Upon entering the cave, Kura and Pirihonga found that the kuaka was waiting for them. As soon as he saw them, he flew over, and landed on the shoulder of Kura. Opening his mouth, he started to sing about the aroha of Te Mano and Marino for their girl. Kura smiled to herself, for even though her life often took her to strange places and she often met different people, the kuaka always reminded her of the stability and the anchor of her life.

Suddenly, the song of the kuaka changed. He started to sing about a war that had broken out, and how both Te Mano and Marino had been taken prisoners. Kura and Pirihonga tensed when they heard this and both knew what had to be done. The kuaka continued his song, and when he had completed that part of his message, he finished by telling Kura, once again of the aroha of Te Mano and Marino. Even though Kura was seething inside because her parents were prisoners, the last message made her smile. Here she was, a fully grown woman and a tohunga of number one rank in this world, feared by both rangatira and toa and yet, to Te Mano and Marino, she was still their little girl.

Kura gave her message of aroha and hope to the kuaka, who circled around the cave three times to get his bearings, then flew away. Kura and Pirihonga watched the kuaka until he was just a speck on the horizon and hoped that he would arrive with his message for Te Mano and Marino soon. Kura knew, that her message would give them the strength to wait patiently until she could rescue them. Her jaw tightened, her eyes narrowed, and silently she vowed that one day, those who had captured Te Mano and Marino, would face a day of reckoning.

Gathering up their possessions, Kura and Pirihonga headed out of the cave and through the foothills of the Maunga Ngangara. Once past here, they travelled through the lands of the inland iwi, and passed a pilgrim heading in the direction of the wise man of the Maunga Ngangara. Smiling contentedly to herself, Kura was happy to see that already the word had spread that a pilgrimage of one person to visit the wise man of the Maunga Ngangara was more rewarding than the pilgrimage of a group.

Crossing the boundary, Kura and Pirihonga turned in the direction of their Whare Wananga. Upon arrival however, no one rushed out to greet them and the place looked deserted. Kura tensed and the hairs on Pirihonga stood up on end. Frowning, Kura strode through the gate and onto the atea, and stopped in shock at the scene before her.

Bodies lay strewn everywhere and Pirihonga let out a howl of anguish. Checking through the bodies, Pirihonga and Kura could not see the seven, number one rank tohunga, only the bodies of the trainees and the number two rank down were present. Kura could feel the power building in her and only years of self control held it in check this time.

Moving into the main Whare Wananga, Kura and Pirihonga found the bodies that they were looking for. The heart of Kura lurched as she saw the smashed heads of the seven tohunga. Going over to each one, she checked for vital signs but found none. When she reached Te Aho, Kura gave a cry and fell, sobbing onto his body. Pirihonga came and licked the arm of Kura, then looked into the air and wagged his tail.

Kura looked up, and saw the wairua of Te Aho standing before her, a sad smile on his face.

"Greetings, little one," Te Aho said, "You are now all that remains of this Whare Wananga. While you were escorting Kupenga to the wise man of the Maunga Ngangara, the Whare Maire of Te Riri attacked us, trying to break the bonds that we had imposed upon him. For even though we had captured his wairua, the Whare Maire was still in possession of his body. As you can see, none of us are left alive."

The eyes of Kura narrowed and glittered dangerously. Te Aho stepped back in fright, for he had never seen this side of Kura before.

"Peace, Kura. At least you are still alive to hold the mana of this Whare Wananga. I give you my blessing and name you my successor."

Kura glared stubbornly at Te Aho, then bent down and touched the body. Straightening up, she looked at Te Aho, then pointed to his body. Te Aho shook his Head.

"I know my body is still alive," remarked Te Aho gently, "That is why I am still here and not yet making my final journey to Rarohenga with all the others. However, because of the damage that has been done to my tinana, if I placed my wairua back into it, I would be imprisoned. Anyway little Kura, you can see that my body is too badly injured to be healed."

Kura glared furiously at Te Aho, and then, taking a deep breath, she looked once more to his body. Te Aho instantly realized what Kura was going to attempt to do and forestalled her.

"Kao! Do not try to heal my body, for nothing can restore it. If you try to do this, you yourself could end up in limbo with me."

Kura turned from the body, and stared at him. Te Aho stepped back in surprise, for he caught a glimpse of ancient eyes, and then the look was gone.

Pirihonga wagged his tail, and looked encouragingly at Te Aho, who smiled.

"Well Pirihonga, I have never known you to be wrong, nor have you ever let us down. So be it," and Te Aho inclined his head to Kura.

Kura knelt beside the body and placed her hands on the head, and as Te Aho watched he saw all the wounds on his head heal before his very eyes. Looking at Kura, he could see no sign of exhaustion. Kura proceeded to touch each part of the body, and as her hands passed, all the wounds were healed. She then stood back and looked through the body, healing all the internal damage as she went. Finally, she healed the mauri and Te Aho, gaping in astonishment, watched as his body commenced breathing normally. `If I didn't know any better', he thought to himself, `I'd think I was just asleep'.

Kura rose and faced Te Aho, pointing to his body once more, and indicated that he should be reunited with it. Te Aho bowed his head then entered his body. Sitting up, he gazed at Kura in wonder.

"If I had not seen the damage done to my own body I would never have thought this was possible, for even the best healers I know, as well as the best tohunga who are healers, would not have been able to heal and restore my shattered body. And yet here I am, sitting before you, very much alive and healthy. Now there are two of us, as well as Pirihonga who have survived. As I have named you my successor, what shall we do?"

Kura emphatically shook her head, and indicated that Te Aho was still the head of the Whare Wananga. Te Aho was just about to argue with her, when she silenced him with a look.

Te Aho smiled, "So be it Kura, to the whole world I will still be known as the head of this Whare Wananga, but between you and I, you are the head."

Kura smiled and nodded her head in agreement. She then directed the message of the kuaka to Te Aho. Immediately, concern became etched on his face.

"You had best make tracks, leave immediately, and I will join you as soon as I have fixed everything up here." Kura nodded her head enthusiastically in agreement, gave the tohunga a fierce embrace, then, and with Pirihonga at her heels, headed off in the direction of the Oneroa a Taniwha.

Te Aho gathered up the bodies and placed all of them into the ancient burial cave of the Whare Wananga. His heart was heavy, as he buried his life long friends. The six number one rank tohunga were his oldest friends, they had all started training together fifty three years ago. The death of each of their tutors through the years had been sorely felt, but there had been nothing to compare with this, in one foul blow, nearly all had been lost.

After reciting the appropriate karakia, Te Aho sealed the cave. He knew that the tohunga would be safe, for none but he knew the location of the cave. He then placed a rahui on the whole of the Whare Wananga, sealing it off from trespassers.

Then gathering up his things, he proceeded to follow Kura. Te Aho knew, that no matter where Kura lead him, he would always follow. For he was now aware, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that when Kura had gone through the training of this Whare Wananga, she had been only going through the motions. After witnessing the miraculous healing of his own body, Te Aho realized, that Kura had been trained previously in another Whare Wananga, in another world. The ability that she had just shown, was not an ability of this world.

Next ...
Back To Table Of Contents