“What’s wrong?”Nyree asked.“You’ve been staring at the same page for the last five minutes.”
“I was wondering about my brother and Aroha.I hope Aroha’s life pleased her.”
“And your brother?”
“I wish he’d given me the truth instead of plotting behind my back.We were different, had diverse strengths, and neither of us was better than the other.I never thought of Rawiri as my competitor.He was my brother.”
“He thought differently.”
“I knew he had a cunning side, and he manipulated people, but I never suspected he’d betray me this way.”
“But you ended up imprisoned inside the rock.You told me your brother did this.”
Tawera contorted his face hard enough to feel the grimace.“A tiny part of me has always hoped the curse was a mistake or an error of judgment.”
“Don’t you think the fact that Rawiri sold you to a sailor pointed the finger directly at nefarious reasons?”
“True, but I’d hoped Rawiri had an explanation.”
Nyree’s brows arched toward her hairline.“Like what?He tattooed a curse on your back by mistake?”
“He told me one of his friends had helped him with the intricate design.”
Nyree snorted this time.“Your brother played a part in the curse.Admit it.Chances are it was his idea, his plan, although you’ll never know what he was thinking.”
“That’s the part that frustrates me,” Tawera confessed.“This anger pulses in me, and I have nowhere to direct my wrath.It’s most unsatisfactory.”
“Yes, it must be,” Nyree said and set her book aside.“It’s dark enough for us to fly now.It’s probably best for us to walk a distance from here before we shift and take off.”
“You know best,” Tawera said.“I hope my transformation is easier this time.Is there any food we can take with us and leave with our clothes, ready for our return?Eating seems to help.”
“Sure, I’ll grab something now.Do you want to wait for me outside?Your hearing is better than mine.I’ve noticed the new group of scientists wander at all hours.One of them is studying the stars or clouds.I couldn’t quite understand the technical terms he used.”
Tawera barked out a laugh.He’d spotted the men loitering, trying to grab Nyree’s attention.She’d treated them with friendliness and politeness and nothing more, showing no preference for one over another.Her aloofness had challenged them, so it was no wonder they were everywhere, trying to grab her attention.“I shall wait for you outside.”
He stepped outdoors and listened carefully.He heard the single bark of a seal and a high-pitched reply from a pup.The wind whistled over the top of the hills surrounding Grytviken, creating a mournful whistle.A lonely sound.As usual, the area was ripe with animal smells.Tawera heard or scented nothing else to alarm him.
“Can we go?”Nyree murmured when she joined him.She, too, wore dark clothes to blend with the night.She’d even changed her typical day pack for a black cloth carry bag.
“I can’t hear anyone.Which direction will we go?”
“Let’s walk toward the graveyard.That way, if anyone spots one of us and asks questions, we can say we wanted to search for Shackleton’s ghost.”
“You should not mock,” Tawera said.“Our legends tell of spirits who march to the tip of New Zealand and slip into the sea to journey to the home of our ancestors.For all we know, the ghosts of Antarctica explorers travel here.”
Nyree’s smile faded.“You are right, but it is still wise to go in that direction.If we walk to the church, we must pass the scientist’s living quarters.One of them mentioned I do a lot of walking and we should go together next time.”
Tawera didn’t comment, but a fit of uncharacteristic jealousy swept him, and he clenched his teeth so hard, his jaw ached.
Unwarranted wrath, too, since Nyree never flirted with the men of knowledge.
She was friendly and nothing more, which was why he shoved aside his resentment.Now that he was visible, his life had become way more complicated, and he disliked the necessity to sneak everywhere.
Hopefully, Manu would get him this passport thing soon.Nyree had explained he was an unauthorized visitor, and she wasn’t sure of the protocol.The United Kingdom ruled South Georgia and their laws applied here, even though they didn’t have lawmen onsite.Nyree had told him she’d do some research on this area and read the manual on rules and regulations.
After pausing to listen for anything out of the ordinary, they slipped through the darkness.Their taniwha heritage gave them excellent eyesight, and they avoided sleeping seals and drowsy penguins.A few birds woke and shuffled out of their way but soon settled once they realized he and Nyree meant no harm.
Tawera followed Nyree over the grass and the winding stream.They kept walking once they reached the cemetery and followed the white fence, Nyree leading him up the craggy slope beyond the graveyard.
