he continued. “Meanwhile, Maui County would like to control and manage the island.”
“ Maui County covers the island of Maui?”
“ And neighboring Lanai, there in the distance.” He pointed out the dark, sleeping giant in the northern sky. “Maui County also wants to return the island to human habitation; has for years, and many Hawaiians working within the system have fought for county control. They want a major reforestation effort, irrigation canals built, but-”
“ But the Ohana wants control in the hands of the people.”
“ Exactly. They don't trust any governmental intrusion, and they've amassed a lot of native clout to push their beliefs on the rest of the Hawaiian population.”
“ Well, Jim, realistically speaking, if the PKO hadn't forced the issue, do you think anyone could have wrested the island from military control?”
Parry frowned, considering this, and without a word spoken she knew he had to agree.
“ So, we're dealing with what, a feudal system, a native law and a local chieftain?”
“ They've got their own way of doing things, now that the government has relinquished all claims to the land, setting it up as protectorate in a sense, like Puerto Rico, like the Indian Nation of Oklahoma Territory before the Civil War. The U.S. will only intervene in their affairs at the request of their elected officials.”
“ Is the chief elected?”
“ Not on your life.”
“ Power by family name, Kowona?”
“ Exactly, and we might assume that he doles out his own kind of justice as freely as a Hell's Angels biker king.”
“ Hmmmmm, I see.” She considered this. “And given that Lopaka is the son of the chief, it follows that-”
“ I wouldn't look for too much in the way of justice. They don't give a damn about our ways or our laws; in fact, they pretty much despise our way of life, and like I've said, they've harbored fugitives in the past.”
“ Really?”
“ No one quite of Lopaka Kowona's caliber, I grant you. Thieves, crooks, scoundrels of various stripe, the occasional tax dodger, pickpocket and the like. No one's ever quite sure, because no one seeking asylum on Kahoolawe has ever been extradited or returned of his own accord, or so they say.”
“ They just don't play by our rules. So if Kowona has gone home, he knows this.”
“ Exactly.”
“ And if we can't return him to Maui County, we'll never see justice done. He can never be tried for his grisly crimes,” she said, finishing his thoughts.
“ Any wonder Ivers pointed me to Awai when I called him?”
“ Ivers? How'd-”
“ The ol' fool wanted us to wait for him to fly over. He's still in hospital, half blind, but he's going to fly over. I convinced him we could get the job done.”
“ How'd you know Ivers would have such contacts here?”
“ Ivers used to be a Maui cop for many years before going to the HPD, and he frequently visits the island both for pleasure and on manhunt. He does bail bondsman's work on the side.”
The boat now moved swiftly ahead of the current in the open waters of the Alalakeiki Channel, the depths here shallow and glassy. The ship's master at the wheel wore a grim look now, the smiling eyes flat, straight-lined, revealing nothing. Jessica got the sensation of a trap being laid, a web being spun by the Jolly Roger of Hawaii and his leering crew, but maybe she was just jumpy, she told herself.
“ Jim, just how well does Ivers know these guys?” she asked, her eyes going once again from crew member to crew member.
“ It doesn't matter, Jess.”
“ It matters to me.”
He deeply breathed in the Hawaiian night. “Okay, if you must know. Ivers actually suggested a boat captain named Kaupau, but his boat's in for repairs and his crew was nowhere to be found. Kaupau put me onto Ben Awai.”
She sighed in sad resignation, and under her breath she cursed. “So you don't know a damned thing about Awai and his pirates?” For some reason now the filth of the boat deck bothered her far more than before, and the crowded deck also seemed to be closing in, too small for five people.
Awai's boat took on odors she hadn't noticed before. Fishing nets reeked of ancient kills, coiled as they were in all areas where she stepped, some looking in need of repair. Overhead a winch and derrick used for lifting large caches of fish tapped out an eerie requiem in the trade winds. Jim was right, the island they neared was cold. She felt a chill embrace her, nipping at her neck and tingling her most deeply embedded bones.
“ I'm no longer comfortable about Captain Awai and his boys, Jim.”
“ They don't get paid in full until we return, and they know it. Relax, will you? Will you quit worrying?”
Another glance in Ben Awai's direction evoked a smile from the man, but she thought it forced, his yellow teeth glinting dully in the moonlight.
Ahead of them loomed Kahoolawe, out of shadow now, bathed in a blue light.
“ How do we know we won't be seen, coming straight on this way? she asked.
“ Ben Awai's boat trades routinely with the natives.”
“ By night?”
“ No, by day, but if we're spotted, Awai assures me he can find a safe harbor. There're no wharves or ports, so we'll anchor and raft in, just the three of us.”
“ Does he know where Kowona's people are?”
“ He says he does, yes.”
“ How far from shore's the village?”
“ Not very, he says. A few miles inland, but it's a dense jungle. If you want to remain behind-”
“ Not with those two, no way.”
“ Hold it down,” he cautioned. “You never know how much English they understand.”
“ You're not leaving me behind!”
“ Okole nani,” said one of the crewmen as he passed by to get to some rigging.
“ What'd he say?” she asked Jim.
“ He… it's meant as a compliment in these parts, Jess.”
“ What the hell'd he say?”
“ He either said you behind is beautiful or that it's in the way.”
“ My behind is what?”
“ He heard you say the word 'behind,' and must've thought-”
She gritted her teeth and spoke through them. “I'm not staying behind.”
“ All right, all right. You've come this far.”
She nodded authoritatively, effectively ending the conversation.
Midnight, July 21. the Island of Kahoolawe
They were skirting the island now, coming about into a snug bay the captain called Kanapou, an area made up of several small bays. Noticeably, with this side of the island facing Maui and the channel, away from the ocean, there were no crashing waves here. Rather, the channel waters ruled here with a tranquil peace. They put in as close to shore as Awai dared, fearful of grounding his boat, and there they came to anchor.
“ Well, we're here, and so far I've not seen any spears whizz by,” said Jim, lowering the inflatable over the side.
Captain Ben Awai, inspecting Jim's work, insisted that Jim try the raft first. Once it held Jim, he crooked his neck, tilted his head and gave an approving look, his smile returning. He then climbed down the rickety ladder of his own boat to the inflatable. Jessica followed, finding a seat opposite Jim, who was already pulling on the oars.
“ Ben Awai gets the raft as partial payment for his help,” Parry informed her.
“ Aha, the plot thickens,” she replied.
Ben Awai patted the sides of the fat inflatable approvingly and sputtered, “Ko'u… mine. It is soon mine.” He sounded like a child just given the biggest gift from below the Christmas tree, she thought, but then it was a state-
