Morning sun is low in east. Walking down the beach beside Harumi, Kimi wonders where they are going. Rock jetty comes into view and she sees 3 women in black sarongs. They are loading supplies onto a beached boat. “Good morning sisters” Harumi says. “We wish to visit Isle of Women.”
The women stare. One walks to Harumi. “I do not recognize you. Strangers are a disturbance.”
Harumi pulls out a brown envelope. The women read its letter and their expressions soften; they smile and bow. The first says “I am Mango. Please excuse us. We did not know you. Do you bring Woman’s Friend?”
“Thirty in here.” Harumi holds up satchel.
“We go to Isle. Come.”
They get into a rowboat with 2 sets of oars, and a sail up front, Mango works the rudder, and the 2 other women take front seat; Harumi & Kimi sit in rear. Rowing out to main channel, they pick up tide and wind. Then oars are drawn in, one of the forward women unfurls the sail, and guided by Mango the boat heads toward the misty isle.
Kimi enjoys the pleasant cool seawater blown off sea surface that drenches her clothes and face and stimulates her with clean fresh salty smell. Rhythmic rocking from boat’s bow rising and falling on sea-swells gives rise to contentment, a feeling of being where birth and upbringing mean her to be.
She studies Mango, whose attention is directed to pulling the rudder this way and that so they stay pointed at the Isle. Morning sun highlights Mango's face and figure: small lithe with golden-yellow skin, high cheekbones and heavy-lidded eyes, Mango’s physique contrasts Kimi’s, yet both are sea women and Kimi feels a bond.
Midway, the wind lightens and Mango tells of the Isle: It is sacred. No man can come. This had been for no one knew how long and was recently reinforced when some sailors, hearing of beautiful lusty, unclad women there, motor-boated over from the peninsula after a night’s drinking. The vessel was smashed on rocks and the men’s bloated bodies half eaten by sharks washed ashore later.
According to legend the Goddess Omari protects the isle. Omari is supposed to be younger sister of Amaterasu Sun Goddess from whose loins all the islands came. Amaterasu betrothed Omari to a warrior god from China eninsula with families, and in spring, summer and fall we are on Isle diving for pearls, tending Omari’s shrine, having religious celebrations and making merry.” Mango explains further that only fertile women may tend Omari’s shrine so no woman over childbearing age is allowed there. Since the economy depends solely on pearl diving, the husbands keep house and watch the children while wives and young unmarried women are out mining the sea.
Now they near the Isle. Up close it presents barrier. Kimi looks through hazy rainbow mist at stark black sheer cliffs against which the waves crash with continual deafening roar. Under Mango’s guidance the boat is maneuvered close to the black barrier cliff on seaward side. Mango points and Kimi barely makes out a small entrance gap. Sail is furled and they row the boat as Mango guides it into the gap, a tricky job what with cross-currents, winds and outgoing tide. Several times Kimi fears boat will capsize but it makes it into narrow water corridor.
Suddenly the water is calm and on each side they can reach out and touch rock while the limited access to sky makes a mysterious gray twilight. Eerie silence is broken only by splash of oars hitting water.
Suddenly the water is calm and on each side they can reach out and touch rock while the limited access to sky makes a mysterious gray twilight. Eerie silence is broken only by splash of oars hitting water.
A minute later the boat emerges onto a mirror surface lagoon, bright blue in morning sunlight. At far end is an inwardly rounded sandy beach backed by tall graceful wind-curved palms.
To read on, now, click 5.(25-27) Monkey See/Monkey Do -- Age For Love
No comments:
Post a Comment