Page 78 of Catch a Kiwi
“How things work,” I said, “and how to make them work better. With science.”
“I could make them work better,” she said. “I would try and try until I did it.”
“You probably could,” I said, “as that’s exactly what it takes. Trying and trying until you find an answer. Maybe you’ll be the one who figures out how to help people fly.”
She said, “I have to, because Matiu says it’s not good to fight, especially because it means he has to be a doctor and fix them, so running is about all thereis.”She sighed heavily. “And swimming is a silly superpower, because people can already swim.”
“Not under the sea, they can’t,” I said. “Not without scuba gear. And not with dolphins and whales and sharks.”
“If you swim with sharks,” Olivia said, “they will eat you. Obviously.”
“The reason for the superpower,” I said. “Obviously. I’d have a … a protective suit.”
She nodded. “Like Blue Beetle, except if the suit is heavy, you couldn’t get up out of the water, since magic isn’t real and you need science instead. That’s how bad guys kill people. They tie concrete blocks to their feet, and then they can’t get out of the water unless they can get untied. Maybe your superpower could also be untying things.”
“There you are,” I said. “Another engineering problem. I’d need a very strong suit that was also very light.”
“Or you could have knives that would come out of your suit,” she said, “so you could cut the ropes. If you had knives, you could also fight. Even though Matiu might have to fix you.”
“I would,” Matiu said. “No knives.”
Olivia sighed. “Iknow.You already told me about one million times!”
“Right,” I said. “Engineering it is, then. Pound it.” I put out my fist, and she smashed hers into it with all her force, then said, “I need to go see Koro now. He always has lollies, and hesays he has extra today, because it’s his birthday. But the lollies are only for kids, so you can’t have any.”
“And neither can you,” Matiu said, “as we’re going to eat soon.”
“Matiu,” Olivia said, putting her hands on her hips, “I can eat lolliesandeat dinner. I have a very big stomach. Look.” She took a breath and shoved it out.
Matiu inspected it, only the twitch at the corner of his mouth betraying his amusement. “It’s big, all right,” he said. “Room in there for dinner and cake and lollies. But we’ll eat the dinner first.”
She said, “You’re very interested in rules. Like Mrs. Hobbes. She’s my teacher,” she told me, “and she’salwaystalking about rules. Rules, rules, rules. Over and over.” She waved her hand to emphasize her point. “I don’t like rules.”
“I see that,” I said.
“I need to go find my sister,” she told me next. “Because she wants to hold the other end of the sign and sing the song I made up for Koro, and Koro will want to hear the song, because he likes singing, and he likes singing from his mokopuna best of all.”
“He does,” Matiu said. “Off you go, then.”
He watched her run off and said, “She can’t actually get far, as long as the gate’s locked and her fingers aren’t strong enough to unlock it, but you never want Olivia out of your sight. Slippery as an eel and twice as determined.”
“I noticed,” I said. “She calls you ‘Matiu.’”
“I’m her stepdad,” he said. “Unfortunately.” When I stared at him, he smiled ruefully and said, “Unfortunate because I’d rather be their dad, but he’s still around. Bit of an arsehole.” He paused, then added deliberately, “Like yours.”
“Is he here?” I asked.
“Oh, yeh. Whinging about the place somewhere. He’sborrowed money from half the crowd by now, I’m sure. Don’t give him any. Hemi will pay them back, but …”
“Bridge too far,” I said, “Hemi paying me back, but no worries, I won’t be doing either thing. Giving money to Daniel, or asking for it from Hemi. I also won’t be calling him ‘Dad.’”
“Neither would I,” Matiu said. “Come on. I’ll introduce you. And your … girlfriend, of course.”
“You’re thinking that changed fast,” I said. I wanted to tell him that Summer wasn’t my girlfriend. I wasn’t used to lying, and I wasn’t enjoying it. But otherwise, why had I brought her?
“Nah, mate,” Matiu said. “Fast works. Let’s go. And if you’re worried, don’t be. You’ll be the birthday present Koro wants most, and as far as what anybody else wants? I don’t care, and neither should you. Koro’s what matters today, and almost everyone here knows it. Other than your sister and dad, of course.” He gave me his charming white smile again. “There are ants at every picnic. Pity these ants happen to be yours.”
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