Chapter 8 - Kameko

VII
Kameko
It was late when Appa reached the island of Kameko.   The sun was still up, but the light was fading fast.  The village itself was bustling with activity, last minute preparations for the feast and dance.  They flew in from the east as they had been instructed and walked the mile to the other side of the island where the village was located.  Having left Appa and Momo behind they were hardly noticed as they slipped inside and made they way to the village square where the first of the activities were to take place.     They talked quietly for some time before the festivities started, deciding that it would be best to ask a few questions tonight, but save any actual searching for the healer for tomorrow.  It had been suggested that they go to her first, to avoid fire nation notice.  They didn’t want to get into trouble, only find a teacher for Aang.
They were about ready to start moving through the village to see what they could, when there was a sound of a tambourine.  A bonfire had been lit, and now in front of it, stood a figure robed in a story teller’s garb.  The entire village was present now, but the entire village was also quiet.
The man spoke, his deep voice commanding attention.
“Over a thousand years ago we were just a village on a simple island.  Until our ancestor Uraschima Taro befriended the great Turtle . . .”  the was another shake of the tambourine and several players leapt into view, their costumes portraying an elder couple in the woman’s arms a doll cradled as if it were a real child.
“O Great I love plays!” Aang grinned.
“The story of our island starts with a poor fishermen and his wife.  They had but one son who was their world . . .”
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They lived on the coast of our beautiful island, and made their living by fishing and selling what they caught in the local market. For the sake of their son, who was their pride and joy, they were ready to work hard all day long so that he might have the best they could offer him.  The fisherman and his wife never felt tired or unhappy with their lives, for despite the hard work and long hours their lives were joyful and they spent the time fishing together able to share all their fortunes and misfortunes.  From a large catch to the one that got away. Their son''s name was Uraschima Taro, which means ''Son of the island,'' and he grew to be a fine good natured youth, and a good fisherman, minding neither the wind nor the weather. [/i]
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[/i]Another player leapt into the light at the first two continued to pantomime fishing.  This player wore a mask painted in the face of a handsome young man.
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Not even the bravest sailors in the entire village dared to venture so far out to sea as Uraschima Taro, and many of the neighbors would shake their heads and mention to his parents, ''If your son goes on being so rash, one day he will try his luck once too often, and he will meat his end. He will sail out into one of his storms and die!’[/i]
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But Uraschima Taro paid no attention to these warnings, and he really was very good in managing his boat, his parents were very seldom worried about him. One beautiful bright morning, as he was hauling full nets into the boat, he saw lying among the fish a tiny sea turtle. It was a beautiful green color and because it was unharmed by the net it would grow to be healthy and strong if left to itself.  He was delighted with the turtle and intending to keep it for a pet he tossed it into a wooden box in the corner of his little fishing boat to keep it safe until he got home, when suddenly the turtle found its voice, and tremblingly begged for its life. [/i]
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''After all,'' the little turtle said, ''what good can I do to you? I am so young and small, and I would gladly live a little longer. Be merciful and set me free, and I shall someday prove my gratitude.'' Now Uraschima Taro was a very kind young man, and besides being shocked that the turtle had spoken to him, he could never say no to anyone, so he picked up the sea turtle, and put it back into the sea.[/i]
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Years past by, and every morning Uraschima Taro sailed his little boat out on to the deepest part of the ocean without any problem.  His skill was great and he faced many a rain storm to come home with a full days catch despite being soaked to the bone. But one day as he was making for a little bay between some rocks, there rose up a fierce wind, which shattered his boat to pieces against the rocks as he tried to pass between them, and the boat was tumbled through the sea by the waves until a current pulled it under.  Uraschima Taro himself very nearly shared the same fate. As the rough waters pulled him this way and that, but he was a powerful swimmer having been taught from a very young age, and he struggled against the sea to reach the shore. [/i]

The Player portraying Taro mimed a frantic swim as others robed all in blue swirled around him.  Then several more players rushed into the firelight coved by a shimmering green cloth embroidered with the pattern of a shell.  They were obviously meant to portray one of the great Tortoises the island was known for.
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Then as he finally thought he was going to drown, he saw a large sea turtle swimming towards him, and above the howling of the storm’s winds  he heard what it said.[/i]
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''I am the turtle whose life you once saved. I will now pay my debt and show my gratitude. The shore is still a long ways off, and without help you will never get there in time. Climb on my back, and I will carry you where you will.'' [/i]
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Uraschima Taro did not wait to be asked twice, and thankfully accepted his friend''s help. He grabbed fast onto the turtles shell and pulled himself up on to her back. But scarcely was he seated safely on the shell, when the turtle proposed that they should not return to the shore at once, but go under the sea, and look at some of the wonders that lay hidden there.[/i]

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