“Yeah alright. But what about the cow and the people? How’d he catch them in the traps?”
“Cow? What cow?”
“You said he caught a cow.”
“Nah, I never said a cow. You can’t have been listening prop’ly. How could you catch a cow in a gin trap? That’s just crazy. No way you could hold a cow in a trap.”
Closing his eyes and deeply sucking in air to give him strength, Jack asked, “What about the people then, how’d he catch the people?”
Laughing Wiremu said, “Oh that was easy ‘cause they were his two kids who came with him to check the traps. They sat down on them when they were having lunch. They didn’t die or anything just had a sore arse is all.”
“Unbelievable.”
“Yeah, I know. You think they would have looked before they sat down.”
“No, I mean that story you just told me. It’s unbelievable. And you still haven’t said how he got seven hundred and something poss... I mean animals in one day. How did he get that many?”
“Dunno. Never asked him. I think he just set a lot of traps is all.”
At that moment a wood pigeon landed, unceremoniously, in a treetop high above them. Wiremu looked up then looked at Jack and smiled. “Now we’re about to come into some money Jack, I bet ya can’t hit that kereru there. And not only hit it but drop it from the tree.”
“How much?”
“A shilling.”
“Oooh, last of the big spenders!”
“Alright two shillings then!”
“Done.”
And Jack picked up his rifle that was leaning on a tree and reached inside his pocket for a bullet.
Wiremu shook his head. “Nah, not with that ya dolt. With ya slingshot. Anyone could hit the bird with a rifle.”
Totally unconcerned the pigeon jumped to another branch knocking a couple leaves off as it did so. Jack watched them flutter down and land at his feet. He put down the rifle and looked up. He pointed at the pigeon with his left hand and closed his right eye. Imagining the shot. He took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly and said, “You’re on.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his slingshot and a handful of stones. Small round pebbles specially selected by Jack for their size and weight and aerodynamics. He picked one out, rolled it in his hand then tossed it in the air and caught it. He looked at Wiremu and smiled. He loaded his slingshot and held it down low in front of him and relaxed as he closed his eyes and calmly breathed in and out through his nose, and imagined his stone rocketing towards its target. He imagined the stone hitting the plump breast of the bird and the bird simply falling from the tree and landing in his hands, stone dead. He lifted the slingshot and closing his left eye again, sighted the bird in the ‘V’. He pulled back the rubbers as he sucked in his breath and held it. He kept his aim, waiting for his hands to steady, the tendons straining and showing through the skin of his arms... Then he fired. And the stone accelerated towards its target like a guided missile. With a ‘Whack’ it hit a small branch in front of the bird, breaking it in two and sending it cartwheeling to the earth. Surprisingly the pigeon hopped to another branch and carried on feeding.
“Crap I bloody missed,” said Jack.
“Hah, and you can’t blame me this time. Two shillings I believe you owe me sir!” Skited Wiremu.
“Yeah, alright.” Jack looked up at the pigeon again then back at Wiremu and said, “Double or quits. Make it double or quits.”
“Sure mate! I don’t mind taking your money off ya mate!” Said Wiremu in a high pitched silly voice.
Jack loaded up again and went through his breathing and his visualising and then he lifted the slingshot again, closed his eye, aimed, pulled back the rubbers and held his breath. Steadied his arm. Steady, steady, blocking out his surroundings, concentrating only on the bird before him. His target growing in size so that it filled his vision. Seeing it not as a pigeon perched up there but as a Moa. A huge target. He couldn’t miss this time. Knew it. Believed it. He released the rubbers of the slingshot and the stone zipped through the air and there was an audible ‘Thump’ as it hit the bird. A puff of chest feathers could be seen hovering in the air around the pigeon, before they floated away on the breeze. And the bird...Stayed where it was.
“Hah! You might’ve hit it but you haven’t killed it! Look, there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s still sitting there! Four shillings please, mister!” Laughed Wiremu.
And then, the bird fell from the branches and with its wings tucked by its side, it plummeted to the ground. Jack caught it in his outstretched hands. It was dead.
“Ahem. What are you going on about Lord Wiremu? I feel that there is no debt to be paid, that we are surely square. Sir!” Said Jack in a posh voice.
Wiremu chuckled. “Ah you lucky bugger. Alright, fair enough. It was a bloody good shot in the end mate.”
“I reckon I would’ve had it the first time only that branch was in the way,” Jack bragged.
“Yeah, now you’re dreaming Jack. It was a lucky shot, admit it, you couldn’t do it again.”
And Jack threw the pigeon at him hitting him square in the face.
“Oi! Don’t damage it. We’ll have that for our lunch. We’ll take it to Konosu. Bet ya he’s never tasted anything like it.”
“Yep sounds good. Let’s get all our gear together and head over there.”
They carted the traps and the skins down to where the horse was grazing. They left the traps unset and hidden in some scrub and wandered upstream to the start of their old trapping line. They left the skins and the horse there and headed up the ridge to find Konosu and share their pigeon.
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“It tastes very good Jack and Mu. Thankyou for lunch,” said Konosu.
They had roasted the pigeon over the fire and were now enjoying the meat from the bird as well as the bread and other goodies Jack had brought with him. After their meal was finished they all stood and Jack said, “We haven’t set the traps again and we won’t now until Friday arvo. After school that is. We’d better start going on Fridays since we’ve been caught out.”
Wiremu said, “You’ve been caught out, not me.”
Jack stood with his hands on his hips and spoke condescendingly to Wiremu. “Um, my mother knows and I’m sure the teacher has put two and two together, so unless you’re a complete idiot you’ll be going to school on Friday as well!”
Wiremu said, “Who are you trying to be? I’ve already gotta a mother. Don’t need another one.” Then added, “But cripes, I ‘spose your right, I better go.”
Konosu laughed.
Jack looked back at Konosu and continued, “Anyway, what I was trying to say is that we probably won’t see you till Friday or maybe even Saturday now. Because we’ll be setting the traps after school on Friday, we might end up running out of light if we try to set them and zip up here to see you as well.”
“I understand, Jack,” said Konosu.
“That’s why I brought you all this food...And I brought this coat for you as well.”
“You don’t have to keep bringing me things Jack, although I do appreciate it.”
“Oh yeah, and I got you a knife and some candles as well. And this tomahawk so you can chop wood. Should make life a little better for you.”
“You really are sent from the gods, Jack.”
Jack blushed while Wiremu kicked at a rock, looking a little ashamed.
“Mu, are you alright? Asked Konosu.
“Yeah, it’s just that I would’ve liked to bring you something too, but things are pretty tight at my place. I’ve got a big family and we need all the food we can get.”
“Especially for your sister,” Jack chirped.
“Yeah. Especially for my sister,” agreed Wiremu with a smile.
Konosu said, “Wi-re-mu you gave me another gift. A most valuable one. You showed me how to survive in the bush using the plants and the animals that
are all around me. You should not be ashamed for it is I who has nothing to offer either of you.”
Wiremu replied, “Aw, don’t say that Konosu, you’re a mate and that’s all that counts.”
Jack agreed. “Yeah, you’ve helped me alot with my Mum and things. Were all mates and we stick together, eh? We don’t worry about who gives what. We share things. That’s what mates do!”
“Thankyou. My thanks to both of you,” said Konosu, as he bowed.
Silence as the boys watched Konosu and then looked at each other and shrugged.
Jack said, “Anyway we need to go now and it’ll probably be Saturday before we can have a proper visit. We’ll see you after we’ve checked the traps. And I’ll bring you some more food then, okay? You ready Mu?”
“Yep, bye Konosu.”
And they left Konosu, his head still bowed, to his lonely existence at his makeshift camp by the creek in the bush near Putumu.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
I
t was an uneventful week and nothing changed from the normal routine of chores, school, more chores and little bit of play for Jack and Wiremu. The weather had turned for the worse, with snow on the ranges and a constant biting southerly, which brought squally showers and misery to all who had to venture out in it, or indeed, live outdoors in it. Jack and Wiremu had discussed Konosu’s wellbeing and both had agreed that at least his campsite was sheltered from the wind and that he had the canvas tarpaulin and an extra coat Jack had provided. They came to the conclusion that he would be reasonably comfortable given that he could light a fire and eat and drink hot food and liquids. It also made his detection less likely, due to the fact that few people would venture into the bush in this weather. Not that they had seen any recent signs of anyone having travelled through that area. The storm was meant to ease by the weekend, with cold but fine weather predicted. Jack had already started squirreling away non perishable food items so that he would have a good supply for Konosu come Saturday, and they were both looking forward to seeing him. Jack’s home life had improved immensely with his change in attitude, and Doug and his mother were in a constant good mood since their relationship had gone to a higher level. Not that they had told Jack about it yet. They still played out their roles of landlady and boarder for Jacks benefit, even though Doug would pinch Ellen’s bum or steal a kiss on occasion, only when he thought they were alone or Jack wasn’t looking. Still, Jack had noticed some of their sneaky affections for each other and had thought, should I just tell them, I know? But then had thought better of it, and actually found it somewhat amusing, when they would often hastily stop what they were doing as he entered a room unexpectedly. And then, as they would try and cover up with inane explanations like, ‘Doug was just getting an insect out of my hair’ or ‘Ya mother was just straightening me collar.’ However Ellen always gave the game away by turning bright red with embarrassment, whenever she’d been ‘caught in the act.’
Doug and Ellen were in a passionate embrace, fondling and kissing each other hard up against the kitchen bench when the back door suddenly burst inwards and Jack stumbled through it into the room. Ellen quickly pushed Doug back. “Oh, oh...it’s you Jack! Ah, great your home. I... I, we’ll it was a lucky thing really.” She stammered, “I tripped on that damn mat, again” As she shrugged her shoulders and showed her palms as if to say, Silly me. What can you do? She continued. “And luckily Doug saved me from falling, um, he saved me from falling and hitting my head on the bench... Er...thanks Doug,” she explained and blushed like a beet root.
Doug chipped in, “You’re welcome Ellen. Lucky I was here otherwise ya might’ve caused yerself a serious injury.”
“Oh, that explains why Doug had his arms around you then,” said Jack as he cocked his head to one side and grinned at his mother.
Ellen quickly changed the subject. “And how was school today Jack? I assume you went?”
“’Course I did mum. I’d be stupid to not go after what you said last week.” The grin dropping from his face.
“Good on ya son. Did ya set ya traps on the way home?” Asked Doug.
“Yep. I’ll check them in the morning. Be leaving early again.”
“Oh. So ya won’t be wanting ta go hunting with me then, will ya?”
Jack shuddered. “Hunting? For pigs?”
“Deer hopefully. But who knows? I’ll take anything I can get. With this weather clearing I’m hoping I might be able ta get one out in the open tomorrow. They always come out after a bit of rain and cold.”
“Nah. Sorry but I gotta clear these traps,” said Jack relieved he had an excuse not to go.
“Fair enough. Where have ya set the traps? Just so I don’t end up goin’ ta the same place as ya. Wouldn’t want ta end up shootin’ ya thinkin’ you was a deer or somethin’,“ he said as he looked Jack in the eye and smirked.
Jack shuddered as a chill went up his spine. “Um, over that way, across the river we set them,” he answered and pointed in the general direction. He thought to himself, I don’t know what it is with this man but he gives me the creeps. He actually scares me. I’m trying to like him, but I just can’t.
“Righto Jack, I’ll stay well away.” Doug looked at Ellen and added, “I’ll be leavin’ real early tomorrow morning. Just so ya know.”
“Sure Doug. Thanks for that,” said Ellen the colour now returning to normal on her face. “Well I better get tea on. You’ll both be wanting to hit the sack early tonight if you’ve got early starts in the morning,” she added, as she went to the stove.
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Jack left as the day was dawning cold but fine. He never saw Doug but had heard him leave in the dark, nearly an hour before him. Jack met up with Wiremu and after crossing the cold and slightly swollen river and entering the bush, they went about checking their traps, resetting them and skinning the possums. After that they headed over to see Konosu. He was wearing his hat on his head and the coat Jack had given him. He was sitting by the fire, the billy bubbling away as it hung over the flames. An aroma of stewed meat and onions met the boys before they saw Konosu and they were salivating as they came over the rise and onto the campsite. The area was well established now with a bivouac made from the tarpaulin and covered by Nikau palm fronds and ferns. On the floor were dry Ponga fronds and ferns, which made a dry and comfortable mattress. A sack that hung above his bed held a couple of potatoes and onions. His blanket, that Jack gave him, and a prison issue coat were airing out, hanging from a branch that caught the dappled sunlight that filtered through the bush. A skinned possum carcass hung from a shaded branch. There was a stack of firewood of varying sizes next to the fire place drying out in the heat from the flames. The tomahawk next to it. A dozen or so fresh water crayfish, cooked to the colour of bright orange, lay on the warm stones around the fire next to a pile of mussels, freshly steamed open, in the embers of the fire. They greeted each other warmly before they took their places around the fire, Jack and Wiremu greedily eyeing the mussels and crayfish as the aroma from the bubbling pot of stew tortured their taste buds. Wiremu sucked up the tantalising smell noisily through his nostrils and closed his eyes. He exhaled and said, “Aw, that smells so good Konosu. What’s in there?”
“Potatoes, onions, puha as you call it, and a large bird that was wandering around the camp a couple of days ago. It came right up to me!”
“A Weka,” said Jack.
“Is that what it is? It was different from another bird I have seen. The one with the long beak. That is the Kiwi is it not? What your people are named after.”
“Yep, that’s right. You don’t want to be eating those they’re special to us and protected. Weka’s are okay but there’s not too many left around here now, is there Mu?”
“Nah. Everyone’s had a go at them. The Maori ate them, the Pakeha ate them, they got caught in traps...” Wiremu trailed off.
“Yeah I haven’t seen one in ages,” said Jack quietly
.
“Now I feel very terrible. I should not have killed this bird if there are so few.”
Jack said, “Yeah, well, that’s the problem you see. They‘re too nosey. Anything different they’ll be there, checking it out. They end up getting real close to humans ‘cause they can’t help themselves. Dumb they are. No smarter than a chicken really.”
“Good to eat though!” Said Wiremu. “You gonna share that stew with us or are we gonna just sit here feeling sorry for some dumb bird!” He chuckled.
Konosu smiled. “Of course. Where are my manners? I will take it off the fire now and let it cool. While we wait for that, help yourselves to the entree,” he said as he gestured towards the crayfish and mussels.
After their meal, they sat back and relaxed as they digested their food. Jack poked away at the embers with a stick. He stifled a yawn and asked, “What’s it like living in Japan, Konosu?”
Wiremu who was leaning back on his elbows sat up and leaned forward. “Yeah, is it like this? Do you do the same stuff as we do?”
“Before I answer that question, let me first answer another question you asked me when we first met. You asked me my name, and I told you ‘Konosu’. And when you asked what is my other name, I said that it did not matter. Well it does matter now. Konosu is my family name. In Japan you are known by your family name first and only once you have become good friends with someone do you call each other by their given name. What you call their Christian name. I feel that I have become good friends with you both, so I will tell you my other name. It is Toshio. And if you wish, you may call me Toshio instead of Konosu.”
Wiremu answered, “Crikey that’s a bit confusing isn’t it? I dunno about that. I think I’ll just stick with Konosu otherwise I’ll just get mixed up. What about you Jack?”
“Yeah, I reckon. It’s like suddenly calling us Delaney and Kotare instead of Jack and Wiremu. Nah, too strange. I think I’ll just carry on calling you Konosu as well.”
“That is fine. I understand I think,” said Konosu bewildered at their western ways. He continued. “Also in Japan we usually give a title to a person after we say their name.” Looking at Jack he said, “I would call you Jack-san or more appropriately Jack-chan.”
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