Odyssey From Africa 12c

Chapter 12 c The fireflower (cont.) When at last they had descended Back down to the forest clearing Rosy sidled up to Lisa Yielded up the flowering branches   Now they had secured the fire flowers,  Now achieved the day's objective Back they climbed through upland forest Back to humid lowland jungle To the winding river valley  Of the Antainambalana Following its long meanders Downstream as it slowed and broadened Now the shadows of the evening  Fell upon the Island Kingdom  Darkness rapidly descending, Lisa and her brother Matto   Thought about the hours of travel In the dark that lay before them Lisa worried that their parents Might be anxious at their lateness   Matto's thoughts were with Ipiki Was the little bat still breathing? Holding out against the sickness? Then their guide called out to stop them   And he summoned them together  To a narrow wooden jetty At the margin of the river Close to several wood-built houses   Of a river trading station. Now upon the flowing water They could faintly see a lantern On a boat that headed upstream   Slowly it approached the jetty And the lapping of the oarsmen  Could be heard as it came nearer Straining hard against the current    Finally the boat was tethered  To a ground-sunk mooring pylon From the boat a light was glowing  Round a cabin door amidships    Voices called out from the cabin And their guide gave friendly answer So it thus became apparent  That the boat had come to meet them   Then the cabin door was opened  Out walked Han, and then came Kwona! Quick the children ran to meet them  Well relieved to see their parents   Lisa saw that Han and Kwona We're disquieted by something  As they walked into the cabin By the lamp they saw the healer   Saw the frail and kindly woman  Who had sent them on their journey  Then upon a wooden table  Both the children saw Ipiki   Hanging from the sisal handle  Of the wooden water bucket But they had to strain their hearing To discern Ipiki's breathing    He was clearly getting weaker  As the troubled mood attested  Thus their parents and the healer  Felt there was no time to squander    So they turned at once to business  Plucked the petals of the fireflower  Placed them all into the bucket Just beneath the bat Ipiki   Han already worked his fire-stone Soon the sparks inflamed the tinder And he carefully dropped the fire flake On the pile of orange blossoms