Read Online Huia Short Stories 11 - Free Book Online

his head. I touch it every day. It won’t make you sick any more than anyone else’s will, but as a young boy learning the fighting arts of mau rākau, you must know this. Don’t ever hit someone in the head. It’s tapu for a reason.’
    No’o tried to make sense of what she said. Most, he understood.
    â€˜Why shouldn’t I hit the head?’ he asked.
    â€˜Because of the mind inside. Treat it as tapu. Everyone’s!’
    â€˜How is the mind a weapon if it’s inside? How do you get it out? By spitting?’
    â€˜No’o. Spitting will just get you in big trouble. No, the mind is a tool you can use many ways, even as a weapon. Taiki doesn’t just pick up a stick and hit someone with it. First he uses his mind to decide if it’s the right thing to do.’
    Haani could see he was getting confused. She was going to have to explain more to a budding warrior in training.
    â€˜Do you understand me yet? Can you see why Taiki is a great leader? He uses all his senses to make the right decision.’
    â€˜But I sensed those people over there are going to be mean to you, and because you’re too old and Taiki isn’t here to protect you, I should fight them for you.’
    â€˜It’s good you want to stop people being mean to others, but you don’t understand the situation. Those people are hurt about some things and they are angry, but we are family. They won’t be violent to me.’
    â€˜How do I know that?’ he asked.
    â€˜You aren’t old enough to know yet, because you have no experience. You have a strong body now and one day you will have a strong mind too, but not yet.’ Haani reached over and gave No’o’s biceps another squeeze.
    â€˜Are you feeling better yet? Has your head stopped spinning?’
    â€˜My head stopped spinning but now my mind is spinning. You’re a spinner.’
    â€˜You’re a spinner. Now get up and go play with your friends, and get some experience.’
    â€˜What shall I do? Where can I get experience?’ asked No’o.
    â€˜Ask Tangaroa,’ she said, deliberately changing the topic. Now No’o was really confused, but Haani didn’t wait for him to ask for an explanation.
    â€˜Last night Taiki told me Tangaroa told you a secret. Is that true?’
    No’o didn’t know what to say. He dropped his gaze to his feet and shrugged his shoulders.
    â€˜Do you talk to Tangaroa, or does he talk to you?’ she asked. Again he shrugged his shoulders, but Haani sensed there was something behind his embarrassment. He may have been ridiculed about it before.
    â€˜Not many people are lucky enough to speak with Tangaroa. We all come from him, one day we will return to him, that is why we all pray to him, but there are very few he talks to directly. Maybe he likes you. Do you like him?’
    Meekly he nodded.
    â€˜Do you know his real names? One of them is Tangaroa-whakamautai.’
    â€˜He told me that was one of his names.’ said No’o. ‘Who told you?’
    â€˜Taiki told me. He learnt navigation before he became chief. Only those who have learnt navigation know him by all his names.’
    No’o was thinking hard, searching her face for answers to things he couldn’t explain.
    â€˜But if he’s called Tangaroa-whakamautai, how can he move the tides if he lives in the sky?’
    â€˜I think he lives in the sky, but I’ve heard some navigators say he lives in the ocean. Perhaps he lives where he likes. Maybe he lives within you.’
    No’o didn’t know about that, but still could hardly believe the rest of what he was hearing. Not only was Taiki a great chief and warrior, he was a trained navigator.
    â€˜How can I be like Taiki?’ he asked.
    â€˜You need to develop your invisible weapon. Use your eyes and your ears more than your mouth, and listen to your feelings. That’s how you train your mind. A good