the fare to the left from theirs and the layout was the same. When Leilani entered with Ivan, Lundy was awake. His head bandaged with a lot of gauzes, the left side of his face covered down to his jaw, he looked as if he wore a lopsided turban. Some blood had seeped through the bandage.

"Hi Doc," he greeted Leilani.

"I brought you a visitor, Mr. Lundy, Mr. …" The doctor looked at Ivan.

"Cherenkov, Ivan Cherenkov," Ivan filled in. "Perhaps you've heard about my father? We're not related." Lundy's face looked confused.

"Who are you?"

"I am an insurance agent for the Cruise line you work for, and we heard about your accident and were sent to find you or your body if possible, so a claim could be settled. I'm glad we found you alive."

"What insurance? And what cruise line?"

"You don't remember? Emerald Seas. The Line has insurance for all crew. If something happens, we pay."

"Who pays? How much?"

"We do, but it all depends. How do you feel?"

"My head feels like a football after a punt."

"I'm here to take you to Papeete, to a hospital and when you've recovered, you can go back to work on your ship, as soon as you like."

"What ship? Where am I?"

"On an Island called Niau, near the Tuamotu, two hundred nautical miles east of Tahiti."

"And how did I get here?"

"You don't know?"

"Not really. I have some pictures in my head of a ship, a lion, dolphins, and a deserted beach. The next thing I see is the doctor here."

"You don't remember fighting with another person and falling overboard, being in the water?"

"Only visions, but not clearly. I have no clear pictures, only impressions; they come and go. It only came to me now as you asked."

"Concussion," Leilani said quietly beside Ivan.

"What about his memory?"

"Partial amnesia? Hard to tell."

"Okay, Mr. Lundy. Get some rest. We'll talk some more tomorrow."

"Okay."

Gábor had been in contact with Leo during the conversation and felt uneasy about Ivan's "story" of being an agent for the Liner Company, but it went down without a glitch. Helena felt a mental sigh of relief when Lundy claimed loss of memory and hoped it would remain that way for a long time.

However, she knew from past history of a few patients in her line of work that in many cases memory trickled back over time as the brain recovered from the trauma, not a hundred percent, but good enough to make statements, which in their case could be a problem. Gábor felt compassion for the man when he looked at his face and could only imagine the scars he would have from Leo's claws. The doctor did a great job, but there were four claw marks, and three of them looked really nasty, they would leave him looking disfigured. His left eye would look strange for sure.

Confused by this compassion Gábor wrinkled his forehead. He had reason to hate the man for attacking his son and endangering his life. At the same time, felt pity for his sustained injury and loss of memory about a big time of his life. Leo could be very dangerous it seemed, and Gábor wondered if he had a wild side in him along with his looks. Leo picked up on his thought and replied only to him.

"Dad, it was not intentional, I didn't mean to harm him. We may be lucky if his memory loss remains stable. What do you think?"

"If he recovers, we will have still the same problem. Can we find out how stable or unstable the memory loss is?" injected Helena.

"Leilani is the doctor and perhaps she can find out, but she would need information to probe into his memories and provoke him to remember events."

"What if Ivan mentions the dolphins or he sees you? If you show yourself to him he may remember you and could connect you to the cruiser and he would know you're not who you pretend to be."

"I will stay out of his sight for the time being and see what happens when the dolphins are brought up," Gábor the ended the link.

When Ivan stepped with Leilani out of the room, Gábor touched his hand slightly to his forehead, indicating to Ivan to link up and Leilani thought he indicated something about Lundy's mental state.

"He is confused and there is a severe case of concussion to be expected. I will see if I can rouse his memory about the accident. He lost much blood and we have no blood transfusion facilities here and no x-ray. He has to go to Papeete. Only there can he be taken care of properly," Leilani explained her concern while Ivan linked in with Leo and his family without her noticing.

The four-way connection took only a second, and they agreed on the idea of using the dolphins to provoke Lundy's memory when they talked to him again, but to keep Gábor out of sight until they were either sure the amnesia was stable, or that they were without any witnesses if Lundy started to remember events.

"We could leave tomorrow if he is transportable. Nonetheless, do you think there is a chance of finding out if dolphins were involved in his rescue? Do you think Vai could communicate with the dolphins and find out if they were instrumental in saving Lundy? If she has that connection with them, it may be possible to find out some things and that info may be helpful to bring back some of Lundy's memories, you think?" Leilani considered that thought and found it intriguing. She turned to Vai who, who heard the question and looked thoughtfully at Ivan.

"I could try. But it is getting late today, plus we'd better get ready for the arearea."

"What's an arearea?" asked Gábor. He was picking up the words and enjoyed the use of them. Helena and Leo were getting the education of their lives in Maori language skills and laughed.

"It means ‘Fun', Vai informed Gábor and added:

"You will see some of the dances we have and the traditional costumes, and since you are interested in ‘living culture', you will have your fill tonight. You must participate in the men's dancing and we will have some good laughs. It's a lot of fun." A mischievous laugh formed in the corners of her mouth and she looked at her mother.

"Ma has not danced since my father died and she needs a shake-up dance. You two had better have a good rest before it starts. She," and she pointed with her chin toward her mother, "is a wild dancer when she gets going."

"So are you, Vai," her mother deflected the praise.

"I had a very good teacher. You taught Ina and me, remember?"

"I do. You girls wore me down."

"We kept you from hauti is more like it."

"That too," laughed Leilani.

"What's ‘hauti' and who is Ina?" Gábor asked.

"Hinanu is my first daughter. She lives in Papeete," replied Leilani.

Okay. And what does ‘hauti' mean?"

"Making love," replied Vai before her mother could stop her.

"Around here in Polynesia we're a bit more open about sexuality than you Westerners and have no compunctions like you do," Leilani explained.

"Your Judeo-Christian guilt and shame complex is totally the opposite in our old culture. We have always nurtured sexuality as a cherished activity that was a pleasure for everybody to enjoy without shame or guilt. We're having no bad feelings when we feel good. Of course, with the arrival of your missionaries that has changed for many, at least on the surface. But in my family and many people on these islands the old ways are still practiced underground. We had no choice but to conform or die as heathen. But nevertheless, when we have the chance to celebrate, we do, and resurrecting the old, sensible customs with dancing, is one way to get it started.

The funny thing is when your captain Cook arrived here, they all enjoyed our ways and our culture, then your missionaries came and told us it was all sinful and forbade almost everything we did and showed us that the ‘proper' way to live was living in misery, greedy, jealous and hanging heads over some original sin and walking around with dresses that get filthy and harbour diseases. Additionally, we're paying for food and goods that nature provides freely. Before them, food was available for free. Today we have to buy our own produce.

In this day and age, the Westerners come here to find all that what we had before the missionaries ‘improved' our lives. They think we must be glad that they came to show us what it takes to be happy. You two appear to be different from them. The dances and celebrations today will give you a little insight into our culture that many have forgotten."

Both men felt a bit awkward and didn't know how to reply to that, so Ivan broke the uncomfortable moment with a remark meant to ease the situation.

"Your ways sound more like an hors d'oeuvre to me. Let the dance begin." Even Helena had a good laugh roughly hundred forty-five nautical miles away. Helena wondered how Gábor would look when he tried to dance Polynesian style. He moved well, had great coordination and if it was possible to see through Ivan's eyes Gábor's movements, then it would be like her watching him through her own eyes. She looked forward to the experience and conveyed it to him, but reminded him to save at least one dance for her. Telepathically he replied.

"As long as you are around, there never will be any dance that was not reserved for you."

"Choose well. We are free to love, anytime, anywhere and anyone as long as it is mutual and not forced. Have fun. Remember that love is to be shared. I'll dance with you when you come back," she promised, but left a quizzical husband to ponder what she meant with "We are free to love, anytime, anywhere and anyone, as long as it is mutual and not forced."

She couldn't have meant for him to get it on with the women here. Ivan's grin told him he was ‘listening' and he shrugged his shoulders. To him, it sounded like Gábor had a liberal wife with a great sense of humour. Their relationship was solid as bedrock. The undercurrent of Helena's thoughts must have meant that Gábor should enjoy the festivities. There are very few secrets in the mind-link, but still, some remained obscure; he would have to get used to it or learn how to cover his thoughts.

21 LEILANI

The other men departed earlier and only Kahekili, Ivan, and Gábor were left in front of the house. It was a clean looking building with many flowers and a green cross on the wall indicated that this was a hospital of some sort. All the windows were open with their shutters raised vertically; ready to be lowered when it rained or was too windy.

"Lani." Kahekili called out and then looked over his shoulder at the two men explaining. "Er name eez ‘Royal child' or ‘Ewenly'. Old family, Grande chef."

"You mean ‘heavenly'?" Ivan inquired as a reply from the house.

"Oia." A pleasant sounding voice greeted the men.

 "Oui, ewenly. She eez om," replied Kahekili. His accent amused Ivan. They walked up three steps and looked around at the neat and clean veranda surrounded with delightfully scented flowers. This was how they imagined paradise to be. A pleasant voice answered in Maori and a beautiful woman of indefinable age peered over a wall of flowers and looked at the three men on her doorstep then came into full view.

When Kahekili called her skinny, he must have been joking. She was gorgeous. Wearing a bikini top and a sarong that covered her from the waist to her calves, she looked like an image one sees on postcards of women of the Polynesian Islands. A slender, fit body, about thirty years old, with high, firm breasts like that of a young woman and a figure that would cause models to have a fit, appeared from behind a wall of flowers. Her figure with a flat belly, mature, curvaceous hips, flaring into round buttocks over long legs was perfect. The images of big women burst like soap bubbles. POP. This woman was a picture out of paradise; at least as the visitors imagined it had to look like, but she seemed too young to be a doctor.

She greeted them with a curious, friendly look. Angelina Jolie came to mind in both men. Both men felt immediately attracted to her, as did she to them.

These were handsomely intriguing men, she thought. She had no partner at this time and wasn't looking for one, but seeing these two she'd reconsider. The last man she was with, a French National, hadn't panned out and good-looking men were hard to find these days, but now there were two on her porch, westerners, just the kind she preferred but was weary of. They were too set in their ways, thinking they knew everything.

The silver-haired man reminded her of a colleague she broke up with just three months ago and brought up a sting of caution. Handsome and imaginative, he was fun to be with but too fickle. She still liked him but was no longer intimate with him. The younger and man, equally attractive, had to be about her age. A suddenly remembered dream made her heart beat harder and she squinted.

Both men looked interesting although a bit windblown, but that just made them more intriguing. The older one had deep lines in his face, startling blue eyes and seemed to have experienced hard times, a warrior perhaps, while the younger appeared troubled, but keenly observant and the measuring look he gave her was that of a friendly cat, capable of great care and attention.

Seeing these men triggered a memory about a very erotic dream she recently had with such clarity, it caused a bodily reaction out of her control. Feeling heat rising to her head and flushing her face, she lowered her eyes. Sexual energy rushed through her; a heat wave flooded her entire body and pooled in her loins. In this dream, she was in a zoo and observed a mountain lion as it slept on a rock, and there was no fence. She sensed someone beside her and felt safe.  No fear, but curiosity rose in her about this animal and like on cue, the cat opened his eyes, lifted his head and looked directly at her. Though she wore a coat, she felt a shiver pass over her body and then that heat of excitement pooled in her genitals and liquefied when the feline fixed his eyes on her. She felt an indescribable erotic anxiety, exposed and vulnerable. The cat rose to his feet and padded with sinuous grace towards her, never taking his eyes off her and his steps seemed to create a shockwave whenever his feet touched down.

Breathlessly she stood her ground as the large cat came closer. Whoever it was at her side assured her that she would remain safe. The cat was only interested in checking her out. Unexplainably she felt no fear but wondered what the cat would do. Transfixed, she waited, and then the cat was right in front of her. A realization, that she was naked beneath her coat, hit her. The large cat looked at her, his muzzle sniffing at her crotch, and for some reason, she somehow felt compelled to open her coat and expose herself. Her hands parted the coat wings and the animal inched his head closer toward her crotch. His nose close to her loins, puffs of warm air caressed her flesh, raised goose pimples on her skin with an arousing effect. Then he rose to his hind legs and placed his paws softly on her shoulders, his breath near her ears and the side of her neck, caused another trembling of her body.

Her breath came staggeringly over her lips and then felt his wet tongue licking under her ear and throat. Although it was very pleasant, anxiety took hold of her, and a touch of concern weakened her knees. This was, after all, a predator. Sensing his teeth brushing her shoulder, his muzzle descending to her breasts, his tongue sweeping over the swelling of her breast made her nipples grow and harden. Sexual arousal swept over her body. What did the cat want? What did she want?

Pushing gently against her, she leaned back and then sank to the grass as he kept pushing her down until her shoulders touched the grass beneath her, and then it positioned his body over hers, covering her. The warm, silky contact of its body seemed to melt and flow around her.

Allowing him to spread her out on the ground, he began licking her face again. His tongue felt soft and warm and excruciatingly arousing on her skin. When he lapped her neck and breasts, and then advanced to lick her belly and thighs, causing an intense desire, she overcame her fear what this cat could do, and in fact, she now lusted to be devoured by this creature. She felt getting wet between her legs and an unstoppable urge to be satisfied sexually held her in its grip. Her secretion began to flow much more intensely as she had ever experienced before and dizzy, she surrendered herself to the experience, even yearned for it. Her body secreted fluids and the mountain lion proceeded to lap her loins; causing a burning desire in her to give herself totally. She closed her eyes and spread her legs, letting its tongue explore more of her, and it did. It did it so thoroughly that she wanted it to last forever, revelling in the sensations her senses transmitted through her entire being.

Excited, her body moved to his tongue, enjoying the stimulation that seemed to happen in every cell of her anatomy. Intense heat waves rushed to her core, pooled there, and grew like a balloon then tensing, it sought release. She heaved her pelvis rhythmically to his ministration. Feeling herself getting out of control, craving for more, the sensation that of extreme pleasure, demanding satisfaction, she surrendered to her emotions, and then something changed. His tongue seemed to grow, and penetrate deep into her, invading her heaving pelvis, and there it expanded until it took over her entire body, touching her nucleus and became one with it. Writhing, she suddenly dissolved into a shuddering, and powerful, prolonged orgasm that shook the ground she was on. A liquid, warm and viscous flooded her center, and then coated the spot between her thighs with her slippery substance. It was total bliss.

When she opened her eyes again, the cat has changed into a man, covering and moving in her while her arms held him tight, her hands on his buttocks, moving with him frantically, coaxing him, wanting to feel his climax deep in her and then she did. His organ seemed to swell out of proportion and then with a roar he came. She felt his release flooding into her and that triggered another orgasm in her again, and again, and then again, in waves. A scalding sensation spread from her genitals through her entire body and transformed her into a convulsive, pulsing mass of bottomless joy.

At that moment she knew, this act would give her a baby. Crying and laughing she rode the pleasures until exhaustion put an end to it. She passed out for a few minutes. Coming back to her senses, she opened her eyes, and became conscious of several strangely familiar figures witnessing her union with what or whoever and expressed their glee with a thunderous applause.

Startled, she had woken up, panting and disoriented for a minute, she realized where she was, in her bed, alone. Heavy, warm rain had soaked her bedding and lightning lit up the interior of her bedroom before the sound of rolling thunder hit her ears. The shutters rattled against the windowsill. It was just a dream and a wet pillow that she held between her legs. Perhaps the past twelve weeks without a regular outlet for sexual energy brought forth the dream and now these two men in front of her reminded her of it.

Leilani shook off the image and the involuntary arousal ebbed away, but an excited trembling inside her persisted. Moving her eyes over them in a questioning mode, they paused on Gábor for a second or two, noticing the wedding ring on his finger, she lifted and dropped her shoulders in a letting go mode with an almost undetectable twitch around her lips.

The younger man was very attractive, just like the other, but married. Her eyes roamed to the older man. This very intriguing blue-eyed David Carradine look-alike with wild, uncombed and long silver-white hair next to him was just as intriguing and handsomely roguish and without a ring. Both men attracted her immensely; both provoked an association of a large predator and intense virility and she liked them both. Were they manifestations of her dream?

 "Ia Orana." Her lilting voice was as welcoming as self-confident, perhaps a bit shaky, but a smile played on her lips as she greeted them.

"Ia Orana, Leilani," replied Ivan and Gábor. It was the first time Ivan used Maori. Kahekili said something in Maori to Leilani and she turned to Ivan and Gábor. "You speak English?" Leilani had a British accent.

 "Sometimes by necessity," Ivan answered. "My friend Gábor speaks Hungarian, a little German and some French and I speak Russian and enough Spanish to make a fool of me. I could possibly learn to speak the Polynesian language in time for breakfast with the right tutor, and prove myself a fool on the same day." He smiled at her and she smiled back, understanding.

"Perhaps, but it's Maori.  You know my name, what's yours?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Ivan Cherenkov, and my friend here is called Gábor," replied Ivan correcting his oversight to introductions.

"Maeva. Welcome. What can I do for you?"

Her eyes rested for a few seconds on Ivan. He took note of her inquisitive look, her clear, blue eyes, her long hair flowing over her shoulders, down her back, and a red flower over her right ear. She was gorgeous indeed, he thought, looking over her body. Noticing his obvious interest she wasn't offended at all. Used to being looked at by men, she looked him over, in the same way, smiling approvingly at what she saw; she listened to Ivan as he spun his story.

"We are looking for a black man you have in your care, and we need to talk to him about his accident. We understand he fell overboard the cruising vessel "Emerald Seas". We are insurance agents for the company and want him to contact his vessel and tell them he is okay, or we could return with him to Papeete and unite him with the crew."

How the hell did Ivan come up with a story this fast, Gábor pondered. He'd never heard Ivan lying before and was surprised at how easy it came over his friend's lips.

"And how did you know that this man is here, on this island?"

"We didn't. We just hoped the currents would sweep him toward this island, and if he didn't sink or the sharks didn't get him, he would be here." She looked at Ivan sceptically, but Ivan didn't give her the time to think through her suspicion. "This is the first island we had on our list because it was closest to the area where the accident happened. When we arrived here from Papeete, we ran into Kahekili here, and he told us you had him in your care, blind luck. We are glad he survived because the company would have to pay out a lot of money if he had died."

"The man is badly hurt and he lost a lot of blood. Your company would still have to pay a lot of compensation if he got hurt on the job, I would think. At the moment, he is asleep and weak. It took a lot of stitches to close some ugly cuts, heaven knows how he got them, and I think he had a coconut encounter of the third kind, and suffered a concussion with possible mental disorientation due to the trauma and loss of blood. He needs to be in a hospital A.S.A.P."

"We could take him," said Ivan.

"Would that make your day?"

"It certainly would give him the care we could give him," replied Ivan with a dangerous undertone.

"Life's a beach. I may get back on you for that." She must have watched some old movies in Britain.

‘Honey, I wish you would and as often as you want, but you haven't been on me yet,' thought Ivan ruefully and let his eyes roam over her again. Gábor did the same and admired her figure like his friend did. He thought of Helena and compared the two women. Their character was similar, but their looks were not. Leilani was a beautiful native Polynesian as Helena was a beautiful Caucasian, but in any case, they were of the same mould. This doctor had a resolute streak in her like Helena and her wits were comparably alike too. Her frame had very feminine lines with hips that had the flair of a woman who had born a child or two but regained her youthful fit and trim body. Leilani did ignite his sexual interest and he chastised himself for his attraction to her.

He had Helena and she was the woman he loved, but without a question, Leilani was a desirable woman. It seemed to Gábor Ivan caught on fire and that was perfect. She would look good with him. The doctor swallowed the lie about the insurance agents claim and Ivan continued. "When can we talk to him?"

"He is sleeping now, and will not come around for at least a few hours," she repeated. "That bloke can count himself lucky to have survived with what happened to him. When he wakes up, depending on how he is, I will see what I can do for you. Will that be okay with you, Ivan, or is there anything else I can do for you?" She looked at Ivan and had a smile on her face as if she had just talked to a petulant student from medical school. Leilani cocked her hip.

Ivan smiled back and said with a smooth voice: "You could accept an invitation to have dinner with me."

Leilani's smile widened. "Perhaps. Where?"

"Troll's. Horseshoe Bay."

She wrinkled her forehead. "Never heard of that place and I don't know of any bay here by that name."

"It's in Canada. Great little place with a great view and candles for a fireplace. A must see," he threw at her. She tossed her head back and laughed. Ivan fell in love instantly, and Gábor admired her teeth and her carefree being.

"May I ask you a question? What leads you to issue an invitation for dinner in Canada? Does the place at least look like an Igloo? I happen to know it is very cold there."

"Well, you issued three questions at me and allow me to answer in sequence. It's easier to sort it out that way," he explained.

"One; Yes, you may ask me as many questions as you like and I'll promise to give you all the answers you desire without any hesitation."

"Two; I issued the invitation because you are a beautiful woman and Kahekili had told us you're a widow and I think that's a shame. No woman as beautiful as you will remain for long without someone chasing them, so I humbly would love to offer my services as a personal guardian."

"And to the third question; No igloo, but I could drum up some polar bears for entertainment purposes. That's as close as I can get to give you an impression of the place. We could huddle together to keep warm." Leilani laughed and captured both men instantaneously.

"Now, this is what I'd call falling with the door into a house. You are a man with a good sense of what a woman would like to hear, but I have presently a patient in the back room to take care of. How about next week?"

"Uh… dah… hum… is that a multiple choice question? I wasn't prepared for this question. Would you like to ask another, easier one?"

Leilani's laughter beautified her face even more and it was a heartfelt, all out merriment.

"You are a great comedian, Sir. I needed a good laugh like this. I accept."

Gábor laughed, and so did Helena and Leo through the link, Kahekili too, who was still with them. Not a man of long courtships, Ivan went right for the jugular vein.

"Let me check my calendar and I'll get back to you on that date for next week. We may have to settle for Papeete for the time being. It's a nice dump, and it's closer. It also allows you to look after your patient in case he needs more medical attention."

During the whole time, Gábor held the link with Leo and Helena. He did not want to get into the dialogue between Ivan and Leilani, and he was enjoying the closeness with his family. He felt them as they felt him, close; and separated only by distance.

Helena remarked on Leilani. "I like her as you do too. She is a very pretty woman."

"Yes, I do. She is pretty and has intelligent eyes," added Gábor. Now he jumped into the interaction between Ivan and Leilani.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said to Leilani, "but we have to find a place we can stay for the night and I also want to know what we can do to take Mr. Lundy to Papeete. Do you have a hotel on this island?"

"Leilani az one more fare and it eez not used in zee momao. I zink she wood let you yoozeet, no?" Kahekili spoke up.

Leilani nodded and turned to Gábor. "You are welcome to use my daughter's flat. Vai sometimes uses it, but she sleeps in the main house now. There are two beds in it and you have a bathroom to take a shower. Sorry, the water's not hot. Tonight we can eat in my kitchen. You are my guests. Okay with you Kahekili?"

"Aita e peapea, no problem. I will get somzing from zee fare and come back in littel time,"

"Is your daughter living here with you? We wouldn't want to inconvenience her and occupy her room," said Gábor. Mentioning her daughter Vai, the mystery of who or what Vai was, lifted.

"Oh no, it's no problem. Her place is in the main fare. You will meet her when she's back. She went to the magazine to get some things and she'll be back in a little while. I presume you came with a boat. Do you need anything from your boat and if you do, may I come with you to see it? I want to know what you came in from Tahiti and if it would suit the needs of my patient when we're taking him there."

"Yes, of course, but we can change the plan," Ivan answered.

Gábor looked at Ivan a bit worried. If she found the boat too small or too unsuitable to transport an injured man, she would not allow Lundy to leave out from under her care. After all, she would be responsible for him.

"Is there no airplane that could take him to Tahiti?"

What was Ivan thinking about? Gábor wished Ivan were in the link to be able to follow his ideas.  They had Lundy in their hands now and the boat was here. They could not fly out of here and leave the boat. He needed to know what the hell Ivan had in mind. Ivan looked at him with a look that said: Trust me.

Leilani turned to Ivan. "There is no plane for a week. I wanted to have him go to Tahiti for treatment there when we found him, but the plane left the same morning we found him. That's why he is still here. The radio we have to talk to Fakarava is not in service and besides that, we must report that the man is here. But now that you are here, you will do that I suppose. Our police officer will be back in two days from Rangiroa and he was going to do all that legal stuff. We are very isolated here and his injury is very serious, you know."

Her eyes scanned over Gábor, smiled and then looked at Ivan again. So that is why Ivan asked the question about an airplane; to get the info if there was one available or not without asking directly; getting the information without asking for it. Ivan is a sly fox, Gábor thought. He was glad to have him for a friend.

Stepping off the veranda with the men in tow, Leilani proceeded toward the beach. The sun was just about at the highest point and it was hot. Walking beside her without hats they wished they had some protection.

As on cue, Kahekili caught up with them with two pandanus hats in his hand and handed them to Ivan and Gábor. They were the typical hats worn traditionally by the men in Tahiti and they now looked like two tourists on vacation. "Zat will keep zee sun from burning your head, no?"

They arrived back at the beach and there were now about thirty people there. A few women had something in their hands and when they got closer to the men, they greeted them with "Maeva" and put lei around their necks with big smiles on their faces and some children giggled. Helena piped up from her silent background observation.

"You just got laid boys. Was it for you as good as it was for them?"

Leo wondered what his mother's remark was all about. Helena seemed to have learned how to conceal her real thoughts. Leo did not know how she could do that. Gábor chuckled and Ivan looked at him questioningly. Obviously, he did not link in. Other woman and some young kids came up to them and talked French to them and Gábor had to dig for his mostly forgotten French vocabulary.  Leilani played the translator when it seemed important, but all the kids wanted to know was where they came from, what they'd been looking for, and how they liked it on this island. Gábor answered as much as he could, and after a while, he'd had enough. He had better things to do than answer a bunch of kids who were too curious about him and Ivan. The four went to the dinghy, and with the help of laughing kids and adults, launched the boat, and Kahekili again navigated the boat skilfully through the surf and coasted alongside their boat. Leilani looked at all the gear stowed and remarked on it.

"You have stocked up as if you'd be staying for weeks."

"We did not expect to find Mr. Lundy so fast and wanted to be prepared for a longer search. Have the French Search and Rescue Team searched this area at all?" asked Ivan.

"We have not seen anybody except you. Where did Mr. Lundy fall overboard?"

"About ten to fifteen nautical miles east of here," answered Gábor.

"The currents are not very predictable in this area because of the islands, and it is possible they are searching another area; it would not surprise me if they gave up the search for a man without a life preserver or raft. There are many sharks in these waters. I lost my husband to them four years ago. Mr. Lundy is a very fortunate bloke to have survived with blood on his face." She turned to Ivan again, asking. "Were you aboard that cruiser too?"

Ivan continued his "Story" and told her that his Agency had sent Gábor and him to see what they could do because they happened to be in Tahiti on vacation and this S&R was just a good way to have a little adventure while they were here. They were paid to look for Lundy, he added.

"So you don't know what happened on that cruiser?"

"No. Do you? Did he tell you what happened to him?"

"When Vaitui brought him here, he was fantasizing and talked about a lion and something about dolphins saving him, but I think he was delirious, dehydrated and in shock. There are no wild animals like lions or tigers on the South Pacific Islands and as for dolphins, well, it could be possible, and they're known to do that."

"If, and I mean if dolphins saw him in the water, they could have been protecting him against sharks and perhaps brought him to this shore. I believe they are as intelligent, or maybe more so, than humans. They just have a different intelligence. But intelligence is, no matter whether a dolphin, a bird or a human, still intelligence."

Gábor's ears perked up. He liked this woman's way of thinking. She stopped as if catching herself from making a fool of herself, and then apologetically added.

"I'm sorry. I sound as if I am lecturing you. I mean to say it's possible that the dolphins saved him."

Gábor didn't want to elaborate about the dolphins saving Lundy in the same way as they'd saved Leo, and he liked Leilani's point of view, which he'd just recently adopted himself, and judging by the look on Ivan's face, he did too. She would be fun to talk with, about the issues they'd worked on since they'd come to see Leo in a completely different light.

Leilani looked the vessel over and asked: "Are those two barrels full?"

"One is. The other is almost empty now. I think if we fill up the tanks, the drum will be empty. Let's see." They went to work, and in minutes, the tanks were full with perhaps only two gallons of fuel left in the drum.

"Kahekili, can you use this fuel in your engine?"

"I need to mix wiz zee oil, mais oui, merci, zenk you."

"Take the container too. It's yours if you want it."

"Maitai roa."

The three men lifted the big drum into the dinghy and the tender looked spacious and lighter. Leilani checked the 6.5m twin-hull, solid bottom inflatable with a critical eye and thought it would do now that the fuel drum was off the boat.

"If you get the gear stowed a bit better and leave some of the things you don't really need, it could be good enough to transport Mr. Lundy to Papeete, but the sea has to be calm, otherwise the jolting could become a problem. I can bring some cushions to make it more comfortable for him."

Ivan and Gábor exchanged cautious glances at each other. It looked as if things were going to work out okay. Once they had Lundy in the boat, they could observe and possibly talk with him.

"We need to get back to the clinic. I want to be there when he wakes up. He needs medication."

Grabbing a few items, Ivan put them into the dinghy, then looked around a bit on the boat and nodded to Gábor. "Ready."

Leilani turned to Kahekili and spoke a few sentences in Maori with him and he started the engine, cast off the lines, and turned his boat toward the shore. Ivan and Gábor had taken the sleeping bags and some more small packages with them, intent on presenting them to Leilani for her hospitality.

When they arrived back on the beach, they noticed the surf was a bit less than when they arrived in the morning. The weather had calmed down it seemed, and if it would be like this for a day or two, it could be a pleasant passage. The tender was a good craft, but not really designed for open water, far from land. Papeete was just over two hundred nautical miles from Niau, and with a loaded boat; the expected speed would be perhaps twenty to twenty-five knots at best, considering the sea conditions.

20 TARGET

 "Can you show me the face of the man who attacked you?" And there was the image; a black man's broad face with large dark eyes and narrow lips, an African type nose, short frizzy hair and large, white teeth wearing a shocked expression, and then pain and anger as Leo's claws raked the left side of his face. All felt the searing pain when the flashlight hit Leo's head and he almost fainted. It was all so vivid the three humans, two in the boat and Helena with Leo in the grotto, felt as if the man had hit them physically. They shut their eyes and jerked their heads back when the impact happened.

An outsider observing them would have been wondering if an invisible bat had hit them all at the same time. The impact of Lundy falling against Leo was the last sensation, and the next thing they saw was the image of a man staggering toward the shore. Helena stepped toward Leo and hugged him, tears obscured her vision, and she choked back a sob. Ivan swore and Gábor clenched his fists into a tight shape. All of them had fury in their minds and a hot sensation to kill that man. Leo overwhelmed by his outpouring of emotions and in reaction to those events, especially from Gábor, wanted to physically interact with him in a hug.

"We'll get him for this, Leo." Ivan thought, and a murderous emotion came through to all. It made Helena shut down and she pulled her attention out of the link. The emotions shared by all could be too much and she decided to work on blocking them. She felt for the first time how dangerous Ivan could be and she shivered. Helena knew from Gábor that Ivan had served in Afghanistan, but not much more, she just now got a glimpse of it and it scared her. She knew Gábor's mindset and felt comfortable with it because she knew he loved her and his emotion toward Lundy seemed justified because he was Leo's father, but she couldn't understand Ivan's reaction. She would have to get deeper into his mind to see what motivated him to such a fury.

They terminated the link, and Gábor was quiet for a long time as he tried to sort out his emotions. Because of the way they all felt now, they had to get clear about what they would do once they met Lundy. Right now, their feelings would lead to violence and that was not what he wanted.

"Ivan, in an hour we will be in sight of Niau. What do you have in mind? What ideas do you have to solve this fiasco without violence? We've thought about money, scaring the lights out of him, threatening him, but what if nothing works? Should we just let him uncover the whole plot and deal with the fall-out?"

"I have been thinking all night and I think you are the better man in peaceful ways than me Gábor. I'm a warrior and know plenty about fighting, but when it comes to negotiating and finding peaceful solutions, I would trust you more than Gandhi. When we find Lundy, I will bring him to you alive and then it will be up to you to find a way to make it work. I will enforce your agreements."

"That sounds like a plan. As long as we remain calm and don't let our emotions rule us, we should be okay," Gábor agreed and the men fell silent again.

A little later they noticed the waves had flattened out and realized they must be in the lee of the island, not more than about fifteen nautical miles to the northeast and they started to look for land with their binoculars. Another ten minutes went by when Gábor made Ivan aware of land right off the bow. Ivan lifted the binoculars to his eyes. The bouncing of the boat made it difficult, but then he saw the gray line stretching in front of them, indicating land. Gábor corrected the course of the boat slightly to port so they would be approaching the atoll at the northern end and aimed for Tupana.

 Fifteen minutes later the tree-lined shore was clearly visible. Gábor handed the helm to Ivan and moved a bit to the side so he could see the water depth, but all signs were they were in deep water. The absence of surf indicated there were no shoals, and neither brown patches nor any lighter color in the water meant there were no dangers lurking just beneath the surface.

About two hundred meters out from shore they observed a few houses and boats pulled up on the beach and a kind of ramp, to launch boats perhaps, and Ivan took a course toward them. Now they noticed a lighter color ahead of them and saw the surf that ran up onto the beach. Some people were on the beach, looking toward the approaching boat with the two men in it.

Ivan approached cautiously until the beginning surf lifted the vessel, but did not break under it. They could see the bottom and there were some coral heads and sand under the boat. Ivan turned the boat and headed out a bit and Gábor dropped the anchor, at the same time he noticed a small boat with an outboard engine, pushed by several men into the water, and heading in their direction. The anchor grabbed and Ivan put the engine into reverse to set it more deeply. When he revved up a bit, the rode hardened and to Gábor it felt solidly set. The small craft was now close to them with three men looking at them curiously and one called over: "Maeva, Bonjour, Parlez-vous française Monsieur, Peut être Anglais?"

"Anglais, oui. Parlez-vous l'Anglais?"

Another one spoke. "I speak a little. Ow can we ‘elp you?"

His accent was thick French, but understandable.

"We came to look for a man and we think he may be here."

"What eez name?"

"Jonathan Lundy"

"Are you Police?"

"No. But may we come ashore and talk there? We came from Papeete and it took us all night to get here."

"Oh, mais oui. Pardon monsieur, of course. Maeva."

"Mauruuru hoa." All three men broke into broad smiles and came alongside their vessel. Gábor grabbed a backpack as did Ivan and got into the other vessel. The men shook hands, clasping with both hands and with broad smiles introduced themselves. Kahekili, Etienne and Aunrie. They all took off toward the beach, timed their approach with the swell and skilfully rode it all the way in with the engine elevated enough to still have some drive, but when the bow touched, the engine was up all the way. Everybody assisted with the task of carrying it out of the water. The men then proceeded to an open building made of wood and covered with Pandanus fronds. A few women were around and greeted the newcomers with open smiles and surprisingly they spoke in English; however, the men soon found out they only knew a few words. They brought some beer and water and Gábor and Ivan sipped on the water while the Polynesian hosts had the beer.

"You don't drink zee beer?" Kahekili was big and the one speaking English. He became the translator for all the others.

"Perhaps a bit later. It is too early in the morning for us. And we haven't eaten yet." Kahekili said something to the woman and they left.

"Oo -zee man you are looking for? We ‘ave only one man oo came eare two dayz ago and eez in zee care of doctor Kealoha. A pearl diver found ‘im two km sud of ere. Eez ‘urt and zee doctor eez looking after ‘im. Somezing almost ripped eez face off and eez lost much blood. Eez also got it viz somezing over zee ad and ee talks strange zings. Eez zat ze man?"

"Is he a black man?" Ivan asked excitedly. He could not fathom their luck. They had not expected to run into someone who knew the man they were looking for this quickly. The heavy accent of Kahekili during his account was hard to understand, but Ivan got it.

"Oui. We zink ee may ‘ave fallen overboard and washed ashore eare, ee-z very lucky to be vive." Gábor was just as excited as Ivan and wanted to know where the man was. Kahekili told him he was in the village, back a little way toward the lagoon, and he would take him there after they had eaten. The woman came back with some food for the men and they ate the fish Kahekili called "poison crue".

The fish, marinated in coconut milk and with something, that tasted like onion and garlic, was delicious. Rice came as a side dish and they had taro leaves with it that substituted for vegetables. When they'd finished their meal, they thanked their hosts and wanted to pay for the meal, but they wouldn't let them. The men just laughed, so Gábor reached into his backpack and handed over a pack to Kahekili and another to the women.

Kahekili opened the pack and his eyes lit up. There was a bunch of fishing hooks and pliers in it. The women found a sewing kit and a few candy bars. Etienne and Aunrie would have to share with Kahekili; it was a lot of hooks.

They began their walk toward the village, Gábor used the time to contact Leo, and again, it was as if Leo was just waiting for him. Helena was having a "reading" with Leo when he linked in. He wanted to tell them of their luck and see where they were.

As he followed Kahekili and the others, Helena and Leo were there with him and saw what he saw and heard. Kahekili talked to Ivan. "Zee doctor eez Leilani, a very charming woman. Ar asbend died yearz ago, a shark got im and ee died in aer arm. Tres triste. I was zer when it appen. Zeez black man eez ami for you?" Ivan sidestepped the question, asking Kahekili how he thought the man got his injuries.

"Zee injury on zee face eez very difficult to say. I see film in Papeete wiz sea monster and ee reepped people wiz sharp wat eez-zee name for zeez?" lifting his hand, showing his nails and looking at Ivan.

"Nails, claws on animals," Ivan explained.

"Cloz, oui. Maybe monster for real, no?"

"And what about the injury on his head? You know anything about that?"

"Zee diver Vaitui zink ee walked under a coco tree and it im. Appen before." Ivan touched his ear. He couldn't agree more. They arrived at a paved road and some dwellings, mostly in Polynesian style, open to the breeze and very neat and clean. The whole area looked like a park. Several houses were of French design, but much more retained their Polynesian character.

A larger building had a cross on the roof and Kahekili told Ivan it was the church and school, and most of the students were in there now. The Catholics and Mormons on this island were the most influential ones and they were a bit demanding. The way Kahekili spoke of them it was easy to see, he did not like the church. Ivan said nothing. What he saw in the world done in the name of religion was not conducive to be a believer, at least not to him.

"Zer eez zee fare of Leilani. Parle l' Anglais very good. Much better zen me. She studied in London. Very pretty, very magnifique docteur but maigre. Ow do you say, skinny, no viande, skin on bones, same look like a little dodairvai. Maybe you like skinny, eh?" His broad face broke into a grin.

What was he talking about? The men wondered what Kahekili meant when he talked about skinny women. Didn't he like shapely women? Was this doctor a stick? And who or what was a dodervai? The words of the man seemed to indicate perhaps another person, it sounded as if he said daughter, but his strong accent made it hard to understand what he meant. Ivan presumed he talked about the doctor’s child. He had seen some women in Papeete and to his surprise; many of them had been very corpulent, just the opposite of what he had imagined Tahitian women supposed to look like. Had the image of western men and women influenced the Pacific population to look like whales?

Neither one of them had an idea what to expect. Kahekili was a tall and rather corpulent man; heavy set with broad facial features and a very friendly disposition. The women Ivan had seen were friendly but big. His expectations of slender natives were disappointed when the reality of overweight man and big women confronted him when he stepped off the airplane.

How was this Kealoha built? Like a tank or was she a dry, bony figure? Gábor imagined her like he had seen postcards with women from Tahiti and the Hawaiian islands, a crown of flowers on her head and a hula-hoop figure. Ivan had pictures in his head of Sumo wrestlers after he had been in Papeete for three days before his friends arrived a day later than expected.