HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
- VAHEANA
- Mar 22
- 4 min read
The visitors have only been here three moons but are quickly becoming islanders. Only a few still call them vulagi, (strangers) mostly the old and cranky. They have proved to be curious, friendly, and helpful to the Sand Maru. In the first week I sought out and introduced myself to all four men. Only one of them asked me what my name meant in Maru. I told Gerard my name was Vaheana, and it means the storm.
Bothari, the large man, has been spending time with the Koa warriors. He was drawn to the spears right off. He is obviously a man of war. He watched our Koa train with our bamboo staffs and now joins them for training and sparring. He does not smile, nor does he talk, but the training seems to bring him a kind of peace. He is helpful if you ask, and especially kind to women and children. A strange thing for such a hard looking man.
Cuthbert is the tinker, always looking for something to do. He is much in demand for the creative work he does and was quickly adopted by the unmarried women of PukaPuka. He eats at a different hut each night and there have been arguments over his company. He likes fixing and repairing things, but he loves inventing things. No matter how crazy the request, Cuthbert seems to find a way to do it. He is one of those people who seem to hum with energy and motion.
Hudson has been the most relucent to accept his place on the island. He still spends much of his time on the beach watching the horizon. He spent a month walking around being sad before joining the fisherman on the boats. I don't think he would ever have worked if he didn't get hungry. After the first full moon, the guest meals tapered off. After the first full moon and three days, Hudson showed up at the boats asking to help for some fish. He seems to understand sails and knots and is finally pulling his own weight. He is not trying to learn the language or make any new friends so far. It seems like a lonely road he has chosen.
Gerard has been the most visible of the newcomers, trying to learn each person and tree on PukaPuka. Mano can be seen walking with him most days, teaching him about the island and our history. This is an honor; one that Gerard might not be aware of just yet. He is the youngest of the four visitors, but the hungriest mind. He speaks to every person he passes, trying to practice our language. He learns fast, both names and words. Each day he tries a different job on the island, helping somebody for the cost of a few questions. He was the spokesman for his group when they arrived, and the others have continued to defer to him.
An interesting thing kept happing around Gerard, and I asked Mano about it yesterday. It's been common for most villagers to underestimate him because of his youth, bright eyes, and easy smile. Many villagers did this until they met him and talked. They came away from that meeting with a different mindset. They understood why Mano was mentoring him. They realized why he spoke for his group. They saw his desire to learn was deeply rooted and honest. They answered his questions with more care after that.
"Most villagers haven't even bothered to learn his name. They discount him on sight because of his youth and easy smile. After they talk to him, they call him by name and speak with respect. Should you mention this to Gerard, advise him to look less simple and naive?" I asked.
Mano is known for his belly laughs. First, he smiles, then he chuckles, then he laughs. It grows in length and volume until the whole island can hear him. It can go on for two or three minutes. This was one of those times. I waited for him to get past it and wipe the tears from his eyes.
"My sweet, sweet, child; you see more than most, but you don't see all. Gerard is a hunter. His smile is his war paint. How he appears is exactly how he wants to be seen. He wants to be overlooked and invisible. Only when the hunter needs to kill does it show its true self," Mano said.
"Why let others think you are dumb when you are not?" I asked, unbelieving.
"Do you think Gerard cares about what others think?" Mano asked with a huge grin.
"No, I guess not. Is he very smart?" I asked.
"I will tell you this Vaheana; you are able to see things that others don't see. I am able to see things that you don't see; Gerard is able to see things that even I don't see," Mano said.
"Oh," I said, surprised.
"Yes," Mano agreed.
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