Taniwha

by Liza Fox

  TANIWHA

  by Liza Fox

  Published by J Marshall

  PO Box 6003, Riwaka, Nelson Bays 7146

  New Zealand

  lizastories@gmail.com

  www.janetemarshall.co.nz

  ISBN: 9781618426208

  CHAPTER 1: THE WARNING

  Deep underground, in a large cavern that formed part of a labyrinth of cave systems, a man stood. He was tall and dark skinned. Dark brown trousers hung loosely from him, covering feet that were bare and hardened from years of walking among rocks and rough earth. His cloak, also brown, hung from broad, stooped shoulders. His face was partially hidden behind a black straggly beard; his head bent low under a mane of curly black hair. His hands were weathered and creased. In the dense blackness of the cave dark brown eyes, unblinking, stared out from under heavy black eyebrows. In one hand he held a wooden staff, as tall as himself.

  He stood, still and silent, surrounded by a white aura that formed a pattern in the dark, like a web or a net, pulsing all around him. Before him was another figure. Large and almost filling one half of the cavern, it swayed back and forth with the movement of a serpent mesmerizing its prey. Its grotesque head moved from side to side with the swaying of its body and taloned feet, scaly and crusted, clawed at the floor of the cave as it moved.

  Pungent fumes, like liquid smoke, poured from its mouth, filling the cave with a rancid, choking smell.

  “Why are you here?” The creature’s voice was deep and rasping. “Your presence is pointless. You do not have the power to fight ME. You do not have the strength. Go back to your pitiful forest and your empty vessel of a life. Do you think your magic can overcome my magnificence? I am Taniwha and you are a pathetic nothing.”

  The creature swayed to and fro as it stared at the man through yellow, bloodshot eyes.

  The man stared back, unmoving.

  The man spoke, loud and forceful. “You must be still, Taniwha. I am here to tell you this. You must know that your plans cannot be fulfilled. The underworld is your domain and you must stay here.”

  The creature spat at him, moving closer. Its foul breath hung, like streams of acrid smoke, around the white grid of light that formed a protective cocoon around the man.

  “Stay here?” it boomed. The air shook from the vibration of its voice. Hot, stinking breath rolled around the man, causing the web to shudder.

  “I have waited long for the time that is fast approaching. I have grown strong and powerful and you have remained weak. You cannot stop me now, stupid child of Atanga.”

  Its gruesome head was so close to the man he was almost lost in the fumes and fetid breath. Its voice was deafening, bouncing off the cavern walls and echoing through caves and tunnels. The air shook and the cavern vibrated violently as the creature screamed and squirmed. “I shall return to your pathetic world and I shall conquer it. Do you not hear me? Do you not fear me? You will be defeated and I shall reign supreme. I tell you this, feeble human.”

  Dust and falling rocks filled the air as the creature thrashed violently against the walls and ceiling of the cave

  The man’s voice was loud and deep. “I shall warn you this one time,” he said, pointing the staff toward the creature. “This one time is all you will have. Stay here and do not venture where you do not belong.”

  The creature laughed, loud and harsh, causing the rocks and earth of the cavern to shake and groan even more.

  “Get out!” it screamed, raising itself high and looming over the man. “Get out and go back to your world of stupid underlings and pathetic niceties. You are all doomed, doomed. I shall return and when I do you shall all discover the power of Taniwha.”

  The cavern shook violently as the creature lunged at the man. Dirt encrusted talons ripped at the web of light, causing it to spark and crackle; but the web held true. The creature pounded the floor of the cave, its tail lashing against the walls, its head swaying from side to side as it tried in vain to break the web of protection; but it could not penetrate it.

  “I shall go,” said the man; “but do not think that your power is strong enough to stop me from keeping you where you belong. You will be defeated.”

  He turned and walked away, disappearing into the blackness, leaving the creature swaying and hissing behind him.

  He walked slowly toward an opening in the rocks, leaving behind the dark, cavernous world of the underground and entering the sun filled world of his beloved mountain and forests.

  He stood, looking down at the green land before him. The sun shone high in the sky, warm and glowing. He knew that he could not defeat the creature on his own. He had to have the help of others. He needed the help of three other beings.

  Raising his staff, he called upon the power of the mountain to show him the way. To send him the help that he so desperately needed. The help to overcome the evil intentions of the creature that roamed the dark caves and grottos of the underworld.

  “Send me the means to quiet the forces of evil,” he called loudly. “Send me the ones who will assist me in overcoming the power of Taniwha. Send me the Chosen Ones.”

  CHAPTER 2: THE MOVE TO THE MOUNT AND THE STONE CIRCLE

  Bens heart pounded as the car finally turned into the driveway and scrunched on the gravel drive to the house.

  Built high on the Mount the house was wooden, 2 storied and set amongst native shrubs and trees.

  Dad unlocked the front door and in they went. Ben, his mum and dad.

  There was a rumble outside as the furniture van backed up to the house. Ben hung around the van while the two men opened the doors and started to unload it.

  “They’re mine.” Ben pointed to some boxes. “I’ll take them if you like.” The workman passed him one of the boxes and Ben followed the other man into the house.

  “I’ll help you with that,” he told the man, who was struggling in the doorway with his computer desk. Soon, between them, they managed to get the desk up the staircase, to the room that Ben had chosen for his bedroom.

  “We’ll put it over by the window I think,” said Ben.

  Ben had always lived in a town, gone to a large school and had lots of friends who also lived in town. He hadn’t had much to do with country life and rural living. Now, though, he would have to go to a small school, in a small town and find new friends. But he certainly wasn’t going to give up his computer. He just hoped he could get broadband way out here.

  The man placed the desk against a wall and looked out of the window.

  “Nice view,” he said, leaning on the sill and staring out over the hills. “You can see a lot from here. It’s a strange place, this Mount. There have been some weird happenings around these parts you know.” He looked sideways at Ben and began to stare out of the window again. “Yes… some weird things.”

  Ben stared. “What do you mean, weird things?” he asked.

  The man looked at him, smiling.

  “Have you heard of the Taniwha of the Mount?”

  “No,” replied Ben. “What about it? Taniwha means dragon, doesn’t it?”

  “That’s right,” said the man. “By the way, my name’s Joe. I used to live up here, you know. I’ve heard the howl of the Taniwha.”

  Ben stared at him. “What do you mean ‘you’ve heard the howl of the Taniwha’? Where did you hear that?”

  ‘What a weirdo,’ he was thinking. ‘What’s he going on about?’

  “Well,’ said Joe, “it happened at one of the big outdoor dance parties that are held up here every New Year. I was walking in the beech forest. It was dark as and the pounding of the music and the light of the party were way in the distance. It was reasonably windy that night, and the sound of the wind through the trees was eerie enough, without what I heard.”

  He paused, staring out of the window
again. Seconds ticked by…more seconds!

  “Well, what did you hear?” prompted Ben.

  Joe turned and sat on the top of the desk, hands on his knees.

  “Well,’ he said, looking thoughtful and serious. “I was sitting by a tree, looking down at the party way below, when I heard it. It was horrible. A wailing and howling that sent shivers all through me. It went on and on and seemed to be coming from everywhere. I ran back to the party and spent the rest of the time in my tent.”

  Ben thought the man, Joe, was teasing him. “Is that true? You’re not having me on?”

  “No mate, it’s true.” Joe said in earnest. “Some people say it was the wind rushing through the underground tunnels; but it didn’t sound like any wind I ever heard before. There is a tale,” he continued in a quiet voice, still staring out of the window. “I did once hear an old tale of a Taniwha that comes to life when there is a full moon on a summer solstice. Centuries ago he fought with the local people. He was supposed to have been killed and his bones spread all over the Mount. That’s what all the rocks are. Taniwha’s bones; but that’s probably an old tale that’s been twisted down the ages. Anyway, can’t sit all day talking. Better get this furniture in eh!” He disappeared down the staircase and back to the truck.

  Ben stayed behind, looking out of the window. The hills and trees, rocks and shrubs suddenly looked different.

  ‘I must look up all this marble stone and Taniwha stuff on the web. See what I can find out,’ he thought.

  He heard a scuffling outside the door and Joe entered again, carrying more furniture.

  “Gee, sorry! I should be helping,” exclaimed Ben, turning away from the window.

  Joe smiled. “Mesmerized by the Mount eh? Do you know that there’s a stone circle in your garden, just past those trees.” Joe was now at the window again, pointing to some trees at the end of the lawn.

  “I used to visit a friend who lived in this house and we would sit and watch the stones glowing pale red on a moonlit night. It was creepy but awesome in a strange way. Maybe they’ll glow for you. By the way, do you realize that it’s a full moon soon and it’s going to be on Summer Solstice?” Joe winked at Ben and left again.

  Ben went to the window and stared out at the trees. He could just make out the circle of stones behind them.

  He followed Joe down the stairs and was kept busy moving boxes and crates for the next hour.

  Soon the van was empty and the two men drove off down the driveway, waving goodbye.

  Later that evening, when most of the furniture was in place and beds made up, Ben and his parents sat down.

  “Tell me about the marble rocks all over the hills dad. Do you know much about the caves around here?” Ben asked.

  “Well, I do know that most of the Mount is marble. I did read that there are lots of caves but only a few have been discovered. Because the rocks are so unstable they are always giving way and collapsing. So you must be very careful where you walk, because you could be on a part that gives way and end up in a hole. When they do collapse, it causes a depression in the ground. They are call ‘sink-holes’. Sometimes there will be a deep hole in the ground. They are called Tomos. You’ll see them all over hills. Cavers go potholing in them”

  In the late afternoon Ben decided to investigate the garden and the stone circle. A path from the house led through bushes and trees to an open area. This was surrounded by more trees and dotted with dark grey marble rocks in the grass. After this was a shingle courtyard, surrounded by small native shrubs and beyond was a large clear area, in which there was a ring of dark grey stones.

  Ben stood in the ring, looking at the stones. He sat down on one of the flatter rocks, trying to imagine the mystical power that might be emitted from the circle.

  Maybe on moonlit nights spirits have parties here, he mused. A cloud covered the sun and a shadow crept over him. He felt cold air brush his face. He shivered and hurriedly got up and made his way back to the house.

  That night, in his new room, Ben stared again out of the window. The nearly full moon was high in the sky, causing deep black shadows against silver and blue highlights. Through the black trees he could see a faint glow. The glow had a reddish tinge to it. He stared and as he did so the colour seemed to intensify, the trees in front cutting into it like dark pillars.

  He remembered Joe talking about the stones glowing.

  ‘I must just nip down and check them out,’ he thought and hurriedly ran down the stairs and out into the garden. The red haze was clear through the trees as he made his way gingerly to the circle of stones. Reaching them he stood and looked with disbelief at the circle of glowing rocks. He felt his skin tingling as he drew nearer, felt the hairs on his head lifting from his scalp.

  He became fearful of something, he didn’t know what it was and quickly made his way back to the house and the safety of his room.

  Staring out of the window again he could see the red haze in the distance and the moon glowing bright above.

  ‘That glow must be a reflection from the moon or something,’ he told himself. ‘Yes, that’s what it is.’ He relaxed.

  Leaving the curtains open he watched the moonlight as it entered the room, lighting everything and seeming to bring the outside inside. He climbed into bed and with a sigh of contentment drifted off to sleep.

  CHAPTER 3: NEIGHBOURS AND STONE CIRCLES

  Next day they were visited by their neighbours, who included Sam and Sally, both Bens age, which was 13. They had met before and had all got on well. He liked Sam and Sally. Sam was always making stupid jokes and Sally seemed to know all sorts of things, useless and interesting.

  “Have you heard about a Taniwha?” Ben asked when they arrived.

  “A Taniwha,” said Sally. “Like a dragon? There is an old tale about a Taniwha that stole some girl. They caught him and burnt him and spread his bones all over the Mount. That’s what the marble rocks are. That was ages ago. Well, that’s what I read somewhere.”

  Ben told them about the removal man, what he had said about the howling he had heard at the New Year party and the full moon on summer solstice, when the Taniwha will rise again.

  “Oh! yeh. I think your removal man has been to too many parties,” quipped Sam.

  “Anyway,” said Ben, “I think it’s great here. I just love all the marble stones; all those crazy shapes. We’ve got a stone circle in our garden. It’s amazing. I don’t know if any one placed the stones there but they look pretty natural to me.”

  “Yes, we can see your circle from our garden,” Sally said.

  “We know of another stone circle,” said Sam. “We went there one day with our dad. It’s been used in the past for parties and gatherings. It’s got some energy thing going on there, so they say.”

  ‘Who’s ’they?” Ben was curious.

  “Oh! you know, hippie types who want to connect to nature and that kind of stuff. Anyway, we had our lunch in the centre of the circle.”

  “Yes,” said Sally. “Dad bought his guitar and we sang songs. It was great. Hey, would you like to go and see it?”

  Sally looked at Ben with eyes wide. “What about it Sam?” she said, looking at her brother. We could pack a lunch, take the dogs as well. We could do it this weekend.”

  They all agreed.

  “Come with us,” said Sam. “We’ll walk to our house and show you something. They left Bens garden and walked the 300meters to Sam and Sally’s house.

  “Come around the back.” Sam led the way around the side of the house to the back area where there was a small lawn surrounded by native shrubs and, further back, trees.

  “Come through here,” said Sam as they followed him along a narrow pathway, the dogs jogging ahead. The trees suddenly gave way to sloping pasture.

  “Look down there.” Sam pointed down to a patch of native bush where the roof of a house was visible.

  Not far from the house, behind a patch of trees, could be seen the circle of stones that were in Bens garden.
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  “Hey, that’s my place,” he exclaimed. ‘That’s the roof of our house and the stone circle in the garden. Wow!”

  “It looks small from here, doesn’t it,” said Sally. “You know, sometimes, when there’s a real bright moon, we can see the stones in that circle glowing red. It’s weird, eh Sam?” She turned to her brother.

  “It’s weird alright; but it looks cool,” Sam replied.

  “Yes, I’ve seen that as well,” said Ben. “It’s crazy. I went last night to see it. It gave me the creeps. The red glow was sort of buzzing. I didn’t stay, it was too weird”

  They walked back through the trees to the house, discussing the stone circle and upcoming trip.

  “Saturday, we’ll go on Saturday. Depending on the weather of course; but it’s bound to be fine.”

  They all agreed on Saturday. Ben was to make it to Sam and Sally’s by 6.30am and they would leave from there. It would be a long walk. They would also need to leave time for returning.

  “It’s a gravel road to the stone circle path, so we can’t get lost,” said Sally, grinning and raising her eyebrows as she said, “Of course, we’ll have Sheba and Troll, our brave dogs, to protect us! We’ll have to take them. Mum will insist anyway. She thinks they protect us.”

  After a time discussing the trip they said their goodbyes and Ben was soon back home. Later that night he stood, looking out of his window at the garden below, with its mysterious conglomeration of weird rocks and plants. The moon hadn’t risen yet and it was dark outside. Lights from the house cut angular shapes in the garden, filling them with light.

  ‘How black the blackness is against the light,’ Ben thought to himself as he stared out. Something moved into the light cast by the window. A small, black blob of movement, slowly making its way across the picture; like some abstract film.must be a hedgehog. Ben half closed the curtains, got into bed and slept soundly until the morning.

  CHAPTER 4: THE TRIP TO THE STONE CIRCLE

  Saturday morning arrived. Ben woke up at 5.30 and lay in bed for a while thinking about the day ahead. It was already light outside and his room had the glow of morning. He got up and looked out of the window. The sky was cloudless. The day promised to be fine.