The Game of A Life Time

Chapter 27- Gravity

"Away from town, up the mountains, and pats the golden fields of grain, there is an unknown pasture of rock formations. The rocks hold a very powerful domain for the lost spirits of Hawaii, the mountain ash thrives from the sources of the rocks."

Taking a sip from my lemon water, I continue enlightening my guest, "some believe that human remains from thousands of years ago hide under each rock. Scientists and archaeologists have dug and tested the rocks. They have found nothing to suggest there are human remains."

"There was a time, the queen of the island, was an intelligent woman. Her looks and brain lured people from all over the world to her estate and when they came looking for the unknown prize, she would kill them for their souls."

Hector looked at me like I was crazy. I was just reading one of the many books under the local legend tab in the small library from the other room. He doesn't seem fazed that I am comfortable with him here. I am not, but there really is nothing to do here while I wait for Jonathan to come back.

"However, there was a man who had traveled more than two thousand miles by foot and boat that expected to find the prize. The man was told to have long blonde hair, pale skin, and luscious blue eyes."

Of course, it was a white man, it always is.

"The queen took pity on the man. He had found nothing after decades of looking. Rocks, trees, and homes of the natives were destroyed in his adventure. The people were angry with the queen for letting this happen, but the queen did nothing to stop it."

Hector got up from his chair and looked outside. He shifted from one foot to the other and mumbled something under his breath. He looked at me and walked away before I could ask him what was wrong.

"After a few more years the natives began to have secret meetings without the queen knowing, they thought the queen was having relations with the strange man. After a a few meetings they all decided that it was time to confront the queen," the cool breeze from the window shocks me.

Goosebumps litter my arms as I reach for the blanket on the other side of the couch. Grabbing it, I place it over my legs and waist.

"You know that story is half true, right?"

I look up again to see Hector leaning against the door frame to the small kitchen. His hair is swept back into a braid down his back and his facial hair looks to be well kept. He had just taken a shower- why didn't I notice that before?

"Tell me the other half then," he sits down on the chair where he was before and began to tell me the story.

I set the book down on the table, "well for starters the prize is not real."

"The only prize that the old mountain has is the life of nature it brings the island. I know from experience that there is no physical prize from exploring the rocks up there."

Hector closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, "when I was younger, this story was told to the children to keep us away from the narrow cliffs on the mountain side. It was kind of like the 'Boogie Man' stories that mainlanders call it."