Sanaaq (5 page)

Qalingu had returned from hunting in his
qajaq.
His sister-in-law, Arnatuinnaq, and his stepdaughter, Qumaq, came to meet him by the shore. His load was a very heavy one: an
utjuk
and also two
natsiik
that he had killed. Arnatuinnaq hauled the
qajaq
out of the water by pulling on its
usuujaq.
She was dragging it by the bow to dry land.

Seeing her pull it all by herself, Qalingu spoke up. “Hold on! It's really loaded... I'll get out first. I've just killed an
ujjuk!
I had to chase it a long time before I finally caught it. It came up for air. I fired and shot it. It was wounded so I had to keep chasing and whenever it broke the surface I shouted ‘
ua!
ua
!
' while firing my rifle.
Tikkuu!
That made it dive. I paddled ahead as fast as I could while it was still under water. And when it reappeared at the surface, I kept on yelling and trying to make it dive again right away. After a while it was running out of breath and coming to the surface more often. I got closer and closer. I fired and finally shot it again when it was just alongside. It almost sank, but its back rose to the surface twice and I rushed ahead to grab it before it could sink.”

Qalingu had finished his story. The two began to carry part of the animal away, each taking a chunk of meat they had carved off. Their folks, Sanaaq and Aqiarulaaq, came to help. When all four were together, Sanaaq said, “
Qatannguuk ai!
Once we're done carrying all of this away, we'll have a feast with the
kujapiit
of the
utjuk.
”

They hauled the meat away two by two. The
qatannguuk
were carrying off a haunch between the two of them, chatting all the while. Sanaaq said, “
Qatannguuk!
Let's take a break. I'm really tired.”

“Yes,” said Aqiarulaaq. “But let's rest up there
ai!
Where there's no sand!”

“Sure! I'm really tired...
i i i i.
” She burst into laughter. “Don't you think I'm tired? Just look: my hand has gone all white... Let's go! Time to get back to work. We've almost reached our tent.”

The two of them started carrying the meat again. Suddenly the part that Aqiarulaaq had been hanging onto ripped away.

“
Iirq!
My handle has ripped off
ai!
There it goes. My handle has ripped off!”

“
Ii!
Autualu!
Qatannguuk,
did you get grease on you?”

The dogs were now assailing them and they tried to get into the tent.

“
Uai! Uai! Ii
!
” exclaimed Sanaaq. “They're biting into the meat we've been carrying, those dirty dogs! They're really starving.
Ii
!
That dog bit into the heart I was holding...
Uai!
Dirty no-good mutt!” Sanaaq grabbed a rock and threw it. “
Ii!
Missed ... My aim must have been off!”

They finally got in. The other two, Qalingu and Arnatuinnaq, were together carrying a shoulder and the adjoining head. They had left behind the other shoulder, a haunch, the two ringed seals, the skin of the
utjuk,
and the viscera. Those remaining pieces were being guarded by Qumaq on the shore.

Before leaving her, Qalingu had said to Qumaq, “Don't stop throwing stones at those dirty dogs
ai!
”

“I won't!”

Now left to herself, she was beginning to feel very afraid. She yelled, “
Uai!
Dirty no-good dogs!”

Qumaq had some stones in her hands to throw at the dogs but was very afraid. “
Iaa iaa a a a!
”

The poor girl started to cry, letting her guard down. Immediately, the dogs descended on what she had been guarding. They fought amongst themselves and devoured almost whole the haunch and shoulder they had torn off. Qumaq wailed, “Mother! Come!”

Her mother saw her trembling with fright and came running right away. She was now by her side and showering her daughter with affection.

“
Umm!
Cry no more, my poor little child...
Aalummi!
”

Qalingu also came running to chase the plunderers away. He pitched some stones and the dogs he hit ran off yelping, “
Maa maa
!
” The pillage was over. The shredded pieces of meat no longer mattered much to Qalingu.

“There's no point in guarding those two pieces of
utjuk
anymore. They've been bitten into all over!”

He began to drag the
utjuk
skin to a stone cache. After stashing it away in the cache, he went home and started eating some boiled chunks of meat for his arrival meal. He dipped them in
misiraq.

The women, meanwhile, were making preparations for a
kujapiit
feast. On the ground they stretched a
mangittaq
on which they laid the
kujapiit
as well as the
utjuk
heart and some pieces of blubber. Sanaaq shouted to her camp mates, “Come and get some
kujapiit!
”

“Yes!” agreed Aqiarulaaq, adding, “but where's my ulu?”

“Behind your oil lamp,” replied Jiimialuk.

“There it is!” she said. “I'm going to get my ulu
too and join in the feast!”

When she entered the tent, Sanaaq
said,
“Ai!
Come and eat some
kujapiit.
Ai! Qatannguuk!
”

“Go ahead!” she replied.

Aqiarulaaq tried to cut one of them off, slicing away at the tendons holding them together. This was no easy job, as she admitted good-naturedly. “I'm a big liar because I can't cut through these joints...
Ia ia ia!
” she laughed.

She began to eat, holding a
kujapik
with blubber in one hand and her ulu in the other. As she ate, Aqiarulaaq talked about her plans.

“By the way, I'm planning to visit Ningiukuluk tomorrow to adopt her daughter, the middle one...
Ningiukuluk once told me in so many words that I could have her... I'll go tomorrow. We'll both go, my old man and I.”

“If you're going,” replied Arnatuinnaq, “I'll go too... And I'll sew something to the soles of my boots. I might wear holes through both of them, while we're walking tomorrow... Qumaq and I will follow if it doesn't rain... Little niece! I'll get what you'll need for your trip tomorrow. We'll take something to carry you on my back with and a strap to hold you in place.”

She was busy sewing patches to her soles and heels... She was soon done. As dusk darkened the sky, large snowflakes started to come down. The freshly fallen snow was wet. Arnatuinnaq exclaimed, “It's snowing big snowflakes and here I was planning to go on a visit tomorrow... Our things are too close to the side of the tent. They're going to get ruined!”

Night had fallen. They undressed for bed and, knowing they had to leave early the next day, went to sleep.

They awoke with the rising sun, had some tea, and prepared to leave. Aqiarulaaq came in and said, “
Qatannguuk ai!
I'm going to look for a girl to adopt and I'm not coming back empty-handed.”

“Good for you!” said Sanaaq. “You're lucky she was promised to you!”

They set off, all three of them. A few dogs tagged along, the same ones. On the way they saw some
ukpiit.
A male and its mate came very close... One of the two sank its claws into a dog while letting out a shriek.

“
Au!
”

It swooped down on the women several times. They were terrified, not having even a rifle. Seeing it prepare to dive again, they flipped their hoods over their heads... Arnatuinnaq tried her best to hit it with a stone but missed. Qumaq
clung to her aunt's skirt for dear life, so much so that she ripped it off.

“Qumaq!” exclaimed Arnatuinnaq. “You've made a big rip in my skirt by hanging on so tightly! It's torn to pieces now and we're almost at our hosts' place!”

Just then, the two snowy owls dive-bombed the dogs again. One even stripped some fur off one of them. The Inuit started walking again to get away from the owls. As they walked, Arnatuinnaq said to Aqiarulaaq, “Look at the rip that Qumaq made. When one of the owls went after us, she clung to me for protection, even though I too was very afraid...”

They came within sight of Ningiukuluk's home. The oldest of Ningiukuluk's daughters spotted them and cried out, “Over there I can see people coming. They've got a child with them. It's probably Qumaq!”

“
Ai!
” shouted back Ningiukuluk
.

“They're close. They're arriving. They're coming in.”

Aqiarulaaq entered first and said, “We're paying a visit, Ningiukuluk!
Ai!
Let's shake hands!”

“
Ai!
You've just got here? Let's shake hands! Qumaq! And your mother?”

“She's at home!”

All three of her daughters were eager to play with Qumaq. There was Akutsiaq, the oldest, Aanikallak, the younger one, and Tajarak,
the youngest.

“Let's play, Qumaq!” exclaimed Aanikallak
.

But no sooner had her daughter spoken than Ningiukuluk broke in, “First have something to eat!”

“Have some of this
ai!
Qumaq!” said Aanikallak. “Over there, eat some
mattaq.
Use the knife!”

“Sure!”

Aqiarulaaq spoke again. “Ningiukuluk! I wish to talk to you. I've come on this visit to adopt one of your daughters, Aanikallak, because I really want to have her... I don't have a daughter of my own.”

“
Ai!
On the one hand, I'd rather not give her away. On the other, I'm not so fond of her because she often wets her bed and I'm ashamed of her.”

“I truly wish to have her. Some time ago you sort of promised her to me. So now I'm insisting. I want her to help me out, Ningiukuluk!”

“I no longer really care for her, but the other ones, her two sisters, I certainly can't give them away... Go ahead! Take her!”

Aqiarulaaq started recounting the latest news. “We saw some Big Eyebrows arrive. They've even begun to build a home for themselves on our land... That's all I have to say for now. We're going back this very day... Aanikallak! I've adopted you, so you'll be following us!”

“No! No!
Aaa!
” The poor little girl began to cry.

Qumaq looked her straight in the eyes and even tried to offer her some
mattaq,
hoping to console her. She kissed her again and again.

“Don't cry, little girl!” She added, “Look! There's a little willow ptarmigan on the ground... Let's play, just the two of us. Let's have fun looking around outside!”

“No! No!” Aanikallak was still weeping.

Her new mother nonetheless prepared for the trip home.

“Qumaq, come here!” said Arnatuinnaq. “I'll carry you on my back.
Iirq!
My skirt has been ripped apart on this side... I'll have to sew it together first. Hand me a needle and some sinew. There we are, all done! Here's your needle.”

“Thanks!” said Ningiukuluk.

They were now ready to leave. Aqiarulaaq took her new daughter by the hand but could not make her budge. The little girl stood her ground and stamped her feet while weeping and wailing. Her new family finally set off on the walk home, yet she still resisted despite efforts to console her. At long last, after many efforts, she calmed down.

They all arrived at their destination and Aqiarulaaq was questioned by Taqriasuk.

“Did you get a new daughter? She'll try to go to sleep. Get her undressed for bed... She can have a place under my bedspread... And give her some tea.”

“Here you are. Aanikallak, drink some tea. Put a shirt on and try to sleep.”

She undressed her and slipped another shirt on.

“
Ii!
Autualu!
It's infested with fleas! Oh, it's just crawling with those dirty fleas... Just look!
Ii!
This filthy shirt should be thrown away!”

It was tossed outside. The dogs came running and even started to fight over it. Kajualuk sank its teeth into the old shirt, making a popping sound as it crunched one flea after another.

Aqiarulaaq was now outside the tent.

“
Uai!
Dirty no-good mutt! It'll probably have blocked intestines after eating that old rag.”

Everyone now tried to fall asleep. It was late autumn. A frosty slush was spreading over the shoreline and the calm ocean surface had a thin layer of frazil.

When they awoke early the next morning, it seemed impossible to go out in the
qajaq
because a thin layer of ice covered the sea near the shore. Qalingu, however, had found a small channel of open water, having been up and about very early. He took the
qajaq
down to the water's edge with Jiimialuk's help, also taking along a float and a harpoon. But he had forgotten something and yelled from the shore, “Bring me the harpoon line!”

Arnatuinnaq came running but fell headlong into the soft ice and sank into it. Trying to pull herself out, she said, “It'd be nice to have something I could grab hold of because I'm really stuck in this soft ice!”

Qalingu was now leaving in his
qajaq
across the thin ice. He saw a
puiji
and fired his rifle.

“
Ii!
Didn't get it! I shot too far to the right and missed! Just like the last time!”

He then paddled away in his
qajaq
and thought about how to get home.

“Maybe I could go ashore on this point of land... Seems to be the best place.”

The women in his family were becoming very anxious. They watched from a hilltop.

“He probably won't be able to land now,” said Sanaaq, “because there's thin ice everywhere... But where's the
qajaq?
”

“There it is! Over there,” said Arnatuinnaq. “Just off the small point, looks like a
qajaq
coming... And the water over there doesn't have any of that icy slush.”

He was still taking a long time to land. His folks, Sanaaq, Jiimialuk, and Arnatuinnaq, walked down to the stretch of shoreline where he would land and waited. When he came near them, Sanaaq shouted to her husband, “Do you think it might be impossible to land?”

“It's this awful thin ice!” answered Qalingu. “All the same, as hard as it may be, I should be able to get ashore.”

And so he landed, with the rising tide, on a small point jutting out from the foot of the hill. They now all walked up to the camp, dragging the
qajaq
behind them.

“We should drag the
qajaq
with the paddle underneath,” said Qalingu. “Let's go! Pull on each side by the
taqrait.
I'll pull the
usuujaq!
”

They began jerking the
qajaq
forward.

“It's really heavy!” groaned Arnatuinnaq. “Is it heavy because it's soaked up a lot of water?
Uuppaa!
Uuppaa!
Just a moment! Let's rest a little. I'm very tired!”

“Off in the distance, that patch of still water looks like it's icing over,” said Sanaaq. “Or is it already a sheet of thin ice? Let's go! We need to get pulling again. We're almost there.”

They were now on dry land.

“I barely managed to get ashore!” confessed Qalingu. “I really thought I'd not make it, being so tired from paddling and so cold. The cold made the outside of my upper lip all swollen and my hands completely numb... I certainly won't be going kayaking any more! Tomorrow I'll build a snow house.”

They went to their tents.

“Let's go! Let's get moving!” said Sanaaq. “Tonight I'll look for the brushwood I stashed away for fuel. It's starting to get really cold at our place... Let's go!”

They were now on their way. They walked along the
qainnguq
because it was becoming quite hard. After a while they arrived. Qalingu was carrying the equipment from his
qajaq:
the float, the harpoon line with the
ipiraq,
the guns, and the ammunition. Once inside, he placed them in the tent's
uati.
He sat down. His clothes were soaked through and through with seawater. He took them off, his boots too. Qumaq was playing once more on the sleeping platform. She frolicked back and forth, snuggling under the bedspread several times. That evening, she asked her mother, “Mother, make me a doll!”

“Get undressed for bed,” answered her mother. “It's late and we're probably going to move to a new place.”

“I will!” agreed Qumaq
.

When they were in bed, Sanaaq turned the wick of the oil lamp down and said, “It's probably going to smoke during the night. I haven't turned the wick down far enough.”

They tried to go to sleep. As feared, the oil lamp began to smoke as they slept. The remainder of the wick and the blubber started to burn for lack of oil... Qalingu awoke with a start and shouted, “The one over there is smoking!”

“Autualu!
Ii!
” shouted back Sanaaq. “We're completely engulfed in smoke!”

She added some oil, which started to crackle loudly.
Qiiii…
That was the sound of it crackling. Once she had finished adding oil, she went back to sleep because morning was still far off.