Witi Ihimaera - Sky Dancer

“You wouldn’t dare. Just because you’re a bird, don’t think that you’ll be able to get away with anything.”

Hoki whistled and flew into the air. She executed a few fancy sideslips and tumbles before returning to Bella’s head. “That’s how I escaped the great pouakai,” she said. “By comparison, you’ll be a breeze! How’s Skylark?”

“She’s fine — and things seem to be developing between her and Arnie.”

“Oh no! Poor Skylark.”

“Poor Arnie, you mean!”

“But the good news is that she’ll be staying with me, here in Manu Valley. She wants to take over when I am gone. Meantime, you and me have to keep going on, Sister. As long as we keep paying the rates and keep a look out to repel all invaders —”

“I can be the scout for us,” Hoki said. “Nobody will know it’s me at all. Wheee!”

She did some somersaults in the air.

“Show-off,” Bella said.

“Will you get used to me like this?” Hoki asked, as she launched herself again into the air.

“No,” Bella answered, “but I suppose you can still help me in the valley even if you are a bird. And will you stop treating me as if I was an aircraft carrier?”

Whistling with delight, Hoki plummeted and circled around Bella, teasing her.

“Stop that,” Bella laughed. “If you don’t, I’ll put you in a cage.”

“This beats using walking sticks any day!”

Bella had a sudden memory of Hoki’s crutches leaning against the bedroom door. She closed her eyes with sadness.

“Don’t cry,” Hoki said. She fluttered herself against Bella’s cheeks.

“As long as you’re with me, I suppose that’s all that matters,” Bella answered.

Hoki made soft comforting noises. “Got you!” Bella yelled. She grabbed Hoki with both hands and imprisoned her, lowering her so that the two sisters were looking into each other’s eyes.

“Gee you’re cunning,” Hoki objected. She pecked at Bella’s fingers, trying to make her open her hands.

“Just so long as you know who’s going to be boss,” Bella said, giving Hoki a stern look. “Okay?”

“You were always a big bully,” Hoki answered. She cocked her head to one side and spat a seed into Bella’s face.

Startled, Bella opened her hands and Hoki flew free. “Let’s go home now,” she warbled. “I’m hungry. Got any worms for breakfast?”

Bella stood up and looked across Manu Valley. The bush clattered and sighed in anticipation of the dawn. Suddenly the thought came to her:

“Oh Lord Tane, most of your great forest has gone, the land has gone, and man whom you created has changed the order of things. Please bring to man the understanding that he needs to save himself and his world.”

The sky began to lighten, the sun’s first rays shimmering across the dome of Heaven. Then it struck the twin mountains.

Birdsong. The mara o Tane.

The birds of the forest strained their throats in celebration. The wild music was like small bells. The sounds, pure and full like those of a glass harmonica, rose in a crescendo of sweetness. It was a melodious chorus. A triumphal ode. A hymnal to Tane. A gloria to light.

Hoki flew back and landed on Bella’s head. “Oh, I’m going to ruin your reputation now!” she carolled. “The first time we go down to Tuapa I’m going with you. Everybody will say, ‘Look at that Maori lady with the bird on her head!’”

The birdsong swelled with indescribable beauty.

The dawn flooded across the sky.

Witi Ihimaera is descended from Te Wha-nau A Kai, Te Aitanga A Mahaki, Rongowhakaata and Ngati Porou tribes and has close affiliations with other Maori tribes.

His novels include The Uncle’s Story , the award-winning The Matriarch , winner of the Wattie/Montana Book of the Year Award in 1986 and its sequel, The Dream Swimmer . He has won the Wattie/Montana on two other occasions — for Tangi in 1974 and Bulibasha, King of the Gypsies in 1995. His other fiction includes Pounamu, Pounamu, Whanau, The New Net Goes Fishing, The Whale Rider, Dear Miss Mansfield, Kingfisher Come Home and Nights In The Gardens of Spain . Ihimaera has also edited a major five-volume collection of new Maori fiction and non-fiction, called the Te Ao Marama series. His first play, Woman Far Walking , premiered in 2000 at the International Festival of Arts, Wellington. He was associate producer on the film Whale Rider , which premiered to international acclaim in 2003. Sky Dancer is his ninth novel.

Ihimaera is a former diplomat who has served with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Canberra, New York and Washington. He now lives in Auckland and lectures in the English Department at the University of Auckland, specialising in creative writing and the literatures of New Zealand and the South Pacific.