Kids into Books: The Lies of Harry Wakatipu

Author: Jack Lazenby

Illustrator: Christine Bluess

Publisher: Longacre Press, $14.95

Age group: 10+ years


I smiled grimly and heard something climbing down over the boulders where the Hopuruahine Cascades once roared. A white-tipped tail turned around and around, balancing its owner. I saw her white feet, her brown body, the white ruff around her neck, the white apron of hair on her chest. Wiki the storytelling dog was back!

She leapt and licked my face. Just in time I remembered Rule Three in the Deer Culler's Daybook and dropped her.

"Welcome home, Wiki," I said and shook hands in case the field officer was spying. If he'd seen me hug Wiki I'd have got the sack. Rule Three says, "A deer culler never shows his feelings."

"There's a brew on," I said gruffly. Wiki danced. It was all right for her to show her feelings because she was a dog. I held my upper lip stiff with both hands in case the field officer was watching through field glasses.

Each morning Wiki got up first and lit the fire. She did the cooking, carried my pack, and kept me company fly-camping. Each night she told me a story. I had to be careful not to go around with a silly grin on my face. Rule Three says, "A deer culler is allowed only three grins a season. He may laugh only if it stops him crying."

*Tomorrow: Tears of joy