MINDAZA

5. THE ISLANDERS

The Islanders pulled in their slender, bladeless oars. With the ship safely clear of the cave, it rode the swells of the western ocean.

The ship's massive figurehead bobbed up and down, rising toward the sky before plunging back down. Mindaza's stomach lurched in time with its motion. Perched atop the breeze, the eagle let out a harsh cry and started preening its feathers. A seagull swooped in for a closer look but thought better of approaching the formidable bird.

"Hoist the mainsail!"

Sulaya effortlessly commanded the crew to position a thirty-foot tall pine mast upright in the center of the ship.

Khallel barked orders to fasten stays and hoist a cross-spar near the top to secure the mast. The crew raised a great red canvas sail that billowed in the breeze.

Granny Juana started a rhythmic chant that the rest joined in, synchronizing their rowing. This old woman knows the myth and some legends that living in the depts of oceans. The chant is to give them guidance on board allowing them to start the journey with the calmness of water.

At the stern, Khallel proudly steered the oar. Standing at the bow, Sulaya gazed ahead towards the island of Mindanao.

Mindaza swallowed hard as she watched her home island diminish into the distance. A pang of sadness washed over her as she realized her father would not be joining them on this journey, despite her mother's words.

"Do you have to say something, Mindaza?" Khallel asked softly, noticing her grief.

"I just miss my father. I'm so sad he's not coming with us," Mindaza replied wistfully. "No matter where I go, this island will always be my home."

"One day you will return here, but for now you must face your fate," Khaled said, a gentle smile crossing his face.

"Are you serious?" Mindaza asked, but Khaled gave no answer. He simply smiled knowingly, lost in hopeful thoughts.

"There is no permanent in this world, just say goodbye for now, as your future is coming," Khallel said, before leaving her.

Mindaza felt conflicted. Though sad and uncertain at his abrupt departure, she also felt a thrill of excitement and wonder at the new experiences ahead.

After sailing for five hours, ominous dark clouds suddenly filled the sky as a fierce wind whipped up massive waves, leaving them stranded amid the churning sea.

Mindaza looked at the crew. She had known these people all her life; now, they sat hauling on the long oars as the ship rose and fell, dashing aside the waves from its sharp prow.

The youngest was middle-aged, the oldest in her dotage, yet here they were, pulling lustily at the oars.

"Jeg.jeg.jeg." Rushing in the wind.

"Mother, they are all wet now because of the rain, how can I help?" concerned Mindaza asked her mother, but Sulaya said,
"Don't worry, they will be fine. Soon the rain will stop."

Granny Juana made another chant. Verse after verse she said, "Open the light and guide everyone for a journey on."

After she praised those opening words, the crew joined in as they leaned forward and hauled back. A shaft of sunlight probed from the east, reflecting from the waves in a myriad of diamonds of light and highlighting the faces of them all.
Suddenly, they did not look like farmers and peat-cutters.

The sun cast shadows on high cheekbones and strong jaws so, for the first time, Mindaza saw the hidden strength of these people. She saw the deep eyes and set mouths and wondered how these men and women would have looked twenty or thirty years or so back, when they were in their prime.