Sanaaq Read Online Free

dropped them into the improvised teapot. The little girl was waiting at home and was increasingly in Sanaaq’s thoughts as home drew nearer. Sanaaq was almost there but the two dogs were the first to arrive. She trailed behind, within eyesight.
    Her daughter saw her and shouted, “It’s Mother! It’s Mother!”
    The little girl ran out so eagerly that she fell several times, even hitting her face on a rock. Finally the two were together. The mother cuddled her little girl — no wonder, she had just hit her face on a rock — and offered the small berries she had picked for her. She then gave her a kuni, murmuring a mmm. .. of affection and taking her by the hand. Arriving outside their home and exhausted, Sanaaq put her burden down and crawled in headfirst, pushing the bundle in front of her.
    â€œIt’s yours to take inside!” she said.
    It was taken inside and she was finally home.
    A quick arrival meal was made ready. She ate some of the boiled seal — a shoulder blade and a rib — that had been saved on a plate for her return. Her daughter Qumaq — that was her name — sat beside her. Helping herself to the food, Sanaaq exclaimed, “My ulu , Qumaq, pass me my ulu!”
    The little girl passed it to her and had some of the boiled meat. Sanaaq recounted how their dog had choked on a bone.
    â€œKajualuk was choking and I tried to get the bone out by getting it to gulp down the pieces of blubber I still had... That was all I had left of my provisions... A bit longer and the dog would’ve been a goner. For a long time after, it would whimper while I was making tea, because of the bone that had been stuck in its throat.”
    Her daughter was curious. “Mother, was it our big dog?”
    â€œYes!”
    Qumaq began to chatter “ Taka taka taka. ..”while playing on the sleeping platform. Her mother knew it was bedtime.
    â€œDaughter, I’ll help you undress and you’ll go to bed. It’s now quite late... I’ll take your boots off. Iii! My, my, they’re soaking wet! My girl is really getting around! She just got those boots! I’ll soak a piece of leather for you to make a new sole. I’ll let it soak overnight.”
    She put a piece in a plate to soak. Qumaq undressed for bed, talking all the while. “Mother ai! Apaapa! I’d like to eat some black crowberries!”
    â€œTake a few, but that’s all for today. I don’t want you getting sick to your stomach!”
    â€œYes! By the way, Mother, I don’t have a daddy, do I?”
    Being just a child, she said whatever crossed her mind. Her mother answered, “No, it’s true, you don’t. Long ago your father died, a very long time ago. We’ll see him only in the hereafter… Long ago he fell into the water while travelling far away... He often told us to behave properly. So you too will try to behave yourself!”
    â€œ Ai! He died when I was very little!”
    Mother and daughter had finished talking to each other and tried to go to sleep. But no sooner had Qumaq fallen asleep than she began to sleepwalk. She stood up and walked, sobbing, “Mother, carry me on your back... Let’s both go walking...”
    Sanaaq reached out and pulled her daughter close, to put her back to sleep.

2
IRSUTUALUK AND THE FISHING DAY THAT WASN’T
    Irsutualuk and his son Angutikallaaluk were going fishing for iqaluppik in the river. The time was ideal because the char were swimming upstream to the lakes. They set out on their way, intending to camp overnight by the river and taking a dog as a pack animal. As they left, the father said, “If there are any iqaluppik, we won’t be back tomorrow. We’ll try to fill several stone caches.”
    They began walking. The son led their dog, Taqulik, on a leash. After a while they stopped to rest. The father heard something like a willow ptarmigan: “ Irrr! ...”
    â€œListen!”