Page 6 of Ghosts and Ginger Tea

My younger sister took a steadying breath and re-looped her arm through mine. “I trust you, Oli, but I’m still going to pray to Kāne that he doesn’t take you earlier than your time.”

Kiki was a sensitive soul, one who always made time for the god of light and life. She went to the local heiau often to pray, while I hardly went at all. I knew Kāne was real, but he seemed so out of touch. I had too much to worry about. Spending my time at the temple was the farthest thing from my mind.

“I know. You always have, and for that I thank you.” Even as I spoke, I wondered if I could trust myself. What if illness fell over mother in the nighttime again? I couldn’t send Kiki out alone to get medicine...

We’ll cross that bridge when we get there, I told myself, but a lingering anxiety sat deep in my stomach, like an anchor dragging across the sea floor. What would happen if the night marchers really were coming for me?

“I wish you didn’t have to marry that man,” Kiki said quietly, changing the subject. I looked at her, finding pools of water in her eyes.

“Kiki, we talked about this–”

“You’re the smartest woman I know, Oli! Surely you can find a way out of this horrible betrothal!”

“This is just the way things are.” I sighed. “Besides, if I marry Pulu, I’ll be able to stay here and help take care of you and mother.”

“You were meant for bigger things,” Kiki said. “I wish you would allow yourself to dream big and hope for a bright future.”

“I have a future. It’s just here. Married to Pulu, and I’ll keep spearfishing, like I always have.”

“If you don’t have any dreams, then what’s the point, Oli?”

I sighed again, but didn’t reply. Kiki just didn’t understand. I could never dream big. Emotions, feelings, listening to the heart… those things were never a part of my life. Furthermore, I didn’t have time to believe in superstitions, or to imagine that some god cared about my story.

It was the only way to survive.

CHAPTER THREE

“I’ll go.” Kiki's voice shook, and fear paled her face, but her courage impressed me.

Mother had no say, frail and exhausted as she was on the bed. At this late hour, and only a few days after Kiki told me about the rumors around town, mother had slipped into her sickness again.

“It’s too dangerous.” I shook my head, putting on my boots and lacing them up to my ankles.

Kiki gasped. “Oli, you can’t go!” She looked like she wanted to say more, but no words escaped her mouth. Ever since she found out I’d seen the night marchers and ignored them, she was wise to keep it only between us. Mother’s health was waning, and we didn’t need to worry or burden her.

“She needs medicine.” My voice came out raspier than I wanted it to. “Now.”

Kiki pulled on her boots and began lacing them too.

“Kiki–”

“I will accompany you.”

“You must stay with mother,” I said, but Kiki shook her head.

“She’ll be fine, Oli.”

Before I could reply, Kiki spoke with the firmest voice I’d ever heard her use. “I’m. Coming. With. You.”

We both looked towards our mother, who nodded her head, though she probably hadn’t heard much of our conversation anyway.

I hesitated. Did I stay with mother, who was not feeling well? What if she passed away here, and I stayed so she wouldn’t be alone? But I couldn’t let Kiki go out alone. It was too dangerous, and she wouldn’t take the shortcuts like I did because she didn’t know them. I had to go.

We both had to go.

I sighed in frustration. “Fine. But keep up.”

“You know I will,” she replied with confidence, but we knew better. Kiki was rather clumsy, the type of person who sprained her ankle while walking along a flat sandy beach or cut her finger on a soft leaf. I had a bad feeling that something might happen to her that would slow us down, but I had no choice.