‘What do you think’s happening down there?’ Paki said. He was taking a break from meditation, walking along the foreshore with Wilf, Cheryl and Eric, and trying to skip shells and stones on the glassy water without hurting his healing ribs. His right arm was in a sling. ‘Can anything hurt me? Can it hurt Hoheria?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Wilf. ‘But it’s probably best to assume it’s enemy territory. I’m guessing the Ponaturi are down there somewhere, but they’ll probably be nothing like you’ve seen on land. Up here they’re squat and ugly. Down there they’ll be the opposite, tall and beautiful. And they won’t be walking, they’ll be swimming. Most important of all, don’t forget they’re demons. Normal rules don’t apply.’
Normal rules ... Paki thought for a moment and suddenly he knew. ‘I know what I have to take to Hoheria!’ he said excitedly. ‘Tinirau. The taniwha manaia!’ Wilf looked puzzled. ‘It’s a carved bone charm that Sean has. It represents the taniwha that’s supposed to be looking after this place.’
‘Supposed to be – what’s he up to, then, with those horrors running riot?’
‘Wouldn’t have a clue, mate. Maybe he’s off visiting friends, maybe he’s just taking a breather. Maybe he knows something we don’t.’
‘How do I get down there?’ Paki asked. ‘I won’t be able to just drown myself.’
Cheryl looked horrified. ‘It sounds absolutely ghastly. It sounds risky, too.’
‘It is,’ Wilf said. ‘I couldn’t pretend otherwise.’ He turned to Paki. ‘D’you understand the risk? You do know that once you’re drowned, there’s a chance that you might stay drowned. You might be down there forever?’
Paki swallowed. He looked frightened. ‘Yeah, I understand that. But I’ll take the risk.’ He put his hands on Cheryl’s shoulders. ‘I’ve got something to lose now, something to live for. I think it makes things easier, believe it or not.’
Cheryl flung her arms around him. She started to weep. ‘I can’t stand the thought of losing you,’ she sobbed. ‘Being with you is the happiest I’ve been in my whole life.’
‘It’ll all work out,’ Paki said. ‘We’ve been on borrowed time since the Fever anyway. We have to take a few risks, especially for each other, if we want a new life.’
Cheryl sniffed. ‘I’ve taken enough risks already.’ She reached down to Eric and grasped his hand. The boy looked from her to Paki and back.
‘Where’s Auntie Hoheria?’ he asked.
‘Tie yourself to something heavy, row out into the middle of the estuary, and heave it overboard. By the time you get untied, you’ll be drowned,’ Sean said. ‘Me, I’d rather stick pins in my eyes. I can think of better ways of passing the time.’
‘I’m not just passing the time,’ Paki said. ‘I’m trying to save Hoheria.’
‘Yeah, mate, and good on you for that. I don’t think I’d have the bottle to drown myself.’
Paki turned to Wilf. ‘Am I ready yet?’
‘One more night. Keep clearing your head. Give the flame a better chance to work properly. And make sure your broken arm’s strapped to your side. You won’t want that flapping around.’
When Paki was once more cross-legged on his cushion, his breathing slow and even, Wilf and Sean made themselves comfortable on the porch.
‘He’s not nearly ready, y’know,’ Wilf said. ‘The flame’s there but it’s only patchy and he’s not really sure yet how to use it. It’s kind of sink or swim.’
Sean looked at Wilf. ‘You wouldn’t care to rephrase that?’
‘No, not really. That’s exactly how it is. We don’t have the time to bring out his abilities with weeks of teaching and gentle exercises. I’ve got a feeling Hoheria needs help right now, and Paki’s the best chance we’ve got. Unpleasant as it sounds, we have to push him into extreme circumstances and see if that adds the final lesson.’
‘You don’t sound too certain.’
‘I’m not. We might lose both of them.’
‘Why don’t you go with Paki? You know the score. You might make all the difference.’
‘I’m an old bugger. I’m pretty sure my heart wouldn’t take the strain of another drowning. It nearly finished me last time. I was months recovering.’ Wilf looked at Sean. ‘And I’m scared. But you’re right. I know I should go, I’ve known since I met Kevin. It feels like I’ve been building up to this. I’m just not sure yet, and that’s probably enough to kill me.’
‘Give us a hand with this old stove,’ Sean said to Kevin. ‘We’ll stick it in the stern.’ He turned to Wilf. ‘You made your mind up yet, Uncle?’
Wilf tightened his jaw. ‘I don’t have any choice. I couldn’t live with myself if I stayed behind.’ He smiled at Paki. ‘Guess we’ll have to look after each other.’
Paki stowed the rope he was coiling one-handed in the bottom of the boat. ‘Glad you’re coming. I think I’d be a bit lost by myself.’
Kevin stepped up to Paki. ‘I owe you big-time for this, brother.’
‘That’ll be the day. Family. You’d do the same for me. You’d be doing it for Hoheria if you could.’
He turned to Cheryl, standing nearby. ‘You know I have to do this.’ She nodded. Tears gathered in her eyes. ‘But I’ve got every intention of coming back.’ He embraced Cheryl. ‘I love you too much not to.’
Cheryl snuffled, pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve, dabbed ineffectually at her eyes. ‘Tell me, not the top of my head, you great big bastard.’
Sean lifted his arms and undid something at the back of his neck. He pulled the manaia from inside his clothing and held it out to Paki.
‘Put this on, bro,’ he said. ‘I’ve got an idea Tinirau will make himself known to you when you need him.’ He tied the kiekie thong at the back of Paki’s neck and tucked the bone carving inside his swanny, patting it like a solicitous parent.
Sean and Kevin stood knee-deep in the water. Kevin held the prow of the dinghy. Paki released Cheryl from their last-minute embrace and turned to them.
‘Let’s get going then, while I’ve still got the nerve.’ He and Wilf helped push the boat out into deeper water and all four hopped in. Sean started rowing. Neither Wilf nor Paki looked back. They both kept their eyes fixed firmly on the centre of the lagoon, five hundred metres away, the distance shortening rapidly as Sean rowed. Kevin sat in the bow, not sure where to look.
‘This is about the spot,’ Sean said as he stopped rowing and shipped the oars. ‘The deepest part of the estuary.’ Wilf picked up one end of the rope and lifted an eyebrow at Paki, who nodded. Deftly the old man tied their left ankles together and looped the other end of the rope through the top of the old gas stove. Paki gulped. Beads of sweat stood out on his forehead.
‘Side each,’ said Wilf after he’d jerked the knots tight. The two men pulled the stove up so it was sitting balanced on the boat’s transom.
‘Good luck, you two,’ said Sean. Kevin was speechless, looking at the two men. Paki’s mouth worked as words struggled to come out. Wilf nodded, and turned to Paki.
‘You ready?’
Sean and Kevin watched Paki get hold of himself, breathe in, and check the knots. He looked up at Wilf. ‘Ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s do it.’
Together they heaved the stove over the stern and, as the rope uncoiled rapidly with the sinking weight, threw themselves backwards into the water. The rope tightened, and they vanished from sight.