The Bear and the Wolf

by Griff Hosker

  The Mi’kmaq were not that much different from the Clan of the Fox. They each had an amulet or a bracelet which they thought protected them and my words made all but the chief hold them. He smiled, “It is late, and you will wish to sleep. White Doe will take you to where you will sleep. For myself, I will sit here and smoke a pipe. You are like the stone which begins its journey from the top of the mountain. You cannot be stopped but a man does not know if you will make the journey alone or will you set other pebbles and rocks cascading down. One pebble cannot hurt us but a whole mountain can be shifted.”

  Stands Alone was exhausted for a variety of reasons and she fell asleep almost immediately. The Mi’kmaq are a very hospitable people and the furs were comfortable. Laughing Deer and I spoke in whispers. “White Doe is a wise woman. She reminds me of our grandmother. She gave Stands Alone good advice. When she saw the seax you had given Stands Alone she laughed and said that no Penobscot would ever hurt her again.” She kissed me, “She says that we are perfect together.”

  I chuckled, “As the spirits were the ones responsible for our union, I would expect nothing less.”

  “We could live with these people for they like us and that is important.”

  I sighed, “We will have to have a winter on our own but that may well hasten the time when we find your tribe. You and Stands Alone were quite happy to remain on the island.”

  “I know and it is unreasonable of me but Stands Alone and I enjoyed the company of the women. The Penobscot women treated us as badly as their men did for they blamed us for their men using us.”

  “That is ridiculous!”

  “I know but it made our isolation worse. I think my mother gave up because of that. She was a strong woman and might have survived the beating but the attitude of the Penobscot women broke her spirit.” I was silent as I had not thought of that. “A winter alone will not be so bad and the winter seas will make it hard for the Penobscot to return. The tribe will leave at the end of the month, Erik. They will return to their winter camp and harvest the summer bounty. They will hunt; we should prepare for the winter.”

  I kissed her and was alone with my thoughts. She was right but that meant travelling to one of the other islands. Horse Deer Island no longer had Moos but it did have plenty of white-tailed deer. We could sail there and hunt. However, I would need to make more arrows and spears. The next month would be hard work for me.

  The next morning, we were greeted by all in the tribe as old friends. The fear of the Shaman of the Bear had gone and many of the young warriors came to ask me about my weapons. They were keen to see my sword and seax. I could tell that they wished to touch them but feared their power. Long Sight scattered them, “Go, you chattering birds, leave the warrior alone! I would not have him add Mi’kmaq to the warriors he has slain!” He laughed when they fled, “They are all impressed at the number of warriors you slew. Until you came, I had slain more men in battle and that was two!”

  “I am sorry, I did not wish to take away from your reputation.”

  “I do not mind but I confess that I am interested in your people. Would you be offended if I came to your island and looked at your homes? We have looked at them from afar and wonder how you live.”

  “Of course, and you can bring others for there is nought to hide.”

  He nodded, “I know what women are like and Laughing Deer will wish to make your home look as good as she can. I will come in seven days!”

  Chief Wandering Moos, the shaman and the elders all came with Long Sight and Black Bird to see us off. I think they were curious about the new boat and how I sailed it. Stands Alone and Laughing Deer were now happy sailors and they climbed in while I held the boat against the tide. I jumped in and, in one motion, lowered the sail so that we leapt away. I heard the collective gasp from the beach. Turning I waved. I think the sight of my improvised boat flying across the waves impressed them more than anything and that included my sword. Long Sight was a wise man and he was right. When Laughing Deer heard of the impending visit it was like a gale at sea. She and Stands Alone cleaned not only our hall but my old one for she was sure that Long Sight would wish to stay.

  “And you will need to make certain that you have your ale and plenty of food! Wandering Moos’ people were generous when they entertained us. We must be as generous.”

  I was kept busy and all the tasks I had planned, such as making arrows, was forgotten as I hunted and fished to have food for them. One advantage I had was that I could sail a little way out to sea and catch the bigger fish. The Mi’kmaq fished each day, but they caught the smaller fish which came to the shallows. I was able to catch fish which were as long as my leg. After seven days I watched and saw a birch bark boat coming across. I had not expected Long Sight to come alone but, as I spied the boat, I recognised White Doe sitting in the middle along with Black Bird and Long Sight’s two sons.

  Laughing Deer and Stands Alone were approaching and I shouted, “There will be five guests.”

  She nodded, “And we prepared ten places to sleep. You have found enough food. It is well.”

  As they edged in towards the quay, I saw them looking with wonder at all that they saw. I held the prow of the boat as Laughing Deer helped White Doe to the wooden quay. I handed a rope to Long Sight. “Tie this to the boat and it will stop it moving.”

  When they stood on the quay Black Bird shook his head, “This is so simple and yet so clever. You do not get wet when you board your boat and it must be easier to land your catches.”

  I nodded, “If you wish I can take three of you with me, there,” I pointed to the east and the open ocean.”

  Black Bird nodded, “I would like that.”

  Long Sight said, “And I can do no less although those waves look big enough to destroy us. I will trust you, Shaman of the Bear.”

  “And your sons?”

  “They will stay ashore. Their mother will need someone to protect her if the sea devours me!”

  I did not laugh for I had superstitions too. White Doe was being entertained and so I took them first to see the fish and lobster traps and then to examine where I grew vegetables. They were most interested in our bread oven and my brewery. Only Long Sight had tasted my ale and that had been just a mouthful. I poured them a beaker and I used my horn. I saw the young warriors’ eyes widen as they tasted the beer but Long Sight was more interested in the horn. “Where did that come from?”

  “We have animals called cattle. They give us milk and they have horns like this. They also pull our wagons and ploughs. When they are old, we eat their meat.”

  “And they have horns and do not try to kill you?”

  “No, Black Bird, for we have tamed them. We tame pigs too.” They all looked puzzled. “An animal smaller than a small deer but much fatter and heavier. It has good meat.”

  “You have much that we do not. Your world is as different as the sea is from the land.”

  Long Sight was right. I showed them the hall where they would be sleeping. We had lit a fire and that amazed them too. “Then you are never cold in winter?”

  “No, for we keep the fire burning and it saves us having to relight it.” When I took them into the forest to show them the abandoned farms and fields, I explained how we built our homes. That fascinated them. When I showed them the handful of arrows with the metal tips that, too, impressed them. “My people believe that you must have this iron beneath your ground. It is hard to find but if you find the rocks which melt then I can show you how to make such weapons as arrowheads, swords and seaxes.”

  “You truly are a Shaman for what you do is magic.” Black Bird was younger than Long Sight who was not as easily impressed.

  “Come, Laughing Deer has food ready.” Before we entered my hall, I showed them the ditch, traps and bridge.”

  Long Sight smiled, “Now I see how you managed to defeat the Penobscot. You protect your family and that is good.”

  The ability to cook inside solid walls had almost mesmerized White Doe and
immediately demanded that Long Sight build her a hall.”

  He sighed and shook his head, “We have two homes, White Doe. That means we would need two such halls!”

  She shook her head, “Warriors! See how the flames do not blow out and the food does not cool before it can be eaten!”

  Laughing Deer was keen to impress, and she had cooked them oat bread. We had found, in Ada’s hall, an old cheese, so along with some dried beef I had found we had a veritable feast. Laughing Deer pointed to the pot bubbling on the fire. Before you leave, we will serve you a stew.”

  We ate and drank some of the beer. I counselled the sons of Long Sight not to drink too much. Long Sight asked, “Why not?”

  “It takes away a man’s senses. He falls over and not only can he not defend himself, it is as though he does not know how to be a man.”

  I had found one of Ada’s distaff’s and I had demonstrated how to weave. A couple of old sheepskins still remained, and Laughing Deer had been fascinated by the art of spinning. As I left with Black Bird and Long Sight to go to ‘Ada’, Laughing Deer demonstrated the art of weaving. Long Sight’s two sons seemed happy to explore my island.

  That the two Mi’kmaq were nervous was obvious, but they could not and would not show fear before Long Sight’s sons. “You will not need the paddles, so you sit flat in the boat. Their nervousness was shown when they just nodded. I paddled us out to the sea and then I raised the sail. I already knew whence came the wind and the boat took off. It was fortunate that I had three men aboard for the boat lifted a little and I heard the sharp intake of breath from the Mi’kmaq. I tugged on the sheets and we landed on the water and then flew. I knew how exhilarating it was, and I wished I could see the expressions on their faces. We rounded the island and then went even faster. I headed due east. Black Bird fingered his amulet and I smiled. Their world had intimidated me, but this was my domain. I took us east until Bear Island was just a speck to the west. I turned the boat until we were barely making way and began to head back slowly.

  Long Sight risked turning around, albeit gingerly, “I see how you can sail with the wind behind you but how do you sail into the wind?”

  “You cannot but you can sail close to the wind. We have finished sailing quickly and you can move if you wish. The wood which holds the boat together is strong and you can sit there.” I pointed to the cross pieces.” We can fish.”

  Black Bird shook his head, but Long Sight said, “I will trust you.”

  “Just make your movements slow.”

  He did so and he sat close to me. I handed him a strong line with a well-carved bone hook. I placed some of the fish guts from the fish I had caught a couple of days’ earlier. They were pungent and would attract fish. He tossed the line over the stern and said, “Black Bird, are you a woman? Sit here and fish.”

  Black Bird did so reluctantly, and I gave him a second line. I just sailed the boat. I did not wish to risk losing either Mi’kmaq over the side and so I made slow and gentle movements. When we had caught fish then we would fly home. The Norns were spinning or, perhaps it was just meant to be but after we had caught one fish similar to the one I had caught we snagged a shark. It was not one of the monsters which had attacked the carcass of the whale, but it was as long as Laughing Deer. Long Sight had never seen such an animal close up.

  “Black Bird help him. This is a monster. Do not go near to its teeth or you will lose an arm! Hold on and we will drag him.” I regretted taking the spear from the boat for if we had had that weapon we could have speared him. I turned to the north so that the wind was with us and we used the power of the boat to weaken him as he thrashed to escape. The two of them were strong warriors and they pulled hard on the line. Each time we crested a wave they were able to pull him closer. I had warned them of the danger of the teeth, but I saw the dead eye and the teeth approaching me and knew that we were in trouble. I had not brought my sword, but I had brought my long dagger, King Rædwulf’s blade. When I had told Wandering Moos and Laughing Deer to slash with the seax I had been speaking the truth but there was a point on this dagger, and I used it now to ram it into the eye of the shark. I would have struggled to break the tough skin of the shark, but the eye was another matter. I pushed until my hand struck the rough flesh of the shark and it died. As soon as it did, I turned into the wind to bring us to a dead stop. Black Bird almost tumbled over the side, but Long Sight caught him. Despite the danger, both were grinning. That single moment bonded us into warriors, brothers of the blade. We had not done as I had done with Arne and Siggi all those years ago, but we had fought the beast and defeated it with the dagger, King Rædwulf’s blade.

  Long Sight said, “That is a powerful blade.” I tossed it to him, and he caught it. “Turning it over he said, “There are markings on the blade.”

  “Aye, for it belonged to a king, a Great Chief and I won it.”

  He nodded and looked at the dead shark. “We have seen these from the shore and their fins. Once we saw a boy taken by one from the rocks. It was bigger and had more white patches. You hunt them?”

  “We do and, with our drekar, we also hunt the whale.” I used Bear Tooth’s word and I saw that they were impressed.

  “Is the meat good to eat?”

  “It is and the skin can be used to smooth wood. We have done well.”

  Black Bird had now forgotten his fear of the boat and he grinned, “Aye, we have.”

  “Secure the shark and then sit once more in the boat for we shall fly!” This time there was no fear and with the shark tied to the larger log, I turned the boat to head south and east. The wind helped us and when I turned to sail north and east then we flew. I could see that they were confused by my route and so I explained it to them. “This is not like sailing one of your boats. I use the wind. It sometimes means sailing in the wrong direction but when we pick up the wind then we can move more quickly.”

  It was late in the afternoon when we pulled in and the others were all waiting for us.

  White Doe hugged her husband, “You disappeared beyond the seas! Did you fall from the edge?”

  He laughed and kissed her, “There is no end to the sea and see what we have caught.” They had all been so relieved to see us safely returned that they had not noticed the shark.

  I kissed Laughing Deer. “We will butcher and skin it now so that when they return to their own camp they can take most of it.”

  I confess that as much as I loved my family, that feast in my hall when the Mi’kmaq ate with us was one of the most enjoyable evenings I ever spent on Bear Island. None of us knew it but the Norns had spun and our threads were tied. All of us felt like family. It was wyrd.

  Chapter 15 Erik

  It was sad to see Long Sight and the others depart for all of us. Within days they would begin to pack up their camp and head to their winter home and we would be alone again. Two days after they went Laughing Deer was ill. I blamed the shark for she vomited and brought up most of the food she had eaten the night before. When she recovered, she smiled and I thought that was strange, “It is not the shark, Erik, I am with child. White Doe sensed it and she told me what to expect.” I suddenly remembered Ada when she had been carrying Lars. She had endured the same symptoms. Then my heart sank. When Ada had given birth the women of the clan had been on hand. There was just Stands Alone. Laughing Deer seemed to read my thoughts. “Fear not for we know what to do and we have the whole winter and, perhaps, into the new grass before our child will be born.”

  My world changed then as I realised the danger we were in. The Mi’kmaq were leaving and if the Penobscot returned then we could all die. I hoped that the Mi’kmaq council would allow us to live on the mainland and be part of their tribe. The Clan of the Bear was growing, and I wanted all of us to survive. It was then that Stands Alone also changed. As her sister bloomed and grew so she matured. It was as if she put her terrible childhood behind her and began to become an adult and she became invaluable to Laughing Deer. When there were tears then it was Stan
ds Alone who comforted her sister for often I would be working on the island or fishing. Our routine changed but all was well for we were together.

  I knew that I would need one more hunt on Horse Deer Island, but I kept putting it off for I feared for my wife. Laughing Deer seemed to know my moods better than I did for, as we lay together in our sleeping chamber she asked, “You are not worried about me or our unborn child, are you?”

  I had learned not to lie to her, “In truth, I am for in our clan it is the women who deliver babies and birth is not the domain of a warrior. It is a strange country.”

  “And in our tribe, I am a woman and I can deliver the child, with the help of Stands Alone of course.”

  “But I cannot leave you alone.”

  “Of course you can, for I am fit and healthy. This is about the deer hunt, is it not? You need to hunt the deer on the neighbouring island.” I nodded, “Then do it.”

  “I may need to spend the night on the island. I do not wish to make numerous journeys.”

  “And we know how to bar the bridge. We will be safe for one night.”

  And so it was decided. I had succeeded in making twenty arrows. Two of the arrows I had made bore metal tips and the rest were bone and stone. The deer I would hunt were red in colour. When he had visited with me Long Sight had told me of them and where they lived on the island. He had said that the Mi’kmaq often hunted them. They had realised that slaughtering the moos on the island had been a mistake and that had resulted in the death of Eyes of Fire. The shaman had said the punishment was that the clan should not hunt on the island for five seasons. When he had told me, I realised that they did not blame me for the death of the Chief’s son. He had committed the sin against nature by slaughtering all of the moos. Long Sight told me that the deer were bigger and harder to find but that they provided a great deal of meat. I would have to kill fewer than the smaller white-tailed deer. I tied one of our older and smaller barrels on the cross pieces of the boat; in it was salt. It was hard saying farewell and made all the harder by the first bad weather since the storm. It was cold sleety rain which made Laughing Deer and Stands Alone race back inside the hall as I pushed off from the quay. I wore my sealskin cape, but I knew that I would soon be soaked. At least the rain would make animal tracks easier to see and the wind was from my stern which meant that I flew across but that swift journey meant a slow one home.