Island Dolls

Chapter Nine

Part I

Feioha rushed up the slope toward the village with an urgency in her heart. She wasn't sure what it was but she couldn't accept what she had seen down there on the beach. Even though it was done for the defence of the village it didn't feel right to set a trap to massacre people like that. But on her own there was little she could do about it.

The wooden posts that marked the entrance to the village loomed ahead and Feioha ran desperately toward it when she suddenly collided with something and collapsed to the ground.

"Ow!"

Whatever it was had been heavy. How hadn't she noticed? Feioha rubbed her head painfully and then opened her eyes.

"Oh! Uncle!"

The man who sat collapsed on the ground opposite her wasn't her actual uncle, but everyone in the village called him like that out of respect. He had long stringy hair and was covered in body paint. It was the village witch doctor.

"Sorry, I'm such a clutz. I didn't see you there!"

"It's okay Feioha," the man said, rubbing his head and then standing up. He let out a hand to help lift Feioha to her feet. "But where might you be going in such a hurry?"

"Ah, I need to talk to my dad about something. But uncle, why are you here? Shouldn't you be out on the warboats with the village warriors?"

"They didn't want me," the witch doctor replied with a shrug, "Must be because I'm close to your dad."

"Didn't want you? But they need you! And what's my dad got to do with it?"

"You're still young," the witch doctor replied with a wry smile, "As you grow older, these thing will become more apparant to you."

"What things?"

"It seems Baed only wants the help of those who can help him to achieve his goal," he grimaced, "Which of course is taking over the position of chief from your father.."

"What?" Feioha said with disgust, "He disgraced himself by coming back defeated from that raid and he's still trying to do that?"

"Some people find it hard to give up once they've started something." the witch doctor shrugged, "But what urgent message do you have for your dad? Perhaps I could help too?"

"..." Feioha hesitated. The recent days had opened her eyes to the motives of the people around her in ways she had never expected. She no longer knew who she could trust in this village.

"Trust me," the man before her said as if he could read her mind, "I'm your father's long friend. You know that, right? If you have some problem let me know what it is. There might be a way I can help."

Trust him? Feioha bit her lip. She wanted to. She didn't like being unable to trust anyone around her.

"If you can't that's okay." The witch doctor gave a sad smile and nodded to himself.

"Wait!"

Feioha desperately wanted people she could trust. Maybe this could be considered a test of his trustworthiness? She took a deep breath and continued,

"Down on the beach! Baed has laid a trap for the enemy warriors."

The witch doctor. "A trap? What kind of trap?"

"Like what we might use to capture a wild animal. Except I don't think he plans on capturing them. He wants to lure them in..."

"...And then slaughter them all."

Feioha nodded.

"Ingenious." the witch doctor said, thinking about it. "Clearly that boy has some brains in him. I never would have imagined it."