Taniwha

by Liza Fox

  “Wow! Where did you get that?” he gasped. “It’s beautiful.”

  “This crystal was with me when I lived here with my mother,” he told Ben. “This was my source of light. My mother, Atanga, gave it to me when I left, so that whenever I had to return to the underground I would not be in the dark. It has unlimited power, feeding upon its own energy and the light that it produces. As long as I am alive the light will never fade. It is with me always when I need it.”

  He turned again and continued to make his way through the maze, followed closely by Ben. After what seemed like ages the path began to get smoother. Walls either side became huge, jagged limestone boulders, tumbled against each other. The boulders created holes and deep cavities, black and foreboding. Ben could hear a sound, like groaning, ahead of them, echoing and bouncing off the rocks, filling the empty space.

  As they moved closer the sound became louder. The terrible groaning turning into a screeching howl, repeated several times before all went quiet again. The sound sent shivers through Ben, leaving him on edge.

  “We are nearing Taniwha’s 5th circle, the area of his neck and voice. There are many openings here. It is difficult to see where the one we want is.” Toka swung his arm, illuminating the area around them.

  Just as they were about to move forward again a streak of bright, sky blue light shot out of a hole in the rocks and began whirling around them both, like coloured rope. Just as quickly it was joined by another. Then another. The beams, like thick fluorescent lights, continued their spinning, gyrating up and down, surrounding Toka and Ben with bright dancing blue snake like streaks.

  “Do not move,” Toka shouted, as he raised his arm and sliced through the beams that were trying to encase them. The blue light split where Toka sliced. He spun round, slicing down again on the other side. As he did bright blue sparks began flying around them from the broken beams. The beams themselves began to crackle and sizzle and the light shafts started to shrink away. Blue faded to white and the coloured sparks disappeared into the boulders and rock walls around them.

  The air was electric. Ben could feel himself tingling all over as the blue light went out. Suddenly a wall of hot air came rushing through the openings around them. As it streamed in Toka grabbed Ben’s hand and they both began running toward an opening directly ahead.

  Toka shouted above the roar of the heated air coming through the constrained tunnels. “Come, we must get out of here. Taniwha is awake and is trying to find out what is happening. Those blue shafts of light were his energy probes. He knows something is amiss.”

  They just reached the opening, black and uninviting before them, when more beams of light began racing out of other holes, flying toward them, humming and buzzing as they got nearer.

  “Quick! Into the opening!” Toka pulled Ben into the hole just as the light beams reached them; but there the beams stopped. Toka and Ben halted briefly to look behind them. The beams of light were writhing and pulsating at the entrance to the hole, moving like psychedelic rope, up and down and sideways, as they tried to gain access to the two inside the tunnel. They could not break through though. A barrier had formed at the opening through which they could not pass. The light beams hung there, as though behind a glass wall.

  “Did you put an energy barrier up at that opening?” Ben asked Toka.

  “Yes; but I had to use some of the energy we have gained to do it,” Toka replied.

  “Let us leave here. We must move forward and find Taniwha’s 5th circle. It cannot be far away,” he said. They ran as fast as they could in the constrained tunnel.

  As they raced on they could hear what sounded like rushing water ahead of them. The ground was getting wet and slippery and they were heading downwards. Steps appeared in the light, going even further into the earth. The air was thinner here and an unpleasant smell pervaded everywhere. The rocks surrounding them were sparkling wet in the light and the steps seemed to be getting wetter the deeper they went. Ben could hear the gurgling sound of water. It was interspersed with a roaring sound, what he thought must be a waterfall, ahead of them. Suddenly they exited the tunnel, finding themselves in a high, narrow cavern. Water gushed through a hole above and crashed over walls of broken rock to the bottom of the cavern. From here it poured into another opening to their left. They stood, wondering where to go from here.

  “Where do we go now, Toka?” Ben asked, sure that they must have come to a dead-end.

  “We must get away from here,” Toka replied. “There must be an opening and way out close by but I can’t see it.”

  “What about behind the waterfall?” suggested Ben, remembering films he had seen where the waterfalls covered caves and exits.

  “You are right my young friend,” Toka smiled at him. “We shall try that.”

  They slowly moved toward the tumbling waterfall, almost deafened by the roar and soaked by the water.

  Toka went first, disappearing behind a mass of moving liquid.

  “It is here.” Toka’s muffled voice called to Ben. “Come, I think this will lead to the 5th circle.”

  Ben dived in behind the crashing water and entered into a large chamber. Toka stood with his lighted hand moving around the blackness, exposing a huge, open area with smooth floor and dripping wet walls of rock. As he lifted his hand higher the light showed a clear area of ceiling, dark brown with what looked like thin and twisted roots hanging down.

  Ben looked confused. “I thought we would be real low underground but those roots growing from the ceiling look as though we’re pretty close to the surface. We’d better keep an eye on them, after that last episode.”

  “Yes,” said Toka. “We are under the area that holds the 5th circle. This is Taniwha’s throat and voice and it resonates to the colour sky blue. We must wait now for Sam and Sally. Be alert, for Taniwha can pounce at any time, with anything.”

  It was cold and Ben shivered, feeling goose bumps all over. His wet clothes didn’t help and he pulled his top tighter around himself to try to ward off the damp, chilly air.

  The cave they were in was wide with a low ceiling, about 5 meters above their heads. Large rocks lined it, rising in broken clumps to the top. He could see the clear roof area directly above. He remembered seeing the 5th circle from the air, low in a sunken valley between hills. He remembered its silky smooth sky blue mist.

  “That’s why this cave has plant roots showing,’ he thought. ‘We’ve traveled along the high hills and now we’re in the deep valley where we saw the 5th circle. No wonder we seemed to be traveling downwards.’

  As these thoughts were churning through his mind he could hear rumbling in the distance. The roar of the waterfall was now muffled; but still evident. The rumbling began to get louder and he felt a slight tremor underfoot.

  “Can you feel that, Toka?” he asked, shivering with cold and fear.

  Toka was standing still, looking directly up to the clear area of earth above their heads.

  “Yes. Taniwha is moving. As we get nearer to his 7th circle he will feel us more. He realizes that his power is being diminished and is beginning to fight back, to try to regain it. We must be strong. Fear is in the mind and can be changed. Change your fear to strength, for the energy of both is the same. You can choose fear, or you can choose strength. It is your choice.”

  Ben stared at Toka, realizing the truth of what he was telling him. Yes, his fear was in his mind.

  ‘I can use the energy that is causing the fear and turn it around to become my strength.’ As these thoughts went through his mind a feeling of relief filled him. He suddenly felt the strength growing in him, taking over the fear, dismissing it into the abyss. His new found strength not only filled his mind, it filled his body as well. He felt taller and stronger. Able to confront whatever was before them. He looked at Toka. He saw strength, determination and purpose in his friend. He felt safe with him, even in the adverse conditions they found themselves in.

  As they both stared up at the roof of the cavern the rumbli
ng and tremors began to increase in volume and power. They both stood their ground and waited. Their waiting was soon rewarded when they saw a small spot appear in the center of the cavern ceiling. White to start with, it soon began expanding, intensifying, until the roof of the cavern was glowing sky blue.

  As they watched the center began to deepen in intensity, as the laser like beam from the staff above sent down its light. The sounds around them, the roar of the waterfall in the next cavern, the rumbling and groaning that seemed to be everywhere in the rock formations; they all filled Ben’s head, so that listening became difficult. He thought Toka was saying something but he couldn’t hear what it was.

  “I can’t hear you!” he shouted, as Toka turned to him. Toka’s mouth was moving but nothing seemed to come out. Any sound was being totally lost in the deafening noise that filled the cave. Toka also could not hear anything above the din but he took Bens’ hands in his to form the circle around the ever growing sky blue beam. By now it had almost reached the ground, the energy emitted causing the air to crackle and spark.

  They had just joined hands to form the circle as the beam finally touched the floor of the cave. The sky blue light began to slowly spread across the floor, engulfing their feet and rising upwards, enclosing them in a veil of sparkling light. Up and up it went, on up through them and on past their heads, up to the ceiling.

  Their feet gripped the floor of the cave for support while the earth trembled around, below and above. They could feel the energy transferring into them like prickles as the blue mist rose higher, causing their skin to sting. Ben felt the hair on his head rising and his eyes began to water. The blue mist that had settled on the ceiling of the cave had almost disappeared into the earth. As it did so the whole cavern shook, the noise of breaking rocks turning into a shrill howl, shaking the air and making the marble rocks groan and creak. Then all was silent. As the bright blue beam started to shrink the blue haze disappeared slowly into the earth, vanishing back to where it had come from. Stillness took over again.

  All was quiet – for a while.

  CHAPTER 24: BELOW TO THE 6TH CIRCLE - INDIGO

  Ben sat down on the cold earth of the cave. He felt weak and vulnerable. His heart was pounding, making his ears hum. He could feel cold air currents passing by him, brushing his face. The moving air felt soft but icy cold, causing a quiver all through him. Toka stood looking down at him.

  “Rest a while,” he said softly. “Let the power settle in you. Taniwha has gone quiet, so we must take this opportunity to let the energy become one with us.” He sat down beside Ben, placing a hand on his shoulder.

  “You have done well, my friend. You have all done well. I just hope that Sam and Sally are not having too hard a time above.”

  He sat, silent, deep in thought, his eyes fixed upon the floor of the cave. Seconds went by and slowly Ben could feel the strength returning to him. His heart stopped pounding, and his sweaty palms became cool.

  “I’m ok now,” he said, standing up. “We’d better get going again.”

  Toka smiled at him and also rose.

  “The next circle is Taniwha’s 6th,” he said. “It represents his link to consciousness and vibrates to deep indigo blue. It will be very strong. Are you ready for it?” he asked, looking at Ben questioningly

  “Well, we haven’t come this far to give up now,” Ben replied and gave a small laugh of courage.

  They both stood looking around the cavern, trying to ascertain where the opening was situated that would lead them to the 6th circle. The crystal in Toka’s hand was glowing brightly, illuminating the whole cave, showing up deep, dark shadows that could possibly be openings that would lead them out. Toka walked over to a large fissure in the wall and peered in. Holding the light before him he could see steps going upward. He called to Ben who rushed to his side, keen now to get going and find the next circle.

  “This looks promising,” Ben said, peering into the gap and seeing the steps. Toka moved forward and began to climb them, while Ben followed closely. The path was narrow and the steps high. He had to strain to climb them, holding on to Toka’s hand for support. Up they climbed, one step, two steps, three, four, five. As they climbed higher the steps became narrower and more difficult to stay on. The walls either side were covered in a slimy substance that glistened in the light of Toka’s crystal. Ben could again feel a cold breeze brushing past them.

  “There must be an opening to the outside somewhere near,” he said. “Can you feel that air flow?”

  Toka stopped. “Yes. I believe we are near the surface. We are almost there.”

  They continued on and upward. Another 5 steps and they arrived at a small chamber, just high enough for Toka to stand upright. He pulled Ben up the last high step and they both stood still, getting their breath back. Before them were six black holes in the wall of rock in front and to the sides of them. Each of the holes was just big enough for a person to fit through. They could feel a cold wind coming from them, swirling around and making their clothes and hair move.

  Toka peered into one of the holes, and then another.

  “They seem to have small exits to the world above further in. I can see the light. Too small for anyone to pass through; but big enough to be windows to the world above.”

  “What are these?” asked Ben, pointing to some marks that were scratched into the rock wall, between and around the holes. Toka moved closer, shining the light near the wall. Scratched into the rock around the holes were what looked like hieroglyphs? They searched the holes and found an array of these strange marks, each different from the next. Toka studied them closely, one by one. The marks looked like they had been scratched deeply into the rock with some kind of sharp tool.

  “These are symbols and I think that they must have been put here by Atanga, after she became imprisoned by Taniwha. Each one has a meaning that would have meant much to her. Maybe she had hoped that they might help her to escape, if only in her mind, from the tortuous life that she had to endure, here in Taniwha’s domain.”

  “What do they mean?” asked Ben. “Can they help us at all? Will they show us the way out?”

  Toka pointed to the first mark that was etched around the hole on their left, furthest from the steps.

  Surrounding the hole a circle had been carved into the rock, about 4cms thick all around.

  “This is the symbol for the circle of Life,” he said. “A never ending line. A line, with no beginning and no end, forming an unbroken ring. Life is continuous, unending, forever revolving on itself. To Atanga, her life would seem to be just that.”

  They moved to the second hole. Here were etched two circles, joined and forming a number 8. The lower ring was scratched out around the edge of the hole, while the top, smaller ring, was above the hole.

  “This is the symbol for the joining of two people who, although parted, will eventually come together again. This symbol represents eternity, the infinite love that binds two lives together. This, for Atanga, would have represented her love for the lost Toa, with whom she would be reunited when she herself died.”

  Toka stood staring at the sign that was cut deeply into the rock. Ben knew that he was thinking of his mother, whose love for Toa and Toka had ended in her death.

  They moved to the third hole. Here they could make out what looked like a figure. Large headed, with a body, arms and legs.

  “Isn’t that a Tiki?” asked Ben. “The shape looks like a pendant that my mum wears.”

  “Yes,” replied Toka. “The Tiki represents fertility and the unborn embryo, which Atanga would have been carrying at the time of her capture. She must have been terribly unhappy, and seeking a way out for her unborn child.”

  Moving on to the fourth hole they could see a long, tear shaped pattern. This shape had been scratched four times around the hole, one at the top, one each side and the fourth at the base.

  “These teardrops would have represented healing and positive energy to Atanga. An energy that would have been alien
to Taniwha; but they would have given comfort to Atanga, in times when she must have been deeply unhappy.” The next, and fifth hole, was to their right. Here they found a strange shape etched into the rock. At the top was what looked like the head of a bird; but the form carved below this was more like the body of a human, with an arm that had four fingers crossing the body.

  “What does this weird shape mean?” Ben asked, staring at the strange pattern.

  Toka studied the carving closely. Ben could see his face in the light of the crystal. It was sad, and he thought he saw a tear run down Toka’s cheek.

  “This shape represents many things. The first three fingers Atanga carved on the arm of this figure mean birth, life and death. The fourth finger is the afterlife and is a guardian against evil. Atanga was trying to protect herself and her unborn child from the negative and evil influence of her captor.”

  The sixth and last shape to be carved into the rock was beside the last hole on their right. It was another circle, this time with a spiral pattern, beside the hole.

  “This is the Koru,” said Toka. “This would have represented hope for Atanga. New beginnings and regrowth, as her unborn child grew within her. These holes lead to the outside, to the world from where Atanga was taken. She would have come here to look out onto her past life above ground. One of these holes must lead to Taniwha’s sixth circle; but which one? We do not have time to explore them all. We must choose the correct one.”

  Toka went from hole to hole, peering in them and studying the symbols. While he was doing this Ben searched the cavern, hoping to find another way out. He could feel a cold breeze flowing through the holes and ruffling his hair. Then something made him look up. They had been so intent on the holes and the carvings that the rest of the cavern had gone unnoticed. Now he looked up and saw what appeared to be a deep cut in the ceiling above.

  “Look. Is that another hole? It looks very deep and wide. Maybe that’s the way out?”