The whale beach vol.5

Day 3. At 6:30 am, I head on the Whale beach. Fishermen are preparing for today's hunting as usual. The slight difference from yesterday is the line of logs. The line leads from another boat hut to the sea.
The members get start pushing the boat on the logs. Every time one of them is left on the beach after the last push. Then he salute to the seven samurais on the boat as if he is saying "Get'em today!" I like the picture of the moment. Two boats depart everyday. But actually forty boats or fifty line up in the boat huts. How many boats come out in the regular season?

Members who are left on the land make groups and get start each job. A man who peeling the wood skin must be making a log. Next to him another member repair an inverted triangle shaped mast. In the boat hut another group is twisting a rope. The ropes are put together again to make the tougher one. Is the rope for hauling a captured whale or setting on harpoon's haft? Three men keep twisting the rope with full power.
Apart from them, strange shaped instruments are settled in the hut. Four pipes are set around a fire place. Two members hold wood rods in both hands and take each rod in and out alternately. Fresh air is supplied to the fire and kept strength. The end of iron bar is placed into the fire. They must be smithy. Then the red hot iron is replaced on the stone, and another two men hit it with hummers. They told me they are making a point of harpoon.
I watch each fisherman's behavior with interest. They move without hesitation as if they follow each role and schedule. It seems they understand each other without conversation.

On the way to the new village, I look over the Whale beach from the point. I see boys are training the whale hunting. They stand on the rock in the sea and jump into the water with harpoon. Garbage dumping is serious problem in Indonesia's beach. Although Lamalera's sea is the transparently clear to the coral reef.
Residents bring a bucket and gather into a communal water reservoir. When they turn the faucet of the huge concrete reservoir, clear water splash out. I think about water system in this village. I try to remember if I have seen a faucet in the guest house. I cannot recall. I usually drink water in the carafe on the dining table. Shower and toilet are traditional style scooping water from the big bucket. So it means the water is brought from the reservoir every day? I must save the water.
Nearby the reservoir, workers are dismantling an old house. Looks like not all the men belong to the whale hunting in the off-season.
"Hey, where are you from? Japan? Wanna some sake?" "Ah ... Yes, why not" It tastes like whisky, strong one. Don't drink too much. Or you guys fall off from top of the roof.
It's another mild day today. Lembata island is now in dry season. I feel even cooler in the morning. I prepared for tropical night with 80% humidity. So I'm so happy with unexpected comfortable climate.

On the Whale beach, the training by the kids are still going on. Number of kids are increasing and they take a boat now. It's hard to picture how Ramafa spear a whale with a harpoon. However it's become clear when I see the practice by the kids. They float a target on the water and jump into it aiming with harpoon. The beautiful form isn't necessary. The most important thing is how they surely spear the whales at the first shot.
Little kids also come to the beach and take bathing. Before long the whale boat returns. The children's voice are faded out. Even a little kid knows the time the boat comes back. Fishermen on the land get start to set logs. So how is today's results? No whales ... Footage of boat pusher is dull. And the kids quickly go back to the water.
Without a moment, the second boat's back home. "No big results" I murmured and look over the sea. However all the kids are gathering around the boat.

Oh! They got a big one.