After a few hours rest, Erik roused Anna and Iya. The three silently loaded the boat and pushed off into the unpredictable waters of the Pacific.
The umiak moved swiftly through the swells on the calm waters. Anna took up her usual watch, enlisting Iya’s help in looking for submerged rocks and floating debris. Erik sat, back straight, eyes trained on the horizon, repeatedly plunging the wooden paddle into the water, pushing against the waves, and propelling them ever closer to an unknown destination.
As the sun climbed into the sky, Erik’s rowing slowed. He never complained, but his shoulders drooped and fatigue filled his eyes.
There was a spare paddle in the bottom of the boat. If given a chance, she could master it. “It would be good if we had two people to paddle.”
“Yep.”
“I watch you and I can do.”
Erik paddled on.
She took in a deep breath. “You let me help?”
Erik let his oar slip inside the boat. He wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. “You’re too small. It takes a lot of strength.”
“I strong.”
His lips lifted in a crooked grin. “That you are.” He stroked his beard thoughtfully, then said mostly to himself, “I could use help.” His blue eyes settled on her. “With two of us working, we can make better time. I guess we could give it a try, but we’ll need someone to watch for debris.” His gaze slid toward Iya.
“I watch!” Iya clapped her hands together.
“You’ve got to keep a real close eye out and let us know if there’s anything ahead. Do you think you can do that?”
She nodded.
“I guess you’ve got the job then.” Erik picked up the extra paddle and handed it to Anna. “Be careful. This is the only spare we’ve got.”
Anna looked at the paddle. Now that it was in her hands, she was unsure how to use it. When Erik had propelled them through the water, the strokes had seemed strong and graceful. But the paddle felt cumbersome and heavy.
“First, just get the feel of it. Balance it, like this.” He moved the weight of his paddle from one hand to the other. “It’s not so heavy.”
Anna turned the paddle over in her hands, feeling the weight of it as Erik had done. Gradually it felt more natural.
“Push it deep into the water and always keep it flat against the waves.” He moved through the motion as he spoke.
Anna held her tongue. She didn’t need instruction. She had watched him for days. It had looked simple.
Anna imitated Erik’s stroke, but her first attempts were feeble, accomplishing little more than splashing water into the boat. Keeping the flat side against the waves was harder than it looked. Anna persisted, and was finally rewarded by a relatively strong, smooth stroke. She moved the paddle from one side of the boat to the other with relative ease and comfort.
She settled into the joint effort and they moved more rapidly now. Occasionally one would rest while the other kept them moving forward.
After a while, Erik said, “You’re doing well for a little lady.”
Her back ached and her arms burned from the effort, but she gritted her teeth and continued to match Erik’s strokes.
Iya sat proudly in the bow and, despite her age, proved a dependable sentry. Her eyes were sharp, and she was quick to spot obstacles. She sang of happier times while she watched. Her chanting drifted away and she seemed to be deep in thought.
Anna asked, “Are you all right? What are you thinking about?”
“Him.” Iya glanced at Erik, then turned and faced the outsider. “What place you from?”
“Minnesota.”
“Minn-e-so-ta? What Minnesota?”
Erik lifted his paddle and let it rest against the rim of the boat. “It’s a long way from here, in the United States. It’s much farther than where we’re going.” He combed his beard with his fingers and a faraway look came to his eyes. “It’s a long way from the sea, but there is a big lake almost like the ocean. Tall grasses grow for miles, and when the wind blows, it looks a little like ocean waves.”
Iya nodded. “I see that.”
“There aren’t many trees in the part of Minnesota where I grew up, and a person can see for miles in every direction.” He stopped and scanned the shoreline.
“Tell more.” Iya moved toward Erik.
He plunged the paddle back into the water and matched Anna’s strokes once more. “It’s very hot in the summer with big storms that light up the sky. The sun shines almost every day, even during the winter. Some winters are real cold, even colder than here. And most people live on farms where they grow all kinds of plants for eating and raise cattle.”
Iya looked at him with a puzzled expression. “Why grow plants?”
Erik chuckled. “They don’t grow all by themselves like here. So we plant them.”
“What is cattle?”
“You know, cows. Cows are like moose. Remember when I drew the picture in the sand?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that’s kind of like a cow. And we have mountains, too, but not like here. They aren’t so big.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Used to be you hardly ever saw people unless you went into town, but things are changing. More folks are moving in all the time. The towns, or villages, are getting bigger. It’s too crowded. I like to have space around me.”
He sounded as though he loved his home and missed it. Maybe as much as she and Iya did theirs.
“We had a small farm just outside of town. There wasn’t much time for socializing—always work to be done. Oh, we went to church most every Sunday and once in a while had a dance. The people there were good and we had fine friends. The kind of people you could count on when there was a need. It was a nice place to grow up.” He stopped paddling. “Now that I think about it, your people and mine aren’t really so different.”
Anna pondered this outsider. Why would he leave his home and his people? She twisted about. “You miss Minnesota?”
“Yeah. I remember the feeling of freedom I used to get when I’d stand out in a big field surrounded by nothing but open ground. I always loved the prairie. When I was a boy, I used to run through the deep grass, feeling like there were no boundaries in life. On a clear day you could see forever.”
“And your family?”
“Sometimes when my mother would call me, I’d hide in the tall grass. She’d search, but I was usually hidden too well for her to find me. After a while, she’d act like she was getting real mad and then I’d pop up and call out, ‘Here I am!’ She’d just shake her head and threaten to throttle me … but she never did.”
“They are still there?”
A shadow fell over his eyes. “There’s no one left now. My parents both died from the pox six years ago. I never had a brother or sister.”
“I wrong. I think we not alike,” Anna said. “But we are.”
“I was all grown up when my parents died.”
“You have no one, like us.”
Heavy silence settled over the boat.
Erik blurted out, “Look there!”
Anna and Iya both turned and looked in the direction he was pointing. At first Anna could see nothing.
Then water spouted into the air.
“A whale!” Apprehension bristled through her.
“I’ve never seen one up close before. How about getting a better look?” Erik turned the boat toward the animal.
Anna paddled hard trying to match Erik’s quickened pace, although she was certain she didn’t want a closer look. She’d heard too many frightening tales about the great whales. “I do not think this is good. Not safe. Taboo for women to hunt whale.”
“We’re not hunting; we’re just looking. Whales aren’t the killers we’ve been led to believe they are. I’ll be careful.”
“No. Better we stay away.”
As if Anna hadn’t spoken, he said, “I think we can overtake it if we work together.” He fixed his eyes on the whale and with his face flushed and his eyes alight, he paddled hard, closing the gap between them and the great beast.
He said he cared for her opinion, and then he disregarded it. Though she had to admit to being a little curious.
The whale moved through the water in a slow, graceful dance. With a slap of its broad tail, it would disappear below the surface and a few minutes later reappear, seemingly unconcerned by the approaching vessel.
Anna stopped paddling. “We move closer?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“Yes!” Iya shouted, straining to get a good look, her youthful curiosity overriding caution.
This encounter was foolish, but she was unwilling to demand that Erik stop.
“I think it’s all right. It doesn’t seem upset by our presence and hasn’t shown any signs of aggression. I don’t think it’s dangerous. In fact, I’ve heard these animals can be gentle.” Eyes still trained on the beast, he pulled slowly on the oar. “I’d just like to get one good look.”
Reluctantly, Anna returned her paddle to the water.
They were almost upon the whale when Erik set his paddle inside the boat.
Anna did the same.
Silently they drifted toward the whale and were soon so close any one of them could have reached out and touched the huge animal.
It was bigger than Anna had thought, and her first instinct was to put as much distance between herself and the creature as possible. But something inside convinced Anna to push aside her fear and enjoy this experience.
The whale’s back was covered with patches of barnacles and displayed scars left from previous encounters with unsuccessful hunters. It let the curious onlookers travel alongside, seeming to know they were no threat. With unexpected grace, the whale moved its great hulk slowly through the water, arching its body as it propelled itself through the sea.
Overwhelmed by the animal’s awesome strength and size, Anna’s fears slowly subsided. It is not afraid. It does not threaten us. Her pounding heart slowed to a steadier rhythm as the whale’s peaceful behavior affected her own tightly strung nerves. Close enough to touch the enormous mammal, Anna wished she had the courage to do so but kept her hands inside the boat.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Erik whispered. “It’s huge.”
Without warning, Iya leaned out over the water and caressed the back of the whale.
A subtle shudder moved through the animal. It made no attempt to retreat, but allowed Iya’s dainty hand to slide gently across its back as it glided past.
“Iya! No!” Anna and Erik cried in unison.
Iya sat back, looking frightened by their sharp command.
With a sudden sweep of its tail, the whale dove out of sight and rocked the small boat perilously in its wake.
Scanning the open sea, they watched and waited for it to resurface.
Iya spotted it several hundred yards away. “There!” she cried out.
“Well, it’s gone,” Erik said.
Disappointed at the animal’s departure, Anna sat and stared at the last place the whale had surfaced, her heart still pounding hard in her chest. “He is great. Maybe we see again one day.” She turned to Erik. “Thank you.” A subtle sadness fell over her.
The whale was not the savage beast of hunters’ stories. Not an adversary to be destroyed without cause. After this experience she would appreciate more the sacrifice paid next time she ate the flesh of such a magnificent creature.
“No one will believe what just happened.” Erik said, voice jubilant. “Iya actually touched it.” He stopped short and turned to Iya, brows knit with a frown. “Which reminds me, that was a foolish thing to do. You could have fallen in or tipped the boat over, or that whale could have thought it was in danger and killed us all. You’ve got to think before you do things.”
Iya dropped her head and looked at her hands. “I not want do bad.”
He ruffled her hair. “You just scared me is all. What’s done is done. It was my fault anyway. I’m the one who insisted on getting so close.”
They had traveled a great distance from the shoreline and were approaching a narrow strait. “We far from shore. We go through?” She nodded toward the narrow passage ahead of them. The idea frightened her.
“Yeah. Otherwise we’ll have to go miles out of our way. It’s a small passage and it can be tricky getting through, but we’ll be all right.” He plunged his paddle into the frigid sea and pushed them toward the waterway, putting the incident with the whale behind them.
A large island loomed ahead, looking as if it had been thrust up out of the sea. It wore a crown of jagged snow-covered peaks and a wall of ice reached all the way to the ocean waters.
“There’s a big ice floe that comes from those mountains. Giant chunks break off the face of it and fall into the water. When I came through a couple of months ago, I saw pieces as big as houses shear off and float out to sea. The wake of one nearly swamped my boat. It’s an incredible sight, but we’ll need to keep our distance.”
Anna watched the ice floe. She would like to see a piece of ice as big as a house.
As they approached the channel, Erik quieted and focused. Gripping his paddle, he kept his eyes trained on the dangerous passage. “I’m going to need both of you to watch for rocks. There are big changes in water depth through here. If we hit a rock, it could rip right through the bottom of the boat. Plus logs get thrown around in here, too.”
Anna searched the water for any kind of hazard. “We can do this?”
“We can do it—together. Anna, I want you up front, and Iya, you sit in the middle. I’m counting on you to watch for me. I’ve got to keep my attention on the currents and use them to get us through.” He nodded in the direction of the confining strait. “You ready?”
Anna and Iya both nodded, gripping the sides of the umiak, and turned their attention to scanning the water for hidden dangers.
Erik expertly maneuvered them into the treacherous channel, keeping them centered in the main current.
“Rocks,” Anna called as she spotted and pointed to a submerged reef.
With an efficiency likely born of experience, Erik piloted them around the hazard while manipulating the craft between the sheer cliffs that rose up on both sides.
The next challenge loomed.
An outcropping narrowed his maneuvering space, allowing only enough room for the boat to pass. Waves swiftly swept through the juncture. To maintain control, Erik slowed the umiak while protecting the sides of the boat from protruding rocks. Just before the waves washed them through the tiny space, he placed his paddle flat against the current and they were carried through safely.
They floated into the wider channel.
Anna let out her held breath with a whoosh, then breathed in deeply. At least the dangerous passageway was behind them.
Erik truly was a skilled boatman. Maybe even as good as Kinauquak. Despite the familiar edge of sorrow at Kinauquak’s memory, she felt secure with Erik.
Guilt flooded her.
Trusting Erik didn’t seem right.
The next few days were uneventful. Anna and Erik took shifts, sleeping and paddling. Iya slept much of the time. Weary and sunbaked, Anna felt as if they would never be free of the rolling sea.
“Our supplies are getting low,” Erik said one morning as he took stock of what they had left. “We’ll have to put in soon and restock. Better start looking for a beach.” He scanned the shoreline.
Almost immediately, he became very still, and he stared hard at something in the water. “That’s exactly what we need.” He pulled his paddle inside and cautiously reached for his rifle.
“What is it?” Tension built inside Anna.
“A seal,” Erik whispered, raising his hand to signal her to stop paddling. “That’s good.” He slowly stood, raised the rifle to his shoulder, and braced his feet. Barely breathing, he waited. A lull in the waves steadied the boat, and Erik squeezed the trigger.
A loud explosion rang out across the water, echoing as it bounced off the nearby shore.
Anna and Iya pressed their hands over their ears. The men of the village always used spears and lances.
The seal jumped, then lay motionless, floating atop the waves as blood stained the water a rusty red.
Iya’s chin quivered and her eyes filled with tears as she watched the lifeless seal float upon the waves.
Anna uncovered her ears and looked at the rifle in Erik’s hands. She’d heard about the guns of the outsiders but she had never seen one used. She reached out and touched it, amazed that something could look so harmless and be so deadly. Killing the seal had been too easy.
“Fine rifle,” said Erik. “A Springfield breech loader.” He ran his hand over the stock and set it aside. His gaze turned to the seal. “That oughta feed us for a while. I never take pleasure in killing, but I’m thankful for God’s provision.” He paddled toward the dead animal. “We’ll have to put in somewhere to butcher it.”
“Why you kill?” Accusation colored Iya’s voice. She wiped at tears.
“We must eat,” Anna answered for Erik. “Why do you cry? This is not different from the ones we have eaten before.”
Iya sniffled and answered haltingly. “Not see the killing before.”
As they came alongside the seal, Erik reached out and pulled it in close to the boat. As if trying to hide what he was doing, he pierced a hole through the top of the seal’s muzzle, threaded a piece of rope through the gash, and lashed the animal to the boat.
Iya continued to sniffle.
Anna made her way to her sister’s side and sat next to her. Placing an arm about Iya’s shoulders she asked in their native tongue, “Do you remember the story of the seal spirit?”
Iya shook her head and, pointing at Erik, said, “Talk his words.”
“This is a legend of our people. Outsiders do not understand.”
Iya folded her arms across her chest. “I learn words Erik speaks. Talk like Erik.”
Anna sighed and began the story in English. “Was a time when people live in land of ice. Young hunter need food. His people hungry. Three days he waited by …” She searched for the right word. “He waited by hole in ice. He wait for seal. Finally seal come. Young hunter stand and raise spear to kill seal. But he cannot …” Again she stopped. “Throw?” She glanced at Erik. “Throw spear. He wait. He must kill animal, but cannot. He drops spear and weeps. He ashamed because his people hungry. Young hunter leave, but voice call to him. Voice of seal.”
Iya’s eyes grew wide. “What seal say?”
Erik might scoff at her and the story, but she talked on for Iya’s sake. “Seal say, ‘Gods put me here for you. I give you life. My body help you live. I give to you.’ Seal turned belly to hunter.”
Iya’s eyes grew even wider.
“At first, man not understand. Think it is dream so he splash face with water. But seal still there. Hunter knows he must kill. He stand, lift spear, and strike seal in heart. He chant song of thanks. When he return to village, he is proud.” Anna squeezed Iya’s shoulder. “Animals let us kill. If not so, we could not.” She looked at the animal lashed to the boat. “This seal just like others. You understand?”
Iya wiped her nose with the back of her hand, nodded, and leaned against Anna.
Anna glanced at Erik. Were those unshed tears in his eyes?
He quickly looked away and tightened the rope holding the seal.
“You know this story?”
Erik cleared his throat and met her questioning gaze. “It just reminds me of something.”
“What?”
“It made me think of what Jesus did for me.”
“Jesus?” Anna asked, unable to keep the accusation out of her voice.
“Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
“I hear of Him.”
“Why are you angry?”
“Father Ermelov speak of this Jesus.” She spit the name. “He comes from most powerful God. The God who destroy my people.”
“Anna—”
“Do not stand up for this God. I not hear.” She turned her back to Erik and returned to paddling.
Erik picked up his paddle and matched Anna’s strokes.