Skalkaho Chapter 13: The Plantation A Flexible Mold

Often, Skalkaho wondered how he ended up in this spot and how he would continue on his journey. Though he did know he had intuition, insight, and integrity. Beyond his own mind, he could grasp languages, cultures, and know the character of everyone he met. If this was not the extent of all his gifts. The gifts would remain buried until a situation would arise and reveal to his mind what his ancestral lineage would reveal to him through his own DNA record. The flower made this possible. Otherwise, if not needed it would not be added to his actual status as he was an undaunted seeker of right. So far he knew his grasp of language people and cultures as some kind of wellspring bubbling up when the occasion required an understanding.

The plantation was no metaphor, but rubber would stretch his gifts into a perspective that he would carry with him going forward. The "flower" had triggered a path for him to take only through his own being. His past accomplishments would reveal itself to him at every corner of this journey was encountered. His future lay a mystery but his ability was essentially was untapped. At this time he needed wealth and the plantation would show him the way to vast riches.

Every day for the next two years would be immersed in the rubber business. It brought out the best in him and prepared him for his future. He would be ready by 1975 to claim his wealth. The temple priest had summoned at the plantation and he requested time from Chang to pursue this request for a temple visit. Both Edith and Chang enthusiastically implored Skalkaho to go there for a month. No reason was given for the Jarunkools enthusiasm Malee lacked enthusiasm for this turn of events. She wanted him near her at all times. Either it was an obsession with her for Skalkaho or something deeper. She would not reveal such a fear existed that he would not return from his "excursion" to the Wat Arun. The priest was of the Theravadin order, the most ancient of Buddhist orders. It predates what is written during modern times which extends back five centuries. He told Skalkaho teachings would begin today and meditation would open the windows for those who came before him.

The first thing was learning how to meditate in the correct position which relaxes the body in its most efficient pose for that meditation. Skalkaho spent many hours the first week learning how to "relax". On the second week, he fell into a stupor where his dreaming took him back to Montana and the Black Leaf ranch. Then came Maria riding her horse as if she were on a mission for conquest. Little did he know he was reading her heart at that moment but by the end of the month with the Theravadin monk, he would know what the dream was about? 

Maria was married and had children with his nemesis, Charbonneau. He knew at that moment he had to get back to Montana and restore her from the darkness that surrounded her life. It was no longer about his happiness but it was the restoration of what is good and what is just in this world. Malee was not going to be a problem in the battle for his heart, but she was going to be a partner for this quest to begin for righting the wrongs with those he had known.

His time with the monk came to a close abruptly it was time to go back to BCP and face his mentors. He now knew the purpose of his time on the plantation and only months remained before the next step was completed. Recovering the gold and then establish his background story before going home to Montana. The plantation business has been a great venture for the last two people in his life both Edith and Chang had treated him like a son. It was time to make a move for the gold but hadn't had the nerve to invite or tell Malee about leaving. His stature had grown at the plantation. He now ran all of the harvest and processing of rubber. Chang handled the market transactions. Skalkaho was paid plenty for the production of rubber and the management of the plantation. He had learned a lot about people and making all of the working team a happy lot. His word was the standard all things were made of on the plantation. Knowing the heart of each man was an advantage he would use throughout his life. 

The time had come for his talk with the family. Malee was the main concern as he already knew Edith and Chang were for his adventure for going after the gold. They had prepared the business for his inevitable absence. Malee was holding onto her young outlook on life and Skalkaho was her main outlook. The back garden outside the estate hose was the place. 

Skalkaho began his plea, “Malee I am leaving for the gold which I know is waiting for me. 

He turned towards Malee and made eye contact, "I can't take you with me for it is uncertain whether I will be able to come back for you, it is very dangerous."

At that point, she began to whimper because the bond was deeper than Skalkaho had detected even with his internal gifts churning out the hidden woman. He couldn’t penetrate Melee’s heart nor her resolve. This was a mystery to him. Why was this shut out from him he didn't understand? There was more to learn from this flower and his past. Consoling the situation only exposed a false character which Skalkaho was unwilling to reveal to anyone. So he withdrew his enforcement with leaving her behind. 

He blurted out, "I need you but I don't want to take you with me."

Even though this was the truth it didn't stop her tears nor the fear she had for this situation. Skalkaho was at a wall which he could not breach because of the Maria and Malee conflict. He didn't want to start a journey without an assurance of making everyone happy. This was his main flaw. It was a position without satisfaction. Malee was forcing his hand and he had to find a way of solving this dilemma. He could not love nor remain faithful to two people in this manner. He was lost for the first time since leaving Montana. DNA history would not pull him out of this problem, only instinct would be the solution.

Malee responded, "I need you, will you take me with you?"

In old times, it was referred to as a gauntlet thrown down. It was up to Skalkaho's instinct to pick it up and start his gold venture. He went to see Edith and Chang immediately with his impulsive plan. The plan related to his benefactors involved taking Malee with him and the parents wouldn't allow it only if there something attached to that idea. Yes, he would marry Malee and take her to seek his fortune. It was the only way this journey could begin. He had to convince them this was a good idea and it won't end in making their daughter a widow. Everyone has a story to tell at some point in a lifetime to win the argument. Skalkaho was put in a story making position when he made the case for Malee to be with him on his near-do-well adventure. The hardest thing was telling them the truth about him and still make it enticing for the parents to let go of their precious flower.

Skalkaho humbly spoke to the parents Edith and Chang, "The time has come for me to leave your gracious home. You have been good to me beyond any expectations that a person hopes to have in a lifetime. I once was in the high plateau country north of here about 200 miles from Bangkok. I came from this plantation but as a changed man. I drank of a special jungle flower the monks of a village asked that I do in order to find peace and completeness for my life. It awakened my inner soul from all my ancestral people which make up my being. I see or know a person's character and I can speak whatever language spoken coming from before my time. It goes farther than that, it is a tool to restore what has been taken from me many years ago during my youth. The one I loved first is now married with children with my arch enemy. I want to take Malee with me as a helpmate and wife but I can't promise her the satisfaction she deserves until I unravel the mess my arch enemy Charbonneau who is my first love, husband. It is unfair to Malee to go through this out of needing her but I love her and I can't complete this journey without her. I need your blessing and agreement to let her come with me as my wife".

Chang first spoke, "Does she know what you just said to us and does she still want you no matter the risk for her heart?"

Skalkaho sighed, "Yes she does"!

Edith then blurted out, "Take your gold and our daughter only if you make her happy, or otherwise leave with nothing before we can be provoked into giving everything."

Not the answer Skalkaho was looking for but at least the condition was as hard as Melee’s determination. Yes, he would make her happy. Only if he lived through all of it. 

Chang again entered the conversation at this point, “I will kill you if you fail. He went on, you are like a son to me, so killing you would be the hardest thing I've ever done except letting Malee go with you. Her deep eyes and her flowing hair is not ransom enough to make a deal with Chang. 

Chang only said, "I'll kill you if you fail"!

Skalkaho replied, " I'll succeed", and the deal was struck. 

Little did either party believe this would end well. It would all come unraveled if no gold was found or brought back to the plantation for storage. Skalkaho's ideas only saw success and returning to Montana as a successful person when projecting that pretense of an accomplished new man no one would question or guess who he may have been would only make it a secure. He had to make himself into Frank Prescott when he returned a "king" from the plateau. That is the way he would leave this place with his wife as a Frank was found in the jungle by Mauli. Life looked better to him surrounding himself with a trusty friend and faithful wife. What he had in mind no questions could be asked when a situation goes badly in front of good people.

Mauli was summoned by Frank Prescott and he told them he had to prepare for the big journey starting tomorrow with four choice plantation elephants. The elephants would be capable of carrying about 1,000 lbs. of gold each. Frank knew he could hire more elephants from the various villages in the plateau country. A long detailed explanation was given Mauli that Skalkaho would now be called Frank Prescott, possibly for the rest on both their lives. No one was to ever know he was ever Skalkaho. Both Edith and Chang were given the same admonition about Skalkaho's actual name. He was, to be Frank Prescott.

Every one of the family was of one accord on this matter and no one could speak or write this name from this point forward or until Frank released the family from this accord.

Frank would sleep soundly that night knowing marriage Malee was a simple ceremony without all the party and celebration was not in attendance. It was a quiet moment for both of them. As Frank beamed at Malee then flashes of thoughts of his Marias flashed through his mind as if it were some kind arm reaching out to him and pulling him back into to its real commitment. Malee was so much like Maria. They shared the same heart and spirit. They now shared "Skalkaho".

The morning came fast and Malee stuck to his side as he tried to organize for the trip ahead. Her insecurity was masked by her excitement that she was going into the jungle with her husband. The wedding night was a blissful experience as her parents kept up appearance smiling while straining with anxiety. They knew the uncertainty that lay ahead. The gold or Frank's try for wealth was not the cause of this anxiety. It was for Melee’s own happiness. It was a load shared by both Frank and Chang. As if Frank's life depended on her happiness. As far as Chang was concerned, it did!   

Skalkaho Chapter 14: Eureka, The Elephants Pull Its Weight In?