All the Stars in the Sky by C.J. Taylor

Author:C.J. Taylor [Taylor, C.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-77049-178-6
Publisher: Tundra
Published: 2006-10-10T04:00:00+00:00

SHAMAN VISITS MOON

NETSILIK (INUIT)

Far North

The mid-winter evening air was crisp. Moon shone brightly, surrounded by millions of stars. The blue-white glow lit the snow-covered ice. The snow squeaked under Shaman’s sealskin boots as he prepared his harpoon. The bitter cold made his fingers numb and ate through his heavy skin coat and pants, sending shivers through his body. With difficulty he hooked the rope in place along the length of his harpoon and slipped his frozen hands into his fur-lined mitts. He twisted one end of the rope around his mittened hand and stood before the breathing hole in the ice. Shaman looked up at Moon and the sparkling stars and spoke.

“Thank you, Moon, for your light. You have made my task easier on such a cold night. My family is hungry. Perhaps this breathing hole will provide a nice fat seal. It is good to have your company while I wait.”

As Shaman spoke, Moon began to move. At first slowly, then faster and faster. Closer and closer came Moon. Shaman stood frozen, not from cold, but by what he saw.

Moon approached, growing larger and brighter. The winds came howling across the skies and the vast frozen horizon carrying great sheets of swirling snow. Through the vale of bright white, Shaman saw a huge sled pulled by three enormous dogs, speeding toward him.

The sled team was driven by a giant of a man. His fur coat and pants were as white as the snow. The sled came closer and closer. Shaman heard a voice bellowing through the winds, reining in the fearsome dogs a short distance from the breathing hole and Shaman. As the sled came to a stop, so did the howling winds and driving snow. Shaman saw that the giant man was Moon himself.

Moon called out to Shaman, “Come! Get on my sled.” As Shaman crawled into the gigantic sled, Moon told him, “Keep your eyes shut.”

At once, the dogs shot off skyward. Shaman tried to peek, but the bitter wind, the snow, and great speed, forced his eyes closed tight. He could feel and hear the sounds of the sled runners on the snow beneath him. He heard Moon roar commands to the dogs, and the sled slid to a stop. Shaman opened his eyes. Spread before him stood a huge village, full of the finest white hide tents. He saw people waving to him. Many he recognized. Shaman realized he stood in the Land of the Dead, far off in the sky.

“Come to my home,” said Moon. He strode quickly to the largest igloo Shaman had ever seen. He had to trot to keep up with the giant.

Shaman could see that the igloo was well built. Its surface was smooth and cast a blue-white light, as if a thousand oil lamps burned inside. At the entrance slept the biggest of the dogs. As Moon and Shaman approached, the dog sat up. He strained at his harness, growling and showing his long white fangs. Moon motioned to the dog and he returned to his napping.

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