BESERK! Read online

  Ahead a thin strand of low trees remained…then the open beach. Death would come slowly and painfully. He would be eaten up alive

  The thought spurred him to run faster. A low branch brushed against him. It gave him an idea. Putting the blossoms tightly between his lips, he scanned the tree line ahead, selected one.

  Before he reached it he was hurling himself at the trunk. Without wasting a moment he clambered up the trunk using all the dexterity of a primate. Barely had he climbed a few feet up the trunk, when the wild dogs gathered at the base of the tree. Snarling, they eyed him hungrily from below.

  But all he was concerned about was that no damaged had come to the blossoms.

  x x x

  “Do you still say you don’t deal with the filthy pirates?” Captain Foki dragged the woman by her hair and threw her at the Headman’s feet. Then he held up her necklace for all to see. It was made up of colored seashells and coins.

  The gathered Moken instantly recognized the coins. Those were the same type of coins some of them had salvaged from the submerged ship’s wreckage, a few months back. According to Moken law all such precious salvaged items were to be traded away. Nothing was ever to be kept back by them.

  With the captain’s next sentence they knew it meant trouble. “Similar coins I found with the pirates I had killed last month! Now who wants to tell me how these coins reached the pirates?” The captain looked around at the gathered crowd with a smirk on his face. Lastly, he eyed the Headman.

  When nobody answered, he said somberly, “I don’t have time for games. If nobody can tell me anything of importance this woman will die.” He drew out his pistol. Placed a booted foot on her shoulder, pinning her to the ground. Keeping his eyes on the Headman, he aimed the weapon at her. “Last chance Headman!”

  Before the Headman could react, he squeezed the trigger twice.

  Cries erupted from the crowd but one was louder than the rest. He turned in the direction. A young man was on his knees. His eyes glued on the woman at the captain’s feet. It was the woman’s brother.

  “Ah! A true brother! The sow is not dead.” Captain Foki guffawed, as he looked at the two bullet holes near his feet, still emitting smoke. “Come here!” He beckoned with his pistol.

  The young man began to rise.

  “On your knees…swine!” He ordered.

  Just for a moment the young man hesitated.

  “Hurry up!” He dug his boot harder into the woman’s shoulder, making her squirm in pain. He watched the man move towards him on his knees. “Forget the pirates, you swine! You are going to take me to the place where you found these antiques. You are also going to retrieve it for me.”

  The young man was near his sister, comforting her.

  Ignoring them, the captain grabbed the woman by the arm and pushed her towards his men. “Take this sow, the longer he takes to retrieve the antiques… Do what you wish with her.”

  With that the captain headed to the trawler. While his men dragged the hapless struggling sister and brother.

  The Moken watched with grief and pain as the trawler left the shore.

  x x x

  The shaman was the first to notice the absence of Phut. His old rheumy eyes began to seek the child. Among the children, gathered elders, the revelers…

  The boy was no where to be found. He immediately alerted Matu. Together they went searching. Minutes later, he was no where to be found. A dread grew over the men. The decade old prediction echoed in their mind. They shuddered to think of the consequences. It was time to put a stop to all revelry and alert the colony.

  Phut had to be found at any cost!

  x x x

  Up in the tree, Phut was quick to realize the danger he was in. Below, the wild dogs leaped, snapping at his leg. Above, the trunk and the branches had grown thinner. Any higher, and the sapling-thin trunk would break, sending him plummeting among the hungry carnivores.

  He bunched up and tried to make himself small. For now he was safe but he knew it would not last long. Their leaps were getting higher and more desperate. A couple of times he had even felt their warm breath against his leg. They were getting closer…very close. But he knew there was nothing he could do but to hang on to the trunk and wait for help. The only solace was that the blossoms were safely grasped in his mouth.

  x x x

  The shaman, Matu and few of the Moken men set out to search for Phut. Tiga joined them too; he could not stay and be a spectator. The search party dispersed in all directions.

  Tiga along with two men was first to realize Phut’s whereabouts. On the long stretch of the beach he detected small-sized footprints, heading towards the cliff. Praying that he was right, he began following the footprints.

  Chapter 5: The Moken Prophecy

  Phut watched the wild dogs below. They had stopped leaping and had settled on their haunches. Even seemed relaxed, but they eyed him hungrily. Their numbers had increased.

  All of a sudden they stiffened and grew alert, looking in the same direction. He looked on, puzzled. Moments later he heard footsteps. By the sound he realized there was more than one person. Phut’s heart soared with joy. Rescue at last!

  Instinctively, a warning cry started to erupt from his throat. But he choked it down; realizing doing so meant losing his precious blossoms. Phut craned his neck to catch sight of the newcomers. Several moments later he saw the men and recognized the familiar figure of Tiga. A search party!

  The wild dogs were now on their feet, the fur on their back bristling. He realized ‘they were gearing up to attack. The search party had to be alerted. Releasing an arm, he reached for the blossoms in his mouth. While he single-handedly, grasped the tree trunk. With his mouth freed, he yelled, “Tiga! Be careful...Wild dogs!”

  Tiga was surprised to hear his brother’s voice but not see him. His two companions, hearing the warning call instantly readied their staffs. They knew how dangerous wild dogs could be.

  Before Phut could utter another word, he felt his arm losing its grasp on the trunk. Instantly, he rushed his free hand to stop the slip, crushing the blossoms in the process. “Aaaa…ah…!”A cry of anguish erupted from him. He quickly latched on to the trunk and hung there.

  A deep throated growling resounded from below. Phut saw the rescue party break out from amidst the trees. The wild dogs continued to snarl and growl. Then one by one they backed away disappearing into the forest.

  When all the wild dogs had gone Tiga looked up at Phut. “You can now come down, you little devil-octopus.”

  Phut slithered down the trunk with misgivings. He had lost the blossoms and was sure Tiga would give him a hiding. As soon as he dropped to the ground, he flung himself around Tiga in a tight embrace. “Thank you…Thank you brother for saving my life…”

  “Why did you disobey father?” Tiga demanded angrily. “Do you know the trouble you have caused?”

  “I am sorry brother…I will never do it again…Please forgive me brothers.” He turned to Tiga’s companions, trying to win their sympathy.

  “First tell me you little octopus, what were you doing alone in the forest?” Tiga took him to task.

  This was the question Phut dreaded. He looked at the crushed blossoms. There were trampled beyond recognition. It gave him an idea. “Do you promise not to scold me if I told you the truth?” He looked at his brother with big innocent eyes.

  Tiga’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

  “I came up here to get some blossoms for Mipi…but now they are all destroyed.” He held up the trampled stalks to prove himself. “How beautiful she would look with them…” He forced tears in his eyes.

  Hearing the name of Mipi, Tiga softened slightly. “Let’s hurry back, Phut.”

  But Phut had other plans, he hesitated. Tiga looked at him. “What now?”

  “Could I get a few more blossoms? For Mipi!” Phut added quickly.

  “All right! Get the blossoms and hurry up before the dogs are back!”

  Phut wasn’t lis
tening he was thrashing through the brush plucking blossoms. When he was ready to leave there was a sparkle in his eye.

  All those who saw Phut offer Mipi the blossoms were overwhelmed with his gesture. Everyone, except the shaman. He sensed Phut was lying. He was sure the boy had another motive of going into the forest. He swore to keep an eye on the little octopus.

  While the elders were engrossed in the marriage ritual, Phut was busy searching for Sithayu. As soon as he sighted her, he walked up her. “Sithayu, your mother needs to see you, immediately.”

  Sithayu screwed up her nose in distaste. She didn’t want to miss the ritual.

  “Hurry up,” he urged. People were beginning to look at them. Reluctantly, she followed him. He led her to the seclusion of the shelters. She looked around in puzzlement. “Where is mother?”

  With a thudding heart and a trembling hand he extracted the blossoms carefully from inside his shirt. “Take these wear them in your hair.” He offered them to her.

  She eyed the pink and blue blossoms in his hand, puzzled. “Why?”

  “So you…you can look beautiful…like a… queen,” he flustered.

  She looked at his face, his imploring eyes. For a few moments both of them stood in silence. The dark shrouded sky, the earth and the sea seem to wait.

  Loud sound and music invaded the silence. The marriage was complete. It seemed to break their trance. She smiled coyly at Phut, grabbed the blossoms and fled.

  Phut exhaled deeply and knelt in the sand, he felt exhilarated.

  Unseen by the two the shaman watched the whole meeting and the offering of blossoms. He shook his head, gravely. It did not look good. He looked up and prayed for protection from the Moken Gods. Above, the dark skies thundered and the breeze began to whip up a violent wind. A storm was approaching. The shaman could feel a strong sense of foreboding. Some thing bad was going to happen.

  x x x

  At that very moment the dreaded trawler docked on Ahata Island. Anxiety and fear spread throughout the island like fire. In the gathering dusk the terrorized inhabitants assembled.

  Captain Foki appeared on the deck, staggering, obviously drunk. “You Moken swines and sows... I am the sole benefactor of your filthy lives…” He squinted as he looked at the gathered folks.

  Giggling headily, he continued, “The whole lot of you are good for nothings…I am come to return what I have taken…!” He drunkenly gestured to his men.

  A while later the brother and sister he had taken that morning appeared. One look at them and the gathered crowd knew something was terribly wrong. The brother could barely walk; he was supported on either side by his sister and a naval rating.

  It did not take them a moment to realize the brother’s affliction. He was suffering from a disease called taravana--a common sickness among divers. It occurred when divers increased their diving for extended periods or at greater depth, without ascending gradually. Bubbles of gas are formed in the blood and solid tissues that caused symptoms like rashes and joint pains in milder cases, to paralysis, lung damage and even death.

  The sister too looked in a bad condition. She hobbled badly and it was evident the cause was not her brother’s weight. The captain and his ratings had ravaged her to no extent. Her face was swollen with bruises; even her arms bore angry welts.

  The story was clear to everyone. While diving to the seabed to retrieve the antiques, the brother had ignored the rules of safety, in an attempt to save his sister. In the process he had damaged himself. But the captain and his men were animals; nevertheless, they had ravaged her.

  They tossed the ailing man on the beach along with his sister. Without another word the captain left to everybody’s relief. The Headman ordered the gathered people to take care of the two

  x x x

  Kabangs filled with marriage revelers arrived from Buro Island the next day. The folk of Ahata Island were ready to welcome them. The Headman had specifically told them not to mention about the misfortune of the brother and sister. Both of them were in a bad state. There was no point spoiling the marriage celebrations.

  Phut could not keep his excitement down. He was extremely delighted that Sithayu was visiting his island. The previous evening she had proudly worn his pink and blue blossoms in her hair. She looked like the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

  The only thing that displeased him was that he could not travel with her. Father had strictly told him not to get into trouble. So he curbed all his excitement and sat close to his father. He promised himself he would take utmost care of her on his island.

  Even before his kabang touched the land, Phut was on the beach. His sights eagerly searched for Sithayu’s kabang to land. A while later he saw it, with Sithayu in the fore. She smiled coyly at him. It was enough to send his pulse racing. Barely had he raised his hand to wave at her, when he felt a grip on his arm.

  He looked up to see the stoic face of the shaman looking down at him. “Hurry, Phut your father asked for you.”

  A string of obscenities ran through his mind but he calmed himself. He could not dare to disobey the shaman. Giving one last look at Sithayu he turned and ran towards his shelter. The shaman stood there watching the young girl. Slowly, he followed the boy.

  x x x

  Phut never realized he was deliberately being kept busy by his father and the shaman. All he could think of was when he could slip away and spend time with his lovely Sithayu.

  He got his chance when at last the celebrations began. Seeing his father and the shaman engrossed in the guest, he slipped away. Finding Sithayu was not a problem.

  “Sithayu, your mother needs to see you, immediately.” Phut announced as soon as he was near her.

  It did not need her a moment to realize what he hinted at. Quickly, she was following him. Wordlessly, he led her to his shelter.

  Once inside, he turned to her. He was breathless from excitement and the effort of running. She stood at the door, breathless and apprehensive.

  “Come in. I have something to show you.” Phut invited her. Still apprehensive, she stepped in.

  Phut immediately began rummaging among his things. He cursed himself; there was nothing girlie to offer. Why did he not think of something before he had invited her?

  His eyes fell on his mother’s favorite sea-shell necklace; she was to wear it for the celebrations. He was desperate. Surely mother would not mind losing a necklace, he reckoned.He picked it up and offered it to Sithayu.

  Her eyes glittered at the sight of it. But she was hesitant.

  “Take it.” He coaxed her. But she stood there embarrassed with the attention received. Phut swore inwardly, mother could return any moment. She would be highly displeased with the loss of her favorite sea-shell necklace. And if she realized he had taken it, he would be in for a hiding.

  The only thing he knew was that he had to help Sithayu to make up her mind.

  He grasped it, moved behind her and before she could even realize, clasp the necklace around her neck. He stood before her to admire her. She looked even lovelier with the necklace. Then he did something he never even dared to dream. He bent over and planted a kiss on her cheek.

  She stumbled backwards, completely aghast, alarm in her voice rising. “What did you do Phut?”

  Phut squirmed in embarrassment. “Last night I saw Tiga and Mipi do a lot of stuff like this… I have decided to make you my wife one day …”

  She stared at him wide-eyed and open-mouthed. When at last the words sank in her she blushed. Her usual coy smile beginning to curve her lips.

  Before either could say a word a shrill cry swept through the island. The children alarmed rushed to the window. People were running towards one particular shelter.

  Phut grabbed her hand and ran out.

  The shaman jerked to alertness. He could already sense something bad. It could not be worse than death. His eyes sought the confused crowd. He was in time to see the two tiny figures emerge from a shelter. Phut and the little girl!

&n
bsp; He shook his head gravely and headed in the direction of the scream.

  The sister, ravaged by the captain and his men had committed suicide, by hanging herself. She could not bear the guilt of being the cause of her brother’s affliction and humiliation. Her brother was paralyzed waist down. He would probably never ever walk.

  But the shaman knew better, the decade old prophecy was coming true, this was the beginning. Death was coming…in abundance.

  Chapter 6: The Moken Prophecy

  Phut was on his way to Buro Island with his father. It was a week since he had seen Sithayu. The marriage celebration was spoilt by the sister’s death. And he never had a chance to meet Sithayu that day. This time he had carried with him a variety of gifts for her. He was looking forward for this trip.

  Father let him free on Buro Island only when he promised to behave himself. He raced to a group of children playing. “Hi Phut.” They called in chorus.

  “How are the wild dogs!” It was Caloe. His episode with the wild dogs was famous all over Buro Island.

  He grinned sheepishly and could not help asking. “Where is Sithayu?”

  The group grew silent and stared at him. He waited expectantly. When there was no answer, he asked in alarm. “What has happened…to her?”

  Caloe stepped forward. “Sithayu is gone.”

  “Gone?” Phut asked. “What do you mean gone, Caloe?”

  “Sithayu and her family left Buro Island a few days ago.”

  Phut stared at her in complete disbelief. “Where did they go?” he demanded.

  “Nobody knows where they left for…They suddenly left during the night.”

  He continued to stare with disbelief, locking eyes with each of them.

  Slowly, tears glistened in his eyes; ashamed he hurriedly wiped them and screamed, “Liars! You all are liars! I don’t believe any of you!” He turned around and ran, heading for Sithayu’s monsoon shelter.

  Caloe watched him run away. She wondered what had upset him so much. But somehow she could feel his pain.

  Sithayu’s shelter was gone. All he found was a vacant space. It had been dismantled and taken away-which meant they were never returning back.

  With utter dejection he turned around heading towards the sea. He stood there watching the waves roll, fighting back the tears. How could she do this to him? How could she leave him and go?