Ilatsiak - 55 - David Disappears
Qayaq followed the many tracks in the snow that led back to the old camp. The trail was wide and easy to follow as the spring snow had been packed hard by the people who had made it only a few hours before. When she arrived, she found all the houses still intact except theirs. It was completely distroyed. There was no sign of David. Qayaq was distraught. She sat in the ruins and cried, until she suddenly thought, if there was no body, David must still be alive! He didn’t die at all... Yet, where was he?
Finally she got up and began heading back to the new camp, but suddenly she stopped. Tracks! Of course, there would be tracks. She could follow David’s tracks and follow him. She returned to the camp and began searching. She walked completely around the old camp, but the only tracks she could find were those made by the villagers she had left with. How could that be, she wondered? David had not come with them. Where could he have gone? Maybe he was dead and had somehow been taken away or something. It was very confusing.
Once again, she slowly circled the old camp, but nothing, no tracks led anywhere except to the new camp. Sadly, she headed back, baffled by this discovery. By mid morning, she was back with the family who had befriended her. She slipped into her sleeping robes and closed her eyes.
* * *
David was determined to find Agayuq and find out what he knew about the ships. Somehow, knowing the truth would put an end to these spells and let him get on with living in this land. While he couldn’t remember everything, he knew that he had had a breakdown of some sort at the Matty camp. He knew enough of the people’s ways to know that they feared anyone who had acted as strangely as he had. They would quickly distance themselves from it fearing that the irrational behaviour could endanger the whole group. So when he woke up after everyone had left, he smashed down what was left of the snowhouse and began to follow their tracks knowing they would not go very far the first day. When he found their camp, he quietly hitched up his dogs to his sled and headed eastward. The people would take care of Qayaq. When he had found Agayuq and settled his mind with whatever news he could find, then he would return for her.
Finally she got up and began heading back to the new camp, but suddenly she stopped. Tracks! Of course, there would be tracks. She could follow David’s tracks and follow him. She returned to the camp and began searching. She walked completely around the old camp, but the only tracks she could find were those made by the villagers she had left with. How could that be, she wondered? David had not come with them. Where could he have gone? Maybe he was dead and had somehow been taken away or something. It was very confusing.
Once again, she slowly circled the old camp, but nothing, no tracks led anywhere except to the new camp. Sadly, she headed back, baffled by this discovery. By mid morning, she was back with the family who had befriended her. She slipped into her sleeping robes and closed her eyes.
David was determined to find Agayuq and find out what he knew about the ships. Somehow, knowing the truth would put an end to these spells and let him get on with living in this land. While he couldn’t remember everything, he knew that he had had a breakdown of some sort at the Matty camp. He knew enough of the people’s ways to know that they feared anyone who had acted as strangely as he had. They would quickly distance themselves from it fearing that the irrational behaviour could endanger the whole group. So when he woke up after everyone had left, he smashed down what was left of the snowhouse and began to follow their tracks knowing they would not go very far the first day. When he found their camp, he quietly hitched up his dogs to his sled and headed eastward. The people would take care of Qayaq. When he had found Agayuq and settled his mind with whatever news he could find, then he would return for her.
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posted by Michael | 10:54 AM
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