>>9715721
Working with the three tribes, however, brought about some problems. Don and
Carol's work brought the three tribes into closer contact. This meant that fighting
among them was becoming more common, and contagious diseases were
spreading more rapidly. Don concluded that their past habit of living in small
isolated groups had been the key to their survival. Before Don and Carol arrived,
potential enemies were out of sight and there were fewer occasions to shed
blood. Don and Carol decided that for the good of the people they should leave
them. Otherwise the three tribes could die out altogether.
The leaders from two of the warring groups confronted Don.
"Tuan," as they called him, "don't leave us!" they pleaded.
"But I don't want you to kill each other," replied Don.
"Tuan," one of them said, "We're not going to kill each other.”Tomorrow we are
going to make peace!"
Don and Carol hardly slept that night , wondering what daybreak would bring.
Few of the Sawis slept either. All through the night voices could be heard. Then
as daylight broke all was deathly quiet, just as it had been before previous
battles.
Then one of the tribe members, Mahaen, and his wife climbed down from their
houses. Mahaen was carrying a child, one of his own sons on his back. His wife
Syado was sobbing violently. The people of the tribe also started descending
from their houses. All eyes were on Mahaen, Syado and the child. Suddenly
Syado wrenched the boy from her husband’s shoulders and ran off with him. She
was not going to give him up. Now all the other women of the Haenem tribes
clutched their babies close to their breasts. Someone had to give up their baby.
Finally a man named Kaiyo decided that he would be the one.
"It is necessary," Kaiyo reminded himself. "There's no other way to stop the
fighting. And if the fighting does not stop, the Tuan will leave."
Kaiyo reached down and picked up his only child, six-month-old Biakadon. He
held the soft, warm gurgling body of his son close to his chest one last time.
Kaiyo's wife, Wumi, did not yet know of the decision. Then her eyes flashed
towards her husband, who, with Biakadon in his arms, was running towards the
other tribe. Wumi screamed and ran after Kaiyo, but Kaiyo did not look back.
Wumi felt her feet sinking into the bog. She had missed the trail. There was no
hope now. He was too far ahead.
As Kaiyo reached the Haenam tribe his heart was breaking. The men of the
village were grouped together waiting to receive the child. The peace ceremony
began.
"I give you my son, and with him my name," Kaiyo said as he held forth little
Biakadon. Mahor, of the Haeman tribe received him gently into his arms.
"It is enough!" said Mahor. "I will surely plead for peace between us."
Then a father from the Haenam tribe held up one of his sons.