Tawera peered inside his box of treats.“There is no coffee.”He pulled out a bottle.“Is this water?”
“Yes, and it’s from France by the looks of the label.That will work perfectly with the feast you’ve provided.”
“I’m not sure of the identity of some of these things,” he confessed.
Nyree grinned, and her animated expression warmed him through.His painfully tense muscles released from the cramp, causing him discomfort.Making Nyree happy boosted his mood.
“The items on this plate are different French cheeses.This one is blue cheese.It tastes strong.I’m not sure if you’ll enjoy it or not.This is a cheddar.A brie.If I had to guess, this one is a type of goat cheese.This plate contains pieces of French bread and crackers.The fruit on this plate—you have grapes, sliced apple and pear, and mandarin segments.A handful of nuts.You even have pickle or relish.Ernesto has given you a feast.”
“He wanted to get rid of me,” Tawera stated.
“Perhaps,” Nyree said with a giggle.
Tawera’s stomach let out a grumble.“What should we try first?”
“Try the cheddar.I’m sure you’ll like that.Have you had cheese before?”As she spoke, Nyree pulled a white object from her pack.
“What’s that?”Tawera had never seen an object such as this.
“It’s my Swiss army knife.I take it everywhere with me.The blades of the knife fold out and slip back when you’re finished using them.”
He watched Nyree slice the cheese with the sharp blade.She passed the cheese and bread to him before slicing the other cheeses.She spread a reddish-brown paste on the bread and placed a slice of cheese on the top before sitting back to study the view and take a bite.
“This is beautiful,” she said.“A feast, splendid company, and a spectacular panorama.”
Tawera reached for a grape and a piece of the pungent blue cheese.He nibbled a corner.
“Do you like that?”
“Yes, it tastes different from anything I’ve tried, but it is interesting,” he said, eating with more enthusiasm.He rolled his neck and shoulders.“Eating makes the deepest muscle pains recede.”
Nyree reached for nuts and fruit.“I’m glad you’re feeling better and that the symptoms of the curse are passing, but I’m not sure how to explain your presence.I doubt Carolyn and Keith will understand the abrupt appearance of a tattooed man.”
Tawera lounged back on the sand, his gaze on two white-and-black birds flying past their vantage point.Their presence didn’t bother the birds.As he watched, more appeared, flying lazily on the air currents and heading toward the water.
“The people I’ve seen here don’t have tattoos,” Tawera said.“You don’t have amokoon your chin.Are the old traditions no longer followed?”
Nyree wrinkled her nose.“Tattoos fell out of fashion.I suspect the missionaries had a part to play in this since, from what I’ve read of our history, they disapproved of tattoos.”
“The missionaries I knew had very straight minds.”
Nyree frowned, then her expression cleared.“Oh, you mean they had narrow minds.”
He nodded.“They didn’t like people having fun.”
“There was a time when most people thought those with tattoos were villains and untrustworthy.”
Tawera jerked upright.“You can trust me.”Indignation filled his taut body.
“Wait.I’m doing a poor job of explaining.In the past, many people felt this way.In the last ten to twenty years, tattoos have become acceptable.It’s a way of expressing individuality.Many famous men and women—actors, singers, and sports stars—get tattoos and the young people follow their lead.At home, many Maori are turning to the old ways.It’s not so unusual to see men with full facial tattoos like yours and women with standing within their tribe might have chinmoko.”
“I have missed much.”
“It’s true the curse shut you away, but it has also given you an opportunity to embrace the future.”
“Can you show me how to use your machines?Two of the men in white pointed their machines at me.What happens when they do that?”
Nyree gasped.“Oh, no.They took photos?”
