"In the meantime, where do you want me to stay?"
"You're still weak and sore," she said, easing me back down onto the mat. "You're welcome to stay with us until you're fully recovered. I'm sorry to have put you through all this. My father can be a little hard-headed sometimes. I'm sure he'll come around once we explain the situation. How are you feeling?"
I smiled at the native girl and reached back out for her hand.
"I was feeling much better when you were administering your magic elixir. If the coast is clear, can I have another one of your healing kisses?"
Teuila turned her head as she watched her father and grandmother walking slowly toward the other end of the village.
"Maybe for just a few more minutes..."
She leaned down to kiss me, and I reached up and ran my fingers through her soft hair. When our lips touched, I gently probed her mouth and played with her tongue, tasting her sweet salve. Teuila moaned softly, as she rolled her hips over her splayed skirt on the floor.
This won’t be the only waterfall we'll soon be experiencing, I thought, feeling my panties begin to rapidly moisten.
4
Later that day, the chief returned to the hut, and he and Teuila had a calmer discussion. His countenance seemed to have changed completely toward both of us, and he nodded as he made eye contact with me before leaving to attend to other business. Not long after, the old lady entered the cabin carrying a platter of food and some fresh water. She spoke with Teuila briefly, then she kneeled down beside me and felt my forehead, encouraging me to drink the cool water. I was beginning to feel stronger, and I was able to sit up as the two women tended to me.
"Your father seems less angry," I said. "Should I thank your grandmother for that?"
"Probably," Teuila nodded. "When she explained the circumstances of your arrival and reminded him of our longstanding tradition of giving refuge to wayward travelers, he softened up. In fact, he insisted on holding a ceremony this evening to celebrate the rapid recovery of our honored guest. Do you think you'll feel well enough to attend the festivities?"
"Will it require my active participation?" I said, still feeling a bit sore and lightheaded.
"Not unless you want to. It mostly involves a lot of singing and dancing. My father has asked that we prepare a special feast for the occasion. There will be lots of local dishes for you to sample. All you really have to do is watch and eat. You haven't had anything in over twenty-four hours. It will be good for you to regain your strength."
I looked at the large platter of food that the old woman had placed on the floor beside me and smiled at her.
"I'm beginning to feel my appetite coming back. Is this all for me?"
"Ai meaai," the woman nodded, holding the platter up and motioning with her hand toward her mouth.
The tray was filled with pieces of sliced banana, papaya, fresh fish, and some kind of shaved gourd. In the corner of the board sat a hollowed out half-coconut shell filled with the same creamy brown fluid the woman had administered to me earlier.
I looked at the plate, inhaling the rich fragrance of aromas, then peered up at Teuila.
"Is it okay to eat it with my hands?" I asked, not seeing any utensils.
"Of course," she said. "That's the only proper way to enjoy good food. Dig in!"
I picked up a slice of papaya, and when I bit into it, I closed my eyes, humming in appreciation.
"Oh my God," I said. "That is so good. It's so much more flavorful than the fruit I buy at my local grocery store. Do you grow all of your food on the island?"
"Absolutely. We have a great variety of fruit, vegetables, and seafood. The gods have blessed us with an abundance of natural resources to allow us to be self-sufficient."
I picked up a piece of white fish and sucked it slowly into my mouth. It appeared to be raw and marinated in some kind of citrus seasoning. Unlike the fresh snapper our charter chef had cooked up on the beach yesterday, this seafood was far more tender and juicy.
"You're spoiling me," I said, purring as I savored the succulent flesh. "This is the most tender seafood I've ever tasted. What kind of fish is it? And what's the seasoning? It tastes so simple and pure."
"We call it fa'aipoipo, but I think you call it halibut. It was fresh-caught today by my father and his fishing crew. We've added nothing but fresh lime juice to season it."
I shook my head at the simplicity of the native diet. I'd always felt that the best food needed little extra embellishment if it was truly fresh. And you couldn't get much fresher than this—from sea to plate in a matter of hours.
I took a sip of the coconut milk, then picked up the large pear-shaped tuber and took a small bite off the tip. It tasted a bit like sweet potato, but I also detected traces of the fresh seafood and papaya juices that covered the wooden board.
"What's this interesting fruit? It's got a delicious texture and flavor. I've never seen it before."