TRIAL BY FIRE

It was midnight.

I awoke with a fright as there was a knock at the door.

My mother opened it as if she was expecting somebody. In walked a few men including the Māori Chief!

Initially that brought great relief as it was a face that I knew. At thirteen years old I was ready to fight intruders while my father was away. He didn’t say where he was going but I was told he would be back in a week.

“We seek the boy”, said Chief Mahuta.