10
Reading edition
Aponībalagen went to put Aponībolinayen in Kabwa-an, where no one could see her. As soon as they arrived at the ocean they rode on the crocodiles to Kabwa-an. When they arrived there Aponībalagen used magic so that a big golden house stood in the middle of a wide plain. In the yard were many betel-nut trees and a spring below the trees. The gravel where the stream flowed was beads called pagatpat and kodla, and the leaves and grass used to rub the inside of the jars was a necklace of golden wire.
When the golden house, and betel-nuts, and spring had appeared, Aponībalagen left an old woman with Aponībolinayen and Alama-an, and Sinogyaman and Indiápan, and he went back home, and he said to them, “Do not be afraid to stay, for no one can see you here, where I have put you, and if anyone tries to come here the crocodiles will eat them. You have everything you need.” So he went home.
While the others were talking to the young man, Aponībolinayen was looking through a crack of the house, and she liked him very much. She wished to go outdoors and talk to him, but she was afraid because the old woman had said there were only the three young girls whom she called. As soon as they had finished talking, they went to bed.
When the daylight came Alama-an went to cook and when she finished the old woman said to her, “Go and call the man and see if he wishes to eat with the girls. You call them, but do not call Aponībolinayen, for that is why we are here, so no one can see her. I do not know why the alligators did not see him.” Aponībolinayen and Ingiwan heard what she said and they laughed. So Alama-an went to call him, but he was not in the room. She went to tell the old woman that he was not there, and they were surprised, for they thought he had gone home, for all the other rooms were locked. “If he is not there you go and call Aponībolinayen and we will eat.” The three girls went to the room of Aponībolinayen, but Ingiwan disappeared and they only saw Aponībolinayen. So they all went to eat and Ingiwan was not hungry, for Aponībolinayen used magic, so that rice and meat went to where he was hiding.
When they had lived together a long time Aponībolinayen said to him, “You better go home now, for it is time for my brother to visit us. If you wish to marry me you must arrange with him and my father.” So Ingiwan went back home and the crocodiles only watched him, but did not try to eat him. He rode on his headaxe, and when he reached the other side of the ocean he saw that the high bank had disappeared and he found the way home.
Not long after they made balaua, for they wished to call Aponībalagen so that he would not always feel badly about them. Not long after they sent the betel-nuts to summon their relatives. As soon as the betel-nut arrived in Kaodanan, “Good afternoon, Aponībolinayen and Kagkagákag want you to attend their Sayang.” Aponībalagen laughed and said, “Yes,” and he called all the people and told them to prepare to go to the balaua.
When they arrived at the spring everyone was astonished, for all the fruit of the trees was of gold, and all the places they walked were covered with plates. And Aponībalagen said, “I do not think this is the spring of Kagkagákag. I think someone else owns it. We will go up to the house where he lives.” When they reached the gate of the town they asked the young girl who was going to the spring where Aponībolinayen and Kagkagákag slept, and the woman said, “You follow these plates, for they go to the ladder of Kagkagákag's house.” So they went and they always walked on the plates. When they arrived they saw many people Page 89dancing in the yard and Aponībalagen shook their hands. “Kagkagákag, if you had come as you are now to my balaua I would not have been bad to my sister.” Kagkagákag laughed at them and they all chewed betel-nut.
While they were chewing Langa-an and Pagatipánan went to them and they said, “We came to chew betel-nut also to see if we are related to you.” Kagkagákag gave them betel-nut, and when they chewed they found out that they were relatives and they called Kagkagákag, Aponītolau, and he paid the marriage price for Aponībolinayen. Aponīgawanī said to him, “I thought I had no brother. I do not know what my father and mother did with you.” The alan who cared for Aponītolau said, “He was by the road where Langa-an had dropped him on her way to Nagbotobotán, so I picked him up, for I have no children.” As soon as Aponītolau paid the marriage price they danced again, and the alan gave all her things to Aponītolau, for Langa-an and Pagatipánan took them home. Not long after Aponībalagen married Aponīgawanī, and he paid the same as Aponītolau had paid for Aponībolinayen.
(Told by Madomar, a woman of Riang barrio Patok.)