by Sue Harrison
Aqamdax looked up, saw Night Man crouched at the lodge entrance. “You are leaving?” she asked him. “You are not man enough to help your sister?”
She grasped the braided collar at Biter’s neck and dragged him past Night Man. Biter lunged toward Night Man’s weak arm, but Aqamdax thrust her weight against the dog and pulled him from the lodge. She fastened him to a tether, then went back inside for her parka, leggings and boots.
Night Man was roaring insults at Star and Ghaden, the boy still groggy with sleep. When he saw Aqamdax he lashed out at her, but she pretended she did not hear. When she was dressed, she stood in front of her husband, said quietly, “I throw you away.” Then she left. She cut Biter’s tether at the snow line and led him to Ligige’’s lodge.
Though it was night, the old woman met her at the entrance tunnel. She was wearing her outside parka, boots and mittens.
“Your husband has a loud voice,” Ligige’ told her.
“He is not my husband,” Aqamdax said.
“We will make room for you here tonight,” Ligige’ told her. “What is one more person in a small lodge except a little more heat?”
They tied Biter and returned to Star’s lodge. Aqamdax’s blankets, her baskets, hides and sewing supplies were all lying in the snow. Beside them was everything that belonged to Chakliux—weapons, bedding, and the clothing he had not taken with him on the caribou hunt.
It took them several trips, though Dii left her bed to help. When finally only a few baskets were left sitting in the snow, Ghaden poked his head out of the entrance tunnel. His face was too shadowed for Aqamdax to see his eyes, but when he spoke, she could tell he had been crying.
“Night Man told me you do not want to live with us,” he said.
Aqamdax went to her brother, squatted on her haunches in front of him. “I will stay with Ligige’,” she said, “so we will not be far apart. I am no longer wife to Night Man, but I am still your sister. I will always be your sister.”
“He says Biter hurt Star.”
“Only because Star tried to hurt me.”
“Star thinks Biter should be made into dog stew.”
Aqamdax set her hand on his shoulder. “Do not worry about Biter. He is safe at Ligige’’s lodge.”
“Can I sleep there, too, and Yaa?” Ghaden asked.
Aqamdax turned to look at Ligige’.
“Star is still your mother,” said Ligige’. “You must do what she says. When Chakliux returns, we will see what he says.” She picked up a basket, shook the snow from it.
Aqamdax hugged him, felt him hiccough. “I wish you could come, too,” she said softly, then he was gone, scooting back into the entrance tunnel. Aqamdax picked up the last of her belongings and walked to Ligige’’s small lodge.
Chapter Forty-four
SOK AND CHAKLIUX WALKED three days, camped three nights. The winds were bitter, driving the cold through their parkas and deep into their bones. But the air was dry and it did not snow.
The fourth day they began walking in the darkness of early morning. By the time the sun peaked in its shallow arc across the southern sky, Chakliux saw the smoke from the village hearths, a layer of haze that hung flat and still just beyond the hills that stood between them and the village. The ache in his leg, the cramps in the side of his otter foot, made him glad that their journey was almost over, but as he neared the village, his fears returned. If a leader falls from respectful ways, does he also pull his people down with him? Had his people arrived safely at their village or had some curse, brought on by his own selfishness, blinded them to the way they should go?
Chakliux’s thoughts drew his eyes from the trail ahead, so when Sok called out, he was startled. He looked up, saw someone walking toward them. Sky Watcher. Who else was so tall, so thin, with shoulders not quite filled out to a man’s size? Sky Watcher lifted his hands in a sign of welcome, and though Sok was the elder and expected to speak first, Chakliux knew his brother’s sorrow would hinder his words.
Chakliux lifted his voice in a traditional greeting, and before Sky Watcher could reply, asked, “Everyone has returned safely?”
“Everyone,” Sky Watcher answered.
“And the old ones left behind?”
“All good.”
“The dogs?”
“Fighting as always.” Sky Watcher laughed, cleared his throat, and lifted his hand toward the hills that hid the village. “All the meat is in the caches, and our women work at scraping hides and finding firewood.” He kicked at the snow. “Your sons, Cries-loud and Carries Much,” he said to Sok, “they are staying with us in my wife’s lodge. She is glad to have the children near.” He looked into Sok’s face. “You are welcome to stay with us.”
“My wife?” Chakliux asked, stopping himself before he asked about Aqamdax.
Sky Watcher looked away, his eyes darting as though he were watching for hares or ground squirrels. “Star is angry,” he finally said. “Aqamdax threw away Night Man. Now Star believes you plan to take Aqamdax as your wife. The old women say she threw you away, too, and that Aqamdax has stored your things in Ligige’’s cache.”
The man looked at Chakliux, and Chakliux met his gaze. “I will take Aqamdax as wife,” he said, and saw that Sky Watcher was not surprised. “But I did not intend to throw away Star. Who would take her?”
“Perhaps she and Night Man will live together,” Sok said, and Chakliux was surprised that his brother was listening.
“There are enough old women in the village. Night Man will not be long without a wife,” said Sky Watcher.
“Where is Aqamdax staying?” Chakliux asked.
“With Ligige’.”
“Then that is where I will go.”
Someone scratched at the side of the lodge. Aqamdax set aside her sewing and glanced at Ligige’.
“Why are you afraid?” Ligige’ asked her. “What can he do to you?”
Aqamdax pulled aside the inner doorflap, called a welcome into the entrance tunnel. When she saw the top of Chakliux’s parka hood, she cried out her joy and met him in the tunnel. He pulled her into his arms.
“I was afraid…” she whispered. “I was afraid…you would not…”
“Hush, be still,” he said, and slipped off his mittens to run his hands over her face, to touch her lips, her hair.
She led him into Ligige’’s lodge, brushed the snow from his parka and hung it from a lodge pole, then sat beside him. Ligige’ offered him a bowl of food, and he grunted his thanks, eating quickly, as though he had had nothing for many days, making much noise smacking his lips in his gratitude for broth and meat.
Ligige’, pleased at such a compliment to the food she served, nodded her approval, then saw that Chakliux’s eyes, even as he ate, were studying the piles of blankets, baskets and packs that crowded her lodge.
“Ghaden and Yaa are still with Star?” he asked.
Ligige’ chuckled. “You are surprised to see so many supplies in an old woman’s lodge? You think I might have decided to become a trader in my old age?”
He laughed.
“You remember the child called Sun Girl?” Ligige’ asked him. “She was one of those K’os took to the Near River Village.”
“I remember. Her mother was—”
“Her mother is dead, as is her father.” Ligige’ flicked her fingers as if to push such a remembrance from her lodge. “Sun Girl left her Near River husband and came here. She brought her husband’s dogs and two of his travois with her.”
“He did not come after her?”
“He, too, is dead. You knew him, I think. He was once second husband to your mother and called himself father to you and Sok.”
Chakliux’s eyes opened wide. “He is dead?” he asked, leaning forward as though afraid to believe Ligige’’s words. “How?”
“That is something you should ask Sun Girl. She calls herself Dii now. She came during a storm and found my lodge first, so for a few days she stayed with me; now she has moved into her aunt’s lod
ge.”
“Twisted Stalk?”
“Yes, but all this you see near the door of my lodge, these are Dii’s things. Each day she comes and gets a few more. She says Twisted Stalk complains they do not have enough space, so she does not take much at any one time.”
Ligige’ lifted her chin at him, tilted her head. “You will mourn her husband?” she asked.
“No,” Chakliux replied, his answer short, harsh.
A thin whine came from the back of the lodge, and Chakliux jumped. “You have a dog in here?”
“Biter,” Ligige’ said. “You know Aqamdax threw away Night Man?”
Aqamdax drew in her breath, worried that Chakliux would be angry she had done so before he returned.
“Sky Watcher told me,” he said.
“You did not want me to?” she asked.
“I am glad you are not his wife,” he answered, and smiled, but the smile was shallow, like a ripple of water made by the wind. He looked tired, sad.
“Some say Star has thrown you away,” Ligige’ told him, and Aqamdax wished the old woman would be quiet. Chakliux had enough to think about with Night Man.
“So Sky Watcher told us. I will go see her myself,” Chakliux said, “and find out what is true. I want to be sure she will take care of Ghaden and Yaa. But why do you have Biter?”
“Night Man told Ghaden he would kill the dog.”
“Why?”
“Biter attacked Star.”
“He what?”
“He was protecting me,” Aqamdax said. “It is nothing for you to think about.” She wanted to ask about Sok. Did he plan to return to his dead wife’s lodge? Did he need help with his children? Perhaps she and Chakliux could live with him in Snow-in-her-hair’s lodge for the winter while Aqamdax finished sewing her lodge cover.
Ligige’ pointed with her chin at Aqamdax. “This woman here does not have a husband,” she said. “That is something for you to think about.”
Aqamdax wanted to leave the lodge, to hide her face from Chakliux’s eyes. Would he think she had complained?
But Chakliux acted as though he had not heard Ligige’’s words. He stood and said, “I will be back later.” And as suddenly as he had come, he left.
Ligige’ snorted, and Aqamdax spoke without thinking. “You were rude,” she said. “He will take care of me.”
“Too often, he considers those who do not deserve his concern before those who have earned his respect,” Ligige’ retorted.
“A man who leads his people must consider himself last,” Aqamdax said. “His wife and children, his parents, are part of him, and must take their place after the others.”
Ligige’ clicked her tongue. “If he cannot take care of his own family, what right does he have to watch over others? It is good I came to this village. Where would you go if I was not here?”
“I would be cold and hungry, Aunt,” said Aqamdax. “I will not forget what you have done for me.”
Again Ligige’ snorted, but this time she smiled.
Chakliux ran his hands over the knives he carried. One was strapped to his leg, another to his belt, a smaller knife hung under his parka like a necklace. “No fighting,” he breathed, lifting the words like a prayer. “No fighting.”
He entered Star’s lodge without a greeting, as though he were still her husband. Star shrieked when she saw him, covered her mouth with both hands and stood behind her brother.
“You did not hear that Star has thrown you away?” Night Man asked.
“I heard. I have come to ask her to again be my wife.”
Night Man looked up at his sister. “He misses your warm lodge,” he said to her.
Chakliux saw the hurt in her eyes and held back the anger that made him want to insult Night Man. He almost told Star she had been a good wife, and for that reason he wanted her back. But how could he say something that was not true? He wanted her for the child she carried in her belly, for that son or daughter. Otherwise he would rather she belonged to some other hunter.
“I have a warm lodge where I can live,” he said.
Again Night Man looked at his sister. She moved her hands from her mouth and stood like a child, twisting her fingers into her braided hair. “He does not want you for your cooking or sewing, and he does not need this lodge,” Night Man said. “He has another woman to warm his bed.” He reached up and patted her belly. “It must be this he is after.” He looked at Chakliux. “You have not considered that it might be a daughter?”
“Why should that matter?” Chakliux asked.
Night Man laughed. “See, Sister. It is not you he wants. Get a good bride price for yourself. He will pay much for that baby.”
“You have never looked at your sister before, Night Man?” Chakliux asked, his voice soft. “You have never seen her hair, dark as night? Her face shining like sun on water? You do not know that she is beautiful to look at? Where are your eyes?” He smiled at Star. “What do you want for a bride price?” he asked her.
Star looked at Chakliux, then down at her brother. “That you help me move my brother’s things from this lodge,” she said to Chakliux, and snapped her fingers in a gesture of insult. “He will not live here anymore.”
Chapter Forty-five
SOK INVITED CHAKLIUX AND Aqamdax to live with him and his two sons, and asked Aqamdax to care for the children until he took another wife. It would be better for Star and Aqamdax to live in separate lodges, he had said, and how could Aqamdax disagree with him?
As she moved from Ligige’’s lodge, Aqamdax could not help but remember those days when she had been Sok’s wife. He had pretended to be what he was not—a man who needed a wife. Aqamdax had believed him, had allowed his wide shoulders and strong arms to blind her to the truth, and then had hated him when he tried to trade her to the Walrus Hunters. He had thought the magic of her storytelling would entice the Walrus people to give much in trade for her, enough to pay the bride price for Snow-in-her-hair.
But now, seeing Sok in his sorrow, moving as though he were an old man, she had no more anger. Could she pretend she had never done anything selfish? Could she say she had never hurt anyone else to get something she wanted?
So when Chakliux came to Ligige’’s lodge, promising gifts of caribou hides, meat and necklaces, Aqamdax accepted not only a new husband but also his brother and his brother’s children.
“By spring, he will find a wife,” Chakliux had said to her. “By spring you will have the lodge cover sewn, and we will have our own lodge.”
“And Star?” Aqamdax asked.
“She is still my wife,” Chakliux told her.
Ligige’ tottered to her feet, pulled on a parka. “I will go there, to stay with Star and Long Eyes, Ghaden and Yaa tonight,” she said. “Star knows that you have claimed Aqamdax as wife?”
“She knows,” Chakliux said, then offered to carry the boiling bag of food to Star’s lodge. “I do not know if she has anything ready to eat.”
Ligige’ shook her head at him. “Yaa is there. She is woman enough to take care of all of us.”
He held the doorflap open for Ligige’, went outside with her, and Aqamdax knew he would accompany his aunt to Star’s lodge, make sure Star accepted the old woman in politeness.
When he returned, his arms were full, his back bowed under the weight: a caribou hide, several long-furred wolf pelts, necklaces, boiling bags, a packet of beads—more than would be given for most first wives, let alone a woman who had been wife to two others, had once been a slave.
Aqamdax took the gifts from his arms one by one, hid tears by pressing her face into a wolf pelt. “There are more caribou hides, enough in my cache to finish a lodge cover, but I thought you would not mind if I left them there.”
Aqamdax began to laugh, then her voice broke with her tears, and she busied herself arranging the gifts in a pile at the women’s side of the lodge. She set out food for her husband, a bowl of caribou meat flavored with iitikaalux and boiled in broth, several dried fish, warmed near
the hearth fire, and a bowl of fish oil to dip them in.
“One more gift,” he said when he had finished eating.
“The lodge is full,” said Aqamdax, laughing. “What more can you give?”
“It is not a gift for the eyes but for the ears,” Chakliux said quietly. Then he motioned for her to sit beside him, pulled her close and began to tell stories. They were ancient stories, each sacred to the River People, and Aqamdax had not heard them before. She listened in joy, felt his heart like a drumbeat set the rhythm for the words, so that each story was like a dance made with voice rather than feet and hands. And her love for him grew in the gratitude that he would trust her with something so sacred when she was only a woman, second wife, not even born to the River People.
Yaa helped Ghaden with the snowshoe he was webbing, then took a water bladder to Long Eyes and watched to be sure the old woman drank. When Star began an argument with Ligige’, Yaa was the one to distract her with a request for help with the boiling bag, and to remind Ligige’ with raised eyebrows and a quick frown that Star was only a child, though she wore a woman’s body.
Ligige’ pinched her face into stubbornness, and Yaa found her thoughts again on Day Woman, that dead one. Could Ligige’ have killed her rather than Twisted Stalk? If so, why would Ligige’ have worked so hard to save Day Woman’s life? Perhaps Star was the killer, but why would Star hurt Chakliux’s mother? For that matter why would Ligige’?
Yaa sighed. Perhaps no one would ever know who the killer was, and since there had been no more trouble in the village, why worry about it?
But then she thought of Cries-loud, his eyes shadowed with sorrow. It would be good if they could somehow prove Red Leaf was innocent, good for Cries-loud and even for Sok.
Someday, if she was Cries-loud’s wife…
Yaa squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment at the boldness of that thought and felt her cheeks grow hot.
Long Eyes let out a sudden squeal of anger. Yaa left Star and went to untangle the length of sinew thread that hung from the old woman’s needle. Long Eyes smiled at her and patted her hand, then resumed her sewing.