Howaru lead, heading around the lagoon towards the centre of the Island and his shelter checking back every now and again to make sure the others were still there. Almost by his side was Faturaki while a few paces further back was Galiaga and Sinakoa. The two yellow haired brothers lagged well behind, burdened by the pig. It was tied and swinging to the steering oar between them, balanced across a shoulder each, trailing blood along the path.

  Faturaki was close enough that he could hear the rattle of his breath and sensed the eyes of his adopted father on him already. Was Faturaki worried about his condition or was a sizing Howaru up as he would any warrior preparing for battle? The eyes of the old man, always keen, famous for their ability to detect weakness or defect were now on him. Under scrutiny he felt the old obligations like a heavy cloak begin to weigh upon his shoulders. Soon, as if Faturaki was already speaking, he began to assess himself in the voice of his father, ‘despite his thinness, Howaru seems to be in good shape. The ten years in exile haven’t diminished him. No lameness or effects of major illness but that face of his looks badly beaten from a fresh fight. Overall, he’s mainly of bones with muscle withered away but a few good feeds should sort that out. My estimate is that he can be back to full strength in a week, two at the most.’ Perhaps his assessment was too generous because as they rounded a bend in the grassy track, while Howaru pointed out an exposed _______ root, he stupidly tripped over another close by on the other side of the path. Faturaki warned him to look out but it was too late and Howaru stumbled before crashing hard into the sand. He rose up immediately and laughed, “I forgot about that one.”

  Howaru pressed ahead, not wishing to turn around and expose his embarrassment to the others, but especially to Faturaki. However, the judgement in his head also pressed ahead, darkening, ‘clumsy, as always. Capable of so much more with size gifted by the gods but never accomplishing his full potential. Weak-minded, searching out the easy way to anything. Prone to distraction - from women especially - a need of approval and mothering. And when he can’t get it he turns to drink and puga, to selfishness and self pity. Easily manipulated with a proud streak. When he told me he was leaving ten years ago I was relieved. Finally, I could rid myself of the burden of a child to which I have no blood connection and who does not share my sacred ancestry.”

  When they were halfway through the track and when Howaru had regained his confidence again, he said to his father, “you arrived at the worst part of the storm season. The trade winds have shifted already."

  "The winds died halfway here, we lost three days because of it.” Faturaki coughed and added, "and two crew.”

  Howaru slowed at the news and allowed Faturaki to hobble alongside him. “Two from Feke?”

  They walked to the edge of the beach and the grass fencing in the patch of jungle. Uprooted coconut trees lay across each other, a legacy of the storms, while pieces of the jungle were completely bare.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “Yes. _________ and ___________. Brother and sister to _________. You remember, the spear fisher. You remember?”

  “He stayed on the western side of Feke aye?”

  “Yes. He thought it would be good for the kids to come along, to get them used to long voyages.”

  “They were both lost to a taniwha while fishing, on the third day,” said Tufukia.

  “__________ gave permission against the wife’s wishes.” Galiaga added.

  Howaru didn't respond to the younger warriors. In fact, since their arrival, Howaru had mostly ignored the other four completely, giving priory to the Tohunga and elder, as would be expected. Also, once they sat for a meal he would have the chance to talk more openly to the others. The news of the two deaths were going to burden him for a while now, such a waste and for what? For now, he shifted his thoughts to the immediate, pointing out the result of the recent storm, "See the gaps in the trees Fatu."

  "Yes, lightning?"

  "Yes. But some over there from me, burning down a patch to try and get the soil to grow taro."

  "There's taro here?"

  "No. But I was praying to Takaroa to send me some."

  "He must have been too busy distracting the storm gods from wiping out this little rock."

  "Little rock. How did you know that Fatu?"

  "Is that what you call this place?"

  "Yeah. Little rock or Takaroa's asshole. Whatever fits for the day."

  All laughed as they waded through the jungle, and after hacking through a dense patch of bush, they rounded a corner and entered a clearing.

  "Welcome to my home, " he announced. "What do you think Tohunga?"

  Faturaki inspected the carved Atua summoner or god stick, praising the quality of the carving before walking around the site nodding. He agreed the proximity to the tallest stand of coconut trees was a good choice but criticised his use of wood. Howaru felt like interrupting him to remind him _____ trees don’t grow on jungle beach but left the old man to speak, not wanting to impose on the Tohunga.

  Howaru added, "I planted flax in rows after the second year. Now they stand taller than me. They provided the shelter from the North and Westerly winds."

  "What about water?"

  "After the first year I got the sense of winds and the direction of storms. They usually arrive from the south so I set up water traps along the southern beach."

  Faturaki carried on with his assessment. Howaru had cleared out all trees and ferns, including any overlong grasses, leaving a full circle of soft grass, ringed by coconut palm trunks. At the north end of the clearing, he'd built a small raised hut about shoulder height from the ground. The roof was thatched with palm fronds about five feet in height from the flooring. He'd laid crude tapa mats on the floors, walls and ceiling, creating an additional layer of protection from the elements.

  Outside the hut, closer to the middle of the clearing, he'd built an oven, and filled it with large pieces of coral rock. Next to the oven, a fire pit framed with coconut trunks for sitting on. He'd also built two other smaller shelters along the southern border. Howaru pointed them out and explained they housed his water gourds, coconut shells, fishing spears, hooks, and various wooden weapons. “I needed to fill the days up somehow,” he added.