JIMMY AWAGL
An entry in the Crocodile Prize
PNG Government Award for Short Stories
HOT tears stream from the Sepik Crocodile’s eyes like Wewak’s afternoon rain. Miserably she strolls back to her hideout at Saksak compound.
The Sepik Crocodile does not eat and sleep well. For a week, she mourns the sudden departure of the Simbu man.
Just as the Sepik Crocodile contemplates suicide, a thought pops into her head.
“It’s not too late to abandon Wewak to follow the Simbu man along other routes,” she thinks.
About a fortnight later, the guardian of the lone Simbu man, the Paguwi crocodile Peter Kenjue, informs the discarded Sepik Crocodile of his new location.
The news reaches the Sepik Crocodile in the evening when she is about to sleep.
“Crocodile listen. The Simbu man is now on the Island of No Return. Do not be miserable, you will make it there,” Peter says with a smile.
The discarded Crocodile conspires an itinerary to escape Wewak and follow the Simbu.
Hot tears of joy well up into the steamy atmosphere of Wewak. The Crocodile looks at the eyes of the Paguwi crocodile, Peter Kenjue.
“Now I am happy my grandfather comes from Manam Island,” she says with confidence.
“What will he do, since you mention him?” the guardian asks.
“He is the source of superstition, you know Manams are Kukurais,” the once forlorn Crocodile responds.
“Then, what will happen between you and him?” the guardian asks curiously.
“He will make my way to the Island of No Return,” the Crocodile replies.
“Then, wait a moment. I will call my in-law, Mr Saramasi, to confirm the status of this Simbu man,” the guardian says.
Peter Kenjue rings his in-law with information.
“The only lover of the Simbu man will be drifting to the Island of No Return. The crocodile cannot travel on public transport since she’s a carnivore,” the Paguwi crocodile tells Saramasi.
“It’s amazing, we were expecting to see the crocodile shortly the form of a sea creature,” Saramasi replies excitedly.
The guardian turns to the Crocodile. “Saramasi is aware of your travel to the Island of No Return. Use the Manam Kukurai to aid your journey.”
“I will take this week to ask my grandfather to help me to traverse the byways and backwaters,” the crocodile says. “I will travel to Angoram and drift on a log or beneath a motor canoe to Borai.”
In their way, the wishes and thoughts of the desperate Crocodile reaches the Kukurai who has the assistance of Blassius, a man from Murik Lake.
Blassius, as a middle man communicates between the Kukurai and the Sepik Crocodile.
“Inform the Sepik Crocodile to swim downstream through the Sepik River in the evening and reach Borai around 1 am. I will force a white shark in her direction. As soon as the shark reaches her there will be a huge bolt of lightning.
“Then the fearful shark will jump out of the water. Entangle your tail with it and embrace the shark and it will take you all the way to the bay of Kavailo.
“But by that time you will no longer be seen as a crocodile but a cute lass,” the Kukurai affirms.
The Kukurai further vows that “I will be in full control of nature to ensure your journey to the Island of No Return.
“If you bear a first born son then name him Kukurai to compliment my effort, otherwise your life with the Simbu man is at stake,” the Kukurai warns finally.
The Sepik Crocodile feels secure and happy now and accompanies Blassius as they travel all the way to Angoram.
The Crocodile heads towards the giant Sepik River and, before swimming downstream farewells her middleman, Blassius, and sets course for Borai.
Reaching Borai at around 1 am, the Crocodile dangles from a huge log drifting towards the Sepik delta.
Blassius immediately notifies guardian Peter Kenjue that the discarded crocodile will arrive at the bay of Kavailo the next morning and repeats the message from the Manam Kukurai so he will convey it to Saramasi.
So Saramasi is told that the Simbu man will meet at Kaivailo not the banned Crocodile but a cute Sepik lass.
Early in the morning, the two men drive all the way to Kavailo on the eastern tip of Karkar Island to pick up the transformed Crocodile.
As soon as they reach the coast, they see an extremely cute Sepik lass.
The eyes of the Simbu man glimpse her immediately. He pinches Saramasi and affirms that it is her.
“Welcome to the Island of No Return,” Simbu man utters with a cheerful heart. They hug one another and jump on a truck.
They drive around the ring road of Karkar Island until they reach Karkar Secondary School, the lovely temporary home of the Simbu man.