Huia Short Stories 11 Page A

family trees were mounted, and the entire wharenui was renamed. It was officially blessed by the elders six months after the cyclone, a memorial to the lost crew and their navigator and the chief. Nowadays for Taiki it embodied the lies and deceit he maintained to protect his people from the truth.
    Trying to shake the negativity from his mind, Taiki went to greet each of the twelve carvings. Slowly he ran his fingers over the patterns and designs, reciting the whakapapa of each under his breath. While his nose was pressed to the carving, he inhaled deeply and opened his heart, mind and third eye. Once he’d greeted them all, he sat with his back to the poutokomanawa, wrapped himself in his cloak, closed his eyes and let himself slip into the dream state, looking for answers.
    Still over at Te Kāinga, Haani had found herself a tranquil and shaded spot to sit and finish the fan she was weaving. She was on the dunes near Punariku, sitting with her back against a coconut palm, facing out into the centre of the lagoon, quietly watching the people around the marae. A short distance away, a group of adults had gathered on the beach, talking amongst themselves. The discussion was out of earshot, but was animated enough for her to know it was about last night. She chose to stay out. Even the children running around playing knew to keep their distance. One little boy, however, sprinted over to Haani, throwing himself down beside her, grabbing her arm.
    â€˜Kia orana, No’o,’ she said. ‘What are you doing? If you’re trying to help me weave, that’s not the best way.’
    He looked at her sideways, but then turned and looked down the beach at the group of adults.
    â€˜They’re going to be mean to you, but you’re too old so I’ll protect you.’
    Haani cast a brief glance at them and smiled.
    â€˜Well, you’re a brave young boy. Do you think you can beat them after just one training session of mau rākau?’
    â€˜I’m not scared!’ he said. ‘I’m going to be like Taiki one day. He’s not scared of anything and I’m not either. Shall I show you some of the moves I learnt today?’
    Before she could reply, No’o jumped up, ran off and came back with a long stick in his hands. He stood in the traditional stance directly in front of her and pointed it at the group. With his eyes open wide, he thrust his tongue out in defiance, and began jumping up and down from one leg to the other. Suddenly he began moving forward, twirling the stick in front of his body, ready to strike anyone that moved. By now he had everyone’s attention. Haani smiled, trying hard not to laugh.
    â€˜Come here boy,’ she said.
    He ignored her, so she threw sand at his legs and called him by name. Maintaining his gaze on the people down the beach, and with his stick gripped tightly across his body, he began moving backwards, but continued to thrust his tongue out in defiance.
    â€˜Sit down here boy. You’ll be a good warrior one day, but let me tell you some things about Taiki you don’t know.’
    â€˜What’s that?’ No’o asked, as he sat down.
    â€˜Well, I can see you know Taiki’s mastered the fighting arts of mau rākau, and if you keep up your training, you will too.’
    She put her fingers around his biceps and gave them a little squeeze.
    â€˜And you’re very strong too.’
    Happy someone had finally noticed, he clenched his jaw and flexed his biceps as hard as possible.
    â€˜I haven’t shown you my secret moves yet,’ he pointed out. ‘Do you want to see them?’
    â€˜Maybe someone will see and then they won’t be secret any more?’
    No’o looked over at the group, just in case.
    â€˜Do you know Taiki has an invisible weapon?’ said Haani.
    â€˜An invisible weapon! What is it?’
    Now she had his attention back, she reached over and tapped his forehead.
    â€˜It’s in