CHAPTER 13
Meeting The Blackskirts
At the Blackskirt's camp, the Fire Walking Lady of Medicine had returned from the beach with the package. The Medicine Lady dismounted Kaiulani's horse Shells while simultaneously grabbing a paper bag of opium. All the Blackskirts were outside by their huts waiting as she entered her hut.
The Medicine Woman immediately poured the contents from the paper bag into some coconut bowls containing pineapple juice. Once done, she began to hand them to the Tahitian Tane Blackskirts who were waiting patiently. Soon afterwards the Medicine Dancer handed them to the Tahitian Tane Ori females who were ready to perform the ceremonial ritual for the night.
Princess Kaiulani drank the last one as she anticipated the dance ceremony. Being the last one in the Medicine Woman's hut, she remarked as to the quality, "This opium
is good. What a buzz!"
She then went to the paper bag that the Woman of Medicine had set aside. She opened it, then took her finger and scooped a bit for a snort. Transformed into a fiery spirit, she bellowed, "Time to dance."
She left the Medicine Woman's hut and headed straight for the Fire Stage. She continued to strut her stuff as
she moved forward. The Tahitian Tane dancers were waiting. Once the Goddess of Fire Sticks made her way onto the Fire Platform, she picked up a wolf head mask and covered her face completely with it.
Next the Medicine Woman and the Witchy Woman strutted as they approached the Fire Stage in their grass skirts. As quick as a fiery dance, both prepared for the ceremony at hand.
The Rough Riders maintained their watch of the
spectacle.
Leonardo Wood and the others were riding towards the Fire Cross. The cross was lit up with the fiery flames of the hot Hawaiian islands on its top. Everyone just sat on their horses and watched. They wondered what the hell it possibly could be with such writings on it. Then they looked at the writings. Unable to get the meaning of it, Shooter remained very still.
With a further notion, Beretta wanted an explanation. He asked them, "I wonder what that's for?"
Wood inspected the Flaming Fire Cross. As he stared at the cross, the skirts started one of their incantation drum beats to the winds. It was the drum beat to their most sacred Fire God. "Un, un, tae, tae."
As the beat pounded its way to Kanaloa Ahi, the Fiery God of Hawaii, Wood commented on the pattern, "I don't want to know. Hey! Hear that?"
The drumbeat immediately began with a quicker pulse in the airy winds. The Rough Riders stared down the eternal Fire Cross as it burned into the freaky night sky. Then they all began to ride in the direction of the sounding ipus.
After a moment or so, Martin thought they should pick up their speed a little bit. Right away, he pronounced, "Let's go faster."
They sidekicked their horses to pick up the pace. As they rode further into the palm trees and foliage, they noticed a footpath leading toward something. Then suddenly they were at the outskirts of the Fire Stage and they all came to an immediate halt.
"Whoa!"
Shooter seemingly knew what to expect after seeing a bit of the place before. She said to her fellow Rough Riders as they gazed into the flaming torches that surrounded the eternal flaming Fire Stage, "Stop! Watch this!"
The Rough Riders remained at a halt by the far away trees as they speculated about the reasons for the strange and illuminating flames in the ceremony taking place.
While they sat and watched, the Medicine Woman and the Witchy Woman stood on the Fire Stage holding in each of their hands coconut bowls filled with kerosene. In the background was the Woman of Lei who stood there in one of her beautiful string Lei Kui. Quietly, she remained posed
with her Lei Kui covered in plumeria flowers.
Behind the Witchy Woman was a Tahitian dancer. He held one of the swords within the Kukui nut torch. For the sacred ritual he held the sword within the flames to keep it red hot for the exact moment it was needed. At the front of the line near the front of the Fire Stage, Hili Pili and the fake Vampire Girl held up one-sided Fire Sticks. The flames tended to connect above their heads.
Off stage, one of the Tahitian Tane natives yelled loudly in Hawaiian, "Ho'omakaukau."
Immediately, the Goddess of Fire walked from the rear of the Fire Stage to about three feet from the swordsman. In an aggressive move, the swordsman pulled the red as lava hot knife out of the flame of the Kukui torch. He then rotated 180-degrees towards the Goddess of Fire. As he turned, he swung his Pahi-Waka-Waka toward her towering Wolf Head. When the Wolf Head dropped from her shoulders and fell to the ground, the Goddess of Fire swiftly dipped her fingers in the bowl of kerosene the Medicine Woman and Witchy Woman held.
The Goddess of Fire then put her hands over her head
adjacent to the Fire Sticks that Hili Pili and the Vampire Girl held above their heads. The Fire Sticks burned steadily together as the Goddess of Fire twirled towards them.
Bringing forth the Fires of Passion, she flicked her kerosene-soaked fingers towards the flames of the Fire Sticks. In the Hawaiian night sky, sparks of fire flew into the air above her head and then crashed down on the Fire Stage as small droplets of fire and lava. The kerosene lights and sparkles then gave the appearance of their famous volcano Kileau.
The Goddess of Fire yelled, "A'a'a." (To the Lava Cave.)
She twirled on the Fire Stage stopping right at the edge. Once the sparks had all burned out of their fiery glow, the Goddess of Fire stood there staring down the
Rough Riders.
Confused as to what was going on with the surprising spectacle, Martin couldn't keep his mouth closed. Bringing the surprise to life, he quickly declared, "They are very weird."
Then the Goddess of Fire stuck her fingers back into
the bowl of kerosene that sat inside an ipu the dancers had left at the edge of the Fire Stage. As she gazed, she came up at quick pace while she flicked her drenched fingers into the flaming Fire Stick at the front of the Fire Stage.
After she performed the surprising task, sparks flew into the dirt everywhere near the Rough Riders.
The Woman of Lei then came around and put a Lei Kui of plumeria around her neck. At the same time, John walked up to the Rough Riders. He seemed to recognize how confused they were, yet he remained quiet for a moment.
Leonardo Wood was confused as to what the hell was going on with their show of fire and brimstone sparking all over the place questioned him, "Hey, John! What the hell?"
John noticed that Beretta had his rifle out and Martin held his pistol like something was about to happen while they were dancing on the stage.
John stated quickly, "It's all right, just keep your guns down."
Finally, after a delayed reaction by way of their slight hand, the Rough Riders lowered their rifles and pistols and put them back into their holsters.
Beretta now had a strong urge to say some words to John, realizing the fact that he and Princess Kaiulani were actually together in some physicalization of the worst kind. Beretta gibbered, "We kind of figured you two were together."
John noticed that Beretta still hadn't completely put his rifle in his holster. He began to panic a little bit over the fact. He heightened the static by instructing his fellow Rough Rider, "Hey, I'm serious! Put those guns away around them."
They all finally put their rifles and pistols away and out of sight. Then Shooter became a little bit nervous after getting a look of the place again, especially after her close encounter with them the day before.
John stood there and thought, I wonder how the Rough Riders found me? I think Shooter gave away this hidden location to them. He proceeded to confront Shooter's authority, "So you told them?"
Shooter's horse backed away from John about a foot or two taking everything into consideration a little bit. Shooter thought, What audacity John has, accusing me! Especially since I really tried to come alone with no prevail.
As quick as a shot from a six-shooter, she stuck up
for herself, "I never told them. They figured it out by following a Blackskirt on Princess Kaiulani's horse."
The Goddess of Fire was still on stage and she stared over at the Rough Riders to see what their intentions might be considering that they remained on their horses waiting.
The Princess of Hawaii signaled to John to bring the Rough Riders closer to the Fire Stage. Catching the Lady of Fire Dancing's motions, John uttered, "Hey! The princess wants you to watch, so tie your horses up by Lightning."
After John mentioned the princess' desire for them to watch the ceremonies, they rode over and tied their horses next to Lightning. In no hurry they finally made their way to the front of the illuminating fire.
Once they were seated, a few Hawaiians came over and sat beside them. Some Hawaiian children were playing next to the Fire Stage. The musicians played ukuleles and beat the drums. The Goddess of the Islands left the Fire Stage while some of the other Hawaiian dancers entered the stage and
formed a line at the front.
From offstage, Princess Kaiulani called out the hula
to the Rough Riders. "This Hula is 'The Great Cowboys of Molokai.'"
The natives sat around the Fire Stage and began chanting aloud for the dancers. The Hawaiian dancers started the dance with a Kaholo Right. Their right arms were extended out all the way. Then on the fourth beat of their slap on the ipu, their arms were brought in flat towards the chest.
While performing the first part of the Hula, all the Blackskirt Dancers chanted, "Kamali'i Makou O Kualapu'u."
(We're the children of Kualapu'u.)
Then they put their left hands on their hips with fingers closed until they began to move into a four-count
to the left part of the Kaholo. During the Kaholo Left in the last part, the right hand moved to the chest while the left hand moved up and to the left until completely extended out.
This part of the Hula was done while the dancers
sang, "Kamali'i Makou O Kualapu'u." (We're the children
of Kualapu'u.)
Then they flowed their hips back into the Kaholo Right. Coming back into the Kaholo Right, the right hand was flattened against the chest as they moved their left hand
to their chest within the four-count beat on the ipus.
On the next Kaholo Left, the dancers brought their hands out from their chests with only their palms and hands facing their chests as they chanted again, "Ka Paniolo Nui O Moloka'i." (The Great Cowboys of Molokali.)
Then the Blackskirts broke into another Kaholo Right with both palms facing downward as the dancers raised their hands towards the sky with a very even flow.
As they performed the Kaholo dance move, the Blackskirts chanted loudly, "Ka Paniolo Nui O Moloka'i." (The Great Cowboys of Moloka'i.)
Next the Blackskirts turned left as they performed another Kaholo Left with their hands held towards the sky as they chanted, "Kamali'i Makou O Kualapu'u." (The children of Kualapu'u.)
Then immediately after the Blackskirts finished the Kaholo Left, they Hu'i Right twice, and then in a quick stroke of the foot slap they pivoted to Hu'i Left two times. And then they all with the slap on their pivot. While their feet did the Hu'is, their left hand waved over their heads like a cowboy lasso. The last part of the Hula the Blackskirts went into another Kaholo, a Kaholo Forward.
After stepping their right feet forward, the switched into a Uwehe. Then they continued a Kaholo Forward as the left foot switched into a Uwehe once again. Their left hands are still up after they all finish all of Hu'i's.
When they changed into an Uwehe, in a quick stroke they switched their left hands to their right hands. At the same time they slapped their hips as they switched from left to right hand which was above the head to form another cowboy's lasso. While doing the last part of the Hula, the dancers chanted to the audience, "Ka Paniolo Nui O Moloka'i." (The Great Cowboys of Moloka'i.)
Then the Rough Riders relaxed as much possibly sitting on the ground without chairs. They saw ancient rituals unseen anywhere before the dawn of the 1700's, ancient dancing unseen since King Kamehameha I.
The Rough Riders sat in front of the Fire Stage
observing the spectacle. Shooter talked about how it was the reason she hadn't said anything about John possibly coming out there. "That's why I didn't tell you he was here."
Wood was amused as he compared the style of the dancing to that at Queen Liliuokalani's palace out front by the porch. Now the Rough Riders were glad to have found John Porter, especially once they thought Roosevelt and Richard Harding would notice if they pulled an attendance check.
Leonardo Wood said, as he continued to watch the Fire Stage, "You know what, I don't even care anymore."
After Wood mentioned his inner feelings to Shooter about what he had just witnessed, he turned his eyes to the Fire Stage along with the red glaring hot eyes of Shooter.
Martin pretty much felt the same way. The reality of looking for John the past couple of days had nevertheless bothered him somewhat. Remarking to Wood's statement, Martin furthered the conversation, "Neither do I."
Immediately, Martin's eyes turned back to the Fire Stage as the Rough Riders all glared at the immense illusions of Fire Dancing.
In his eyes the place was similar to his visions of
the underworld -- a land of ecstasy for the paranormals, Dancers of Fire with scabbings all over their body, their skin on the front part of their legs burned and bruised.
In a way Beretta felt much the same thing. He was
a little concerned about the possibility of Roosevelt discovering their whereabouts if they were gone too long from Queen Liliuokalani's wonderful palace. He declared to all, "Yeah, but if Roosevelt finds out, we are in deep shit."
Beretta then slowly returned his eyes towards the Fire Stage. Everyone continued to watch the Fire Stage as another ceremonial Hula began. One Hawaiian ran off of the Fire Stage as two other Hawaiians faded towards the back of the stage. Both were handed Fire Sticks as quickly as possible.
Once the Blackskirt dancers were spinning their flaming Fire Sticks out in front of them, the Medicine Woman entered first, and then the Woman of Lei from the front of the stage. The Rough Riders remained seated at the front of
the Fire Stage staring down the flaming Fire Sticks.
Immediately, the two Ori dancers started a belly dance. They waved their arms as if rolling the wind around with their hands. Then the musicians began pounding their ipus with a much slower beat.
They continued beating a slower rhythm with their ipu drums. The two Ori dancers stared down at the Rough Riders as if they were riding the wind so to speak. The musicians began chanting an incantation, "Kahea, kahea, kahea, kahea, kahea, kahea."
With their feet, they began to dance in a Ki'i Wae'wae right foot to the right side. The dancers held one Fire Stick with both hands with one side behind their backs all lit up. The other side of the Fiery Stick was held down towards their right foot.
About the time of the Kahiko Tahitian Hula, Beretta was in a complete state of euphoria about everything he saw. Feeling very strange indeed, he said, "This is a trip!"
Martin thought about the places he had been with the Rough Riders. He could only watch them continue to dance as they sat and stared in wonder. Scanning the whole spectacle, Martin spoke a few words to the group, "I have never seen anything as cool as this in my entire life."
As soon after the Hawaiian dancers finished moving
their right foot over to their right side during the Ki'i Waewae, they switched to the right foot Hela stepping all of the way with their right foot in a very low position with a complete bend of the knees in A'ha'a. With their foot a bit forward in Hela, they began to move it back to center even with their left foot. While spinning their Fire Sticks behind their backs one full turn, they switched into another Ki'i Waewae Left with the left foot. They stretched all of the way their left with their hips held out to the left side.
Simultaneously, and in sequence, the dancers held their Fire Stick with one hand to the left. To their back side was the Fire Stick held down towards their left foot and the other side at their backs. The flame behind their back was burning up towards away from their back head. The stick was held out far enough so that it didn't catch their hair on fire.
Usually, they soaked their hair with lots of coconut oil to minimize the chances of being set ablaze. The Blackskirt dancers finished the dance move of Ki'i Waewae Right after they switched into a Left Foot Hela Step Forward when in A'ha'a. Then at the same time, the Blackskirt Hawaiian dancers swung their Fire Sticks behind their backs again.
At the end of the festive occasion, Wood was over his confusion he had with the Blackskirts. After watching the Fire Dance, he had answered a lot of questions in his mind. He realized why Shooter kept quiet, especially as she had seen the place before the others. Before they had seemed confused, but now he understood why they tried to keep everything there a complete secret.
He then questioned Shooter, "Why didn't you tell us about this place?"
She refused to give him the complete secret to the area. Shooter tried to keep quiet, but blurted out passionately, "I don't know."
The two were talking while the Blackskirts were in
the Hawaiian Hula. The dancers moved into the next move of
Uwehe Knee Puff, a dance step where the dancers lifted their right foot a couple of inches and then placed it back down flat against the Fire Stage. Then in a quick next step, they lifted the balls of their heels at the same time. Their
knees were bent a little and slightly open.
Next they switched to their left feet by placing all of their weight onto the right foot while raising the left one up. Then they lowered their left feet back down to the Fire Stage. Again once their left feet were lowered down to the Fire Stage, they all lifted the balls of their feet at the same time, along with having their knees in the air. They were also slightly open and then put on the Fire Stage once again.
While they were doing the Uwehe Knee Puffs dance move, all Blackskirts continued to swing their Fire Sticks out a ways on both sides of their hips. By the first spinnings, they had already danced a few sets of Uwehe Knee Puffs.
Continuing on with the spectacle the Hawaiians themselves stared down the Rough Riders, especially at the female nurse Shooter. The patch on her sleeve was a simple image of being a nurse, especially with the cross being the color of blood.
Getting back to the Ceremonial Hula, the Tahitian dancers changed their current dance move into Hela. They started out by pointing their right feet to the right side. Then they placed their hips out to the left in a smooth motion. They brought their right feet back even to their left feet and began to move their left feet over to the left side right in front of them with the soles placed against the Fire Stage. Then they moved their left feet back in line with their right feet. Every time they moved their foot out to their front, they pushed their hips out to the same side as the foot that was to the front.
As they continued to perform their foot work of a Hela dance move, they persisted with the work of their hands out a ways spinning their Fire Sticks parallel in a congruent manner above the Fire Stage. They all spun their Fire Sticks so that one end hit their right hip. At the same time the other was swung out to a Blackskirt, so it hit their left hip and then was brushed away by the swinging of their hips as they belly dance to the lit side of the flaming Fire Stick in order to get it back towards their hips.
After doing the Hela dance move with a step of the right foot out to the front, their Fire Stick against their right hip, and the other end right out against the left side of the Oris, they brought their right feet back in and at the same time, extended their left feet over to the front of them. Simultaneously they spun the Fire Stick to the other side until the end was out against the left hip while the other was to the right hip.
They all did the Hela dance move for a count of ten measured on the ipus in a play beat.
After the Hela dance move, they switched into a Uwehe Step Brush Forward, a traditional Hula dance move where the dancers start by putting their right foot forward, while lifting their hips by pushing up the soles of their right foot. Next the dancers Hela with the left foot by bringing their left foot out to the front on their left side as it brushed the Fire Stage and then returned. Their left foot was in line with their right foot once again. Once both feet were brought even, they lifted the balls of their heels into the air.
While doing the Step Brush Uwehe on the right side in a fast motion, the Blackskirts then swung the Fire Sticks down so that one lit end was directly under their crotch. Next the dancers switched to the left part of a Step Brush Uwehe Forward, in which they all then stepped forward with their left feet done by lifting their hips on the left side by pushing up on the soles of their left feet.
Next the dancers Hela with their right feet when they brought their right foot to the front over to the right side into a slight brush. Then they returned a step back in line even with their left feet. Once back together, they lifted their heels into the air while they did the Step Brush Uwehe on the left side. The dancers then swung their Fire Sticks down once again with one end directly under their grass skirt. At the same exact time the other end was directly under their Oris crotch. For a moment the dancers push the Fire Stick back and forth under their crotches and then put their right foot out as the Kumu said, "Lawa."
All of the Hawaiian dancers then came onto the Fire Stage and stood motionless before the audience.
A second later, the Rough Riders started to clap and yodel, "Owww! Owww! Owww!"
CHAPTER 14
A Fiery Stage Show
After the Ceremonial Hula tribute, the Hawaiian dancers chanted to "Hoa Kua Hula." (Godlike companion.) John sat off to the side of the Fire Stage a ways. Being very curious, John questioned his fellow Rough Riders, "What did you all think of them?"
Beretta said quickly, "That was totally cool."
Thinking about how cool and different it was, Wood said, "I thought so also."
Seeing the fear in their eyes after witnessing the freaked-out spectacle, John uttered in a shrill voice, "You're not just saying that because you're scared?"
With the questioning of their fears, Martin jibbered, "We weren't scared at all."
Right after Martin shrugged his point, Princess Kaiulani walked up to the Rough Riders in a smooth strut that showed her stuff. She said, "I heard what you all think. I just hope you don't go telling Roosevelt about
what went on here tonight."
Wood quickly explained, "In fact, we will make sure
he doesn't find out."
Furthering the conversation, Princess Kaiulani declared, "I just hope I can trust you all. These are
my people and my tribe, and I call them 'Blackskirts'
and I don't want them exposed to your people's way of
life."
Beretta became angry and defensive. In their defense, Beretta said, "You know, if it wasn't for our country trying and, of course, succeeding at becoming the Pacific power, you then would have Spain ruling your country and would have tacos watching your Fire Stick dancing."
Shooter's emotions came out as she said to Princess Kaiulani, "At least we like this island and love your people in it, and especially love our vacation here. Some of us now could be missing limbs."
After hearing that, Princess Kaiulani made them a bit more comfortable by saying, "Well, I hope you all stay tonight."
Then from behind the Fire Stage, the Medicine Woman behind the Witchy Woman walked up to the Rough Riders.
The Medicine Woman looked at Shooter and said, "Hele mai." (Come on.)
Immediately Shooter wondered what she has said in Hawaiian. She stood there confused as Princess Kaiulani said to her, "It's okay. They want you to go to their hut and wear clothes like us."
Without a doubt Shooter thought it was great to get
the chance to dress Hawaiian. She couldn't wait to go. She responded, "Cool! I get tired of these pants."
As quick as a shell from her loaded six-shooter, Shooter walked towards the Witchy Woman's hut. She couldn't help noticing the black stains from their flaming Fire Stick. Behind her came the Woman of Lei, Hili Pili, and
the Vamp Girl.
Once in the hut, the Witchy Woman said to Shooter, "Huki kou lole'e." (Take off your clothes.)
The Woman of Lei went over to a shelf and grabbed a grass skirt and a Hawaiian T-shirt for her to wear. Shooter glanced at the T-shirt and the skirt. She said in a surprising voice, "Oh, it's so rad!"
Anxious to see her wearing it, the Vamp Girl shrilled,
"Maika'i loa." (Much better.)
Once she put it on, Shooter felt so comfortable she couldn't believe it. "It feels good and loose on me."
Then Princess Kaiulani came into the grass hut. "What do you think?"
Feeling comfortable and exquisite, Shooter happily implored, "It's great. It feels comfortable, but what is all of this on the leaves?"
Princess Kaiulani replied, "That's coconut oil, it keeps our dresses from catching fire when we Fire Dance."
Thinking that someone had burned in the skirt she wore, Shooter blurted out, "You mean to tell me someone was flamed in this black skirt?"
Princess Kaiulani brought the truth out shrilling
to Shooter, "Yes, that's why it's black. It's been burned so much that the palm tree leaves are no longer green anymore. We make new ones every once in a while. Sometimes all of the dancers wait until they fall apart, and we are all on stage naked. You can't clean off the fire carbons off of it once it is burned in."
At the other end of the Blackskirt camp, John tried to pursuade them to stay. "Why don't you all just stay here tonight? They won't care at all, and you can get acquainted with them a little bit more."
Leonardo Wood exalted John, "Well, we all can't stay. What if Roosevelt comes out to the palace?"
Martin lipped, "We'll be court martialed."
Of course John figured Roosevelt wouldn't find out so he told Wood, "He won't even budge until the morning, and as far as I'm concerned with the Hawaiian government, Kaiulani will be the only one I'd be worried about. So the hell with it. Just stay until you all get tired."
Looking away Beretta noticed Hawaiians at the other end were doing something different. He asked, "John, what are they doing over there?"
John glanced quickly at the Hawaiians. John informed Beretta, "They are making drums out of trunks from palm trees. They cut the trunk out and then they cut holes in the sides and then they put animal skin over it real tight."
Wood stared at the Hawaiian women. He asked John, "What are those women over there doing?"
John answered, "They are making these Lei Kuis."
Martin mumbled, "What a surprise!"
Beretta said about Martin's point, "You're learning their language."
John admitted his Hawaiian crash course. "Yeah, I had a crash course in Hawaiian today, all of it in fact, swinging the Fire Stick, dancing the Hula steps. And I also learned the beats on the Ipus and Ipu Heke."
Martin asked, "What the hell is an Ipu Hicki? It sounds like a kiss I could pass on."
John responded, "It's a double-sided gourd called an Ipu Heke."
Wood curiously queried, "Is that all they showed you?"
John brought more into the limelight, "Until the Ice Man or Kumu Hula comes tomorrow."
Beretta tried to picture the Ice Man and asked, "Who's that?"
John explained, "The Ice Man is their Head Fire Dancer from the island called Kaho'o'awe."
Wood questioned, "Why don't they have any Fire Walkers here?"
John had no idea. He said, "Who knows?"
Wood stared with the other Rough Riders into the palm trees. A glow illuminated from the trees. They watched with confusion.
Wood asked John, "So what's going on now?"
Answering, John told them, "Oh, I believe that is their Drum Show Foot Tap."
As quick as a flash they became completely bewildered for a moment. Wanting to know more, Wood's curiosity peaked as he inquired, "Who's Foot Tap?"
From the far away trees came Foot Tap. Now Foot Tap was carried on top of Nohomau'u or what some referred to as a grass chair. Foot Tap held an ipu in his hand as he waited to be placed down. They passed out of the palm trees passing Witchy Woman's and the Fire Goddess' grass hut. With the
Fire Sticks lighting the way, they passed the grass shacks.
Finally Foot Tap was set down in front of the Fire Stage in front of some palm tree drums, along with some gourd Ipu drums. The Hawaiians faded back away from him.
The Hawaiian musicians stopped pounding their ipus.
Foot Tap stared around at the audience for a minute. Then suddenly he started an amazing foot pounding of, "Un,tae, un, tae."
For ten seconds Foot Tap kept the present beat to the Ipu Drums. Then Foot Tap stopped and stared at the audience. With a quick flash of a burst, he began another foot tapping pound which was four times faster.
"Un, un, un, tae, tae, tae, un, un, un, tae, tae, tae."
The Rough Riders continued to stare down at Foot Tap in a state of awe. Freaking out on the exciting event, Martin exclaimed, "This is a trip!"
Right away, Wood agreed with Martin, "That's what I said."
Once Foot Tap's routine was complete, the Hawaiians placed rags on the Fire Sticks as quickly as they could. The place was expunged into a total realm of darkness within the hot Fire Stage. The Medicine Woman and Hili Pili strutted in a simple grass skirted towards the Fire Stage. They both straightway lit one-sided Fire Sticks illuminating the air. Both then proceeded onto the Stage of Very Darkness. They held their Fire Sticks with one hand.
Meanwhile they got into their rehearsed positions for the show. Foot Tap came in with another steady beat. Now Hili Pili stood Stage Left while the Medicine Woman stood
on the right side of the Fire Stage. They both assumed an Aiki-Jitso pose called Ai Gamae. They also got in a lower a'ha'a position. Both Fire Sticks were placed next to other. Once the Medicine Woman and Hili Pili were in position, at a fast pace, the Witchy Woman and the Lei Woman came onto the Fire Stage. The Woman of Lei stood next to Hili Pili with a bowl of kerosene. The Witchy Woman stood by the Medicine Woman.
Then the Kumu Hula and the Goddess of Fire compel their way to the Fire Stage. Then right away the Witchy Woman's urge, along with the Goddess of Fire, was to Fan Dance. Then they spun the handle of the fans overhead. The Kumu Hula fanned himself up and down. Then the Kumu moved his hands up and down spinning the fans. Then the Kumu Hula threw his fan over to Stage Right and then swung his hand into a bowl of kerosened coconut oil on the flat part of the palm. Then he swung his hand out through the Medicine Woman's Fire Stick. Next the Goddess of Fire threw one of her fanned from the left hand towards Stage Left. Then the Goddess of Fire swung her hand into Hili Pili's Fire Stick lighting her palm.
Next she blocked the flame of her palm. Then the Kumu Hula blocked his Fire Hand with his fan. At the same time he knelt with a left knee up towards Princess Kaiulani's rear. Immediately the Goddess of Fire sat down on the Kumu Hula's knee. In a flash they covered their hands with the fans hiding the flames. Then they removed the fans so the audience could see the fiery palms as they blew them
out.
Afterwards the Rough Riders found their way back to Washington Palace.
CHAPTER 15
Hanging Out With Kaiulani
The next day all the Rough Riders were back at
the queen's palace except John, who was still at the Blackskirt's camp sleeping the morning away.
While John was in his state of hybernation, Princess Kaiulani was outside her grass hut. John awoke abruptly to the sounds of a machete being thrown.
Listening, he got the urge to go outside. He rose from the hammock and quickly moved towards the entrance, where he noticed Princess Kaiulani holding a machete over her head with her right arm. The Goddess of Fire threw the machete towards the palm trees. The sword whizzed toward the palm
tree cutting through the foliage.
John paused with momentary concern as he watched. Princess Kaiulani turned her disrupted face toward John. Realizing the rarity of such a freakish stare, Princess Kaiulani marveled whether John would try machete throwing. She questioned him, "You want to try?"
Thinking for only a moment, John mustered up, "I don't know, I guess so."
John walked over to where she stood. Immediately Princess Kaiulani picked up another sword and stretched her right arm out as she turned towards the far trees. Then she handed the sword to him to throw. Princess Kaiulani remained in her stance before she took her shot.
Demonstrating to John, she instructed, "It's like this, you just whizz it."
She threw the sword towards the palm tree with a quick motion. The sword whistled as it flew the air towards the trees. The steel banged against the bark and the sword fell to the ground next to the other swords.
The Goddess of Fire implored to John, "And stick it,
it's easy."
John looked at the sword in the palm of his right hand. Delighting in his embarrassment, she whisped out to him, "So, Army Man, do you know how to use the sword?"
John put his arm behind his head with the sword ready to throw. The Princess of Swords wanted to laugh as she said, "Not like that."
John wondered, What am I doing wrong?
Princess Kaiulani quickly said to him, "Oh, just whizz it."
Eager and ready to take his shot, John stroked up a line, "Okay, but I suck."
The Princess of Swords eased his anticipation by telling him, "It's okay if you suck."
Trying to procrastinate, John declared, "But I'm warning you, I suck."
Without further hesitation, John threw the sword towards the palm tree. It sailed through the air missing the tree completely.
The Goddess of Swords smiled and uttered, "That sucked."
John answered, "I told you so."
The Goddess of Swords walked over to a fire pit beside her hut and took out a red hot sword. There were other swords lying there in a pile.
John was amused as he scrambled up. "Wow! Why is that sword so red hot?"
The Princess of Hot Swords answered, "That's my Fire knife."
Momentarily the Medicine Woman walked over to the fire pit and grabbed one of the Pahi-Waka-Wakas. Then immediately she jabbed it toward the Goddess of Fire. The Goddess of Fire swung her hip to the side missing the blade by inches. The Medicine Woman began to shake her ass. It nearly looked like a honey bee vibrating in the air.
Next the Medicine Woman gave another much faster hit towards the Goddess of Hawaii. Nevertheless she stepped out of the way by shaking her hip to the side. Then she said in a louder drivel, "Ho, oma'ike." (Demonstrate.)
Forthwith the Medicine Woman began to whip her sword around a little bit more ferociously. After a couple more practice swings got her warmed up, she then took a jab
toward John's face.
John saw the end of the sword coming at his cheek. Instantly he tipped his head to the side a bit. The Vigilante Hawaiian Bush stood there staring John down.
Still confused, John blurted, "What the hell!"
The Medicine Woman thought, He's a mere wimp.
She tried to persuade Princess Kaiulani to fight her, "Lele koali ia'u." (Swing it at me.)
John remarked, "What did she say?"
Princess Kaiulani answered, "She said you really suck, and that I should show ya how to sword fight."
The Medicine Woman came out and questioned his fear. She said in Polynesian, "Maka'u 'oia i Pahi-waka-waka." (He is afraid of the Flaming Sword.)
Princess Kaiulani agreed. She decided to teach to him. Getting ready to instruct him as a partner, she said, "Au e ana kula ia." (I will, I'll teach him.)
Forthwith the Lady of Fire knives got ready to begin her demonstrations with John. Quickly the Medicine Dancer picked up the pace swinging her sword through her fingers. Then she threw a wood stick toward Princess Kaiulani as fast as she could muster. The goddess quickly snatched the wood
stick from the ground.
John continued a confused gaze toward them. Finally she decided to convince John to trying sword fighting with her. "Now take one of those Fire Knives out of the fire up there."
John looked toward the blazing fire, then at the red hot handle. John gabbled to her, "That handle has to be red hot."
Princess Kaiulani told him, "It's covered."
As quickly as he could, John grabbed the Pahi-waka-waka. He then looked at the fire carbons pouring into the air above him. He babbled to the Princess of Fire, "So what now?"
Getting aggressive to get John in a sword fighting manner, she shouted, "Come on! Don't be chicken again! Strike me like you did with the Fire Stick earlier."
He shared the jubilant sensation -- a sensation she gave him with the Fire Stick. Ready with some sort of jab
to her side, he declared, "Okay, if you insist...."
Then within the breath of a moment, he took a shot
at the Goddess of Fire. Quickly she faded away from him
a couple of inches. She stared at the red hot blade only inches from her side. Without hesitation, she boasted, "See how it misses me."
Then Princess Kaiulani ran into the trees. She shouted, "Come on, chase me, and try to hit me."
Straightforth John ran after her. As he got closer to her, she darted up the same curved palm tree. John swung the sword at her feet, but each strike missed her entirely.
With laughter, she said, "See, you just keep on missing. I'm too fast for you."
The Goddess of the Islands grabbed a coconut to throw at him. After flinching, John scrambled up. "Hey! That's not fair, you're up there."
Princess Kaiulani returned to her previous frame of mind as she wisecracked to him, "Remember that thing you threw at me, Hoa Pili. Better come up here."
Then she put her arm behind her back and took a long throw at him. John faded back a couple of feet. Contemplating for a moment, he said, "Okay, I'll come up there."
John began to climb the trunk and the palm tree started
to shake. The goddess rolled her eyes back. She sat on the curved tree trunk holding the stick that the Medicine Woman had given her. Then she jumped to the ground and began to run again. John chased after her into the trees.
John stumbled a little bit coming close to falling. After a while he caught up to her. She hid behind a palm tree with a hammock tied to it. Inside the hammock were the Woman of Lei and Hili Pili, both of whom were asleep.
Surprisingly John swung towards the palm tree and Princess Kaiulani. Making an annoying loud bash against the tree, John missed completely. She took off running. The Woman of Lei and Hili Pili arose from the hammocks very angry like. Both kicked his chest knocking him and his sword loose from the tree.
John turned circles with his sword in his hand. Spinning away from them, John apologized, "Hey! Sorry! Oops."
John continued twirling for a moment, then he began to run once again. He caught up to her momentarily.
He said to her, "I have you now."
He cornered her between three trees. Immediately John
swung at the trees with his sword. The Lady of Swords leaned away. Then John thrust another blow into the three trees. Princess Kaiulani jumped out of the way once again. Finally she left the trees and headed towards the waterfalls.
Princess Kaiulani ran to the edge of the waterfall and stood there. John was lying on the ground. Princess Kaiulani looked back at him and jumped into the frigid island waters. "Wwwooo!"
She landed into the large pool just below the falls. A moment later she shrilled up over the ledge to John, "Come get me."
John could only lay there motionless. Refusing to get back on his feet, he yelled back, "Screw that!"
Princess Kaiulani persisted saying, "Come on, John, jump in."
CHAPTER 16
Talking With The Queens
Later over at Washington Palace, the princess spoke about the upcoming Fire Walking show.
"I just hope you can all hide it from Roosevelt. Also
I want you all to see the Fire Walking tonight."
Shooter stood with her red patch toward them. She was thinking about the show as she said, "I'm sure some of us will come watch for a while."
Princess Kaiulani answered, "Good. I think this could be a good learning experience for you."
Shooter agreed with her considering how she was beginning to love the island. Sharing with the other Rough
Riders, Shooter said to her, "Yeah, I think so too."
The Rough Riders were outside talking with the two queens of Hawaii.
Wood began the conversation, "You could have made it
so much easier if you'd would tell the truth about them Blackskirts."
Queen Liliuokalani expressed her feelings about the annexation of Hawaii. "This is still our country right now until that celebration on Friday August 12th."
Of course even the Dowager Queen Kapiolani had words. She started off by exuding, "And we don't want you to tell anyone about them."
Martin brought up the point of trying to keep it a secret. He added, "It's going to be very hard with Kaiulani taking John out there all of the time."
She replied, "Well, tonight one of you should stay here in case one of them comes back to the palace tonight."
Behind the Rough Riders on the porch were a couple Hawaiian officials who were guarding everything. Everyone enjoyed the afternoon with the two queens.
Kapiolani jousted, "Them two government officials will
stay here tonight so you all can go watch the Fire Walkers tonight."
Beretta found it difficult to wait after his experience from the infamous Foot Tap. Thinking the paranormal experiences were exciting, he said, "So are we supposed to learn something from that Fire Walker from the Island of Kaho'olawe?"
Queen Liliuokalani needed them to understand so she had less to worry about at the annexation proceedings. She explained, "You will learn how the spiritual power of Mana 'Uhane and how it is related to the powers of Ko Ka 'Uhane in state thought and mental feeling of ice throughout all of your body."
Going further with the spiritualism they needed to know, Queen Liliuokalani added a few points to their previous conversations, "This is how they Fire Walk without burning the bottoms of their feet all of the way off."
Martin contemplated the fact. He'd heard that the pumice only looked and seemed red hot. Martin brought it to her attention, "I heard that those Fire Walkers walked on pumice and that the pumice has air pockets, meaning that it
looks so much hotter than it really is."
John's interest perked a little. He liked the subject of the Fire Walkers, especially the legendary Ice Man from Kaho'olawe. John shrilled to Queen Liliuokalani, "That's what I heard from someone in the States, that it looks hard but it's really simple. Run really fast."
Wood commented, "Piece of cake."
On the other hand though, Beretta really wanted to scope it out first. He was into watching them. Beretta envisioned the fiery Kukui nut torches blazing into the trees as the Fire Walkers danced on their Fire Strip. Beretta blurted out to them all, "Well, let's check it
out first."
Kapiolani had hoped that one of them would at the least say something like that to her. It seemed as though she sensed some sort of danger and she had warn them before they left. She said to the Rough Riders, "Now, don't do anything foolish tonight."
Queen Liliuokalani added something in the same nature, "You have to be conditioned in the mind."
John heard her. He was of okay with it, especially
since he was accustomed to them. He reassured the two queens by declaring, "Don't worry, it'll be all right."
Martin added, "You can rest assured tonight, we're Rough Riders."
Kapiolani smirked upon hearing his comment. She said, "Since I have been here it seems you have all are now getting the easy ride."
A sound coming up Beretenia Street permeated the air. Captain Berger and his Royal Hawaiian Band were marching by the queen's palace. They passed the queen's horse carriage that sat on the paved dirt driveway out front of the porch.
Among the sounds of the beautiful band, Beretta said,
"When I can get it easy, I'll take it twice."
John then replied, "Yeah, but once you shake it twice, you're playing with it."
Without any more hesitation Wood spoke, "Well, around here all we have been doing is sitting, or sitting with the Blackskirts at their Fire Stage."
Kapiolani worried about them going out there and said, "Now just make sure you all leave before sun down, so that the Fire Strip is lit before dark."
John asked her, "Why is that?"
Kapiolani mentioned, "Because the Ice Man likes to make an important entrance from the trees while the ipus are pounding before he enters the Fire Strip for his Fire Walking show."
Beretta listened to Kapiolani very wide eyes. Impatient about attending later, he gibbered, "I kind of can't wait."