LITMIR.BIZ

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added to her inner anguish. Her dull eyes stared aimlessly at the young crowd until it fell on a face that seemed to mirror her own misery. It was the little girl whom Sooleawaa had introduced as Shawnadit.

      The young child dragged her body along at the back of the young herd. Her eyes were fixed on the ground, just ahead of her feet, and her face held none of the excitement radiating from the rest of the children. It wasn't right for someone so young to be so sad. Kiera's heart went out to her.

      The path took a downward turn as the band followed the trail into a valley. Kiera felt Chocan pick up speed as gravity assisted his descent. She turned in her chair. “Chocan, could I ask a favour?”

      Chocan stopped. He turned, his face strained with effort and shiny with perspiration. He took a couple of breaths before answering. “Yes?”

      She nodded towards the children. “It's Shawnadit.”

      He looked at the little girl. “She's not happy. We are not far from where her mother died.”

      “If it is not asking too much, do you think she could ride with me while we go down the hill?”

      Chocan looked at the load on his frame, then to the path running downhill, and finally to Shawnadit who, along with the other children, was now passing them on the path. He sighed but nodded.

      He placed Kiera gently on the ground, walked through the group of children, weaving in and out of the little bodies, until he caught up to Shawnadit. With a nod to Sooleawaa, he picked the young girl up in his arms and carried her over to Kiera.

      “I have a very important job for you, little sparrow. Do you know our guest, Kiera?”

      For the first time, Shawnadit's big, dark eyes glanced directly at Kiera. Her eyes widened in fear, then she quickly curled into Chocan and looked at the ground.

      “You see, little sparrow, she is lonely. You know it is Beothuck custom to ensure that all guests are welcome in our band. That is why I'm putting you in charge of looking after our guest. You are in charge of cheering Kiera up. Can you do that for me?”

      Shawnadit didn't answer. She just buried her head even further into Chocan's shoulder. Kiera reached up and took the girl from Chocan. Shawnadit didn't fight the exchange, but curled up quietly in Kiera's lap, her eyes shut tight.

      Kiera tilted her head. “Hello, Shawnadit. Thank you for being with me.”

      Kiera and Shawnadit were lifted upwards as Chocan took his position within the frame. “Hold tight. We don't want to fall too far behind the others.”

      And with a lurch, they were off.

      NINE

      Near sunset on their fifth day of travel, the weary band of travellers relaxed at a campsite located in a notch between what looked like the humps of two enormous stone whales. Upon arriving, Shawnadit had jumped from Kiera's lap to run and join in with the other children. She had not said a word during the entire afternoon, but Kiera did get her giggling with some of her attempted Beothuck banter. Shaking his head, Chocan would translate Kiera's remarks back into Celtic, such as “I like Chocan's hair. It looks like a nesting fish in the snow.” Kiera would join Shawnadit in the laughter. It was a good distraction for all of them.

      Chocan rotated Kiera's sling so that she could see what lay ahead. Kiera took in the change in scenery. The land was considerably scrubbier than that of the mighty forests along the coast. Below, she could see a wide, rocky valley. A river slithered its way through the distant rocky hills. On the far bank of the river, an enormous barrier of felled trees extended in both directions as far as the eye could see.

      On the near side of the river, Kiera could see trails of smoke, dozens of small huts and canoes lining the river's edge. Many people streamed between the structures, busy in their various tasks. She guessed that there must be over a thousand people awaiting them in the valley below!

      Sooleawaa brought her a piece of salted fish and berries for lunch. Chocan, exhausted, lay down and relaxed in the highland grass with his hands behind his head. Kiera nodded towards the large village.

      “Is that the Meeting Place?”

      Chocan opened his eyes momentarily. “Yes, we will be there tonight.”

      Kiera decided to let the weary man rest. She turned to Sooleawaa. “Is that a wall of trees on the other side of the river?”

      Sooleawaa straightened with pride. “It was created by my ancestors long ago. We use it to bring the Great Herd to us. It stretches for over a ten-day walk in both directions.”

      Kiera shook her head in disbelief. “A ten-day walk? That's incredible! How could you make something so big?”

      “We use trees that were knocked down by great storms. Sometimes, we can push them down, like this.” She put one hand on top of the other.

      Kiera was in awe. “Tell me, what did you mean by the Great Herd?”

      “Caribou,” answered Sooleawaa.

      “Caribou?” asked Kiera, shrugging. She had never heard the word before.

      “It is easier for me to draw one for you.”

      Sooleawaa took a stick and drew a magnificent animal in the dirt between them, long-legged with strong shoulders and neck. From its thick, deerlike head stretched an impressive set of antlers, and she finished off the picture by drawing a person next to the caribou. Kiera was impressed with Sooleawaa's artwork but was shocked to see that a person's head only came up to the animal's shoulder. The beast must be huge!

      “Caribou,” repeated Kiera. “It looks something like the deer we had in my homeland, but this animal looks much larger and stronger. The biggest animal I have ever touched is a cow.”

      “Cow?” questioned Sooleawaa.

      Chocan's voice interrupted the conversation. His face bore a smile, but his eyes remained closed.

      “Ah, Kiera, surely a caribou is greater than that fierce animal that you call a cow. You have never seen a caribou? You will see caribou…many, many caribou…very soon.”

      It was just after midday when they entered the largest mass of humanity Kiera had ever seen. Her farming community in Ireland had numbered, at most, a hundred people. The Icelandic town in which she had briefly stayed before being auctioned off as a slave was large, but never had she seen so many faces all at once. Everyone was coated in the same red ochre, giving Kiera the feeling that she had entered a colony of red ants. It was then that she remembered she was now just as red as they were.

      As the band entered, the entire village stopped its milling about and stared at the newcomers in stony silence. The sudden stillness was eerie and unnatural. The only sound Kiera could hear was the rumbling of the river and the footsteps of her band as they made their way toward the heart of the encampment. Then she noticed that the eyes of the crowd were focused on her.

      “Why is everyone staring at me?” she asked Chocan as casually as she could.

      Chocan didn't answer but continued to drag her further into the mass of icy stares. Kiera could feel the fingers of panic begin to tighten around her stomach. She wished she had Shawnadit on her lap for support, but the little girl was nowhere in sight.

      From her backwards vantage point, Kiera stared in horror as the mass of red bodies closed in behind them, cutting off any chance of escape. Escape? She couldn't even walk. She was completely at their mercy. She closed her eyes and prayed for deliverance from the encroaching nightmare.

      With a jerk, her sling came to a stop. Chocan moved in front of her and took her hands. “Stand,” he said kindly.

      “Are…are you sure?” Kiera felt further panic.

      He nodded. Gently, he helped her to her feet. Her legs shook with the effort. She smiled as her leg took the weight without

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