113
THE BLUE FEATHER
day and night for two full days to see you. Can you please come
and help us defend ourselves? We need all the help we can get!”
As the two weary travelers rapidly drank cool water that
Zocam provided to them from a gourd, he said, “The affairs
between men we do not like to interfere with, because we Giants
believe everyone should do only good. Killing other people is a
bad thing to do. Is that that not true?”
“Yes, that is true, but the Tarawa attacked us in our homes.
We are a people who work the land, plant the crops, tend the
vineyards, and harvest the fish from our streams. We have no
weapons like those of your friend there,” the first man said,
pointing to Tital’s bow. “Raan was your friend. He brought you
corn to eat, and other vegetables. He helped you, and he said
you would help our people,” the second man, who was younger,
pleaded.
“Tabracan, what do you think? Can we help in this matter?”
Zocam asked as he stood up. “Raan and his people have been
true friends.”
“We would go against the ancient ways of our tribe. You
remember what happened twenty pictuns ago, when members
of our group sided with certain evil men?” Tabracan asked,
rubbing his chin.
“Ah, yes, I remember. But the Tonga needs our help, or they
will surely be killed or enslaved,” Zocam said, trying to think of a
good solution. As he took another bite of meat, he looked at his
brother and asked, “When Mahucutah told us that two human
strangers were in our area and might come by, and did he not
also say that they were learning the ways of great warriors from
Ah Tabai?”