Free The Bone Tiki by David Hair Page B

girl.
    She had a friendly face—none of Puarata’s oily power, or Donna’s hardness. She looked like someone who laughed alot, and her T-shirt had a clown on the front, which decided him. Bad guys didn’t wear clown T-shirts.
    ‘OK, maybe I am.’
    She hesitated, then said ‘Umm…I’m Kelly.’
    ‘Mat.’
    ‘Hi Mat…not Wiremu then?’
    He shook his head. ‘That’s my first name—but I prefer Mat.’
    Kelly nodded. ‘I’ll call you Mat, then. You hungry?’
    Mat nodded.
    ‘I’ve got some food in the car. Nothing healthy, just chippies and stuff. That OK? You want to wait here, and I’ll bring it down.’
    ‘OK.’
    Mat watched her out of sight, then splashed to the bank and sat on a fallen log.
    The Labrador nuzzled him again, wagging its tail. He ruffled the dog’s neck, and looked up as Kelly reappeared from the trees, her hands full of packets.
    ‘Hey, Dog,’ she called, and the Labrador bounded toward her, barking happily. She laughed as it shouldered her legs, nearly knocking her over. ‘Don’t know whose it is, the silly mutt. Showed up this morning when I arrived for the fair, and no one seems to own it. Seems to want me to adopt it.’
    ‘You going to?’
    ‘Nah, I’ll leave it behind when it’s time to go.’
    The Labrador looked at her with such a hurt expression that they both laughed, and Mat felt a sudden lifting of tension, though he still watched the girl cautiously.
    As if trying to entertain them both, the Labrador barked happily and cavorted about.
    ‘I think he’s adopted you !’ laughed Mat.
    ‘He’s certainly turning on the charm, aren’t you, boy?’ Kelly sat down beside Mat, just out of arm’s reach, and put a pack of chippies on the log. Chicken-flavoured. Mat’s stomach rumbled.
    ‘I’m out of fizzy, sorry,’ said Kelly apologetically.
    Mat reached out cautiously and took the chippies. The Labrador nuzzled his hands, and he gently pushed him away.
    ‘Mine, doggy,’ he told it, opened the packet, took a handful and stuffed them into his mouth hungrily. Kelly pulled out a small mirror, and some pots of face paint, from her waist pack.
    He munched chippies, which tasted as good as any meal he’d ever had, and watched her apply a pale foundation to her face.
    ‘Whatcha doing?’ he asked between mouthfuls.
    ‘My make-up. I’m a clown. I’m on again shortly at the fair.’ She grinned. ‘Kelly the Magic Clown, that’s me. I do magic tricks and silly klutzy clown stuff. Cool huh?’ Mat twisted his mouth dubiously, but nodded.
    ‘I think the dog wants to be in show-biz too.’
    ‘Has he joined in your act yet?’
    ‘Nah…in my lunch-time show he was more interested in chasing an old woman’s poodle!’ She laughed, an infectious laugh, and Mat felt himself relax.
    ‘What’s the fair?’ he asked.
    ‘Just a country fair they have out here sometimes over spring and summer. Food stalls, crafts, and sideshow freaks like me. Its pretty low-key.’
    Mat nodded.
    ‘So,’ asked Kelly, looking more closely at him. ‘How come you’re on the road, Mat?’
    Mat considered a moment. ‘Just gotta get away, y’know,’ he said, hoping she wouldn’t press him too much.
    Kelly nodded slowly. ‘OK. Don’t need to know. Where you going, Mat?’
    Mat frowned, shrugged.
    Kelly nodded again, and then pulled out a tiny transistor radio from her bag, and turned it on. They listened to a commercial, then right on half-three a news bulletin. At the end of it, there was an extra announcement.
    ‘Napier Police ask the public to be on the lookout for Wiremu Matiu Douglas, of Napier South. He is fifteen, part-Maori, around one hundred and fifty-five centimetres, of slim build, with black hair. He is believed to be travelling north, perhaps on the Napier-Taupo Road. Please report any sightings to Napier Police Station.’
    Mat felt the colour drain from his face.
    Kelly watched him, then slowly reached down and turned off the transistor.
    ‘Where are you going, Mat?’