by jeff brown
“The shaman is wise,” Tulugaq told them as they traveled across the village. “He will have an answer.”
But Nick and Stanley were not reassured. In fact, they were so worried, they barely even noticed that they traveled over a frozen river on a bridge of ice. Where were their families?
At last they came to a small, ancient hut. Tulugaq ducked inside and waved for the boys to follow him. In the dim light from an oil lamp, the boys could see that the walls were hung with animal furs and weavings and ancient artifacts.
Suddenly, one of the furs—huge, and with a monstrous mask on top—leaped to life and came straight for them!
The monster pulled off his mask to reveal…a very tiny, very wrinkled old Inuit man. He hugged Tulugaq and the two spoke for a moment in their language. Then Tulugaq pointed to the boys and the old shaman turned. His eyes widened when he saw Stanley’s shape. He walked all around him, eyeing him closely from all angles. The shaman seemed so impressed and respectful that Stanley didn’t feel a bit embarrassed by all the curiosity.
Next the shaman handed a skin drum to Tulugaq. Tulugaq began to beat it, and the shaman began to chant and dance around the room. Faster and faster he whirled, almost as if he was in a trance.
Finally he spun to a stop and seemed to come back to himself. He smiled broadly, without a tooth in his head, and said something to Tulugaq.
“He says you boys are going to make a great journey together,” Tulugaq translated. “You will go to the great falling waters. There, something will happen that will bond you to each other for life. Like brothers!”
“The great falling waters?” asked Nick. “Where’s that?”
The shaman reached into a pouch he wore around his neck and pulled out a worn and creased postcard. He showed it to the boys.
“Niagara Falls!” Stanley cried. “I’ve heard of that! But how far away is it?”
“Near Toronto, in Ontario. Many miles away,” answered Tulugaq. “Thousands. Canada is a very large country.”
Stanley and Nick exchanged looks—two boys on foot with no money could never travel that far.
Later that night, after a satisfying meal of dried fish and boiled walrus, the boys sat on the steps outside Tulugaq’s home.
“Normally, I would just mail myself home,” Stanley said. “But I don’t think I should leave you here.”
Nick nodded. “Besides,” he said, “we don’t know that there’d be anyone at our homes when we got there.”
“I don’t know what to do,” Stanley said. “The shaman said we were supposed to make the journey together. Tulugaq says there’s a dogsled to Calgary, where his cousin lives, but that’s just a short part of the trip….”
Both boys fell silent then, looking down at the frozen ground, discouraged.
After a while, though, Stanley—not being the kind of boy to give in to discouragement—looked up.
And then he gasped in disbelief! The night sky was shimmering with iridescent lights—neon greens and pinks and yellows danced across the entire horizon!
“The northern lights, Nick!” Stanley said at last. “It’s a sign. If the whole sky can light up like that, I guess you and I can make our way to Niagara Falls somehow!”
Nick and Stanley shook hands. “We’ll do it,” they declared. “Like brothers!”
5
Mountie Martin
The next morning Stanley and Nick said good-bye to their hosts and found the dogsled team in the village. There was only one seat, so Stanley gamely volunteered to ride flat, under everyone’s feet. The ride was bumpy, but every time he was tempted to complain, Stanley recalled the magical sky he and Nick had seen.
At last they arrived at the city of Calgary. The dogsled driver dropped them off at the address Tulugaq had provided. Stanley and Nick knocked.
When the door opened, Nick cried out, “This must be the wrong address! We’re looking for Tulugaq’s cousin.”
“Cousin Tulugaq sent you? Well, come on in, little pardners! This is the spot, all right!”
“But how come you’re not…How come you look like a cowboy?” Nick demanded—a little rudely, it must be said.
“And native people can’t be cowboys, is that it? Well, guess again, little pardner. This is Calgary, the Wild West of Canada. I’m Nauja and I’m Inuit…and I’m also a cowboy! Now come on in from the cold and meet my family!”
“I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that a cousin of Tulugaq would be a cowboy,” Stanley said thoughtfully after being introduced to Nauja’s wife and children. “A girl I met at Mount Rushmore—Calamity Jasper—taught me that anyone can be a cowboy. She was part Lakota Sioux.”
A smile came to Stanley’s face remembering her. “She taught me some other things, too,” he said. “Do you have a rope I could borrow?” Nauja brought a length of rope, and then Stanley entertained everyone with lariat tricks the cowgirl had shown him.
Nick sat in a corner, scowling. “Nobody likes a show-off, you know!” he muttered.
Just then a knock came at the door. There on the steps stood a man wearing a bright red coat, a big tan hat, and tall brown boots. He towered over everyone, so straight and powerful-looking, Stanley wondered for a minute if he was real.
Nauja gave the man a big bear hug. “Mountie Martin! What are you doing here, so far from Quebec?”
“Working. My partner and I chased a dangerous desperado out here. I figure…I’m so close to mon cher cousin I might as well stop by for a quick visit…non?”
“You’re Nauja’s cousin, too? And Tulugaq’s?” asked Nick.
“Oui. The French-Canadian side of the family, by marriage. Mountie Martin, at your service,” he saluted to the boys. “And who might you be?”
The boys introduced themselves and explained they were trying to get to Niagara Falls. Then Stanley asked what he was dying to know. “That dangerous desperado you were chasing…did you get him?”
The Mountie beamed. “But of course I got him, mon ami!” he cried. “I am a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer. We always get our man! Now, how would you fellows like a ride to Quebec? My partner had to fly back with the desperado, and I could use the company. I could get you a lot closer to Niagara Falls.”
Nick and Stanley made their goodbyes and got into Mountie Martin’s cruiser. The Mountie made adjustments to Stanley’s seat belt until it held him snugly. “Safety first, eh? No matter the shape!”
Mountie Martin insisted they begin the trip with a big meal of Canadian specialties. “My treat,” he said. “The United States of America is our neighbor. I am just being neighborly while you are visiting us!”
The boys—having the healthy appetites that travel brings on—enjoyed everything. Stanley’s favorite was poutine. “French fries with cheese and gravy…what could be better?” he asked.
“Maple taffy,” answered Nick. He poured more hot syrup over snow for a second helping of the sticky dessert.
Back on the road, Mountie Martin was a good guide. He pointed out mountains, rivers, and cities as they covered the vast and beautiful lands of Canada. All the sights seemed to remind him of a story or an interesting bit of history. Whatever he said, Nick seemed to already know about it.
On the second day, the conversation turned to sports. “Canada was a good choice for the 2010 Olympic Games,” Mountie Martin said. “We are a nation of winter-sports lovers!”
At that, Nick listed all his favorites: skiing, skating, luging, and snowboarding. Nick was an expert at everything. Stanley slid down in his seat and stared out the window. At least, he thought, at least with every minute we are getting closer to Niagara Falls. And closer to home…
“How about you, Stanley?” Mountie Martin interrupted his thoughts. “Who’s your favorite team?”
“Excuse me?”
“We were talking about hockey. Here in Canada, it is our national sport—the greatest sport in the history of the world!”
Stanley slid even farther down in his seat. “I’ve never seen a ga
me,” he mumbled, almost to himself.
“I’m a huge fan!” Nick exclaimed. “I’ve been to lots of games!”
Mountie Martin braked abruptly—but with caution and complete control. He pulled the cruiser over to the shoulder of the road and snapped the flashing lights on. “Safety first,” he explained. “Now, would you please say that again, young man?”
Nick beamed. “I said I’ve been to lots of hockey games—I’m the biggest fan!”
“No, not you,” the Mountie said. He nodded to Stanley. “You, mon ami. What did you just say?”
Stanley felt himself blush with embarrassment. “I’ve never been to a hockey game,” he admitted.
“Well,” said the Mountie, “here in Canada, that is a very serious offense—a crime! And since I am a sworn officer of the law, I cannot let this crime continue. I’m afraid I’m going to have to arrest you and take you to a…”
Stanley gulped, waiting for his punishment.
“…a hockey game!” Although Mountie Martin said this in a stern voice, he wore a big smile.
In the backseat, Stanley grinned and saluted. “Yes, sir, Mountie Martin, sir! I’m sorry for breaking the law!”
“No fair!” cried Nick. “I’m a bigger fan than he is!”
Mountie Martin turned to face Nick. “A team that competes with itself is not a very strong team. You understand? Oui?”
“We?” Nick asked. “You mean Stanley and me, do we understand?”
“No,” Mountie Martin began. “Oui means ‘yes,’ in French. But oui, I do mean you and Stanley. Look: You tell me stories about snowboarding as a pair, traveling across Canada together, flying through the air, relying upon each other. You make your way back across this whole country—again, because you are a team. Why must you always compete? In the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, we learn to rely on our partners. We must always be we. Now if you are ready to be a real team, I think I will take you both to this hockey game tonight!”
“Sure. For a hockey game, we’ll be a team!” Nick smiled, but Stanley noticed he had crossed his fingers.
6
The Stanley Cup!
That night, as promised, Mountie Martin stopped in Ottawa and took the boys to a hockey game. “The Maple Leafs are playing. They’re my favorite team, even though I am from Quebec,” he admitted.
The game was as thrilling as Stanley had always heard. At halftime, a contest was announced. The fan with the best sign would be invited down to the ice and given one chance to score a goal. If the fan made the shot—a one in a hundred chance—he or she would win a trip to the Maple Leafs’ next game, which was in Toronto.
Toronto! Stanley looked around at the packed stadium. Hundreds of fans were waving signs. Suddenly he had a terrific idea. “Do you think you can hold me up if I stand on your shoulders?” he asked Nick.
Nick flexed his muscles. “Of course! I’m probably the strongest kid here!” He caught Mountie Martin’s warning look, and then he said, “Well, you’re pretty strong, too, Stanley.” He made a step out of his hands. “Here, I’ll give you a boost.”
“Not yet,” said Stanley. He pulled his red scarf way down over his face and pulled his red turtleneck up to meet it. And then to Nick and Mountie Martin’s amazement, he folded his upper body into a perfect maple leaf. He pleated his legs, in their brown pants, into a stem!
“I learned origami while I was in Japan not long ago,” came Stanley’s muffled voice from somewhere inside the leaf. “Now hoist me up, Nick!”
Nick did, and the crowd went wild.
“There’s our winner!” shouted the announcer. “No question at all! Come on down to the ice!”
Nick, holding the Stanley–maple leaf up in triumph, made his way down to the rink, surrounded by the admiring crowd. When he reached the centerline, Stanley jumped down and unfurled himself. And the fans went wild.
When the applause finally died down, the captain of the Maple Leafs skated over and handed Nick a puck and a hockey stick.
Stanley whispered something to Nick. Then Nick handed the puck back to the team captain. “No thanks,” he said. “We’ll use our own!”
And then Stanley lay down on the ice and coiled himself into a tight disk. Nick took aim and swung the hockey stick hard, whacking Stanley on the soles of his boots. Stanley skittered crazily across the ice. He was hurtling for the side line—nowhere near the goal. Stanley quickly calculated the angle and adjusted himself. When he hit the boards, he ricocheted off, now aiming right for the…
“Goal!” yelled the announcer. “I don’t believe my eyes, but these two boys have just done the impossible!”
“You did the impossible, Stanley,” Nick said when Stanley uncoiled himself. “Mountie Martin was right…. We really do make a good team!”
The captain of the team skated over and shook both boys’ hands. He handed them the box seat tickets and airline tickets. “See you in Toronto!” he said.
7
Over the Falls!
The next morning, bright and early, Stanley and Nick bid good-bye to Mountie Martin at the airport and boarded the plane. “Whatever happens at Niagara Falls,” they told each other, “we’re already like brothers.”
The flight was pleasant, but with nothing to distract them, both boys began to worry about their families again. Where had they gone? How would they ever be reunited?
By the time they landed, Stanley and Nick were very homesick indeed.
An airport shuttle bus whisked them to Niagara Falls. As soon as they stepped off the bus, the boys heard the powerful waterfalls crashing in the distance. They couldn’t see anything except a great cloud of misty spray, though. They headed for the sound, along with a crush of tourists.
As they walked, the boys passed several signs. “Look, Nick,” Stanley pointed one out. “The falls are more than one hundred and seventy feet high here.”
“One hundred and fifty thousand gallons of water goes over the crest line every second,” Nick read on another.
Just then the mist cleared. The boys stared in wonder at the majestic sight of Niagara Falls, thundering beside them in a curtain of rainbows.
Nick ran to the railing. “Come here, Stanley!” he cried over the roar. “It’s awesome!”
Stanley rushed to catch up. But when he reached the edge, he began to flap in the winds churned up by the rushing water. How could he have forgotten his problems with wind so soon? A sudden gust lifted him and plastered him to a signpost dangerously close to the edge. Stanley tried to slither down, but the wind held him tight.
Nick climbed up onto the rail to try to peel him off. “You’re the first friend I’ve ever had,” he cried. “The only one who’s put up with my bragging. I’m not about to lose you now!”
But as he struggled to push Stanley down to safety, Nick lost his footing on the mist-slicked metal. Over the railing he went, hurtling through the air, straight for the crashing waterfalls below!
Stanley didn’t think for a second. He launched himself out, reached Nick in midair, and curved himself around his new friend. Like a barrel!
Together they crashed into the churning water. Over and over and over they smashed and battered against the rocks and angry waters.
Finally, the terrible tumbling stopped, and all was still blackness.
8
Together Again
Stanley awoke to find his parents’ faces hovering above him. He rubbed his eyes…. Was this a dream? Or worse—was he…dead?
“My goodness, dear, you gave us quite a fright!” said his mother.
“Mom! Dad! What are you doing here?” Stanley asked.
“Don’t you remember?” Mr. Lambchop asked. “When you were up so high at the snowboarding championships, you kept yelling, ‘We’re going to the Falls!’ ‘We’re going to the Falls!’ We would never have allowed it if we’d known you were planning to go in to the falls, though! We just thought you’d meet us here for the wedding.”
“What? No, that was Nick. He was yelling…oh,
never mind. The important thing is that you’re here! I’m so glad to see you! But, hey, where is Nick?”
“Hay is for horses, dear,” Mrs. Lambchop reminded him. “Do try to remember that. Nick is over there. His father is examining him now.”
Doctor Dave came over then. “My boy’s fine,” he said. “How about I take a look at yours, Lambchops?”
“Please do!” said Mr. and Mrs. Lambchop at the same time.
Doctor Dave gave Stanley a thorough examination. Then he called Stanley’s parents back over. “No broken bones, that’s the good news,” he began.
“Oh, dear!” Mrs. Lambchop exclaimed. “If there’s bad news, you’d better give it to us right away. Delaying it won’t make it any easier.” Harriet Lambchop was both very practical and very brave.
“Well, here it is, then,” Doctor Dave said. “The repeated violent impact with the rushing water has flattened your son. Water trauma can do that. That’s why you don’t see anyone swimming around here. I can’t tell how long the flatness will last, but you should be prepared for the worst.”
“But, Doctor Dave, Stanley was flat before all this,” Mrs. Lambchop said. “So if that’s all, then he’s fine!”
Doctor Dave patted Mrs. Lambchop’s hand. “Denial. Very common in cases like this. You just keep thinking whatever you need to think in order to get through it. Well, I must be off…. Nick and I have a wedding to get to.”
“Why, so do we!” Mrs. Lambchop said. “I know a lot of people get married at Niagara Falls, but do you suppose it’s the same wedding?”
Wonder of wonders, it was! The bride was an old college chum of Nick’s mother, Shelby Smith. The groom was an old college chum of Stanley’s father, Ralph Jones. Their families sat on different sides of the aisle, but Stanley watched with pride as his new friend, Nick, carried the ring for the bride and groom.
