Coiled Snake (The Windstorm Series Book 2) (35 page)

I find a seat away from the others so they don’t see me cry.

I can’t believe he’s gone.
All this time, when we couldn’t be together, at least I knew he was alive. There was always a chance. A sliver of hope. But now there’s nothing. He’s gone for real. Forever.

After about an hour, Hana sits down next to me. “How’re you doing, mate?”

“The Yakone didn’t know about the bombs,” I say hoarsely.

“What?” She furrows her brow.

“I thought the Yakone blew up our base because we tried to blow up theirs. But they didn’t know. They couldn’t tell I was carrying the bombs in the video.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Hana says, clearly concerned.

“It’s okay. I’m okay.”

Rye said the Yakone didn’t destroy our village
. Something’s going on, and I need to know what it is.

No more suicide missions. No more messes. No more killing because our friends were killed. No more dying.

When we get back to New Zealand, I’m going to figure this out. I’m going to be a truth seeker, like Rye. And I’m going to find a way to stop it. It’s the only way I’ll be able to live with myself.

“Now boarding,” the attendant announces on the P.A. system.

We join the others, and I help Maisy to her feet, put an arm around her and Jack. As we walk down the ramp toward the airplane, I think about all the things I have to tell them. If I’m going to seek truth, I have to start sharing it too. From now on, no more secrets.

“Remember that long story I told you about?” I ask Jack.

For most of the long flight back to New Zealand, we talk. I tell them everything. What happened when I got to Winnipeg. Meeting Joe. Witnessing Aura’s murder. Going with Jeremy and the others to the camp. Charity. The Yakone. Rye. Fleeing the attack. Traveling through the wilderness. Battling the Rangi. Barely making it to the
Wakenunat.
The chaos that followed when my identity was revealed. I even tell them about the explosives.

No more secrets.

Then I tell them about Miri, the grandmother they’ll never know. I tell them about Paika and Stephen and the destroyed
Wakemaunga
. My journey to come find them. The story of our parents.

The only thing I don’t tell them is that Mokai is our brother. That’s his secret to share.

They have lots of questions. Some I can answer. Some I can’t. But as we talk, I feel the awkwardness between us dissolve.

Then it’s their turn to tell me things. About how upset Sue was when I left. How the police and community looked for me for weeks. How they did chores after school at neighboring farms to help earn extra money. Then the opportunity that came to go on a service mission to Mexico during Christmas break, followed by fundraisers and more chores. The long-awaited trip. Their capture. In their voices, I hear their concern that Sue will be frantic, and I promise them that we’ll contact her as soon as we land.

When every topic, along with our throats, has been exhausted, we fall asleep. But I wake frequently, my thoughts always going back to the same scene: Rye falling forward in his blood. Dead in the street.

I don’t know what’s going to happen when we get back. I dread the thought of life returning to normal. As if nothing ever happened.

But I don’t have to worry about reaching normalcy yet. There’s still a war on the horizon, and there are still questions that need to be answered.

Who attacked the village? Who planted the bombs? Psalms 62: 9. Maisy’s missing watch.

Finally, the plane begins its descent, and I look out the window at the island growing larger beneath us. The land of the long white cloud. My home.

We land and exit down the boarding ramp. But as we near the gate, the line slows down. Ahead of us, airline personnel are stopping the passengers.

A knot of trepidation forms in my gut. What if the Yakone have somehow arranged to have us deported? They couldn’t do that, could they?
They have heaps of money
, Stephen told me.

Soon we’re close enough to hear what the employee is asking.

“I’m looking for passenger Kitara Awha,” she says.

I exchange looks with Hana and Mokai. This can’t be good. Should I try to get past them?

No, I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize the others.

“That’s me,” I say, keeping my voice steady.

“Brilliant,” the employee says. “I have a message for you.” She hands me an envelope with my name and flight information printed on the front.

“Thanks,” I stammer. I take it from her and walk with the others out of the gate. We step to the side before going through customs, and I gawk at the envelope in my hand.

“What is it?” Maisy asks.

I shake my head.

“Well, go on then,” Hana says. “Open it!”

Hands trembling, I slide my finger under the seal and pop it open. Inside is a small piece of paper with a single line of text. I stare at the words, reading them over and over.

“It can’t be,” I breathe.

“What is it?” Hana repeats.

I hand her the note, and her mouth drops open when she reads what it says.

watch your back

— R

This book is truly a product of collaboration. I’m deeply indebted to Jonathon and Linda for sacrificing their time to deliver inspired insights and suggestions. I’m also very grateful to Claire, Kaye, and Kaili for their tremendous encouragement and proofreading prowess and to my family, especially my husband Ryan, for supporting me as I worked on this project. Love to you all!

Katie Robison is a registered member of the Ngai Tahu Māori
iwi
in New Zealand. She has a B.A. in English and French from Brigham Young University and is a Ph.D. candidate in the English Department of the University of Minnesota. She currently lives with her husband, their new baby daughter, and their two Siberian Huskies in the Cayman Islands. Learn more on her website:
www.katierobison.com.