United States or Democratic Republic of the Congo ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"No man hath ever ventured there. The shadow of Perdlugssuaq is very dark." "Yea, may he smite Ootah!" exclaimed Maisanguaq. Sipsu laughed harshly. "Couldst thou cause the hill spirits to strike?" Maisanguaq asked eagerly. Sipsu faced Maisanguaq fiercely. "In my youth I went unto the mountains and I heard the hill spirits sing. Thereupon I became a great magician.
In her igloo Annadoah, who had waited with sleepless anxiety, wept alone. Of all in the village only the heart of one, Maisanguaq, was glad.
And while they struggled, in their brief terrible death-to-the-death fight, the floe was tossed steadily onward. Ootah felt his breath giving out. Maisanguaq felt Ootah's hands closing about his throat. He felt the blood pound in his temples. Desperation filled him he determined to kill Ootah by any means. A grim suggestion came to him. He endeavored to release himself.
Maisanguaq, his head bent near so as to hear, now yelled into Ootah's ear. Annadoah cowered at the sound of his voice. Ootah felt her trembling, in his arms. "And he . . . is here?" she whispered. "I am afraid." They felt the great ice field rocking on the waves imprisoned beneath them. It trembled whenever it touched a passing berg. Maisanguaq prodded the terror-stricken dogs.
When Maisanguaq touched his shoulder, he turned with a growl. "Canst thou invoke the curse of death upon one who goes hunting upon the seas?" Through the rheum of years Sipsu's eyes gleamed. The aged, gnarled thing found voice. It was hollow and thin. "Ha, thou art Maisanguaq," his toothless jaws chattered. "Thou bearest no one good will. Seldom dost thou smile. For this I like thee."
Oh, desolate and unhappy moon! . . . Desolate and unhappy is the heart of Ootah!" Far away, in her shelter, Annadoah heard the sobbing voice of Ootah. And nearer, in an igloo where the men beat drums and danced, she heard the voice of Maisanguaq laughing evilly. Of late Maisanguaq had gibed her with her desertion; he was bitter toward her. But nothing mattered to Annadoah.
Her heart wings to thee, did she not say, as birds to green grasses in the mountains?" "Her heart is in the south," Ootah sadly moaned. "The heart of woman changes always," cried Maisanguaq. "The heart of woman always yields to force. Pst?" Seeing Ootah turn slightly toward Annadoah, Maisanguaq sprang at his throat. Their arms closed about one another.
He listened intently surely he heard a soft sweet voice calling piteously through the wind. His heart gave a great thud. Through the gathering gloom he saw something . . . a blur of blackness . . . gathering substance as it approached over the ice. It moved uncertainly . . . and seemed to be driven toward him by the furious wind. "Look who is it?" he called to Maisanguaq.
Yea, as he hateth all who are young, who are brave, and who find joy in their shadow." Their voices rose threateningly. Maisanguaq, chagrined and bitter at the old man, leered among the crowd. "Hath he not lived too long," he whispered softly. And the others suddenly shouted: "Let Sipsu die!" In a wild rush they bore down upon the angakoq's igloo. Screaming with rage they kicked in the sides.
As though he suddenly heard some terrifying converse among his familiars the necromancer's face blanched. He struggled to his feet. "Take thy food," he flung the blubber to Maisanguaq. "I dare not take thy gift. I am afraid." Maisanguaq sprang at the old man. "Revoke not thy curse," he breathed, his fingers sinking into the angakoq's throat. "Will the hill spirits strike?"
Word Of The Day