Taniwha
Page 11
They both took a last look around at the now empty cave. Dust was settling on the ground as the moonlit sky sent light beams onto the floor and walls. Ben thought he heard a sound and turning, was just in time to see something very small scuttle into the rocks.
“Was that a lizard?” he said.
“What do you think?” asked Toka, smiling.
They both started to climb the steps upward. The white web of protection faded away as they walked together up to their waiting friends.
As they did so the earth closed behind them. When they reached the final step the 2 stone circles were sitting there on the ground, quiet and grey in the moonlight. The abyss was sealed as the steps closed behind them.
All four hugged each other with relief and gratitude. Sitting down in the center of the 7th circle they all sat silent for a while, staring out at the moonlit sky, with its twinkling stars and golden moon.
Toka looked from one to the other.
“I am eternally grateful for what you have done this night. I called for the Chosen Ones and you came. You have accomplished what you were sent to do. You have done it well. I thank you my friends. We shall remain friends always.”
“Will Taniwha stay silent?” asked Ben. “Or will he rise again sometime in the future?”
Toka looked at the stones in the circle.
“Taniwha will be silent for a long time but eventually he will grow strong again. By then you will all have left your earthly bodies, forgotten in the mists of time; but I shall be on guard for as long as Taniwha inhabits this mountain. Your strength and courage I will carry with me always. Thank you, thank you.”
Ben was silent, along with the rest of them, as they all soaked in the events of the past few hours.
“It was strange how those steps appeared.” he said suddenly, “Why did that happen?”
“Yes. The steps! That was how Taniwha would have escaped to the surface; but we stopped him.” said Toka. “He would have crawled out from his underworld into the morning of a summer solstice. He would have roamed the land, causing dreadful damage; but we have stopped him.”
He turned, his face creased and his eyes glinting as he smiled widely at them.
“What will you do now, Toka?” asked Sally.
“I shall sleep for a long time. I will wake up when the time comes for me to protect the Mountain again.”
“But won’t we see you again?” they all said together.
“I’m afraid not, my friends. My job now is done and I must return from where I came.”
“But that was in that cave at the 2nd circle,” said Ben. “You can’t possibly stay there.”
“I came from the earth and I shall return to the earth. I shall rise again when I am needed. You must get on with your lives now, for we shall probably not meet again in the flesh. You will always be with me though, as I hope that I will always be with you.”
They all felt forlorn at the prospect of never seeing Toka again.
The sky was beginning to get a light haze on the horizon and they realized that it was early morning on the longest day.
“Come, my friends, I shall escort you home. Then we must say our farewells.”
They all stood and had a last look around the peaceful circles.
Toka held out the staff and they all placed a hand on it, while holding onto each other with their other hand.
They floated gently over the countryside, silent and still beneath them in the early morning light. Then they were in Sam and Sally’s garden.
“Wow, what a time I’ve had, we’ve had,” said Sam. “Thanks for asking for our help Toka; and if, by some fluke, you need us again, I know I speak for the others when I say ‘anytime mate’.” He hugged Toka close and Ben and Sally did the same.
“Here is your staff.” Sam handed the staff to him. “It was wonderful. We couldn’t have done without it.”
“Yes, it has much good power. We have grown together. Thank you, thank you friends. If I do ever need you, I shall call. May your lives be long and healthy, rich in all that matters and, if you need me, just call. Go to the hut and call. I will come.”
Sam and Sally were standing in Sam’s room in their grimy clothes, dirty and happy.
“Was that a dream or what?” said Sally.
Sam reached into his pocket and pulled out the empty jar that had contained the tincture.
“Nope, it wasn’t a dream. Just look at this? No, it sure wasn’t a dream.”
He placed the bottle on the window sill.
Suddenly Ben was in his own garden with Toka.
“Goodbye my friend. May you be blessed with a long and healthy life, rich in all that matters. If any of you need me, I shall be there for you. Go to the hut and call me. I will come.” He took Ben’s hand in a fond farewell and was gone.
Ben stood there, on his own in the dim light. Then he realized that he was in his own bedroom.
Well, he was dressed in outside clothes and dirty and grimy. So it was all true.
He went to the window and looked out on the calm scene outside. If only people knew what had happened. They probably wouldn’t believe it anyway. Maybe he’d write a book one day about it. That would be it. A kid’s novel, about a Taniwha, an old man, and three kids!
He suddenly broke out of his daydream, realizing that all he wanted to do was get into bed and sleep. He took off his dirty clothes and slipped between the blankets. That was it. He fell straight into a deep sleep. No dreams. No thoughts. Just deep, deep, sleep.
CHAPTER 31: THE SUMMER SOLSTICE AND THE FULL MOON PARTY
Ben woke with a start. He was home in bed! Had all that really happened last night? He felt his grimy hair and looked at his dirty clothes, in a pile on the floor. Yes, it had all happened. Wow, what an adventure.
He jumped out of bed and rushed to the shower, where he soaked in hot soapy water. After getting dressed he went downstairs to the kitchen. Mum was there, making breakfast.
“Did you feel that earthquake last night?” she asked. “At one point early this morning we heard the weirdest sounds. Like some animal in distress. It was awful.”
“Yes, I did actually,” replied Ben. “Do you realize it’s summer solstice today, along with a full moon?”
“I do,” she said. “We have been invited to a party to celebrate it. It’s being held at that stone circle you went to see with Sam and Sally. Maybe your friend Toka will be there?”
“Maybe,”said Ben.
He wanted to see Sam and Sally, to hear all about their adventures above ground. He also wanted to share his adventures underground. He really did need to think about writing them all down.
“Well,” he said to himself, “It’s going to be a nice peaceful day and a fun night. Thanks Toka.”
THE END
CHAPTER 1: THE WARNING
CHAPTER 2: MOVING IN AND WEIRD HAPPENINGS. Ben moves into a new house on the Mount and meets Joe, a former resident, who tells him of a mysterious Taniwha that lives on the Mount.
CHAPTER 3: NEIGHBOURS AND STONE CIRCLES: Ben meets 2 new friends who are his neighbours. They tell him of a stone circle and they make arrangements to visit it.
CHAPTER 4: THE TRIP TO THE STONE CIRCLE; The friends make the trip to the stone circle
CHAPTER 5: THE HUT IN THE BUSH; The friends find an old hut hidden in the bush
CHAPTER 6: MEETING TOKA; The friends meet Toka, a Maori stranger.
CHAPTER 7: TOA AND ATANGA; Toka tells the friends the story of Toa and Atanga.
CHAPTER 8: BEN’S DREAM; Ben has the weirdest dream
CHAPTER 9: TOKA’S VISIT; Toka visits Ben and askes for his help.
CHAPTER 10 DISCUSSING EVENTS; The friends discuss the events so far.
CHAPTER 11: THE MEETING WITH TOKA; The friends meet with Toka and he explains why he needs their help.
CHAPTER 12: THE SEVEN CIRCLES; Toka explains about the stone circles.
CHAPTER 13: A VIEW FROM ABOVE: The friends see the seven circles from above.
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bsp; CHAPTER 14: THE BEGINNING - THE RED CIRCLE; The quest begins at the circle in Ben’s garden. The RED circle - Taniwha’s base.
CHAPTER 15: TRAVEL TO THE 2ND CIRCLE – ORANGE: Toka and Ben travel underground to the 2nd circle..
CHAPTER 16: ABOVE TO THE 2ND CIRCLE – ORANGE: Sam and Sally travel to the 2nd circle.
CHAPTER 17: BELOW AT THE 2ND CIRCLE ORANGE: Ben and Toka are successful at the 2nd circle.
CHAPTER 18: ABOVE TO THE 3RD CIRCLE – YELLOW: Sam and Sally travel to the 3rd circle
CHAPTER 19: BELOW TO THE 3RD CIRCLE – YELLOW: Toka and Ben travel to the 3rd circle.
CHAPTER 20: ABOVE TO THE 4TH CIRCLE – GREEN: Sam and Sally travel to the 4th circle.
CHAPTER 21: BELOW TO THE 4TH CIRCLE – GREEN: Toka and Ben travel to the 4th circle.
CHAPTER 22: ABOVE TO THE 5TH CIRCLE - SKY BLUE : Sam and Sally travel to the 5th circle.
CHAPTER 23: BELOW TO THE 5TH CIRCLE - SKY BLUE: Toka and Ben travel to the 5th circle.
CHAPTER 24: BELOW TO THE 6TH CIRCLE – INDIGO: Toka and Ben travel to the 6th circle.
CHAPTER 25: ABOVE TO THE 6TH CIRCLE – INDIGO: Sam and Sally travel to the 6th circle.
CHAPTER 26: SALLY’S DREAM: Sally hears a strange voice in her head.
CHAPTER 27: SAM’S SEARCH: Sam searches for Sally who has disappeared.
CHAPTER 28: BELOW TO THE 7TH CIRCLE - WHITE/VIOLET: Toka and Ben travel to the 7th and last circle.
CHAPTER 29: ABOVE TO THE 7TH CIRCLE WHITE/VIOLET: Sam and Sally travel to the 7th and last circle.
CHAPTER 30: THE FINAL TEST: Toka and Ben, Sam and Sally have their final test.
CHAPTER 31: THE SUMMER SOLSTICE AND THE FULL MOON.