Episode Nine: Sacks!

Dodo shook his head. "No! I don't want to be leader right now." Although Dodo had mastered two skills in a short time, he was still young. In fact, he was only a couple years older than Lakia. On the beach he could hear villagers rejoicing, "Sacks! Several of them!" Dodo shook his head again. "I don't have time, Elder Shuka. I need to find Lakia. Besides I only have part of the necklace. If I were the chosen one wouldn't I have received the whole necklace?" Dodo paced in and out of his doorway.

"But the Elders need a wise man to lead them. They can't even make a decision on Samar's fate!" Shuka reminded Dodo. Shuka, the most widely respected woman in the village, was now on her knees, pleading with Dodo.

"Please get up. Can't we talk about this later? I can't be concerned about the things of the village just yet. Right now I need a floating hut. Right now, I need to find Lakia. Right now, I'm, ah, I think I'm in love w..."

Jem came running toward them and nearly knocked Dodo over. "Doc! Doc! The beach! All the villagers!" Jem had to catch her breath from running, "Come quick! Sacks and sacks! Rats and ants! It's horrible!" Jem grabbed his arm and started pulling. "The other doctors were called there also, but most of them have been bitten too. We need you to hurry!" Dodo slipped the necklace into his pocket.

As he started off toward the beach Dodo turned to Shuka, "Tell the council about the idea of the floating hut and rescuing Lakia. Do not tell them about the necklace! Not yet, please!" He started off again, but remembered something else, "Elder Shuka," he called out, "Stop the Burning Stew!!"

When he arrived at the beach, he was amazed how many villagers were sick or wounded. He went to work. But then he saw his old friend Piku laying very still on the ground. Ima and City were at his side weeping. Dodo's heart broke. It was almost more than he could bear...

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Episode Ten: The Fallen Coconut

Hong's words were interrupted by a coconut falling on his head.
He was completely knocked unconscious. Lakia didn't know what to do. First she yelled out for help. No one answered. Then she ran through the coconut grove, and over to the other side of the tiny island. No one was there either. She hurried back over, checked on Hong, and then dove into the ocean to see if the large mysterious fish were nearby. Still no one. She came back to the shore and kneeled beside the old man. "Hong! Hong!" She started to cry.

Then something shiny caught her attention on the shore. She didn't want to leave Hong so she tried her hardest to ignore it. Another wave came and washed the shiny piece right on top of her foot. It reminded her of the village gong, only on a leather strap, and a piece was missing.


Shuka had hurried off to see the Council of Elders, just as Dodo requested. Dodo realized that his heart was filled with compassion for Piku, Ima, City, and the villagers he had helped. Many of the other doctors had recovered and were preparing the Healing Stew and bandaging up the wounds of the remaining villagers. By the time Dodo arrived at Piku's side, Piku didn't appear to be breathing at all.

Shuka entered the research hut again. By now some of the Council of Elders were arguing, some complaining, some telling jokes, while others were telling stories. Shuka stood on the table in the center. Shuka's mother was Hong's eldest daughter and her father was the great mountain climber from the northern shore. So when Shuka spoke, everyone listened, and now the entire building hushed.

Back on the beach, Dodo knew he might be too late. He wept a little at the thought of himself being so selfish just a little while earlier. He prepared himself to give the bad news to City and Ima, as he checked over Piku's bite wounds.

As dramatic as she was, Shuka never interrupted council meetings without just cause. She announced, "Samar Leaderson should not be given the Burning Stew. Strip him of his Elder status if you must, and send him on his way. There are more important things at hand right now. I need a team of builders to assist Dr. Dodo Firestarter on his mission to find Lakia. She is alive..."

Dodo bent down to put his head on Piku's heart and listened for beating. While Dodo still had one hand on Piku's chest, the medallion necklace slipped out of his pocket. Dodo caught it in the other hand and it immediately started to glow. Dodo insightfully held it over Piku's heart. Piku was completely restored.

Then the gong sounded.

Shuka and the elders quickly got up and looked to see who rang the gong, but no one was over there. They heard noise at the beach, so they hurried there. Everyone was watching in amazement. Dodo was glowing...

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