Chapter 13
Another Wedding

A year had passed and Piku and Mua's wedding day was approaching fast. One morning, while Noa and Obi were sleeping, Piku came running to the hut, pounding on the door.

"Obi! Obi! Get up quick! Come quick!"

Obi threw on his clothes ran out of the hut, Noa following with the baby. They ran to the crops and Noa's heart sank as she found that the crops were destroyed. They were mangled, and bitten and almost all gone.

"It was the birds" said Piku grimly. "The birds ate the crops. We have no food! There are barely any coconuts left! What are we going to do?"

But this time it was Obi who saved the day. He put up a hand to quiet the crowd and putting a hand on Piku's shoulder, pulled him towards some twisted vines on the north side of the camp. Obi picked up the vines and walked back towards the crops. Piku, not knowing what to think, followed Obi's directions. Obi took the vines and started twisting and working the vines. Quickly, a figure became obvious. He twisted more vines and then went to grab some dry grass. When he returned, he used the remainder of the vines to tie the grass into a skirt. He then removed his shirt and placed it over the figure and stood back. Everyone looked for a minute and then all started laughing. Obi had created a mix between the ugliest and cutest scarecrow any of them had ever seen. But it was a scarecrow nonetheless and would keep the birds away. Noa walked over to her husband and kiss him deeply. "Brilliant" she said, "you just saved our crops". That night, the whole tribe celebrated. The crops had been replanted and would be ready to harvest soon and with a wedding in a few days, everyone was happy.

Mua and Piku's wedding proved to be just as beautiful as Obi and Noa's. A perfect day, another happy couple. Bibi agreed to move into the research hut with Coen and Jem and gave the second hut to Piku and Mua. The two disappeared into the hut. Noa caught Obi's eye and they smiled at each other, remembering their own wedding night. Their little boy would be weaned soon and they both couldn't wait to have another baby. After everyone cleaned up from the wedding, Obi went over to Noa and put his arms around her. He kissed her passionately, deeply. Her knees weakened and she let herself fall deeper into his strong grasp. She was taken back to her 18th birthday and the first time Obi kissed her. She steadied herself and her grip on their son and looked into Obi's eyes. She understood his look and discreetly followed him back to their hut.