On the Wings of Birds

The escape

Hinewai was sitting on a rocky plateau watching the wondrous geyser activity that seemed to spread out in all directions as far as the eyes could see, surrounding her with hissing mist, at her new home. How she’d wished that she had thought to bring one of the many bird totems with her – it would have looked like a shining Manaian symbol among the Te Arawa ethereal misty lands. She hadn’t realized how much time she’d spent praying to those totems, back home. She hadn’t realized how little she had bought with her – travel light, she’d instructed everyone, we will get new things at Te Arawa – too late, she realized just how precious some things were, like the totems that she had taken for granted, at Manaia. She supposed she couldn’t ask for any to be made, especially now, when these people were changing, becoming like the Pakeha, and worshipping their Gods – or God – apparently, they only had one, although they also prayed to his son’s mother, Mary…

So far though, the royal family had not converted, and had forbidden Arnie to build a Christian church here – but Arnie was ambitious, and Hinewai had a feeling, that one day, he might succeed – she hoped not too near in the future, she was still getting used to the Te Arawa way of life, let alone the Pakeha English way as well…

Apart from Hana, Kahu’s people seemed to like her, they accepted the few Manaian that had remained with her, into their community, and Reina had found a boyfriend already – Hinewai was pleased, she didn’t want to be the only one that was married to the enemy – Hinewai smiled to herself – the enemy had captured her heart, and now, had captured Reina’s heart as well – Tania had a few admirers, and surprisingly, Nahera had one as well – she was glad that Nahera was no longer in hiding, and was openly enjoying a new life with a new tribe, and man – Nahera had joked that she might even marry the guy, a Pakeha with a pub, and Hinewai hoped so – Nahera deserved to have found freedom and happiness at last. Hinewai looked into the direction of Manaia, but of course, it could not be seen from here, it was far away, on the other side of the great lake, and across the baren desert – but father, what are you doing now? Why haven’t you come to meet your in-laws, why haven’t you at least sent messages with what’s happening back home, if Aniki and the baby survived? Right then, a shadow covered her and she shivered – looking up, there were no clouds blocking the sun, nor any trees or large birds – and somehow she knew she had answered her own question – Aniki and the baby were dead – and Mitaroa might as well be also – she gulped – in protecting Tairi, she had hoped Aniki’s child would not make it – but there is always a price to pay for such a deadly hope, a sacrifice – her father Mitaroa may be still alive, but his heart was dying from grief…

She heard a little girl’s giggle and looking up, saw Kahu approaching with little Tairi – he had been proudly showing Tairi all the places he loved – places that he had grown up and played, when a boy – they waved at Hinewai, and she waved back and soon afterwards, they were sitting on the ground on either side of her.

“What are you doing Hinewai,” Tairi asked, “we have been looking everywhere for you…”

“Just thinking,” Hinewai sighed, “wondering what dad’s doing, back home…”

“He’s not coming, Hinewai…”

Hinewai looked surprised at her little sister. Tairi had always seemed babyish, and hardly talked, but when she did, she always spoke instinctively and clearly. She looked Hinewai directly into her eyes. “You do know that don’t you?”

Hinewai nodded. “Yea…” then told Kahu of Aniki having to be taken back to their doctors…

“He would send messengers,” Kahu asked, “wouldn’t he?”

“Yea…” Hinewai nodded again, “if the news was good news…”

“Shall we send our own messengers?” Kahu asked, “to find out what’s happened?”

Both girls shook their heads, “no…”

“It took him several full seasons to get over Ingari,” Hinewai explained, “in fact, I don’t think that he ever did. He may need time to get over Aniki…he prefers to be left alone, when mourning…”

“But Manaia…?” Kahu started, “who is looking after Manaia?”

“Inia, Aniki’s father will be mourning too,” Hinewai turned her gaze in the direction of Manaia again, “but you know Hauku, Kahu…Manaia is in good hands…”

“Wouldn’t he also be depressed…at losing you?”

“He and I are alike…there is no time for depression for people like us, he will do what’s necessary…”

“Do you…regret?”

Hinewai did not let him finish, she grabbed his head between her hands and bought his face to hers, “No!”

“No regrets at all?”

“There is one…”

“Well?”

The dimple played around Hinewai’s cheek. “I’m not getting used to this…” she waved her arms in all directions, foul, steaming smell of Sulphur…”

They all laughed…

So it was, for a while, Kahu and Hinewai were often seen happily galloping their horses around the countryside, happily splashing in the hot pools, happily laughing at nothing, and those that knew that Hinewai hardly ever smiled, let alone laugh out loud, were happy to see their Princess finally, enjoying her life – her new life, in a new place - only Nahera, and maybe deep down, Hinewai, knew that there was still a bumpy road ahead for them all…

So it wasn’t long before an uneasy Hinewai was looking for Nahera. She bumped into Reina, walking the dog in the streets. “Nahera’s not in her house,” she grabbed Reina by the shoulders, “do you know where she is?”

Reina shook her head. “No…” but before she could say anything else, Hinewai hastily continued on her way.

Tania was trying to keep up with her mistress. This time, Reina grabbed Tania by her shoulders. “What’s wrong with Hinewai?”

Tania shook her head. She did not want to speak of her mistress’s distress.

“I’m her sister Tania,” Reina shook the maid, “and we don’t keep secrets from each other!”

Tania nodded her head. “Hinewai…” she hesitated, and Reina shook the girl’s shoulders some more, “Hinewai…thinks she’s pregnant!”

Reina smiled. “But…that’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

Tania both shook and nodded her head at the same time. “Of…of course…”

Then realization hit Reina. “Oh, damn!” She cursed, in English.

Tania removed Reina’s hands from her shoulders. “Trust you to have already learned the Pakeha swear words first, before any of the rest of the English language…”

Reina shrugged her shoulders. “I love those words. We don’t have any, in Maori…the worst descriptive thing we can say about someone, or something, is to imply that they resemble something…gross…”

“Like…shit?”

Reina nodded, “yes! Like shit!”

“Then the Maori do swear!”

Reina put her hand over her mouth, with amusement. “Oh, yea…”

Tania shook her head in exasperation. “Now you’ve held me up so long, and Hinewai was moving so fast, now, well now…I’ve lost her! Damn it, Reina!”

Reina grinned. “Good word…”

Tania grinned. “What word?”

And they both swore together, “Damn!”

Hinewai couldn’t find Nahera anywhere. Te Arawa was larger than Manaia, with even a few European buildings already. Shops, they were called. Houses for market stalls. That can be locked up, wares still in their place, without having to be packed away. And a bar. A hotel they called it, but really, just a bar with walls instead of just a roof like the kiosk at Kiwa, which was just like a market stall, except that it traded alcohol, instead of food or materials or craft. The Maori only had one main type of alcohol, being Kawa in Aotearoa, Kava in other islands, but in Aotearoa it only grew in some of the warmer coastal areas – and rarely, and if in season, hence, it became more of a ceremony or celebration drink, whereas in the ocean islands it was plentiful, and believed to be beneficial to the health also, so it was encouraged to be consumed often, even in some places, daily. Huka was made from a rare grass-like plant of the cane variety – but these were rarer still to find than Kawa, and mostly in the north of the North Island – Huka and Maitai were not potent, yet calming, so when available, they were used to help warriors keep up morale, or as a relaxant. Polynesian alcohol was natural, they only needed to crush the Kawa roots, or grind the cane and berries, and add water to it – Huka and Maitai did not taste very nice though, so fruit juices were sometimes added, to sweeten the taste, hence, Polynesians were the first to enjoy what is now commonly known as cocktails, and bars all over the world have named some of their cocktails after the Maori Maitai drink – the Maitai berry had a soothing effect, but it was not as potent; still, it grew everywhere, but although the Maori thought it too bland, the European liked it when their own ale was unavailable; they drank and called it Maitai beer. The English bars only served what they called Ale, but Hinewai was informed that in Auckland, apparently the main European town, the hotels served several types of beverages, and they were even planting vineyards in that area, to make sure that another favorite, wine, could be served all year round – apparently, a lot more work and preparation went into the European process of distilling their alcoholic beverages. But also apparently, and ironically as natural alcohol is stronger than distilled, the natives in Auckland weren’t allowed to have the Pakeha alcohol because apparently, it caused them to get intoxicated and disorderly, and Hinewai would wonder how the Pakeha didn’t get intoxicated or disorderly, until she saw Arnie swaggering around the square and realized, what was acceptable for one race, was not for another, so before even meeting many, she was already becoming suspicious of the irrational minds of the newcomers. She had never seen anyone swaggering around after a drink of Kawa, which, ironically, Kawa was good for soothing and calming the drinker hence, as already mentioned, it was even encouraged to be drank medicinally regularly, when available…she did not know then, that the Aucklanders did not just have one nice drink, they had the need to keep drinking until they were intoxicated and disorderly. Nor did she know, that having more than one was actually unhealthy, and nor did she know, that soon, almost everyone would stop having one nice drink, but drink much more than was necessary…

So, Hinewai was about to give up on her search for Nahera, when she heard Nahera’s laugh – Nahera was in the hotel. Hinewai went up the two stairs, crossed the verandah, and pushed the saloon doors open – she hesitated, she had to blink in the sudden darkness, compared to the brightness of the sunny day outside. At first, she thought that she had been mistaken. She was about to leave again, when Nahera called her. Turning around, Hinewai saw a rather elegant woman in a long slinky gown walking towards her, smiling happily.

“Nahera,” Hinewai gasped, fingering the material of her dress, “you look…beautiful…”

Nahera lovingly touched the material herself, “Satin,” she said, “isn’t it soft?”

“Softer than…” Hinewai paused, “softer than our softest beaten Pareu cloth…is it from Europe?”

“The Pakeha use it nowadays, but from Hainamana originally…”

Hinewai had heard the term. “Oh, Asian material…”

“You’ve heard about them?”

“Yes, some have been here at Te Arawa…”

“You know?”

Although there weren’t many in the bar, and the others were on the other side of it, Hinewai lowered her voice. “I haven’t seen any here yet, but Hauku, is part Chinese Samoan…”

Nahera gulped. “I didn’t know that…”

“Neither does Hauku…it was before my time, but being part of our royal family, I found out that he knows he was found nearby, which is true, but it was decided never to tell him of the woman who had abandoned him and of the Awhia who took the child to Manaia, saying that he was the unwanted son of a Queen…otherwise, he might spend the rest of his life looking for parents who obviously didn’t want him…the Awhia witnessed a woman with the moko tattoo of a high born Te Arawa lady leaving him in the desert, and when they asked her what she was doing, she said that because the baby’s father was Chinese Samoan, her husband refused to raise her indiscretion as his own, and the Awhia, knowing that we needed as many warriors as possible, bought him to us to raise…”

“And the Manaian never told him?”

“The Awhia took him in his basket and presented it to the Royal family. They’re the only ones who know what the woman in the desert told them. All the rest of the Manaian, including Hauku, know, is what you know…that the Awhia found a baby in the desert, and bought him to us to raise…so he’s a little fairer, and his hair is much darker…” Hinewai shrugged, “we come in all shades of brown…look at you, hardly even a bit of a suntan…”

“But I didn’t train or scout the place in the sun all day like you warriors do…”

“Yea, he’s been teased about not getting much darker in the sun, but no-one, except a few Awhian know the reason his mother had to get rid of him…”

“Then…the woman could be…?”

Hinewai just nodded.

“But not…necessarily…?”

Hinewai nodded again. “But…what are the odds?”

Now Nahera nodded.

“In her defense,” Hinewai continued, “she left Hauku in the desert. That’s very far away from here. She must have wandered around for days, unable to part with her child…she even left a Tua with him so he wouldn’t be crying for her for too long…”

“She must have been glad when the Awhia turned up…”

Hinewai thought of how the Awhia suddenly appeared around herself, when she was lost in the desert, and smiled. ”Yes…”

“And you never felt tempted to tell Hauku?”

“Yes, many times…but…they didn’t want him, Nahera, I thought that I’d save him that heartache…what if he went looking for parents who didn’t want him?”

“And you didn’t think that he had a right to know who he was anyway?”

Hinewai leaned on the bar. “I kept telling myself that his mother didn’t want him.” She turned to look up at Nahera, “but…but when we arrived here, I saw…I’m sure I saw recognition and anguish in Katea’s eyes, Nahera…Hauku must look a lot like his father…”

Nahera also leaned on the bar. “So…will you tell him now?”

Hinewai shook her head. “He’s at Manaia, and I’m here…we will probably never see each other again. Besides. If Katea is his mother, she now knows where he is, it’s up to her, to tell him, not me…”

Nahera nodded. “You’re right…” then she went to the other side of the bar. “I think we need a drink. Have you tried the Pakeha Ale yet?”

Hinewai shook her head.

“Takes a bit of getting used to, sip it slowly…”

Hinewai took a sip and gagged.

Nahera laughed.

Hinewai glanced at the others, but they were too busy talking to each other to notice that their new Princess was choking at the bar.

Nahera downed her drink in one gulp.

Hinewai looked both surprised and impressed. “So…what are you doing here?”

“Enjoying a drink with a friend,” Nahera looked at a man seated at a table on his own.

He was a Pakeha, dressed in too many coverings for the warm summer weather, Hinewai thought, and when he noticed the women look his way, he politely stood and bowed to the Princess, Hinewai smiled and curtsied back, something Arnie had taught her to do, then she quietly asked Nahera between her teeth, “no…really? What are you doing?”

“I told you, enjoying a drink…”

“With a man young enough to be your great grandson!”

“Grandson,” Nahera corrected, “actually…”

Hinewai gasped, looked Nahera up and down, then grinned, “well, without the bat around your neck, and this…” she fingered the soft material again, “pretty…satin, did you call it? Well, you do look quite good…no-one would believe how old you really are…”

“He looks young because he’s skinny…he’s older than he looks…”

“Just like you…”

“Just two, lonely, younger than they look people, enjoying a drink together…”

“Alright, then…”

“And you were looking for me because?”

Hinewai pulled her to the end of the bar where no-one else could overhear them, and lowered her voice again. “I’m pregnant…”

Nahera smiled. “That’s wonderful…”

Hinewai did not smile.

Nahera’s smile disappeared. “Isn’t it?”

“I don’t know who the father is…”

“Oh dear…”

“Yea…”

“So you want me to…”

Hinewai knew what Nahera was offering. She shook her head, then nodded, then shook it again. “No…I did come to you to get rid of it, but now that I’m actually speaking with you about it, I…I can’t…”

“Because it might be Kahu’s…”

Hinewai nodded. “Yea…”

“Then you’re going to have to tell him…”

“Yes, I know…” then Hinewai downed her drink in one gulp also. “You look beautiful, Nahera, go back to your friend,” she said as she left the hotel, “and I will go and talk to my husband…”

So it came to pass, when Nahera was marrying her younger Pakeha man who owned the first pub in Te Arawa, Hinewai and Kahu were having their firstborn child. Kahu instantly noticed the fair skin, the very dark black eyes that trustingly looked up at him, darker than his and Hinewai’s light hazel brown eyes, he also noticed the sleek shiny black hair, but he couldn’t resist kissing the innocent baby’s brow anyway – he had three sons – two to a former love, and one to his former rival – but no-one would ever know that this boy was not his, he thought, until his mother looked at the child, and couldn’t hide her gasp – Amuri, Hinewai and Kahu did not miss it, and at first, Hinewai thought that Katea knew, and instantly hated her grandson – until Katea took the babe in her arms and held it tight, with tears streaming down her cheeks…

Katea took charge of looking after the baby. In typical Polynesian style, all in the tribe were responsible for all babies, not just the biological parents, so this practice was not unusual – it gave the elders something to do while the young could concentrate on finding food, making homes, and warcraft – in other words, providing and protecting - she was the one who also named him Io-Tama, meaning he was perfect; but like most Māori, who usually ended up calling the child a shortened version of their name, the babe would grow up simply being known as Tama and later in life, as Rawa-Tama, the perfect Tama...

Hinewai did not mind her mother in law taking charge of the child, ever since she had met Katea, she noticed the older woman was a sad, solemn person – even at their wedding party, one would suppose that she was at a funeral, rather than a wedding – at first, Hinewai thought that the older woman did not like the idea of her son marrying a Manaian; but now, since Tama’s birth, both she and Kahu noticed how she now constantly smiled and laughed happily…

One day, when Hinewai mentioned Katea’s obvious change to her father in law, Amuri just grunted - that’s when she also realized that he hardly took any notice of the baby – in fact, the in-laws had swapped their demeanors – the once jolly old King was now quite sober, and the miserable Queen was now lively and playful and again, Hinewai suspected that they knew of the baby’s true bloodline – but would Katea have devoted herself to Tama if that were true? Hinewai even bought up the subject with Kahu, but he was just as mystified…

Soon after, Katea went running around the royal apartments wildly crying for the baby, calling the child. Desperately demanding everyone help her find him.

Luckily, Hinewai was nearby and ran to her mother-in-law, trying to calm her. Katea fought back. “He’s gone! Hinewai, Tama’s gone…”

Hinewai was surprised by the older woman’s strength. “It’s alright, Katea,” she tried holding the woman still, “he’s with Tania, Reina and Tairi…Nahera asked how the boy was, and they took him to visit with her…”

“But Nahera…” Katea hesitated, “Nahera…”

“Is strange,” Hinewai interrupted, “yes, but she has always been loving to all of us…”

“But…”

“But what?”

“Her husband…”

Hinewai knew what Katea was referring to. Uprisings between the Pakeha and Maori were finally breaking out, in the north – it was probably inevitable, two completely different people, lifestyles, and beliefs, disagreements were clashing into wars. “Nahera’s husband won’t hurt the prince…” but even Hinewai now wondered about that – still, she hid her emotions on her face, something she learned when learning to fight, and did not show how concerned she was in front of the Queen. “I’ll go and get him right now, Katea…”

“I’ll come with you…”

“No, you stay here, I won’t be long…”

Hinewai ran all the way to the hotel. Nahera and her husband lived there. She was surprised that she managed to do so without stopping and gasping for breath – she hadn’t run since she realized she was pregnant, nor had she trained with the warriors, or galloped on her horse. She made a mental note to stop being so lazy, she and Kahu had been married for a whole full season now, Tama was two full moons old and had Tania, Reina, Tairi and Katea spoiling and fussing over him, it was time for the honeymoon to stop. It was time that she and Kahu return to horse riding, and warrior training. Especially if war was on the horizon, with an enemy that had superior weapons, called guns. The few Pakeha she knew all had them, for hunting, they’d said, or for protection. She made a mental note to enquire how to buy some. She’d never seen any at the few shops in their own village.

She sighed. She thought of how she and Kahu could not bear to be apart from each other since their wedding. She thought of the time when she told him that their unborn baby might have been fathered by Hauku, and how readily he had accepted that information. He said that he’d already had two sons with someone else, that it would not be fair to then expect her not to have known anyone else before him, either. To her surprise, he even admitted that he knew about her and Hauku back at Manaia, and had still wanted her to be his wife anyway. He said he had three sons, and no-one was going to know any different. And when she mentioned who he expected to be his heir, he had shrugged and answered simply, in a non-committal way that she would learn was her husband, that the future will take care of itself. He had not expected to be sent off to find a royal princess. He had not expected to find a royal princess that he wanted. He had not expected to break Hana’s heart. Or have Manaia’s head warrior for his rival. And after the mammoth peace treaty between two of the nation’s main mid-west and north-east tribes, he had not expected skirmishes to recommence between other tribes, let alone uprisings with the newcomers, the European, the first of which, known as the Nederland people, who had lived peacefully alongside the natives, called this land Neu Zealand after their existing Zealand in Europe, now changed by the English when they started arriving to their version of neu, New Zealand, but who are proving to be not as peaceful as the Nederland Europeans had been.

Hinewai paused at the doorway. Nahera, her husband, Tania, Raina and Tairi were sitting around a table – Nahera was holding Tama, and they were all making baby sounds to the child, and Tama seemed quite happy, from all the attention.

Hinewai felt silly for worrying. Nahera was the most instinctive and intuitive person she knew. She would never have married an awful man. As she approached the group, the man again, stood and bowed to her. And she curtsied. He asked if she’d like to join them, and if she’d like a drink.

She shook her head. “Thank you, but I’ve come to get Tama…it’s his feeding time…”

“You can feed him here,” Little Tairi, suggested, Tairi loved being surrounded by people. Which was good, Hinewai supposed, if she was to be ‘The One’, the people’s mother of the next half-God, the people’s hope for yet another more divine future.

Hinewai looked at the pretty little girl. Thinking of how Kahu thought of the most unexpected futures, she now also wondered if she was to take Tairi safely to her destiny, it all seemed so simple when she was a child, but now, after marrying the enemy, and uprisings up north, perhaps even war with – she glanced at Nahera’s husband, with a people who had superior weapons, she swallowed, and lifted her son into her arms. “Sorry, you know how Katea worries about him…”

Thankfully, the intuitive Nahera came to her rescue, and handed the child back to his mother. “Of course. You must all go home now, girls…thank you so much for visiting…”

On their way home, Tania and Reina said that they wanted to go to their boyfriends, and Tairi started yawning.

“Not before you put Tairi to bed,” Hinewai told them, and the girls, holding Tairi’s hands between them, started towards Tairi’s bedroom.

It wasn’t until Hinewai had placed Tama into Katea’s arms, that Katea ceased stressing. She kissed the baby all over his face until Tama smiled up at her. She sat on her raised chair, and Hinewai sat crossed legged on the floor, exposing her breasts for feeding. Katea passed the child to his mother.

Once feeding, Hinewai looked up at her mother-in-law. “You shouldn’t stress so, Katea, Tama is well loved, by everyone…”

Katea nodded. “I know, I know…”

Hinewai raised an eyebrow. “Except for…Amuri?”

Hinewai did not miss the slight quiver of Katea’s mouth. “I know that you know,” Hinewai continued, “that Kahu is not Tama’s real father…”

Katea took a deep breath, and was about to say something, when Amuri entered, and scowled at his wife, then looked at Hinewai. He sighed. “Alright, you have a right to know,” he started.

Hinewai was startled. She had thought that it was she who had to do the explaining.

Katea interrupted, “No!”

“Yes!” Amuri looked at Tama and sighed. “Hauku is…Katea’s son…”

Hinewai sighed, and nodded. “I already figured it out …Hauku and Kahu are brothers aren’t they?!?”

Katea nodded. Tears were streaming down her face again.

Amuri took her in his arms. “It’s my fault,” his voice broke, “my fault…I never should have…I never should have cast him out…”

Katea pushed him from her.

“Like you, Hinewai,” Amuri looked at his wife, “Katea was loved by another, before we married…I…I was not as understanding, as Kahu. I was jealous. I demanded she get rid of her baby…” he reached for Katea, but she moved out of his reach. Amuri turned back to Hinewai. “My mother was dying, and she warned me, predicted, that if I did not get rid of Katea’s son, he would…he would…it would be” Amuri looked at Tama, “it would be his son that would take over the reign, not mine…”

Hinewai held her son close. “But…how do you know Hauku is…I mean…for sure?”

“My son?” Katea looked at Hinewai, “his father had the exact same dark eyes and the fairest skin that I have ever seen, and the sleekest, shiniest, blackest hair…”

“Just like Hauku,” Hinewai looked at her son, “and…and Tama…”

“I could not keep my own child,” Katea continued, “so…I gave him to a servant…”

“But one day I saw him,” Amuri interrupted, “I saw the girl playing with him, I recognized those slanty eyes…”

“He was a full seasons old, by then,” continued Katea, “just starting to walk…I put him in a basket, and went out into the wild…but it was the most difficult thing that I’d ever had to do…I stumbled around blindly for days…wandered around the lake…towards the smoking mountains in the desert…as if they might be able to do something to help me…one rumbled…the ground moved…I fell…I dreamed…someone asked me what I was doing with a baby and a Tua…I don’t remember answering, but I must have, because he told me that he would look after my baby, that I should return home…when I awoke, my son was sitting on the sand silently watching me, and the Tua was sitting in another basket…I didn’t see the person anywhere, yet I felt as though I was surrounded by people…the mountain had stopped rumbling…all three had stopped smoking…and somehow I knew, somehow I knew, that he would be...looked after…”

“The Awhia…” Hinewai hadn’t realized that she’d spoken out loud.

“What?” Asked both parents in law together.

Hinewai shook her head. “It was before my time. All I know is, Hauku was taken to us, by the Awhia. Later, I found out how some people, people originally of my own tribe apparently, who preferred to live a more simple, natural life…have cleverly learned how to secretly survive in the desert, without anyone noticing them there…we didn’t trust them, the nomads of the desert, some even acted as…” she looked at Amuri, “your spies…” Amuri turned from her, did not admit or deny it. Hinewai turned back to Katea. “Obviously, they must have known who you were, and they wanted you to know that he was going to be looked after, and they had also obviously overheard you refer to the baby as…Hauku…”

Katea finally looked at her husband, “we haven’t heard, or seen him since, until…until he bought you here, to marry Kahu…”

Tama had gone to sleep on Hinewai’s breast. She groaned. “Ohhhh…the ironies of life…”

“He looks just like Hauku did, at that age…” Katea said, taking the child to burp and cuddle.

“And no matter what we try, right or wrong,” Amuri also looked at the babe, this time with acceptance instead of hatred, “it seems that we are destined to live out our destinies…Hauku’s son, Tama, as predicted, is Te Awara’s heir...”

Katea sighed and looked at her husband. “I suppose it’s time we tell Kahu, too…”

But the door opened, and a dismal Kahu walked in. “I heard, mother…”

“How much?” Katea asked.

“Enough, I heard enough, mother,” Kahu groaned, “my rival,” he looked at Hinewai, “is my older brother, and his son, is my heir…” and with that, he went back out of the door, slamming it as he left…

Hinewai tried to run after her distraught husband. Both Katea and Amuri stopped her.

“Leave him,” Amuri told her, “Arguing with you, will be of no purpose…”

Katea nodded. “We all have to come to terms with the prediction, he will too…”

Hinewai wanted to argue with them, that it took them years to accept their fate, but she sat back down on the floor. Kahu was different to his parents, in that he would never send a child to certain death in the desert…and she knew, that he had probably already accepted the knowledge, and he had…

Halfway to Hana’s house, he stopped, leaned against a tree, and took a deep breath. Getting comfort from his ex will not change anything, and that would only get Hana’s hopes up again. He could not do that to her. He went back to his parent’s place and sat down beside his wife. For a moment, everyone’s eyes were on the prince.

He fidgeted nervously, cleared his throat, then looked at his mother, who was still holding Tama. “I already knew, I saw the resemblance when Tama was born.” He lowered his head. He could not look at his parents right now. “Just hearing my parents talk about how they handled the situation with…my brother,” he cleared his throat again, “my half brother, made me angry.” He looked at his parents again, “I will not make the same mistake. Please give me my son, mother…”

She did. In silence.

The baby reached out, tried to touch his face. Kahu smiled. Katea and Amuri smiled. And finally, and with a sigh of relief, Hinewai smiled…

Someone else had been on his way to Hana’s house, when he noticed Kahu seemed to be also going there. He hid. He watched the prince stop, lean up against a tree, take a deep breath, and then returned from whence he’d come. Arnie came out of hiding, then knocked on Hana’s door.

Hana opened the door, and pulled him into her house, into her arms. Afterwards, they lay happily on her bed-mat together.

“Do you think Kahu knows about us?” He asked the girl.

“Who cares?” She answered flippantly, then noticed that Arnie was serious. “Pro-ba-bly,” she answered slowly, in English.

He propped himself up on an elbow. “Probably? I didn’t teach you that word…”

She laughed at him. “You think you’re the only one who gives me English lessons?”

He cocked his head. “I hope, so…”

She propped herself up on an elbow and faced him. “Really?” Another English word.

He sighed. “It’s my own fault,” he continued in English, “it’s my own fault…you Maori, you’re so naturally free…sex is not a sin with you people…”

“What?” She used another English word, then went back to Maori, “I don’t understand you…”

He cleared his throat, then sat up, and took her hand in his. “I’m going to ask permission to marry you…”

She sat up, and pulled her hand from his, blinking uncertainly. She glanced towards the drape dividers, where her sons slept. “But I…I belong to Kahu…”

“No, you don’t!” He didn’t say he’d seen Kahu on his way here, then also saw that the prince had changed his mind and left again. “And I…I can’t bare the thought of anyone else having you. When we English marry, our vows include being faithful to each other…”

She started to say something, but he shook his head to stop her and continued, “I love you, Hana…I always have…but yes, you belonged to Kahu, back then…but he has neglected you since he got married, hasn’t he?”

She shook her head, then nodded, and replied again, in English. “He has…he has for…for…get?” She shook her head and corrected herself, “for…forgotten me…”

He took her in his arms. He remembered when he baptized her, he thought that Kahu would no longer want her, but he did. He thought that teaching her the Christian ways, would make her chaste, and refuse Kahu’s advances, but that also failed. In fact, he himself, was failing, as a good, practicing Christian. Here he was, having just made love to a woman, and holding her in his arms. He hadn’t succeeded in baptizing as many natives as he’d hoped yet, he did try at first, he was sure he did, but living with them, the more he found out about them and their ways, the more he was realizing, that these people were not evil, they were loving, and sharing, and had no concept of lying, or stealing, and after recently reporting to Auckland, he could not help but realize that he would not be saving them from evil, he would be introducing them to it – he knew of lands being taken from some of the northern tribes, he knew of negotiating promises being broken by his own people, he knew that some of these people up north were being raped, tortured and hung or burned to death simply because they knew how various plants kept them healthy, and others, who refused to be baptized, were being sold into slavery – he was so sickened and disheartened by what his people were doing to these natural and trusting ones, that he also realized, that he hadn’t even prayed for a while – so instead of doing his job and turning the natives into civilized Christians, was he turning into a natural native, he reached out for Hana and as she let herself be held by him, he realized, yes, he was…

So, a few days later, after making sure it was alright with Kahu and the King and Queen, another Christian priest who had accompanied Arnie back to also live in the area, married Arnie and Hana, in the Bush Pub, with the hotel proprietor and Nahera, as their witnesses. Half of Arnie wanted to continue doing what was right, after all, Hana had been baptized, but half of him also knew that he was becoming more like a Maori and soon after, the newly married couple would be seen running around half naked, giggling and splashing through the natural hot pools with the natives; moreover, the other Priest also, soon after, married a Maori woman as well…

And it was because of reports of two priests who had became natives, instead of vice versa, that an English battalion with guns would be sent to raid the Te Arawa area, and several who survived were captured and taken to Auckland, with the intent to be sold as slaves, if they did not get baptized, so some ended up in Auckland, and others in England. Luckily, some Maori of the Waikato region warned them of the approaching army and Kahu, Hinewai, Reina, Tania, Tairi, Katea, Tama and a few others escaped from Te Arawa, just in time. Nahera chose to stay with her husband, and nothing was heard of her, ever again. Nor Hana, or her sons…

Amuri also chose to stay, believing that the Priests were the ones that their church were angry with and wanted, not the Maori, and he also, was never heard of again. No one knows what happened to the King who was famous for sending his son to find a Princess bride and as such, joined two enemy tribes into one, through marriage…

Making for the lake, smoke could still be seen behind them and Kahu, feeling guilty for leaving others who could not comprehend the seriousness of the situation, changed his mind, and returned to his village saying, he couldn’t leave any of his people behind – he had not been far enough away not to hear the sounds of the attack, but by the time he galloped into his town, it was all over – the carnage was devastating – some buildings were burning, and there were bodies strewn all over the place…

One of the few buildings that had escaped the destruction was the pub. The proprietor of the hotel approached him, fighting tears, “they took her Kahu, they took Nahera…”

“I thought they’d take the young, who could still work…”

“But…she’s still beautiful…people don’t realize how old she is…I didn’t realize how old she was…but by the time I did, I didn’t care, I have never loved any woman, the way I love her…”

Kahu got down from his horse. “And…my father?”

The proprietor swallowed. “Also taken…”

Kahu groaned. “I should have forced him to leave with us…he thought the church were only interested in rescuing their wayward priests from our way of life…”

The proprietor nodded. “They were bound and dragged behind horses…”

“What?”

“That’s not all, they took the other Pakeha people too, against their will, saying that they were rescuing them…”

Kahu blinked back tears. “And…and Hana?”

“I’m sorry Kahu, but she’s another pretty woman…and young…” the proprietor faltered…

“Her…our sons?”

“Both taken…”

Kahu tried to climb back onto his horse. The proprietor stopped him. “You can’t go after them, Kahu…their army is ten times the size yours was, at least,” with a hand, he pointed at Kahu’s warriors, many dead, a few nursing their injuries. “And there are many more where they came from, in Auckland – Auckland is huge, Kahu…you can even fit your entire village, in their main market place…”

Kahu blinked at what remained of their own few shops, which were burning to the ground.

“They have hundreds of horses,” the proprietor continued, and you have…about twenty? You’ve seen my gun, and rifle. They have thousands of those. Plus canons. …”

Kahu was about to ask what canons were exactly, but tried climbing his horse again instead.

The proprietor would not let him go. “They have been busy building other settlements, Kahu…Hamilton, north of Waikato, is already growing…” the proprietor shook his head. “And then there’s England, of course…”

Kahu had heard of the home country of the Pakeha. His mouth was quivering, but he could not speak. He looked helplessly at the proprietor.

“If this happened because of a couple of traitor priests,” the proprietor continued, “imagine what the mother country England would demand if there was a problem Maori prince…”

“Let me go…”

“Listen to me! You’ve heard of the half caste Jim Hakney? Whose father was English and his mother Maori? Who after witnessing how his mother’s tribe was slaughtered changed his name to the Maori equivalent Horieke and took revenge?”

Kahu looked at the proprietor, the proprietor went on, “although he was bought up attending the Pakeha church, and school, witnessing what happened to his mother’s tribe up north because they didn’t want to give up their land and beliefs to the Pakeha, like you, he wanted revenge…he was known as a great warrior, up north, so much so, that other tribes joined him…but their efforts were wasted…all for nothing…he lost his war, when other Maori defended the English, against him, Kahu. Up north, the Maori are embracing the Pakeha religion, the Pakeha God, and the Pakeha way of life…”

“Who are selling those who fight back as…slaves?”

“There are Maori in the Pakeha army too, now…you won’t only be fighting the Pakeha, you will be fighting the Maori as well…”

“I’ve done that before…”

“Which is why you must stay alive, Kahu…and protect your remaining son…”

Kahu buried his forehead into his horse’s neck. “Oh, yea…” he groaned, “my remaining son…”

“Rebuild your home and people. If peaceful, negotiations can be made for a combined English and Maori future on this land…”

Kahu looked at the proprietor helplessly, then swallowed. “How did you escape the attack?”

“I hid…”

“You hid?”

“We hid, Nahera and I…I have a cellar in the pub…”

“Cellar?”

“A belowground basement for cool storage…I pulled her with me, put a hand over her mouth, but she knocked me to the ground, and with my gun in one hand and my rifle in the other, ran to fight…”

“Oh…I guess you didn’t know about Manaian women…some fight alongside their men…Erena, and Riri, are famous female warriors of their seafaring Raro ancestors…and the first time I saw Hinewai, she was fighting a giant of a man, and won…”

The proprietor gasped. “But…she’s so small…”

Kahu nodded. “Yup… she uses speed, techniques, illusions,” Kahu almost smiled as he thought, but did not tell the proprietor, and…drugs…

The proprietor could see that Kahu still wanted to gallop after his attackers. He wanted to join him, try to save Nahera, but he knew it would be futile. He waved his hand indicating the carnage. “You don’t have many warriors left, Kahu…at least…gather some of the sub-tribes together perhaps, maybe even the Manaian, before…”

“That could take a while, our people will have been…sold…” he made as if to mount his horse again.

The proprietor took hold of the reins. “Kahu, stop! Listen to me! Your village is cleverly camouflaged among the steaming boiling slippery plateaus of the volatile quivering terrain here which alone, keeps enemies from searching the area. It was…you who found Arnie injured and bought him here to heal, and later, he bought a handful of others, shop owners and builders, including me, because he likes ale, here as well…no-one knows where you are, exactly…only another native could have found us, Kahu…it was Horieke who led this attack,,,Horieke who found us…and I have to admit…I was once in the army, when I was young…”

Kahu looked at the man beside him, he had always thought that the proprietor was young, not much older than him.

The proprietor continued, “but I have never seen a more terrifying warrior in all my army years, Kahu…almost as if…he had hatred for both his English, and Maori heritage…first, naturally, he felt he had to fight the injustices of the English, but when he was arrested for war crimes against the Pakeha, he was promised freedom if,” Arnie swallowed, “the half caste help ‘sniff out’ the Te Arawa for them…but…I saw him, Kahu…I don’t think that he even has to have a reason to fight anymore, not as a vengeful Maori, and not as a conquering European…he had the look of a…confused, crazed killer…”

“I suppose he would be,” Kahu blinked and shook his head, “being born of both bloods, how could he possibly choose a side?”

Kahu sat down on the ground, put his head in his hands, and groaned. “Sounds like the people up north are all mixed up…it was bound to happen, I suppose…” he looked fondly up at his horse, “I myself am still coming to terms with you English, and English things…”

The proprietor was relieved that Kahu was no longer trying to mount his horse. He wanted to go and get some ale for them both, but he was too scared to leave Kahu alone in case he rode off in pursuit of their attackers.

For a moment, Kahu watched his few remaining people carrying their dead away, attending to their injured, trying to put fires out, attempting to clean up. Then, as if he’d read the proprietor’s mind, without looking up at the man, he said, “I think…I think I could do with some of your ale, right now…”

The proprietor hesitated, Kahu looked up at him. “Don’t worry, I won’t go…”

The proprietor ran to his little pub, one of the only few buildings that still remained at that time in what would later be known as, Rotorua…

Soon after, the people that had left with Kahu returned. Well, most of them. Hinewai, Reina, Tania, Tairi, and their Beagle dog Pupuhi, did not…

Go to Chapter 7

SUNRISE