WAIRERE-O-TE-HAU by Van Phillips It was Sharon who first saw them. We'd just finished an early tea, when Sharon, washing up in the kitchen, happened to glance out into the gloom of the back yard. There, in the softly falling winter rain appeared koro Petau and koro Mat. Bareheaded they stood, twisting their hats in nervous hands, and looking silently towards the house. There was a moment or two before Sharon recovered from her surprise and called to me. I thought she wanted a hand with the dishes, so I ignored her. At least until I heard a note of panic in her voice. ‘Look!’ she whispered. ‘There!’ I saw them. ‘Hell—they gave me a fright!’. She wiped her hands against her apron and gave a little shudder. ‘What d'you think they want?’ I wondered. It wasn't often anyone from the pa came up to the house. In fact, I'd spoken only briefly to one or two of the locals since we'd moved onto the farm some six months previously. But I knew these two old men. I'd seen them outside the pub at Pihi. Sitting in the weak sun, deep in conversation, with a bottle between them. Now they stood outside in the dusk. Looking towards the house. ‘I suppose I better see.’ Sharon flicked an uneasy glance at me. ‘Look—it's probably nothing.’ Sharon didn't seem so sure, but she made no move as I opened the door and walked out onto the back verandah. The two men shuffled forward. I could sense Sharon standing behind me, partly hidden by the open door. Koro Mat spoke. ‘Good evening sir.’ His eyes briefly caught koro Petau's before he looked back at me. ‘I'm sorry sir.’ He shifted his feet uneasily. ‘I hope we've not come at the wrong time.’ He nodded towards the kitchen. ‘Petau and me would like to speak with you.’ ‘Of course—come in out of the rain.’ I motioned them to enter the kitchen. They seemed shy and uncertain. Petau made as if to remove his boots. ‘A bit more mud won't matter—come on in’. They entered nervously. Sharon appeared, greeting the two men with a forced smile. She was still puzzled by the men's actions. So was I. This matter they wanted to discuss with me. Perhaps it was about the kids from the pa whom I'd caught the previous week, riding the old gelding in the bottom paddock. I was a little worried by the seriousness of the two men. However, they entered the kitchen and I introduced them to Sharon. We all smiled uneasily at one another and sat. To break the ice, Sharon offered the two men a cup of tea. They politely refused. ‘Bad weather setting in.’ They both nodded and shyly examined the room. Sharon glanced secretly at me and raised her eyes ceilingwards. Mat cleared his throat. ‘Ah sir.’ He stopped. Koro Petau looked absently at the door. ‘Sir—the people— our families have talked this matter over and we have come to you.’ He took a deep breath and searched for further words. ‘There is trouble—ah—!’ The kids and the horse. Surely not that. I'd only threatened to boot their backsides if I caught them again. Must be something else. Koro Petau licked his lips. ‘Sir—there's a