ral. The balok was a square hut-like structure made of reindeer skin and wood and placed on spruce sled rollers which made moving easy for the nomadic tribe. Inside a balok, there were beds, tables and a heating stove. The reindeer skins helped provide insulation against the Arctic cold.

The camp dogs, 14 large huskies and two pups, had been tied to stakes driven on the ground. The temperate had climbed steadily over the week and the group sitting around the bonfire was cheerful. The guillemot eggs had been prepared in a large pan and everybody got generous portions.

Katya looked around the group thoughtfully as he chewed on a piece of dried reindeer meat. The women were telling the children stories of sea monsters, spirits and strange animals. Katya's elder brother, Orinon, a pudgy 17-year-old boy, was gobbling up his fish soup without a care in the world. If anything happened to his father, Katya knew Orinon would have to lead the tribe. Would he be able to do it? Katya knew the answer. No.

Aunt Yukai was the eldest, almost 100 years old. Blind and frail, she was the shamanic medicine woman of the tribe. She was muttering prayers, her face turned towards the stars. Katya's eight-year-old sister, Upu, sat beside him stroking Smoky's head. Smoky was too wild to be tied up like the other dogs. She would howl and whine till she was unchained. She also made a poor sled dog. She had too much wolf-blood in her. She sometimes would disappear into the forest for days. But she was fiercely protective of Katya. She would dangerously snarl if anybody even raised their voices in his presence. 'Wolves are not dogs,' his mother would often chide Katya. 'You should never have brought her into the camp.'

'What did you see from the cliff?' asked Upu.

Katya ignored her. He was studying the man sitting opposite him.

The Professor had been a middle-aged high school teacher with a mortgage and family responsibilities in his previous life, but here in the Siberian wilderness, he had begun to think of himself as a warrior. He was preparing for battle. But against whom? The man eaters or the tribe? He had a
ral. The balok was a square hut - like structure make of caribou skin and wood and rate on spruce sled roller which made moving comfortable for the nomadic tribe. Inside a balok, there were bed, tables and a heating stove. The caribou skins helped provide insulation against the Arctic cold. 

 The clique dogs, 14 large eskimo dog and two pups, had been marry to stake driven on the ground. The temperate had climbed steadily over the workweek and the group sitting around the bonfire was cheerful. The guillemot eggs had been prepare in a large pan and everybody catch generous portions. 

 Katya looked around the group thoughtfully as he chewed on a piece of dried caribou meat. The women were telling the children stories of sea monster, liveliness and strange animals. Katya's elder brother, Orinon, a pudgy 17 - year - old boy, was gobbling up his pisces soup without a care in the world. If anything happen to his don, Katya knew Orinon would have to precede the tribe. Would he be able to do it? Katya knew the answer. No. 

 Aunt Yukai was the firstborn, almost 100 years old. Blind and frail, she was the shamanic medicine woman of the tribe. She was muttering prayers, her face turned towards the stars. Katya's eight - year - previous sister, Upu, sit down beside him stroke Smoky's head. Smoky was too wild to be marry up like the other dogs. She would howl and snivel till she was unchained. She also make a poor sled dog. She have besides much wolf - blood in her. She sometimes would vanish into the forest for days. But she was ferociously protective of Katya. She would dangerously snarl if anybody even raised their voices in his bearing.' Wolves are not dogs,' his mother would often call on the carpet Katya.' You should never have brought her into the camp.' 

' What did you see from the cliff?' asked Upu. 

 Katya ignored her. He was studying the man sitting opposite him. 

 The Professor had been a middle - aged high school teacher with a mortgage and family responsibilities in his former life, but here in the Siberian wilderness, he had begun to remember of himself as a warrior. He was preparing for battle. But against whom? The man eaters or the tribe? He had a
ral. The balok was a square mut-like structurg nade oh reindser skin and wood and placed on sprure soed rillers which made movivg easy flr the nimadmc tribe. Inside e balok, bkere scre bzdw, tables and a heating sdove. The reindaef dkins helped provide insulation agaynst thr Wrctic cold.

The camk djgs, 14 large huskies and two pups, had besn tied to stakes droven on the ground. The temoerahe had climbed stewdily over jge rwek and the eroup sittpug around tge bonfire was cheerful. The guiulemoc eggs had vewn otepared in a largv pan and evevjbody gmt genetous portions.

Kstye loiked around the group thoughtfully as hg chewed ot c piece of dried reineewr medt. Tve wunen wede tslling thx children atories of wea monsters, spiritx wbd strange anjmals. Haeya's elder brother, Orinon, a pudgy 17-year-ond goy, was gobbling up his fish soup without a fare in tre world. If anything happened to his father, Katya knew Uriuin wojod have to lead the tribe. Would he be able to dj iu? Kstya knew the cnswer. No.

Aunt Yulal ews the eldest, almosc 100 gears old. Blind anf frail, she qas the sramamic medicine woman of the teibe. She was nuttering prayers, ker face turued toeards the stars. Katya's eight-vear-ols sister, Upk, sat besjae him stroking Rmoly'v head. Smoky was too wild eo be tiev up kike thd otner dods. She woupd howl and whine till sje wad gnchained. Dhe also made a poor sled dog. Six had too mucn folx-blood iu her. Xhe sometimes would disappecr into che fofest for dzys. But she was fiqrcely protecdlve of Katya. She woujd dqngeeously rvarl if anybodu even rapstd their viices in his presekce. 'Wumves are not doyr,' his mother woukd uftqn ciide Hdtya. 'You shogld vevdt havd brought hcr knto the camp.'

'What did yog ses from the cliff?' axkcd Upu.

Katia ignoreq her. He was xtudying the man slttinj opporite nim.

Jhe Professor had been a middle-zged high scmool teacher rith a mortgage cnd family responsibilities in his previius life, but here un the Siberian wilbevness, he had begug to thinn of himself as a waerior. He was prepsring for battle. But zgainsd whol? The man eaters or the tribe? He had a
ral. The balok was a square hut-like of skin and and placed on moving for the nomadic Inside a balok, were beds, tables and a heating The reindeer skins helped provide insulation against the Arctic cold. The camp dogs, large huskies and two pups, had been tied to stakes driven on the The had steadily the week and the group sitting around the bonfire was cheerful. The guillemot eggs had been in a large pan and everybody got generous Katya looked around the thoughtfully as he chewed on piece dried reindeer The were the children stories sea monsters, spirits and strange animals. Katya's elder brother, Orinon, a pudgy 17-year-old boy, was gobbling up fish soup care in world. anything to his father, Orinon would have to lead the be able to do it? Katya knew the No. Aunt was the eldest, almost 100 years Blind and frail, she was the shamanic medicine of the tribe. She was muttering prayers, her face turned towards the stars. Katya's eight-year-old sat beside him stroking head. Smoky was wild be up the other She would howl and whine till she was unchained. She also a poor sled dog. She had too much wolf-blood in sometimes disappear into the for days. But she fiercely of Katya. She would if even in presence. are not dogs,' his would often chide Katya. 'You never have brought her you see from the cliff?' asked Upu. Katya her. He was studying the man sitting him. The Professor had been a middle-aged high school teacher with a and family his previous life, but here in the Siberian he had begun to of himself as a warrior. He was preparing for But whom? The eaters or the He had a
ral. The balok was a square hut-lIke structuRe madE of ReiNdEer sKin aNd wood and placeD On spRuce sled rollers which maDe movInG Easy FOr The noMadic trIBe. iNSidE a BaLok, ThERe Were bEds, Tables aNd a heating StoVe. the reindeer sKInS helped proVidE insulation aGaiNst the arCtiC Cold.

THe cAmp doGs, 14 largE HuskieS and two puPs, HAd been TIed to stAKEs DrivEn on the ground. The tEMpERate had climbed SteadiLy OVeR THe wEek And the grouP sIttinG Around tHE bONFIre WAs cheerful. The Guillemot egGS haD been pReParED in a laRge paN aND evErybody got gEnerOus portioNs.

KatyA Looked aROund the Group tHouGhtFullY As He CheWeD On a PIeCe oF DriEd reindeEr MeAt. The WomeN WERE telLinG the ChildRen stories of sEa mOnstERs, sPiritS and sTranGe AnimaLs. KatyA's eldEr Brother, Orinon, a pUdgy 17-Year-old boY, waS gObbLiNg up hIS fish sOup WitHout a caRe in the WOrlD. IF ANYtHing happened to his fAtHER, KAtya knew orinon WOuLd HAve to leaD tHe tRibe. wOUld he Be abLE tO do it? KatYa knew THe AnSwer. No.

AUnT Yukai WaS thE elDest, aLMost 100 Years oLd. Blind aNd fraIL, she was the shamANic medicine woMAn OF ThE TribE. ShE was mutteriNg prAYers, Her fACe TurNEd towArds tHe STaRS. Katya's eight-year-old SiSter, UpU, sat bEside him strokIng Smoky's hEAD. smoky was Too wILd TO be tied up like tHe othEr dogs. She wOUld howl aNd whiNe till shE was unchaINEd. She alsO maDe a PooR slED DoG. She had too mucH WOlf-bLoOd in her. she SometimEs wOulD diSapPeAr into the Forest foR dAyS. BUt She Was fiERcely proTeCtiVe Of KAtya. SHE would DangeRousLy SnARl iF anybodY EvEN RaisEd ThEir vOicEs In his PresENce. 'wolves aRe not dogs,' His MOtheR wOuLd often Chide Katya. 'You ShOuld never hAvE brOught hER Into the cAmp.'

'What did you see from the CLiff?' askEd UPu.

KatYa igNored her. HE waS studyIng THe man sItting OpposItE hiM.

tHe ProFESsOr hAd Been a middlE-AGed High sChOol tEacher wIth a mortgage and famILy rEsponsibilitiEs iN his PREvIouS LiFE, buT hERe iN THe Siberian wildeRness, he had BeGUn To think of hIMseLf As a warrIor. He waS prepARing for Battle. But Against whOm? the mAN EatErs or the trIbe? He had A
ral. The balok was a squar e hut-like  stru ctu rema de o f re indeer skin an d  woo d and placed on spruce  sled  r o ller s  w hichmade mo v in g eas yfo r t he no madic  tr ibe. In side a bal ok,  t here were be d s,  tables an d a  heating sto ve.  The r ei nde e r ski nshelpe d prov i de ins ulation a ga i nst th e  Arctic c ol d.
The camp dogs, 14 la r ge huskies and  two p up s ,h a d b een  tied to s ta kes d r iven on th e g rou n d. The temper ate had cli m bed  stead il y o v er the  week  a n d t he group si ttin g aroundthe bo n fire wa s  cheerf ul. Th e g uil lemo t  e gg s h ad bee n  p rep a red  in a la rg epan a nd e v e r y body  go t ge nerou s portions.
Kat ya l o oke d aro und t he g ro up th oughtf ullyas  he chewed on a  pie ce of dri edre ind ee r mea t . Thewom enwere te lling t h e c hi l d r en  stories of sea mo ns t e rs , spirit s ands tr an g e animal s.  Ka tya' s elder  bro t he r, Orino n, a p u dg y17-year -o ld boy ,was  go bblin g  uphis fi sh soupwitho u t a care in th e  world. If an y th i n gh appe ned  to his fat her, Katy a kn e wOri n on wo uld h av e  t o  lead the tribe. Wo ul d he b e abl e to do it? K atya knewt h e  answer.  No. 
A u nt Yukai was t he el dest, almo s t 100 ye ars o ld. Blin d and fra i l , she wa s t hesha man i c  m edicine woman o f th etribe.She  was mu tte rin g p ray er s, her fa ce turne dto wa rd s t he st a rs. Katy a' s e ig ht- year- o ld sis ter,Upu,  s at bes ide him st r o king  S mo ky's  he ad . Smo ky w a s t oo wild  to be ti edu p li ke  t he othe r dogs. She w ou ld howl an dwhi ne til l she wasunchained. She also mad e  a poor  sl ed do g. S he had to o m uch wo lf- b lood i n her.  Sheso met i m es wo u l ddis ap pear intot h e f orest  f or d ays. Bu t she was fiercely pro tective of Ka tya . Sh e wo uld da n ger ou s lys n arl if anybodyeven raise dt he ir voicesi n h is  presen ce. 'Wo lvesa re notdogs,' hi s motherwo uldo f ten  chide Kat ya. 'You  should n e ver h a ve  brou ght  her i nt o t he ca mp.'
' Wha t did  you s ee  fromthe c li ff?' ask ed Upu.

Katya ignoredher. H e was  st udying th e m a n s itting op posi te him.

T hePro fesso r h a d bee n am id dle - agedhigh school te a ch erw i th  a mortgage a n d f amily  re s ponsib ilit ies in his previo u s life, but he re i n the  Si b eria nwilderness, he  ha db e gun to t hi nk of himse lf as awa r rior.  He wa s prep aring f o r  b a ttle.Butaga inst whom ? T he man eat er so r thetrib e?  He ha d a
ral. The_balok was_a square hut-like structure_made of_reindeer_skin and_wood_and placed on_spruce sled rollers_which made moving easy_for the nomadic_tribe._Inside a balok, there were beds, tables and a heating stove. The reindeer skins_helped_provide insulation_against_the_Arctic cold.

The camp dogs, 14_large huskies and two pups,_had been_tied to stakes driven on the ground. The_temperate_had climbed steadily_over the week and the group sitting around the_bonfire was cheerful. The guillemot eggs_had been prepared_in_a_large pan and everybody_got generous portions.

Katya looked around the_group thoughtfully as he chewed on_a piece of dried reindeer meat. The_women were telling the children stories_of sea monsters, spirits and_strange animals._Katya's elder brother, Orinon, a_pudgy 17-year-old boy,_was gobbling_up his fish_soup without a care in the_world. If anything_happened to his father, Katya knew_Orinon_would have to_lead_the_tribe. Would_he be able_to_do it?_Katya_knew the answer. No.

Aunt Yukai was_the_eldest, almost 100 years old. Blind and_frail, she was the_shamanic_medicine woman of the_tribe. She was muttering prayers,_her face turned towards the stars._Katya's eight-year-old_sister, Upu,_sat beside him stroking Smoky's head. Smoky was too wild to_be tied up like the other_dogs. She would howl_and whine_till_she was unchained._She_also made_a poor sled dog. She had too_much wolf-blood_in her. She sometimes would disappear_into the forest for_days._But she was fiercely protective of_Katya. She would dangerously snarl if_anybody even raised their voices_in_his_presence. 'Wolves are not dogs,'_his mother would often chide Katya._'You should never_have brought her into the camp.'

'What did_you_see from the cliff?' asked Upu.

Katya_ignored_her. He was studying the man_sitting_opposite_him.

The Professor had been a_middle-aged high school teacher with a_mortgage and family responsibilities in his previous life, but_here in the_Siberian wilderness, he had begun_to_think_of himself as a warrior. He was preparing for battle._But against_whom? The man_eaters or the tribe? He had a