Justice and Utu Read Free Page B

name’s Baisley. Jonah Baisley, from Akarana.’
    â€˜Akarana?’ Mat asked.
    â€˜Akarana is Auckland, in Aotearoa,’ Baisley replied. He swung out of the saddle and stroked his horse’s nose. ‘I’ve been on the road two weeks. My horse would be grateful for some feed, too, if you have it, young sir.’
    â€˜Er, we don’t have horses ourselves, sir, but he is welcome to the lawn.’
    Baisley shrugged. ‘I understand. I’ll get him housed tonight, once I’ve delivered my message. I can collect your father’s response tomorrow.’
    Mat nodded, wondering what on Earth — or Aotearoa — this ‘governor’ might want of his father. He hurried inside. His mother was in the kitchen, battling the usual stack of dishes. He crept past the door: she would flip if she knew there was a courier from Aotearoa outside.
    He found his father in his room. He’d just pulled on his best trousers, but his belly wasn’t quite contained by his belt, and he still looked hot and bothered.
    â€˜Dad!’
    Tama looked up. ‘Son? What’s up?’
    â€˜There’s a man on the front lawn with a message for you.’
    Tama raised his eyebrows. ‘Well, bring him in.’
    â€˜I can’t — he’s from Aotearoa.’
    Tama’s eyebrows shot up. ‘What?’
    â€˜He says he’s got a message for you from the governor. Ithink he means Governor Grey.’
    â€˜Governor Grey? But he’s been dead for …’ Tama’s voice trailed away. ‘Oh.’ He pulled on a white shirt. ‘Does Colleen know he’s there?’
    Mat shook his head. ‘Not yet.’
    Tama put a finger to his lips. ‘Best we keep it that way. I’ll be out in a minute. Can you take him round the back without Colleen seeing him?’
    â€˜I dunno — he’s got a horse — but I’ll try.’
    Two minutes later, Tama slipped out the back door, taking in the sight of Jonah Baisley and his old-time gear with an incredulous shake of the head, but he composed his expression and strode forward, shaking the courier’s hand and accepting the envelope. He opened it and read, while Mat and Riki watched with bated breath. Tama looked more and more troubled as he took in the contents of the letter. Then he looked up at Baisley: ‘And this is really from Governor Sir George Grey?’
    Baisley gave a small bow. ‘The same, sir.’
    Tama shook his head. ‘Good Lord.’ He ran his right hand through his damp hair. ‘You must understand that all this is hard for me to take in. I mean, Grey is dead.’
    Baisley inclined his head sympathetically. ‘I know. I’m “dead”, too, if that helps, sir.’ He winced. ‘Though I guess it won’t much.’
    Tama rubbed his face. ‘Not really.’ Then he flinched as the back door opened and Colleen stormed out.
    â€˜What’s going on? Who are you?’ She glared at Baisley, taking in the old weaponry and harness with something like dread creeping over her face. ‘What do you want with us?’
    Mat took his mother’s hand. ‘He’s a courier, Mum — he’s got a message for Dad.’
    Colleen’s hand clamped onto his like a vice. ‘He’s from … that place … isn’t he?’
    Mat nodded as gently as he could. ‘Yeah.’
    Colleen stared at Baisley and then at Tama. She’d been kidnapped and taken into Aotearoa by Puarata for a short time last year, until Mat and Wiri had freed her. She’d also had her house in Taupo attacked by goblins only two months ago. The experience had been terrifying, and she now lived in dread of ‘that place’, fearing it could rip her family apart again. ‘Well, we don’t want whatever it is, you hear me! Tell him, Tama!’
    Baisley glanced at Tama. ‘Is that your reply, sir? Only, the governor was most