Chapter 7
Saul brought the children back to Pamela’s home and left before anyone saw him. The children were filled with excitement as they got off their horses and ran to Pamela’s cottage. Gracie burst through the door. “Mama, you should have been there. They welcomed us almost like we did Uncle Saul. They hugged us and called us cousins and asked about you and Aunt Mary and Aunt Myah and everyone. They gave us coconut juice and sorrel and made our favorites.”
“And which of your favorites was that?” Pamela asked, marking the last page she’d read and looking past the girls to see if Saul was with them.
“Fried dumplings rolled in sugar,” she said, laughing.
“Ahhh, I see.” Pamela smiled.
“Uncle Saul’s cottage is huge.” She opened her arms wide. “It would make four of ours or more. Oh, and Mama, they have lots and lots of books and paintings and stuff from all around the world.”
“Stuff from all around the world,” Pamela mused, nodding, disappointed that Saul had not stayed.
“Yes, and there was a picture of Miss Raquel.”
It was interesting to Pamela that her daughter had not referred to the woman as Aunt Raquel or described her looks or offered any other comment.
“They have all the animals we have and they’re just as friendly.”
Pamela listened to Gracie and then looked at Shaela and asked, “What did you see that was different from here, Shaela?”
“All the things that Gracie said,” she replied.
Gracie had not given Shaela a chance to speak, but Pamela was sure that when Shaela saw her mother she would speak with the same fervor as Gracie.
“I’m glad you children had a good time. Why don’t you get ready for supper. Shaela, your mama’s in the community kitchen. You should go and let her know that you’re back.”
The meal area was still wet from the afternoon’s rain, so everyone had supper in their cottage.
After supper, Pamela wanted desperately to go back to the place she’d met Saul on the beach, but the ground was wet and slippery. She could walk down, but it would take too long. Then she thought if Saul and the children could ride up the mountain and down, why couldn’t she?
She got her horse and rode carefully down the mountain to the beach.
When she reached the spot where she’d met Saul, she got off her horse, left him there and began walking toward the rocky area. The stubborn horse walked slowly behind her.
“I thought you’d never come,” Saul said, quietly coming up beside her.
Startled, she turned quickly and grinned at his smiling face. “I didn’t think you’d be here,” she said.
“I wanted to see you again before I left. My eyes can’t seem to get enough of you.”
She glanced at his face. There was that look again. She laughed. “You can’t help yourself, can you?”
“The truth always sounds perfect when it comes back to my ear.”
“Does that mean you like to hear yourself talk?”
He laughed. “Boy, do I love your wit.”
It was getting cool and he placed his arm around her shoulder, stirring up feelings that weren’t appropriate at this moment, but certainly felt good. She smiled and put her arm around his waist. For the first time she felt his muscles move under her hand. He pulled her closer as they walked and she laughed nervously and let go of his waist.
They could hear the drums from the mountain and she began walking to the rhythm. He laughed. When the rest of the band joined in with a reggae beat, she danced. Then she ran across the rocks, almost fell, and he caught her in his arms. They were so close that she could feel his breath on her face. She looked into his eyes. “I’ll miss you. It’s only been a short while since we met but I’ve become accustomed to seeing you.”
“I’ll hurry back.” He hugged her tight and she rested her head on his chest, closed her eyes and felt the warmth of his body seep through his shirt. She could hear his heartbeat. His smell was warm and woodsy.
He didn’t want to move away from her. Inhaling the lavender perfume from her hair, he closed his eyes. His body became prickly, as if her skin were penetrating his senses. He caressed her arms and she moved away from him to look in his eyes.
“You’re not going to do that thing you do with your eyes again, are you?” he asked.
“You mean look away or roll them?”
He nodded.
She laughed. “No, I just want to commit every part of your face to memory until I see you again.”
He allowed her to look at him, all the while wanting to kiss her and mold her form to his. His body warmed again and his muscles grew tight. His loins ached and his member took on a life of its own. Abruptly he broke away, then held her hand and walked off the rocks to their horses. He didn’t want to let go of the small, soft fingers that wrapped around and occasionally tightened against his.
She let go of his fingers, smiled, mounted her horse and so did he. “You’re quite a woman, Pamela.”
“And you’re quite a man, Saul. From an ogre to a very gentle man.” She laughed. “Children, where do they get these things?” She shook her head, waved and rode up the mountain.
He stayed until she was out of sight. He could still feel the warmth of her hand on his skin. He took a deep breath. Why am I going away? Because I love the travel and the challenges work gives me. But meeting Pam makes all that pale. He shook his head. He still had to go. He kneed his horse into a gallop, then suddenly reined him in. He got off his horse and, with the smell of her perfume still lingering in his nostrils, walked home.
Sunday morning Pamela opened her eyes, rolled onto her back and knew Saul was already on his way to the airport in Jamaica. As she had done the morning before, she glanced at the books on the floor. Among the books was a poetry book. Butterfly Unmasked. She’d read all the poems last night and looked through her window at the moon and wondered if Saul had wanted to kiss her goodbye. She knew she’d distracted him with her constant jabbering, but that’s what she did when she got nervous. She closed her eyes and kissed him in her mind.
Now looking out her window, she noted that the mist was so thick she could hardly see the kitchen. “I hope he has a good flight,” she said to herself, offering a little prayer for his safety.
Lazily, she swung her feet off the bed. This was the day she, Mary and Myah would visit Jahyah Mountain. Out of respect, she’d allowed the Elders to play catchup. After breakfast, they’d make the short trip from one mountain to the next.
Braving the cool mountain air, she met Mary at her door to go to the waterfall to take a bath. “Today is the day,” Mary said.
Pamela nodded.
They got to the waterfall and Pamela hesitated, dreading the cool water. Mary looked at her and laughed.
“This is no time to stand and shiver.”
“I know, but I was thinking of my sorrel drink.”
“You didn’t make it?”
Shedding her gown, Pamela nodded and braved the cold river water.
A short while later, fully clothed with their night gowns tucked under their arms, they dropped their clothes at their respective cottages and went to the kitchen. Pamela took the cover off the sorrel and strained it through cheese cloth, wrung it until no more of the liquid bled through, and then sweetened it. She looked at the blood red drink, then slowly, timidly, poured some in a cup and held it to her lips. The cinnamon and ginger gave it a very powerful but mouthwatering aroma. She took a sip and stood with the cup in her hand, waiting to die. She didn’t feel lightheaded, nauseous or giddy. She smiled and handed the cup to Mary. “I didn’t die, so it’s your turn.”
Mary took the cup from her and drank. She nodded. “Not half bad, Pammy, dear.” She nodded again. “I think you outdid yourself this time.”
“I may not be a good cook, but this proves I’m not a dud in the kitchen. I should save some of this for Saul.” She slapped her hand to her mouth. She couldn’t believe she’d said it out loud.
Mary looked at her, then around the empty kitchen. “What did you just say?”
“Oh, Jah. Please don’t say anything. I’m begging you.” She stared at her friend.
Mary stared back. “Are you...? Are you and...”
“Please, Mary.”
“I’m your friend. We’ve been friends since we were babies. We drank from the same bottle...”
Myah entered the kitchen and they both began taking down pots and looking into cupboards. “Big day today,” Myah said. “Do you think I should take my family with me?”
“Of course,” Pamela said without hesitation. “Everyone will want to see the baby.” After a quick glance in Mary’s direction, she joined in making the first meal of the day.
Myah looked at the prepared sorrel drink, then back at Pam.
Pam smiled. “You must taste it. I’m still standing, so is Mary.” She touched her stomach.
Myah drank from the cup Pamela offered and grinned, then waited for a second. She laughed. “I feel fine, and it’s really good.”
Pamela rolled her eyes, laughed and left the kitchen.
During breakfast, while the fruit was being passed around, Gracie asked her mother, “Mama, will it be all right if Shaela and I go with you?” She didn’t wait for her mother’s reply. “I think it would be nice for the children to make the trip, too. We already know the way and the children...”
“The children?” Pamela said.
“I mean Shaela and me.”
“Oh, okay. I guess it would be all right, but we don’t want to overwhelm them on our first visit, even though you guys were there yesterday.”
“Oh, no, Aunty Pam. They won’t be overwhelmed. They love us and they want to see us again,” Shaela said.
Pamela and Mary laughed.
“Why do I feel ganged up on?”
“I think it was intentional,” Mary said.
“I would love to make the trip, too,” Tim said, looking across at Pamela. “After all, I have a few friends that I would love to visit.”
“Male or female?” Mary said, laughing.
“Ahhh, I’ll never tell.” He wagged a finger, then slyly glanced at Pamela, who was busy talking with Myah. He’d hoped for a reaction from her.
After breakfast the girls took their bath and eight people from Rahjah Mountain made their way past low-lying green and purple ferns, huge fruit trees, dwarf coconut trees, huge coconut trees, streams, guava trees, pastures with grazing horses and sheep and over the river by way of the bridge to Jahyah Mountain.
They passed through much the same flora and fauna on Jahyah Mountain as on their own and, as soon as their horses came into view of the village, they heard the sound of steel drums, tambourines and guitars. This was an exact replica of their village with the exception of Saul’s enormous cottage. The way Gracie had described it, it could not be missed or mistaken for any other.
The children rushed out to greet them. Gracie and Shaela nudged their horses ahead and jumped off to be once again welcomed by their friends and relatives. The adults followed and got off as throngs of Rahjahs came to greet them.
Myah and Samuel immediately saw their parents. With tears in her eyes, Myah’s mother took Isha and kissed her face all over. Then it was Samuel’s mother’s turn, then the fathers’. They didn’t shake hands but gave their children great big bear hugs. Isha was passed around like a little doll and she kept giggling while hugging everyone who hugged her. As Pamela tried to back away gracefully from the crowd, Nanuk, Saul and Myah’s mother, caught her by the hand and hugged her. “Welcome, my dear. Welcome. I am Nanuk, Myah’s mother.”
Pamela was a bit surprised that she had been singled out by Nanuk, but nonetheless, she was her charming self, determined not to give away the relationship between herself and Nanuk’s son. “Thank you. It’s good to be here.”
Nanuk would have loved to say more to Pamela, but was summoned by Eve. “We must talk later,” she said before she squeezed Pamela’s hand and walked in the direction of the Elders.
The music began again and great big bowls and platters of fruits, small bammys and sweet flour dumplings were passed around. Knowing that they had to eat even a little of what was provided in their honor, Mary whispered in Pamela’s ear, “We shouldn’t have eaten.”
As they sat in the circle, Jane and Solomon came out with two other Elders. Pamela smiled and nodded as they took their places in the center of the circle. The huge dining table had been replaced by four Victorian chairs, not unlike the ones the Elders on Rahjah Mountain used when there was a function.
The crowd hushed when Jane and Solomon kept standing. Both smiled and clapped their hands. “It took a long time getting here,” Jane said in her soft voice. “It is written that a child shall lead them, and this proves it. It took young Gracie, Shaela, Ruth and David to bring us all back together. Gracie was very determined that this day should come, and, on behalf of everyone, I’m glad she was. We must not let this ever happen again. There is nothing stronger than family bond. We must not allow strangers to break that bond, but should welcome them into our midst, into our culture if they so wish.” She sat down.
A great big cheer went up from the crowd. Eve and Jeremiah, two of the Elders of Jahyah Mountain, got up. Eve spoke. “I have to agree with everything my sister Jane has said. We made a pact when we fought those soldiers for the first Rahjah Mountain that no one would drive a wedge between us. We made our village in circular patterns to show solidarity. We allow and encourage our offspring to go out into the world and come back to us if they so choose. Our peaceful way of living, our beliefs, and our love for each other have seen us through for more than a hundred and fifty years. We are thankful each day that Jah has seen fit to give us another day on his land. We must never forget the struggle, the fight, but more importantly, we must always show kindness to those who do not know our way and teach them, but never forget our bond.”
Another cheer went up when Jeremiah held Eve’s hand and they both sat down. Pamela wondered why none of the men spoke, but nevertheless the message was one of strength and solidarity. Then she thought of the role of the Rahjah men and smiled. They held their women in high esteem, which didn’t mean they thought any less of themselves. There was no division of power.
Food was passed around and the merriment continued. Pamela found herself staring at Saul’s cottage. She wanted to see his library, but, as bonded as their culture was, one did not enter another’s cottage unless invited. While she stood there staring, Gracie grabbed her hand and led her out of the crowd towards the cottage.
“It’s all right, Mama,” she said as she kept pulling her closer to the cottage.
Ruth took her other hand. “You have to see our home, Auntie,” Ruth said.
Trying to hide her excitement, Pamela followed the children into Saul’s home. On entering, she stopped and gazed at the decor, which was unlike anything she’d ever seen. And before she could take everything in, she was dragged to the library. With her mouth agape, she stood looking in awe at the huge number of books that lined the walls of the room. There were no paintings on the walls, just books. In the middle of the room was a huge desk. There were big colored cushions thrown on the floor and a ladder in the corner.
“You can take any book you want,” David said. “Dada won’t mind.”
“Wow!” was all Pamela could say as her eyes took in the entire room.
“You could read to us like Grampa and Grangran, only they get tired. Dada loves to read to us.”
Pamela ran her hands along the covers and spines of the books. “I could lock myself in this room and never come out,” she said.
The children laughed.
“But I think I’ll wait until your father comes back before I borrow any. Plus I have a few that he gave me that I have to finish reading first.”
“May I stay here, Mama? Can I stay here and read everything?” Gracie said.
“I would never see you for a very long time.” She looked at Gracie and laughed. Her fingers ran over a first edition Makabé Bible. She took it out and carefully turned the very delicate pages. She read a few lines, then replaced it.
Interestingly, the children didn’t show her their father’s room, but they did take her to their room. There were two beds in the room and, again, cushions on the floor. One section of the room had shelves lined with books for the children, and this time there were paintings on the wall.
“Who paints?” Pamela asked.
“I do,” David said.
“Beautiful.” She looked at Ruth, who shook her head, then showed her a sculpted bust of David. “I did this.”
Pamela nodded and took a good look at the sculpture. “Wonderful. This is beautiful.”
“Mama, can I learn to do that?” Gracie asked.
“Of course you can.” Gracie had never shown any interest in sculpting before. She and Shaela loved to paint. “You can do anything you want to do.”
Sensing the children wanted to be with each other, Pamela made her way back to the verandah without seeing any more of the cottage. There was much more to be seen, but this was not the time.
As she stood on the verandah, Jane and Solomon walked towards her. She walked down the steps. “I know you’ve denied this, but I know you did this. There’s no denying Gracie lit the fire, but you fanned the flames,” Jane said, taking Pamela’s hand.
Pamela smiled. “Then I won’t say anything more.”
Solomon laughed. “It is a wise women who knows how to pick her battles.”
Pamela shook her head and stood between her grandparents. They each pushed their hands through hers and began walking slowly away from the crowd. “Pammy,” Jane said.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“You’re not related to Saul, you know.”
“I thought we were distant cousins...” She stopped talking. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Oh, no reason, just wanted you to know.”
“Grangran...” She shook her head again. “Stop matchmaking.” Then she remembered, there were paintings of the children and of Saul in the cottage, but none of their mother. Gracie said she’d seen one. She wondered if Saul still kept a painting of Raquel in his bedroom. Then she wondered if she felt jealous of the woman. She shook her head. Why should she be jealous? He was no longer married to her.
“But he is a wonderful fellow,” Solomon said in his baritone voice.
“I’ll take your word for it, Grampa.”
“This was a great day, and a great deed,” Jane said. “Now everyone can go and come from one mountain to the other and we can give this mountain back its rightful name of Rahjah once more.”
Pamela stopped when they got to a bench under a lignum vitae tree. They sat down. “Where have I been? You mean this mountain was renamed because of the rift?”
Jane nodded. “It was a sad thing, my dear. Things were said that should not have been said. Words are very powerful. We should have gotten together and talked, but instead we allowed things to escalate out of control.”
“My Jah.” She didn’t want to ask exactly what was said; her mother had told her enough.
Eve and Jeremiah came to sit beside them. They didn’t speak of the past, but of the future and each other and how happy they were to be as one again. After a while Pamela could tell that they were getting tired. Eve smothered a yawn and apologized. Jeremiah beckoned to one of the men and he immediately left the crowd. “Will you get the buggy for us, please? I think Eve is getting a bit tired.
“Who’s getting tired?” Eve said.
“I am, dear.” He corrected himself to the man, then turned to Pamela and introduced the man. “Pammy, dear, this is my grandson, Peter.”
Taken aback a bit, Pamela looked into the man’s face. He was young and handsome with a bearded face and gray eyes. His locks were tied in a ponytail and the hand he pushed into hers felt soft. His voice was equally soft. She’d had no idea Saul had a brother.
“Peter will be leaving us for Germany in a few weeks. I don’t know why he chose Germany as the first place to visit, but we never ask why. I think it’s Saul and his books.”
“Now, Grampa,” Peter said.
“Germany,” Pamela said, “that’s very interesting.” She’d read a lot about Germany, but would not have picked it as the first country to visit. Who was she to say anything, though. She’d spent only a few minutes in Jamaica and hated it. She suddenly realized that she was staring at him. She let go of his hand and said, “Sorry. It’s very nice to meet you.”
He went for the buggy and helped all four Elders aboard. “We will see you tomorrow,” Jane said, waving to Pamela.
“Yes.” She waved back and watched Peter turn the horses toward the upper village. She rejoined her friends and the other villagers.
“That’s an unusual Rahjah cottage,” Mary said with a smile on her face.
Her smile told Pamela that she already knew it was Saul’s home. “You promised,” Pamela said.
“I’m only pointing out the obvious.” She snickered.
Pamela shot her a look as Myah joined them. “Did you expect this?” Myah said to Pamela.
“No, but in keeping with what Gracie said and the reception Saul got from us when he came to visit the first time, I’m not surprised. This is our way of doing things. We welcomed Saul back into the fold and you were welcomed back into the fold. The prodigal son and daughter, so to speak.”
Myah hugged Pamela. “I’m so happy.”
“We are, too,” Mary said.
“Why didn’t Judiah come with us?” Myah asked.
Mary smiled. “He wanted us to pave the way.”
“I think we live in the most beautiful place in the world,” Pamela said, and began walking away from the villagers with her friends. The children seemed to have charmed everyone and were now the center of attention.
“I think you can only say that if you’ve at least been to a few other countries,” Myah said. “You know, a long time ago tourists visited this island by way of Jamaica.”
“What happened?” Mary asked. “Not that I’m sorry that they stopped coming.”
“I think there were too many disruptions. There was a building on the beach where they sold liquor. Some would bring picnic baskets and try to climb the mountain. When they were told that it was forbidden they became outraged. So the Rahjahs petitioned the Jamaican courts.”
“And?” Pamela encouraged when Myah hesitated.
“Well, this island belongs to the Rahjahs, so they had to stop the tourists from coming. The building was torn down. There was also an old fort of some kind. Rastafarians, not like our kind, used to use it as a hangout. That, too, was stopped after there was an altercation involving one of our own and a foreigner who was the fiancee of the same man. That part of the island was wiped clean of any building, and no unauthorized boat was allowed to ever dock off our shores.”
“That should have been put in our history books,” Mary said.
“It is,” Myah replied. Her daughter called her name and she turned and walked back to the circle.
Mary looked at Pamela. “You’ve read all our history. Who was it?”
“His name is James, his wife Angel.”
Mary nodded. “I’d love to meet them sometime.”
“Me, too.”
Pamela cast another look at Saul’s home and secretly wished he were here today. No one saw Tim until it was time to go. He came back the same way he vanished, but on his return there were men and women with him laughing and talking.
Even when they were ready to go and their horses were brought to them, the excitement at their visit had not waned. They said their goodbyes with hugs and kisses, then made their way back along the path. The gates of friendship between relatives had once again been opened. One couldn’t tell who was happier, the children or the adults.
At supper that evening, the excitement seemed to have been transferred from the Jahyah Village to the Rahjah Village as Pamela’s party talked about their visit. Tomorrow, the boats that carried the Rahjahs and the Jahyahs would no longer be separate and the name Jahyah would be stricken from the records and replaced with the right word, Rahjah, one people.