The World Duology (World Odyssey / Fiji: A Novel) (45 page)

2

A
s night approached, Joeli’s trackers reached the stream at the same point their quarry had entered it earlier. The two trackers were scouting around searching in vain for tracks when the others caught up.

Nathan charged impatiently into the stream, anxious to keep going. He pulled up when he realized no one was following. Turning around, he saw Joeli conferring with the trackers. The ratu motioned to his warriors, indicating it was too dark to continue. They began preparing a campsite. Resigned to having to wait till morning to resume the search for Susannah, Nathan joined them.

Scouting around upstream, Waisale found a cave in the bank. The others agreed it would be a good place to overnight. They welcomed the shelter it would afford from the relentless rain.

Inside the cave, a fire was quickly lit. Everyone sat around it, drying out and eating some of their rations. The one-eyed Babitu spotted a large iguana, or native lizard, sitting motionless on a nearby rock. He stabbed it with his hunting knife, skewered it onto the end of a stick, and began barbecuing it over the fire. Once cooked, he sliced it into small pieces and shared it with his companions. Only Nathan abstained. He couldn’t bring himself to eat it. Besides, he wasn’t hungry.

The American sat apart from the others, his chin resting on his folded arms. Around him, some of the others talked in hushed tones while others went to sleep. In the firelight, the men’s shadows danced on the rock walls and water glistened on the surface of the rocks. Soon, the crackle of the flames and the soft tinkle of the nearby stream were all that disturbed the silence.

Lost in thought, a bone-weary Nathan stared into the fire. He wondered how Susannah
was faring at that very moment.

Are you still alive? Is he mistreating you?

Nathan became distressed just thinking about her.
What if I never find her?
he asked himself. He vowed he’d make the Outcast pay for what he’d done. Finally, he gave in to his weariness and lapsed into a deep sleep.

# 

Further inland, Susannah and her abductor were also sheltering in a cave. Rambuka had chosen a small cave whose entrance was hidden behind dense vegetation and was effectively invisible to anyone who didn’t know of its existence.

Susannah instinctively knew the fierce Outcast had used the cave previously. He seemed to know the land so well, and was so sure of
himself, she seriously doubted she’d ever escape him or know freedom again.

For now though, Susannah’s only concern was surviving the night with her virginity still intact. As she sat with her back against the far wall of the cave, she avoided making eye contact with Rambuka, who, at that moment, was sitting staring at her.

Against the cave wall, Rambuka was just a shadowy outline. In the darkness, only the whites of his eyes and, occasionally, his teeth could be seen.

Susannah closed her eyes and prayed to God. While she prayed, though, she sensed it was already a foregone conclusion.
Rape to an animal like Rambuka is nothing,
she thought.
He has probably raped hundreds of innocent women.

The frightened young woman’s concerns escalated when Rambuka suddenly stood up and walked over to her. Certain that she was about to be ravaged, she froze; her head felt numb and she realized, for the first time in her life, the hairs on the back of her neck were standing on end.

Oh my God, this is it!

Susannah wanted to flee, but she was too afraid even to move. All she could do was close her eyes.

To her surprise, Rambuka wrapped a wide strip of flax around her mouth, effectively gagging her, then he produced a length of vine which he used to tie her hands behind her back. He tied the other end of the vine to the branch of a tree that extended through the cave’s opening, thereby preventing her from escaping.

What’s he doing?

Susannah was even more fearful she was about to be raped, but wondered at the significance of being gagged. She guessed there was no one else within miles of them, and even if there were, they wouldn’t hear her screams above the sound of the rain that was still beating down outside.

A few moments were all Rambuka needed to secure Susannah. Then, without a word, he scrambled out of the cave.

Alone, in the solitude of the cave, it slowly dawned on Susannah her abductor had left her to die. Rather than kill her outright, he’d elected to let her die slowly. The gag, she was convinced, was to ensure no one would hear her cries for help if they did happen to pass by close to the cave entrance.

The thought of dying alone, in a place her body would never be found, terrified her more than the thought of being raped. Panic welled up in her chest. Whimpering, she struggled to free herself. Her bonds held fast. Realizing it was hopeless, Susannah collapsed to her knees, sobbing.

# 

The young Englishwoman didn’t know how long Rambuka had been gone when she heard a faint noise at the entrance to the cave. When she saw the Outcast’s shadowy figure enter the cave, she was momentarily relieved. She’d been convinced he’d left her to die.

Rambuka immediately untied Susannah and left her to remove the flax gag he’d tied around her mouth. This took a while for it was tied tight. As she struggled to untie it, she noticed Rambuka had brought something into the cave. It wasn’t until he lit a fire on the dirt floor that she saw it was the carcass of a piglet. The Outcast had used his hunting skills to snare it. He was now skewering it with a sharpened stick. That done, he held the carcass over the flames, turning it slowly until its pink flesh began to turn a golden brown.

As Susannah watched the piglet being barbecued, her original fears returned. She was more convinced than ever her abductor intended to rape her.

When Rambuka adjudged the piglet was ready to eat, he drew his hunting knife and sliced tender portions of hot pork, which he devoured greedily. As an afterthought, he threw a portion to Susannah. It landed on the dirt at her feet. “Eat,” he ordered.

Susannah had no appetite. She shook her head, indicating she had no intention of eating anything at the moment.

This infuriated Rambuka. Not used to being defied—especially by a woman—he pulled out the piglet’s intestines, jumped to his feet, and strode over to where Susannah was sitting. Angrily grabbing her face with one hand, he forced the intestines into his captive’s mouth. Then, using his fingers, he pushed the intestines down into Susannah’s throat so that she was forced to swallow them. Satisfied, he returned to the fire where he ate the remaining portions of pork.

Susannah felt as though she’d been violated. She was gagging as the intestines worked their way down into her stomach. Her first instinct was to cry, but another instinct—far stronger—began to assert itself. She felt like rebelling. Rambuka may have taken away her freedom, but he hadn’t broken her spirit.

The young woman knew it would be dangerous to infuriate Rambuka any more than she already had, but something made her react. Looking defiantly at her abductor, she stuck her fingers down her throat in an effort to make herself throw up. Almost immediately, she regurgitated the intestines, spewing them onto the floor.

Rambuka couldn’t believe what he was seeing. His captive had openly defied him.
More angry than ever, his anger was exceeded only by his surprise. Susannah was the most difficult woman he’d ever met.

The Outcast had never been this close to a white woman before, and this was a whole new experience for him. The countless Fijian women he’d abducted had almost immediately accepted their lot and resigned themselves to the life of sexual slavery that most assuredly awaited them.
Fijian women know their place,
he told himself.

Susannah was different. As much as she drove him crazy, Rambuka decided then and there he desired her more than he had any other woman in his entire life. He wanted to penetrate her—and soon. There was something about her smooth white skin and her fiery red hair that kept him permanently aroused. Rambuka forced himself to maintain self-control.

Observing the Outcast, Susannah was convinced he’d rape her now. She didn’t know that even though Rambuka was a cannibal, he lived by a strangely puritanical code. Every one of the many women he’d abducted over the years had remained untouched, by him or any of his followers, for one full week—to allow his high priest to rid the women of evil spirits. Throughout that week, he and his followers would fast to purify their souls before planting their seed in the new addition to their flock. This, he was convinced, would ensure any offspring would be born pure. After the event, he and the others could then eat human flesh—an act that further purified their souls, or so he believed. This act was usually accompanied by an orgy.

To Susannah’s amazement, Rambuka stretched out beside the fire and fell asleep almost immediately. Still she didn’t relax. It wasn’t until she heard Rambuka snoring that she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Not for the first time since her horrific experience began, Susannah wondered whether she’d have the courage to attempt an escape. She looked longingly at the cave entrance, but Rambuka had positioned himself so that she would have to step over him to reach it.

Susannah couldn’t help noticing that even in sleep Rambuka looked dangerous. His knife, which he held in his right hand, was resting on his chest while his left hand rested on the steel head of his tomahawk.

# 

Before dawn, Nathan woke feeling refreshed after a surprisingly good night’s sleep. Remarkably, he’d slept right through—despite his concern for Susannah. He immediately felt guilty that he could sleep at a time like this. His fingers caressed the whale bone pendant he wore as he pondered where Susannah was and what she was doing right now.

Nathan recalled a dream he’d had during the night. It came back to him in sharp flashes. He’d seen his future. He was an old man resting on a rocking chair, smoking a cigar on the porch of a mansion somewhere in rural America; he was rich and highly respected, but totally dissatisfied because he’d never married, had no children, and was alone in his twilight years.

Recalling the dream caused him to feel overwhelming sadness. He became convinced it was his destiny to end up like that old man unless he could grow as a human being. Nathan knew Susannah held the key to his future: she could help him evolve. He felt confident he could communicate his deepest feelings to her—something he hadn’t been able to do to anyone else, not even himself.

I have to find her.

After Nathan and the others had eaten some rations, Joeli led them from the cave that had served them so well. Outside, they were relieved to find the heavy rain had been replaced by a light drizzle.

With the trackers leading the way, they set off along a rainforest trail at a steady jog. Nathan found it easier to keep up with his companions. Each day, he was feeling a little stronger.

# 

Now deep in the Nausori Highlands, Joeli’s raiding party occasionally stumbled across a remote village. As before, they gave the villages a wide berth. Joeli was mindful of the fact they were entering the outcasts’ territory and Rambuka had eyes and ears everywhere.

Leading the way, the Qopa trackers had long since given up following their quarry’s tracks. The rain had put paid to that. Their focus now was on ensuring they found the quickest route to Tomanivi. Always, they headed eastward.

Clambering over rocks alongside a rain-swollen river, Joeli and the others were greeted by a fine curtain of spray and a thunderous din as they neared a waterfall. They scrambled up a steep track beside the falls. Bringing up the rear but not falling behind as he had the previous day, Nathan tried not to look down. He never did like heights. Instead, he focused his attention on Joeli, who, as usual, was leading from the front.

Looking at the young ratu, Nathan could tell Joeli was already in war mode. His body language and single-minded determination told him that.

The American felt a flood of gratitude toward Joeli for risking the last of his warriors to rescue Susannah. Sure, Joeli wanted to rescue Waisale’s woman, too, and he was desperate to recover the golden tabua, but it was Susannah’s abduction that had prompted him to act.

Feelings of guilt resurfaced as Nathan remembered how, only a few weeks earlier, he’d been ready to betray the Qopa if it had meant securing a better deal for himself.

What Nathan didn’t fully understand was Joeli had decided it was time to resolve matters once and for all with his treacherous half-brother. While the young ratu wasn’t sure he could defeat Rambuka, he considered it more honorable to die trying than to allow the evil outcast to maintain his reign of terror and continue abducting women.

The track delivered Joeli’s party to a hilltop above the tree line. Here, they paused to rest just as the drizzle cleared and a watery sun tried its best to pierce the clouds. To the east, kauri-forested hills extended as far as they could see. Mist Mountain was the only distinctive landmark. Its summit was appropriately shrouded in mist.

Nathan studied the mountain, wondering if that was their destination. He couldn’t stop thinking about Susannah. The thought of the innocent young woman in Rambuka’s hands was tearing him apart.

3

W
hile Nathan was studying Mist Mountain, further to the east Susannah was about to get her first look at Tomanivi as Rambuka dragged her inexorably toward his hideout. Since dawn, the Outcast had been driving her so hard, the exhausted Englishwoman was beginning to think, for the first time, she may not last the journey.

Not that she knew where their destination was, for she hadn’t been privy to the information Joeli’s warriors had prized from the outcast they’d tortured back at Momi Bay. For all she knew, Rambuka could be taking her to the other side of Viti Levu.

Susannah had no idea how much time had elapsed since they’d set out from the cave they’d spent the night in. She wasn’t even sure whether it was morning or afternoon, though she suspected it was still morning. Even though it had stopped raining, ever-present storm clouds ensured the sun remained well hidden.

As well as feeling exhausted, Susannah was experiencing hunger pains for the first time. She now regretted she hadn’t accepted the food scraps Rambuka had offered her the previous night. Susannah slipped in the mud as she followed her abductor up a steep forest trail.

The increasingly impatient Rambuka grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to her feet. “Keep up!” he snapped.

Rambuka spoke so infrequently—and when he did he sounded so gruff—Susannah had trouble interpreting his words. However, she got the drift. Ignoring her pain as best she could, she forced herself to move faster.

Susannah could see her abductor was showing signs of stress, or anxiety at least. Despite her exhaustion, she had the presence of mind to realize Rambuka suspected they were still being followed. As before, this gave her hope. And, as before, she wondered if Nathan was among those who may be following them.

Mercifully, they reached the crest of the hill they were climbing and began descending on the other side. The going was suddenly easier, but this only prompted Rambuka to increase the pace.

Susannah bumped into the Outcast when he came to an abrupt halt. Looking around, she saw they’d emerged into a forest clearing. She glanced at Rambuka and noticed he was staring at something directly ahead. Following the direction of his gaze, she saw a distant mountain. She wasn’t to know it was Tomanivi, the highest mountain on the island and their intended destination.

Just as Mist Mountain was covered in mist, the summit of Tomanivi was covered in cloud—as it usually was at this time of year.

As if on cue, the rain that had cleared earlier returned heavier than ever. Rambuka knew rain was a constant companion in the rainforests around Tomanivi, especially during the wet season. He also knew the closer they drew to the mountain, the heavier and more persistent the rain would become.

The sight of the sacred mountain spurred Rambuka on. He grabbed Susannah by the wrist and pulled her down the hillside after him. Only his firm grip prevented her from sprawling headfirst into the mud.

In a valley at the foot of the hill, they found their way barred by a swift-flowing stream. It came as no surprise to Susannah that Rambuka pulled her into the stream and, keeping close to the near bank, began wading upstream. Ever since he’d abducted her, he’d made use of many different waterways—be they streams, rivers, lakes or swamps—in this fashion. Susannah had deduced very early in their flight that he did this to hide their tracks. Again, this reminded her that Rambuka believed there was a strong possibility they were being followed.

The stream led them to a waterfall. Without even pausing, Rambuka began pulling his captive up a rocky trail beside it.

Susannah was suddenly afraid for her life. She and Rambuka were both slipping on the slime-covered rocks and the path they followed was becoming increasingly treacherous, yet the Outcast seemed oblivious to the danger. Pulling her up after him, he shouted at her, urging her to keep moving. Susannah couldn’t hear him above the thunder of the falls. She dared not look down.

Recognizing that Susannah wasn’t coping, Rambuka dropped back behind her and began pushing her from below. Susannah found this helped. She couldn’t help thinking it wasn’t very ladylike having a cannibal place his big hand on her soft derriere and push her up the side of a cliff.
That’s the least of your troubles,
she told herself.

At a point about halfway up the falls, Susannah suddenly realized Rambuka’s hand was no longer on her ass. Looking down, she saw the Outcast had stopped to urinate into the falls. Quickly averting her eyes, she looked up to see how far she was from the top. She estimated it was about thirty feet.

Susannah suddenly thought she heard her father’s voice calling to her above the thunder of the falls.

Papa!

Just as suddenly, she remembered he was dead. Thinking of her dear papa, she wondered what he’d do in her predicament. She recalled the advice he gave her back in her teenage days when she used to play chess at an exclusive all girls’ school in London.
Never change a winning game, my dear,
he would say,
but always change a losing game.

Susannah ceased her daydreaming when she felt Rambuka’s hand on her ass. She immediately resumed climbing. As she climbed, her father’s words kept coming to her. She knew she was losing whatever game she was playing right now.

What to do, Papa?

The young Englishwoman sensed they were nearing their destination. She remembered the look in Rambuka’s eyes when he saw the big mountain.

Maybe that’s where we are heading.

Susannah knew her chances of escape would reduce drastically once they’d reached Rambuka’s hideout. Then she’d be up against him and his men, and not just him.

Your best chance of escaping is right now while it’s just you and this animal. But dear God, please show me how on earth I can ever escape from him. This is his territory. He is bigger, stronger, and faster than me and he knows this land like the back of his hand.

Reaching up for a handhold, Susannah dislodged a large rock. Only by applying upward pressure with her hand did she prevent it falling on top of her. Studying the rock, she estimated it to be about the size of a football. Grasping it in both hands, she pulled it free from the cliff-face, turned, and looked down at Rambuka.

Please, Lord, give me the strength to do this thing and overpower this evil man.

The look on Rambuka’s face told her the Outcast knew immediately what she was planning to do.

As Susannah threw the rock down at her abductor, Rambuka leaped to one side. The rock missed him, but he fell about ten feet, landing heavily on a protruding boulder. He lay there unmoving. Blood streamed from a nasty head wound.

Breathing heavily, Susannah studied Rambuka’s motionless form for several long moments. She was convinced he was dead.

The thought that she’d killed someone hit her like a sledgehammer. Feelings of faintness threatened to engulf her, and she hugged the surrounding rocks for fear she’d fall. The feelings passed. She resumed climbing, anxious to put as much distance between her and Rambuka—in case he wasn’t dead.

Reaching the top of the falls, she looked back down for one last look at her tormentor.

Dear God, no!

To her horror, she saw that Rambuka wasn’t dead. He’d regained consciousness and was already pushing himself to his feet. He looked up, and Susannah pulled back out of sight before he could see her.

Terrified, she began running along the cliff top, desperate to escape.

Meanwhile, Rambuka was faced with a dilemma. He had no idea how long he’d been unconscious, and he wasn’t sure whether Susannah had continued scaling the cliff face or had climbed back down. The rain and the constant spray from the falls instantly washed any tracks away, so there were none of the usual signs for him to follow. He had to rely on instinct. Logic told him that, although it would have been easier for her to continue to the top on her own, she’d have climbed down because that was the way home for her—and that’s where her help was coming from. Rambuka immediately began retracing his steps down the cliff face. As he climbed down, he blinked continually to keep the blood out of his eyes.

At the foot of the cliff, Rambuka entered the rainforest and scouted around for special herbs and leaves, which he quickly located. Expertly combining them to form a poultice, he covered his head wound. Then, reaching into the small pouch that dangled from his waist, he fished out some more powerful herbs, which he popped into his mouth and began sucking. These, he knew, would ease his splitting headache. That done, he began searching for his quarry’s tracks.

Above the falls, Susannah was running for her life. She was convinced Rambuka would kill her if he found her. Looking over her shoulder, she was amazed he hadn’t appeared yet. The thought occurred he may have gone down the cliff face.
That’s the only explanation,
she decided.

Realizing she may have bought herself some time, she stopped running and reassessed
her options.

He’ll soon realize I climbed to the top of the falls. I have to hide where he can’t find me and hope he gives up looking for me.

She knew Rambuka would be mindful of the fact the Qopa—and possibly Nathan—would be coming after him, so he couldn’t afford to spend too long looking for her.

Where to hide?

Looking behind her, her heart sank when she noticed her tracks in the soggy ground. They stood out like signposts. Susannah resumed running until she came across the next mountain stream. Then, taking a leaf out of Rambuka’s book, she waded into the water.

Which way to go?
Upstream or downstream?

This time, Susannah thought of home. She immediately headed downstream.

Behind her, in the valley beyond the falls, Rambuka quickly reached the conclusion Susannah hadn’t retraced her steps. Away from the spray of the waterfall, he could find no additional tracks, which indicated she’d climbed to the top of the falls, not the bottom. Cursing, he retraced his steps yet again and climbed up beside the falls. At the top, he immediately saw Susannah’s tracks and followed them to the point where she’d entered the stream.

Rambuka was faced with yet another decision—whether to go up or downstream. Following his instinct, he headed downstream.

# 

Susannah had been wading through the stream’s shallows so long, her feet felt numb. She dared not allow herself to think she may have eluded Rambuka, but deep down she was beginning to feel a glimmer of hope.

Approaching a set of rapids, she finally climbed out of the stream. Only then did she become aware she was being followed. The sound of someone, or something, splashing through the water behind her told her she wasn’t alone. Turning, she saw the familiar form of Rambuka charging after her. His bloodied face was a mask of rage as he closed in on her.

Screaming, Susannah began sprinting along the bank of the stream, looking around wildly for some avenue of escape. There was none.

The Outcast quickly overtook her, throwing her to the ground. He then cuffed her about the head and face with his open hand, bruising and cutting her, but taking care not to incapacitate her.

“No, please!” she cried out. Even in her distressed state, Susannah recognized that her abductor wasn’t out to kill her. She instinctively knew he intended to keep her as his hostage.

Susannah’s instincts were spot on. Rambuka wanted to keep her for himself, and he wasn’t about to let her escape.

This realization chilled her to the bone. She decided then and there, when the opportunity presented itself, she’d kill herself rather than let Rambuka and the other outcasts have their way with her.