Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #19 October 2015 | Page 26

O LE ALI’I
ASO
By John Altson and
Bob Lee
Thanks to Luci’s intervention, the Silvers were
able to quickly round up twenty-six well-heeled new
clients very interested in a portfolio of Israeli tech
startups. Lizzy and Fred had worked diligently, utilizing both phone and video conferencing, to create
an impressive package for potential investors. While
some of the business was conducted remotely, most of
the clients were wined and dined at the Silvers’ mansion in Greenwich. The story given to each and every
investor was the same: These were legitimate Israeli
startups with a great deal of potential. The seed money raised would be delivered proportionally to each
company during one comprehensive trip to Israel. The
Silvers had raised well over twenty million dollars,
depositing the money in a Swiss bank account. The
only problem for the investors was that the Silvers
were on an Hawaiian Airlines plane from Honolulu to
Pago Pago and not on their way to Israel.
Fred was savouring his second glass of champagne on the flight and Lizzy was already on her
fourth when he leaned over, “Hey, honey. Watch the
booze. We still have a great deal of traveling to go.”
Lizzy composed her, somewhat dishevelled,
self. “Yeah, yeah. I packed two bottles for our charter
flight from Pago Pago to Matavai. Guess I’ll hold off
till then. By the way, are you sure that Samoa has no
extradition treaty with the United States?”
“Double and triple checked. I even made some
calls to the government. No problem. We’re finally
going to be living our retirement dream, albeit a little

earlier than planned. Let me ask you something now where are we with buying a resort property?”
“We have two set up on the north coast and one
on the southeast sector. That should work for starters.
Our first appointment is in two days that should give
us enough time to settle in and do the tourist bit. Hey,
I’d like to read to you a funny article I saved on my
laptop while searching ‘Samoa’ on the Internet. Want
to hear it?”
“Sure, hon, we’ve got the time.”
“OK. It’s a translation from the Robert Luis
Stevenson Museum in Vailima, Apia. ‘This is the
story of the cannibalistic repast of King Malietoa. The
chief’s full name was Malietoa Uilamatu (Faiga). He
was a cannibal and victims for his meals were provided from all over Samoa; the victim was euphemistically called “The Chief’s Day.”
Malietoa lived in a piece of land between
Afega and Malie. It is known the Tualagi and was
some distance inland from the main road. The king
always had some hangers-on such as chiefs and orators, waiting in front of his house for the two victims
he demanded daily from this or that village. When the
poor fellows arrived, they were thanked by the reception committee, and given to the young men to be
dispatched and cooked.
There was a flat, smooth rock where the victim
was killed before being taken to the cookhouse. There
his arms were tied to his body and he was seated on
the oven, legs folded under him, as if he were still
alive. Thus he was roasted. When he was well done he
was taken to the king’s house and cut up. The king got
the nape of the neck; the rest was distributed among
the chiefs and orators, and the members of their families. It is not known now whether the intestines were
eaten like those of the pig, but it is certain that the
king got the heart.
The capital was always full of people because
many strong and bold men from the different districts
used to congregate there to protect the king. They all
took part in the cannibalistic feasts.’”

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