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!
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