It had been a long day, and the last thing Hemi was worried about as he flopped down on the cheap motel room bed, was the insects flying and crawling around the room. He even dismissed the orange curtains and dingy old bed-spread. Who has polyester bed-spreads these days? It was a wonder a dump like this could do business.
Hemi’s business of the day had been more monotonous following and watching. He had watched them leave the Kingsbridge residence. He had followed them through the country-side. As he put his hometown and the memories further and further behind him, he realised he wouldn’t be able to keep an eye on Warren Rennie anymore. But he could deal with him later. He thought it would get interesting when they pulled off onto some small country roads but he didn’t see the attraction of the farm where they stopped, despite their incessant babbling about the old Whare Wananga. Hemi put in a call to Warren.
‘I’m in the North Manuatu, on a farm where there used to be some old Maori School. I thought we were worried about these folk looking into the wrong kind of history. But I don’t see how this can be threatening.’
‘Are you just off state highway 30 by chance?’
‘Yeah. How’d you know?’
‘That’s the site of the Crosshouse of Miringa Te Kakara. It’s a site sometimes discussed by Celtic theorists because the building displayed indications of having been influenced by the heavens. Solar and lunar rises, and all that.’
‘But there’s nothing here.’
‘It was burned down in the Eighties.’
‘So not much of a threat then.’
‘Not at all. I sent them there, it’s Celtic. But it can’t have taken you two days to get there. Where else have you been?’
Hemi had already planned a story for this.
‘They stopped for a night at Taupo. They went and had a look at some sights there too.’
‘The Kaimanawa Wall?’
‘Yeah,’ Hemi said. He knew that this would please Warren. The Kaimanawa Wall was a collection of stones that appeared to be a man-made wall dating back thousands of years, at least if you were into those sorts of crazy theories.
‘That’s great,’ Warren said, bringing a smile to Hemi’s face. ‘Matt will see the potential of the wall being from the Celts too.’
‘Maybe, yeah.’
‘Which might just stop him from wasting his time going to Wellington.’
‘I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure they’re heading there in the morning.’
‘You know what you’ve got to do then.’
‘What?’
‘Stop them. If not before they get to Wellington, at least do something to scare them off the Spanish trail once they get there. Give them a fright somehow.’
‘I’ll see what I can do. I’ve got to go. They’re coming back my way.’
Hemi had hung up the phone before he got any angrier.
As the trip left the Crosshouse, Hemi had followed them to the Grand Chateau hotel. He admired Aimee from a distance as they entered the hotel. Perhaps a girl like her could persuade him to rethink the single life. Snap out of it Hemi, he thought. She’s probably changed a lot. You aren’t a schoolboy any more.
Before driving back down the mountain in search of some lower budget accommodation, Hemi took a drive up to the ski resort at Whakapapa. If he was in the area, he might as well have a look around. Not a lot to see though. In summer everything was well locked up and there was no one about. He had turned back down the mountain and driven past the Grand Chateau, settling for a cheap motel nearby, to wait. Hemi always waited, and waiting was what he was doing now. He set his mobile phone alarm for six in the morning. The early bird catches the worm, that’s what his father said. He closed his eyes and let his back sink into the soft bed. A spring prodded at his back as he imagined what it was like for his ancestors, sitting in a Whare Wananga, and learning of things that have since been lost. As he sank deeper into his imaginings, he sank deep into a much-needed sleep.
CHAPTER 25
Matt walked in circles around the huge billiards table. Pacing calmed his nerves. Or maybe not, but it gave him something to do. He was early. It was difficult to know whether he was better off being early or making a big entrance. But to make a big entrance you had to be late, and that didn’t look good, did it? In Switzerland, when he studied there, he learnt to never be late. The Swiss are very particular about punctuality. When the train didn’t arrive on time, people started tapping their watches. Surely their watch was broken; the trains always ran on time. Aimee descended the staircase on time too. Sublime. Matt couldn’t take his eyes off her. She floated lower and lower as if her feet weren’t even touching the ground. Matt couldn’t find a breath. He hadn’t seen her in a dress before.
‘You look stunning,’ he greeted her, self-consciously brushing his hands down his beige pants. ‘I hope you haven’t dressed up for me.’
Liar.
‘It’s just such a nice place, I had to do it.’
‘Where did you get the dress though? I mean, your tiny suitcase.’
‘I told you I have a month’s worth in there.’
‘I’ll never doubt you again. You obviously have packing skills beyond my comprehension.’
‘Don’t worry about it.’ Aimee laughed. ‘Plenty of men can’t pack to save themselves.’
Matt laughed and reached out his arm in a half-mocking, fully-hopeful gesture and was relieved when Aimee took it. She felt perfect on his arm. She smelt wonderful. She looked beautiful. The royal blue dress accentuated her eyes in a dangerous way. He filled with pride as he escorted her into the Ruapehu restaurant. A smartly dressed waiter seated them at a smartly laid table. The decor was classical. Had Aimee planned her visit here? Her dress fit in perfectly. Matt felt a little underdressed, but he was seated with the most beautiful woman in the room. Nothing else mattered. They enjoyed a good meal and chatted amiably the whole way through. Conversation remained fairly light, centering on their plans for the next few days. Dinner was finished far too soon. Matt looked at his watch as he waited for his change. Way too early.
‘Would you like to go for a stroll around the golf course?’ he asked, feeling his cheeks warm a little.
‘You challenging me to a game?’
His cheeks warmed some more.
‘I’m just kidding,’ she said. ‘I’d love to go for a walk.’
The air outside was refreshingly cool. Not too cold, but no longer sticky or humid. Matt preferred this weather to that in Auckland, and besides, it was the perfect opportunity to make a romantic gesture. You know, give her his jacket or something.
‘Does New Zealand remind you of England at all?’ Aimee asked, before he had decided what the gesture should be.
‘The scenery?’
‘Yeah, or the food, the language — I don’t know — just generally?’
‘The food does. Restaurants here are almost like Rose’s home cooking. Not up to her quality though.’
‘Rose, is that your girlfriend?’
Matt looked at Aimee and laughed.
‘No, Rose is in her seventies. That’s beyond even my desperation, Rose is my landlady.’
‘What do you mean by desperation? I assumed you had a girlfriend, maybe even Julia.’
‘Julia!? Don’t be daft, we’ve been best friends for years, it would be utterly wrong and she’s far from my type.’
‘I’m sure she’s very fond of you.’
Now Matt knew he was blushing. Similar accusations had been made before.
‘I’m not interested in Julia though,’ Matt said, maybe a little too defensively. His next words surprised even himself. ‘You, however… well.’
Aimee spun around and faced him, her face covered in shock.
‘What?’ she asked.
‘I think that you’re very nice.’
Oh, Matt, that was just bloody weak.
‘Are you serious?’ Aimee looked at him with an expression he couldn’t read. Matt knew he had to go on. The next few minutes would make or break this. Either he would have said his bit and Aimee accepts it, or she goes home and he has to continue the rest of the journey alone with his tail between his legs.