Chasing the Wind

In a distant era known only to Mother Earth, there lived a boy who was loving towards creatures mighty and small. Aquinnah, or land under the hill, is where he made his home. Its Clay Cliffs have belonged to his Tribe, the Wampanoag, for thousands of years.

He was called Mika in honor of the rabbits that could chase the Wind and catch it. Like them, he could ride the Wind's tail at will. Mika flew between rocks with grace and cleared the ocean's surface with ease, allowing Water no say over his destiny, for he belonged only to the Air.

Certain it could be useful, he wished this skill were more valued. Though fast, Mika was thought of as weak by his people. He was sometimes outcast by those seeking to become bold hunters.

Under the light of a Sturgeon Moon and blazing fire, Mika asked an Elder to recount the legend of Moshup, his favorite.

The kind man obliged.

"Moshup the Giant dwelled above and below these sacred hills. He gave shape to our surroundings and helped to form our Island's distinctive outline. His mark can be found in the cratering of the Cliff where he would sit and smoke pipe tobacco. On days when the fog is thick and the horizon hazy, we sense he is still nearby, puffing away in peace.

He could eat a whole whale cooked over the flames of entire trees. A loyal friend to the Wampanoag, he did not gather these beings solely for his benefit. Rather, Moshup broke their bodies against the rocks to provide us with food. Gaze upon the majestic Cliffs and you will see red streaks from those that sustained Life."

Mika was enthralled by Moshup's stature and generosity. Though often misunderstood, the Giant took from Nature to thrive, never to squander, and his contributions were plentiful.

On a bright morning, the Sun close enough to scorch, a crowd gathered to fish. The girl called Elu was first to spot a shark so enormous that Moshup himself may not have been able to wrestle it.

This specimen was magnificent in size and force, conquering crested waves as though they were rain puddles.

As the shark swam towards shallow waters, one of the older boys abandoned his tribal lessons. In a bid for personal glory, he scaled a boulder, his arrow aimed at the creature.

Others followed, readying their bows for release.

Mika refused to view this animal, created by the Great Spirit Kehtannit, as a trophy. With impressive swiftness, he ran until the Wind lifted his body high off the ground, propelling him across the ocean's expanse.

Bare hands soon bloodied, he caught each arrow in flight, sparing the shark a hundred wounds. Then the Wind died, abandoning Mika to the sea. When he tried to swim, his legs quickly tired. Exhausted, he lacked the strength to reach shore.

The shark dove beneath him, tossing Mika's slight frame up and onto his back. His peers were in awe, celebrating the boy's rescue in song. Mika sat tall and proud as if riding a horse into battle.

Rather than return the boy to the sand, the beast swam out to the deepest blue, showing him everything between Noepe Island and where the ocean meets the sky.

No mortal before or since has been granted this honor.

Mika stood on its fin and touched the clouds, plucking free a single cotton strand. With this, he would craft a necklace of purple wampum for his mother, a keepsake worth more than gold.

Word of his courage soon spread across the land. Mika grew up to become a revered Sachem who lived for more than a century. He taught his children to exist in harmony with the Planet and proved that true power lies only in compassion and restraint.

His wisdom survives to this day.

Tisbury, 1956

Billy strolled by the shops on Main Street, finding himself in no particular hurry. He was, after all, eating coffee ice cream and enjoying a lazy August afternoon.

He spotted John and Danny, his best friends, huddled beneath the shady linden tree. They were overflowing with excitement. "Someone found treasure!"

"Who? Where?" he asked.

"A group from Harvard has been poking around Nomans Land. They dug up a metal chest! No one knows what's inside yet."

"Do you wager there's more still buried?" Billy mused. After a decade of living, he could think of nothing niftier than discovering a pirate's stash.

"Could be! We should stay up-Island at Danny's tonight. Sneak out after everyone is in bed."

"Yeah!" exclaimed Danny. "We can borrow Grandpa's boat!"

It was a risky, no-good, ill-conceived plan, which is why they cheerfully put it into motion. When you're ten years old, summer is your oyster.

Menemsha

They parked their bikes behind a fishing shack, hoping no one would see. By the glow of a lone beam, the boys hopped aboard a boat called The Kid, named for baseball player Ted Williams. On the Vineyard, everyone was a Red Sox fan.

Just as they were sailing away from the harbor, a voice cried out "Wait!"

Danny's younger sister Donna charged down the dock. "I overheard you talking. You're not going without me! If you try, I'll tell. You'll be in major trouble."

Just like that, their party of three became four.

Nomans Land

The water was choppy but nothing they couldn't navigate. In record time, they were on dry land, anxious to explore the uninhabited isle. Flashlights at the ready, they wandered through lush flowers and trees before spotting a cavern. Its entrance appeared undisturbed.

Once inside, each took a small shovel and began to dig. Donna immediately struck something hard. "Probably a stone," her brother muttered dismissively.

He was wrong, as brothers usually are. She held up a pointy shark's tooth, about five inches in length. The boys crowded around, examining it with amazement. Pleased, she slipped it into her book bag.

Before they could continue, the wind howled with ferocity. "Did anyone check the weather report?" asked an anxious Billy.

Sheepish smiles made it clear they had not. Still, they knew better than to quibble with a New England storm. Everyone figured it best to head back, content with their unique discovery.

The return voyage wasn't nearly as agreeable. The vessel tossed and pitched, sending them sliding. During one rough wave, Donna was thrown overboard. She surfaced, gripping the edge of the ship in terror.

The boys tried desperately to pull her up, but rain was now coming down in sheets. Danny had her by the wrists. Then, to his horror, her jacket slipped from his grasp.

She was lost in the abyss, her head disappearing, when John rushed forward, running at breakneck pace. He dove into the air, but instead of hitting the water, his feet continued to hover, supported by an invisible force. He yanked the girl back to safety, the momentum knocking him off-balance.

Now he was going under, swallowing mouthfuls of salty sea. The tide dragged him outward. He could see the boat bobbing like an ice cube, but it was too far away. His ears went silent and the world became a blur, everything happening in slow motion. He thought of his dog, Pebbles. Would she be okay if he never made it home?

With a jolt, he was suddenly flying on the breeze once more, though not of his own accord. He reached down and felt skin foreign to his senses. It was magical. From their angle, his friends could see exactly what had saved him. If their eyes were to be believed, that is.

Beneath John was a shark so vast and prehistoric that Islanders assumed it the stuff of myth. This massive beast stopped alongside The Kid, allowing its passenger to climb free. As it swam out of view, one ancient eye cast them a look of acknowledgment, perhaps even respect. The foursome could only stand there, speechless.

Finding his words, Billy asked the question on their collective minds. "How did you fly like that, John? It was a sight!"

"I don't know. Never done it before! Donna was in danger, and I just knew I could get to her! Instinct, I guess."

"That was more than instinct!" replied Danny. "You were like a hero from the movies."

"Yup," teased Donna. "My hero."

She gave John an appreciative hug, causing him to blush.

Their reunion was cut short when the Coast Guard arrived, looking none too happy. "We'll tow you in. Wait until your parents hear about this."

Chilmark

Wrapped in fuzzy blankets and sipping cocoa, they were seated on the sofa at Danny's house by midnight. His mother retired to bed, claiming her nerves were frayed.

At his father's insistence, the group spilled their story, keenly sharing every detail. He listened with interest, limiting his stern expressions to the foolish parts.

"Well, kids, that is a fascinating account, but I have two pieces of bad news. First, the treasure turned out to be a hoax. Just some grad students looking for grant money."

This was met with a chorus of groans and aw shucks.

"Next, the Coast Guard says you barely left the harbor."

"That's impossible!" they protested in unison.

"There was a lobster boat nearby. The captain claims you were within sight the entire time, never approaching Nomans."

"How do you explain this?" replied Donna, a little smug. She reached into her book bag for the impressive tooth. To her shock, it was empty. Frantic, she tried again, patting around for dear life.

"Did one of you take my tooth? It's mine! Give it back!"

"We didn't touch it!" Danny retorted. "You were wearing that bag the whole trip, even in the water. It must've fallen out."

Sisters could be so difficult.

"But it was still zippered shut," she mumbled, mostly to herself.

"Alright, you kids get some sleep. Bill, your mom says you're to stay here for the night. John, come with me. I'll drive you home."

Though he was wild about the new Impala, the ride was awkward. Danny's dad tried to ease the tension.

"There's something I didn't mention earlier, Johnny. I didn't want to excite you guys further. I've lived on the Island all my life. Like yours, my family has roots going back several generations. Us old-timers know lots of local tales."

John paid attention, curious.

"Since I was a boy, I've heard the story of Mika. Are you familiar?"

"No, sir."

"Mika was a leader of the Tribe. Among other feats, he once saved a giant shark from unnecessary harm. Legend states that the sharks in these waters are grateful to his descendants and will protect them with their lives. Strange thing is, Mika could also run on the wind."

"Do you believe that's possible, Mr. Luce?"

"I didn't until tonight, but you have such an honest face."

They chuckled.

"Of course, I know your parents well, and I don't think the Bettencourts are related to anyone from the Tribe. It's a lovely idea, though."

"Sir?" the boy said softly. "I'm adopted."

Edgartown

John sure was glad to see his room that evening. After hugging Pebbles and finishing a warm glass of milk, he fell into bed like a tumbling statue. The cocker spaniel curled up in the crook of his knees, melting his heart. Dorothy got it right. There's no place like home.

He wondered what to make of his potential heritage and Mr. Luce's stories. One ancestral being telling another thank you was a thrilling prospect, but did it really happen?

Were they all just imagining things?

Figuring he would never know, John turned over to snooze. To his surprise, something beneath the pillow stabbed his cheek. He pulled aside the case, revealing Donna's missing shark tooth.

Holding it up to the moonlight, he started to cry a little.

His tears were those of joy.

Aquinnah, Long Ago

After the great shark gave him back to his people, young Mika snuck away by his lonesome. He scurried beneath the Clay Cliffs, wanting a moment alone to reflect on the beauty of his adventure.

Still seeping from the arrows, he pressed his palm against smooth, cool rock. The handprint remains to this day, nestled among stripes from time immemorial, man and beast united as One.