When the Kehua Calls: Part 5

By KINGI McKINNON

I turned huffily, trying to hide my distaste. Who, in their right mind, would want to inherit a dump like this? It wasn't just the house -- the whole place was the pits. The yard was overrun with blackberry and gorse; rye grass and pig fern reached almost to the windowsills. and sprawling macrocarpa towered all along the fence line directly behind the house, blotting out the sun.

Sighing, Dad hoisted Megan up onto his shoulders and dragged open the rickety gate. "Well, no sense in dawdling around out here, I s'pose. Let's just take a quick gander inside, then head on back to Aunty's for a feed."

Inside, it looked even worse. Most of the roof at the back had caved in; timber was missing from the walls and ceiling, and there were piles of animal droppings everywhere. Birds, possums -- even sheep -- had left their calling cards. The whole place reeked of dampness and mould.

Publisher: Scholastic

Price: $13.95

Age group: 10-14 yrs

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