Devin looked at the fire, away, and then back again.
‘Eva?’ she said, her tone hushed. ‘Where’s the fish?’
‘Huh?’ Eva was scrambling out of the hole, a chocolate bar clutched in one hand.
‘Was there a fish?’
‘Of course there’s a …’
Eva’s voice trailed off as she reached Devin’s side and clocked the glowing coals, the only evidence of dinner the pikopiko shoots wilting on the rocks.
‘It’s that thing messing with our heads again, isn’t it?’ Devin had assumed they were far enough away to escape the ship’s influence. After all, her erotic imaginings were definitely back to G-rated. On the other hand, Jahmin had still been animated. Maybe distance had nothing to do with it? Who knew what the ship was capable of? Maybe it had conjured up a trout, a delicious, succulent, tender trout. Her stomach growled.
Eva waved her fishing spear under Devin’s nose. There were still traces of blood on it.
‘See? It wasn’t a hallucination. Something’s taken it!’
‘An animal couldn’t have done that. It must have been someone.’
Eva snapped her fingers. ‘Rocky. He’s probably crouched in the bushes scoffing it back all by himself. He is Māori. They eat heaps.’
Devin gave a small huff of disapproval just as Rocky reappeared, panting.
‘Found it!’ he said, waving the pocket knife.
Eva glared at him.
‘What now?’
‘Come off it,’ said Eva. ‘Did you eat the whole bloody thing, you pig?’
Rocky’s eyes darted to the fire. ‘No way!’
Devin took Eva’s spear and walked carefully around the perimeter of the campsite, inspecting the ground, poking the spear into clumps of bushes.
‘Prove it then!’
‘You prove it!’
‘Let me smell your breath.’
‘Piss off!’
‘You piss off!’
‘Eva,’ Devin interrupted. ‘It wasn’t Rocky, okay?’
‘Then who?’ Eva cried, and Devin realised her attack on Rocky was purely the result of fear. ‘Jahmin doesn’t eat! And who else would be roaming around out here?’
‘Another survivor?’ Devin suggested. ‘But surely they would have waited for us …’
‘Or maybe they’re watching us now?’
The three of them fell silent. Eva and Rocky drew closer to one other as their wary eyes searched the bush.
‘I thought someone was watching me before,’ Rocky said in a low voice. ‘Like a patupaiarehe or something.’
‘Fairies, kind of. They live in the forest.’
Eva’s lip curled. ‘Fairies? Are you kidding me?’
‘They’re Māori fairies,’ Rocky said. ‘They’re tough as. They kill humans and fall in love with them and have children with them and stuff. They’ve got red hair and pale skin and they eat raw meat. Not fairies like Tinkerbell.’
‘I’ve had just about enough of your ancient Māori wisdom,’ Eva said. ‘Besides, if patu-whatsits eat raw meat, they’re not going to steal a cooked fish, are they? It’s more likely to be bloody Liam!’
Rocky groaned.
‘It makes sense!’ Eva cried. ‘Liam went off to find Eugene, do him in, pay him back for hurting his sister. Well, maybe he’s done it, got a taste for it, and now he’s looking for his next victim!’
‘By stealing our fish?’
‘He’s hungry! He’s obviously trying to get up enough strength to overpower us all!’
‘Are you serious?’ Rocky said. ‘First me, now Liam. Wouldn’t surprise me if it was you the whole time.’
‘Yeah, you’re right,’ said Eva, her tone dripping with sarcasm. She rubbed her stomach. ‘Me and the fairies shared it. Yummy.’
‘Guys?’ called Devin.
She was on her haunches and holding back some ferns. Rocky and Eva went closer. Pressed into the mud was a clear print of toes.
‘Bloody hell.’ Eva backed away.
‘Bare feet?’ Devin mused. ‘So not anyone from Seddon. Small, too.’
‘Definitely not Liam,’ said Rocky. ‘His feet are massive.’
Eva pressed her lips together. Devin could tell she wasn’t convinced.
‘A girl? Or smallish boy?’ Devin said. ‘They didn’t hurt us. Which means either they don’t want to or they’re scared.’
‘Or just biding their time,’ Eva said darkly.
Devin eyed the pikopiko shoots, now depressingly shrivelled. ‘I’ll get some more. Better than nothing.’
‘You can’t go by yourself!’ said Eva. ‘Something might kidnap you.’ She glared at Rocky. ‘And then I’d be stuck here with him.’
‘Not for long,’ said Rocky. ‘Because I’d run away.’
‘Let’s all go,’ said Devin with a sigh. ‘And we’ll try for another fish too, okay?’
She headed for the river without checking if they were following. She was so sick of the bickering, the idea of being kidnapped was becoming more appealing by the minute.
