Otahu grunted his approval. On the other side of the circle, the surgeon Roblet, who had been seated beside Marchand, keenly observing all that was happening about him, stood and left the circle. I saw him approach you, Koahu, and speak with you. With his hands, he signaled that he wished to study your eyes, beckoning to you with smiles and friendly gestures. From my place in the circle, separated from you by the flickering lights of the fires, I could barely make out what was happening in the darkness. I stood and approached you. I saw Roblet lean over you and look into your eyes, while another stranger held up a flame and yet another stood nearby, holding his musket. I was the only one among our people to notice this turn of events, for Fetu and Otahu were immersed in a conversation, and the others in the circle were enjoying the revelry. You, Koahu, allowed Roblet to look into your eyes, and you in turn looked into his, for such a long period that I began to fret. As much as I wanted to hear what Fetu was telling Otahu about what he had learned during his crossing, there was danger in what I saw taking place between you and Roblet. Despite the prohibition on crossing with the strangers, I knew a crossing was about to take place between the two of you. Your curiosity was too powerful, as was the surgeon’s. I approached you discreetly, keeping to the shadows. This was the moment I ought to have intervened, I realize now, before anything happened, but I hesitated, and hid behind nearby shrubs.

I witnessed the fateful moment with my own two eyes. Of what can I be certain? Only that I heard you cry out in a panic. A last-minute doubt, perhaps? Too late—a shiver passed through your body, while the surgeon slumped to the ground. I came rushing out from my hiding place to try to stop what was happening, but my sudden panicked appearance startled the men holding you—holding the body that had, until just now, been you. They let go of your body to attend to Roblet’s, which now lay on the ground. I ran to catch you, but you lost your balance, you teetered, you stumbled, you fell upon Roblet. One of the strangers, perhaps fearing you were attacking Roblet, took his musket and pointed it at you. It exploded with thunder and lightning, and its lightning bolt shattered your body open. As the noise subsided, you staggered back into my arms.