18

 

Ice tendrils

Rainy day

Let us sit for awhile

Passing words as we may

 

Let me bask in your smile

Feel the warmth of your eyes

I could love you in one thousand ways

You could need me in every way

 

But days come and seasons change

The roof needs painting

And the lawn needs a shave:

 

 

Finding Teri

Book Three

 Awakening Taniwha

 

22

 

Cousins

 

“Lordy lordly …What have we here?”

“You must be Teri Alamien….Manarak’s precious granddaughter.”

“Hine!...that is enough….girl you watch your mouth or so help you.”

“Arohamai Koro…..you are quite right….i don’t….”

 

“I see you came old man!”

“Of course niece…you know I had too.”

“Very well….were is Master Kaa?”

 

Suddenly realising he was missing from the group both Harry and Hine started back towards the exit.

 

“Leave it! ..... you two come back here….I am sure they will all be along presently…..Tama! …. You and that one go over there and open the gate….Hei Taniwha wishes to attend.”

 

“Nanny!”

“Is that you my Manu?”

“Ae…Ko Hau Manu Taku Ingoa.”

“Oh praise be Ngaa Atua…Hare Mai Kotiro…Hare Mai.”

 

It had only been three days since U.N Special Forces Captain Charles Stratton, Sister Hau Manu Te Rangi, Stephanie Blake, Gerhan Manarak and the UN Soldiers had entered into Kai Whero but within the mountains heart time had kept a different count. By the groups reckoning they had actually been gone for three years. During this time both Stratton and Manu had fallen in love with each other and conceived a child whom was birthed during their final assent from Kai Whero. Now as the group from the Crypt with camera crew in tow entered into the Taniwha lair much rejoicing was had for the Manarak family reunion. For the first time in a very very long time a clear line of descent from Aniwaniwa down to Alfred father of Gerhan the father of Teri whom is the mother of Teri Alamien-Manarak whom birthed Hau Manu the mother of the new born Mary Terina-Stratton were all gathered in one place.

 

“Niece!” bellowed Tama. “It is done…..the gate is open.”

“Very well…..come here….your cousin wishes a word.”

 

This was the last thing Tama had wanted to hear, but he knew his reality well. He had sensed her from the moment the crypt was opened. Cousin Teri Manarak was back and now he would have to uphold his end of the deal.

 

“Tama!”

“Tez….still looking fly cuzz.”

“Back at you bro…Alistair says hi…..he’s waiting.”

“Ae…Kapai cuzz.”

 

Turning to face his niece, Tama looked her straight in the eyes and gave a big warm smile then fixed his gaze upon Hau Manu with the warmest eyes and an even bigger smile. Without speaking he then walked straight up to them both kissing Teri first and then his Moko and finally his new Great Granddaughter. This was a beautiful moment as all the family hurt and anger of the past was finally released and the true healing was begun. Then with tears streaming down his face and still with no words Tama stepped forward into the Taniwha pool and turned back to face his family. Suddenly all the Manarak women began to wail as if they were all in Tangi mode while Aniwaniwa stepped forth with his greenstone Mere drawn. He approached Tama in a most dignified manner befitting two Rangatira and as soon as he was face to face with him, the two made Hongi then embraced as family. After a long embrace and amidst the continued Tangi from the woman, Aniwaniwa stepped back, nodded in recognition to Tama, then without any warning he struck him full force on the side of his head with the Mere caving his skull in and causing instant death.

 

As everybody watched the body of Tama descend deeper into the pool Hine seized the moment and drew her gun shooting Harry Walters in the back of his head while at the same time grabbing Aalia as a hostage. She then trained her gun upon Teri Alamien.

Finding Teri

Book Three

 Awakening Taniwha

 

21

Crypt

 

7.00pm

17-07-2050

 

As Aalia led the group back into Whare Kura Master Kaa, Watcher Rei and Watcher John quietly detached themselves from the group and made their way towards the crypt. Although the three had successfully detached unnoticed from the group Taania and her crew saw them and decided to follow.

 

“Camera rolling cuzz?”

“Cher boss….got it all.”

 

The crypt was pitch black as the film crew entered silently creeping across the entrance way. It was like stepping straight from the light into absolute darkness. Absolutely no light from the hallway penetrated into the crypt and it wasn’t until Master Kaa had reached his destination that a dim red glow began to light up the floor of the crypt.

 

As their eyes grew accustom to the dimness the four friends quietly found a hiding place behind the banister of the stairway leading down into the crypt.

 

No sooner had they settled into their position when from the far end of the crypt the grinding sound of stone sliding upon stone reverberated and as something heavy fell upon the ground with a loud crash, a bright penetrating shaft of light shot straight up into the air illuminating the entire crypt. The crypt was about four football fields long and approximately seven stories high. The entrance ran onto a giant balcony backed by a cliff face and overlooked the crypt which was at least three floors below them and at the opposite end of the complex.

 

“Boss….you gotta see this.”

 

Opening the viewing screen the four sat transfixed at the scene that was unfolding right before their eyes.

 

After performing several Karakia Master Kaa reached into the crypt and retrieved the Pumotomoto board belonging to Aniwaniwa. Watcher Rei then reached in and retrieved the sacred crystal Haa Oo Te Raa then Watcher John reached in and retrieved the Kite which contained the nine Taniwha stones. Standing behind Master Kaa the three then turned to face the balcony raising their Taonga up in offering whilst reciting Karakia.

 

Suddenly the shaft of light seemed to get sucked back down into the crypt and with a loud crack another shaft of intense golden light shot back up out of the crypt. Master Kaa and the others seemed unsurprised by this event and continued on with their ritual Karakia. To the sheer amazement of the four secret observers, human figures began to climb up and out of the crypt, each stopping to help the next climb out. It took only a matter of ten minutes but by the time Master Kaa and the watchers had finished their Karakia thirteen people and a baby child had exited the crypt and were now all looking straight at the film crew whom being so engrossed in watching the events unfolding in their camera viewer failed to realise that they were actually in plain sight of the strangers from the crypt.

17

 

From the long descent

We pause for rest

Three days relaxing

Before the main event

 

The time had come

For the fathers sons

To halter his journey

Raise the post of his love

 

Lay hold to the vine

Steady hands reach the shore

Strong vine

Vital vine

Vine ancient

 

Work hard my brothers

Hold fast with faith

He has love fore his children

And his wife he adores

 

She is cold now

And will get colder still

 

Daughters raise your voice

Bring even the angels long to weep

Let them whisper to our father

How we have missed his wisdom speech

 

Tell your sisters in the north

How their brothers in the south

Have prepared his kingdom well

Preserved his ancient lore of house

 

Heave away

Haul away

Turn the wheel of change

Ascend to that star on high

Fix the path

Name the house

Shift the stone forward: