A Taste of Gold

By Deryn Pittar

Psychic twins with special talents meet two thieves, two Taniwha, and one pretty reporter as they experience the adventure of a lifetime...

On a prospecting holiday, brothers Jason and Levi discover an ancient supernatural creature, a Taniwha named Otanewainuku, who gives them ‘humming stones’ in exchange for their silence about its treasure. They also cross paths with two thieves. Their supernatural abilities to find hidden gems and precious metals help them find the stolen goods and turn them in to the police—twice. But when they meet reporter Abby Hennessy, her story on their good deed attracts the wrong kind of attention.

When the thieves capture Jason to use his talents, Levi has to rely on their psychic link to guide the police while not revealing their powers. Abby wants to help, and she and Levi search for the thieves, not knowing that Jason is going to use the ‘humming stones’ to call on another Taniwha for help...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight Teen
• Release date: Dec 7, 2013
• ISBN: 9781771306676

Deryn Pittar

A Taste of Gold is Deryn Pittar’s first Young Adult novella. She loved creating the characters in this story, especially the Taniwha (pronounced tanny-far) from Maori mythology. This story has inspired her to write more stories for teenagers in the future.Deryn, writing as Virginnia De Parte, also pens futuristic fiction, spiced with romance and adventure. She has four novellas published as e-books. Setting her stories in the future allows her imagination to run free, creating characters with unheard-of talents. She also has the pleasure of watching science and technology catch up with her imagination.She is a published poet. She lives in the aptly named Bay of Plenty, New Zealand; along with four million people and a number of hobbits.

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Published by Evernight Teen at Smashwords

www.evernightteen.com

Copyright© 2013 Deryn Pittar

ISBN: 978-1-77130-667-6

Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

Editor: Marie Medina

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION

This one is for Michael—my greatest supporter.

A TASTE OF GOLD

Deryn Pittar

Copyright © 2013

Chapter One

Stop. Jason threw his arms wide, blocking his twin brother’s path, causing Levi to barrel into him. Careful—there’s a fence here.

Where? Levi peered over Jason’s shoulder, their heads bumping. Wow, serious stuff. What’s going on?

I reckon it’s a marijuana patch. I’ve only seen photos up ‘til now, but I’m sure that’s what all these plants are.

"What’s all the fencing for? Keeping out people or possums?

Both. Better step carefully. There could be booby-traps. I’ve read that growers go in for that sort of stuff.

Levi moved to stand beside Jason on the narrow track. Above them the tall totaras trees and ponga ferns blocked the sunlight, but in the clearing ahead the sun warmed the plantation. Some of those plants have flower heads on. They must be close to being picked. I wonder if there’s anyone guarding it?

Jason looked to each side of where they stood, and a fine red line caught his eye.

Look, a laser light. We’d better not break the connection.

Why not? Let’s see what happens. And with that Levi broke off a nearby twig and waved it through the beam. A klaxon horn sounded loud and long in the distance.

Now you’ve done it! Jason said.

Levi shrugged. At least we’ll know if there’s anyone around.

First they heard the crashing of someone stumbling through the bush; then a tall dark shape staggered into view. The man righted himself from his headlong rush and once upright he aimed the gun he carried at them, shouting across the clearing.

Hey you! What do you think you’re doing? Get the hell out of here. This is private property.

Private property, my eye! Levi shouted back. This is the middle of the Coromandel hills. My guide book says its conservation land.

My gun says it’s private land. They could no longer see him, but they could see his progress by the waving plant tops as he hurried toward them through the tall plants.

Jason swallowed the lump in his throat and grabbed Levi, swinging him around.

Come on, let’s get out of here.

They turned and ran back the way they’d come. They slid along the dark, wet track, slipping on the damp litter on the forest floor, as low branches and rata vines whipped at their heads. The narrow path ran alongside the stream they’d been following, until they’d been halted by the fence. The boom of a shotgun behind them made them run even faster.

I think he must’ve shot into the air, Levi said, his breath ragged. A warning shot.

Let’s hope we reach the other track before he reloads. Jason slowed as their gear came into view. A shovel and two gold-panning dishes lay beside the path. Picking them up, the twins turned uphill and scrambled out of the bush into the daylight, back to the roadside where they’d left the car. The sun warmed Jason’s back, thawing the chill of the bush.

The next time you taste gold, we’d better check what’s around before we wander off exploring, he said as he unlocked the car. Levi stood waiting at the back of the vehicle ready to toss their prospecting gear in. He’d just lifted the trunk when he heard an approaching engine. Around the corner came a cop car, slowing down as it approached.

Now what do we do? Have you got the gold? Jason threw the thought at Levi.

It’s in my jeans pocket. Levi rested his palm on the bump on his thigh where their phial of gold particles rested snug and safe, deep in his pocket.

The blue and white cop car came to a halt a few feet from the rear bumper of their rental car. Jason smiled widely, hoping Levi was doing the same. He couldn’t see Levi’s face. A thread of fear crawled up Jason’s back? His usually calm brother wiped his hands down his pants. Dirt on his palms—or sweat? They didn’t know if they’d broken the law by panning for gold. In Australia they had a mining lease, but here in the New Zealand bush? Well—they were just a couple of guys trying their luck, if anyone asked, especially if the police did the asking.

We really should’ve have checked if we could legally pan for gold. Jason waved the cloud of dust away from his face as he took a couple of quick steps forward and held out his hand in greeting. Good afternoon, officer.

Too late now. Just don’t mention it. Hi, Levi chimed in, behaving as their parents had told them. ‘Be polite, show respect to the law, don’t make waves in a strange country.’

Hello, you two. What’re you up to stopping here? It’s a bit off the beaten track. The cop shook their hands in turn. I see you were throwing a shovel into the back of your car as I arrived. Want to tell me why?

If he only knew. We thought we might find a fossil rock or two around here. Jason dug into his shirtfront and got out his passport and driver’s license.

That was quick thinking. "And here are mine as well, sir." Levi passed his documents over. They stood while the cop spread their papers on the bonnet of his car and studied them. If the guy with the gun has followed us, at least this cop will keep him away.

Or he might think we’ll tell the cop about the plantation.

Right. These seem in order. The officer’s words stopped their mental conversation. He handed them their passports and driver’s licenses. Welcome to the Coromandel. I find it a bit strange that two young Aussies would stop and take a shovel into the bush.

You do the talking. I’ll shut up, Levi told Jason.

We’re on our way south, sir, heading for the Bay of Plenty. Jason grinned his widest. We’re going to stop in the Karangahake Gorge. We’ve read about the old gold mine there and thought we’d try our hand at panning. He pointed at Levi. My brother here loves his fossils, so we dig and chip at rocks whenever he gets the urge.

Thanks for that lovely description. He’ll think I’m a nutter.

That’s better than him knowing you taste honey every time we pass gold buried in the ground.

True. Imagine what he’d think if he knew you can hear gems singing. Man, he’d really flip at that.

You’re a student?

Yes, sir, we both are. I’m studying geology at the Melbourne University and Jason, he pointed to his brother, is studying gemology. It’d be great if we could take some rock samples back. We can do this at home. Can we do it here? Would it be legal?"

The policeman chuckled. You’d have to watch your luggage weight. I don’t think we would care, but your customs officers might want to fumigate or wash them. You’d need to check at your end.

I’ll do that. Thank you. Levi turned to get in their car. Can we go now, officer?

Yes, but seriously, be very careful wandering around in the bush, especially way out in the wop-wops. There’re guys with crops all through here. They can be dangerous. They protect their patch with guns and possum traps. You wouldn’t want to lose half a foot in a trap, just because you felt like a stroll in the bush. Would you?

Jason nodded his agreement. His pulse had slowed, and the sun on his back had sweat trickling down his spine. We’ll be off then, if that’s alright?

Sure, you two have a nice holiday.

Jason slid behind the wheel of the car, turned on the engine, checked Levi had done up his seat belt, and with the indicator flicking, he pulled out onto the metal road. He thought he’d obeyed all the road rules as he did this and hoped the dust cloud the wheels left behind them didn’t mess up the cop’s uniform.

After two corners, farther along the road, a man on a motorbike popped out of the bush, pulled in behind them and followed them all the way to Whitianga. Was it the gun-toting grower or an innocent bush walker like them? Jason didn’t know, but the idea that his head might be bulls-eye target eased, and his scalp ceased tingling, when the biker overtook them in the main street and roared out of sight.

Did he wave his fist at us—or am I seeing things? Levi asked, out loud.

He might’ve just felt friendly.

Yeah, right. Let’s hope we never meet again. Look for a takeaway or McDonalds. I’m starving.

One good thing about his brother - Levi would always remember when it was time to eat. Jason pulled into an angle-parking space and turned off the engine. Mackers is that way, he said pointing up the street, "and there’s a fish and chip shop this way. I’m having fish and