Kikwaakew Read Online Free
Author: Joseph Boyden
absolute horror.
We need you both here with us. Mona. No more loss.
“Father Ignatius said that the Nazis kill people like us,” Abraham says. “We must make a stand for our country.” These are not his son’s words.
“Did you sign papers?” Xavier asks. Abraham smiles. Antoine nods.
XAVIER HAS TAKEN the last days to make the boys new snowshoes, despite knowing that they will have to sell them or give them away when they reach the town. He was going to just let them have his dog team to travel the 120 miles, but all of them know how much he needs it. The boys stand in front of his askihkan , stomping their feet, admiring their new gifts. Antoine will pull their toboggan. Abraham will cut the trail along the river ahead. In this way they’ll make good time.
Xavier shuffles to the askihkan and reaches inside the entrance, taking the frozen fisher in his hands. As he returns to the boys, he thinks he can feel eyes in the forest watching him. Kneeling by their toboggan, he unties the canvas and lays the fisher on top of their supplies before refastening the ropes.
Antoine shakes his head when Xavier stands. “No, Father,” he says. “We can’t take that. You will need the money it brings.”
“You will need it more,” Xavier says. “Don’t let the company men take advantage of you. They know its worth.” Abraham smiles. “When you get to the city,” Xavier continues to Antoine, “take your brother to a fancy restaurant and have a big meal.”
There’s so much Xavier wants to say, all of the lessons and warnings from years of war that he wants to pass down before his boys begin walking. But he knows it’s not possible. They will learn what they learn, and if fortune smiles upon them they will come back to him. He wishes his Auntie Niska were here, but immediately feels like a foolish child for thinking it.
Xavier rolls three cigarettes, then places one in his mouth before handing the other two to his sons. He lights a match and touches it to his smoke. He’s about to shake it out but thinks better of wasting. He holds the lit match in the calm morning to Antoine, who looks surprised and a little guilty.
He’s a man now. But Abraham isn’t.
Xavier rushes a bit to get the dying flame to Abraham’s cigarette, the boy grinning silly with the smoke bit between his teeth. Some distant memory, some long-ago fear, flares up in Xavier as Abraham puffs his smoke to life. They all stand silent in a circle, not saying anything. No need.
It’s time to go now. Antoine pulls the toboggan straps over his head and shoulders. Abraham gives Xavier an awkward hug. When Abraham lets go, Xavier immediately wants to do this all over again, to take away the soft pat on the back that he gave to Abraham. He wants to hold his sweet son tight and whisper something good in his ear, something that will protect him, that will make him come home. But he knows there are no words like this as he watches his two sons walk away from him, one behind the other, until they fade into the white.
COPYRIGHT © 2012 JOSEPH BOYDEN
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published in 2012 by
THE WALRUS FOUNDATION
101–19 Duncan Street, Toronto, ON M5H 3H1
Tel. (416) 971-5004, fax (416) 971-8768
walrusmagazine.com
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Boyden, Joseph 1966—
Kikwaakew / Joseph Boyden.
Story published in the July/August 2012 edition of the Walrus magazine, as part of a collection of three short stories.
ISBN 978-0-9879989-4-1
I. Walrus Foundation II. Title.
PS8501.T86I2 2012 C813'.54 C2012-901829-5
Designed by Brian Morgan at The Walrus.
Set in Arno Pro
Ebook Conversion by Coach House Books
Cover image for
Kikwaakew
COPYRIGHT © CC-BY Pink Sherbet Photography
We need you both here with us. Mona. No more loss.
“Father Ignatius said that the Nazis kill people like us,” Abraham says. “We must make a stand for our country.” These are not his son’s words.
“Did you sign papers?” Xavier asks. Abraham smiles. Antoine nods.
XAVIER HAS TAKEN the last days to make the boys new snowshoes, despite knowing that they will have to sell them or give them away when they reach the town. He was going to just let them have his dog team to travel the 120 miles, but all of them know how much he needs it. The boys stand in front of his askihkan , stomping their feet, admiring their new gifts. Antoine will pull their toboggan. Abraham will cut the trail along the river ahead. In this way they’ll make good time.
Xavier shuffles to the askihkan and reaches inside the entrance, taking the frozen fisher in his hands. As he returns to the boys, he thinks he can feel eyes in the forest watching him. Kneeling by their toboggan, he unties the canvas and lays the fisher on top of their supplies before refastening the ropes.
Antoine shakes his head when Xavier stands. “No, Father,” he says. “We can’t take that. You will need the money it brings.”
“You will need it more,” Xavier says. “Don’t let the company men take advantage of you. They know its worth.” Abraham smiles. “When you get to the city,” Xavier continues to Antoine, “take your brother to a fancy restaurant and have a big meal.”
There’s so much Xavier wants to say, all of the lessons and warnings from years of war that he wants to pass down before his boys begin walking. But he knows it’s not possible. They will learn what they learn, and if fortune smiles upon them they will come back to him. He wishes his Auntie Niska were here, but immediately feels like a foolish child for thinking it.
Xavier rolls three cigarettes, then places one in his mouth before handing the other two to his sons. He lights a match and touches it to his smoke. He’s about to shake it out but thinks better of wasting. He holds the lit match in the calm morning to Antoine, who looks surprised and a little guilty.
He’s a man now. But Abraham isn’t.
Xavier rushes a bit to get the dying flame to Abraham’s cigarette, the boy grinning silly with the smoke bit between his teeth. Some distant memory, some long-ago fear, flares up in Xavier as Abraham puffs his smoke to life. They all stand silent in a circle, not saying anything. No need.
It’s time to go now. Antoine pulls the toboggan straps over his head and shoulders. Abraham gives Xavier an awkward hug. When Abraham lets go, Xavier immediately wants to do this all over again, to take away the soft pat on the back that he gave to Abraham. He wants to hold his sweet son tight and whisper something good in his ear, something that will protect him, that will make him come home. But he knows there are no words like this as he watches his two sons walk away from him, one behind the other, until they fade into the white.
COPYRIGHT © 2012 JOSEPH BOYDEN
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published in 2012 by
THE WALRUS FOUNDATION
101–19 Duncan Street, Toronto, ON M5H 3H1
Tel. (416) 971-5004, fax (416) 971-8768
walrusmagazine.com
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Boyden, Joseph 1966—
Kikwaakew / Joseph Boyden.
Story published in the July/August 2012 edition of the Walrus magazine, as part of a collection of three short stories.
ISBN 978-0-9879989-4-1
I. Walrus Foundation II. Title.
PS8501.T86I2 2012 C813'.54 C2012-901829-5
Designed by Brian Morgan at The Walrus.
Set in Arno Pro
Ebook Conversion by Coach House Books
Cover image for
Kikwaakew
COPYRIGHT © CC-BY Pink Sherbet Photography
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