Sanaaq Read Online Free Page B

eating right, little girl!”
    â€œI’m done. I don’t want any more!” said Qumaq.
    â€œClean your hands with this willow ptarmigan skin,” said her mother.
    Qumaq responded by wailing, “No! Ii Iiii! Ia-a! ”
    She was afraid, the poor little girl, of this big feathery thing she had been given for a hand towel. Her mother added, “Well then, I’ll clean your hands with this piece of a coal bag. No feathers on it. Otherwise you won’t clean your hands properly... Ningiukuluk! You and I let’s play cards while the tea heats over the oil lamp! We’ll then melt some blubber over the lamp... Sister! Get the pieces of blubber we’re going to melt. Pound the oil out of them, there, in the little bowl. Let’s go! Ningiukuluk, let’s play cards. You’re dealing! We’ll each put five matches into the pot. Is it my turn to throw away a card?”
    â€œYes!”
    â€œI beat you! Iii! ” She burst into laughter. “It’s mine!”
    â€œLet’s call it a night. I’ve got to go home!” said Ningiukuluk.
    Qumaq called out, “Come to me, Mother, I’m sleepy!”
    â€œGo lie down on the sleeping platform. I’ll put you to sleep. Take your boots off!”
    The little girl was soon asleep. It was evening and time for Sanaaq to fetch some water. She took a dipper with her. When she got to the nearest stretch of water, she began filling the dipper.
    â€œIt’s full of insects! There are even diving beetles... I’ll draw my water elsewhere, preferably from a pool higher up.”
    She began filling her dipper again. When it was full, she noticed some clouds and thought, “That big one is a rain cloud. Even dark enough to be a storm cloud.”
    She walked back. When she got home, she said, “Looks like we’re going to have thunder. The clouds are really dark now.”
    â€œ Ai! ” said her younger sister. “If it thunders overnight, it’s going to be all the more scary... I wish there were more of us!”
    They tried to fall asleep, everyone except Arnatuinnaq. She remained fully dressed and stretched out on the bed, for fear of thunder. It did thunder during the night and loud claps rocked the air.
    â€œIt’s thundering something awful!” cried out Arnatuinnaq, awaking her older sister.
    The rain became a downpour, so much so that a steady stream of water dripped through the tent lining.

4
FISHING ON THE FORESHORE
    Everyone awoke at daybreak. Arnatuinnaqsaid to her niece, “Qumaq! Let’s go fishing, the two of us, on the foreshore. Tomorrow we’ll be moving to Ujararjuaq for good. Let’s go fishing on the foreshore here one last time! Ai! Qumaq! It’d be a good thing to bring along a digging tool, in case we come across any ammuumajuit. ”
    Sanaaq spoke up. “Daughter, take this little pail to put them in. Sister, you can dig with a kiliutaq. ”
    â€œLet’s go! Let’s go to the foreshore!” said Arnatuinnaq .
    They began walking. Qumaqshouted, “Auntie! Wait for me! Give me your hand!”
    When they came to the foreshore, the aunt said to her niece, “Qumaq! This pool is probably full of kanajuit. It has a lot of stones that can be lifted up. Let’s have a look! I’ll start with this one!” She lifted it. “Yes, look! A sculpin! It’s slipping out from under. There it goes... I’ll catch it!”
    â€œAuntie, did you catch a sculpin?”
    â€œYes, I caught one, but there goes another. It’s sliding underneath the big stone. Wait a bit ai! I’ll force it out with a stick. Watch to see if it swims that way!”
    â€œYes, the water’s swarming with all kinds of uquuqu! I’m going to catch a big uquuqu! ”
    â€œGet a good grip on it with your hand! There’s nothing to be afraid of!”
    â€œOh! It got away!”
    Many swam away from Arnatuinnaq but she still caught