Taniwha's Tear Read Free

are you?’
    ‘Nooo. But…y’know…’
    Kelly laughed. ‘Yep. That’s why I do it. You have a good time up in Gizzy! Say hi to your mum from us.’
    Mat and Tama were heading north the following day, to meet up with Mum. It was the first part of what Tama referred to as ‘Operation Reconciliation’. He and Colleen had holidayed in Gisborne when they were newlyweds, and he seemed to be hoping this might rekindle their old romance. Fitzy was staying behind to guard the house, though Mat suspected deeper motivations concerning some of the turehu’s nocturnal prowling.
    ‘Yeah, sure,’ Mat replied glumly.
    Wiri leant in and spoke softly to him. ‘Take care up there, Mat. Gisborne is not a place to trifle with.’
    ‘How do you mean?’
    ‘It’s the Wild East, mate,’ he said, his face solemn. ‘Lots of old history and dangerous stories. The Maori wars had a heavy impact upon it. There were lots of deaths. Puarata’s base was in the Ureweras. You shouldn’t go into Aotearoa when you’re there. I’m serious.’
    Mat nodded, bowing his head. It sounded like this holiday was going to be worse than he’d thought.
    Kelly tousled his hair. ‘Hey, don’t look so glum, chum. We’ll be back soon, and we’ll all have a great time. Enjoy yourself! You’ve got friends up there, haven’t you?’
    Mat brightened. ‘Yeah, Riki is going to be up there with his grandparents.’
    ‘There! Cool!’ Kelly patted his shoulder. ‘Have a good time, Matty!’
    Tama came out to see them off, and finally the VW pulled away with much honking and waving, with Fitzy chasing it halfway done the road before coming back, panting happily.
    Tama patted his shoulder. ‘Well, I suppose you better set up that game, eh?’ He didn’t sound enthusiastic. But his cellphone rang before they could even settle into the lounge. Tama took the call. ‘What? He did what?’ He strode towards his office. ‘You better give me the details.’ His voice sounded businesslike and angry. Mat felt his heart sink.
    He didn’t see Dad again all afternoon, and the house seemed cold and empty with Wiri and Kelly gone. He didn’t really feel like gaming, and had packed that in hours ago. As the sun went down, he was quietly creating and dispelling a little ball of light as evening fell, staring out the window. It was some thing Pania of the Reef had shown him how to do a few weeks ago. He’d been sneaking out for magic lessons for the last two months. No one else knew, except Fitzy who was sworn—well, bribed—to secrecy.
    Finally Tama called him down for dinner, and they ate in almost silence, his father preoccupied with whatever emergency had called him away. But after dinner, Tama gave him an envelope, and sat back with an expectant smile.
    Mat opened it curiously. Inside was a made-up IOU card that offered him ‘Anything you want’. It had ‘withinreason’ in small print in the bottom corner. He stared at it, uncertain how to react.
    ‘Well?’ Tama asked. ‘What would you like? Within reason,’ he added, with emphasis.
    Mat looked down at his empty plate. Anything I want? You don’t know what I want, Dad, and you wouldn’t give it to me anyway. He shook his head. ‘I don’t know. I mean…anything?’ he said, struggling to keep the doubt out of his voice.
    Tama looked put out. ‘I mean it, anything. A car? It’s high time you had a car. You’re sixteen now, after all. I’d been thinking a Toyota—the new model looks smart. Or maybe a—’
    Mat interrupted him, shaking his head. ‘I don’t know, Dad. I need to think.’ He swallowed the last of the small glass of wine he’d been allowed.
    Tama stared at him, a little sullenly, and Mat realised he’d disappointed his father with his lack of enthusiasm. ‘Hey, appreciated, Dad,’ he said with a forced brightness. ‘Thanks…yeah.’
    Tama nodded doubtfully. ‘Sure. Merry Christmas, matey,’ he added, but his voice was flat and his eyes were far away.

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