120
JUAN FRANCISCO BLANCO
The two full days of hard running the Tongan men had done
to get to the Giants’ home took only one full day of horseback
riding to return to the main Tongan Village. At first sight, Bardala
could easily see all the damage the Tarawan warriors had
inflicted upon these people. Most of the heavy damage was
done to the homes and small businesses outside the stonewalled inner city. Bardala could see that some bit of normality
had returned, as there were children running and playing on the
clean broad streets made of flat stones closely fitted together.
When mothers saw the four horse riders approaching, they
quickly called the young ones inside, hiding them from danger.
No one had ever seen horses before in this country. Poor
Lentito, who brought up the tail end of the procession, got scared
when a small, six-year-old boy came out from his home and
threw a sharp wooden spear at him. He sounded his highpitched braying.
“HEE-AWWW! HEE-AWWW!” . He sounded his high-pitched
braying.
That sent the young warrior scurrying for his mother’s
protection. Brilloso ran nipping after the little boy before Tital
whistled and called him back into line.
The tall wooden gate that led to the inner city was severely
charred, and was in the process of being repaired by several
craftsmen. One man, who was on a spindly ladder, nearly fell off
as the horses proceeded through the gate. He was sure the city
was under attack again, before he recognized his friend Zorin
riding proudly in the lead. Zorin led them to the stone palace of
the dead chief Raan. At the front door of the large home stood a
very beautiful woman dressed all in white. Her o