The Wizards of Xitt

The Birthing Stones

CHAPTER EIGHT

The Birthing Stones

Kaila was spread-eagles on the bed enjoying a rare bout of dreamless sleep. He was well far from the bounds of consciousness, when a ringing of the house phone dragged him wearily back to Tenth Avenue. He turned on the bed to reach the receiver of the phone on a bedside table. He picked the receiver at the last ring and slammed it against his ears.

“Where on earth were you!” Malena shouted angrily from the other end. Kaila picked up a trace of wind, it seemed she was driving. “The coordinates intersected at Kukaniloko.”

“Kukaniloko!” Kaila repeated.

“Kukaniloko Birthing Stones I would think.”

“Where are you?” Kaila asked in a wary tone.

“I’m there bound.”

“But it’s late!”

“That’s why I didn’t ask you to accompany me.”

Shit! “Listen Malena, don’t go in there alone, I’ll be there soon.” He jumped off the bed, scattered a few things before finding a flowered shirt. Thank God, he had not yet pulled off his pants.

Kaila threw a quick glance towards the Quartz wall clock. It shouted ‘some minutes to Ten p. m.’ Kaila grabbed the car keys and headed for the garage.

At the garage he found a somewhat drunken Kaheola being helped inside by his girlfriend; Kiana.

“Hello Kyle.” Kiana said.

“Hi Kian,” Kaila replied. “He’s done it again,” he observed.

“Every so often these days.” Kiana responded.

Kaheola stirred and his eyes fell on Kaila. “Hey absentee flat mate!”

Kaila smiled at his drunken Uncle, then whispered to Kiana. “Get him some fresh juice, and lemon. It works for him.”

“Where’s he going.” Kaheola said foolishly.

“Not far I suppose.” Kiana answered “Come on, you need a hot bath.”

“No hot bath!” Kaheola interjected without much conviction.

“I’m sorry, but until you stop this, that’s your punishment.”

Kaila could not tell whether he enjoyed the little exchange between his minor Uncle and the girlfriend or he was despaired by it. All he knew was that he could not get into the car and zoom off until he heard them trundling down the hallway towards Kaheola’s room.

The wind was not so mild on the windshield, as Kaila sliced through it at a speed the road signs did not approve of. Kaila hoped the trail would end at Kukaniloko. To be frank, he was getting tired of being tossed about by clues.

Kaila saw the same car he had seen parked down Tenth Avenue the previous night. It was parked off Kamehameha Highway. So they had followed Malena down here, he thought. So much for guarding who does not want to be guarded. He reversed his Hyundai and parked further back, then made the rest of the journey on foot.

None of the Policemen was inside the car. Kaila knew, they were around, might probably be watching him at the moment. Of course, it was what police knew how to do best; blend into the environment.

Kaila walked further and came to Malena’s car. She was not inside either; she had obviously gone into the plantation alone. Kaila broke into a run and did not stop until he spotted a figure he knew could only be Malena’s.

The night was not a very bright one. It was not pitch-black either, and Kaila could see the two stones that marked the entrance into the site.

Malena must have been frightened, because, she turned a flash light she was holding to pick out Kaila’s face. “Kaila,” she said, relieved.

Kaila smiled; too bad she did not know she had other companions. He heard something fly by and Malena’s torch picked out the same golden Hawk Kaila had seen the previous day on the pine tree.

Malena waited for him to come closer before leading the way. They came across plants offering that still looked very fresh and might have been brought in earlier.

The torch light picked out a group of stones; the birth stones. They were lying beside a couple of palm or coconut trees. Popular belief held that the stones were lava rocks that formed naturally. They were about eighteen in number and once flanked a central stone. It was on this central stone that the women of ancient Hawai’i gave birth to potential ali’i or chiefs. The stones were believed to hold the power, which eases the labour pains of childbirth.  After birth, the children together with the mother were taken to a now destroyed Holonopahu Heiau. The place was a temple of worship where the chiefs ceremoniously cut the umbilical cord, and performed the other birth rituals.

“Is there anything you are not telling me Kaila?” Malena asked. She was a few feet away from a bowl-like stone.

“Why are you saying that?”

“You must know who that hawk is?”

“No, though I must admit, I’ve seen it more times than I care to acknowledge.”

“I thought so too. That hawk has followed you everywhere, since I knew you.” Malena said calmly.

“What does that mean?”

“It’s an ‘aumakua, your ‘aumakua.”

“What’s an ‘aumakua?”

“A guardian spirit, a family god.”

“A hawk?”

“’Aumakuas can be anything; honu, pueo, manō, ‘iole, mo’o, you name them. Even rocks and places at times. But an ‘io means royalty. It is a reserved ‘aumakua for nobility.”

“And you knew this since when Leena?”

“That’s not important now Kyle. What is important is that I took a trip down your family lane...”

“And found that I’m royalty.” Kaila said sarcastically.

“You are a direct descendant of Kuali’i the great.”

Kaila was about to make an angry retort but Malena raised her hand.

“If you can remember among our clues were dates that corresponded to your date of birth.” Malena begun.

Or so you believe, Kaila wanted to say.

“Everything we’ve searched for this past month has had to do with your birth, and who or what you are. So if you want to start this with me. I suggest we get into our cars and head back home.”

“I’m sorry Leena.” Kaila offered off-handedly.

“Now call him.”

“Who?”

“Your ‘io”

“How?”

“Start by naming him.”

“What name?”

“Any name.”

“Kuin! Kuin!” Kaila said instinctively.

The hawk made a very loud noise and rattled the palm tree upon which it sat.

“Come Kuin.”

The hawk hopped from the tree, flew around and came to rest on Kaila’s shoulder. It hopped to the back of Kaila’s hand.

“Isn’t he beautiful?” Malena commented. The hawk nibbled at her finger amorously.

Kaila felt a very strong attachment to the bird, somehow he knew, that attachment had always been there.

“Now Kuin, I want you to be our witness.” Malena said patting the hawk.

Kaila gave her a what-the-hell-are-you-talking-about kind of look. Kuin simply hopped back to his shoulder.

Malena brought out a small table knife.

“What are you doing Malena?”

“Bring your hand Kaila.” Malena more or less ordered.

Kaila obeyed, though with much hesitation. All the same Malena made a cut on the palm once it was out. Kaila made to withdraw the hand, but Malena held it back. “Don’t, I know by now. It will close up.” She turned the knife downwards and watched the blood on it keenly. “This is what is of interest.”

Kaila just could not believe what was going on? How much Malena knew?

Malena walked up to the central stone. It was saucer-shaped and had marks on it. She raised the knife up and began to speak. “Come noble ancestors, from earth’s abodes. From north, and south, come spirits come gods. If ever royal blood coursed your mortal veins. And the stones of Kukaniloko eased your mortal pains. Come clad in your best coats of clay. And receive your son from far away.” She poured a drop of blood on the stone. “Let time’s muffler, lifted be and your drums be loud. Let be torn, your veils of cloud.” She poured another drop of blood on the stone. “Blood and bones we always sow. That ever, a royal blood should flow.” She let the third drop of blood fall on the stone together with the knife.

A heavy mist suddenly became noticeable. Kaila could not tell reality from non-reality again. He could not believe that the scene was changing right before his eyes.

The stone had rearranged themselves. Two rows of nine stones each surrounded him, Malena, and the central stone.

The central stone caught fire and illuminated the scene. Kuin had jumped down from his shoulder. He was turning into a short mousy chief. Other chiefs and priest had materialized on the scene and drumbeats could be heard.

Everyone that appeared was ceremoniously dressed in Traditional Hawai’ian attire. They were advancing towards Kaila and Malena, but stopped just beyond the surrounding stones and bowed.

Kaila closed his eyes and opened them again. This was not really happening, was it? He turned to Malena. She was not looking his way. In fact, she had not looked at him since she took his blood. What was really happening, Kaila felt like screaming. So many irrational things had happened in the past few days. Kaila was no longer sure if there was any distinction between reality and non-reality.

One of the high chiefs advanced beyond the stones. He was more elegantly dressed than the others were, and seemed quite old. He had a golden crown on his head and walked in a way that suggested he was in command.

“Welcome son, welcome to the world.” The high chief said. “You must be wondering what’s going on here, your face says it all.”

“Yeah... Hell, I wanna know what’s going on.”

The high chief smiled, his mouth was so thickly surrounded by moustache that Kaila thought he was frowning. “Well, to soothe your troubled heart. We are fulfilling a prophecy.”

“How?” Kaila asked “I mean, this is not really happening. You’re probably not real for all I care.”

“Curiosity, a valued trait among chiefs. You might be right, but that’s for a prophecy to decide. It is the only thing that can rouse the dead, and pays no attention to the law of the realms.” The high chief explained, and then turned to Malena. “You did a great job Mrs. Spars.”

Malena flushed outwardly, but she still did not make eye contact with Kaila.

“So what’s this prophecy.”

“It’s not one my son, and we cannot fulfill them all. For now, a child is born to us.”

The people shouted and the drums changed tune. There was dancing all around.

What now! Kaila wondered, so he had undertaken this quest just to fulfill a prophecy or prophecies. And Malena knew this much, and yet said nothing. Ten thousand bee stings would have been much better for him at the moment. But there was a part of his mind that hung onto the believe that Malena was ignorant until tonight.

“Come on chief, our feast cannot wait all night.” The man shouted over the noise, then motioned for Kaila to follow.

“You should have at least told me.” Kaila said angrily when he got hold of Malena on the way to the foot of the mountain.

“Believe me Kyle; I’m still wondering how I managed to pull that off.” Malena said in an icy tone.

“Then how did you know what to do or what to say?” Kaila shot back.

“I didn’t know, I just did.”

“If you’ll step forward Chief Maentel.”

Kaila looked up and saw the high chief standing at an entrance, which had also appeared at the foot of mount Waialua. The mountain itself had been transformed into a flat-topped pyramid.

The high chief motioned for Kaila to come and stand next to him on the entrance steps. Kaila noticed that everywhere had gone quiet and everyone was on his or her knees.

“Tasted and tried have thou his blood.” The high chief began, and started dancing round Kaila. He made incantations in Hawai’ian language.

When the high chief stopped dancing, there was a long hoot from an owl. “From age to age this spirit thrives, In life or death nobility lives.”

At this, the chiefs and priests who had knelt stood up and shouted for joy. Kaila saw Malena and Kuin among them. Then, the high chief raised his hand and they stopped. “Blood and bones we always sow. That always a royal blood should flow.”

Kaila saw the chiefs part and two bound men brought forward. Kaila recognized them to be the two Policemen who were supposed to be guarding Malena. “Blood and bones we always sow. That always a royal blood should flow.”

Everyone chorused. Kaila saw them lead the men towards the side of the mountain. Somehow, he knew it will be a miracle, if those men would still be alive by tomorrow. What amazed him most was the fact that he could not or did not want to do anything.

“The feast!” The high chief announced and everyone shouted. “Come Kaila.” He said and turned into the mountain.

The place was like a temple and palace combined. It was beautifully crafted and the architecture of it smirked of splendor and perfection. Everywhere Kaila turned; there were beautiful artifacts or creative designs. There were writings on the walls and tapestry everywhere.

Kaila truly wished the place was at least real. It was one of those places you just wish to visit again and again. But somehow he knew, those things might be happening in his mind.

The banquet hall or courtroom was of considerable size. It had a huge table in the centre and chairs enough to seat most of the chiefs and priests. There was a raised area at one end of the room and beautifully clad ladies were enticing the heart or soul of the men on it.

The high chief took a seat at the head. The foods were already served and half of the chairs were already taken. Kaila quietly took one of the empty seats.

Malena and Kuin later joined the table, but Kuin left Malena and came to seat next to Kaila.

Kuin explained that the feast was the highpoint of the Hale Punai’i council of States Ceremony held yearly. It brought together all the high chiefs and priests of the Island of O’ahu. Kaila’s attention was actually hooked on one of the dancers, so he did not hear what Kuin was saying.

After a short while, the ladies finished dancing and the chiefs and priests applauded excitedly.

The chiefs and priests soon began arguing about which treaty had not been kept or which peace accord had been violated. They also spoke on which prophecy merited consideration.

Kaila heard a traditional name in the mix. Intuition told him it was his name, he turned to the high chief. The man was a couple of people away from him, and beamed once he got Kaila’s glance.

“Well Kaila since you are here. I think it is only right that we summon the Keeper of Prophecies.” The high chief said.

“Aye, aye,” the other chiefs chorused.

Kuin explained that there was a prophecy spoken centuries ago. It was about a young ali’i who would be born in the future when the light and dark half of the year come together. He will be as powerful as he is dangerous. That was all Kuin knew, according to him, no one but the person to whom a prophecy it made for, can know the full details of a prophecy.

“Keeper of wisdom, keeper of words, keeper of memories and prophecies, I summon you here now.” It was the high chief, and afterwards his eyes flew open.

At first, it seemed like nothing would happen, but then, as Kaila watched on. He heard the sky rumble and a current of angry air being swept into the room. Kaila saw a lean bald man in white robes float towards them. The man came to a halt in front of the high chief and glowered down.

The high chief smiled mischievously.

“How dare you summon me like that Kaluka?” The floating man said ferociously, “You’ve past from here.”

“True Keeper, only that our young ali’i here summoned us.” He motioned to Kaila. “And he needs his prophecy.”

“Does he now?” The Keeper turned to Kaila. “Let’s see, born between the dark and light half of the year, when the sun was millions of stadia from the earth,” he mused. “Not so monstrous as I thought.” The keeper opened his robes and produced a scroll. “Use it wisely son. There’s too much dark energy in this one, and too many lives depend upon it.” He handed the prophecy to Kaila.

Kaila’s hands were shaking as the prophecy landed on his hands, but he pretended to be still. He caught Malena’s excited glance across from the table. Kuin was already showing him how to open it.

“Well Kaluka, I do hope to bring your doom soon.” It was the Keeper speaking to the somewhat jovial high chief.

“You fail to understand that prophecies are not made for the dead. They are made for the living and yet unborn.” Kaluka replied with a simpleness that greatly offended the Keeper.

The Keeper was furious, his white robes flapped about violently. “Hmm! You fail to understand too, that I also bear messages from the gatekeepers of Hades.”

“That remains to be seen messenger.” Kaluka said, emphasizing the last word.

The Keeper was almost breathless as he bent so low his face leveled with Kaluka’s. “I owe you one Kaluka, and on my honour, you will get it.”

A violent gust of wind overturned the table and the Keeper of prophecies disappeared.

Kaila picked himself up from the ground. He had been among the people who had taken the full force of the violent gust of wind. He looked down, the prophecy he had opened was on the floor. It was written in one of the same ancient language one of an earlier clue was written in. He reached out his hand to retrieve the prophecy, but before his hand could close around it, there was a great explosion. The mere intensity of it pushed him to the wall, temporarily blinding and deafening him.

Kaila did not see the chiefs and priest disappear, or some mysterious black body appear above the table. He did not hear Malena’s voice as she was being sucked bodily into the black body along with some other items in the room. He was in some wonderland of pain.

When everything settled, Kaila returned to the banquet hall. It was dusty and seemed like it had not been used for centuries. The scroll was pinned to the floor by a creaky chair, more than half of it was missing. The chair which Malena was seated on seemed to have been blasted away along with other chairs on that side of the table. The realization reached him, Malena had been blasted away... No!

Damnit no! “Malena?” “Malena?” “Malena?”

Kaila realized that he was not the only one shouting Malena.

“Malena, are you okay?” The voice was coming from just outside the door.

“Excuse me, scanning now!” Kaila heard another voice. He knew those terminologies too well, the men were cops.

Kaila held his breath, were they scanning the room he was in?

“One hostile on site. I repeat, one hostile on site.”

“Copy that.”

“No sign of Malena. I repeat, no sign of Malena.”

“Copy that.”

“No sign of Malena?” Kaila could hear a shocked voice.

“Hostile seems wounded, but armed nonetheless.”

Kaila looked at the half scroll in his hand, so that was what looked like the gun.

“I’m going in.” Kaila could hear the first kick on the door. “Do you want him kicking ma?”

Kaila could not hear the response. He knew he was done for with any. He touched the wall behind him, the thing crumbled, there was a tunnel there.

“Positive?” He heard the police officer say before another kick shook the door out of most of its hinges, but the door still held. He knew the next kick would bring the thing down. As quickly as he could, he turned into the tunnel and crawled away.

“Wait a minute, hostile is making a run for it!”

“Get in there! Get in there!”

Kaila heard the door come down, then several gunshots enter the tunnel. He knew that it would not be long again before one of those bullets got him.

Somehow, he managed to get to the end of the tunnel without being hit. But there was a brick-like wall on it. Kaila hit with all his might and finally fell through, onto the windward side of the mountain. He let himself roll down all the way to the foot of the mountain, then he staggered up and ran towards the road. He kept a good pace as he ran for his life.

Several Policemen soon emerged from the mountain and chased after Kaila. They were shooting into the air and ordering Kaila to stop.

Kaila saw a motorcycle coming towards him. He knew his escape had come. He jumped onto the road, and the rider fearing to hit him turned away so suddenly that he toppled off the motorcycle.

A helicopter soon emerged over the mountains. Like the men chasing Kaila, it started shooting once it spotted Kaila.

Kaila erected the motorcycle and jumped on it. “I’m very sorry for your crash,” he mouthed to the owner. “And I’ll return this as soon as I can.” With that he zoomed off, one thing paramount in his mind; getting the prophecy interpreted.

Soon, Kaila was approaching Kalihi Street. He could hear the whirring of the blades of the Police Helicopter chasing him. Sirens were also humming on the background. Kaila wondered just how many cars were chasing him.

He turned the motorcycle into the quiet street. He had often wondered why Professor Alana chosed to live in such a street. The street was only quiet in the early hours of the morning, when everyone was asleep.

Kaila did not bother stopping the motorcycle; he just jumped off as he neared the picket fence, in front of Professor Alana’s house. Kaila jumped onto the porch and rapped at the door, he knew that anytime soon, his pursuers would soon bear down on him.

To his happiness, Professor Alana opened the door on the second knock. He was dressed in a cream pajama that was dotted with flowers, and he had a cup of coffee in his hand.

Kaila jumped into the house without invitation and closed the door behind him.

Professor Alana looked wary of the visit, but he acted normally. “There is coffee in the kitchen. Of course, you know I won’t ask the obvious.”

“What brought me here at this time of the night?” Kaila supplied.

“Let me see it.” Professor Alana said, he had dropped his coffee and put on his spectacles.

Kaila handed him the scroll.

“Where’s the remaining part?” Professor Alana asked.

“That’s part of the mystery; I mean who would be interested in a prophecy.”

“By the looks of the marks on this, it is a high prophecy. It must have been deliberated upon by the state council, though never opened.” Professor Alana observed.

“State Council?”  Kaila isolated the words from the rest.

“Now that’s the question, only a high chief of the State Council can summon for this prophecy. How did you get your hands on this?”

“Professor please, I don’t think there’s much time for me to explain that. In a minute’s time, the HPD will surround this house. Few minutes after that, they’ll break down this door to come in to get me... Before that happens, I want to know what the prophecy says.”

Professor Alana took a long look at the half scroll and back at Kaila. It took him quite a while to accompany his glance with speech. “It says;

     ...With a flesh of man, but fiery bird in lieu.

     A Xeonoex shall walk among you.”

Professor Alana kept looking while Kaila tried to comprehend what he had heard. “Is this prophecy yours Kaila?”

“I cannot own up to what I don’t know. What is a Xeonoex sir.”

The man smiled. “It is a joker of evolution, a crossbreed between humans and birds. It was purported to have actually been created by men.”

Kaila heard the crackling of a loud hailer being set up. He could also hear the whirring of the blades of more than one helicopter. He knew, he was surrounded by now.

“Some people believe that Xeonoexes are higher than human beings.” Prof Alana was still saying, but Kaila was not listening, he was thinking of the next point of action. It flashed across his mind and he eyed Professor Alana.

“You have been surrounded!” It was the loud hailer. “You have two minutes to come out with your hands on your head!”

Kaila instinctively reached for Professor Alana’s chest of drawers and found a shotgun. He wielded it towards Professor Alana. “I’m sorry sir, but I need a way out.”

Professor Alana stretched his thin lips into a smile. “Kaila Maentel, I always knew there was more to you than met the eyes. I have a car out back; the key is on top of the chest of drawers.”

Kaila grabbed the keys with his left hand. He did not take the gun away from Professor Alana.

Professor Alana did not cease his smile. It seemed he knew what Kaila wanted; a hostage. “Well, if you don’t mind. I might pull up a better pair of pants.” Professor Alana said.

“By the count of it, I should have less than a minute now, the HPD don’t exactly count like men. Come on Prof. we are not going for a picnic.” Kaila said and grabbed Professor Alana by the collar of his pajama.

At the back of the house, he came out behind Professor Alana. When he noticed movement beyond the hedges, he pressed the gun into Professor Alana’s hair. “I have a gun and a hostage! I will not hesitate to waste both!” He announced.

There was no movement behind the hedge. Kaila knew they were still there.

“I swear, I will shoot him if you people don’t go outside.” Kaila said c*****g the gun.

“Okay!” One Police Officer said emerging from behind the hedges. He put his walkie to his lips and spoke. “Stand down all units! Hostage situation! I repeat! Hostage situation! Stand down all units!” He led his team outside.

Kaila tossed Professor Alana into the driver seat of the Roll Royce. He then rounded to the passenger side before handing Professor Alana the keys.

Professor Alana started the car without a fuss.

“I’m sorry for all this sir.” Kaila said.

Professor Alana did not say anything or look Kaila’s way. He simply stepped on the throttle and moved the car. When they rounded the house, Professor Alana however, turned a look at Kaila and asked pleasantly. “So where are we going Master Maentel?”

“Just go left.” Kaila said, he had not yet thought of an escape route.

Professor Alana obeyed and swung the car left. The HPD cars soon followed after them, but at a considerable distance. The helicopters however, soon came to be overhead the car, but were merely following.

After about ten minutes on the road, Professor Alana came to an abrupt stop. Kaila trained the gun very close to his head.

“I am not joking Sir, I’ll shoot you if-” Kaila said in a desperate tone checking to see if he was the target of any nearby gun.

“Will you now Mr. Maentel?” Professor Alana teased, cutting Kaila short.

“I swear, I’ll kill you sir!”

“Not with my gun at least. Sorry, old tricks die hard.”

“What do you mean?”

“The bullets are in a chest below the gun’s chest.” Professor Alana explained calmly.

“So why did you follow me if you knew I was pointing a dud gun at you?” Kaila was furious.

“Pardon an old man’s sense of adventure. I seem to have a head that wouldn’t grow tired of trying stunts... Frankly, I thought this was one of them.

“It is!”

“No it’s not Kyle. You obviously have no plan of escape, nowhere to run to... And over the past few minutes, you’ve been contemplating turning yourself in.”

Kaila looked away; Professor Alana had hit a naked nerve. Of course, he should not be surprised. This is the man who had thought him more than History and Psychology, he had thought him life.

“It’s the right thing to do Kyle.” Professor Alana advised. “I do sense that you did not do any of the things they are accusing you of.”

Kaila could not chance a look at his lecturer. “I’m very sorry for all I’ve put you through sir.”

“Don’t be, you’ve just given an old man a very beautiful dream tonight.” Professor Alana said, Kaila found wrinkles from an unexpressed smile on the man’s face. He really should have checked the gun.

The helicopters were now circling lower and lower. The Victoria Ford Police cars seemed to have crawled too close. Kaila could almost feel its smoky breath.

“Now slowly, I know they’re not gonna shoot.” Professor Alana opened his own door.

Kaila dropped the dud gun on the dashboard and, pushed open the door, and then emerged with his hand above his head.

“Put those hands upright and don’t try anything stupid!” It was a very familiar voice. Kaila knew her even before she came close enough. She was Susan Graves, the officer who had taken him to Hale Maka’i for debriefing a night ago. She was leading the charge and the way she strode was enough to give away her deep displeasure in what was happening.

One of the helicopters touched down ahead and Kaila turned to look. He saw an animated Mrs. Spars ooze out of the door like a very distempered liquid.

Susan got to Kaila first. She hauled him onto the Roll Royce and handcuffed him. “Mr. Maentel you are under arrest for the murder of two police officers, the possible k********g of Malena Spars, and perpetuating acts of terrorism. Anything you say, can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one shall be chosen for you.

Kaila eyed Professor Alana who was busy telling a couple of Police officers he was okay.

“Now move it!” Susan ordered, taking him back towards one of the Victoria Crown Ford. She shoved him inside and entered with him.

The car zoomed off just before Mrs. Spars got there.