Hawaii - James Michener [151]
"They're his men," Keoki explained.
"Of course they are," Abner agreed. "But it's in Kelolo's own best interests that they be given a rest."
"When an alii smells sandalwood, the mind turns and thought departs," Keoki replied.
"I must see your father," Abner insisted.
"He won't want to see you now," Keoki warned. "His mind is concerned only with sandalwood."
Nevertheless, Abner donned his black claw-hammer, tall hat and best stock, his invariable uniform when delivering the word of the Lord. In the heat of the day he strode southward past the king's quarters and out to the cool kou trees and the great grass houses of Malama and her consort-brother. He heard his wife Jerusha instructing huge Malama in the writing of letters, American style, but he paid no attention, for he wished to see only Kelolo, and he found him playing in the surf.
The chief, seeing Abner's official uniform, and not wanting a lecture at this time, refused to come out of the water, so Abner had to pick his way gingerly along the sandy shore, shouting above the waves as they washed in. "Kelolo!" he cried like a prophet from the Old Testament. "You have broken every promise to me." Imitating his instructor's voice, Keoki repeated the words.
"Tell him to go away!" Kelolo grunted, splashing water into his big face and rolling about in deep pleasure.
"Kelolo! You have not set aside the land for the church."
"Oh, I’ll give you land for the church . . . one of these days," the sybaritic nobleman shouted back.
"Today!" Abner demanded.
"When I finish with the sandalwood," Kelolo promised.
"Kelolo, it is not sensible to lead your men back into the forests right away."
The big man scratched his back on a coral head and growled, "You've got to get sandalwood when you can find it."
"It is wrong to demand so much of your men!"
"They're my men!" the chief insisted. "They'll go where I tell them to go."
"It is wrong, Kelolo, to hoard sandalwood when the taro patches and the fish ponds remain unattended."
"The taro will take care of itself," Kelolo said grimly, diving deep to be rid of the irritating voice.
"Where will he come up?" Abner asked.
"Over there," Keoki replied, and the missionary ran along the sand, holding onto his tall hat, so that when the chief surfaced, there was Abner staring at him.
"Kelolo, God says we must respect all who work."
"They're my men," the huge nobleman growled.
"And that platform," Abner continued. "It's not been taken down."
"Don't touch the platform!" Kelolo warned, but the missionary was disgusted with the chief's behavior and ran awkwardly across the sand to the offending platform of old gods and reached down to throw aside the rocks of which it was composed.
"No!" warned Keoki, but Abner would not listen, and began tossing the ancient stones into the sea. One rolled near Kelolo, and when he saw his own handiwork thus destroyed, he uttered a wild cry, leaped from the surf and dashed inland, grabbing the lame little missionary by his claw-hammer coat and throwing him violently to one side.
"Don't touch the rocks," he roared.
Abner, stunned by the suddenness of the attack, rose unsteadily to his feet and studied the naked giant who guarded the platform. Recovering his hat, he placed it firmly on his head and moved resolutely toward the collection of rocks. "Kelolo," he said solemnly, "this is an evil place. You will not let me build a church but you hold onto your evil old gods. This is wrong." And with his right index finger extended as far as it would reach, he pointed directly at the chief. "It is hewa."
The naked warrior, hero of battles, was inspired to pick up this worrisome little man and crush him, but the solemnity of Abner's manner stopped him, and the two stood there under the kou trees, staring at each other, and finally Kelolo temporized: "Makua Hale. I promised you land for a church, but I must wait until my king sends word from Honolulu."
"Shall we tear down this