12
"They look like her."3
The sentry's words rang in my ears and my entire body froze. I could feel every single pair of eyes on me. Some stared at me with accusing hatred, others with fright. It was Atanuq, the tribe leader, who broke the silence.4
"We have no choice," he muttered quietly, as if to himself. But then he raised his eyes with new confidence to address the tribe. "We must welcome them. Doing otherwise would lead to suspicion, and we cannot afford to break the peace." 5
"I wait for your command, my cheif." The sentry's words sounded weaker than he probably intended them to be. 6
"Wave a white flag," Atanuq said to the sentry. "And we must pray that they seek no discord."7
With that said, the sentry bounded off into the darkness. All around me voices erupted, but I didn't want to hear what they were saying. My mind was suddenly overflowing with conflicting emotions: fear, anxiety, curiosity, hope. Was it my real family? Had they spent all these years looking for me? Or was it an enemy seeking to harm my tribe? I thought about my real family. I was curious about them, yet I wasn't so sure that I wanted them back in my life. I was so happy here...8
"Adlartok?" Yakone wrapped his arm around me. He looked as uncertain as I felt. Maybe he was having the same thoughts. "How do you feel?"9
"I-I'm not sure." Wow. I was saying that a lot lately. But it was the truth.10
Yakone and I sat in silence, almost oblivious to the chatter around us. But a few minutes later, the whole tribe was silent too. The sound of horse hooves and the glow of torches confirmed our fears. Foreigners had indeed come to the Nanuq Tribe.11
They were a total of nine men and I did not recognize them. Each wore many layers of strange clothing, a sure sign that they were not used to or experienced with the Arctic. Their leader, a tall man bearing a white flag, stepped forward. I heard myself gasp. He looked similar to me! His eyes were the same blue and his hair was also yellow, though darker than mine. He spoke in English:12
"My name is Ivan Girard. We come with peaceful intentions."13
Atanuq gave the newcomer a blank look. He did not know much English. In fact, most of the tribe did not. I had forgotten much, but I knew that everyone depended on me. Slowly, I rose and translated. 14
Ivan Girard stared. He had a peculiar expression on his face that confused and frightened me. Victory, perhaps? 15
Suddenly, he walked straight towards me, ignoring Atanuq's attempts at introducing himself.16
"You are not one of these people," he said in a deep voice. 17
Yakone all of a sudden leaped up to stand next to me. I knew he understood-- I had taught him. "Adlartok is member of tribe!" he declared in broken English.18
"Adlartok?" Ivan scoffed. "No, I am sure you are not 'Adlartok'." He pulled something out of his pocket. It was a photograph...I hadn't seen one in forever. He showed it to me and I gasped in awe. Staring up at me was my five-year-old self. The similarities were obvious.19
Ivan smiled. "Hello, Sophia."20
The entire tribe was listening intently, but I supposed that most of them didn't understand. 21
"W-where did you get that?" I stammered. "And how do you know who I am?"22
For the first time, Ivan looked around at the tribe. 23
"We must talk in private. But first make it clear to these people that my men and I mean no harm."24
I did what he asked, then ushered him to my tent. Yakone did not want to leave me. 25
"Adlartok, I don't trust him."26
"Please, Yakone, it's okay," I tried to assure him. After a few more words of persuasion, he hesitantly let me go. 27
"So..." I said when Ivan and I were alone. "Tell me everything."28
Ivan began to talk. "You probably don't remember, but my family has always had a close friendship with your family. So naturally, we were alarmed when we heard of your kidnapping--"29
"Wait!" I cried. "I was not kidnapped!"30
"Shh, Sophia. I understand if you don't wish to acknowledge it. After all, you have lived with this tribe for many years, and no doubt you have grown to forgive them."31
"No! I really wasn't kidnapped! I was hiding when--"32
Ivan cut me off. "Well for now it's irrelevent. You wanted to know why I'm here, correct?"33
I nodded. 34
"Everyone was devestated over your disappearance. Search parties were sent out, but you were never found. Even now, years later, your parents are still overcome with grief, though they gave up hope long ago. But from the time I was nineteen--two years ago--I dedicated my life to finding you."35
"You were nine when I disappeared?" I asked.36
Ivan nodded. 37
"I remember you," I said, amazed that I had pulled the memory from the back of my mind. "We played together as children, didn't we?"38
Ivan nodded again, smiling. "I always had fond memories of you, even many years after. And I could never stop wondering what happened to you. Do you understand now why I've come?"39
I was flattered. Ivan had come all this way for me, hanging on to the memories of our childhood friendship. 40
"Tracking you has been no easy task, Sophia, but I am glad that my efforts have proved successful."41
I was still completely caught up in Ivan's appearance. I had not seen anyone who looked like me in so long. And the English that he spoke brought back so many memories. And he knew my family! My true family! I still couldn't believe he had come all this way just for me. For two years he had wandered the Arctic, searching among the tribes. I never knew that I meant so much to a person! 42
Ivan and I talked nonstop into the late hours of the night. He enchanted me with stories about life in the South, which seemed a whole world away. He spoke of new technology that worked like magic, and of places called stores where one could buy anything desired at any time. Ivan's tales completely enthralled me, and when I fell asleep after we had parted, I dreamt of the South. 43
The next morning, Ivan asked for another private word with me. 44
"Sophia, will you come home to the South with me?"45
My heart skipped a beat. I wanted to more than anything.46
"Yes!" I nearly shouted.47
As I packed my few belongings, I thought of everything I would see in the South. I was nearly quivering with excitement. I said goodbye to my family, who tried to persuade me not to go. I loved them all, especially little Sakari, but I just couldn't overcome my deep desire to see the South.48
Quickly, I grabbed my bag and headed towards Ivan's sleigh, where he and his men were already waiting.49
Suddenly a voice called me and I spun around. It was Yakone.50
"Wait!" he cried. "Please don't leave!" 51
"Sirimiq was right, Yakone. I don't belong here."52
"You do! You always have! Please! You can't just go!"53
"I can do what I want, Yakone! I've made up my mind."54
"No, Adlartok!" he wailed.55
"My name is Sophia!" I snapped, turning away from him and going to Ivan. When I looked back at Yakone, he was still where I left him. But then his knees sunk to the ground and his face crumpled into an expression of the deepest misery. I boarded the sleigh, and we began to move farther and farther away from the Nanuq tribe, until Yakone was only a tiny dot in the distance.
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