Cry of the Taniwha
Page 17
As the crashing got more distant, Old Tani let out a long, slow sigh. He’d been watching that crystal sparkling in the afternoon sun, wondering whether he should go down and get it. Now he didn’t have to bother. He looked at the sun low in the sky and decided that it was time to relieve his partner on the nest so that she could have her evening feed. He hopped along the branch until he was next to her. After the usual beak rubbing, she carefully lifted herself up, and a moment later was gliding down to the stream for her dinner.
Tani studied the contents of the nest, checking that all was well. But it was not the three blue eggs that drew his attention most, it was the other object in the nest—the magnificent, sparkling thing that was almost as large as the eggs themselves. In the evening light it looked even more wonderful than usual. He sighed with the beauty of it, before easing himself into position on the nest.
It was almost dark when his mate returned to continue the incubation. He stood and admired the stone for a while, before moving back to his usual perch, where he took one final look around to confirm that all was well. Then he took a deep breath, exhaled, and tucked his head under his wing. Soon afterwards, Old Tani the heron was asleep.
Praise for The Moa Cave
A haunting and intriguing story.—Animals’ Voice
…a real page-turner avoiding obvious plotlines and neatly capturing modern-day ‘tween’ sensibilities. —NorthSouth
Praise for A Friend in Paradise
A thrilling mix.—Otago Daily Times
This is an exciting read that is so very New Zealand you can just about smell the bush. —New Books
Praise for Frog Whistle Mine
Des Hunt has once again woven his magic in this delightful novel…which transcends the generation gap. —Wanganui Chronicle
Praise for Where Cuckoos Call
…fast-moving, often witty, novel.—Magpies
This home-grown ecological thriller is proof-positive there is more out there to entertain younger readers than just that prep-school wizard Harry.—Wairarapa Times-Age
Praise for Shadows in the Ice
The author cleverly creates an element of danger and high adventure [so] the reader is engaged as soon as the first chapter is completed.—Hawkes Bay Today
…the dramatic New Zealand landscape [is] a powerful force in its own right.—Sunday Star Times
…a rip-roaring finale that would make a fantastic film. —The Dominion Post
Praise for The Tooth
…the perfect book for when it’s too wet to go outside and dig up a pterodactyl.—Tearaway
…good yarns with strong science themes featuring believable boys.—The Dominion Post
Praise for Whale Pot Bay
…a real contemporary page-turner…told with cracking pace and believable dialogue and characters.—Tessa Duder, Australian Women’s Weekly
Des Hunt provides his lively young characters with strong challenges…The conclusion is…a cliff-hanger. —Magpies
This one demanded to be knocked off in a single read—and so it was. —Manawatu Standard
Des Hunt has the ability to tell stories about rural New Zealand so vividly that it is like you are standing in the fields or on the beaches of the books. —Tomorrow’s Schools Today
A gripping mix of warm relationships, good science, and plenty of action. —Your Weekend Magazine
Copyright
HarperCollinsPublishers
First published in 2009
This edition published in 2010
by HarperCollinsPublishers (New Zealand) Limited
P.O. Box 1, Auckland
Copyright © Des Hunt 2009
Des Hunt asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
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National Library of New Zealand Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
Hunt, Des, 1941-
Cry of the taniwha / Des Hunt
ISBN 978-1-86950-731-2 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-0-730-40021-9 (epub)
[1. Adventure and adventurers—Fiction. 2. Vacations—Fiction.
3. Mystery and detective stories.] I. Title.
NZ823.3—dc 22
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