Kickaha didn’t know why Toini had it in for him. The only explanation was reactive chemistry. Some people just took an instant and unreasonable dislike to certain people in the first minute of acquaintanceship.
Toini’s speech didn’t exactly cause an uproar, but it did result in considerable loud argument. The chief was silent during the squabble, but apparently Toini had given him some doubts.
Kickaha, seeing that Toini might swing public opinion to his way of thinking, asked the chief if he could speak. Wergenget shouted for silence.
Kickaha, knowing that height gave a speaker a psychological advantage, mounted a hikwu.
“I wasn’t going to say anything about a certain matter until after I was adopted by the tribe,” he said. “But now I see that I must speak about it.”
He paused and looked around as if he were about to reveal something which perhaps he shouldn’t.
“But since there are some doubters of the Lord here, I believe that I should tell you about this now, instead of later.”
They were hanging on his words now. His grave manner and the serious tones made them think that he knew something they should know about.
“Shortly before you came upon me,” Kickaha said, “I met a man. He approached me, not walking, but gliding over the earth. He was in the air above the ground at twice my height.”
Many gasped, and the eyes of all but Toini widened. His became narrow.
“The man was very tall, the tallest I’ve ever seen in my life. His skin was very white, and his hair was very red. And there was a glow about him as if he were wrapped in lightning. I waited for him, of course, since he was not the sort of person you would run away from or attack.”
“When he was close to me he stopped, and then he sank to the ground. I am a brave man, people of the Thana, but he frightened me. Also, he awed me. So I sank to my knees and waited for him to speak or to act. I knew that he was no ordinary man, since what man can float through the air?”
“He walked up to me, and he said ‘Do not be afraid, Kickaha. I will not harm you. You are favored in my eyes, Kickaha. Rise, Kickaha'”.
“I did as he ordered, but I was still scared. Who could this be, this stranger who soared like a bird and who knew my name, though I had never seen him before?”
Some in the crowd moaned, and others murmured prayers. They knew who this stranger was. Or at least they thought they did.
“Then the stranger said, ‘I am the Lord of this world, Kickaha'”.
“And I said, ‘I thought so, Lord.'”
“And he said, ‘Kickaha, the tribe of the Thana will soon be taking you prisoner. If they are kind to you, then they will gain favor in my eyes, since I have in mind something great for you to do. You will be my servant, Kickaha, a tool to effect a deed which I wish to be done.'”
“‘But if they try to kill or torture you, Kickaha, then I will know they are unworthy. And I will blast them all from the face of this earth. As a matter of fact, I will kill one of them as testimony that I am keeping an eye on them to demonstrate my power. If they are not convinced by this, then I will slay one more, the man who will try to keep you from being adopted by the tribe.'”
Toini had been grinning crookedly up to this moment. It was evident that he was going to denounce the captive as a prevaricator the moment he ceased speaking. But now he turned pale and began to shiver and his teeth started chattering. The others moved away from him.
The shaman was the only one who was looking doubtful. Perhaps, like Toini, he thought that Kickaha was lying to save his neck. If so, he was waiting for more developments before he gave his opinion.
“So I said, ‘I am grateful, Lord, that you are honoring me by using me as your servant and tool. May I ask what task you have in mind for me?'”