The little warrior stood up and peered above the grass out into the clearing. Way over there he could see these furry beasts he had only heard about in tales of the old men. There stood the caribous. He was not altogether sure about their nature, but felt very excited about getting closer to them. He was filled with these strange feelings and emotions felt when discovering something. It was a discovery to him, the first time that he would see such an animal. And yet, it gave rise to many interrogations: why kill the animal? Why hurt mother earth? Why destroy nature? So many questions rang inside his brain, so many wonderings and apprehensions. He knew exactly the vital importance of killing but he refused to admit it. Perhaps he was too emotional, or has he not yet become a man? He would keep on learning from his trip, he would build his own personality through it, he would gather experience and make up his own living.
Unpredictable Eagle’s son squatted amidst the leaves of grass. He strategically made his progress across the wild prairie and moved near the caribous. The animals did not seem to stir; they did not seem to notice the boy’s discreet approach. It seemed as though there was a sort of spiritual communion between the human being and the caribou. Four of the caribou had run away when they saw the creature slowly approaching behind the thorns and wild hay.
But one caribou remained. At first it had turned its back upon the little boy, but all at once it turned around and made a few steps away from the little creek. The boy was hiding behind a bush and looked at the animal. Both felt amazed and curious, staring at each other. Thus they remained for a few moments. With a mere seven feet divide between them, both felt as surprised and enthralled from another. The boy who had been deprived of every sort of social contact for many days was in complete fascination in front of the caribou. Standing straight and with honor, splendidly tall and majestically in front of his eyes: the profile of the king of the northern lands. Admiration was to be read through the look of the young native who bent underneath the bushes. The animal appeared all the more impressive as he saw it from a low-angle shot. After a short while - when the boy had savored all the beauty he had just witnessed right in front of his own eyes – Unpredictable Eagle’s son eventually decided to return to his small shelter and headed back to the other edge of the clearing. He would stand up slowly, retreating as he still squatted, then turn around and walk across the wild grass. But once he had gone a few steps away he heard the caribou moan loudly and sadly. He stopped short and looked back at the animal. At his great surprise he saw the animal trying to stay behind him and fighting hard to follow his path. Happy but indifferent about the consequences, the little warrior went on to reach shelter and the caribou followed him behind. The whole night through it had stayed there. The next morning, when the boy made the decision to move on further north, he could guess a shadow different from his own, on the ground behind him. His four-legged companion was to share his up-coming experience through the wilderness.
Brave and courageous the native made his path north-east across the clearing, then across the forest, another small wild prairie, and another great wood. His motivation always strong he learned from everything that he saw. The walk became less monotonous as he waited for his companion, the caribou. Either he searched for its shadow or he was trying to figure out other small details that were evidence of its presence. Sometimes he was scared not to find the caribou again, but finally he would realize about its timidity and shyness.
Ever since their departure from the camp – along with his father, for their hunting-trip – Unpredictable Eagle’s son had never again pronounced a word. Since that very day he had left the world of human presence. The experience launched by this trip had brought him many a discovery of the natural world. He had learned to observe and learn from animal’s gestures and instincts. He had eventually realized the connections and relations between human and animals. With this knowledge he could master both abilities and, putting these together, he possessed a strength of higher level than those of invading officers.
After many step put behind him, Unpredictable Eagle’s son had reached the southern edge of Logan Lake. There was a tremendous stretch of water laying right there, at his feet. It lay in front of his eyes, spreading up to the horizon, just as far as he could see. He was unable to seize the size of this lake; it was far too large to sense its dimensions. At the sight of it, he remembered the tales that his father told him about the construction of their camp upon the heights, which also lay near a lake. Two Eyes, the great shaman of their nation had said:
“If you should, one day, oh my little boy, be in front of so great an amount of water, do not be impressed or scared at the sight or shape of it. This is a lake and a lake is not to be a barrier, it could never, naturally, become a barrier of any kind to us, people. For you can always walk around it. A lake is like a puddle of water: there are always borders and edges around it and if you follow the circle in one direction or the other you will someday end up on the very point that you have left behind.” Those words came back to the Indian’s mind; he considered their truth in reality then.
“Should you cross that great bush forest made of thorns and bramble bushes, should you follow that path on and on, you will reach a great amount of water. There will be land in front, making it resemble to a river. Then the river will widen and the lands disappear. Scarce fields of land would eventually be isles. When the isles disappear you would realize that there is no lake. It is so large only the canoe can lead you over yonder. But that water surface is dangerous, because waves become larger and bigger. And the water out there becomes so angry sometimes it can break our barks and tear it to pieces… Many men have died out there, on the passageway where the English and French came from. “
Unpredictable Eagle’s son had not reached such a place, did he? Two Eyes’ warnings had been capital to the native who constantly discovered new things on their way across the wilderness. But there it was clear to him that the water surface laying in front of him was not that great amount of water that became angry and ate away his fellow people. At least this was not what he thought it could be for the time being. He followed the shaman’s instructions and kept walking around the lake. The caribou had become more intimate with the young native and walked in touchable distance from him. The two of them started east of the lake, walking along the borders of the lake. Unpredictable Eagle’s son kept an eye on the lake that stretched on his right, behind the bushes and trees on top of this sharp slope leading down to the water.
They crossed the virgin forest, believing there were but animals around them. They walked respectfully and carefully, trying not to disturb the sacred order of nature. Trying the least to harm or offend the landscape that owned all the beauty of the earth. Walking along the eastern side they had reached a point where rocks announced a change in altitude. Trees were plenty there: maple trees, oaks, birches, beetles. Everything appeared so idyllic. Trees were naturally displaced and the look of it was striking and powerful. The tree tops were hardly at the same level as those giant rocks. The native decided to rest for a while. The next step would be decisive and very strength-consuming for he would have to climb up this rocky edge. When the night set in the boy looked up unto the branches of the trees encircling him. In that season of year leaves were few on the branches and the little one could observe every detail, the meticulous preciousness of the trees, contrasting with that white surface spreading behind. The sky was very cloudy, bad weather was approaching, but the walker did not seem to care about it. He sat at the root of one big oak-tree and looked at the sky. The silver birch trees surrounding him appeared as though they were personified; every part of their branches was outstretched on the white covers. Unconscious that this was just momentary, the boy took a deep breath and fell asleep…
© 2016 Matt Oehler
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