Robin's Nest

Io speaks the truth…I think (No. 7)

2012-02-01T03:47:00.000-08:00

The continuing adventures of me and the Greek goddess Io who I met on a trip back to Australia. She has come for a purpose which is very difficult to determine.

Io my current companion in Australia was to all intents and purposes a Greek goddess who somehow had managed a flight from Athens to Australia without a ticket or passport. She had invaded and upset my ordered and normal (and dull life and was now trying to convince me she was on a special mission to try get the current population of the world to take the Greek gods seriously. I think that was the gist of her argument.

Willingly (although she was sexily persuasive) I let her take control of me in that we made love, but in her cunning way she arranged it so I could never remember the details afterwards only that I was desperate to have her again. Anyhow she told me that Zeus had caught wind or more likely was informed by the god of the winds Aeolus of a new belief in a god that was neither male nor female; that was the beginning and the end and had the ability to influence of the way people would be, think, exist and interact with each other and with the world.

I had already put two and two together and was just about to say that Zeus was just a little late to catch on. Was he so totally inebriated that he missed a special event 2000 years or more years ago, especially with Bethlehem and Jerusalem on his doorstep and Paul traipsing all over their territory? But then Io interrupted my thoughts and said that the god’s name was Io the same as hers!

Dumbfounded I was jolted into speechlessness while Io slowly explained what Zeus had found out from Aeolus. Aeolus tended to roam the whole planet without much restriction, blowing in and blowing out as it were. He tended to report anything of his travels when he felt like it, to Zeus and the others but nobody could hold him down. You can catch a chill but not the draft that made it, as it were.

Luckily, on one of the gods binge ups of which there were many in their current slack period since the fall of the Roman empire, Aeolus got so drunk that he spilt the beans about this god that he had heard about that was both positive and negative; was both passive and active as well as being eternal without forebears but was himself the precursor.

“Now you can see why I was summoned can’t you.” She said.

I nodded doubtfully. “But it can’t be you or what you can become as you have got a mother and father.”

Io nodded, “This Io is entirely different. Zeus reckons that if he can get him on side, the old belief in the pantheon of gods can be reborn. Unfortunately they also reckon because I have the same name I might be able to be the best go-between.”

”Just where do I come in?”

“Oh that is simple. You have got to help me find him…or her.”

“Why pick on the person that has the least chance of helping.”

“That’s simple. I was sent down to the temple of Hera with an oracle to check out all the visitors.”

“That must have been a long job. How long were you there?”

Io thought a bit then said “One hundred and fifty nine years.”

“You waited for me for one hundred and fifty nine years, even though I wasn’t born back then?”

Io nodded, “It was quite fun really. Most days were pretty slack so I would get the Oracle to come up with something about one of the visitors and I would implant an expectation of a future event in the person’s mind. We thought it was good game. Most visitors went away from the old temples strangely uplifted and inspired.”

“That sounds like propaganda but isn’t that against the rules?”

“What rules?” Io responded in amazement. I had forgotten that I was speaking to a goddess; of course there were no rules.

“So it was a bit of a disappointment for me to put an end to all that was it?”

“Oh no, I had strict instructions to make you happy.” She then took my hand and stroked it “I have, haven’t I? Because you have made me happy.” she said. “You aren’t quite my equal but you are pretty good…even though you are a mortal.”

“How do you expect me of all people to help you find this god that I have only just learned of from you?”

“Have you got an atlas?” she asked.

“I thought you had him, holding everything up.”

She laughed out loud grinning at me “That’s just what I love about you.” I found the atlas and opened it up. She immediately pointed to the Pacific Ocean. “Aeolus said something about a large body of water and a sprinkling of islands at the other end of the earth from Greece.”

With her hair streaming out over the pages and the beautiful musky scent of her body now invading my nostrils, all my reservations about this ridiculous quest faded from my mind and I was overtaken by a surge of desire for her body. This was precisely what she intended of course. The sparse clothing from her body slipped from her as she continued to study the map, revealing a glimpse of her thigh and a peek of her breast.

“I am tired now Io, it must be jet lag. Let’s discuss this in the morning. You can sleep in the single bedroom if you want.”

As you can see I really did try to act detached and sensible.

“No, that won’t work,” she said. I have strict instructions to protect and look after you.”

Remembering her being drunk and incapable that afternoon, I could see we were in for a roller coaster ride.

Ahuahu talks to Kamaka when fishing (No 36)

2012-01-25T12:18:00.000-08:00

The continuing story of Ahu and Ahuahu her husband in a Maori village in Aotearoa before European settlement of New Zealand.

Hatiti could not help but cry from happiness now that both Ahu and she were Ahuahu’s wives. Ahuahu on the other hand was very pleased too that both women cared for each other but he did not know what to say to them when they were all together in the morning after he had asked Hatiti to be his wife so he merely said he would go fishing with Kamaka and left the two women to talk.

He had to speak to Kamaka in any case to tell him that Hatiti, Kamaka’s daughter was his wife now and would be looked after by him. He had no reason for embarrassment but hoped that Kamaka would accept the situation with good grace.

He did not mention the arrangement until they were in the boat together and had cast their nets into the sea.

“Kamaka my friend, I have been asked to take Hatiti as my wife. I have agreed and Ahu gets on well with her. I hope it makes you happy that she will be looked after now that she has lost her first husband.”

Kamaka nodded as though uncommitted but added “I thought you had already taken her as your wife but had not told me.”

“I would not do that, Kamaka.”

“No, but all I knew was that Hatiti was always happy to be with Ahu. I am still ashamed that Hinewai her sister is no longer welcome in the village. I grieve for her despite the trouble she has caused. It is hard to think straight.”

“Do you know where she has gone?”

“She spoke not a word to me when she left. I do not think that she will remain long with Torangi. One day he will wake up and she will be gone.”

The two men were silent for some time, concentrating on their fishing then Kamaka called out to Ahuahu “May you and Hatiti have many boys…all fishermen, then I shall be happy. I am happy with your action.” He then turned away from Ahuahu and faced the wind so that his emotion would not show.

Later that evening Ahuahu was with Ahu and told her he had spoken to Kamaka and what he had said.

“You must sleep with Hatiti tonight and tell her what you have told me too. I am sure she will want you again.”

Ahuahu hung his head. “Why am I so weak? She is not yet fully mine Ahu. I have only held and stroked her then told her I was glad to have someone so beautiful to share my life with just as you told me to.”

Ahu held his face in her hands and lifted his head so that he should see her. “You show your love for me in so many ways Ahuahu. Now you have to honour that wish of Kamaka’s to have one daughter he can be proud of. Hatiti will not feel she is married to you unless she bears your children too.”

With that they hugged each other and Ahuahu gently kissed Ahu’s eyes and ears and breathed in the scent of her hair. They were interrupted by Hatiti returning with the children.

“Hatiti, I was speaking with your father today.” Said Ahuahu, “There is much I have to tell you. After you have fed the little ones we will go to your house to talk tonight.”

Hatiti nodded in response and Ahu smiled at her and nodded to her in turn.

Later that evening after the children were all asleep Ahuahu and Hatiti went to her house. They kneeled facing each other and he told her of his conversation with her father Kamaka. He then reached out and took her hand and placed in on his neck and in the near darkness he touched her face gently and ran his fingers over her body. She wriggled a little and removed all her clothing and reached out again to touch him. He in his turn leaned forward and placed his head between her full breasts and told her he could hear her heart beating. Gradually they lay down on the mat and he gently kissed every part of her body. She shook with desire for him and slowly she made him part of her and he in his turn made sure that they were finally but one person and that all other thoughts and fears of their relationship were banished from his mind. He loved the way she would continually touch and explore his body as he satisfied her. She let out one last gasp of passion but would not let her grip on him loosen as she hugged him tightly. He stroked her thighs and nuzzled into her neck as they slowly relaxed he could see her dimly in the moonlight breathing heavily but still not letting her grip on him lessen at all.

“Thank you Hatiti, you are so beautiful. How is it I have the two most beautiful women in Aotearoa to be my wives.”

“Ahu and I are much luckier; you came from over the ocean, so we have the most loving man in the world.”

Ahuahu continued to touch her tracing his fingers up and down her body until she said “I never believed that loving someone could be so wonderful. Even my first husband Kaihutu who I loved so much did not make me feel this way.”

“Hatiti, Kaihutu was Horowai’s father, she is too young to ever remember him but when she grows up you must tell her what a good man he was and how he loved both of you. I will always love and look after Horowai like my own daughter but she must know she has a different story to tell her children. He must not be shut out of your memory.”

“You are right and though I would rather you were with me every day for my own, I must be sensible and ask you to be with Ahu tomorrow night, but if you hear thunder that is not the gods grumbling but me.” Haititi paused and then said to him, “Touch me again before I have to feed Aotea.”

Io at the Star of Greece (No 6)

2012-01-25T11:33:00.000-08:00

The continuing adventures of me and the Greek goddess Io who I met on a trip back to Australia. She has come for a purpose which is very difficult to determine.

After our morning swim we drove further down the coast and stopped at the Star of Greece restaurant overlooking the sea at Port Willunga. I knew the history of the name but thought that taking Io my star of Greece to that restaurant would be appropriate.

It was fairly expensive but that was nothing compared with value added bonus of Io being my partner. I enjoyed the meal, the view and being able to talk to Io in this setting was great but every time I tried to home in on the purpose of the trip, the conversation seemed to turn away from that to more trivial things.

As I was driving I limited myself to just one glass of wine plus a lot of water. Io on the other hand like most Greek gods and semi gods freely imbibed and became quite bubbly towards the end of the meal.

“Just who was the real star of Greece” I asked after explaining that the restaurant and the road were named after a shipwreck just offshore a hundred years ago.

She looked at me in amazement, “Me of course!” She was swaying slightly.

“So the constellation of Taurus is really named for you then?”

She nodded, looking at me with her eyes clearly going out of focus.

“Fancy them naming that stupid lump of rock circling around Jupiter after me.” She slurred, her fingers twirled in the motion of that moon around the planet and in doing so she nearly fell off her chair. I shook my head at the waitress who asked if we would like another bottle of wine.

Io looked at me in surprise “But I haven’t finished drinking yet.” She then grinned the happy face of someone just about to pass out, so I quickly paid the bill and managed get her out of the restaurant looking like a couple of lumbering drunks and into the car without falling over.

“Let me tell you,” she started again wagging her finger at me. “I could drink with the best of them.”

“Dionysus?” I ventured.

“Could be, I don’t remember.” She said laughing stupidly.

With that and me buckling the seat belt around her, she started humming some tune that I could not place, an Arcadian air I suspect and by the time I was back on the main road, she was sleeping peacefully, albeit with her mouth open.

I got her back home safely and then had to drag her inside. I shut the front door as she slid slowly to the floor. My poor back wouldn’t allow me to pick her up. So I slowly dragged her into the single bedroom and just about got her into the bed there when she opened one eye, stared at me and then said “It was Poseidon…he can drink like a fish.” She laughed again noisily then passed out.

It was now late afternoon. Tired though I was I didn’t want to go to bed just yet. So made sure there was a glass of water by her bed and a bucket just in case gods also threw up after a binge and then went round to the local shops to do a bit of a stock up for essentials. I returned about half an hour later to find her still fast asleep so I sat in the lounge watching the TV with a glass of wine for myself now that I could and waited for an announcement on the international news segment of fleeing goddesses from Greece being searched for by Interpol. Luckily there was none. It felt almost normal as I listened to the sports results and the weather for tomorrow.

Either I had been conned by the most devious bitch imaginable or there in the other room was a beautiful but frightened ancient Greek goddess who really needed my help, but why couldn’t she tell me?

The weather girl said it was getting warmer. So I then surfed the channels for possible entertainment for a couple of hours. I found David Attenborough looking a lot younger. A political commentator spouting nonsense, two raving or was it raging pop bands and a boring game show intended to embarrass the contestants, clearly I was spoilt for choice unless I had money to burn and needed a dubious hair restorer or my windows soundproofed. I wondered whether the children’s programs were still on which might be a better bet. I was just about to turn the infernal machine off and find a book when the door opened and Io poked her head round the door.

“I am not a devious bitch Robin. A devious goddess, yes, even a devious heifer I would accept, but not a bitch.”

“Must you read my mind?” She thought about that question for a few seconds then nodded.

“We have got to talk, Io. You have made me love you. That’s great, it is a lot of fun but unless you tell me what is going on I am not going to play your game anymore.”

She came over and plonked herself in my lap. There was no sign that she had consumed two bottles of wine all by herself and been all but incapable a few hours ago. Her breath smelled as sweet as…well, mouthwash. Perhaps she had been to the bathroom.

“The reason I am here,” she said getting comfortable for the usual long rambling explanation from seers, oracles (and presumably gods too of the period), “Is that we have got some important information.”

“We?” I asked. She nodded and then pointed to the heavens as though identifying each of the gods she was thinking about.

Ahu and Hatiti talk about plants (No 35)

2012-01-19T00:26:00.000-08:00

The continuing story of Ahu and Ahuahu her husband in a Maori village in Aotearoa before European settlement of New Zealand.

Although Hatiti’s house was now complete both she and her baby Horowai slept most nights with Ahu‘s family as she was now breast feeding Ahu’s baby Aotea as well has her own little girl..

Hatiti remembered the day that she, Ahu and the younger children had been walking on the beach gathering shellfish and any unwary crabs that scuttled under their feet as they wandered along talking and laughing. As they sat to feed their babies Ahu uttered little cries of pain as Aotea tried to take his fill. He was always hungry and cried a lot as he had not had enough. Ahu‘s milk was drying up and she did not feel well.

“Hatiti, you are still feeding Horowai, is it possible you could top up Aotea for me if you have some to spare? Aotea is grizzling again and I feed him but he is not happy.”

They exchanged babies whilst Hekehoru watched them. Aotea was unhappy at first with the change but soon settled and was tucking in as Ahu placed Horowai down on the sand with Hekehoru and continued to talk to Aotea and stroked both the baby’s and Hatiti’s cheeks as the baby fed.

The two little girls, Horowai and Hekehoru went back to playing with shells on the beach unconcerned.

“Thank you Hatiti.” Ahu said when Aotea was handed back to her. “But I must try to keep feeding him; otherwise another baby will come along too soon.”

“Did not the leaves of the Horopipo plant help you?”

Ahu shook her head, “I do not think I am producing enough milk for him and he chews a lot, it is very painful.”

“I will always feed him Ahu, but won’t Ahuahu mind?”

“Well he cannot help, can he?” She said with a sad smile. “We must also look for the Poroporo plant, the one with purple leaves and flowers that will make a drink to help to prevent me becoming pregnant again if I am not breast feeding.”

“How do you know all these things, Ahu?”

“I listen and I remember. For years I was a nobody, an orphan, living with my aunts, they hardly noticed me and certainly did not care for me. But I listened and I remembered all that they spoke about. I determined if ever I should marry and have children I would love my husband and my children and whoever showed me kindness. That is why I love you.”

Hatiti nodded and smiled back at Ahu in satisfaction.

It was a few days later that Hinewai disgraced herself and both she and her husband Torangi were banished from the village after the disturbance they caused.

The village head man spoke to Ahuahu, Ahu’s husband privately.

“Ahuahu, it is said you are looking after Hatiti, Hinewai’s sister. Is she to be your wife also?”

“My wife Ahu wishes that she should live with us now that Hatiti’s husband has died. No, she is not my wife as well.”

“Then do you not think perhaps we should find a husband for her.”

Ahuahu shook his head, “No, I have promised both of them that I will look after Hatiti.”

The head man laughed, “She is already your wife then. Most of the men on the village council have two wives, this is good thing. You should tell Kamaka her father, so that he need not worry for this daughter as well.”

Ahuahu shook his head. “Hatiti is not unchaste. She still grieves for her dead husband. She feels safe and happy to live with us.” Replied Ahuahu.

“You must make her even happier then.” Laughed the head man and slapped Ahuahu on the arm.

“I will discuss it with Ahu and Kamaka” said Ahuahu. He thanked the chief for his advice and returned home not having revealed that Ahu herself had already made these plans.

The two women were in the house when he returned.

“Hatiti, would you go and check your house while I talk to Ahu?” Hatiti looked a little worried as she glanced at Ahu but did as she was asked.

“The head man considers that Hatiti should be my wife also, Ahu.”

Ahu nodded smiling, “This is a good idea, she will be a great help for me. Go and ask her. She may need persuading, so be gentle with her and show her that you will be a kind husband to us both. So take your time.”

“Ahu, it is you that wanted this.”

“Have you not noticed she has fed Aotea ever since he was sickly, as he could not get enough milk from me? He is thriving again now. Start by thanking her for that; then tell her she is beautiful. You do think she is beautiful don’t you?”

“But not as beautiful as you.”

“No, do not tell her that. Go on, you are on the village council and are expected to have more than one wife. I chose Hatiti because she is so much like me. We will not argue. Quickly, go to her now or else she will think that you do not want her living with us.”

A little while later Ahuahu brought Hatiti back to their house. Hatiti was crying. “Did our husband beat you” asked Ahu smiling.

Laughing and wiping the tears from her eyes Hatiti shook her head “No, that is not possible he loves us both so much.”

Note. Multiple wives were fairly common in Aotearoa (New Zealand) before white settlement.

Io goes for a swim (5)

2012-01-18T11:42:00.000-08:00

The continuing adventures of me and a Greek goddess

I phoned the kids, told them I was home.” Worn out but recovering” I sort of lied. When asked about my guest, I promised they would meet her soon as soon as our body clocks were back to normal. Based on our recent performance, that would not be for some time. So the very next day with the sun behaving itself with temperatures still in the 90’s rather than the scorching 100’s I suggested we go down to the beach. I put the beach bag in the car with the towels and slipped my bathers on with a mortals usual disdain to having to explain to a goddess such things as the need for a one piece costume or bikini at the beach. I just thought she would work it out like her breezing through immigration and customs the other day.

We could have walked to the beach but I wanted to go a little further down to avoid the cafes and life guard patrols. So we settled ourselves under the rocks facing west with a wide expanse of beach before us and the sea barely rippling a tide with mini breakers that suited me down to the ground. I stripped off my tee shirt, stood up and started to walk toward the water to test its temperature. I heard Io come running after me and turned to see her happily skipping on the sand without a stitch on. I looked at her in horror. Rushed back to our things grabbed a towel and raced back to wrap it round her. I tied it just above her breasts and got her to sit down at the water’s edge while I explained that naiad or not, everyone had to wear a bathing costume on this beach. She looked at me in puzzlement as I led her back to our things. “It is my fault Io. But here there are places where you can bathe naked and others where you cannot. I thought you might guess you needed a bathing costume. Sorry, but we will go and get one for you this afternoon.”

She thought about this for a bit with a sad face. “Is there nowhere I can bathe naked?”

I finally agreed there was a nudist beach about 35 miles from there. She looked at me quizzically “How far is that?” I tried to remember ancient Greek distances. ”In stadiums, I mean stadia?” She nodded. Was a stadium a furlong? If it was, that would make it between 250 to 300 stadia. I suddenly stopped my calculations. It just didn’t matter.

“We will drive down there now. It is not 300 stadia so it should take an hour.”

She seemed very pleased. I think she liked driving in my chariot. So we drove down through all the southern beach suburbs of Adelaide with the sea on our right. When we got to Maslins Beach I had to decide whether we would park at the top of the cliff and walk downhill to the nudist beach or park at the lower car park by the conventional clothed beach and walk along. I chose the lower one because at my age I didn’t relish clambering down the cliff then back up again afterwards. So we parked the car and took some beach towels, bottles of water and some snacks and walked along under the cliffs until we passed the signs warning us we were entering an unclad bathing area.

It was deserted on this early midweek morning. We found a place to make camp and look out to sea. There was more movement in the water and a slight breeze here but Io stripped off regardless and ran towards the surf. She was beautiful to watch, so natural in the water, unafraid, splashing and diving with all the freedom of a fur seal that occasionally can be seen in these waters. So I too stripped down and took my pale freak like body down to the water’s edge and waded tentatively in with her. The delight on her face was a joy to see. She was in her element. Once or twice she came up to me gave me a hug and then went off again splashing and diving in the water, disappearing from view only to emerge far away from where she went in. She came back often, realising that I was not a strong swimmer to tell of what she could see in the water. She told of a ray skimming on the bed of the ocean, of the shoals of whiting feeding in the sea grasses, of the scuttling crabs and the solitary shark just cruising by; contented but not hungry she said. Apparently it was that he just had to keep moving or else he would drown. When she finally emerged she wore a garland of seaweed and carried an empty shell which she held in her hand. “Listen to what I heard down there” she said” and she placed it to my ear as if I would receive a telephone call from Poseidon himself.

I ran back to get a towel for her which she spurned. Instead she danced on the sand drying herself in the sun and I watched entranced as she ran up and down in front of me with her arms stretched out. Then she would spin around with her hair all streaming about with such a beautiful look of ecstasy on her face. Eventually she slowed down and allowed me to lead her back to our spot under the cliff face. She glowed with such satisfaction and exhilaration that she proved quite clearly that she was a true naiad, but best of all she was all mine. She accepted a bottle of water and we both drank looking into each others eyes. Hers were laughing and mine…well I couldn’t see them but I think I may have been crying to have such beauty belong to me…for now. I patted her hair dry with a towel and removed the tiny slivers of shells and sea grasses from her body secretly touching her flawless skin in admiration.

There were a few more people coming on to the beach now and jealous of having to share that beauty I suggested we leave and find somewhere to have lunch. She agreed readily and after the long walk along the beach to the car, stopped before the warning sign to don our clothes again. The car was so hot that I opened all the windows then turned the engine on and got the air conditioner going gradually closing each window as the heat was excluded. Io didn’t seem to notice this but found instead the mirror above her visor and looked with interest at herself; brushing the remaining grains of sand from herself onto the floor.

“What?” She said as I checked her seat belt and stole a kiss as I did so. The kiss was returned with enthusiasm but the query clearly meant she was reading my mind.

“Just where are you taking me, Io?”

“You are taking me to lunch. Perhaps we can talk then.”

Torangi and Hinewai (Ahu No 34)

2012-01-14T13:32:00.000-08:00

The continuing story of Ahu and Ahuahu her husband in a Maori village in Aotearoa before European settlement of New Zealand.

Once again Hinewai, Hatiti’s sister was the cause of great strife in the village of Black Sands. Hinewai’s husband Torangi had caught her with a youth from the village and had knocked out some of the boys teeth, broken his arm and left him unconscious. All the while Hinewai was crying and screaming so much that no one was spared the knowledge of her shame and unfaithfulness.

Torangi took Hinewai back to their home but did not shout at her or touch her in anyway. “Go and wash and we will eat later” he said to her. Despite this Hinewai was furious.

“You are not a man who a woman can look up to” she said.

“When I took you in marriage after your first husband beat you so badly I vowed that I would never punish you in that way.” Torangi answered.

“No you punish me by being old and uninteresting. You are a dull old man. I loathe you” screamed Hinewai.

If fact she screamed so loudly that not many in the village slept much that night with the amount of abuse as Hinewai vented her fury at being caught with a lover.

Hatiti spoke to Ahu the following morning.

“I am ashamed of what happened last night Ahu.”

“I am your sister now Hatiti. You belong to our family now. You feed Aotea for me and we do everything together. You do not have to bear Hinewai’s shame.”

The two women hugged and rubbed noses as Hatiti cried with relief and happiness.

Ahuahu was summoned to attend a meeting of the village council. Among the many things they discussed was Hinewai and the disruption of her behaviour on the village. Ahuahu listened to members of the village council discuss the problem and found it hard to contribute to the discussion. Eventually the village head spoke to him.

“You have not said much Ahuahu. You fish with Kamaka and know the family well. What do you say?”

“Hinewai has been hurt in her life and we should bear that in mind but perhaps we could persuade Torangi to find somewhere else to live. This would be better than to punish him for being persuaded to look after her.”

“Are you saying we should banish them from the village?”

“She is dividing the village; she is making wives and parents unhappy. She is not discreet in her affairs. Her husband loves her and does not beat her, he does not deserve her. It is hard for him but perhaps we should tell him they are no longer of our Pori.” Ahuahu responded.

“You have spoken well, Ahuahu. She is upsetting too many in the village, they should be split from our tribe. Neither Torangi or Hinewai will be punished other than by banishment from the village.”

The discussion continued for some time but they all agreed. The Village head indicated that he would speak to Torangi to advise him of the decision.

Ahuahu returned home sadly. His friend Kamaka had tried so hard to rescue his daughter Hinewai from her first abusive husband, now he would lose her forever.

Ahu and Hatiti were in their house together with the all children when he returned. As he came in Hatiti made to get up to return to her own house.

“Stay, Hatiti. You are part of our family now and need never leave.”

After they had eaten their meal and got all the children asleep, Ahuahu told the two women of the decision of the Village council. Ahu’s face was pale with shock and Hatiti cried openly sobbing with grief for her sister Hinewai.

Later Ahu said to Ahuahu, “You must comb the hair of both of us tonight. Hatiti is feeding our baby Aotea so we must give her something in return.”

“If I do you must not leave me alone with her.” Ahuahu said and Ahu nodded in agreement.

Pori - People

Io arrives in Australia (No 4)

2012-01-11T03:05:00.000-08:00

The continuing adventures of me and the Greek goddess Io

Io (AKA Violet S Inarchus) and I landed in Adelaide quite early in the morning. It didn’t feel early for us we had breakfasted at some ungodly hour so that the aircraft would be ready for the next leg of its flight with the minimum of inconvenience to the flight crews but for the maximum discomfort for the alighting passengers.

We skipped the duty free shop, trundled into immigration and customs. Well I trundled with my case but Io nonchalantly fronted the necessary counters and interviews with just her large red handbag. I didn’t dare guess what it contained nor if it would pass the x-ray scanner. I was a coward I just wasn’t with her at times like this. I had a nasty feeling that she would turn to me for help when it was discovered she didn’t even have a passport or entry permit…well one that I could see.

I had my own problems though being grilled as to whether I had visited a farm in the UK and played with animals with mad cow disease. They even wanted to know why I visited Greece. I felt like saying “Well I had always fancied an affair with a sexy naiad all moist and naked from the stream and luckily I found one and look there she is over there.” Luckily I kept to the standard spiel about ancient temples and trying out my Greek. Unluckily the woman on the counter was of Greek origin and came out with some unintelligible gabble. I stuttered a geis sas and eycharisto and moved on quickly.

Not unexpectedly Io had already got through to the arrival hall before me. As she stood there smiling I felt that it was she that was welcoming me to Adelaide rather than the other way round.

As I wheeled my case to the exit and we queued up for a taxi, we were welcomed by the dry air of Adelaide and a clear blue sky. It was already quite warm so early in the morning as we shuffled along in the queue to grab a taxi. Our driver who on hearing my address; nodded in comprehension and then we drove out of the arrivals bay. Io was very observant. She looked at the photo ID of the Indian driver and would no doubt have started a conversation with him about the mogul emperors had I not jumped in first and asked him how the cricket was going. Luckily that was the right subject and after receiving a shayakking about how weak the Aussies were we then had to endure his effusive praises for Tendulkar and the rest of the Indian team. At least we didn’t get an in depth conversation about Macedonia versus the world with Alexander the Great from Mrs. Inarchus.

Io poked me in the ribs but kept a slightly sullen silence until we got to my house. As I let us in she changed immediately and delightedly started to discover all the rooms. I put on the air conditioning to suck out the stale air, did a quick check of all the rooms then took my case to the bedroom. Io was already stretched out on the bed.

“Is this where we will sleep?

“No I have a fish pond you can use. Trust me, you will be more comfortable there won’t you, being a Naiad?”

She jumped up off the bed wrapped her arms around me, “I do love the way you talk to me. You are not frightened of me. You make me laugh.”

She then dragged me down onto the bed with her and started shedding her clothes, which were few.

“Io, you may still be that young heifer that Zeus wanted so much but remember I am an old mortal.”

Her skin so flawless and beautiful, her body so youthful and eager and her breath as sweet as honey she leaned over me and as she blew on my face it made me relaxed and comfortable and filled me with an overwhelming desire that I have never felt before. She seemed to change before me her breasts swelled and her skin took on a bronzy glow and without being conscious of removing any part of my clothing I was suddenly as one with her naked, melting into her and she into me. In my semi conscious state I felt that the whole of me had united with her. As she had read my mind so I now I read hers, her story, her needs and her fears. And in this united being I experienced her long life, from childhood to womanhood and beyond. I too now feared Hera’s brutal retribution for being a victim of Zeus’s lust. I too battled waves like Leander as I swam the Hellespont but I was not I swimming to Hero but to Io who skilled Naiad that she was, scooped me up and saved me with her love from the stormy seas.

I don’t know I long I had been asleep but when I was woken by the telephone ringing insistently I glanced over to see Io also lying by my side. We were both still naked. The phone had stopped ringing but the answering machine would pick up any messages. Io was relaxed with her eyes closed, asleep as I had been, I expect. She was so beautiful. Carefully I leaned over and kissed her tummy and then added a few more kisses as I made my way up her body over her breasts, her neck, then her chin and finally with a most gentle kiss on her lips.

“I am not asleep, so don’t stop.”

“Stop? I was only just beginning. So you have put me in your life story then? I think we have got some planning to do. But first let’s sort out my luggage and get the washing machine on. I need a cup of tea too.”

As I hopped out of bed I could feel her eyes on me. My case had disappeared. As I looked out the Laundry window I could see washing already on the line. I sighed a deep sigh, went back to the bedroom only to see a cup of tea waiting for me.

“I know you are old enough to be my mother,” I said to her as she lay there on the bed, “but please stop mothering me.” She cocked her head to one side then patted the bed with her hand.

Normal

2012-01-08T14:07:00.000-08:00

I had another visit from my friend the other day. You know the one that just after you have switched the light out after reading a chapter of your favourite author or perhaps even supping a little too much of your chosen tipple you sense their presence in the room.

He has been before, just sizing me up as it were. Luckily he hadn’t yet sucked the soul out of me and whisked me away to God knows where. He has merely checked me out and reminded me again of my mortality, which so many of us fail to comprehend.

He hadn’t said a word. So I started the conversation.

“Are you going to let me finish this book?”

He laughed in reply.

“Isn’t it normal to catch me unawares? Aren’t you supposed wield that scythe and toss me in that boat to cross the river Styx hopefully with a dollar in my pocket?”

He shook his hidden hooded head.

“Things are a bit slack after the busy Holiday season when things return to normal so I thought I would visit a few friends.”

“I am honoured Death. But I am sure you have another cunning reason for disturbing my sleep”.

He sighed and sat on the edge of the bed leaning his scythe up against the wall. I most have shown my concern at this as he then said. “It won’t scratch the paint, it is not really there”.

He just sat there and didn’t say a word. So I had to start the conversation.

“Why don’t you tell me what is troubling you?” I reached out and held his hand.

Now here is a funny thing, as I patted those bony digits I suddenly realised that it was not a man I was speaking to but a woman. Not only was it a much smaller hand than mine it was the feminine sigh of longing as I did so.

“It’s alright”, I crooned to her, “I understand. Woman is the one that brings forth life and you are the one that has to take it back afterwards”.

Now it was lucky that it was pitch dark as we talked on that January night, as I wasn’t able to see her cry. That wouldn’t have been normal would it?

Io the traveller (No 3)

2012-01-03T21:58:00.000-08:00

The continuing adventure of me and a Greek goddess

We flew into Kuala Lumpur airport, which as you may know is quite a few miles from the city. Airports are airports and I had no desire to traipse around all those shops yet again so I told Io I was going up to the Business Class lounge and did she want to meet me there later?

“How far are you going?” I asked meaning the flight as we hadn’t discussed our destinations. She didn’t answer but asked me in turn where I was going.

“Adelaide” I replied.

She beamed. “So am I.”

I didn’t believe her. “Show me you ticket then.”

She pouted, “Don’t be cross. I haven’t got a ticket.”

“Nor a passport either, I expect. You just make them think you have, don’t you?” I sighed deeply. “How do you do it? Who do you think you are, Cleopatra or someone just lauding it over everyone?”

She raised her eyebrows, “Well a little better than her. Haven’t you heard of Isis?”

“Oh no, I thought that was some story the Egyptians made up to account for you swimming in the sea from the Bosphorus through the Mediterranean to the Nile all to escape Hera tormenting you with gadflies.” At this point I held her arm and examined it for insect bites.”

“Well I am a good swimmer. And the gadflies? I found this really good spray I think it is made in Australia, called Stingose.”

“You know couldn’t get Stingose back then. Why do you make my brain ache Io?”

She suddenly looked worried, came up to me and put her hand on my forehead.

”Is that better?”

“Of course it is better. You have bewitched me haven’t you? I can just see my kids meeting me off the plane in Adelaide with a teenage girl alongside holding my hand. Why did you pick on me Io?”

“You’re the only one that understands.” With that she gave me a hug so we skipped the shops and headed for the lounge together.

We settled into some easy chairs and I said I was going to have a shower.

“We could bathe together” she suggested.

I shook my head. “That is naughty and forbidden. This is Muslim country. The facilities are strictly segregated. If you want a shower I will look after the carry-ons and have my shower later.”

She nodded and flounced off to the back of the lounge where had I directed her. For the last 15 hours or so I had been in her company and just those few minutes apart were now an agony. What had she done to me? I looked out of the window onto the airport tarmac the sun was at its zenith and I could imagine how hot and steamy it was out there as we were just above the equator. After the exhilaration of being with her I now felt dead tired.

She came back all fresh and dewy. Mind you she was like that when she left. Being a minor goddess clearly has an advantage over us mortals. After my shower we sat and talked about what would happen when we got to Adelaide while I tried to determine the real purpose of her trip.

She assumed I would provide a bed for her. Luckily I had a spare room and the neighbours weren’t nosy. It would be slightly different though with my three grown up children all with families of their own. What tactic could I use with them?

“I should have told them you were coming” I said to Io a few hours later as we stood waiting to board the last leg flight to Adelaide.

“Can’t you send them a message?”

I am glad she didn’t suggest sending Hermes. So I texted the same message to them all, Met my cousin’s daughter at KL, said she could stay with me in Oz for a while, Dad x.

As you can see I am not an expert at texting but it seemed OK. As I showed my boarding pass and Io did whatever she did while I disowned her for a minute, I quickly turned my mobile off, before any questions started to hit the ether from Australia.

Once we had settled in again on this new flight, I tried to think practicalities. Should Io’s name be changed? What was her real purpose in fleeing Greece? Is she just a tourist and does she need a temporary entry permit? I was worrying unduly of course; she was the one with the problem of getting through customs. My worry was how I could resist ripping all her clothes off and making her mine the moment we stepped inside my front door.

At that moment Io caught up with me gave me a wink and said “I’ve changed my name”

I raised my eyebrows.

“It’s Violet S. Inarchus. I am Greek and on a holiday to see friends and relatives in Melbourne. That’s near you isn’t it?”

“Well that is better than saying you have an Arcadian passport,” I grinned. “I love the idea of little Io hiding in a bunch of sweet scented violets. Oh and by the way Melbourne is about 500 miles from Adelaide.”

“Well perhaps I won’t meet up with them after all.”

“So how do I explain to my family that you have a Greek name.”

“Well I am married aren’t I?”

“I have the measure of you Io. Inarchus is not your father’s name, his was Inachus. Inarchus was one of the first kings of Greece thousands of years ago. What you have done is put a little r for Robin in your father’s name. I am flattered.”

“Oh that was just a little test” she said, “You came through with flying colours.” As she said that she let her forefinger just tap me gently on the nose.

I sat in my seat and wondered how soon the drinks trolley would come round I really needed one.

Ahu and Hatiti test Ahuahu (No 33)

2012-01-01T12:34:00.000-08:00

Hatiti came to stay with Ahu as the time for the delivery of her baby came near.

Ahu’s little girl Hekehoru was excited that Horowai, Hatiti’s baby daughter should be staying with them too. She could have a real baby sister to look after as well as the wooden dolls that her father Ahuahu had made for her.

Ahuahu said very little except to show surprise she did not stay with Kamaka her father and Hoata his second wife.

Ahu said “I asked her first. She is happy to the leave the Hot Springs as it has bad memories for her now she on her own.”

“Next we will be building a house for her in the village.”

“If she wishes it I am sure you and her father Kamaka can build her one. There is room near us.” Ahu replied and Ahuahu huffed in exasperation.

“Yes that is a good idea, Ahuahu.” Ahu went on, “That way she won’t actually be living with us for long.”

Ahuahu thought about this and decided he would speak to Kamaka. He was still confused though as he felt that he had somehow suggested something that he didn’t mean to say. He knew that Hatiti was dear to Ahu but he also remembered how proud he was to have rescued Hatiti nearly two years ago now when she was lost after the Tsunami. He also remembered how much she had clung to him in her nakedness as he brought her out of the forest and how even now he thought how beautiful she had been and how much she had trusted him.

“Ahu…” He began, but couldn’t say the words. She looked at him trying to read what he wanted to say.

“Go and talk to Kamaka, husband. He may wish to discuss it with you.”

So Ahuahu wandered over to Kamaka’s house to talk to him. Hatiti meanwhile had heard Ahu and Ahuahu talking while she was feeding her baby Horowai but did not intrude. She wanted to live back in the village again to be close to Ahu. Ahu would be able to make her laugh again after the death of her husband. They would comb each others hair and be like sisters. Ahu had told her that if Ahuahu wanted another wife she would ask him to pick her; someone that Ahu could get along with. As she was thinking about this Ahu came back inside the hut.

”Hatiti, I think my baby is coming. I will have to walk down to the special place for women to give birth. Could you let Hoata and the other women who will help know I am walking down there now.” With that she led Hekehoru to Hatiti. ”Please look after the children for me. Tangaroa is playing with the other boys.”

With that she turned and walked steadily out of the house and across the village to the woods nearby. Hatiti gathered up the children and quickly went to find Hoata.

Ahuahu and Kamaka were sitting outside Hoata’s house and Hatiti told them that the new baby was coming. Ahuahu started to get up but Hatiti said to him, “No sit, Ahuahu. You do not have to be present every time.”

Kamaka looked at Ahuahu quizzically, but said nothing as he did not know that Ahuahu had been at the birth of Hekehoru two years before. Hoata heard them talking and came out to see Hatiti.

“I am glad you are coming back to live in the village Hatiti. Your father and Ahuahu will build you a fine house.” With that she listened to Hatiti who told her of Ahu starting to have the baby so Hoata went straight away to fetch the other women to help.

Ahuahu walked back to his house with Hekehoru and Hatiti who was carrying her baby Horowai.

“Ahu seems to want you part of the family, Hatiti. You will feel safer back here with all those that you love. Kamaka and I will start building your house soon.”

“You and Ahu have shown how much you care for me especially since Kaihutu my husband died. We two are always being pushed together by events. Now Ahu wishes it, yet I do not want to hurt either of you by me being so close to you again.”

“Hatiti you are a woman, I do not understand how a woman like Ahu thinks. Does she want me to look at you?”

Hatiti shook her head. “I wish you had not asked me this Ahuahu. But I think that she wants to make sure if anything happens to her that you will look on someone she is close to and can trust to love and care for her children and you as much as she does.”

“She has spoken to you?”

“When the cold wind blows you wrap your cloak around you tightly.” said Hatiti cryptically. “Ahu said that she would like me to be that cloak to look after you and the children should anything happen to her.”

Ahuahu was silent for some time. Then he said “We will not talk of this again, but I will just say that I will be saddened if you have other men look on you to be their wife…for my children’s sake, of course.”

Hatiti smiled shyly “Thank you Ahuahu. I will do anything for Ahu. But for the moment I will prepare a meal for you and the children.”

Ahu’s new baby was born quickly. It was another boy and she was soon back home again, tired but happy. Tangaroa was happy too as he now had a baby brother. Ahuahu wanted to call him Aotea to show where he had come from and Ahu liked the name.

Meanwhile Hatiti settled in close to her new family and was very happy knowing that they all loved her. No one spoke again of their agreement.

Aotea – Boys name from the boat that brought the first settlers from Hawaii to New Zealand (Aotearoa) many years ago.

Io and my first night together (No 2)

2011-12-28T02:39:00.000-08:00

Every now and then Io and I would appear to be normal passengers on the plane. She would choose her food, select her drinks and accept the little free travel pack of toiletries that the airlines thought made up for the fact you were paying three times the price for your seat compared with that of a cattle class seat.

Some of my jokes with Io did not go down well. You may need reminding that Io was a naiad or daughter of the springs; actually she was the daughter of the river god Inachus. So her life was to inhabit the rivers and streams and either to frighten the hell out of passers by or occasionally do something beneficial, perhaps, such as to sing to people as they drowned. Hera however selected her to be her handmaiden or whatever and it is then that Zeus who was a sort of president of all the gods and was both brother and husband to Hera took a fancy to Io. Zeus was quite a philanderer and Hera suspected that he had got his eye on Io with his past history of being the two timing bastard that he was. Zeus got a little wary as it is in his nature to ravish any good looking bird in his sight so he quickly transformed Io into a beautiful white heifer, hoping nobody will notice that Hera’s hand maiden was missing.

Hera was not fooled and seeing this beautiful new beast in the paddock asks Zeus if she could have it as a present. Zeus is now in a pickle, he can’t refuse such a simple request or that will confirm his subterfuge so agrees hoping that will assuage all Hera’s doubts. Hera is not daft and sets the hundred eyed Argus to keep watch on Io day and night. Zeus in his turn desperate to possess Io gets his mate Hermes the messenger to kill Argus. This clearly is not an easy task as even when Argus is sleeping half his eyes are still open and not only does he have a hundred eyes but a hundred arms as well. So Hermes goes along and has a chat with Argus and they talk all the night through, Hermes telling him lots of such boring stories and jokes that eventually every one of Argus eyes are closed. Hermes then kills Argus and Io can be released.

I thought that Io would go berserk when I asked why she chose business class rather than cattle class for this trip. She seemed puzzled at first explaining that I was the only person on the plane that she had met before so naturally she chose to sit by me. Then she suddenly twigged the cattle class joke. She was so furious. I don’t know about being a naiad she was more like a fury just then. I was scared. But all of a sudden she quietened down.

“That is what I like about you, Robin.” She said with a cute little smile,” You are not scared of me.”

“Should I be?”

“Just don’t let me down.”

“Have you ever flown before?”

She looked at me strangely. “How did you know?”

“I didn’t, I was just asking.”

She looked into my eyes and I had that feeling she was reading my mind. Satisfied I was telling the truth she went on.

“I did a test flight with Icarus with his new wings when he and his father were trying to escape from Crete. I was there on the island of Samos with Hera when she first appointed me to be her handmaiden…you know like I was in training.”

I nodded understandingly.

“He couldn’t keep his mind on just flying to safety. He just had to skim over the waves then fly high to the sun just for the exhilaration of it…”

“He wanted to impress you so you would fancy him then?” I suggested.

“Don’t be so jealous Robin.”

“I am not jealous.” I lied. “But you must have distracted him.”

She looked at me doubtfully. “It wasn’t my fault, just shut up about Icarus.”

Her lips pouted with annoyance as she demolished me with those words. She turned away from me and glanced at the in-flight magazine flicking over the pages but without reading them.

She must have had a long think about things as she eventually put the magazine away then curled up facing away from me then drifted off to sleep. She muttered a few slurred words now and then which I could hardly make out. Did she say kokkinolaimus? What in heaven was a kokk-in-o-laim-us?

The cabin crew had put the lights out now, so I made a quick dash to the toilets to tidy up and brush my teeth then put down the seat as my bed for the night. As I snuggled down under the blanket and eventually got off to sleep I made a resolution not to rile her in future.

When I woke up about two hours later she had turned over facing me, she was still asleep though, but now she was holding my hand.

Kokkinolaimis - Robin

Ahu and the feast that ended in tears (Part 32)

2011-12-25T16:02:00.000-08:00

It had been a good season for all at Black Sands. All the fish drying racks were full and the vegetable storage bins were stacked. Everyone had a pleased look on there faces as they contemplated a few easy weeks to follow.

The village headman decided that a hangi was appropriate with dancing and singing and much food to be eaten at this hakari for this festive season. And so the preparations began. Everyone was involved preparing the pits for roasting the fish and the birds and any small animals they could catch for the earth ovens.

Ahu was also involved but she did so a slower pace than that of all the other women, she was pregnant again. Luckily both Tangaroa and Hekehoru could look after themselves and they too raced about the village to see what was happening leaving Ahu far behind.

The great round stones for the cooking pits were placed in the fires and heated up then carefully placed in the holes. Branches with their leaves still on were placed on top and the meat and the vegetables placed on these and covered with more leaves and herbs which in was covered with earth. As the heat seeped through wisps of steam and delicious odours filled the area as the village gathered and the speeches and dancing began.

As a member of the village council Ahuahu sat with the chief and the other village elders, with his family close by. The children’s eyes sparkled with the reflection of the flames from the central fire and Hekehoru clapped with excitement at the dancers and the show of strength from the warriors chanting and threatening then finally showing respect for the people gathered there.

The food was eaten noisily and with much talking and laughter. Then it was time for the young unmarried girls and youths to dance. Tangaroa got up and tried to mimic their actions but by this time Hekehoru was getting tired and had curled up with Ahu with her eyes trying not to close should she miss something.

Ahu indicated to Ahuahu that she was taking Hekehoru home and to watch Tangaroa as more dancing continued and kava was drunk. Just as the feast was winding to a close a young man ran into the village, it was a boy from the Hot Springs settlement. He ran up to Kamaka, whispered to him. Kamaka turned and indicated to Ahuahu that they should speak.

There had been an accident at the hot pools, Kaihutu had been badly scolded by an extra large eruption from one of the hotter pools and was in much pain and Hatiti was frightened for him. Kamaka looked to Ahuahu for help.

“I will go to Ahu and see if she had anything to help his pain. But should they not put him a cold pool to help?”

“The skin is badly blistered, it does not look good.”

Kamaka nodded. “You go there now but I will follow in a little while.”

Although Kamaka agreed he also said, “They do not think he will survive.”

With that Ahuahu rushed back to his house, Ahu was sitting on the porch and was surprised to see Ahu back so soon.

“I didn’t think I would see you till morning.”

“Kaihutu is badly hurt have you anything to help the pain from scalding?”

Ahu’s face fell and she burst into tears, “Why do the gods play with us so, husband?”

Ahuahu helped her to get up as they went inside the hut to find her remedies.

She gave him some dried leaves, “These might ease the burning feeling but he must chew them. But surely they will have them there?”

“I am worried Ahu, he may not be conscious.”

“Hurry then, Ahuahu.”

Kaihutu died that night, he never regained consciousness. Ahu thought that it was so true that you should never show how happy you are. Hatiti had paid that penalty.

She loved Hatiti dearly. She wept for her sadness and when Kaihutu had been buried in the traditional burial grounds and the period of mourning was passed. Ahu sent a message to Hatiti to visit her.

Hatiti came down the following day.

“Would you stay with me when our new baby is born, Hatiti? I would like you with me.”

Hatiti looked at Ahu, “For weeks I wanted that when Ahuahu rescued me after the tidal wave. Do you really want that now?” Before Ahu could answer, Hatiti continued. “I loved my husband Kaihutu dearly thanks to you. I am grieving for him now with so much pain. That will pass and then I might look on Ahuahu again if he is near me. You do not want that.”

“Men cannot help but to look sideways, Hatiti. It is better that I choose who he should look at. But that time has not come yet.”

“Forgive me Ahu, Even though I have seen you regularly I have hardly seen or spoken to Ahuahu for two years, do you not know why?”

“Yes, Hatiti, I do. But your love for both of us is genuine. I am not jealous of you anymore.”

“I will tell my mother-in law I will be staying with you while you have the baby.”

With that Hatiti laid her head in Ahu’s lap and cried as Ahu stroked her hair.

Hakari - Feast

Hangi - Earth Oven

A conversation with Io (No. 1)

2011-12-21T13:16:00.000-08:00

I made a big mistake having a stopover in Athens on the way back to Australia after a holiday in the UK. Trouble was I had read the ads, saw the photos and marvelled at Greece’s ancient history. So I too wanted touch the past. Did I make a mistake! Perhaps I should have done that first at the start of the vacation. But I didn’t and with the wind rumpling my hair in the cold Attic wind staring at crumbling temples, listening to the prattling of the guides about the beliefs of the past as well as the boring tourists who I regretfully formed a part, just about drove me out of my mind. I was glad to board the plane home for the festive season with my family. Once in a while you have to splash out and I had invested in a business class round trip and that has spoilt me for any future travel abroad.

There was an empty seat by my side so I was pleased that I would not have the flicker of their screen all night as they watched some dumb movie while I was trying to sleep. Just as we were in the middle of the safety instructions a late passenger was escorted down the aisle. It was a rather disorganized young girl who tripped and stumbled her way along and then was directed to the window seat alongside me. She had virtually no hand luggage, just a large red leather handbag which presumably contained all she needed.

I nodded a hello, and settled back down again. She in her turn looked all around her, checked her seat controls and was about to recline her seat so I tried to dissuade her until after take off. She complied but grinned at me cheekily and said “So you are a Taurus too.” I nodded an agreement in puzzlement as the plane taxied out from the terminal.

“We’ve met before.” She said.

“We have?” I queried.

“You were looking at the temples weren’t you? I saw you at the Acropolis as well as Olympia.”

“Sorry, I never noticed you. Don’t you think the temple of Hera at Olympia was a little sad though, being so ruined, but at least it is there that they light the Olympic flame isn’t it? It is like a link with the past.”

“That bitch! They should have pulled the whole lot down.”

“Well that is what the gods were like, always fighting each other, luckily they doesn’t influence us anymore or at least I hope not.” I responded jokingly.

“That is what you think. Why do you think I am on this plane?”

At this point I thought I had better introduce myself. “I’m Robin, just going back home to Australia.” I held out my hand to shake hers. She looked a little doubtful but placed her hand in mine. I was electrified. What a fantastically beautiful hand it was. It fitted right into mine soft, warm and ridiculously sexy. I had never thought of hands as that sexy before. Pretty yes, but sexy?

I looked up into her eyes, they were smiling seductively. She clearly was thinking hard before she said anything else but then blurted out “Io” with a tiny shrug of her shoulders.

“From Iolanthe? Were your parents fond of Gilbert and Sullivan?”

“No, just Io.”

“Oh it’s a Greek name isn’t it? I am sorry I never though that you were Greek.”

“I am not, I am a Naiad.”

At this point, the stewardess came round with an offer of drinks. So while we were choosing our tipple, it suddenly dawned on me she was pulling my leg. I grinned back at her, quickly trying to remember my Greek mythology.

“Oh yes your Dad’s name was Inachus wasn’t it, can’t remember your mum’s name though.”

“Melia.”

“Was it? Well you’re Greek you should know.”

“I am not Greek!’ She was getting a bit worked up again. “I am Arcadian.”

“Yes, right. So, you’re going to Australia?”

“Is that where we are going?”

“How did you get on this plane without knowing where you are going?”

“I followed you. It is all finished back there.” She gestured behind us and I naturally assumed she meant Greece, the Euro and the financial crisis.

“I had to choose someone that could help me. So you’re it. You will help me won’t you?”

Her smile was so seductive, and at that point she placed a hand on my thigh and looked at me with pleading eyes. I was electrified. I can’t mention what else was happening to me.

With my last fragment of sanity I said “You probably don’t need me at all.”

“You’re right,” she said removing her hand, “But I thought it might be fun with a younger man.”

“Io,” I stuttered, “I am over seventy. I am not a younger man.”

“How old do you think I am then?’” She replied flicking her ten fingers up at me what appeared to be hundreds of times, finishing with just four on the right hand. “It will work out.”

I don’t know why, but I had an uneasy feeling about this, she must be about 3500 years old. No, I forgot those last four fingers, make it 3504.

Ahu and her sleepless night (No 31)

2011-12-18T14:01:00.000-08:00

When Ahu returned home from her day in the forest she tried to act normally even though the weight of her knowledge of Hinewai’s unfaithfulness to her husband Torangi tore at her heart. She was hurt by having to witness such a betrayal in the forest; which was one of her favourite places where she felt she could pray to her favourite gods, to talk to her long dead parents and to be filled with the joy of experiencing nature at work creating, blooming and fruiting and withering in life’s perpetual cycle. That had been ruined by an unbearable ugliness. She continued weeping as she prepared the roots and leaves that she had collected to make her remedies for everyday ills that she and her family and friends were subjected to. She wanted to curl up on her mat on the floor and sleep. She knew she couldn’t as Ahuahu and the children would be back soon looking for a meal so she took one or two deep breaths and went to look at the fish on the drying frame.

Ahuahu returned a short time later with the children both worn out after the day with their father. She knelt down before them and hugged them both and at the same time running her hands over their faces and smiling into their eyes. Tangaroa soon broke free and started chatting about their day while Hekehoru continued to relish the fondling she was receiving from her mother. Hekehoru in her turn touched her mother’s face and hugged her. She then turned to her father and said “Mama’s been crying.”

That night after the children were asleep and Ahuahu held Ahu in his arm he murmured words of aroha to her. As he stroked her he told her of his concern for her, how he wanted to share her hurt and to take way her pain. She snuggled into the safety of his arms but still had a sleepless night.

The next day she went to see Hatiti to take the leaves of the Hopopo plant to her. She took Hekehoru with her so that she could play with Hatiti’s baby. Ahu and Hatiti were like loving sisters now and they greeted each other warmly. So while Hekehoru played with Hatiti’s baby who was trying to crawl round the floor the two women talked of many things.

“You look tired Ahu, are you not well?”

“I cannot sleep I have a memory that troubles me.”

“You are normally so strong,” said Hatiti stroking Ahu’s arm. “Can you tell me?”

“We are sisters now, Hatiti, I must talk to someone. I cannot tell Ahuahu as men think differently to us.”

Hatiti held Ahu’s hand and said “Talk to me.”

Ahu was silent for a little while and then slowly began to tell her of what she had witnessed in the forest. All the while Hatiti stroked Ahu’s arm.

When she had finished, Ahu then added. “It is good to have let it all out.”

“Ahu, nothing has changed. Hoata and I knew that Hinewai was being unfaithful to her husband Torangi. We cannot live others lives for them. You are hurt because the forest was such a precious place for you. That has not changed either.”

At this Ahu shook her head.

Hatiti continued. “You yourself told me how special the forest was. How it was there before us and will be there after we have gone. It grows, brings forth life, and it dies just like us. But to us it lives on as if unchanging.”

Hatiti’s looked up into Ahu’s face, the tears were still there but there was a little smile on her face.

“Everything that happens in to forest is eventually hidden and covered up with leaves and fallen branches. The rain will wash all that hurt of yours away.”

“It is so good to talk to you, Hatiti.”

"Mama" called out Hekehoru, "Baby is all wet."

"We should never have called her Horowai," exclaimed Hatiti.

With that everyone laughed. Ahu was no longer sick at heart.

Aroha - to love, feel pity, feel concern for, feel compassion, empathise

Horowai - Girl's name meaning Waterfall

Rastus at the beach (No 7)

2011-12-14T14:39:00.000-08:00

Now you would think that all the effort that Rastus and I had put in winning Penny over would have done us some good. For a few weeks everything was fine. Whenever she had a day or two off we would visit her or she would come down to us.

We were a happy band of three tied together with a curious love. Penny loved Rastus. Rastus loved Penny and me. I loved both Penny and Rastus. But the relationship between Penny and me was a little odd. She was funny, warm, pliant, and so lovable…but I could sense she was holding something back. She had already guessed that I was recovering from a break-up in a previous entanglement from which I had emerged with a few thorns for my troubles. But that is the problem with men we don’t have a mind like a dentist’s drill searching out all the cavities and pain of someone else’s life. We just take things at face value.

Last week she had come down to my place for a sleepover. Well that is what we called it but I hoped I would be suffering from lack of sleep the next day. What bliss there is to wake up next to the person you love in the morning. To reach out and touch and kiss them as they too stir and to breathe in that exquisite musky scent of her body that you couldn’t get enough of the previous night. As I was gently kissing her tummy I felt her fingers run through my hair and then she wrapped both arms around me and hugged me tight. For all the closeness we never discussed future plans. You know the sort of thing moving in together, establishing whose toothbrush went where and just who was boss in the kitchen. Each deferring to the other that would establish us as Kurt Vonnegut had described it as a “karass” of two or more. Two people so bonded together in love that they were like Siamese twins that were an entity to themselves. Us against the world. Sadly we were not like that and I began to suspect that I was the one at fault. In fact I was coming to believe I was a “stuppa” or fog bound child.

The penny finally dropped (and no that is not a joke) when we got up very early in the morning to go for a walk on the beach. It was deserted and Penny had slipped her sandals off and paddled at the edge of the water while we strolled along together but not close each doing their own thing. Rastus checking out the scuttling crabs and stinky dead fish with a satisfied grin on his face; Penny walked along at the waters edge and looking at her I could see she was singing some happy song but I couldn’t make out the words. I on the other hand was searching for the rare finds on the beach; the perfect shell, the smooth pebble with a fascinating colour in it and the worn pieces of broken glass from so many years ago that finally the sea decided did not have a place in its bosom and tossed it back at man for his impudence.

So as we walked our separate ways we drifted apart and looking back Rastus was equidistant between us so I called him. He cocked his ears searched around saw me then bounded up to tell me what he had been up to. Penny saw this and called him in turn. Immediately he raced back to her in excitement and we kept this up until he could see through our little game and sat back down on the sand immobile except for his tongue lolling out looking quite pleased with the game as when he had got his breathe back he barked a joyful bark. He had however settled in close proximity to Penny. She then came toward him and they sat on the sand together.

It was at that moment I had a sudden revelation. I had missed out. I had missed the message. I was going to lose Penny unless I gave her something. It wasn’t the plastic bag of beach finds; it wasn’t the superficial love and affection that was our lovemaking; or the snuggling up together on the settee watching old movies, it was something far more valuable. She knew I had been let down in a previous relationship by reading the signs. She gave herself utterly to me and I had merely taken what she offered. I had however not given the most important thing back to her. It was an all encompassing trust and understanding that she had given me. Even Rastus had understood that at their very first meeting when he sat with her on that park bench and placed his head on her knees. He had somehow said to her “I understand your pain.”

She had been hurt just like me but I had failed to recognise that. If this relationship with her was to survive. I had to do something…now. I called out “Penny, Penny.” Then started running over to where they were. They both looked up in curiosity.

When I reached them I fell on the sand by their sides. Rastus got up, gave me a lick then sat down again.

“I have been a fool. I love you completely, utterly, without reservation. I have been blind to your pain. You saw that I had been devastated by a previous relationship but didn’t even recognise that you too had been through the same trauma. Isn’t that so?”

Penny reached forward and touched my face; gently tracing her fingers round my chin and over my nose then fingered my ears and came to rest holding the back of my neck. She spoke not a word.

I went on “I was so near to losing you wasn’t I? That would have been some retribution for my thoughtlessness.”

She shook her head sadly. “I hadn’t given up on you yet. But my, you came close. If it wasn’t for Rastus saying to stick with you for a little longer, who knows?”

Rastus had recovered from his exertions, came over and sat down by our sides trying to touch both of us with his body at the same time.

“So what treasures did you find?” she said pointing to the results of my fossicking.

“What are the treasures of the world if you are not part of me?” I reached over to hold on to her ankle hoping we could fuse together in one being.

Ahu learns of Hinewai’s indiscretion (Part 30)

2011-12-10T19:50:00.000-08:00

Ahu was spending some time alone in the forest gathering leaves and herbs for medicine. It was one of her guilty pleasures to be able to get away completely from her normal tasks leaving the children in Ahuahu’s care when he chose not to go fishing because of the choppy sea. Hoata had taken Paikea back up to the hot springs to see Hatiti so Ahu was all by herself. She had already gathered a few roots from the Karewao vine whose sap was good to stop bleeding from a wound, leaves from the Horopipo plant which helped toothache and was good to put on rashes and the breasts of nursing mothers. She had collected these for Hatiti. She still was looking for the Akakura vine whose sap could be made into an antiseptic. Mainly though she had taken time to drink in the solitude of the forest with the wind whispering to her in the trees and the birds calling to their mates of her passing. She wanted heaven to be like this free from all the cares of life. She remembered her childhood before she was orphaned when her mother told her of the spirits in the woods and how precious life was. She tried to recapture that fairytale world as she went about gathering the plants she needed.

About midday she settled down with her back to a tree well off the beaten pathway and searched for the fruit she had brought with her to eat. She ate that quietly then closed her eyes and listened to the sounds around her and wondered whether she dare sleep a little while. She decided against that, so opened her eyes again and watched a giant Weta insect sitting quietly as she was on a tree observing her in its turn. In the distance she heard a laugh and a squeal of delight. A boy and girl must have met in the woods in secret. She scanned the distance but could see no movement. So she turned back to the Weta but it had gone. I must go too she thought and reluctantly got to her feet and started to make her way back to the village.

She had not gone but a few paces when the laughter was heard again. Ahu was cross now as she might have to take a different route home. She stood still for a moment and decided that either they would see her or not, it mattered little and walked on. Clearly they didn’t hear her for she heard the couple laughing again close by. He bit her lip in frustration and then sat down again so that she would not walk right upon them. They were very close. They were talking and this time Ahu recognised the voice of the girl; it was Hinewai. Ahu slunk back into the bushes and fumed with irritation. She could hear some of their conversation.

“Why must I do it this way?”

“So you do not bruise me and my husband will see.”

“But I want to see your face and touch you.”

“No, you mustn’t. You may touch my hair.”

The boy moaned with annoyance but after a few complaints, he continued,

“So you prefer a younger man, Hinewai?”

“Not if he moans all the time”

“You are so beautiful.”

“Just don’t stop.”

“I will have to soon.”

“Then you better send someone else to take your place.”

By this time Ahu had put her hands over her ears. After a few minutes she uncovered them to hear the boy say.

“Thank you for choosing me, Hinewai.”

“I may pick you again, if you promise to talk less. Say nothing about this or I shall tell my husband you took me by force.”

Ahu glanced up and saw them through the bushes. Hinewai was smiling at the boy who was now allowed to stroke her breasts before she covered them. She then hit him heavily on the face with her clenched fist. He half fell to the ground.

“Why did you do that? I thought I made you happy.”

“You did but that is so that your friends can see I refused you.” She said as she bent forward and touched his bruised face in affection. “Do not follow me out of the forest.” She then released him, turned and walked away.

It was some time before the forest resumed its natural sound of sound of chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects. The breeze rustled in the tree tops again and Ahu wept silently as though she had lost something valuable but would never find it again even though the butterflies were settling on the flowers as if nothing had disturbed them. She now had a very deep secret to keep.

Ahu thought about what she had seen for a long time. Should she tell Ahuahu? How could she not tell Ahuahu?

Rastus at the market (No 6)

2011-12-07T14:50:00.000-08:00

I lied of course when I said we had slept well that night we stayed at Penny’s for the first time. That probably gave you the impression that with the walks and the food and the wine we soon zonked out and woke up refreshed in the morning. In Rastus’s case that was true. I think he had a few doggy dreams as his feet twitched away in his sleep chasings cats or rats and occasionally he would utter a stifled woof as he guarded us from danger in his imaginings. For us though there was that beautiful discovery period as we nervously shared Penny’s bed for the first time. I was not confidant as I was unprepared for her offer to stay overnight despite her instruction to share whatever I needed to make myself comfortable. We joked about which of her nighties I might wear and whether I needed rollers for my hair. I grabbed a quick shower and returned to the bedroom draped in towel. She had chosen the side closest to the window with the clock radio on her side so I assumed that was where she always slept. She had placed a chocolate Caramello Frog on my pillow just as though I was a welcome guest in a hotel. I put that aside and pulled back the covers and slipped into the bed. She had been looking at me all the time and but then turned over and put the light out on her side of the bed. I reached over and found her hand to hold. She in her turn reached out with her other hand and touched my face and in doing so the scent of her body wafted over me. I let go of her hand and lightly touched her naked body with my fingers as I traced my way up to take my first steps like an early explorer setting foot in finding a exotic tropical island.

“You are so beautiful, Penny.” My fingers continued to explore her and she uttered little murmurs of satisfaction as my lips now sealed my approval on every treasure I found. She was not passive though for with each new territory I charted she in her turn checked out and savoured the intruder in her domain. She traced her fingers over my nose and ears then ran them through my hair and leaned over and placed her head on my chest to listen to my heart beat.

“Penny, we can’t make love, I am not prepared.”

“I didn’t expect you to be. I may have been little peeved if you had, assuming I was a push over. The more I know you the more I find to like about you.”

So we continued our exploration of each other and to relieve the frustration every new found delight I found from her knees to her navel I scored with points out of ten. Most were nine or ten but Penny moderated the score down a little in self criticism. At some stage as I lay between her breasts I fell asleep with her arms wrapped around me.

Strangely soon after dawn she was up before me. She was standing by the window without a stitch on.

“Come back to bed”

“I daren’t, I want you so much” she stated simply. “I’ll get a cup of tea.”

We were up and taking Rastus for his walk through the park quite early and after breakfast went into Stirling township where there was a Sunday market with flags and bunting waving, the call of the vendors selling their wares and of course the inevitable smell of a barbecued meat and onions filling the air. Rastus behaved himself quite well in the crowd probably more concerned that the barbecued sausages would be on the menu. We needed nothing but to be with one another but I dallied at a bookstall and I found a couple of Leigh Child novels for Penny.

I asked her how she came to read him. Her response was unusual.

“My days are spent in a rigid environment of hospital discipline and with sick and frightened people. I find that I can enter an escapist world in his books that others might with fantasy novels or even gaming.”

I nodded an agreement; holding on to her hand which I felt was now mine. “I can remember a bookshop owner in the city telling me a similar story where a lawyer dealing with the court system, crime and criminals all day long would escape with “Mills and Boon” light romance to get it out of her system.”

We finally found a seat, a few yards from the busy market and I said simply “I am so glad I found you” and leaned over and kissed her tenderly as the world passed us by while Rastus tried to decide whose knees he should put his head on.

Ahu and Hoata visit Hatiti (No 29)

2011-12-03T18:51:00.000-08:00

Ahuahu reported back to the village council of the demise of the pakeha intruders through the efforts of the fishing village at the big river estuary. The news of their being killed and eaten was seen as a worrying aspect likely to result in repercussions. One of the members remarked that they should have little to do with that village if they have acquired some of the pakehas traits in their actions, as no good could be seen in pakehas at all. The chief retorted “We did not choose Ahuahu for this council because of his fishing ability but in judgement and usefulness. The reason we should have nothing to do with that village because they are not to be trusted.” All nodded their agreement.

Village life soon returned to normal after the excitement of the foreigners visit had been forgotten. Hoata’s step daughter Hatiti had her first baby and both Ahu and Hoata went to visit her.

Hatiti was very pleased to see them but instead of handing her baby first to her stepmother Hoata she handed her to Ahu. Hoata said nothing and Ahu who after admiring the little one handed her on promptly to Hoata.

“Babies are such a joy,’” said Ahu “It is about time I had another one. Let us hope Hinewai has one too.” There was silence at that statement as Hoata and Hatiti glanced at each other. Hoata then got up and said she would see to the other children who were playing outside. “It sounds as though the boys are teasing Hekehoru.”

Hatiti now left alone with Ahu, patted the floor next to her for them to sit close together.

“Ahu, you are so wise and loving; you are a true sister to me. I never thought I would love Kaihutu so much, certainly not as much as you love Ahuahu. I know I made you jealous as I was searching around for love and Ahuahu appeared to be everything I wanted and I would have been willing to share him with you. But now I am so happy and as you said I would be; I do not even see his broken nose now, he is part of me.”

At this point Ahu reached out and touched Hatiti face as though she was her sister. Hatiti leaned her face into Ahu’s palm as they spoke and she hummed in satisfaction.

“Hatiti you are my sister. I am proud that you have become a mother and have given Kaihutu his first child. I can see that you truly love him.”

At this point Hoata came back into the house.

“Ahu, it wasn’t the boys teasing Hekehoru it was her teasing them.” At this all the women burst out laughing.

Later that evening at home Ahu and Ahuahu had got the children asleep and were talking quietly.

“It is time we made another baby Ahuahu.”

“We say that almost every night Ahu.”

“Then we shall have to try something different tonight,” she responded with a little grin lowering her eyes.

Rastus settles in (No 5)

2011-11-30T14:37:00.000-08:00

Our unexpected stay over at Penny’s that weekend was a great success. Well it was certainly that way for Rastus. He settled in as though it was his home and had a contented look on his face. Hopefully there was contented look on my face as well, but Penny wasn’t quite so sure.

You are about to ask “How did we get on?” We got on very well, she was soft and beautiful and both attentive and receptive to my caressing and kissing. Rastus seemed satisfied too as he lay at our feet more than contented with his day and the fact we were together. When I let him out last thing at night for his final walk around the garden I said “Behave, no chasing possums.” He returned a few minutes later but reported no sightings.

Penny and I talked too. We talked about work and family and our childhoods and were very comfortable in each other’s company. However at one point at a break in conversation she paused then came right out with it. “You have been hurt haven’t you?”

I nodded.

“She dumped you.”

“Those are kind words. I would say I was jettisoned. Thrown overboard like rubbish from a ship.”

“I often wondered what the difference was between flotsam and jetsam. So what is flotsam?”

“Goods lost from a ship accidentally, I think. But if it washes ashore grab it quick before customs know it's there.” By this time I had returned to stroking her feet gently and counting her toes.

“Five, on each foot” she stated.

“Just checking.”

At bedtime she suggested I share her bed.

“What is the alternative?”

“Floor with Rastus, couch with a blanket, or in the garden with the possums. You choose.”

“I have no PJ’s, toothbrush or night cream.”

“I have a spare toothbrush, the rest you can share with me.”

We all slept well that night. It must have been the wine. Goodness knows what Rastus drank.

We went for another walk in the park early in the morning. It was so different at that hour. There was an early morning mist over the water at the lake and a mob of kangaroos were drinking unconcerned. Luckily I had Rastus on the lead so we steered away from them and took a circular route around the park watching the birdlife assert themselves in their chosen territory.

When we got back to Penny’s place I said to her “We will give it a try then, if that is OK?”

Penny turned to Rastus and said “What do you reckon?”

Rastus looked at us both grinning at him and barked an affirmative.

Let’s hope he keeps us together.

Ahuahu investigates (Part 28)

2011-11-27T14:29:00.000-08:00

Ahu had more time to worry about the appointment of Ahuahu to the village council as on the following day Ahuahu was sent for by the chief and returned some hours later with a worried look on his face.

Ahu was weaving a basket as he returned as he sat down beside her. She smiled at him and said, “So they want us to plant more oca roots so we will be well fed, do they?”

He smiled back, shook his head and spoke quietly to her. He sat so close that she could feel the warmth of his body against hers and she had a feeling of desire for him as he reached around her to touch Hekehoru who was playing with the small pieces of reed.

“I have to lead a small party to investigate reports of sighting of pakeha to the south of here.” He pointed to the south east where there was a long stretch of coastline before the big river estuary half a day’s journey away.

“Is it the smelly, pink faced men again?” asked Ahu looking apprehensive.

“It could be nothing but strangers fishing from further south who have been blown off course and have now gone again. It is my job to find out. We will set off tomorrow.” Ahu paused then he went on. “I have suggested I take Kamaka with me so that he feels involved with the work.”

Ahu tried not to smile as she said, “Why don’t you go and ask him now as you have not had a discussion with him yet about the village council.”

Ahuahu hesitated a little then agreed with Ahu and went to Kamaka straight away.

Kamaka was quite happy to go with Ahuahu when they discussed the expedition. “I missed out on seeing the pakeha last time” he grinned “perhaps I can judge myself how ugly they are.”

“I was concerned that you would not approve of me being on the village council,” said Ahuahu.

Kamaka laughed outright and slapped Ahuahu on the shoulder in his normal way. “They asked me too, but I declined the offer as I had too many other family concerns. It was me that recommended you.”

Ahu shook his head with a grin, “Even Ahu did not guess that. But who else should we take with us on this investigation?”

“How about we take Aata and Hunapo, even if we find nothing it will still be good day hunting.”

“So you think it is but a test?” Ahuahu said disappointed.

“Perhaps, but whatever we find we should try to make it worth our while.”

The two other young unmarried men were pleased to be asked to accompany Ahuahu and Kamaka and they all set off the next day travelling south parallel with the sea over difficult terrain with a succession of deep valleys leading down to the sea. Eventually they headed for the coast and looked for signs of disturbance in the dunes, of trees felled and fires lit. Most camping spots were old and appeared to be used by Maori like themselves where campfires were carefully extinguished and covered. There were no signs of footprints where there were solid imprints rather than bare feet, which was a sure sign of the ugly pakeha.

They kept going south until they reached the big river estuary. They could see a few boats in the water fishing in the tidal stream from villages’ further inland. They advanced to the river’s edge and spoke to one group who had come ashore. They told them they were from Black Sands and of their search for the pakeha.

The fishermen shook their heads and started to return to they boat.

“What’s the fishing like here?” Asked Kamaka.

“It is good for us but bad for you.”

Kamaka laughed, “That is a good answer.”

Ahuahu pointed to the wooded hill overlooking the river, “Is your village up there?”

The man suddenly looked frightened. He shook his head “That is a sacred site. It is better for your health that you return by the beach the way you have come.”

Ahuahu nodded, “May the gods be with you.”

They took their leave and returned to the beach to make their way back to Black Sands.

After they had walked a little way and were out of sight of the river. Ahuahu stopped and then said “We should accidentally see this sacred site. I did not like the look on that man’s face.”

Kamaka nodded in agreement,

“Will you take Hunapo and check it out?” asked Ahuahu. “We will slowly walk along the beach in case they follow us.”

Kamaka and Hunapo set off immediately while Ahuahu and Aata made their way along the beach. Some time later as Ahuahu started to get anxious, Kamaka returned with an excited Hunapo.

“The pakeha have been, but they have been eaten.” Kamaka then produced a buckled shoe from his pack. “Fishing can’t be that good at the estuary.”

Pakeha - Foreigner (normally white men)

Rastus and me go up the hill (No 4)

2011-11-23T14:41:00.000-08:00

It is one thing to dog sit a neighbours dog, quite another to take full responsibility for him. Mind you Rastus was quite indifferent to the changes occurring in his life. After my elderly neighbours last visit to hospital she sadly did not return home again. I took over the ownership of the dog and all his chattels with the express approval of his mistress’s relations who must have forgotten that there was someone else living in her house and the need the cover the evidence before the property could be put on the market. Rastus had accepted the change months ago and I could see his concern as each time my neighbour was permitted to go back home again to look after him. That is not to say he didn’t love her, he did. He tended to love anybody subject to smell. Which if his detection system could sense the faintest trace of food on them, for him it was love at first sniff. So Rastus took up permanent residence with me and his licence was duly cancelled and transferred to my name. By this time the metal dog tag was now a plastic one and instead of a tinkle there was a quieter “thuck, thuck” from the disk so he was duly and officially renamed Rastus.

In a braver moment I actually phoned Penny now living in the hills a few miles outside the city and told her of the change. She sounded quite pleased.

“Why don’t you come up this weekend, I can cook if you like,” she says laughing, “We can have bone stew.”

Curiously her saying that took me back a few years when our family did indeed have bone stew. I think is was a concoction of a really cheap cut of lamb cooked in the oven for hours with potatoes, carrots and other vegetables and the necessity of having a bone bowl on the table to extract the bony and gristly bits when you found them in the meal to plonk them in the dish. I think we spread curry powder on top of ours. It was a very tasty meal and I am sure Rastus would have liked it but perhaps without the curry powder. Mind you Rastus would eat almost anything. I must have been silent a little too long as Penny then said, “It’s OK, I am only kidding.”

So I arranged to visit that weekend with Rastus as she wasn’t rostered on at the hospital for change. So we got in our car and drove up the hill into the leafy area that was full of little townships and winding roads and inviting pubs and a myriad of new smells for Rastus to enjoy. I knew there would be problem with him with all the extra sensations and debated whether allow the window to be open for his head to be poking out so he could appreciate each new scent with his nose wet and twitching and his tongue hanging out and of course the self satisfied smirk on his face as well. But in the end I was strict and kept the window on his side shut until we had got off the freeway and had started to negotiate the winding roads through the villages at a more leisurely pace. He was miserable at first especially as my side window was open but he settled down as soon as he could get the breeze on his face and the smell of eucalypts on his nose and half closed his eyes in pleasure with the seductive smells of the country to savour.

We found Penny’s place after passing it once in error and drew up in the driveway. She was very pleased to see us both beaming at her with delight. Looking at how pleased Rastus appeared I hoped I didn’t look the same as him with his tongue hanging out with a stupid grin on his face. So we had to have an inspection of her place. So we traipsed around her little rental cottage and while Rastus does the real inspection of sniffing in corners for rats and cats I observe Penny who is happy and voluble telling us of how she likes it there and how peaceful it is after living in the city. She is so relaxed and I fall in love with her all over again, not that I had fallen out of love, just out of reach.

“I have a present for you’ I say, giving her a little wrapped gift.

“It is not a dog biscuit that I have to share is it?”

I shake my head while she opens the little package. It is silk scarf that belonged to my mother. It is pink with a flowing flowery pattern on.

She is stunned. “It is so beautiful.” She says looking at me with moist sparkling eyes. “I love pink.”

“It was my mothers. It is just one of the things that I just couldn’t throw away…I thought it was beautiful too. But I couldn’t wear it, could I?”

Rastus had got fed up with the tour and decided to plonk himself down at our feet.

“Up you get Rastus” she says, “We are going for a walk.” He jumps up straight away and grins at her and she tells me that there is a park close by.

Unlike the park in the city this one is far more natural with gum trees, scrubland and winding trails and a shallow lake drying out in the summer heat. We are alone and tentatively I let Rastus off the lead. He bolted off and sniffed his way around looking round every now and then to check we were following. He chased imaginary animals and completely missed the koala sitting asleep in the trunk of a tree directly above him.

We sat down on a fallen tree that was hollow and he attempted to discover what was inside and had to give up after several attempts to put more than his nose in.

After we had worn him out we made our way back to the entrance holding hands and put him back on the lead. His misery was obvious at first but he soon realised that all the exercise had made him thirsty and as we passed the lake he urged us in that direction to have a few laps of water and to threaten the ducks and moorhens by his presence.

When we got home Rastus drank a complete bowl of water and the settled down for a nap.

“I’m doing Lasagne tonight, you happy with that?” Penny called out as I was looking at her bookcase of books. She obviously liked Janet Evanovich.

“Yes that fine.” I replied.

“I have a Pinot Grigio in the fridge, you do drink don’t you?”

“Well, not if I am driving... perhaps one glass.”

“You can always stay the night, have you any other plans?”

She had come out of the kitchen and stood looking at me with those beautiful smiling eyes. "Rastus has made himself at home, why don’t you?”

Rastus was snoring happily on the floor while I remained speechless.

“I could tell by the way you looked at me that very first day we met,” she said and was about to say something else when I interrupted.

“We would be both pleased to stay.” Meanwhile Rastus snorted an affirmative in his sleep.

Ahuahu and the Village Council (Part 27)

2011-11-20T02:05:00.000-08:00

Ahu and Ahuahu had been at Black Sands for over three years. Life had returned to a comfortable easy way of life without the stress of disputes, earthquakes and family concerns. For all that ease in their lives Ahu did not put on any extra weight as some women did. Hoata said it was because they both had so much to do. Quite apart from the rearing of children there was the constant need to dig the vegetable plots, harvest the produce and to make cloth and tools and ornaments to barter with others.

Not one moment of their days was spent in idleness and at days end, Ahu would relish being attentive to Ahuahu who was always very pleased wrap her in his arms once inside their house.

After their evening meal and the children were put to bed, Ahu set to and combed her hair for Ahuahu to admire. She loved his faithfulness which had been tested by their time at Black Sands.

He came up to her and took the comb from her hand and combed her hair himself. She leaned over so that their bodies touched as he did so and was surprised that he started speaking to her rather than attempting to arouse her.

“Ahu, I have been summoned to a meeting of the village council tomorrow. Has there been gossip from the women why this should be so?”

“No, Ahuahu, I have heard nothing.”

“I am thinking of who I may have offended. Let us hope it is but a trivial matter.”

Ahu turned to him and looked into his eyes. “Let us hope you will not be asked to take a grieving widow to please her family. I am a jealous woman and I do not need to share you with anyone.”

Ahuahu laughed. “I am in more danger of being clubbed to death by a young suitor that I do not know so that you will be a beautiful widow for him than that a family would want an outsider like me to take their sad daughter away.”

“You are no longer an outsider, Ahuahu. You are respected in this village.” With that she pushed him on his back and leaned over him and rested her head on his chest.

The next day, Ahuahu did not go fishing but presented himself to the village elders. They bade him sit in the meeting house. The village head, glanced at the other members and they nodded.

“Ahuahu,” the chief said, “You have been summoned here at our command. Listen to what we have to say and then you may reply.”

At this point Ahuahu was feeling a little concerned, and merely nodded his agreement.

“Ahuahu, it has been decided by the elders that you be invited to sit with us on this council. Since you have been in this village you have shown yourself to be a worthy and valuable and hard working member of the community.”

The chief paused, then continued, “We are aware that you were not born here but your work is valued very highly and your assistance with many of the families in this place and beyond has persuaded us to offer this honour to you. Will you accept this great responsibility and work for the good of the village?”

Ahuahu was so relieved he had not offended anyone in the village he responded straight away. “My chief and elders of the council, I am surprised and greatly honoured have voted for me in this way. If there is none other suitable I should be glad to be a member of the village council and will continue to work for this village and its people.”

The group of elders all nodded with agreement and came up and rubbed noses with Ahuahu and slapped him on the back.

The chief then indicated that was the whole of the business to discuss that day and the meeting broke up.

Ahuahu found Ahu tending the vegetable plot with both the children with her later that day. As she was on her own he went up to her and told her what had happened. She looked puzzled for a moment then a smile appeared on her face. “Am I allowed to sleep with one of the head men?” she asked.

“Only if you ask my permission first,” he replied, then after a pause went on, “and that head man is me.”

Later at home Ahu could see that this honour may indeed be a burden that would be hard to bear if other members of the village were offended, especially Kamaka the husband of Hoata and Ahuahu’s best friend.

Rastus and me lose Penny (No 3)

2011-11-15T19:06:00.000-08:00

One of the problems with having a dog as a friend you tend to start thinking like one. Well no, not to the extent that I could say to Rastus “Hey, look at that bitch do you see the way she walks! Let’s go and smell her.”

This was mainly because he tended not to look at bitches that way any more since the big snip. However in my mind he would reverse the conversation and encourage me with looks or a change of direction to check out any likely birds for me to inspect. Well that is what I thought. He was in all probability getting his nose to home in on the possibility of free food. Now you might think that all food for a dog was free. You are so wrong there. Being owned entitled a dog to be fed something akin to wages so the regular meals at home were his due. You wanted me so there is wage to be paid. Rastus was very keen on overtime and being paid accordingly. He was quite adept at doing this, cocking his head to one side with a quizzical look, fetching things like the local paper that was thrown over the front fence and by chasing rats in the back garden. I don’t think there were any rats but he certainly made it look as there were. He would stub his nose against the back door, utter an excited whine to be let out and then go flying up the garden on patrol duty seemingly just missing out on catching the sneaky rat. I was not fooled. It was all part of his wage negotiations showing how valuable he was and therefore should be paid more in the way of Schmackos or liver treats. I swear he would try to look thin on a walk to attract sympathy from other humans in the park that might want to fatten him up with a biscuit or half a sandwich. Though I must admit he tended to spit out cucumber. I felt him say to me once, “Cucumber is 99% water, if I want a drink I’ll drink out of a puddle.”

Here I must mention liver treats and to warn other pet owners (meaning dog owners) to avoid these like the plague as they smell awful. However, buying these for your pet will show that you really care about them a lot, to give him something really smelly to eat. I put it down to dogs’ development through the ages. We humans thousands of years ago discovered that meat that fell in the fire by accident tasted a lot better than meat that didn’t. Dogs in the same way not being able to strike a match for a fire found that meat that had been dead a few days was easier to eat and had more flavour than food that was fresh. I personally am amazed that supermarkets praise themselves for how fresh their food is, when it would be easier to eat when after it has started breaking down. Cooking just accelerates the decomposition process. However I am digressing.

Now you will be saying, “Well who did Rastus live with? Me or my elderly neighbour?” This was a grey area. Rastus was her dog but there were many times when it was necessary for me to take him in when she was away. At first there were her trips to her children interstate which clearly didn’t do her much good as she was so relieved to be home afterwards Then there were the not infrequent trips to hospital to sort out one thing or another. So Rastus came to regard my home as part of his territory more and more.This was the impetus to fence the veggie patch to ensure all my lettuces and beans were not dug up by my house guest.

As I worked from home this was no problem and even if I had to spend some time out he was quite happy to have a walk first around the neighbourhood to read the dog news at every pole and fire hydrant before I left and there were the frequent trips to the park and the beach as well so he was not deprived.

You are probably about to ask what happened to girl in the park; well some good and some bad. We did meet her again a few times. The interaction was all between Rastus and her with a condescending nod to me now and then. She did however tell Rastus her name which was Penny. Rastus looked at me with that warning look meaning “Skip the joke about a penny for your thoughts” so I just kept dumb.

She did talk to me a little too after that. It was mainly about work or travel or her flat mates. Nothing I could use to get any closer to her, but it was an acquaintance with the tiny solace of her company whilst Rastus got all the petting.

The day came when she came up to us and started the conversation.

“Sorry.” She said. “I am leaving…a transfer.”

I could see the disappointment of Rastus’s face. Whether it was the loss of the free food supply or the knees to place his head on I don’t know which. However she turned to me and gave me a peck on the cheek.

With that Rastus gave out a moan of canine sorrow.

“It’s OK, Rastus” she says as she bends down to pat him showing him her cleavage. “You are still my special boy,” in vindication of his faithfulness.

And then she was gone, but I did get her phone number. She had written it on a small card with "Just in case he needs me" with tiniest of kisses at the end.

Ahu and the Good Life (Part 26)

2011-11-13T21:56:00.000-08:00

It was summer again and Ahu was walking on the beach with Hoata. Their two boys were running along black sands with sticks in their hands whooping and laughing scampering in and out of the water and being splashed by the breaking waves.

Ahu’s little girl Hekehoru was toddling along between the two women and running after the seagulls if they came too close and clapping her hands with delight as they took off in the air and landed further away.

Ahu then sat down putting her basket by her side and stretching out on the beach, looked up at the sky. “Life is good, Hoata, we must thank the gods for that.”

Hoata nodded in agreement. “I agree, although I am always worried when it is quiet in our house. We have had so many disasters in over the last few years it seemed that was what we should get used to.”

“I am glad for you Hoata. It must have been a great help that both Hinewai and Hatiti have settled down with their husbands. I am glad too that neither of them looks at Ahuahu anymore,” she said with a smile. “And Kamaka he is happier now?”

“Why do you not ask me outright, Ahu? I know what you mean. Does he love me like Ahuahu loves you? He is much better at tending to my needs.” She laughed and then went on. “Mind you I must tease him a little with a little chatter while I brush my body against his as though I am doing it by accident.” Hoata paused again. “Yes, Ahu I think he loves me now.”

The two women were silent for a moment just watching the children. Then Hoata went on.

“Hinewai still is not pregnant. I am sure she would like to be after losing her first baby.” Ahu nodded in agreement but kept silent.

“Look at those boys; they are growing up so fast. They come home after being with their fathers and smell of the sea and of fish. Even now they would rather be in the boats.” Ahu looked at the two splashing in the shallows.

“Fish is all very well but I like the taste of the fat animals that Ahuahu found in the forest,” said Hoata.

Ahu shook her head. “No, I am glad they are all gone. They were a constant reminder of the pakeha. We are better off eating the fish from the sea and the birds in the forest rather than have to face those ugly smelly men again.”

“You are right Ahu,” replied Hoata, “We have an abundance of food here even though we have to work hard for it.”

Ahu laughed as she looked Hoata’s disappointed face. “Well perhaps they could drop a few of those animals off on this beach for next winter, but for now life is so good.”

Rastus and me in the Park (No 2)

2011-11-09T12:24:00.000-08:00

After my first encounter with Rastus (aka Tinkerbell) we got on famously. We were birds of a feather you could say if you liked mixed metaphors, him being a dog and me not! I suppose I had been a bit of a dog in my past and that is what he liked about me. You may have noted that I didn’t say I was human. I did so deliberately as at times I despair of the human race. So with Rastus I was happy to run along with the pack as it were, an overstatement seeing there were only the two of us.

We are having a walk now, and have stopped for a paws. I know it is a bad joke but it is the sort of humour that Rastus likes. You note I haven’t told you my age, well I am older than Rastus and because of that he defers to me and for what he can get out of me. So I look for a bench in the park we are in. I find one but it is occupied by a human of the female persuasion. So I sit right on the end of the seat and Rastus after a sly glance at the girl, sits on the ground between me and her.

Rastus is a real flirt and after checking her out for sign of canine aversion decides there is none and edges a bit closer to her. She is eating a baguette, it being lunchtime, so there is a good reason for him preferring her at that moment as I had brought no consumables with me.

It’s at times like this I wish I was a dog. His steely eyes focused on the baguette as he forgets himself and edges so close to her that his chin is all but resting on her knee. She knows he is there but tolerates him as he is somehow emanating his lovable dog aura. Meanwhile I am watching the pigeons on the grass with just half an eye on my pretty neighbour. I too have noticed her knees emerging enticingly from her dress. They are very pretty knees and Rastus at this time agrees and plonks his chin on them and gives her the “Surely you need some help in eating that baguette” stare, that he is so good at.

Compliantly, she breaks a tiny piece of from the baguette and gives it to him. It gets wolfed down without touching the sides and Rastus managed to kiss her hand all in the same go with the quickest of licks.

I cannot but not notice their foreplay and decide that it is time for me to do something about it.

“Sorry about him, he’s a bit forward.” I say.

She turns to me. Hell’s boots, she is beautiful. I could lick her too. I wonder whether she would mind?

“What’s his name?” She asks hardly looking at me.

“That depends. When he is at home he is Tinkerbell, but when he is with me he is Rastus.”

At me mentioning his name Rastus turns his attention from eyeing the baguette to me for half a second affirming that statement.

“Oh, so he is not yours?” She says.

Clearly Rastus is a bit annoyed that more baguette is not coming his way, decides on another tactic and decides to lick her bare toes. She squeals with delight and looks directly at me with a smile on her face as though as I had done it.

I wish I had.

“No, I walk him for a neighbour. She can’t manage to control him any more when he’s out so he gets his exercise with me.”

She didn’t reply as she was finishing the baguette but swept the crumbs off her lap which were quickly vacuumed up by Rastus.

She then produced a carton of juice, drank that down in silence as Rastus leaned against her passively. She then turned to me and announced “Well back to work” nodding at the small private hospital across the park.

I took the carton from her and put it in the bin on my side of the seat.

“Thanks,” she said getting up. “Probably see you around.”

I nodded. “We often come through the park.”

“I know, I have noticed, but you spend most of your time talking to Rastus though.”

“That could change,” I finally muster a reply.

She shook her head. “No, I will have to have a longer conversation with Rastus first to check you out.”

With that she got up, patted Rastus on the head and with the most engaging twinkle in her eyes glanced my way. She then turned and walked across to the grass to the hospital.

Rastus looked up at me and seemed to say “Well that went well” as I hitched him back on the lead and we too left the park but in the opposite direction.

Ahu and Hinewai (Part 25)

2011-11-06T15:00:00.000-08:00

Slowly things appeared to get back to normal at Black Sands after Hinewai’s return. Ahu and Hoata helped Hinewai get over her abuse by her husband Tui from whom she was now separated and free to marry again.

Luckily she was young and the bruises and wounds soon healed, but not however her shock at being so abused.

Hinewai showed no signs of her previous flirtatious manner and appeared to help Hoata and even went to see her sister Hatiti at the Hot Springs. Her step mother Hoata had not told her that Hatiti was pregnant and it was with sadness she returned home that night and was quieter than normal and spoke only a little of her visit.

“Hatiti is happy isn’t she?” said Hoata in more of a statement than a question. “I think she is happy with Kaihutu”

“He is ugly,” responded Hinewai.

“But a hard worker” protested Hoata. “Let us hope you will find a kinder man to love and look after.”

Hinewai nodded without much enthusiasm and her father then returned home from fishing.

“Now you are better Hinewai could you help Torangi the widower? He has not been looking after himself and needs a woman to tidy his house and get him organised. Men do not have the skill of housekeeping.”

“I thank you father for bringing me back, but do not try to marry me off again. It must be my decision to live my life in the future. However I will go and do as you ask if you have told him that I would.”

Torangi was much older than Ahuahu. His wife had born him a girl and a boy child. The girl had married a year or more ago and both his wife and son had died in the tidal wave. He was a quiet man but not morose. He accepted that the gods ruled their lives and that man was just a plaything for them, but secretly wished they would stop looking on him.

Hinewai noticed what a quiet natured man he was and he was satisfied with all that she did for him.

“Would you like me to prepare your meal for you occasionally,” she offered as she left him after her first visit.

“Thank you Hinewai; that would be good after a long day's fishing.”

So it was that Hinewai became his housekeeper. They even rubbed noses when they greeted each other and the Black Sands community nodded with approval.

Kamaka expressed his gladness to Ahuahu that Hinewai was happy again as they went fishing.

“Ahuahu, your children are still but young but the joy you have now will almost certainly turn to grief. I was wrong as I can see it now to have beaten Hinewai all that time ago. She thought that it was normal for those that loved you to treat her in this way. But she seems to be happy now looking after Torangi”

Ahuahu nodded, “Perhaps we were all wrong. I too felt that her youthful playfulness was a threat and should not have reacted as I did. Who can read all the signs and omens that the gods send us in order to plan our lives? How can we interpret the flight of birds or the distant thunder and decide our action? All we can do is hope that what we ourselves do does not upset the gods.”

Kamaka slapped a friendly hand against Ahuahu’s arm.

“May our work today be blessed by the gods,’ he said as they proceeded to launch their boat.

Ahu visited Hinewai that day as she was working in Torangi’s house, carrying Hekehoru with her. Hinewai was sitting in the porch outside the house eating some fruit. Little Tangaroa ran up to her and hugged her, and she hugged him back.

“Hoata said that you may move in with Torangi,” said Ahu.

Hinewai nodded. “He is gentle and kind…" She paused here weighing up her words, “…but a little dull.”

Hinewai beckoned Ahu to follow her into the house so they could speak in private.

“He is still grieving for his wife, but he also wants to touch me. I let him because I have never been touched by a gentle man before.”

She then indicated she would like to hold Hekehoru. Ahu extracted her out from the sling and handed the sleeping child to her. Hinewai clasped her to her breast and sighed.

“Papa-tu-a-nuku,” she prayed, “Please send me a child.”

A few weeks later she and Torangi were married.

Papa-tu-a-nuku - Earth mother goddess

Rastus and me

2011-11-02T14:47:00.000-07:00

I have always loved dogs and they have tolerated me as perhaps a poor substitute for them but happy for me to go along for the ride.

So it was with Rastus. That wasn’t his real name, and he wasn’t my dog but I will tell you how I met him. It was a year or two back and Rastus was owned by an elderly neighbour of mine. Rastus didn’t know this, he thought he owned her. She had got him from the pound, she wanted a companion in her widowhood and had gone along to choose a dog and found Rastus waiting for anyone to spring him from jail, so was on his best behaviour when he was introduced. He was probably a bit quiet too as he had been deprived of some of his essential parts. My neighbour was probably given the usual sob story of a placid dog wanting a loving home to be a companion and all that trash, while he bored, ignored the implied instructions of how he was to behave. So he went home with her with his dog tag jingling on his collar. They don’t jingle these days as they are made plastic but she in her wisdom was entranced by this tinkling sound and called him Tinkerbell!

It wasn’t long before he had settled in and had made carnage of the back garden but she didn’t seem to mind as she couldn’t spend as much time tending the plants there as she would a have liked. This is where I came in and before long I was spending few hours a week tidying the place up and acquainting myself with Tinkerbell. Clearly he was out of control so I suggested I take him for a short walk after my gardening stint and have a cup of tea with her later when I brought him home. It took some time for him to understand that I was taking him for a walk and not vice-versa and it needed a few jerks on the lead for him to catch on but by the time I returned to her house he was happily walking by my side with an occasional glance up at me to acknowledge my status of nearly equal to his.

We got back to the house and were duly given a drink, me tea and Tinkerbell water and it was as I was sitting down in the Lounge Room chatting with my neighbour that I started noticing a few marks on the furniture and the cushions. I pointed out these puncture holes from the dog’s teeth to her but she had not noticed them. Clearly her eyesight was fading.

“Oh, Tinkerbell, you naughty dog,” she said.

He ignored her completely. So I suggested he be given just one room in the house to stay in, preferably the kitchen or laundry when she was out and she reluctantly agreed. He took no part in the conversation and decided he wanted to go into the garden so I got up and let him out and he straight away deposited a load in among the rose bushes, reversed and then covered it with dirt.

“Oh you are a rat’s arse.” I say. He wagged his tail, came up to me and jumped up to put his paws on me as if to say "Well that is a better name."

”I can’t call you Rats Arse,” I whispered. “I will call you Rastus instead, is that OK?”

I could swear he nodded his head, and that is how he and I became friends.

(To be continued)

Ahu and Hoata talk to Kamaka (Part 24)

2011-10-30T03:14:00.000-07:00

Ahu and Hoata did not worry about their visiting a sacred site that may have been tapu when they had overlooked the whole of the valley of the big river settlement, as Hoata had to tell her husband Kamaka, that his daughter Hinewai had been beaten by her new husband. What made it worse that Tui her young husband had beaten her so badly she had lost the baby she had been carrying which they had all been unaware of.

“Please come with me when I tell Kamaka” pleaded Hoata. “I may be lost for words to explain what has happened.”

“It is your family matter, but we will ask if I may be present when you talk to him” Ahu replied. ”But first I must go home and talk to Ahuahu and Tangaroa. I will come when we have eaten.”

Ahuahu was making a little toy canoe for Tangaroa when she arrived home. He was carving it out of wood and making little outriggers that were tied on with flax to make it look like the real thing. She bent down and hugged the little boy then rubbed noses and touched Ahuahu first on the shoulder then on the face looking sadly into his eyes.

Ahuahu finished off the boat and then asked Ahu if she needed to talk. She nodded and then bent down and undid the sling to take her sleeping baby out and hand her to him. As Tangaroa played with his boat Ahuahu waited for Ahu to talk.

“It has been a long day with much sadness” said Ahu bluntly. “Hinewai is being beaten by her husband and is very unhappy.” Hoata wants me to be with her when she tells Kamaka as it is a very serious matter. But let us eat first then I will go to be there for her.”

Ahuahu nodded and then they ate together and prepared the children for bed.

Later that evening when Ahu had returned from her meeting with Kamaka and Hoata, she told him what had happened.

Kamaka was surprised that Ahu had come to see him that evening and looked enquiringly at Hoata his wife.

“Husband” said Hoata. “We visited Hinewai at the Big River and she is not happy. I have asked Ahu to be here as she can tell you what she has learned too. Hinewai’s husband Tui beats her regularly and she has many bruises on her that we could see. She told us that she has lost a baby that she was carrying because of the beatings.”

Kamaka looked at Hoata and asked “Why is Ahu here? Is it not enough to hear this, must I also be shamed in front of Ahuahu’s wife?”

“May I speak, Kamaka?” asked Ahu.

Kamaka nodded.

“Kamaka, I too felt ashamed when I saw and heard Hinewai tell of her life at Big River. For all the trouble that she was here I would gladly have her back rather than know that she is being hurt by a cruel husband, young though he may be. She went into the marriage full of hope and the desire to be a happy and fulfilled wife but her life is of fear and pain and humiliation. You remember her as a funny, silly girl with her whole life stretching out before her. Now she has no hope anymore. I am so ashamed that I wanted her gone.” She said this with her eyes on the floor in her sadness and not looking at Kamaka.

Kamaka put his hand up to stop Ahu from talking. “Ahu, I do not want you to look on me as I think and talk about Hinewai, I am much grieved. Go home to Ahuahu. You are very welcome here but we must discuss how we can help Hinewai alone. It is a difficult whakahaere for us to organise”

The next day Kamaka had gone from the village. Later that evening he returned and he brought Hinewai with him. She followed him silently with her head bowed. Hoata later told Ahu that Kamaka had returned all the gifts that he received when Hinewai was given to Tui and in addition he had to give much more in the way of carved goods and tapa cloth to buy her back. Their village chief approved of his action and suggested that Hinewai might be the second wife of one of his sons. But this was merely a gesture to indicate that she was welcome back in the village and it was not a serious proposal.

A few months later she married a pouaru or widower named Torangi but was never able to have any children of her own. It was said that she took young men as lovers but not all ears heard of that.

Whakahaere - Operation

Pouaru - Widower

Recollections of a Warped Mind (No 12)

2011-10-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

Hungary, Communism and the Suez Canal

A few years after WW2 our usual Geography teacher at school took extended leave to visit India. Her replacement was a rather plump and pleasant woman from Finland. Sadly she couldn’t teach Geography without putting a political slant on everything. Nowadays political geography and current affairs are quite normal, for us however the notion was quite new, and I for one took to it like a duck to water. We were allowed to ask the question "Why?” rather than just accept the facts. This put a completely different perspective on the countries of the world. She cooked her own goose of course because being a Finn she protested too much about the injustice that her country had experienced, when we all thought that they sided with Germany initially only to be attacked by Russia for their trouble.

Later when the Hungarian uprising took place in 1956 the Communist forces quickly crushed the protesters without much of a protest from the Western nations. This was because Britain was itself doing something ignominious at the same time. Egypt’s General Neguib had finally thrown out King Farouk as head of state. I say thrown out which is not quite correct he had been living on the French Riviera for years in luxury while his poor nation was a tool for both Britain and France to exploit the rest of the world with their control of the Suez Canal. When General Nasser came to power in Egypt he nationalised the Canal and said it now belonged to them. Britain under the Conservative Prime Minister, Anthony Eden then sent in the troops to reclaim it. World opinion, particularly that of the Americans was against this action. The Americans clearly could see some advantage for them if they opposed the British as their own presence in the Middle East might then be welcome and there was a lot of oil there.

All such plans badly misfired as Egypt looked for Soviet Aid, the US continued to support Israel and from that time on the whole of that region of the world has been in total turmoil ever since. Meanwhile Hungary returned to Communist control for a few more years and those refugees escaping to the west we made welcome, depriving those on council home waiting lists of houses by their getting preferential treatment.

Newly married my wife and I put our names on the Council list for housing but we never got anywhere near the top of the list because we never had any children, didn’t live with our parents, didn’t work for the Council and were not poor enough. Oh! And one more thing - we were not Hungarian.

After word

This piece, as you may have guessed was written many, many years ago. Readers may throw up their hands in disbelief to contemplate Old Egg as a rebel and non conformist. Youth is a testing time and permits young adults to test the water of their own individuality. Living (and surviving) is making mistakes and learning from them. Thinking something radical 50 or so years ago does not stain you irrevocably but develops you and makes you more colourful. How do I feel now? Well in politics I usually vote for one party then when they disappoint jump ship and rebel. So should you. Never let a politician feel secure!

Thank you all for reading and commenting on these recollections of a warped mind.

Ahu at the big river (Part 23)

2011-10-26T23:44:00.000-07:00

The work on rebuilding the Black Sands village was now complete and despite the moans from the men that they had further to travel to get to their boats and go fishing they were secretly happy they were away from their wives for longer and the wives were happy that that their men were not always pestering them.

Ahu however was very happy; she had her little girl Hekehoru to look after and often she would be able to enjoy her by herself as Ahuahu would often take Tangaroa in the boat with him fishing. She knew she was probably the happiest woman in the village where she could enjoy her busy life during the day and also enjoy her husband at night.

Ahu and Hoata continued to do their work together tending the vegetable plot and one morning Hoata suggested they go up to see Hinewai at the Big River as they hadn’t heard from her for months. Even if they started early it would take them all day to walk there and give them time to get back home by evening, so they decided to go the following day.

Hoata had suggested to Hatiti that she come also to see her sister but she was not inclined to which Hoata thought was jealousy that Hinewai had married into a family with great wealth. Ahu however could see that she was in love with the rugged Kaihutu and liked working at the Hot Springs with him. Hatiti also took Ahu aside and put her hand on her tummy and just looked at her and then said “I have everything now I am happy here.”

Ahuahu was pleased that he would look after Tangaroa the next day and was glad he did not have to go to see Hinewai. Kamaka also agreed to take his and Hoata’s little boy Paikea who would play with Tangaroa.

The two women left soon after dawn and made their way at the foot of the escarpment where there was a track that avoided the forested area. It was not too warm and the women talked of many things. They ate the fruit they had taken with them and drank at the fast flowing streams they had to cross. Ahu’s baby Hekehoru slept nearly all the way in her sling with just a brief spell awake while she was fed at Ahu’s breast. Ahu handed her to Hoata while she washed at the nearby stream. When she returned Hoata was holding the baby with tenderness and looking up at Ahu said, “Why cannot I have another one?”

“Doesn’t Kamaka not want you all the time?”

“Not all the time.” There was a pause then she went on “Well not at all really”

“Does he comb your hair?” Again Hoata shook her head. Ahu then talked to her what she would do describing how she and Ahuahu would just touch gently and whisper to each other and pretend to bite the other one until they both would be so relaxed they just melted together.

“Won’t he think that strange?” asked Hoata.

“Not if you talk of vegetables, and of seeing a kiwi or how fast Paikea can run.”

Hoata laughed “I should come and listen at you hut but I would probably burst out laughing.”

With that the two women got up and continued their way to the big river. Their way took them over a large rounded hill and when they got to the top they saw the view below them and were amazed. It was a vista so vast that they could imagine that the whole world was spread out before them. From their vantage point they could see the silvery thread of the river and the clumps of trees and the little hillocks like islands standing up on the plain and the could the smoke of fires from the villages dotted about beneath them and they like the gods, looked down and counted the actions of the vulnerable people below.

The two women gasped at the sight and wondered how to tell their husbands who would surely think what they saw was a figment of their imagination.

“And Hinewai lives here?” said Ahu.

Hoata nodded. “We did not come this way when Hinewai was married. It is as though we have discovered some great secret. Let us get down into valley quickly before the gods see us trespassing in their domain."

As they made their way down the women agreed not to tell their husbands in case they had committed a tapu. They found Hinewai’s village set close to the river under some tall trees and were directed to her house.

“Hinewai!” Hoata called and they heard a movement in the hut. Hinewai came out to meet them her face lowered but Ahu could see at once that she had been beaten. Her face was bruised and she had been crying.

Hoata went up to her and greeted her warmly.

“I have brought Ahu who has never been this far south. She has a present for you.”

Hinewai continued to look down but murmured thanks to them both.

“Come inside” she finally said.

They all went inside. She told them that her husband was cruel and knew that all he had to do was go complaining to his parents and they would always take his side.

“I so wanted to be married, but being so I have lost everything. I have lost my family, I have lost my sister and I lost my baby when he beat me so badly. And still he beats me.”

Ahu and Hoata were silent. Ahu cried and Hoata’s face was grim.

“He should not beat you if you are with child when you are so vulnerable,” said Hoata. “Can you not talk to the parents?”

“They think he can do no wrong. “ Hinewai wailed.

At this Ahu kneeling beside her gave her the present. “I gave one like this to Hatiti and you should have one too. It is a tiki of the god Tangaroa. But rather than keeping it, why don’t you give it to Tui? It sounds like he is still a little boy at heart.”

“You were so strong Hinewai,” said Hoata, “perhaps you must not show that with him, and then he might not hurt you.”

Hinewai turned to Ahu and then said, “All I wanted was to be loved, as you are loved by Ahuahu.”

After the women had rested and eaten a little food they returned to the Black Springs village wondering what they could say to their husbands.

My Backyard

2011-10-20T00:05:00.000-07:00

My backyard did not end at the rusty three wire fence at the bottom of the garden. That was merely the portal to my magical world so that I could leave the confines of home with a troublesome brother, parental stricture and the mundane life of ordinary average people that association with would stunt my growth and development.

So I slipped away between that fence's wire strands to set foot in a land of every wonder and delight. The clucking of the hens and the order of my father’s vegetable garden were gone and I like Livingstone before me could view a land of deepest mystery and untold delights.

The grass was high (for me that is) and I strode my small steps across that meadow with haymaking still far off and observed by unseen rabbits and probably a fox cross that his stalking would come to nothing as I reached the woodland not a hundred yards from home.

If the meadow was the sea through which I sailed, my entry into a fantastic wood filled with tall trees and hazel bushes and the calls of birds warning of my approach were to me a jungle in Africa where my eyes were peeled for dangers underfoot and as well heeding the scampering of squirrels in the trees chirping their disgust that this explorer should invade their territory.

The occasional clearing would be invaded with brambles to snare my clothes as I ploughed my way through this jungle realm and acute hearing would alert me to the tinkle of a water course where my parched lips could find relief in the pristine stream that wound its way through this new found paradise.

A flash of blue darts past my eyes and a kingfisher flees from my approach as the moist ground now sucks at my feet and there looking down I spy the disappearing tail of a grass snake disturbed in its hunt for food.

I kneel down on the banks of the stream and scoop up a welcome draught of fresh water in my hands to cool my endeavours thus far. Near by is a fallen tree whose old trunk is now covered with moss that forms a right royal seat for the explorer who sit and waits, listening for the sound of the natives of that magical place.

All is silent even the wild creatures are stilled as they sense another presence yet still far off. I too strain my ears to hear that fearful sound now booming with frightful import sending all my fellow creatures fleeing for safety.

“Robin, its lunchtime!” Came the call.

Ahu sends Hatiti away (Part 22)

2011-10-19T15:00:00.000-07:00

Many babies are born but few survive. It is as though the gods tease man showing him that they can create life but humans are always at the gods’ mercy who may snatch their creation away. Ahu knew this and tried not to show too much pleasure that she and Ahuahu had got their girl child. They thanked their favourite gods and much thanks went to Tangaroa the god of the sea for allowing them to eat every day.

They did not say how beautiful their daughter was, and even Hoata who came to see Ahu after the birth said “Girls are such trouble.”

The gods must have been pleased that Ahu and Ahuahu respected them as the little girl was healthy. So they called her Hekehoru or fairy spirit in the hope that the gods would think on her as one of them.

At first Hatiti would come round every day to help Ahu but after a little while Ahu had to breach the subject of her closeness to Ahuahu. Ahu said to her. “Hatiti, you have been a great help to me. But the time has come for your father to find you a husband. You must not be here now that Ahuahu may not touch me. You must find your own husband to love.”

Hatiti burst into tears, and said, “Where do you find a husband like Ahuahu? Show me where.”

Ahu finished feeding her baby Hekehoru and handed her to Hatiti to hold. “Ahuahu and I were told to marry, it was a joke for the people of the Gannet Island village to have the two orphans marry. Much happiness came out of our sadness. You too can find happiness but do not think that the gods will not play with you too before you find a husband to love you. It is better to have sadness first before happiness.”

“I am sad now, Ahu” replied Hatiti.

“Why don’t you go to the hot springs and look sad then,” said Ahu. “There is a man there who is not married and would like a beautiful wife I am sure.”

“You do not mean Kaihutu? But he has a broken nose, and he has lost some of his teeth.”

Ahu laughed, “Ahuahu has a terrible scar on his cheek and your father has lost some teeth. Are they ugly?”

“No, you are right Ahu, they are both handsome and I love them both. It is funny I never notice that Ahuahu has a scar when I talk to him.”

“Stop talking to Ahuahu and start talking to Kaihutu,” replied Ahu. “I do not want you as his second wife. We would fight all the time. It is time you had babies of your own. They will not have broken noses and missing teeth.”

Then thinking about what she had said, Ahu laughed out loud, “I was wrong, babies don’t have teeth. Go up to the springs this afternoon with Hoata, she will be able to talk to him and persuade him to speak to Kamaka your father.”

The next day Hatiti came to see Ahu again. She was smiling happily. She told Ahu that while Hoata was combing Hatiti’s hair by the side of a pool, Kaihutu and his mother approached them and spoke to Hoata and asked if Hatiti was now recovered from her ordeal when the sea flooded the village. They did not stay long but Kaihutu could not take his eyes off Hatiti all the time the two mothers spoke.

“I like the way his nose looks,” said Hatiti, “It makes him look very strong.”

Ahu breathed a sigh of relief.

A few days later as Ahu was feeding Hekehoru and Ahuahu was playing with Tangaroa she spoke to him.

“Hatiti now has a friend, Hoata is pleased. She will probably spend less time with us now.”

Ahuahu thought about what she had said. He had to be careful not to show disappointment that Hatiti had a suitor but he should show disappointment that Hatiti would not help Ahu anymore. Ahu could see him struggling to say something other than the grunt he made when she told him. So Ahu spoke again.

“It is Kaihutu, the one with the broken nose.”

“He is lucky to have found her,” he replied tentatively poking the embers of the fire with a stick.

“Now you have only me to look after. It is said when you save somebody's life you are responsible for them. He will take that job from you.”

“I want to look after only you.”

“That is what I want too.” said Ahu as she removed Hekehoru from her breast. She glanced up and saw him look at her body with desire and the tiniest of smiles came to her face.

Recollections of a warped mind (No 11)

2011-10-17T23:31:00.001-07:00

7) Victory in Europe 1945 despite my brother’s interference

War eventually came to an end in May 1945. It lasted longer for our troops in the Far East of course, but the euphoria of victory in Europe was such that we now thought we were invincible. The newspapers had sparingly been providing us with news for a year or two with much being said about the Second Front for far too long. The first front of course was the horrific war being waged by Germany against the Russians. The Russians implausibly were on our side only because they were fighting the Germans. They were our allies for the duration of the war but not much long after. It was a marriage of convenience and it was this hypocrisy that opened my eyes to the political machinations of men in power even at such an early age. The Second Front was avoided by the western allies (Britain, its colonies and dominions and the United States and the few other countries that had not been overrun by Hitler and wanted to be involved in the War). Britain certainly did not want a second front if it meant that hundreds of thousands of British soldiers were going to die on European soil as had happened in the First World War. The Americans didn’t want a second front unless they could see some distinct advantage for themselves when it was all over. So the war dragged on through 1941 to 1943 whilst the Russians were slowly wearing down the German fighting machine and using up all their men and material resources. The allies had plans of course but were reluctant to put them in place. Eventually the not too secret invasion was arranged. It was too hard to hide the massive build up of troops and equipment in Southern England in the spring of 1944, so they built huge dummy camps and vehicles and placed them in and around the Southern Counties to confuse the enemy reconnaissance. The real invasion force made their way down to the channel coast by various means for weeks on end over the roads and lanes of Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire. They were quite obvious, the convoys streamed continuously night and day through the towns and villages, tearing up the roads, keeping us awake at night and us boys inattentive during the day at school as we heard them pass the school’s front wall.

One evening my brother Bryan produced with pride a detailed map of Southern England which had fallen from a tank grinding through the town earlier that day. He had obviously whisked it quickly out of sight and left the poor tank commander to figure how to get down to Portsmouth Harbour ‘blind’. We didn’t hear of any missing tanks on the news but they wouldn’t have told us anyway. I like to imagine this lone tank lost in the West Country perhaps at Barnstaple not knowing where he was going all because Bryan wouldn’t give the map back. The invasion took place regardless and Field Marshall Montgomery had great difficulty advancing across Normandy with one tank short but eventually the battle was won and victory was assured.

In later years after the war, Montgomery settled in a delightful house at Isington Mill near Alton in Hampshire. He used to drive in his old Rolls Royce to Alton Post Office in the High Street, to collect his aged pension there. I only saw him once face to face and the glare he gave me made me feel sure that he knew where that map had ended up!

Ahu’s new baby (Part 21)

2011-10-14T23:27:00.000-07:00

Ahu was near the time for the arrival of her new baby but as with all Maori women it was a natural process that did not disturb their usual work in digging the vegetable plot, going into the forest for leaves or picking up shellfish from the shore.

Ahu had wandered along the shore with Hatiti who was now great friends with her. Hoata, Hatiti's step mother stayed behind looking after her half brother Paikea and Ahu’s son Tangaroa as they played together.

Hatiti loved Ahu and Ahuahu and spent much time with them now that her sister Hinewai was married and living with her husband Tui. She knew she should not look on Ahuahu with desire but she said to herself that she must find a husband like him soon or burst with frustration.

She had been to see Hinewai living in her new home in the village close to the big river and was envious that they appeared happy, especially as Hinewai kept asking her when she would be married too. She looked on every boy of marriageable age in the hope that a spark of desire would inflame her, but she could only remember Ahuahu carrying her back after rescuing her and remembering the feel of his bare skin against hers and his voice as he spoke reassuring her that she would be safe.

As she and Ahu waded in the shallow waters of the outgoing tide watching for air bubbles from the shellfish in the sand she noticed that Ahu was walking much slower, then stopped altogether.

“Hatiti,” Ahu said, “The baby is coming very quickly, the waters have broken, and I must find a safe place in the trees up there.” She pointed to the dense woodland above the dunes.

“Should you not try to get back so the midwives can help?” asked Hatiti. “I can run back for them now,”

“This little one is in a great hurry. Mark where I go into the woods and run back for help.” She gasped with the need to find a safe spot. “Tell Ahuahu if you see him.”

Hatiti ran off along the beach and when she turned to see if Ahu was still there she had gone from the beach. As she ran along the beach she saw Ahuahu working on his canoe.

“Ahuahu, Ahu is having the baby!” She paused to get her breath, “I am going back for help.” She then ran on.

Ahuahu stopped what he was doing, stowed his tools in the canoe and set off up the beach to find Ahu.

He found her tracks in the sand and entered the undergrowth, and called out to her. “Ahu, it is your husband. Where are you?”

There was only silence apart from a slight rustling of the wind in the leaves. He stood very still and listened very hard. He could hear her panting a little way away. “I can hear you Ahu, I am coming.”

As he approached her, she looked up from her squatting position. “Ahuahu, you are here, you should not be. It is tapu…for women only.” She panted again then let out a little cry, turned to him. “The baby is nearly here; do not ever tell anyone, what you have seen.”

Ahu breathed heavily again, screwed up her face and pushed again. Her face relaxed as the baby was delivered and she let out a deep sigh.

“Ahuahu, come closer and see the baby. See it is a little girl.”

Ahuahu knelt down beside her and stretched out his hand to touch the baby. Ahu shook her head, “No, not yet, she must be cleaned up first,” She said. “Can you get me some fresh water and a shell to cut the cord later? And listen very carefully if the women are coming, you must disappear. You must not be seen.”

Ahuahu nodded then touched Ahu on the shoulder. She looked up at him and then said with a little smile. “And do not let anyone see you have been crying.”

Ahuahu returned to the beach, but it was deserted so he found some shells and filled the larger ones with water from a stream a little way away. When he emerged on to the beach again he could see Hatiti running back.

He couldn’t make up his mind whether or not to tell her that he had seen Ahu, so he kept quiet.

“What have you there?” She asked.

“You can give Ahu some water if you find her,” he said.

She looked at him a little strangely. “Have you seen her?”

He looked into her eyes, hers were laughing as she said. “Men should see, but don’t tell anyone that I said that. Come on let’s find her, the women will take ages to get here, and you will have gone by then.”

They rejoined Ahu; her face fell when she saw Hatiti and looked up at Ahuahu with a quizzical look on her face.

“Go now, Ahuahu, unless you want to be a real woman and bury the afterbirth too,” said Hatiti.

“Ahuahu, you must act surprised when we get back to the village,” called out Ahu as he went away through the woods back home, avoiding the beach. The women then started to clean up the baby.

Ahu talks to Hatiti (Part 20)

2011-10-12T15:04:00.000-07:00

Hatiti’s recovery was very slow. She wouldn’t discuss the marriage to her promised husband Tui. Tui was quite young still and his parents had thought that Hatiti although young too was adult and sensible enough to be a good wife for him. Tui’s family came from a inland settlement even further south than the Hot Springs, it was close to a wide and fast flowing river with much fresh water fish to be caught in fish traps and hand held nets.

Word was sent to the Black Sands village which was now being rebuilt on the hill close to the hot springs that Tui’s father wanted to pay his respects to Kamaka and to see if Hatiti had recovered from her ordeal.

The visit did not go well. Hatiti was quite listless when she was presented to Maranu the father and Iorangi the mother. She kept putting her hand up to her neck to hide the scars and she showed none of the vitality they had admired in her before.

Hinewai however was polite and respectfully bowed her head to them when she was introduced. Kamaka sat down with them to eat and drink and to discuss the marriage. It was Iorangi that whispered to her husband “Hatiti is not the same girl we met before, she has not recovered. If Tui is to marry it would be better for him to marry the healthy sister.”

Maranu merely nodded and then turned to Kamaka and said “I am sorry that Hatiti has not yet recovered from her injuries. We are anxious that Tui be married soon. Do you think that she will be well by the next full moon?”

Kamaka could see that he was being pressured so that any negative response would be an insult. He rubbed his hands together staring down at them as though he were counting the days to that event. Although he knew it was less than ten.

“Maranu my friend,” Kamaka replied, “Time will heal Hatiti but if you want a healthy wife for Tui your son before the next full moon, you may consider Hatiti’s sister Hinewai, as she too is ready for marriage. She could be the strong wife you want for him.” At this point he shook his head a little. “Already there are others who have noticed her, but she is younger.” Then he looked at Iorangi, “All she needs a mother’s guidance.”

Kamaka then shook his head again and went on. “But Hatiti may not be fully recovered for three moons even if Rangi smiles upon her. I would prefer it that you wait till then.” This was not to rule her out or to renege on the agreement but to show he was still true to his word.

Maranu turned just slightly to see Iorangi’s face. She was looking down at the mat on the floor but nodded her agreement. Maranu following her advice turned back and smiling he leaned forward to Kamaka. “Tui will marry Hinewai” He smiled broadly and held Kamaka by the shoulders and rubbed noses with him. Iorangi with her head still bowed, smiled also.

Hinewai was called in, and told of the arrangement. Although it would have been best just to nod her head in acceptance, she smiled broadly too and spoke more to the mother rather than the father saying “I will try to make your son Tui happy.”

Luckily they did not notice her lack of respect to the father as Tui’s parents were now thinking that they had somehow won the marriage arrangement.

News quickly passed around the village. Ahu and Ahuahu were astounded but glad too that Hinewai would no longer be a nuisance to all the married men in the village. Ahu decided to visit Hatiti and took her a little Tiki necklet carved out of hardwood for her. Hoata was there and looked a little confused with the change of arrangements with Kamaka’s two daughters by his first wife.

“Ahu has come to talk to you Hatiti” Hoata said.

As she took Ahu in to see her, Hatiti looked up and smiled at Ahu. “So you have heard that I am not to be wed now. I am glad. Ahuahu rescuing me has made me want to be married to a strong man not a little boy.”

Ahu went over to her and showed her the tiki while Hoata went outside to attend to her little boy Paikea who had started crying.

“I will be better soon but I did not want to show it before the arrangements had been made today,” Hatiti went on.

Smiling Ahu put her finger to her lips, “Do not tell anyone else, or else they will think that you are a little schemer.”

“Secretly my father is pleased.” Hatiti went on. “He thought I was dead and now he has two teeth missing because of that. That showed me he loved me and I want to hold on to that love a little longer.”

Ahu nodded, smoothing her hands over her round belly, “Let’s hope I have a daughter for Ahuahu.”

“Even if it is a boy, he has a daughter in me, as he rescued me.”

Tears came to Ahu’s eyes, “Now I can love you as a daughter too. I was jealous when I saw you being held so close by him when he brought you home. Then I learned that he tended you in your nakedness. A wife always fears her man will look over his shoulder to admire a younger girl.”

“It would be strong man to love a girl, covered with mud and blood and vomit even if she was naked, but he treated me tenderly as though I was his daughter and I will respect him for that for ever.” Hatiti said.

When Hoata returned, Hatiti indicated that she would like to sit outside rather than being stuck inside moping. “I want to see the new village being built” she added fingering her tiki now hanging from her neck from a piece of string made from woven flax.

Recollections of a Warped Mind (No 10)

2011-10-10T22:49:00.000-07:00

6) Hitler’s Terror weapons and my disdain for them

Having started school in war time I knew no better than to accept that our way of life in the early 1940’s was normal. I was, as I have said before a miserable child. My first day at school presumably in September 1941 was not a happy one. I had to leave the comfort of home and the exclusive possession of my mother that I enjoyed during the daytime and mix with other children and possibly have to do things for myself. Mum was anxious to have me off her hands so that she could supplement the family income with some form of work. That first day is a blank, but the next morning I remember clearly as I refused outright to return to school having ‘been there and done that’. This was clearly a problem as I was left with Granny Kimber while Mum pursued her new career which initially was a helper in the school canteen. She later got a job in a Walker’s Stores, a grocery shop in Downing Street, Farnham, where she stayed for the duration of the war, rising to illustrious position of First Hand!

My minor victory on that second day was turned into total defeat for me the next when I had to return to school full time. Luckily I saw little of my brother as I was in the infants and he was two years ahead of me. Each morning we all got up after Dad had gone off to work in London. Our faces and hands were washed over the kitchen sink and we were bundled into our clothes and set off to walk with Mum to the school about a mile away. We boys carried our gas masks in square fibre boxes slung around our necks. It was heinous crime to turn up to school without them. Because the previous world war twenty years or so before poison gas had been used in the trenches and the likelihood of it being used on civilians this time was thought to be high. The walk to school was enjoyable and generally uneventful. One day however it wasn’t. Daydreaming as usual and not looking where I was going I walked straight into a traffic light pole and knocked myself out for a few seconds. After a scolding and a rub better we set off again.I would mention here that there were on 2 traffic lights in Farnham at that time so I should have marvelled at it rather than ignored it.

Occasionally the weather was too inclement to walk and we went in by the number 14 bus operated by the Aldershot and District Traction Company. The trouble with this was that we got to school too early and had half an hour to muck around before going in, Mum having stayed on the bus to get to work. Needless to say we explored the whole area around the school and found some very interesting places to play. There were brick air raid shelters built in the roads to provide people some protection in case of air raids. There was hardly enough room for delivery vans to pass by, but as there was so little traffic then it didn’t matter. We also found a disused factory site with a tall brick chimney that had a furnace under it. I climbed in and looking up could see the sky with clouds racing past ever so quickly high in the opening at the end of the stack, that was exciting as no one else was game to squeeze in. Then there was the large Farnham Park where huge concrete blocks had been built to discourage enemy gliders from landing and disgorging hundreds of German soldiers to overpower the citizens of Farnham and presumably our school adjacent.

We lived just far enough from London to miss most of the raids on that city, and there was no big industry to destroy in our neighbourhood. Later when Hitler did unleash his real terror weapons we had become very blasé about the war. We heard the doodlebug or V1 rocket for the first time when we were playing cricket in a field adjoining our street but we knew we were safe because if you could hear them it was all right. When their throbbing rocket engines stopped you had to take cover very quickly as it meant the bomb was then on the way down. The later more powerful V2 rockets were not a thing to worry about at all, either they missed you or you were dead! They were shot off high into the stratosphere and without much control landed where they liked with absolutely no warning at all, not even an air raid siren. The traditional bombing that did occur near to our house was of mainly stray bombs dropped by accident or unloaded when the true target couldn’t be reached by the then returning bombers. It was comforting to know that if a bomb did drop on the house it was not really meant for you!

Wars are not terrifying for boys only exciting. The true impact and meaning of the war only came home to us when we found that a chum at school stopped coming, and we had to pray for him at assembly. But we soon put that out of our minds and returned to our bartering for war relics like bits of shrapnel, bullet casings and foreign cigarette packets.

Ahuahu and Hatiti (Part 19)

2011-10-09T06:12:00.000-07:00

The village was still flooded the next morning although there were signs that the sea water was now receding after the earthquake out to sea has caused the sea to come rushing in to devastate almost everyone’s homes.

Ahu and Ahuahu and Tangaroa slept on the ground on a little hillock a little way from the village. Hoata had found Kamaka and Hinewai but the elder daughter Hatiti was missing. She was probably in their house when the wave had hit and had almost certainly drowned as it was engulfed. But they couldn’t find her body which was assumed to have been washed out to sea. Kamaka had already knocked some of his teeth out in his sorrow at losing his favourite daughter. Hinewai cried all the time and had cut her arms to show her grief. The old widow Atahai had also died as she too was in her hut when the water destroyed her home. In all about 20 people had died or were missing most of them children.

The water from the stream that ran past the village tasted foul but there was nothing else to drink. Kamaka and Ahuahu's canoe was missing together with most of the other boats.

The funerals for those who had died were held with much wailing and sadness. The funeral held in an open space in the forest a short walk from the devastated village was a sombre affair with almost all families except Ahu’s grieving for relatives.

The day after the men of the village met on a hillside between the village and the hot springs. After discussing the situation and the need to atone the gods it was finally agreed to rebuild the village where they were now meeting. For men like Ahuahu and Kamaka it would mean a much longer walk to the beach to fish but clearly it would be safer than staying on the low lying land they were on previously.

Ahuahu had made a temporary shelter with branches, leaves and pieces that were still usable from their old house. There was only just enough room for the three of them to fit the shelter to sleep at night what with the saved utensils and tools as well as the garments they had salvaged.

Far to the west the mountain still smoked but it was no longer angry and slowly the life of the village inhabitants regained some order. At night Ahu would not let Ahuahu leave her for a moment and with one hand touching him and the other Tangaroa she had to lie on her back. Ahuahu gently caressed her rounded tummy and talked both to her and to the unborn baby and his soothing voice was just what she needed to relax. He also told her of the change of plans now that Hatiti had died.

“Kamaka will ask the parents if they would like their son to accept Hinewai instead,” he told her.

“Will they?” asked Ahu dreamily.

“Would you?”

“Hinewai will be very lucky if they do.” Ahu said then pulled his hand over to caress her breasts. “It will be very lucky for Hoata too, she will have Kamaka all to herself.”

Ahuahu shook his head, “Kamaka is hurting a lot and he will be a changed man because he could see his first wife in Hatiti.” As Ahu murmured some words to him, he went on, “Tomorrow I will go down to the shore to gather up the drift wood that has been thrown up on the sands. Will you come with me?”

Ahu shook her head, “No, tomorrow Hoata and I will looks at the vegetable plot to see if any can be saved.” With that she fell asleep.

Then next morning Ahuahu found his machete in the ruins of their house and set off down to the beach and started gathering pieces of wood and piling them high above the beach. He had wandered some way north and was about to turn back when he went inland into the undergrowth to look for the stream for a drink of water. Even here there were signs that the sea had come this far inland with broken branches and even marooned shellfish and scuttling crabs underfoot.

He stopped and listened hard to drown out the background noise of the sea. There was a call. It was a faint but plaintive cry. It sounded like “Tohu” repeated faintly over and over again. He stopped, and stayed as still and as quiet as he could.

“Tohutohu.” The voice again called.

This time Ahuahu worked out the direction and headed straight for it. Every now and then he would stop and call out “I am here. Keep calling.”

Eventually he found a bedraggled figure leaning up against a tree. It was young woman. She was dirty, naked and scratched and bruised all over.

“Hatiti? Is that you” asked Ahuahu.

The young woman burst into tears and called out his name, “Ahuahu, Ahuahu, Ahuahu,” over and over again.

He went straight up to her, knelt down and wrapped her in his arms. “I have got you. I will take you back but I will need to clean you up a bit first. I am going back to the stream to get some water. It is not far. I will talk to you all the time.”

Hatiti nodded still crying holding him, not wanting him to go. Gently he released her grip and talking all the time walked back the way he had come to get to the stream.

Ahuahu was back quickly with two shells full of water. He got her to drink some which she did greedily then with the rest attempted to clean her up. She had a few deep cuts which still oozed blood and the dirt was carefully wiped away with a part of his clothing. He then took off his half cloak and tried to cover her nakedness. All the time he was attending to her she held on to him too frightened to let him go.

“The cloak does not cover you properly Hatiti, so I will tie it around your waist and I will carry you back. Hold me tight and you will not be exposed.”

Hatiti nodded again, and attempted to get up and as she did so Ahuahu put her arms around his neck and he picked her up under her knees.

“We will have to walk back along the shore, let me know if you need a rest”

“It will be you that will need a rest, Ahuahu” Hatiti said.

“Good girl, you will have a wedding to look forward to”

“He won’t want me, if he sees me being carried from the forest by a nearly naked man.”

“Even with the cuts and bruises he will still want you Hatiti”

With that she held him even tighter.

It took them till after midday to get back to the temporary encampment. When Ahauahu said it was Hatiti there was a great wailing and crying thinking that she had been found dead. She held on so tight to him that she didn’t appear to be alive. Kamaka rushed toward them with tears in his eyes.

“She is alive, she is alive” said Ahuahau as he handed Hatiti to her father.

“You are truly my brother Ahuahu.” Kamaka said.

Hinewai alone looked very cross.

Tohu, Tohutohu - Save me or Help me

Recollections of a Warped Mind (No 9)

2011-10-06T14:46:00.000-07:00

5) My involvement with Fighter Command in 1940

The indoctrination that took place during the war affected everything we did. It was one thing to be bombarded in the newspapers with acceptable news, but even in peripheral things there was the subversive mind twisting of our young brains. On one hand the bad news was reported obliquely. “Bombing raids took place in several industrial centres in Britain overnight,” not telling us where, as though that was reassuring. At the same time advertising happily talked of winning through, we were urged to save for victory, dig for victory, and to be like Dad and keep Mum! The jungle telegraph however was quite effective, it took next to no time for the news of heavy raids on the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth to be passed word of mouth across the country and the bombing of London we knew about because Dad would tell us about it the evening after work or in the morning if he had been on fire watch duty the previous night.

One incident in our own family which brought the war very close to us was the tale of the egg. One poor chicken in our backyard run laid and enormous misshapen egg. This egg was raffled off to the neighbours and friends of the family and the proceeds were sent to the “Buy a Fighter fund” which many a local Council had organised. So our poor chicken unwittingly helped the war effort and contributed in some small part to the building of a Hurricane or a Spitfire fighter plane.

The elements are not conscious of the deeds of man and the summer of 1940 was a glorious one. For Britain however there was little joy, having had to endure a defeat of massive proportions when the allied forces finally came up against Hitler’s advancing armies and escape from them at Dunkirk. It was at this time however that Chamberlain the lame duck Prime Minister had been replaced by the far more dynamic and forceful Winston Churchill. As a peace time politician he was regarded somewhat as a renegade or a stirrer. In war it was essential that he was in control as he was clever enough and strong enough to see the whole situation and to take the unpalatable decisions when he had to. His fighting spirit, his rhetoric and charisma and his ability to inspire trust was what was needed when defeat seemed so close to the nation at that time.

As that summer drew to a close the German Luftwaffe had for weeks been pounding the cities and industrial centres of Britain and our embattled fighter planes were being knocked out of the sky almost faster than they could be replaced, either by machines or manpower.

In September 1940 just before children returned to school for the new school year we made a trip down to a small village between Alton and Winchester, where a friend of my Father, Charlie Humphries had a small pub on the main road. This pub which was named an unlikely, “The Shant” was the place that I witnessed a dogfight between German and British fighter planes high above the rolling chalk downs of northern Hampshire. It was impossible to tell the planes apart as they were so high above us. Their tiny silhouettes and their vapour trails were all we could see. But it was there then on that hot summer afternoon in September that I too was part of the Battle of Britain.

It was fortunate then that our chicken had done her deed and the money contributed to the Fighter Fund had been put to good use. By the 15th September the major aerial dogfights were over, the Battle of Britain had been won. Winston Churchill talked later about how much was owed by so many to so few but our long suffering hen got not one word of praise.

Ahu and the Earthquake (Part 18)

2011-10-05T21:01:00.000-07:00

Ahu woke at the sound of thunder. She reached out to hold on to Ahuahu but he wasn’t lying beside her. She called his name and said “Hold me while the thunder shakes.”

In the dim light she could just see him standing at the entrance to their house. He returned to her and wrapped his arms around her. He loved to touch her but instead of continuing to caress her he said “It is thunder, yes. But it is more than that, the ground is shaking too. The gods in the mountains far to the west are angry. Can’t you feel them stamp on the ground?”

Ahu released him from his hug and put her ear to the floor and could sense the vibrations. “What should we do?” She asked.

Ahuahu drew her towards the doorway and pointed out far to the west “Look the mountain is on fire.” Above the line of the treetops the sky had turned a fiery red and the smell of smoke and sulphur was in the air. Ahu started shaking. “We are not safe here, are we?”

Ahuahu shook his head, “No we are too close to the hot springs and there may be a big wave from the sea. We should go to higher ground. I will talk with Kamaka.”

Ahu looked doubtful, she didn’t want him to leave her but nodded her head and said “Be quick, I will pack a few things.”

Kamaka was reluctant to leave but Hoata agreed with Ahuahu.

“We will all go together’ she said.

They told their neighbours who hadn’t thought about leaving or the impact the earthquake would have on their lives. A few decided to come too but most wanted to stay in the village.

Ahu was ready when Ahuahu returned with Tangaroa and some provisions ready for take with them. They made their way out of the village and were joined by Kamaka, Hoata and baby Paikea as the two girls begrudging left their beds to come with them too. About twenty or thirty of the village came with them all arguing where the best place would be other than in their beds.

Ahu and Ahuahu decided that the high sloping ground close to the Ngerengere village would be safest, clear of the valleys and rivers and where the tree cover was sparse.

As dawn brightened the darkness they could see a plume of smoke from the mountain forming a cloud stretching out toward the sea. Every few minutes a mighty eruption would take place and ash and rocks could be seen ejecting from the crater. Barely seconds later, the ground would tremble and everyone would quickly lie down on the ground to avoid being knocked over. The children were crying, even Kamaka’s two teenage daughters were sobbing. As the ash cloud continued to spill out of the crater the sky gradually darkened as the sun was blotted out. Eventually the volcano quietened down and the little group on the hillside were able to stand up again and to fetch water and to feed the children and themselves.

As the ash cloud was slowly pushed away by the wind it brightened up and everyone started talking of going back to the village. Ahu glanced at Ahuahu and then across to Kamaka.

“While we are here I will go up further and see if Ngaire is all right. Then we might go back.” She said to Ahuahu. Hoata nodded “I will come too. She has never seen Paikea and now his is nearly three.”

Kamaka however was all for going back to village straight away, Ahuahu said he would accompany the two women up to the ngerengere settlement then meet them later that evening.

“Have you never been up here before” Asked Ahu.

Hoata shook her head. “You have taught me how to be brave. It will be my first time.”

They found the settlement quite quickly. There had been no panic there. As they called out for Ngaire they could see the smoke from their fires. Ngaire and one or two other leper women came out and greeted them with nods and smiles but they did not touch.

“Were you not afraid?” asked Hoata.

Ngaire shook her head and with a little smile on her face said. “When you are an ngerengere there is nothing left to fear. The worst has already happened. If the shaking ground brings visitors we will welcome it every time.”

Ahu went forward and placed a little parcel on the ground for Ngaire.

“We have a little dried fish with us. Please accept this gift from us.”

“Ahu, how I wish I could rub noses with you. Even if you came empty handed it would be gift just to see you”

They stayed and talked for a little while and Hoata explained that Paikea was Kamaka’s boy and she was his wife now.

“He needs to laugh a lot,” said Ngaire.

“He laughs with Ahuahu," responded Hoata indicating Ahuahu who was sitting on the ground a little way away from them. "They fish together.”

Ngaire grinned all over her face. Shook her head and protested, “I meant he should laugh with you.” Then she rocked to and fro with merriment.

Hoata blushed as she responded. “Ahu said you would make her smile.”

They left the ngerengere while it was still light and made their way back to Black Sands. It took them some time with the occasional aftershock making them sit down on the ground. There were no fires or smoke to be seen in the village. As they approached they could see that the whole place was flooded and that a few people were wandering about dazed at this new catastrophe. A tidal wave caused by shocks out to sea had overwhelmed the village when they were away.

Hoata screamed out Kamaka's name as the full impact of this new disaster struck home.

Recollections of a Warped Mind (No 8)

2011-10-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

The full impact of War as I stand face to face with Hitler.

I was a few months over three when war was declared. We as a family had quietly enjoyed one last holiday away from home in that sad summer of 1939. Those precious last few weeks of peace in August were for me my first holiday and also the last for six years. The adaptation to a life away from home, in those sunny days was less than satisfactory for me. It wasn’t that I had to contemplate the vulnerability of Britain as I faced the English Channel and unknowingly the threat from continental Europe, as I played on the beach with much of it being cordoned off to install barbed wire and to mine the waters. It was that I no longer had the run of the house, as we were in a cheap bed and breakfast in the back streets of Hastings. My toys had been left behind and I was subjected to new sensations as part of my growing up. Ice cream and the sea were the better ones and marmalade and sand in my orifices being the downside. (Work out for yourself which orifices I am referring to)

In those first few weeks of conflict after the declaration of war on the 3rd September 1939 there was at least a stalemate or phony war when nothing really happened. What conflict there was being conducted was well away from home in a foreign country. Being from a family a fair way down the socio-economic scale, (not that they had such things in those days), we did not suffer great deprivations on account of rationing or the absence of exotic foodstuffs and other wares from the shops. We merely continued to buy the cheapest of whatever there was available and were thankful for that.

For me the war and its regimentation was a way of life which I grew up with. I knew of no other life. I did not notice that things changed; that papers and the news therein grew smaller, as did the advertisements. Foodstuffs were standardised and for the most part were without brand names. Mind you, Stork margarine continued to advertise their non existent product all throughout the war to maintain their brand name in the public’s mind.

Confectionery which for us was a treat in any event remained so and the allowance per person did not really concern us. Later when I had pocket money, alternatives to sweets could always be found. My brother and I found that Horlicks tablets, Foster Clarks solid soup concentrate and lemonade powder were quite acceptable stand-ins.

Clothes of course were of no concern to children excepting that time wasting part of putting them on and taking them off, except in the winter when much of what you wore during the day would stay on at night as well. Naturally you complained if the shoes had holes and let the water in or the jumper had shrunk and no longer fitted. It was more likely however that the clothes wore out on you. When that happened you continued to wear them until your parents could afford to get you newer ones. Socks had potatoes in them, this is the description of bare heels and toes pocking through the worn wool.

Shoes were always a problem with boys as it is impossible for a boy to walk without scuffing his feet. And if anything is kickable it is kicked; stone, ball, stick or brother.

Being a younger brother I did get a few hand-me-downs but not so bad that I complained about it. I did complain about the kicks though.

The meaning of war was rammed home very early in my boyhood. War is the confrontation of two disagreeable parties who have or want the property of the other. My brother and I were at war. At best we were in a position of mutual dislike and in a shaky truce. When we were told to go out to play together it was like being punished. The only thing we had in common was parents, and I could never believe that I was really their child either. Once my Mother had to find the carefully preserved notice of my birth from the local paper to prove it to me on the day when I suggested I was adopted and they hadn’t told me.

When we were out of sight of the house, I had to keep my wits about me to avoid or at least fend off the blows that were certain to come my way. Regularly we went playing with other boys from the street, and often I would be left at some point while they continued their game or adventure. So I became a weak, introspective and miserable child. It didn’t help that I thought my (adoptive) parents loved my brother more than me. It was only as an adult that I found out that my brother felt the same way and was jealous of the attention that I received.