Название: Christopher Dinsdale's Historical Adventures 4-Book Bundle
Автор: Christopher Dinsdale
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Детские приключения
isbn: 9781459739666
isbn:
Kiera placed a comforting hand on his back. “But I don't think that is who you are, is it? I can't see you being the type of person to give up so easily. You certainly demonstrated patience when it came to me.”
Chocan smiled. “You are right. I can't stop. My faith, my beliefs are a part of me. I will continue my work, do what I can and leave the rest up to powers of the Great Spirit.”
The sky was darkening, and cold wind blew in from the northern hills. Kiera shivered. Chocan led her to the warmth of a nearby fire. Kiera looked around at the band members wrapping the fresh meat and cleaning up the few unwanted remains. Like the Vikings, the Beothuck didn't waste any part of the valuable carcass.
“So what happens now?”
“We will pack soon. It is time to move the band into the woods and prepare for winter. In fact, I need to return to the river and help store the canoes for next year.”
Chocan stood up to leave, but Kiera grabbed hold of his hand. “Thanks again for rescuing me yesterday.”
His rugged face glowed in the roaring flames as he smiled down at her. “You, Kiera, have also rescued me with your words of hope. I thank you as well.”
Their hands slowly, hesitantly, slid apart. Chocan gave her one last flash of a smile, then disappeared into the growing darkness.
THIRTEEN
Kiera examined the pile of icy brown vegetation. “Do you think this will be enough?”
Chocan threw the last slab of frozen moss onto the sledge and wiped his forehead with the back of his mitten. He was sweating despite the frigid weather. He stomped to the front of the sledge and grabbed the guiding poles.
“Let's go back and see.”
They left the dark cedar glade and walked silently through the glistening trees. Kiera's breath clouded the air and hung like an unfinished thought. She pulled her caribou cape across her chest as a winter breeze tried to worm its way through her layers. The cape had belonged to an older member of the band who had died just a winter ago.
The chatter of children could be heard before they arrived in the clearing that held their winter home. It was a brilliant location. The clearing was surrounded by a thick wall of evergreen forest that would protect their soon-to-be-constructed village from the worst of the bitter, winter winds. A small but deep creek gurgled along the edge of the clearing. It would provide the band with a source of drinking water. Near the centre of camp, several men were digging deep holes into the ground.
“What are they doing?” she asked.
“They are preparing the ground for the caribou meat. We will put the wrapped meat in the holes then cover the food with layers of dirt and rocks.”
“Why bury it?” she asked.
“There is simply too much meat to smoke. The frozen ground will keep it fresh. Putting the meat in the middle of camp will also help keep the scavenging animals at bay.”
They trudged around piles of wooden frames. Some sets were in the process of being erected. Kiera watched with fascination as the two tallest men in the village worked together, the oldest sitting on the shoulders of the younger. The man on top reached up, took hold of the longest vertical poles, and pulled them together into a set of graceful arches, where he lashed them into a tight hexagonal pattern with thick strips of leather. The mamateeks in the centre of the winter village were already complete. The sweet smell of cedar smoke trickled out through the top vents and drifted through the still air of the camp like an early morning fog.
Chocan and Kiera continued towards an unfinished mamateek. The upper half of the curved wooden frame stood naked against the bitter winter air, while the lower half was in various states of undress. Both children and adults scurried in and around the structure. Several children dragged large chunks of birch bark to the structure while the adults skillfully placed the pieces in a puzzle-like pattern, ensuring that the curved surface of their home was both wind and rainproof. Huritt saw their approach, greeted them and examined their load.
“I think you have enough to finish the job.”
“Good,” groaned Chocan, stretching his back.
“And there wasn't much moss left in the clearing, either,” added Kiera. “The pickings were getting a little thin.”
Shawnadit popped out of the mamateek and ran into Kiera's arms. Kiera flipped her upside down and tickled her until she squealed with laughter. As Kiera returned her to the ground, an older boy asked Shawnadit to fetch more birch bark. Giving Kiera one last hug, she skipped off merrily into the woods.
Kiera, Chocan and Huritt unloaded the moss from the sledge and passed the pieces up to the waiting hands that reached out through the top of the unfinished frame. The moss was then carefully placed on top of the layer of birch bark. Kiera knew that the moss would be used to help insulate the mamateek from the cold winter winds. In many ways, the winter mamateeks were similar to the low, sod-covered Viking longhouses.
“I think I need a drink of water.” Chocan's voice was rough and dry.
Kiera stretched her back. “I'll join you.”
Chocan grabbed two birch containers and led Kiera to the stream. As he knelt down in the snow and scooped up the water, Kiera stared into the quickly moving creek and thought of its journey. The stream would eventually join a river, which would lead to the coast and finally open itself up to the endless sea. The ocean. Even the gurgling laughter of the stream haunted her memories. There would be no better time. She had to tell him.
“Chocan?”
He looked up as he passed her a container of water.
“Yes?”
She stared at her reflection in the cup. “I have to go home.”
“Home?”
She hesitated. “To Ireland. To my family.”
He stared at her with his dark, penetrating eyes. “You are not happy here, with us?”
Kiera lowered her eyes in shame. How could she make him understand?
“Your family, your band, your people have welcomed me into their hearts. You and Sooleawaa have also saved my life several times. And for all of these things, I will always be truly grateful. But you need to understand, this is not my home. I need to go back.”
There was an awkward moment of silence.
“How?” he asked.
She sighed. “Unless you know of another way across the ocean, I will need to get back to the Viking village.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “Return to your captors? How will that help you get home? You will only be forced to return to your duties as a slave.”
“They are my only way back, Chocan. They will soon leave this land. They do not have the warriors or the weapons to fight off the raiding Thule. Thorfinn will lead his people back east to the land of the Vikings, perhaps СКАЧАТЬ