The Matriarch by Witi Ihimaera

Author:Witi Ihimaera [Ihimaera, Witi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781742539508
Publisher: Penguin Random House New Zealand
Published: 2013-04-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Inescapable was the rain, the roaring wind, the duty, as I drove again to the house of my Uncle Alexis. The night was like a desolate sea, howling in darkness, and the houses of Roseneath were like flotsam and jetsam tossed about upon its waves.

‘Here we are,’ I said to Regan. She nodded, bundling Bianca and Miranda in blankets and prepared to make a dash towards the door of Uncle’s house. There it was, against the skyline, lighted windows like a ship receding away, away, away. I stepped out of the car and opened the door for Regan. The rain pierced us with its coldness as we ran through the night, past the flax bushes and into the shelter of the entrance. Aunt Roha’s figure shimmered against the glass door as she opened it.

‘Quick,’ she said. ‘Come inside.’

She averted her face from me so that I could not kiss her cheek. Perhaps it was merely accidental. Before I could ponder this, Te Ariki came striding down the hallway in that easy, attractive manner of his, a wide boyish grin on his face. He hugged his granddaughters in his arms and kissed Miranda so hard that she began to cry.

Then he looked at me and imprisoned me with his love. I reached for him and we embraced with passion. ‘We never have much time together, do we my son?’ he asked. ‘But it is always good to see you.’ I was puzzled at his meaning until he explained, ‘No sooner do we get here than your grandfather wants to go back to Waituhi. After you’ve been in to him, ka hoki matou ki te wa kainga.’

‘Tonight? In this rain?’

‘The car’s already packed, son. We’ll be all right. Don’t you worry. He wants to see Regan and the girls first. Then you after that.’

I nodded to Regan to go in to Ihaka with Bianca and Miranda; Aunt Floria accompanied her. I turned to my father, ‘Let me be clear, Te Ariki,’ I said, ‘Regan and I came only out of duty.’

He smiled. Beneath the effervescent emotions I could sense his tiredness and strain. I regretted being so irritated with him on the telephone.

‘Thank you, Tamatea,’ he said. ‘While Regan’s seeing Dad, come and say hello to your Uncle Alexis.’

My Aunt Roha was sitting on a chair next to the pillows, holding Uncle’s hands in hers. I kissed her and felt the salt tears upon her cheeks. My father sat himself on another chair and without speaking indicated that I should greet my uncle. In that moment, I realised how similar they were, the two brothers. The same patrician features, the wavy black hair, that look of Cesar Romero or Tyrone Power. What must it be like for one brother, Te Ariki, to look upon another and to know that some day, he also might be so helplessly bedridden?

‘Uncle Alexis,’ I said.

‘Yes, I know you’re here, boy,’ Uncle responded. ‘Welcome to the house of the blind.’ He smiled reflectively. ‘And the old.’

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