Amaya could paddle a canoe, of course. Everyone could do that. But only men, men like Rogar who had been taught to read the stars and the currents, could go so far as her native island and be sure of finding it.
Could she run away to the forest? She could take Tani and hide. She could find food for them there.
But Amaya knew that would give her only a few days. Rogar’s island was not her native place. She knew only parts of it. She might be able to hide from a stranger, but she could never hide from Rogar and the men who had hunted all over that island and from the women who had gathered food all over it. She would have to sleep. Rogar’s people knew where the water was, and she would have to have water. If food was scarce, the women would be looking for it everywhere. They would soon find her.
A sob bubbled up from Amaya’s soul, like water bubbling from a spring. It almost cracked her coconut shell coating. She choked it back, and she did not move. But she saw no way to save Tani.
Was Rogar right? Was obeying the shaman the right thing to do? Did she have to let him take Tani into the water?
Oh, she knew it was the law, the way of the people. As Rogar had said, it was the way of her own island. Her mother’s mother had become ill in the year the crop had been so bad. When she had become too sick to work, she had stopped eating. The family had grieved, but the old woman had turned away from food. She had refused water. ‘‘It is time,’’ the old woman said. Her tongue grew thick. Her daughters keened. And in three days she had died. Everyone had admired her action.
And when the wife of the headman’s son gave birth to a child with a crippled foot, the mother had wept, but she had not argued. The headman himself had taken his grandson and put him in the sea to die.
Life on the islands was hard. The strong must not be held back by the weak. That was the ancient law. Amaya knew that. If the law was not obeyed, the islandclans would not be strong and clever. They would not conquer their enemies-the other tribes who wanted their territory, the fierce beasts who lived in the sea and in the forests, the very hardness of life.
But Tani was not weak! Elosa had not said she must die because she was weak. That year’s crop had been poor, but there was enough. Rogar said so. His father said so. But Elosa had not listened. She said Tani must die.
Tani was to be killed because she was a strange child.
No, Amaya thought, that was not true. Tani was to be killed not because the baby was strange, but because she-Amaya-was strange. Elosa hated Amaya, not Tani. But Amaya was married to one of the clan’s young warriors. Elosa did not dare attack Amaya directly. She had decreed Tani’s death because that was the cruelest thing she could do to Amaya. And this would not be the last thing she did to Amaya. Elosa might not dare condemn her openly, but she would find ways. Amaya’s own fate would be like Tani’s.
Already Elosa had threatened Rogar because he argued with her over the baby. Amaya’s presence here on Rogar’s island was all wrong. She was unhappy, and she was hurting Rogar by being there. She loved Rogar, and she did not want him to be hurt because of her.
Amaya, hidden inside her coconut shell, finally knew what she had to do.
She stirred, lifting the sleeping baby and holding her close, murmuring softly. ‘‘Little pet. Sweet one. I love you. We will always be together.’’ Standing up, she went outside, into the dark. She took the path to the beach, where the waves were high, not to the friendly lagoon.
She stumbled once on the way, but her step was firm as she walked into the water. Soon it would be over. She and Tani would both die. Rogar would be rid of them and the problems they had brought him. Elosa would have won, true, but Amaya would have obeyed the law. She and Tani would reach the peaceful island. The gods would bless her action.
She pictured the peaceful island as the waves reached her waist. She clutched the sleeping baby against her breast. Soon the cold water would waken Tani, and she would cry. Amaya knew she must be ready to hold her tightly then, even to hold her under water, to make sure that the baby died first, that she wasn’t left alone in the water, frightened.
Amaya paused, embracing the child more firmly.
Suddenly, she was grasped roughly from behind.
‘‘What are you doing?’’ Rogar’s voice was harsh. ‘‘You do not have to take the child into the water! I will do it!’’
‘‘No! No! I will take her! She must not be frightened!’’
‘‘I will not frighten her! And it must be done as the sun comes up!’’ Rogar tried to take Tani out of Amaya’s arms.
Amaya clutched the child. ‘‘No! Let me take her! We will die and leave you in peace!’’
‘‘You die? You must not die!’’
‘‘It’s best, Rogar! Elosa will never allow me to be part of your clan! She will not forgive you for marrying me! There will be more trouble! It’s best if I die with Tani!’’
Rogar held her and Tani tightly. His grip woke the baby, and the little one began to fuss and cry sleepily. When Rogar spoke his voice was low and desperate. ‘‘No!’’ he said. ‘‘No! Amaya, you must live. We must live together.’’
The waves broke around them and the sand shifted under Amaya’s feet. She felt as if she were falling, but Rogar held her up.
‘‘We must live on together,’’ he said again. ‘‘I love you, Amaya.’’
Amaya felt the coconut husk break. She was in Rogar’s arms, with nothing to protect her, with no shell to hide behind. Tani was crying, and Amaya was sobbing mighty sobs. And Rogar’s arms, Rogar’s love surrounded her. He led her slowly back to the beach, and there Amaya collapsed in the sand, still sobbing.
It was many minutes before she was able to speak. ‘‘Is there no way to save Tani?’’
‘‘We have to obey the law,’’ Rogar said. ‘‘Amaya! Can you trust me?’’
‘‘Trust you?’’
Rogar laid his cheek against her hair. ‘‘Yes, Amaya. Trust me.’’
‘‘I can do nothing by myself,’’ Amaya said dully. ‘‘This is your island, your people. I know you do not want Tani to die. But if she must-I trust you not to let her be afraid.’’
Rogar helped Amaya up and led her back to the house. Amaya did not put Tani down, but held her the rest of the night, just as Rogar held her. Finally she fell asleep.
The stirring of birds woke her, and she realized she was alone.
Rogar and Tani were gone.
‘‘No!’’ Amaya jumped to her feet. ‘‘No! No!’’
It was still dark in the hut, but outside the light was coming. Rogar had already taken Tani away, to put her in the water.
Amaya ran along the path to the beach. She could hear the waves pounding loudly. The tide was coming in. Ahead she saw a figure silhouetted against the morning sky.
‘‘Rogar!’’
Rogar paused, but he did not stop. Amaya ran on, until she was beside him. ‘‘Please, Rogar! There must be another way.’’
He walked on. ‘‘Go back, Amaya,’’ he said. ‘‘You said you would trust me.’’
‘‘Please! Please!’’
Rogar did not answer. Instead Amaya heard the cackle of Elosa’s voice. ‘‘The strange child cannot take food from the children of the people! Rogar knows the law, strange woman! He obeys the law of his people.’’
The voice brought Amaya to her knees. ‘‘Please,’’ she said again. But this time she whispered.
‘‘You have brought disgrace to Rogar and our people!’’ Elosa’s voice gloated. ‘‘The way of the people must be followed!’’
Amaya formed her body into its coconut shell. Rogar’s mother and sister knelt beside her.
‘‘Be quiet, Elosa!’’ Rogar’s mother said. ‘‘Amaya is obeying the law. But a woman who likes seeing a baby put to death is no real woman!’’
Surprised by her mother-in-law’s sharp words to Elosa, Amaya looked up at the shaman. Elosa did not reply to the criticism, but she pointed to the surf with her heavy staff. ‘‘Rogar obeys the law!’’