Where Lions Roar at Night

Groans in the Night

Ten–year–old Milly shivered with excitement and wriggled further into her sleeping bag. The mosquito net looked like a white cloud above her. She could hear the whine of a mosquito outside and felt glad it couldn’t reach her. She looked across the floor of the loft and saw all the other mattresses in a row, their mosquito nets glowing white in a shaft of moonlight. It looked like a war camp.

Sam, she whispered. Are you awake? No answer.

Jake! Still no answer.

Ellie? Nothing. Milly groaned. There was no use trying the two teenagers—Kate and Josiah would be asleep for sure. Good grief, she thought. How could they fall asleep on such an exciting night?

Try to go to sleep, Milly, said Mom in a soft voice. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.

Milly lay still and listened to the sounds of the night. The old barn creaked in the slight wind, and outside she could hear the occasional call of a morepork.

Imagine it! Living in the barn! Finally. It was six months since the first day Mom and Dad had brought all the family to see the land. Auntie Penny had come with them, and she and Mom had stood inside the ninety–year–old barn staring up at the sparrows perched on the high rafters. They had scrambled up a wooden ladder that was nailed to the wall and poked their heads into the loft. Then Auntie Penny had looked at Mom and said, Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

And Mom’s eyes were shining with excitement as she’d replied, You bet I am! We could live here while we build the house!

Milly grinned as she thought of her Mom and Auntie Penny. They were the spitting image of each other, like peas in a pod. Auntie Penny and Uncle Dave lived just five minutes up the road, in a milking shed they had made into their home. Their brother, Uncle Peter, lived in a house truck, and now—the Booms were living in a barn! But Mom said it was all part of having been brought up in New Guinea. They thrived on adventure and a challenge.

Milly wriggled around in bed and gazed up at the top of her net, where the mosquito still buzzed, trying to get in.

Their first exploration of the land had been so exciting. She and Sam, Jake, Ellie, Kate and Josiah had run over every square inch, exploring all the paddocks and especially the river that wound around the edge of the land. They had climbed over the huge totara logs that lay across the river, with Angel and Lucy, their rough haired Jack Russells close behind.

Look at them! Mom had said to Dad. I just had a vision of Penny and Peter and me walking across a log in New Guinea.

Milly had felt like she would die from excitement. She had run up to Dad, grabbed his arm, shook it and pleaded, Please Daddy! Buy it now! Buy it today! Please!

And everyone had clapped and cheered when Dad had said, Well, we can’t buy it today, but I hope we can soon.

Soon had seemed like forever to Milly but finally the day had come when Dad announced, The land is ours! They could move in. Mom and Auntie Penny had got stuck in with a water blaster and washed out all the dirt and mud—piles of it! Then while Dad had set up the composting toilet, the kids and Mom had cleared out all the wood and rubbish in the loft. And the possum.

Milly giggled to herself, remembering how Mom had freaked out when the possum had jumped out of a pile of boxes in the loft. Angel and Lucy had gone crazy, chasing it and barking in high, frenzied voices. Complete pandemonium had followed. The possum had screeched back at the dogs, everyone was shouting, and Mom had run out of the barn, covering her ears. Finally the possum had managed to escape the loft and climb onto one of the rafters in the main room, above all their furniture and packing boxes.

Bother! Dad had said. If it hides amongst the boxes we’ll never find it. If only I had a gun. Milly, can you bike down to Leigh’s and ask if he’ll come and shoot it? Leigh was their neighbor, the man who had sold them the land.

The only good possum is a dead one, Leigh had told her as they went back to the barn. They destroy our native trees and raid the birds’ nests and eat their eggs and little fledglings.

Milly shuddered as she remembered how loud the gun shot had sounded in the barn. It had been a good shot. The possum had fallen from the rafter onto the double mattress and then onto the floor. Eight–year–old Sam had dragged it outside by the tail. He was quite brave sometimes.

A small scratching sound broke her out of her thoughts. Chris? said Mom in a little voice. Chris! Wake up!

Milly heard Dad move and then his sleepy voice. What is it?

I heard something. Over there! I couldn’t bear it if it’s a rat! Mom sounded desperate.

Dad gave a little laugh. Don’t worry. It’s not going to hurt you.

Don’t be so flippant, hissed Mom. You know how much I hate rats.

Milly heard Dad laugh again. She could just imagine him grinning in the dark. Alright, Rose. Change places. I’ll sleep next to the wall.

There were sounds of shuffling as they swapped places and then Mom called, Angel. Here, girl. Angel!

She’s on my bed, whispered Milly.

Can I have her here with me, please?

Milly giggled and opened her net. Go on, Angel. Mom needs you.

Just then the water pump in the room below began to thump loudly, and the barn walls shook.

Milly tucked her net back in and smiled when she heard Mom whisper to Dad, It’s going to be a long night.

Good, thought Milly. At least someone else will be awake with me. She closed her eyes, and pictured the hens she would get; the pony; the lamb. Who knows, she might even be able to have her own cow and milk her!

Dad had been breathing slow and deep for a while when Milly heard a long, low sound that made her hair prickle. She lay very still, listening. The wind had dropped, and everything seemed quiet. Even the barn seemed to have gone to sleep. Then she heard it again. A deep groan that seemed to go on forever. Milly’s mouth went dry.

Mom, are you awake?

Yes.

Did you hear that?

No. Was it a rat?

No, said Milly. It was an awful sound. Like someone dying. Listen.

There it was again. A far off moaning.

Chris, said Mom. Wake up!

Dad stirred and then groaned. What now?

Listen! said Mom.

They all lay still. At last it came again, and Milly felt her toes tingle.

She wriggled out of her sleeping bag and edged her way between the mattresses and sleeping bodies of the other kids to where Mom and Dad lay on the floor. She climbed under their net and wriggled between them. What is it, Dad?

Shh, he said. I want to hear it again.

When the moan reached them this time, Milly didn’t feel quite so afraid. Then she heard Dad begin to chuckle.

Can you believe it, Rose? he exclaimed. Lions! It’s lions roaring!

Mom stared at him as if he'd gone crazy. What! Don’t be ridiculous. There are no lions in New Zealand. Stop trying to frighten me.

Not wild lions, laughed Dad. It’s the lions in the lion park not far from here. There must be a northerly wind blowing. And they must be hungry!

Milly shivered with delight. Lions! Imagine if one got free! Now, that would be an adventure! She lay very still listening to the frightful sound for a long time. She felt better when Dad told her they were locked behind strong, high fences, but she was happy to sleep between Mom and Dad for the first night in the barn, all the same.

Chapter Two

The Magnificent Arab

When Milly woke up, it took her a few seconds to remember where she was. Cheery sunlight shone through holes in the tin walls and made patterns on the floor and the walls.

The creepy sounds of the night seemed a world away. Mom was still asleep beside her, but Dad was already up and busy outside. Milly crept out of the mosquito net and went over to Sam’s mattress.

Sam! Wake up! She shook him hard. Then she gave Jake a small kick. Wake up, sleepy-heads! Wait till you hear this. We’ve got lions!

That did it. The two boys sat bolt upright in bed, their eyes round and big.

Milly gave a long, low moan. The boys looked at her as if she’d gone mad. That’s how they sounded. You should have heard them.

True, Milly? Jake asked. You’re not kidding us?

Nah. And if you weren’t such sleepy-heads you would have heard them yourselves. Then she told them about the lion park.

Wow! said Jake. Imagine if one escaped! What would we do?

I’d shoot it with my bow and arrow, said Sam.

Milly snorted. Don’t be stupid. That wouldn’t stop a flea. And anyway, your bow’s broken.

Sam glared at her. Well, I’ll fix it today. Me and you, eh Jake? Want to help me fix it?

Sure! Will you make me one, too, Sam?

Yep, said Sam, who loved making things. I reckon we need to make a heap more arrows, too. I saw some great turkey feathers yesterday.

Well, I’ll help you, said Milly. We’re going to need to put the feathers on properly if we’re going to try some lion hunting.

Sam and Jake scrambled out of bed and threw on some old clothes.

Sam found his army belt and pulled it tight around his waist. He attached his army water bottle and Swiss army knife, clipped on his compass, and shoved his latest wooden sword down behind the belt. He found his bow, and then slung the leather quiver over his back. It was a bit short for the arrows. Next time, he’d make it a bit longer.

Jake pulled on his coon hat. Mom had brought it back from Colorado. When she’d given it to him, she’d teased him saying that the man in the shop had said he hadn’t been able to find a girlfriend until he got his first coon hat. Girlfriend! Yuck. Seven–year–old Jake couldn’t think of anything worse. He turned around and carefully climbed backwards down the ladder from the loft.

The main room of the barn was piled high with boxes and furniture. Dad had made a small corridor through it so they could reach the ladder up to the loft.

Right, team, he said at breakfast. Today we’ll try and get the beds set up in the loft and clear a bit of this room. If we can find the chests of drawers amongst it all, we’ll take them up as well.

I don’t know where to begin, said Mom. Look at it all. Who would have thought one family could have so much stuff!

Half the boxes are full of your trinkets, complained Dad, but his eyes were twinkling.

What are trinkets? asked Sam.

Junk, said Dad, and then he jumped when Mom made a poke at his ribs.

Milly ran outside when she heard the unmistakable sound of a horse neighing. A few minutes later, she dashed back into the barn. Her face looked hot and she was panting.

Come and watch this! she shouted.

Everyone filed outside. A beautiful white Arab horse stood with his head arched in the neighbor’s paddock. He nickered when he saw them, and tossed his head. Milly took off, sprinting down the length of the fence. With a snort, and a fling of his head, the horse began to trot beside her on the other side, lifting his feet high and proud. Milly ran faster, and the horse began to canter along the fence line, tail high in the air. When she reached the end, Milly spun around and began to run back again as fast as she could. The horse shook his mane and galloped up towards his audience.

Mom laughed and clapped her hands. He’s magnificent!

Milly clutched her sides, her chest heaving.

That’ll get you fit for soccer, said Dad.

Isn’t he wonderful, Mom? she panted.

Mom nodded, gazing at the horse as he stood watching them, his nostrils flared. He’s magnificent! she said again. He looks like one of Ben Hur’s white Arabs. You know, the ones in the chariot race.

Milly nodded, her eyes glowing.

Mom's eyes were shining too. I used to dream of owning a horse like that when I was your age.

OK, team, said Dad, the chariot race is finished. Let’s get started. There’s a whole barn of trinkets to be unpacked.

By lunch time, they had found all but one of the beds and most of the mattresses. Dad organized two teams and got Ellie and Mom setting up the single beds, while Kate and Josiah started setting up the bunks.

They’re so jolly heavy, moaned seventeen–year–old Josiah, as he wrestled with part of the solid rimu timber bunks.

The sooner we get our earthquake protection up the better, said Dad.

Jacob danced around with excitement. His nickname was Flibbertigibbet. Dad said he had ants in his pants. They’re so cool! he shouted. I bags sleeping in the top bunk! I want the part where the rat’s chewed.

Mom shuddered just at the mention of the word. Milly laughed. All the kids liked one of the pieces of recycled timber that Dad had used when he’d made the bunks. It looked like a giant rat had nibbled its way along the wood, looking for something juicier to chew. Nana had wondered why on earth Dad would use such a bad piece of wood, when he had plenty of clean timber. But Dad had chosen it specially. It gave the bunks a rustic, old look. And when Mom hung up sheets all around, they made a very cool pirate ship.

They worked hard all afternoon, in between having fun scrambling all over the boxes and stirring Angel up into a frenzy by pretending to hunt for something.

Then Dad called them into the back room, where he’d been finishing setting up the composting toilet. Milly guffawed when she saw it. The toilet looked like a throne. The big drum sat lengthwise on the floor and Dad had constructed a platform above it, on which sat the toilet seat. You had to climb up three steep steps to reach it.

Bags first! shouted Milly. She shot up the steps and perched on top of the closed toilet seat and looked down at the rest of the family. It’s so high!

Hmm, agreed Dad. It won’t be any good for old people to use. You could have a nasty accident climbing up there. But it’s the best I could do in this small space.

Well it’s a lot better than a long drop, said Mom. Every time we needed to use the toilet at night in New Guinea, we’d have to wake Dad up and he’d have to light a lantern and then take us through the bush to the long drop. Then he’d have to check that there were no snakes.

Ellie shivered. Horrible.

Dad laughed. ‘Well, we have a flash toilet seat, complete with a water flush. Just try not to use too much water when you flush it. We don’t want it getting too wet inside the drum. And whatever you do, don’t play with this. He showed them the long handle at the end of the drum. This rotates the drum and aerates it. But if you don’t leave it in the right position, the hole isn’t positioned in the right place beneath the seat. And you can guess what that means."

Milly pulled a face. She was glad that attending to the toilet was what Mom called ‘a boy’s job’.

Dad explained to them how he would add bark every few days, and that after a few months they would have some good garden compost for the trees.

The boys screwed up their noses at the thought of it.

Then Dad looked at the boys and said, But for us, boys, there is a lovely little lemon tree that needs fertilizing. He winked and then grinned at the look on their faces.

As soon as they could, Sam and Jake and Milly slipped away and went feather hunting. It was almost dinner time when they got back to the barn with their treasures.

Just then Mom called out to everyone from the loft. Okay. We’re ready. Come up and have a look!

They all raced to the ladder.

Well, I’ll be, exclaimed Dad. It looks fantastic. Well done, team!

The loft had been transformed. Ellie had helped Mom cover the wood floor with Axminster rugs, and then they had made all the beds, complete with colorful patchwork quilts. Shasta, the cat, had already claimed one as his own. A heavy blue