Lise found her balance and stepped up to Jean-Paul. She grabbed him firmly by the shoulders and looked into his terrified face. “Listen to me, Jean-Paul! You must forget evil spirits! The baby’s coming! This is no time for foolishness!”
Jean-Paul’s heart lunged into his throat. “No, Ma, no!”
“You must help me!” She gave him a little shake. “Jean-Paul, you absolutely must! I’m counting on you!”
“I can’t! Don’t ask me to. I can’t!”
Lise shook him again, then dropped her hands. “Very well. I’ll go in there alone. And you may stand here and cry all you want!”
Jean-Paul was ashamed of himself. He brushed at his tears with the back of his hand. Sasha had brought them to this place for a reason. He knew that if the baby was coming, there was no time to get to the village. His father’s voice pounded inside his head: Help your mother, Jean-Paul! Help your mother, eh?
“What do you want me to do?” he asked in a small voice. “I’ll do whatever you want me to do.”
His mother smiled. “Thank you, Jean-Paul. Now, you must help me get inside that igloo. Bring in the bundle and the lantern. I’ll need some heat and light.”
Without another word Jean-Paul untied the pack of robes and blankets. He picked up the lantern and found the tin of wooden matches. The match lit with the first strike, and he touched the flame to the wick of the lamp. The lamplight cast a yellow glow on a circle of snow around them and filled the air with the strong odor of kerosene. The orange and blue flame flickered as a gust of air seeped through cracks in the lantern, but the fire held.
Jean-Paul pushed thoughts of spirits from his mind and dropped to his hands and knees before the opening. Sasha barked as he entered the igloo with the lantern.
Inside, Jean-Paul stood up and looked around. The igloo was really deserted. A shiver ran down his spine, but he tried to ignore it. He set the lamp on the snow-packed floor and turned to go after the bundle. Near his feet lay a wolf pelt—shaggy and gray and probably full of fleas.
“It’s the thing I felt that day,” he said aloud.
For a moment he thought he heard a wolf howl. But, no, Sasha had yelped again, outside. The light from the lantern made scary shadows on the igloo’s cold white wall—wavering shadows that made the round room close in on him. He fought back the band of fear that tightened his chest, and he crept back outside into the fresh air.
“Take the bundle,” Lise said. “I’ll follow.” She got down on hands and knees, slowly and gently.
“Can you do it?” Jean-Paul asked.
His mother gave a little cry. “I have to, don’t I? I can’t stay out here in the cold. You go first.”
Jean-Paul crawled into the igloo again. In the middle of the floor beside the lantern, he dropped the pack and quickly untied the thongs, unrolled it, and spread the robes on the floor. He heard movement and turned to see his mother coming slowly through the opening. He reached out to help her and she took his hand. Her breath came fast and hard as Jean-Paul helped her to the bundle of robes, and she sat down. Lise removed her parka and said, “You have to go on to the village. Bring someone to help.”
Jean-Paul’s eyes widened with fear. “Pa would skin me like a dead fox if I left you alone here!”
Lise sighed. “You know perfectly well that your father isn’t a monster. He’ll understand when I explain what happened.” Her skin was shiny with sweat. “You must go now. Sasha will run faster now that the sled’s empty and she’s rested.”
“No, Ma,” Jean-Paul whimpered. “I promised Pa—”
It was the last straw. Lise angrily tossed the parka on the floor beside her. “This baby’s life may depend on whether or not you obey! Go now, Jean-Paul!” Then her voice softened. She blew him a kiss as she lay down upon the robes, covering herself with an extra one. “I do love you, you know. Godspeed!”
After one last pleading look at his mother, Jean-Paul went back outside. He was very afraid. How could he leave her out here alone? He fought the urge to cry again. But tears were not going to help at this point. He sat on the side of the sled, thinking. He looked at the big igloo. It no longer seemed scary now that his mother was inside it. Sasha whined, and he got up and went to her. He stroked her thick, silvery muzzle, telling her what a wonderful dog she was. Then, suddenly it came to him what he must do. He removed Sasha’s harness and led her to the entrance of the igloo. “Stay!” he commanded.
As he moved away, Sasha bounded after him. This time he was very harsh. He took her back and scolded her. “No! I want you to STAY! STAY with Ma, Sasha! STAY until I come back!”
The pup sat and looked up at him, studying him with her pale-blue eyes.
Jean-Paul then spoke again, and this time his voice was softer. He took the animal’s beautiful, gentle face in his hands. “I’ll be back soon. You have to stay with Ma. You must stay with my mother, Sasha. And someday, when you have your puppies, I’ll stay with you, okay? You can rest while I’m gone.”
Jean-Paul did not know if she understood or not. He turned and hurried to the trail as fast as his limp would allow. How strange that he hadn’t thought of aches or pains since they had left the cabin. He turned once more to look back at his beloved pet. She stood up and barked. Her tail was a bushy flag of fur waving over her back. But instead of following, she turned and entered the igloo.
Without his husky, Jean-Paul’s walk to the village was lonely and cold. With every step, he wanted to stop and lie down in the snow. He didn’t think he could make it. But he had to! As long as his mother was alone in that igloo, he would keep walking. He moved as quickly as he could with his crooked walk. He thought it might not be a bad idea to be an okalerk at that moment. Then he could hop fast all the way to Aklavik.
Soft flakes of snow drifted earthward from a calm gray sky. There were already about two inches of new snow over the packed trail. His boots sank in, leaving strange footprints—one large one and a smaller one that was more a toe-print. An Inuit following his trail might wonder what sort of strange animal he tracked.
In the bottom of Jean-Paul’s mind were thoughts trying to bubble to the surface. But on reaching the front of his brain, they burst into a million pieces and sank again. What is it I’m trying to remember? He shook the unfinished thoughts away and plodded on.
The exercise warmed him. He tossed back his hood, let the falling snow turn his hair silver, like Kiakshuk’s. He unfastened his parka, stopped to get his breath. Now his legs did ache, the more he thought about it. It had been a long time since he had walked so far. Certainly, he had never walked all the way to Aklavik. He wondered if anyone would even be awake at such an early hour.
His heart jumped as he thought suddenly of his mother in the igloo, with no other help than that of a dog. He tried to hurry. The closer he got to the village, the lighter the snow fell. Then, it stopped snowing altogether. The early morning sky rushed out to greet him with rays of pink, violet, and rose.
The settlement lay yet another mile or two away. Jean-Paul would reach the native dwellings long before he reached Aklavik. Oh! Now he knew what he had been trying to recall: Chinook’s igloo was not far away, and Chinook had a big, strong husky—Amarok. He would ask Chinook to take him to the village for Dr. Morgan.
The air cooled his head and chest. Jean-Paul closed his parka again and adjusted the hood over his head. This was no time to get chilled and sick.
Sometime later, Jean-Paul arrived at Chinook’s igloo. He caught his breath, then shouted, “Chinook! Chinook! Are you in there?” He looked around for Amarok, and a rattling chain told him the great dog was staked behind the igloo. But the husky did not bark, for he knew it was Jean-Paul. “Chinook! It’s me, Jean-Paul!”
This time Chinook’s friendly smile and laughing eyes appeared at the opening of the igloo. “Jean-Paul Ardoin!” he exclaimed, rubbing his eyes. “I must still be dreaming! What are you doing here on Saturday? Where are your husky and sled?” Chinook peered out beyond Jean-Paul. “Did you fly f
rom your igloo to mine? Come in, come in!”
Chinook moved back through the entrance of the tunnel so Jean-Paul could enter. Jean-Paul pushed his hood back and quickly looked around. Chinook’s mother, Arnayak, stooped over a kettle on the fire, stirring something thick and delicious-smelling with a long-handled spoon.
“Chinook!” Jean-Paul blurted, “I have to go for Dr. Morgan! Ma’s in the haunted igloo having her baby! I left Sasha with her—”
“What?”
“We were going to the hospital on the sled, but we had to stop because the baby wouldn’t wait—”
“The baby’s here already?”
“No, not yet. Ma’s all alone out there, Chinook. I left Sasha with her for protection.”
Chinook tipped his head and studied Jean-Paul. “I don’t believe you walked all the way from that igloo.”
Jean-Paul nodded. “Well, it’s true, Chinook. I’m on my way to get Dr. Morgan.” He took a deep breath. “I’m afraid, Chinook! Pa didn’t come back yet, and the baby’s coming early. I need your help.” Jean-Paul felt suddenly shy.
Chinook punched him gently on the shoulder. “Hey, that’s what friends are for! And I’m your friend, right?”
Chinook spoke rapidly to his mother and Arnayak asked Chinook many questions. She removed the pot from the fire, found a small pail, and scooped some of the food into it. After snapping a cover on, she pulled on her high fur boots, lacing them tightly past her ankles. As she came to Jean-Paul, speaking in Inuktitut, she pulled on a parka of orange-flowered material from the trading post. There was a twinkle in her snapping black eyes. Jean-Paul smiled, too, but he didn’t know what she wanted him to say. Lichen came to her mother, and Arnayak turned from Jean-Paul long enough to speak to her child. Lichen stared at Jean-Paul for a moment, then toddled over to Kiakshuk, who had appeared from the shadows, half-dressed. Kiakshuk had been elected babysitter.
Chinook tapped Jean-Paul on the shoulder. “My mother says, ‘Let’s go!’ She knows all about having babies. She can help. She’ll go to your mother while we go for the doctor.”
A few minutes later, Jean-Paul sat on Chinook’s sled while Chinook harnessed Amarok. He watched Chinook’s mother as she walked swiftly up the trail toward the haunted igloo. Her round body bumped from side to side over the newly fallen snow, and Jean-Paul could hardly keep from giggling. She carried the food pail in one hand. A small bundle hugged her back. In her parka, she looked like an orange bear going camping.
When Chinook finished with Amarok, he said to Jean-Paul, “I’m all set!”
Jean-Paul looked up the trail. Arnayak was now much smaller than before.
Chinook said, “Feet were made before sleds. My mother will be at the igloo long before we reach Aklavik.”
Chinook stepped behind the sled and kicked off, yelling to Amarok in Inuktitut. With a yelp of excitement, the big husky threw his broad chest into the harness. The sled moved swiftly over the snow, leaving Arnayak far behind. Chinook’s mother was now just a small orange speck in the distance.
The trip to the village did not take long. Past the Mission school and Hudson’s Bay post they raced. When they neared the small hospital, Chinook slowed Amarok to a walk. Finally, they came to a complete stop. The two boys left the sled in the road and went up to the door. The building was dark and deserted looking.
Chinook rapped on the door, but there was no sound from inside. They waited and waited. Then Jean-Paul banged loudly several times. He looked with alarm at Chinook.
“Nobody’s in there!” he cried. “What kind of hospital is this?”
Chinook shrugged. “It’s just a small hospital as you can see. And I guess no one’s sick enough to be here.”
“But what am I going to do now?” Jean-Paul cried. “My mother needs the doctor! And Pa will skin my hide for leaving her alone! I didn’t want to, Chinook, but she made me come for help ... and ... there isn’t any help!”
Chinook laughed. “It sounds like Jean-Paul’s more worried about what Jean-Paul’s father will do to him, than what happens to his mother.”
“That’s not true, Chinook! I am worried about Ma! I don’t care what happens to me, but—”
Chinook put his arm around his friend and found he was shaking. “Come on now, Jean-Paul Okalerk. Maybe the doctor had to see someone else. Maybe another mother is having a baby. Maybe the doctor is sick. Doctors get sick, too, you know. There are a lot of reasons for Dr. Morgan not being at the hospital.”
“But there’s no reason to close a hospital!” wailed Jean-Paul. Tears ran freely down his cheeks. It was a childish thing to do in front of his friend, but he just couldn’t help it. For a long time, he couldn’t even speak, the pain was so great.
But Chinook said brightly, “Who needs a doctor anyway? Mothers have been having babies for millions of years, right?” Jean-Paul nodded, and Chinook went on, “So, who helped them when they didn’t have doctors? Other old ladies, that’s who.”
Jean-Paul knew Chinook was only trying to cheer him, but he felt he would never be happy again. He had really messed things up good this time. If he hadn’t stopped for Chinook, he might have gotten to the doctor before he left ... or died or whatever.
“Have you ever seen a baby being born, Chinook?” he asked suddenly, wiping his runny nose on his sleeve. He brushed the salty tears from his lips.
Chinook laughed. “No, I haven’t seen that! They always send me outdoors when a baby’s being born. I only know about dogs. I’ve seen lots of dogs having pups, so I guess there’s not much difference.”
Jean-Paul couldn’t tell Chinook he had never even seen puppies born. His father had planned to let him watch when Lishta had her pups, but she had surprised everyone by having them in the middle of the night. Yet, he couldn’t tell his best friend that. He would just let Chinook think there were some things he knew.
Chinook led Jean-Paul back to the waiting sled and pushed him into it. “I guess we have to go to the igloo and see what’s happening. But at least Arnayak will be there. I told you she will help.”
Jean-Paul leaned back and moaned as Amarok began pulling the sled again. “I wish Pa was home, Chinook. He’ll kill me when he finds out I couldn’t help her.”
Chinook chuckled. “You wish your pa was home so he can kill you?”
“That’s not what I meant, Chinook! You quit making fun of me.”
“You worry too much!” Chinook called from behind the sled. “I never knew a boy who worries like you do. You’ve got to keep happy, Jean-Paul!”
“That’s easy for you to say!” Jean-Paul retorted. “Your mother isn’t about to have a baby in an igloo!”
Chinook’s laughter rang out in the cold morning air. “Oh, Jean-Paul! My mother had all her babies in an igloo!”
Jean-Paul shrank back against the sled. He had said the wrong thing again. When would he learn to keep his big mouth shut! He clamped his lips together tightly, refusing to say another word to Chinook, who would probably tell all the other kids how stupid Jean-Paul Ardoin was.
Chinook swung Amarok around in a wide circle to head back the way they had come.
Chapter 11
Amarok ran swiftly westward after leaving Aklavik. A few minutes later he raced past Chinook’s igloo and left the tree area for open country. The huge furry dog streaked on over the trail, which had but a small dusting of new snow. From somewhere up ahead came the howl of a wolf. Amarok answered his distant cousin in the same manner. Jean-Paul shuddered, recalling the eyes he had seen in the haunted igloo, the things he had imagined hearing. For now he knew it had only been his imagination. Was his mother seeing and hearing things like that?
The igloo came into sight. Just a few more minutes and Jean-Paul would know what was happening with his mother. What would she think when he didn’t bring the doctor? Of course, Arnayak would be there. But Lise didn’t know her that well. Maybe she wouldn’t let Arnayak come inside the igloo.
When Amarok stopped the sled near the big igloo, there was
no one around, and there was no sound in the still of the morning. Where was Sasha? Sasha would have been aware if someone had come to the igloo. She would have come out to greet them.
Jean-Paul’s knees shook as he jumped from the sled and ran to the entrance of the igloo. Chinook followed, and together they stopped and looked at the ground: fresh blood! Chinook knelt and examined the snow.
“Something’s been here,” he whispered to Jean-Paul. “Maybe a wolf or a fox. The tracks are too messed up to tell.” He looked up at Jean-Paul, frowning.
Jean-Paul leaned over and looked. “Well, that’s probably Sasha’s tracks right there, Chinook. See? This one looks like hers.”
Chinook stood up and looked around. “Maybe,” he said, shaking his head. “But where did all the blood come from?” He gazed thoughtfully into the distance, then pointed north. “The trail of bloody prints goes that way!”
Jean-Paul shivered. There was not only blood on the snow, but Arnayak’s pail lay nearby. Its lid was off, the contents scattered over the ground in a fishy-wet mess. “Your mother’s bucket of food,” said Jean-Paul, feeling sick. “Something made her drop it.” His knees shook something awful. He knew Sasha wouldn’t leave his mother alone at the igloo. He was sure the dog wouldn’t go off hunting after he had ordered her to stay. He didn’t really know what to think. Now, a strange, soft sound came from inside the igloo. Jean-Paul jerked around to listen.
“What is that?” he whispered, his eyes large and scared. “Do you think something got in there after my mother?”
“And my mother, too,” said Chinook. “Look, here are her tracks going into the igloo.”
Both boys looked anxiously at each other as a different sound met their ears. It was the same lonely cry of the wolf they had heard earlier on the trail.
“That’s it, Chinook! A wolf was here!” Jean-Paul looked down at the tracks again. He was very sure now. These prints looked like a wolf’s. Sasha’s were smaller.
Chinook moved carefully toward the entrance of the igloo. “There’s only one way to find out. We have to go inside. Are you brave enough?”
The Haunted Igloo Page 11
