Aundra sat on the topmost step outside the decrepit house and burst into tears.

Taking the infant from her, Volt managed a few half-hearted mumbles that were intended to be encouraging. It was difficult because his dismay was even greater than his wife's.

"We knew it wouldn't be quite what we're used to," Aundra eventually said. She scrubbed tears from her cheeks. "But how will be ever make it liveable?"

Holding his wee daughter firmly, Volt stepped across uneven boards to gaze through a window. "I think something's already living in it," he muttered.

A broken pane suggested where some small creature could have made entry. Peering in, Volt made out numerous animal droppings across the bare boards of what had to be the living area. "Maybe we should ask if we can return to the community in Hokkaido?" he said.

"We put them at risk by our presence. It's best we stay away. At least we aren't likely to be discovered here." 

Aundra's comment was met by silence. They knew it was true.

Volt was wanted by New Alliance for the murder of his brother. If found, they had orders to kill him on sight. He wouldn't get a chance to prove his innocence.

The couple's time within the secluded community of gifted on the Japanese island of Hokkaido had served to prepare them for life on this world. Volt especially. He had grown up in privilege on Central as a child of New Alliance. For him, living in close proximity to nature was not full of the familiarities that Aundra could relate to. Her childhood on the agrarian planet of Elon-na-rey had furnished her with many skills that would make their life here possible, or at least tolerable; cooking, gardening, sewing, even weaving. On Hokkaido she had impressed many with her weaving skills. 

Now the couple stared at the dense bush which surrounded the two-story wooden house. A golden insect landed on the decking beside Aundra and made a high chirping sound, before it flew into the unfamiliar foliage. Two grey feathered birds, smaller than her fist, chittered as they swooped between branches. Their tails, like fans, fluttered with their quick movements. The afternoon March sunshine heated the bush and released scents that filled their mouths and tickled noses.

The track that Volt had forced their blue 1963 Ford Console through was barely visible due to heavy leafy branches that drooped over it. Perhaps there had once been a garden. The bush had reclaimed any vacant land, growing almost up to the house on this side. At its rear, trees pushed right against the wooden walls. 

"Plenty of firewood, anyway," Volt said. "Shall I unlock or do you want to leave before it gets dark? We could try to get a room in that town we went through. Coromandel?"

In his arms, the infant began to stir. Volt sat beside his wife and together they watched their daughter wake. 

"She's so perfect." Aundra touched the baby's cheek with one finger, then slid a blonde curl away from blue eyes that were blinking back at her. "Are you hungry, Rey-Nah?"

"Remember what they told us. We should try to say her name with less inflection. We have to blend in."

Aundra took Reyna from him. "Can you get the bag with her food? I'll give her some solids before I feed her."

The decision about leaving appeared to have been made. 

Sitting her five-month-old daughter on her lap, Aundra spooned the bought baby food into a gummy mouth. "If we had a garden I could make proper food for her."

"We need to sort the house out first." Volt carried several more boxes and bags from the car, and stacked them on the deck. Several small trees had made good progress in their attempt to grow through gaps in the planks. He had just unlocked the heavy wooden door when they were startled by the sound of an engine approaching. Volt quickly retraced his steps to stand in front of his wife and child. 

A small four-wheel-drive rumbled to a stop behind their car, and two people got out.

"Don't say anything," Volt muttered. "Leave it to me."

"Kia ora, haere mai. Welcome to the Coromandel." The dark skinned man had a broad smile, as did the woman accompanying him. She had a casserole dish in her hands, while the man reached into the back of the vehicle and pulled out a pane of glass. "I measured this up the other day. Reckon it will fit."

"I've brought cleaning things," the woman said. "Can't have our new neighbours struggling on their first day."

"Names, luv," the man said, hoisting a tool box in his other hand. "I'm Joe Reihana and this is the wife, Sal. You would've gone past our place about a mile down the road. Gotta house-bus parked in front at the mo. Sal's bro."

Aundra and Volt stared back, then she gave a little giggle. "It's just like home. At Standing."

"You're not Kiwi?"

"Um." Aundra had forgotten the explanation prepared for them. 

Volt frowned at her. "Germany. That is, we're German." He had their story ready. "I am Volt Kismet, my wife is Aundra and our daughter, Reyna. We want to experience real Kiwi life away from cities."

Before leaving Hokkaido they had been provided with the necessary documentation and a story to explain their presence in New Zealand. Aundra had balked at hiding her true identity, but it was necessary to protect her daughter and husband. Even the terms husband and wife were unfamiliar, as was the language they had learnt before arriving in this country. 

"Right. Let's get this show on the road."

"Huh?" 

"Don’t confuse them Joe. English is their second language. He means, let's start sorting out your new home. That's why we're here, and to welcome you of course."

"Just wait till I start using the reo on you," Joe said with a cheeky giggle. 

"How did you know we were here?" Volt was still anxious about security for his family.

"You're in the wop wops now, mate. Everyone knows everyone else's business." The red metal tool box was dumped on the deck with a clatter.

"Plus the real estate agent that sold you the place is a cousin," Sal added. "You stay right there with that little sweetie, love," she told Aundra. "I going to put this fish pie somewhere safe, then see about tackling the mess those possums have left."

Wielding broom and mop with competence, Sal could chatter at the same time. "It was quite the gossip when the old place sold sight unseen. It will be lovely to have neighbours again and with a wee girlie. We've got boys."

Sal went on to name and describe their five sons; none of the information likely to remain with either Volt or Aundra for long. That was no bother; Sal could be depended upon to repeat it at some time in the future. 

It was almost dark when their neighbours left, with promises to return the next day. Joe had a chainsaw. After careful questioning, Volt was most curious about that. Sal was going to show Aundra how to get the coal range working and bring fresh veggies from the garden. Joe said he would bring his brother-in-law who had the right equipment for cleaning the chimney.

There was no electricity in the house. So once the Reihanas were well out of sight, Aundra created several glowballs to illuminate their home. She also used gifts to heat the fish pie. That was another marvel. The chunks of fish were a variety unknown to either of them.

"I'm going to learn lots from Joe," Volt said as he scraped the last scraps of creamy pie from the dish. 

"Remember we can't get too close to anyone," Aundra said. "We don't want them put in danger."

"You should remember we aren't supposed to use the gifts, or our own language. Especially in front of Reyna. She must never know where we are from or who we are."

"Well, you better learn how to chop wood." Aundra stood with a groan and stretch from the corner where she had been laying out their bedding. 

Wee Reyna now sat in the middle of the folded blankets, sucking on the edge of a soft toy. There wasn't a piece of furniture in the house. Thanks to their neighbours, the floors were clean, the windows secure, and most of the cobwebs removed from the big room. 

Volt walked over and gathered Aundra into his arms. "We can do this. It's what we decided. Not just for us, but Reyna too. She will never know her ancestry, or her gifts, but it’s the best we can offer her."

Aundra rested her head on his chest. This new life was going to be harder than she had imagined. 

Later that night a noise disturbed their sleep. 

Aundra rolled towards Volt. "What's that?"

"Probably another of those possums. Joe said he'd bring a trap tomorrow."

"Ugh."

The baby between them, Aundra reached across to clasp Volt's hand.

"Do you think it's true what they told us back on Hokkaido? That there's a gate nearby?"

"We promised not to use it."

"So why did they tell us about it?"

Volt had no answer. 

"I'd love to take Reyna home one more time. To say goodbye properly."

"They told us it goes to the Concourse. Think how dangerous that would be."

"You've been there many times. I know you could get us there and back safely."

He made no reply. 

"If we find it, we should take it as a sign that we could visit just the once. Then I will be able to settle here, and live this new, strange life."

"Only once. And if we see any sign of protectors we leave immediately."

Aundra smiled into the darkness. She had a plan. 

One day Reyna would learn who she was.