Solomon's Song by Bryce Courtenay Read Free Book Online Page A

commands that a great farewell feast be held on the marae in his honour.
    During the festivities and much to Hawk’s embarrassment, Chief Tamihana invites Hawk’s old friend, the one-armed, one-eyed Hammerhead Jack to tell the rangatira, the elders of the tribe, and the tohunga, and all those gathered at the hui about the time Hawk saved his life when the great sperm whale had overturned their whaleboat and his arm had been severed by the harpoon line.
    ‘I am not much Maori, with only one arm and one eye, but my mana is in my left eye and it would be my privilege to die for my brother, Ork,’ Hammerhead Jack concludes at the end of his talk.
    The rangatira clap and shout their approval of Hammerhead Jack’s sentiments. Chief Tamihana has earlier reminded them of the contribution of General Black Hawk, who with his new guerilla tactics, which the Maori call ‘the running away war’, made the forces of Wiremu Kingi and General Hapurona achieve victories against the British. They have more to add to the collective memory of the giant black man they think of as one of their own.
    It is an altogether grand farewell though Hawk is somewhat bemused at how his reputation as a fighting man and as a general has grown in his absence.
    ‘Chief Tamihana, I am honoured to be counted among you, to be accepted as rangatira, but surely you speak of a stranger. I have neither the wisdom nor the bravery you bestow upon me. Of the running away war, it was something I learned in books and I cannot take credit for it.’ Hawk walks over and stands beside Hammerhead Jack who is seated among the highest of the rangatira. ‘We have been brothers in war and I could ask for no braver man at my side. At the battle of Puke Te Kauere it was this man who was the true general when we fought outside the pa. Without him we could not have succeeded and without him Tommo would have drowned in the swamp. How can I merit praise when it is due so much more to others, to this man, my Maori brother?’
    The rangatira clap, enjoying Hawk’s modesty and his copious praise for one of their own warriors. Hawk promises he will return each year to attend to the needs of Tommo’s daughter Hinetitama and to sit with his brothers in the marae. He tells them that he knows himself to be a Maori in his heart and is of the Ngati Haua tribe and he wears their moko on his face with great pride.
    ‘He thanks the rangatira and is careful to do the same to the tohunga. Priests, Hawk has observed, have long memories for small slights, and finally he thanks Chief Tamihana for the honour they have bestowed on Tommo by giving him the burial rights of a great warrior and for elevating him to the ranks of the rangatira.
    *
    Hawk will sail in the morning and it is late, with a full moon high in the night sky. Chief Tamihana sees him to the hut they have provided for him in the chief’s compound. ‘I shall leave you now my friend and we will sail you to Auckland in the morning, I have but one more gift for you which I hope you will enjoy.’
    ‘Gift? I have been honoured beyond any possible merit, Tamihana, I have been given the gift of brotherhood and of your friendship. With Tommo dead there is none I value more than yours and that of Hammerhead Jack.’
    Tamihana chuckles softly. ‘Ah, Hawk, this is but the gift of one night, an old memory revisited.’ With this remark he bids Hawk goodnight and takes his leave.
    Hawk is too tired to think what the old chief might mean and gratefully enters his hut. The night carries a cool breeze from the mountains and Hawk wraps a blanket about himself and is preparing to sleep when he becomes conscious of a shadow darkening the door of his hut, blocking out the moonlight.
    ‘Who is it?’ he says wearily. He has talked and listened too much for one night and wishes only to be left alone.
    ‘It is me, General Black Hawk, Hinetitama, whose name you have taken for the daughter of Tommo. Do you remember me?’
    It is as if time has stood