The Number 8 Read Online Free PDF Page B

sunrise?”
    “I’ve never seen colors like that. It’s like something you see on a postcard.”
    She chuckled. “Too true. Are you going to see the caves today?”
    “Yeah, but I am going to do the black water rafting. Both have glowworms in so I figured that I may as well try that.”
    She tilted her head to one side and gave Dante a once-over. “Most people don’t know that when they come here. You have family from around here?”
    “No, I just like to know the whole story, so I research a place first. You can get more out of a place if you know its secrets.”
    “Very true. So what do you think about your fellow passengers?”
    “I don’t yet. I haven’t even spoken to everybody yet. But most seem nice. Here to drink a lot, I think.”
    She straightened her head. “And you’re not?”
    “Probably. But not just that. This trip is about a lot of things but being hungover is not one. What is the point in flying halfway round the world to do the same thing you could do at your local bar?”
    “True, but here you can do it with a view.”
    They both laughed.
    It turned out Fiona was the daughter of the hostel’s owner. They stood and talked for a little while longer. She had been on the same tour and knew all of the best things to do. She told him that the Maori night in Rotorua was a once in a lifetime experience and urged him to go on the glacier tour in Franz-Joseph. She also said that Queenstown was the greatest city in the world, but he took her words with a pinch of salt because she also liked Auckland and he was not a fan. After a few more minutes she told him that Asmir had booked them breakfast and walked him to the table in person. As expected, no one else was there at this time, but he was beginning to hear rumblings from inside rooms and the creaking of doors. The reception desk was visible from the table so he invited Fiona to sit and continue their conversation. He found her interesting and well educated on matters involving New Zealand or Australia but shockingly ignorant about any current international issues. After a few minutes the phone started to ring and she excused herself.
    He sat there eating his pancakes and bacon. Not his usual diet but he needed to pack himself full of calories for what Fiona had described as “a pretty tough day”. In the next thirty minutes people began to filter out of their rooms. Those who hadn’t booked breakfast were either in the kitchen next to the reception making some or out on the front lawn eating something they had already picked up. By 8:00am only half the bus were out of their rooms. This led to Ben charging angrily down the corridors shouting through the loudspeaker for everybody to get up. But that was only after uttering an obscene amount of cuss words, some of which Dante was sure he had made up on the spot. But by 8:30am everyone was on the bus. Not all were ready, some barely looked human, but at least they were on and the day could begin.

Chapter 9
    “What’s your deal?” avoice asked from the seat in front.
    “Excuse me?” Dante said.
    Annie popped up and knelt on the seat. She kept snatching a look towards Ben who would tell her to sit down if he saw.
    “Oh, hey,” Dante said, realizing that his tone had been a little confrontational.
    “What’s your deal?” she asked again.
    “I didn’t even know people outside the USA asked questions like that,” Dante smirked.
    “You know what I mean.”
    He did. “An ambitious Uni student who’s had a pretty crappy couple of months. That just about sums me up right now. Ask me again at the end of this trip.”
    “I will,” she said, sneaking another look at Ben.
    “What’s your story?” Dante fired back.
    This made her visibly uncomfortable but Dante pretended he didn’t see. She was about to reply to his question when Ben shouted, “We’re here! Everybody off!”
    She shrugged and sat back down.
    As the bus pulled in to the Karangahake Scenic Reserve car park it became apparent