Michael sat in his hammock brushing the flies away counting the minuet wishing that time would fly.
“William,where is Julian.”
“He is cat sitting, Cyunni’s Jaguar is sick.”
The boys taught of things to do to occupy there time but nothing interesting came to mind.
“Michael lets go hunting.”
“Oh William we can’t use rifles and I am still scared of bows and arrows”.
“I sure wish Kai was here.”
“Me too!” “He would think of some thing to do.”
“Hey look it’s Kassa he has been fishing lets look at what he caught.”

Kassa was a short man not standing more than four feet in length and carrying a broad shoulder which supported his tiny head that was hidden by his thick dark black hair.
“Kassa, will you take us fishing tomorrow? Please we are terrible bored.” Exclaimed the boys unilaterally.
Kassa shook his head in affirmative and a broad smile could be seen from beneath his long un_groomed hair.
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Kai eyes opened as they neared the docks the smell of the ocean air filled his lungs and he longed for home more now than he did before. The sound of the water ticked his memory of his waterfall and thirst of home engulfed his loneliness.
Despite all this entire trip was special for lil Kai, they had gone to the docks to see the new arrivals of Dutch merchant ships and to acquire merchandise for the festival of life.
Chief Kai turned to his sons giving each an errand to run and a time of appointment.
Turning to Lil Kai he smiled and pondered for a while then he stared deep into his eyes.
“Kai I am giving you the largest of all responsibilities can you handles it my son.”
“Of course I can I am Lil Kai am I not.”
“Then go my son to the merchants and secure our need for the festival this is the largest of all the errands go and don’t forget the time and place of appointment my son.”

Lil Kai strolled along the docks of Kyke -Over -All looking at all the merchant ships, he was looking for a friend “Peter”, but he found no signs of him. Ship after ship, merchant after merchant he could not seem to find Peter or his father a merchant from Britain.
Kai grew weary and his legs felt stiff, hunger had taken over and he wanted to sleep. Suddenly his eyes landed upon an enormous ship with huge with beautiful white sails on its sides read the S.S. Alma Marie.
Kai’s imagination overtook him and he found himself sails along with Michael, William and Julian on the great Atlantic they were sailing to the Old World, leaving the New World behind. They would take Kamudi and George and not forgetting the rest of their forest friends Owen, Anthony, Cervenia and the whole troupe.
“Hey there, are you our new porter?”
The Voices send Kai crashing back to reality and the trembled from the cold Ocean air.
“No, I am not. I am looking for my friend Peter his father is a merchant who sells on this dock.”
“Sorry we startled you, I am Adrian and this is my brother Alexsandrov.”
“I am Kai , but my friends call me Lil Kai.”
“What brings you to fort Kyke-Over-All.”
“I came with my father and brothers from Potaro to secure items for the festival of life.
Do the two of you live in the fort?”
“Oh no, we live in the Governors mansion, our father is the Governor of Essequibo.”
“We are preparing to sail home to The Netherlands tomorrow our mother is very ill and we wish to see her before she dies.”
“Would you like to come with us Kai?”
“Oh no I have to met my father at… ”
“What’s the matter Kai”

Kai stood in silence as tears ran down his face he had spent the whole day looking for Peter and didn’t acquire any of the needed items for the festival. Now it was near sun set and he had forgotten the place of appointment. He was ashamed he had let his father down worst of all he had let his tribe down.


The sun rose high over Kaieteur and it kissed the sky, Michael was the first to awake. He ran to Williams tent and dragged him out of his hammock.
“Come on we are going fishing today remember! Where is Julian.”
“Oh, he is not coming, Cuyuni’s Jaguar is still ill.”
Michael raced to find Kassa. Kassa was up one of the many balata trees collecting the sap for there fishing trip down the Potaro.
In the canoe near by sat intricately woven baskets specially designed for storing the delicious Guyanese fish.
Kassa dismounted the balata tree giving each of the boys some balls of balata to chew, the sap was mixed with some extracted milk of the cassava root.

Michael and William entered the canoe and started to paddle it seems as if they were doing this forever .Both of there hands were getting tired but no one spoke. Kassa murmured a traditional Patomona song in a low deep voice but no speach was hear.
The boys noticed some of their river dwelling friends Chelonia a great leather back turtle was preparing to lay her eggs on the shore, Cervina was drinking water from the black waters of the river so was Anthony the tapir, Kamudi swam along the canoe but soon departed and went his was.
When they had reach a great distance in the river Kassa threw a long into the water blocking its way. Then he beckoned to the boys to throw their balata balls into the water.
Soon fishes were floating every where the cassava milk had stunned them making them easy to catch.
Kassa took his net and started to collect as many fishes as the basket could hold.
Michael and William dived into action and filled their baskets also, amazed at how much fish they had collected.
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“Father we have brought home a friend he is lost.”
Governor VanVelzen Stood at a towering seven feet, he looked like a giant over Kai. Kai felt scared and tried to hide in a corner but there was no way to escape the room was a large open room and all was clear.
“Come closer child and say your name.” The Governor said in a kind voice.
“Kai, they call me lil Kai.”
“I am Governor Alrington VanVelzen I am happy to have you as my guess Lil Kai.”
“Father he is from Potaro he got lost on the docks and can remember where he had to meet his father and brothers.”
“No problem I’ll have ever man in the fort look until they find his father. If not we’ll return him to his tribe.”
“Father is there something else you want to say?”
The Governor turned to his sons and held them near, his face told a story of despair.
“Boys I am afraid I have some bad new to bear.”
“Is it about our mother?”
“Yes it is, she had departed from us some weeks ago so there is no sense in traveling to meet her.”

Cyuni’s jaguar seemed unease and Julian did every thing he could to make her comfortable, he fed her fresh water and fish which the boys had brought back.
He even tried the leaves he had seen the villagers used to cure aches and pain. Around her head and neck to he placed ointments made of herbs. Nothing seemed to worked, eventually sleep over took him and he lay beside the jaguar and fell into a deep sleep.
Julian awoke and found the jaguar had left the tent. He traced the foot steps in the sand and came across and amazing sight. Four beautiful baby jaguars lay in the grass besides their mother. Julian jumped for joy and ran to tell the rest.


At the festival of life Kai told his story of making new friends who helped him find his father. Julian spoke of his time with the Jaguar and every one started to call him “Medicine man”.
Michael and William spoke of their fishing with Kassa.
Every one sung songs and danced around the fire which stood beneath a large pot of pepper pot, celebrating their life and others.

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