13: HOT TIMES

"Image that," David thought, "me, an honored guest at the Volcano Festival. I just hope 'honored guest' isn't really a code for 'human sacrifice.'"

"I am glad that you have come, David!" Chief Fangaloka said, "I have something for you." He handed him a unique looking seashell, "This shell is how we communicate on the island." the chief explained, "You are the first outsider to get one."

"Thank you." David replied, graciously accepting the chief's gift.

"David, it is tradition that the honored guest of the festival choose a date. Use the shell to invite anyone from the village that you have met. But, choose wisely… you could end up spending the rest of your life with your date. However long that is."

"What?"

"Just a little native humor for you." the chief replied, laughing.

Chuckling a little at the chief's joke, he asked, examining the shell, "How do you use this thing, anyway?"

"Just think of whom you wish to contact, blow into the narrow end, and place the shell to your ear."

"Oh, like a cell phone?"

"A… 'cell phone'?"

"It's a small, portable telephone." David awkwardly explained.

"Ah." the chief replied, remembering that he had heard of these 'telephones' from a time long lost to memory.

Thinking hard on whom he wished to contact, David considered his four most logical choices…

Rainui was an immediate turn off to David from the words "Ready! O-K!" It seemed like she wanted a Mr. Universe-type for a boyfriend, something he was definitely not. Remembering how the cheerleaders in high school treated him way back when, he decided (since he had the power for a change) decided to take his revenge on them by casting her to the side as he considered his other options.

Tumata was sweet and all, but growing up, David was always thought to listen to his heart, since it would never lead his astray on the road of love; and right now, his heart was telling him that this woman would fall in love with anyone or any-thing that walked on two legs and had an extra 'something' in between their legs. Past experience taught David that this kind of woman only spelled 'T-R-O-U-B-L-E' – the burning and itching kind he didn't want while stranded in paradise… NEXT!

Orama accidentally let it slip that she was practically engaged to Emobi. That line she said, "Avoid him and his jealous wrath." (Or something like that) counted her out. One thing he was known for back home was that he'd back off from a potential relationship altogether the second he found out a woman he liked was already seeing another man, which (in his case) was almost every woman he had ever met. True, all may be fair in love and war, but there's no room for friendly fire. That, and the other guy usually had a gun or a knife on him and had no problem using it, regardless of the legal consequences, adding new meaning to the phrase, "blood before babes."

That left Kiri. She appeared to be unattached, not to mention having a winning personality, and those were both determining factors in his book. That, and the fact she looked like one of those girls in those old National Geographic magazines that Gramps use to hide from Granny didn't hurt matters either. Plus, she did say she wanted to become more than simple friends, didn't she? He decided to use his "shell cell phone" to give her a call.

"Kiri?" he asked, finally hearing her voice, "I would be honored if you'd escort me, the honored guest, to the festival."

Waiting for what seemed like forever for a response, (even though it was only a split second later) Kiri replied, "Then, you are very honored. I would love to!"

"Really?" David asked, not sure what to do – up to that point, hardly anyone of the fairer sex had ever said "yes" to him before.

"Yes. I was hoping that you would ask me."

Hanging up, David felt like a teenager all over again preparing for his senior prom (although he never attended his – it was "couples only" and he couldn't get a date.) "I could never get a date with someone like Kiri in the city." he thought, "I'm really starting to like it here; this is my favorite festival so far."

Seeing her at the entrance to the springs, they casually greeted one another with a friendly embrace. He was even bold enough to "attack" her with some "ancient Chinese tickle torture," which she playfully told him to stop. (At least the smile on her face and her light laughter told him she actually enjoyed it.) After exchanging a little bit of small talk, he asked, "What exactly is a Volcano Festival anyway?"

"A long time ago," Kiri explained, "the Volcano Festival was the most sacred celebration of the tribe. The festival marks the day that the Volcano first rose from the sea, intact with plants, animals and our tribe. The first chief emerged seated on his throne with the first shaman, with his staff in hand, by the chief's side. Tuku Tuzu, the first shaman, was a very powerful shaman. He and the first chief loved each other like brothers. When the first chief died of old age, Tuku Tuzu went mad with grief. He spent every waking moment creating new potions. Tuzu wanted a potion that would cheat death itself. Instead, he became consumed by his greed and lust for power. The festival was a time of second chances; a time to witness the true power of the Volcano, the tribe – and love."

Taking that as a cue, David spontaneously pulled Kiri close into a tight embrace, one she seemed to actually enjoy. (In fact, she nearly melted in his arms after her shock wore off.) Lately, focusing on building his getaway raft, coupled with his previous bad luck with anyone of the opposite sex back home, he had almost forgotten that he also needed physical contact with others just as much as food and water for survival – maybe even more so. It'd explain why he'd been silently suffering these last few days while crying himself to sleep. He could already feel the wall he'd been building around himself since he was a kid slowly starting to break apart, piece-by-peace…

"But several years ago, someone, Chief Manave says it was Shaman Tama, invited outsiders to witness the festival." Kiri said, continuing with her story.

"What happened? What outsiders? The airplane pilot?" David asked.

"I do not know. But the next day, Shaman Tama lost his greatest power. Some said the Volcano took it back, while others blamed the outsiders. It is still in debate."

"What happened to these outsiders?"

"Oh… they are no longer with us."

"Right, got ya! – So, what's the deal with the festival now?"

"After the power of the Volcano was stolen from us, the festival became a time to celebrate… and court a mate."

"Oh, really?" he thought, "You don't say." Leading her to an empty pewter stone loveseat, David made his cheesy move, yawning as an excuse to throw his arm around Kiri, drawing her close. You could almost hear her purring in response as she let instinct take over. As for him? Well… he's been grooming Waiata for so long that he had forgotten what it was like to cuddle with an actual human being. (At least, that's what he kept telling himself.)

After a while simply enjoying this tender moment with one another, Kiri reluctantly broke away. Getting up, she said, "Good night, David." hugging him, "I had a very nice time."

"Too bad it couldn't have lasted any longer."

She smiled, blushing as she reluctantly walked back to the hut she shared with the other unattached maidens of the tribe – an area where no man was allowed to come within fifty yards of alive (save for the chief and the shaman, but only if they had a good reason to be there...)

That's when the chief approached him, breaking his awestruck silence. "My people like you," he said, "and Kiri likes you, too. You are welcome to live among us, if you wish."

"Thank you, Chief. I'll think about it." As the chief left, he thought, "I worry that if I move into the village – I may never leave."

"To help you decide, David," the chief said, handing him a strange stone attached to a thin rope, "I have a little something that will help you remember your time at the hot springs... with Kiri." With a wink, Chief Manave left so David to examine his latest gift in piece.

Looking the stone over, David discovered that it was a short of locket, containing expertly painted pictures of him and Kiri on either side. Smiling, David recognized the artist's handiwork in an instant. "That Timoti sure is a genius with a paintbrush." he said, closing it and placing the locket's tether around his neck and stuffing the stone underneath his shirt.

Making his way back to the lagoon, torn between his duty to finish his raft and return home, and the obvious pleasure Kiri provided, even if it was for just one night, he was in for quite an unwelcoming surprise when he got back to the lagoon soon after daybreak…