start will be at the next meeting.â
âWhat meeting?â he asked.
âI think there will be one soon enough. Now go and play with your friends.â
âIf I run faster, will I get experience faster?â
Noâo didnât wait for an answer. He jumped up from her lap, picked up his stick and sprinted down the beach towards the group of adults. At the last second he side-stepped past with his tongue thrust out in defiance. He then kept sprinting up the beach to the point where the men began and ended their daily mau rÄkau training. He threw his stick on the beach and dived head first in to the lagoon.
Taiki was just emerging from the wharenui when he looked back across the lagoon towards Te Kainga, to see a young boy running in to the water. The daily training was finished, and it was unusual to see young boys swim across the lagoon alone â normally they didnât have the power to handle the tides. A waka ama was on its way out to follow the boy, and a group of people were over there watching. Taiki decided to do the same.
Initially Taiki didnât know what to expect, but soon it was clear the boy was attempting to swim right across the lagoon. Fortunately the tide was going with him. His technique was terrible and his breathing desperate. He was clearly tiring, but he kept going, ignoring the pleas from the occupant of the waka ama trailing him. He finally made it to the other side, unaware of Taiki watching from further along in the dunes. Panting heavily, he walked up the beach and sat down to get his breath back. He looked back towards Te Kainga, where the small crowd had grown larger. In the water in front of him was the young man in his waka ama, yelling to him.
âHey, Noâo. Come on, jump in. Iâll take you back.â
âNo, Iâm going to swim back.â
Without another word, Noâo ran down to the shore and dived in. Every adult knew the tide was against him now, and quickly another waka ama was sent out to meet him. On and on Noâo went, punching his skinny arms into the water, miraculously edging across. With every stroke, a chant rung out from the shore, and with every chant he responded. Finally he felt his hand hit sand. As he tried to stand up, he was yanked to his feet by his concerned mother.
âMy son! What did you do that for? You had everyone worried!â Aroâa asked as she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight. He was gasping for air so hard he couldnât answer.
âThat was great, boy!â said one of the elders, patting him on the head.
âWhy did you do that, Noâo?â repeated another.
âYes. Why son? Did your father put you up to it?â asked Aroâa.
Eventually he managed an answer.
âI want to be like Taiki,â he spluttered.
âNice role model,â said an elder. The sarcasm went over Noâoâs head.
As if on cue, Taiki arrived to join the small crowd. A small gap opened up allowing him to see who it was. His face lit up in surprise.
âNoâo! That was incredible. We were a lot older than you when we could do that. Who put you up to it?â
âNo one.â
âThen why did you do it? Itâs very dangerous,â Taiki asked, looking around the circle. Everyone waited with baited breath.
âI just wanted to get strong,â he said.
âWell, be proud of yourself! My father used to say a strong body is a strong mind and a strong mind is a strong body!â
Taiki gave Noâo a squeeze on the arm.
âWow, you are strong too.â
With a smile he patted Noâo on the head and went to join Haani, oblivious to how his praise would influence Noâo from this day forward.
Haani stopped weaving when Taiki arrived, getting up to greet him with a kiss.
âDid you see what happened?â he said.
Haani nodded. âI think it might be my fault. It wonât be the last time we see feats like that! Anyway, how
âWhat meeting?â he asked.
âI think there will be one soon enough. Now go and play with your friends.â
âIf I run faster, will I get experience faster?â
Noâo didnât wait for an answer. He jumped up from her lap, picked up his stick and sprinted down the beach towards the group of adults. At the last second he side-stepped past with his tongue thrust out in defiance. He then kept sprinting up the beach to the point where the men began and ended their daily mau rÄkau training. He threw his stick on the beach and dived head first in to the lagoon.
Taiki was just emerging from the wharenui when he looked back across the lagoon towards Te Kainga, to see a young boy running in to the water. The daily training was finished, and it was unusual to see young boys swim across the lagoon alone â normally they didnât have the power to handle the tides. A waka ama was on its way out to follow the boy, and a group of people were over there watching. Taiki decided to do the same.
Initially Taiki didnât know what to expect, but soon it was clear the boy was attempting to swim right across the lagoon. Fortunately the tide was going with him. His technique was terrible and his breathing desperate. He was clearly tiring, but he kept going, ignoring the pleas from the occupant of the waka ama trailing him. He finally made it to the other side, unaware of Taiki watching from further along in the dunes. Panting heavily, he walked up the beach and sat down to get his breath back. He looked back towards Te Kainga, where the small crowd had grown larger. In the water in front of him was the young man in his waka ama, yelling to him.
âHey, Noâo. Come on, jump in. Iâll take you back.â
âNo, Iâm going to swim back.â
Without another word, Noâo ran down to the shore and dived in. Every adult knew the tide was against him now, and quickly another waka ama was sent out to meet him. On and on Noâo went, punching his skinny arms into the water, miraculously edging across. With every stroke, a chant rung out from the shore, and with every chant he responded. Finally he felt his hand hit sand. As he tried to stand up, he was yanked to his feet by his concerned mother.
âMy son! What did you do that for? You had everyone worried!â Aroâa asked as she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight. He was gasping for air so hard he couldnât answer.
âThat was great, boy!â said one of the elders, patting him on the head.
âWhy did you do that, Noâo?â repeated another.
âYes. Why son? Did your father put you up to it?â asked Aroâa.
Eventually he managed an answer.
âI want to be like Taiki,â he spluttered.
âNice role model,â said an elder. The sarcasm went over Noâoâs head.
As if on cue, Taiki arrived to join the small crowd. A small gap opened up allowing him to see who it was. His face lit up in surprise.
âNoâo! That was incredible. We were a lot older than you when we could do that. Who put you up to it?â
âNo one.â
âThen why did you do it? Itâs very dangerous,â Taiki asked, looking around the circle. Everyone waited with baited breath.
âI just wanted to get strong,â he said.
âWell, be proud of yourself! My father used to say a strong body is a strong mind and a strong mind is a strong body!â
Taiki gave Noâo a squeeze on the arm.
âWow, you are strong too.â
With a smile he patted Noâo on the head and went to join Haani, oblivious to how his praise would influence Noâo from this day forward.
Haani stopped weaving when Taiki arrived, getting up to greet him with a kiss.
âDid you see what happened?â he said.
Haani nodded. âI think it might be my fault. It wonât be the last time we see feats like that! Anyway, how
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