The Haunted Igloo by Bonnie Turner

Author:Bonnie Turner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: aklavik, arctic, canada, coming of age stories, fear of dark, friendship, huskies, loneliness, northwest territories
Publisher: Bonnie Turner

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Cordell wound the thongs of his fur boots firmly around his calves as Lise watched nervously.

“It’s nearly nine!” she cried. “Where is he, Cordell?”

Cordell arose and yanked his parka from the peg. He was angry and frustrated as he thrust his long arms into the sleeves. No one has any business outdoors on a night like this! What fool would leave a cozy fire to go out in a blizzard? I must be crazy!

Cordell was dressed for ten blizzards. From the inside out were layered heavy flannel longjohns, thick wool longjohns, a plaid wool shirt, and his heaviest mackinaw pants. Three pairs of scratchy wool socks filled his size-fourteen boots, leaving barely enough room for toe-wiggles. He was ready for any weather—if he could still walk.

He closed his parka securely and pulled the fur-lined hood over his head, snugging it at his throat. He then turned to Lise. “I’m as worried as you are,” he said. “But I’ll find him!”

Suddenly, Lise ran over and got her own parka. “I’m going with you,” she stated matter-of-factly.

Cordell gently took the coat from his wife and hung it back on the peg. He took her by the shoulders and looked into her frantic eyes. His voice was husky with emotion. “Now, I know how you feel.”

“ No…”

“Yes, yes I do. But think of it this way, that someone should be here in case Jean-Paul comes home.”

Lise’s eyes misted as she thought about that. “Well, of course,” she agreed after a moment. “I suppose you’re right.”

Cordell gave her a reassuring hug. “I’ll probably find the little stinker down at the trading post, messing around with those friends of his.”

“Please be careful,” Lise said. “I’ll make a pot of coffee for when you get back.”

At that moment the huskies began barking and howling. The couple turned to the door together.

“Aha!” shouted Cordell with a slap on his thigh. He threw back his hood. “The wandering boy has come home!” He stepped quickly to the door and flung it open. He peered out into the storm. “Can’t see anything ... wait. Someone’s out there.”

“Is—is it Jean-Paul?”

“I can’t tell.”

The wind battered the door. Great swirls of snow blew into the room. Cordell slammed the door against the force of the wind. The dogs kept howling. Cordell gave Lise a puzzled look as the voices of strange dogs mingled with those of his own. “Someone’s coming to visit in a blizzard? Oh, of course, they must be bringing Jean-Paul home.”

Heavy footfalls sounded on the porch, then a loud banging at the door. Cordell threw it open. Standing there were two snow-covered figures—a short, stocky man and a boy. Cordell quickly motioned them inside and shoved the door shut.

Cordell stepped back as the man pushed off his shaggy fur hood and shook his head like a dog, spraying the room with flakes that melted instantly on hitting the warm floor. The man seemed strangely familiar as he motioned to the boy, who stood a little way behind him.

“Chinook!” the man cried in a deep voice.

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