the ground with their war-dances. In the end, Tongariro won the battle, and with it Pihanga's hand." Suddenly, she grinned. "In that legend, Ruapehu is a male, one of the many vying for Pihanga's love."
" I can't tell if those stories are romantic, or if it's disturbing that no one can agree if Ruapehu is a male or female mountain," I commented, amused. "I mean, surely you could just lift up its skirts and check, right?"
Anahera chuckled at that. "My dear, if you can figure out a way to lift up a mountain's skirt and check its gender, then good luck to you."
***
We reached the campsite overlooking the ruins of Te Awamutu just as the sun was starting to set. The rain was still pelting down, and it drenched me to the bone the moment I hopped out of the Hilux. Ignoring the cold, I raced around to open the gate for Michael. It was the same spot that we'd camped at on our way to Arapuni a couple of weeks earlier, and everything was just as we'd left it. The only difference was that this time, we were leaving for good.
I waited by the gate while each of the trucks drove through, then the outriders on their little motorcycles. Once everyone was safely inside, I heaved the rusty gate closed, and sealed it with a length of heavy chain and an old padlock that we'd brought with us from Ohaupo.
As I wound the chain tight between the bars of the fence, I heard Michael shouting orders. By the time I was done, the trucks had been parked in a ring around our campsite, like a circle of wagons. I paused to admire the simple utility of the action: not only would the trucks serve to protect us from the enemy, but they'd guard us from the wind and rain as well. It amazed me to think about how the tricks used by our ancestors in the early days of colonization had come back into use, hundreds of years later. I didn't have long to think about it, though; there was too much work to be done for me to stand around wool-gathering.
There wasn't enough space in the trucks to bring individual tents for everyone, even if we had enough, which we didn 't. Instead, we'd brought along a single huge canvas awning, large enough to shelter us all from the rain. I hurried over to help Michael, who was struggling to lift the heavy pole on his side of the awning. One by one, the other three corners of the awning went up, and we rushed around securing the ground ties to keep it steady.
Michael smiled at me, then leaned down and gave me a quick kiss. "Orders, captain?"
" I thought you were taking command tonight?" I asked, raising a brow.
" Only when you're busy," he answered, a touch of embarrassment flitting across his face. "I prefer to leave it in your capable hands. I never wanted to be in charge. I'd rather be able to focus on just keeping everyone safe."
" Fair enough." I gave him a quick hug, to reassure him that I didn't think any lesser of him for surrendering his leadership position, then I pulled back and did as he asked. "We need a watch for the night. I want four people on guard at all times, one to watch each side. Two rotations, like normal, but give priority to those that won't be driving tomorrow, since they can sleep in the car. Also, I want you to get Priya and that Yousefi boy, what's his name?"
" Matt?" Michael supplied.
" Right." I nodded. "I want Priya and Matt to take a watch. They're old enough to start learning how to contribute."
" Good call," Michael agreed. "It'll make them feel more included, too. I'll spare Doc the watch, though – I think he needs his sleep."
" Yeah, spare the wounded." I grinned suddenly and reached up to pat his cheek. "But not me. I'll take a watch. I'm feeling fine."
" If you insist." Michael chuckled, kissed me again, and went off about his business. I allowed myself a moment to savour the taste of his lips, then I went off about mine as well. Thinking about Priya and Matt gave me an idea, another little task to make all the
" I can't tell if those stories are romantic, or if it's disturbing that no one can agree if Ruapehu is a male or female mountain," I commented, amused. "I mean, surely you could just lift up its skirts and check, right?"
Anahera chuckled at that. "My dear, if you can figure out a way to lift up a mountain's skirt and check its gender, then good luck to you."
***
We reached the campsite overlooking the ruins of Te Awamutu just as the sun was starting to set. The rain was still pelting down, and it drenched me to the bone the moment I hopped out of the Hilux. Ignoring the cold, I raced around to open the gate for Michael. It was the same spot that we'd camped at on our way to Arapuni a couple of weeks earlier, and everything was just as we'd left it. The only difference was that this time, we were leaving for good.
I waited by the gate while each of the trucks drove through, then the outriders on their little motorcycles. Once everyone was safely inside, I heaved the rusty gate closed, and sealed it with a length of heavy chain and an old padlock that we'd brought with us from Ohaupo.
As I wound the chain tight between the bars of the fence, I heard Michael shouting orders. By the time I was done, the trucks had been parked in a ring around our campsite, like a circle of wagons. I paused to admire the simple utility of the action: not only would the trucks serve to protect us from the enemy, but they'd guard us from the wind and rain as well. It amazed me to think about how the tricks used by our ancestors in the early days of colonization had come back into use, hundreds of years later. I didn't have long to think about it, though; there was too much work to be done for me to stand around wool-gathering.
There wasn't enough space in the trucks to bring individual tents for everyone, even if we had enough, which we didn 't. Instead, we'd brought along a single huge canvas awning, large enough to shelter us all from the rain. I hurried over to help Michael, who was struggling to lift the heavy pole on his side of the awning. One by one, the other three corners of the awning went up, and we rushed around securing the ground ties to keep it steady.
Michael smiled at me, then leaned down and gave me a quick kiss. "Orders, captain?"
" I thought you were taking command tonight?" I asked, raising a brow.
" Only when you're busy," he answered, a touch of embarrassment flitting across his face. "I prefer to leave it in your capable hands. I never wanted to be in charge. I'd rather be able to focus on just keeping everyone safe."
" Fair enough." I gave him a quick hug, to reassure him that I didn't think any lesser of him for surrendering his leadership position, then I pulled back and did as he asked. "We need a watch for the night. I want four people on guard at all times, one to watch each side. Two rotations, like normal, but give priority to those that won't be driving tomorrow, since they can sleep in the car. Also, I want you to get Priya and that Yousefi boy, what's his name?"
" Matt?" Michael supplied.
" Right." I nodded. "I want Priya and Matt to take a watch. They're old enough to start learning how to contribute."
" Good call," Michael agreed. "It'll make them feel more included, too. I'll spare Doc the watch, though – I think he needs his sleep."
" Yeah, spare the wounded." I grinned suddenly and reached up to pat his cheek. "But not me. I'll take a watch. I'm feeling fine."
" If you insist." Michael chuckled, kissed me again, and went off about his business. I allowed myself a moment to savour the taste of his lips, then I went off about mine as well. Thinking about Priya and Matt gave me an idea, another little task to make all the
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