21. Takanga Ha’i

Kanoa, Cassie, and their entourage arrive on the shores of Takanga Ha’i.  Citing her weight, Cassie insists on walking the distance to the mountain-side palace.  Kanoa orders a divan be fashioned should the queen become fatigued.

Cassie learns of Reis’ conquest of the island chain and his massacre of the Storm King’s adherents. A military hopper passes overhead in search of the high king’s hoard of radioactive gold.  

Kanoa relays to Cassie the legend of the primordial Storm King as Squid God.  The high queen spots the terraces of her palace through the jungle foliage and is rendered speechless.  Swollen with pride, Kanoa marvels at the building and praises Reis for his treatment of the local population.  Exhausted, Cassie asks to be carried to her new home.

Under cover of night, an unseen woman threatens Cassie at gunpoint.  She brags of stalking Cassie and of killing her neighbor in America.  Cassie insults the Storm King and receives a blow to the face.  The intruder instructs Cassie to couple with Reis in the ocean and to allow the high king to be taken beneath the waves.

Cassie lunges for the gun, which discharges near her face.  An islander rushes into the room, and the would-be assassin flees onto the veranda.

Cassie dashes outside to find Hiapo standing over the unconscious body of her assailant.  Seeing Hiapo wounded, Cassie insists that he visit the household doctor, Schoonveld.