He spotted a man with a strange, tall white hat.He’d dressed in clothes of the same color and carried a platter piled with food.Tawera hustled to catch up because his curiosity was a huge thing.He followed the man through another doorway, and the scents that struck him had him halting in astonishment.He’d never seen so much food in one place.Not even when the tribe had ahangiwas there such a display.The thought had him adding another question to his list.He needed to ask if their people still cooked their food in ahangi,steaming it in the ground.
What he wouldn’t give to taste the smoky goodness of the meat andkumaraagain.
The man settled his plate amongst the others and strode toward Tawera.Tawera hurriedly stood aside to avoid a collision.Once the man vanished, Tawera wandered down the line of food.Beautifully arranged, it was a feast for his eyes.His belly released another rumble, and Tawera chose a piece of food.He did not know what it was, and at this stage, he didn’t care, given his powerful hunger.
A chunk of white meat.A yellow vegetable.A red vegetable.
Each bite tasted interesting and satisfying.Some foods crunched while others melted on Tawera’s tongue.
He spotted a pile of plates and took one.Every offering enticed him, and he was eager to sample everything.Soon, he’d heaped his platter, and he retreated to find a place to sit.Ah!A knife and fork.He and Nyree had used them while dining the previous evening.It was etiquette.
Tawera sat and surveyed his meal with satisfaction, then he began eating.He ate slowly, despite the ominous grumblings of his belly.This was an experience he did not wish to hurry, and he savored every mouthful.He wished Nyree was here to share this meal.Perhaps he’d take some of the delicious fare with him.They had plenty, and Tawera was positive the people here wouldn’t miss a plate of food.
Something crashed to the floor behind him, and Tawera turned, his fork suspended in the air.He discovered two men staring at him, trays of food splattered on the floor at their feet.
“I am sorry to disturb you,” Tawera said.“I was hungry, and there is plenty of food.Enough to feed everyone.”
One man—a short, wiry man, dressed in white—released a hair-raising scream and fled.The other seemed made of sterner stuff, and he warily approached while Tawera continued eating.He wore an eyepiece below his bushy black brows and had a round face.
“Ah, how long have you been here?”the man asked finally.
“I am visiting,” Tawera said.“I will leave once I have regained my strength.”
The man crossed himself in the same way the churchmen had when they’d witnessed something they disapproved of, and it made Tawera laugh.
“Are you a ghost?”the man asked.
“No.”Tawera straightened, his chin lifting.“I am a taniwha.”Oh!He shouldn’t have mentioned that.Perhaps the man would forget.
The man scowled and glanced over his shoulder at four other men, also dressed from head to foot in white.They drew closer, but each looked terrified.
“You will leave once you’ve eaten?”
“Yes, I must get back to the land.”Tawera had wanted to mention Nyree, but he hated to get her into trouble.It was best if these humans did not learn of their connection.
“All right,” the man said, pushing at the center of his eyepiece.“Would you like dessert and cheese and biscuits to finish?A cup of coffee before you leave or some dessert wine?”
Tawera considered his almost empty plate.“Yes, please.”Another thought occurred.“Could you prepare food for me to take with me?”
The man tugged at his own hands and bit his lip.“Y-you won’t come back and frighten our passengers?”
“No, I will not return.I will require rest,” Tawera said.
“D-do you promise this?”
“Yes,” Tawera said.“What is your name?”
“Ernesto.”The man wrung his hands but did not retreat.
“Thank you, Ernesto.You are a kind man.”Tawera finished his last mouthful and set his eating utensils across the center of his plate as Nyree had shown him.“I am ready for more food now.”
“I-I will bring you dessert.Frank, a coffee for the gentleman, please.Do you take milk?”
Tawera considered this and remembered he had this morning.He would take his coffee this way again.“Yes, please.”
“Frank, a coffee with milk for the gentleman.Tony, prepare a plate of cheese and biscuits while I dish up dessert.”
Two men hustled to follow Ernesto’s orders while the other two remaining whispered together with increasing agitation.
