As it neared the top, a wolf leapt in front of the cub. Two more approached from the side, and one from the rear. Wolves would not normally attack a polar bear, but this was a cub, and one weakened by lack of food. The biggest wolf bared its teeth and emitted a low menacing growl.
The bear made a feeble attempt at a growl of its own and struck out at its tormentors.
Another wolf bared its teeth as it stepped forward and moved towards the cub. It circled behind and the cub turned, trying to face the enemy.
The wolf slunk slowly to the left and then right. All at once it lunged and leapt towards the cub!
At that moment a spear pierced the wolf's shoulder, driving it backwards and pinning it to the ground. It cried with pain, and tried to struggle free as the pack scattered madly in all directions.
Napachee raced to the cub as wolves ran howling into the bushes. After ensuring the cub was unharmed, Napachee rose and slowly walked towards the wolf, still pinned in place by the spear. He stood above it and stared into its eyes. The wolf began to snarl, then lowered its eyes and lay still.
Napachee pulled the spear from the wolf, freeing it from the ground. Its head remained lowered while it cautiously moved off towards the bushes. It neared the edge of cover and leapt ahead, running into the darkness that the dense growth provided. The sounds of the wolf's rapid retreat and its frequent whimpers of pain faded away and the clearing fell into silence.
Napachee turned to the polar bear cub and motioned for Jo to approach from where she had been standing downhill. He walked over to his belongings and pulled out some fish he had speared earlier. He held the fish out to the cub.
"Eat, Hagiyok. You must be hungry."
The cub was unsure, but at the sound of the boy's voice, it cocked his head to the side and listened intently. It had not forgotten the boy or his kindness and any hesitation it might have felt disappeared as the smell of fresh fish reached its nostrils. The cub moved towards Napachee and stretched forward to take the fish from his hand. It stopped short, looking Napachee in the eye, and calmly licked his hand. Taking the fish in his mouth, Hagiyok moved away from Napachee and settled into the first meal he had eaten in days.
Jo watched, amazed. "The bear is so comfortable with you. I thought it would be wild!"
"It is a young cub and had not yet learned to hunt from its mother before it was separated. It seems to remember me and will likely follow us to camp with the promise of more food."
"Do you think we should find a sheltered spot for the night?"
"Yes, let's move to the top of this hill and scout out a good spot before we lose the light."
Picking up their things the two friends continued up the hill with the polar bear cub in close pursuit. As they had hoped there was a small valley just on the other side that offered protection from the wind and a perfect spot to set up and build a fire.
After eating fish and berries found along their trail, Napachee and Jo climbed into their sleeping bags and drifted off to sleep. Napachee dreamt he was swirling and floating over mountains and into the clouds. The world became dark and a fire glowed in the distance. As he neared the fire he could see people huddled around it telling stories. He sat among them with Hagiyok and Jo and waited for direction.
Napachee felt something brush his ear. He was just enjoying his first good night's sleep in days and he did not want to open his eyes. He snuggled deeper beneath his sleeping bag and tried to push the light and thoughts from his mind. But he heard a rattling sound close by and slowly opened his eyes.
There, only a few feet away, was one of the largest ravens he had ever seen. It was intently digging into his pack and pulling everything that wasn't tied down out into the clearing. Napachee lifted his head and opened his mouth to shout. Before he could make a sound the raven fluttered backwards and settled near the sleeping form of Jo.
Flashing his bright, beady eyes at Napachee, Tasó the raven began looking around for something to disturb. With nothing else close at hand it began to pick and tug at Jo's sleeping bag. With each tug the bag slipped lower and lower on Jo's sleeping form until she lay shivering in her clothes.
With a start she sat up, and through bleary eyes began to blink against the morning light. She looked first at Napachee who was now laughing and then at the raven who had hopped to the other side of the camp. Still unsure of what had happened, but feeling she was somehow the brunt of a joke, Jo's face reddened with anger.
"It's only a raven."
Jo looked at Napachee and then back across at the raven. It had now located a half-eaten fish that Hagiyok had left before falling asleep, and was noisily crunching it, bones and all.
Napachee and Jo watched as Hagiyok started to twitch and rouse from sleep at the noisy sounds of the meal being eaten close by. The cub opened its eyes and without moving watched as the brazen bird consumed the fish only feet away.
Then, without warning, Hagiyok tensed, and sprang at the raven with all of its might. The raven calmly fluttered up just out of the cub's reach and landed on the lowest branch of a nearby tree. Napachee and Jo laughed as Hagiyok sat beneath the tree in puzzled frustration.
"Ravens are one of the smartest birds in the world," Napachee explained. "They are capable of things most people would never imagine. They will pick the lids off of garbage cans and then throw everything out just to get the scraps they want to eat. Most people in the North build wooden containers to put their garbage in just so the ravens can't make a mess. Ravens also tease dogs and other animals with their noise and antics."
Jo smiled and shook her head as she stared up at the beady-eyed pirate who looked down on the camp.
Napachee walked over to Hagiyok and gave the cub a scratch behind the ear. "Come here Jo. I want to introduce you two."
Jo tentatively walked over to where Napachee crouched by Hagiyok and knelt down beside them. Hagiyok looked at Jo questioningly and shifted closer to Napachee.
"Hagiyok this is my friend Jo. She is going to make our journey with us."
Jo looked proudly at Napachee and held her hand out to the cub. Hagiyok sniffed Jo's hand with little interest and rubbed its head against Napachee. Napachee could see the disappointment on Jo's face.
"It will take a while Jo. Hagiyok has been through a lot. I'm surprised he is being this friendly to me. Give him a few days. Let's eat some fish for breakfast and then continue on our way."
Napachee left Jo and the young bear and went about preparing breakfast.
"Why are you doing this Napachee?" Jo asked a few moments later. "I know the city didn't end up being what you expected, but why go home the hard way? If you had waited another few days you could have gone home by plane and you know your father would have been happy to see you."
Napachee stopped what he was doing and turned to Jo. "What would that have proven? What would I do? Get off the plane and tell my father that the city was not the place for me? What would I have learned from that other than how to prove my father right once again? If I can make the trip home on the land, by myself, showing I can survive on my own, then maybe he will finally respect me for the man I am."
The two companions sat in silence for a few moments. "Why are you doing this, Jo? I mean, one way or another I have to get home and this is the path I have chosen. But you didn't need to come with me."
"Ever since my mother died my father has treated me like a piece of china. Everything I do he is certain I am going to hurt myself. He never lets me do anything on my own. I want to take chances and learn from my own mistakes. I guess going with you on this trip is my way of showing him that I can look after myself too."
SEVEN
The trio had been travelling for several weeks now. Jo had proven much more capable in the woods than Napachee had ever expected. She pulled her own weight and was even making the trip enjoyable. Her knowledge of the area was much more in-depth than Napachee's. He was an expert on the tundra, but in the forest he learned to rely on her knowledge.
Napachee was, ho
wever, learning to read every sign and every trace of the animals in the forest. He could feel danger before it presented itself, and his keen senses seemed more in tune with the animals than a weapon to be used against them.
When he did kill, it was for food only and he felt pride in his skill and ability to hunt the Inuit way. Each time an animal was taken, Napachee carried out the traditional practice of thanking the animal for giving of itself to keep them alive.
Napachee and Jo felt guilty for the worry they may be causing their parents and had been tempted to try and draw the attention of low-flying planes on several occasions, but the need to complete the journey on their own had driven them on.
Jarvis drew hard on his cigar and, opening his mouth, slowly let the smoke drift upwards to the ceiling. He watched as it curled around the florescent light, in a smog-like cloud. His hands confidently clasped behind his head, he tipped back in his chair and propped his feet on the desk. His uplifted arms revealed sweat stains and his ample belly sagged in the middle of the v shape his body formed. Crumbs from a recent indulgence still rested there.
With sudden violence, he bolted upright and slammed both fists into the accumulation of paper and garbage on the desk! He swept his arms wildly across the surface sending paper in every direction. His blood-shot eyes stared at the wall across the room. The wall was bare, but in his mind he saw a polar bear cub and a young Inuit boy who had eluded his every attempt at capture.
He had flown with James Strong for many hours over many days looking for the teenagers and the bear cub. He had watched as James studied the land with eyes full of despair and worry, searching for any sign of his daughter and the boy.
He had watched the land as well. They had received reports of possible sightings, but when Jarvis had investigated these on foot, they had proven false alarms.
However, his survey had revealed the tracks of the bear cub, Jo and Napachee heading northwest. They knew exactly where they were going and would head towards the Mackenzie River and try to take advantage of this route to the ocean. He had told James and the others that the boy was confused and the tracks he had found indicated that the boy and girl were to the east, beyond Deline and Great Bear Lake. He had not mentioned that they were travelling with the bear.
Jarvis had informed the others who continued the search that he would not join them. Now removed from the official search, he was ready to carry out one of his own.
The rivers, streams and lakes were ever plentiful and the food that they provided sustained the group as they continued on their way. Jo was amazed by the crisp fresh air and the clarity of the waters they encountered. To sit and watch trout, pickerel and pike swim by in large schools was a first!
One afternoon, as they approached the marshy edges of a lake, she stopped and gazed across the water at the beauty around her.
"It's strange, the way they sun themselves, isn't it?" Napachee said. "I have seen land-locked Arctic Char do the same thing near Cambridge Bay."
"What are you talking about?"Jo asked.
"Over there." Napachee pointed to a shallow area full of weeds and vegetation.
Jo fixed her gaze on the points poking above the surface. These "weeds" were in fact the dorsal fins of fish laying in the warmer shallow waters. She had always enjoyed camping with her father and going on field trips, but she had never seen anything like this. Once they had gone camping in northern Alberta with her two cousins (who were boys) and her father had given them more responsibility than he had her. If only he could see her now!
She missed her father and regretted the worry he must be feeling, but she knew she would make this journey and see him again. Perhaps this trip would make all the difference.
Napachee was inspired by the beauty of these lands as well, so different from where he had grown up, but still so beautiful. They were, however, hard to navigate. With plenty of water and muskeg, there were always detours and although he knew the general direction in which he wanted to move, he was never quite sure they were on course. As far as he could tell they had been travelling for four weeks. The crash had taken place near Fort Providence on the north side of the Mackenzie River. He wanted to keep them near the river so he continued to move northwest in the direction of Wrigley and Tulita, situated on the banks of the river. There were mountains and many miles to cover. If they were to make the long journey, at some point they would need help. Many of the people from Tulita had ties with those from the Mackenzie Delta. Perhaps they would assist the wayward travellers.
As they made their way overland they encountered many animals; animals Napachee sensed almost before he saw them. When he had been out on the land with his father he had never felt this way, never been as close to the land as his father had been. When he did come across animals they moved about him as if he were one of them, not a predator but a trusted friend.
The past few days had been hot and Hagiyok periodically had to stop to take a lengthy soak in a stream or lake. He was not used to these temperatures and would have been more in his element sitting on an ice floe or resting on a snow bank.
In the dry heat of a northern summer, fires can often be started by lightning strikes. They had seen lightning in the distance on several occasions and one afternoon Napachee caught the faint smell of smoke. The smoke became stronger and soon visibility was very difficult and the air hard to breathe.
Napachee led Jo and Hagiyok on with urgency because he could feel the intense heat of the fire building around them. His instincts told him to move quickly to the north and he was right! A river lay ahead of them. Napachee hoped that the fire had not spread to the other side. In the smoke, he couldn't see across, but he knew they had to swim.
"I'm a pretty good swimmer," said Jo, reading Napachee's mind. "Will Hagiyok follow?"
"Polar bears are born swimmers," Napachee replied. "They even have webbed feet, which is what I could use now. I'm not a very good swimmer at all."
"Don't worry, I'll be right here if you need help."
Jo and Napachee waded into the river. With some hesitation Hagiyok followed and soon took the lead. The river was wide and the crossing took much longer than Napachee had anticipated. Just as Napachee thought fatigue would overtake him they reached the shallows of the other side. They lay on the shore for a long time regaining their breath.
"Let's keep moving," Napachee said finally. "I don't know if we'll encounter fire on this side as well, but even if it isn't on fire now, flames from the other side could still jump over at any moment. The more distance we put between us and this spot, the better."
As they left the river the smoke began to lessen. Napachee relaxed into the rhythm of their journey.
They had now reached one of the lower mountain ranges and it was tougher going for the bear. Hagiyok was learning from the journey and no longer relied on Napachee or Jo for food, though the cub still never ventured far from their sight. It would follow closely behind Napachee anticipating changes in direction before the boy took them.
For better or for worse the raven had adopted them as well! It followed at a safe distance, but close enough to irritate Hagiyok without end. When there was food present it was always within striking range, but out of reach when the cub tried to retaliate. Despite its annoying behaviour, the raven had been a valuable ally. On more than one occasion Napachee had sensed danger and the raven had identified the source with its loud squawking.
One afternoon they neared the end of the mountain range and paused by a cool, fresh stream to refresh themselves and rest. They had been travelling since early morning and Hagiyok had found the day tiring. The cub slipped into the stream and shuddered with pleasure. Jo and Napachee lay on shore and napped.
When Napachee awoke he decided to explore a nearby cliff that dropped into a ravine. At the lookout Napachee squatted on his haunches and tilted his face to the sun. The heat felt good and he closed his eyes to enjoy the moment. Suddenly, Napachee sensed, rather than heard, a presence behind him and turning slowly looked Nod
ah the mountain lion straight in the eyes. The large cat had quietly crept up on him.
At that moment the sound of rock clattering over the edge drew both Napachee's and the mountain lion's attention away from their confrontation. A Dall's sheep stood on the ledge gazing in their direction.
The mountain lion watched Napachee for several seconds before turning and quietly padding under the cover of trees.
Napachee let out his breath and slumped to the ground in relief. He hadn't realized he had been holding his breath and now gasped for air. He looked skyward as he exhaled and lowered his gaze to the edge of the cliff. The sheep was no longer there.
Napachee walked back to their temporary camp and sat beside a sleeping Jo until she opened her eyes. Napachee related the story of the sheep and the mountain lion, concluding with, "I don't suppose you believe me. I'm not sure I believe some of the things that have happened lately."
"I do believe you. You said your grandfather taught you that each person's life is foretold by the great spirits; perhaps this is your destiny. Animals seem to have some strange connection to you. I can't explain it. Your father was not wrong about your gift, only your use of it."
EIGHT
Enuk scraped the knife along the sharpening stone, over and over again. The blade had been finished for some time but he didnórsquot notice.
"If you donórsquot stop that soon Enuk, you will have a handle but no blade."
Enuk looked over at his wife and then down at the knife he had been working on. His mind had been thousands of miles away. He put the knife down and headed off to feed the dogs. Talik lay her ulu down beside the skin she had been working on and followed.
"Enuk, ever since Napachee has been missing, you have been impossible to talk to. You know I share your feelings and yet you wonórsquot talk to me. You eat little and sleep even less. I know you are trying to keep busy and settle your mind on other matters but I can also see this is eating you up inside. You canórsquot blame yourself for what the boy did. Every father and son argue and it is never only one personórsquos fault. I feel pain too, and we need to talk and share these feelings with each other."
Napachee Page 5
