Now I was obligated. My father and grandfather had risked their lives for me. There was no doubt in my mind that they did what they did because of me. My father in particular had gone from not believing in something, to thinking of possibility – because it was the only thing left to do. He did it for love.

After that, I could eat without choking and sleep most of a night through. Returning to me were words that my grandparents had aimed at me that afternoon: ‘There are other worlds,’ and, ‘This way you have him with you always.’ It seemed to be permission to leave the place of my birth and go out to experience other worlds, though on my grandfather’s tongue the word ‘worlds’ had many meanings.

I stood before my parents and grandparents one day and told them I was going away to find work. I journeyed down the line to live with relatives who turned me into a seagull and waved me out to sea where I came across a little ghost man from Japan.

Chapter 6

Oriwia

The morning after giving me the piece entitled ‘Chappy Wakes’, my grandmother explained that though Aki had arrived home in time to bring Chappy back to the house from the spring that evening, he and Mo had been away since daybreak. They had returned to the harbour by the early morning train to do their shifts on board. Sailing was to be delayed for a week, they were told. So while Mo stayed on board during that time, Aki was able to arrange for a few days off in this, his home port.

When Oriwia arrived to collect her father early the next morning, Aki and Mo were preparing to leave for the railway station. There were children about, and Mo, using a few words of English, was asking Aki if any of the kids were his. Oriwia could see why Mo thought that some of the children belonged to Aki, as apart from Paa, there were no other men about. Aki’s father and uncles were out back of a farmer’s property making fences. They’d be there for another month.

Mo was holding the flax basket woven by Grandmother Nunu as she watched over Chappy at the spring. In it were a round of bread, one jar of jam and one of pickle. It was a gift for his wife, the gift-givers said, which was just their nosey way of finding out whether Mo was married or not. It seemed he was a single man.

Two boys arrived with the horse, and it was time to go. Mo stood there rigored like a dead man as he was hugged and kissed, and though the women were aware of his discomfort at this close contact, it amused rather than deterred them.