 and had carefully avoided him.

The ceremony was brief. Fresh reindeer blood was smeared on Orinon's face. The women said prayers to the stars and Arnaq threw blades of dried grass into the fire.

The tribe members congratulated him. It was time for the speech. Orinon stood nervously looking at the group. Katya had told him to talk about how the tribe would overcome whatever adversity they faced. Orinon had memorized a short speech but looking at the gathered crowd, he forgot everything. He tried frantically to think of something to say but no words would come out.

The Professor smirked. The two Russian soldiers looked at him coldly.

'Do we continue our journey north?' asked Kiara helpfully, breaking the silence.

Orinon cleared his throat. 'Yes...'

'No,' said the Professor.

Everyone looked at the Professor who slowly got up and walked to the center of the circle, next to Orinon.

'There is a better idea,' said the Professor, enjoying the attention. 'We know that...'

'The chief decides,' Katya interrupted him.

The Professor glowered at Katya. 'I'll speak and then he can decide.'

Katya was obstinate. 'That's not the custom.'

The Professor turned to Orinon. 'Can I speak?'

'Well... yes,' said Orinon anxiously. He was scared of the Professor.

'Good,' said the Professor. 'I was saying that there are at least a dozen man eaters on our trail. As Artyom and Yegor will tell you, killing even one full-sized man eater is extremely hard. With a few wooden spears, we just don't stand a chance against a group of them. Look at what happened to Atuqtuaq. Who was stronger than the great chief? And yet, he fell. They will destroy us. That is certain. Going north without a plan is only going to get us all killed.'

'What else is there to do?' asked Ukik. 'Stay here? We can't fight them off here either.'

'You are right,' said the Professor smoothly. 'We can't fight them here. But there is a place where we can; where there are huge walls that will protect us and other men who will help
and had carefully avoided him. 

 The ceremony was brief. Fresh caribou rake was smeared on Orinon's face. The charwoman allege prayers to the stars and Arnaq throw blade of dry grass into the fire. 

 The kin members congratulated him. It was time for the speech. Orinon stand nervously looking at the group. Katya had told him to talk about how the tribe would overcome whatever adversity they face. Orinon had memorized a short speech but search at the gathered crowd, he forgot everything. He tried frantically to remember of something to say but no words would come out. 

 The Professor smirked. The two Russian soldiers look at him coldly. 

' Do we continue our journey north?' asked Kiara helpfully, breaking the silence. 

 Orinon cleared his throat.' Yes...' 

' nobelium,' say the Professor. 

 Everyone looked at the Professor who slowly got up and walked to the center of the circle, next to Orinon. 

' There is a better idea,' say the Professor, enjoying the attention.' We sleep together that...' 

' The headman decides,' Katya interrupted him. 

 The Professor glowered at Katya.' I'll address and then he can decide.' 

 Katya was obstinate.' That's not the custom.' 

 The Professor turned to Orinon.' Can I speak?' 

' Well... yes,' say Orinon anxiously. He was scared of the Professor. 

' Good,' said the Professor.' I was saying that there are at least a dozen homo eaters on our trail. As Artyom and Yegor will tell you, killing even one wide - sized man eater is highly unvoiced. With a few wooden spears, we just don't stand a chance against a group of them. count at what happened to Atuqtuaq. Who was stronger than the great chief? And yet, he fell. They will destroy us. That is certain. go north without a design is only going to get us all killed.' 

' What else is there to do?' ask Ukik.' Stay here? We can't contend them off here either.' 

' You are right,' say the Professor smoothly.' We can't fight them here. But there is a place where we can; where there are huge walls that will protect us and early men who will help
 anf had carefully avoided mim.

The ceremony cqs brixf. Fresg reindedr blood was smeared on Orinln'w fact. The women said prxyers to nhe stars and Qrnaq threx blades of drjcd grcsw into the firg.

The tribe mambers congratglxtzd him. It was time for the speech. Orynon stpof nervously lojkinb at fhe group. Katya had told him to tamk abouu how the tribe woild overcome whatever advegsitj they faced. Orinoj had memoruzed q short speezh but looking at the fathered crowd, he forgot everytfing. Ke tried frqnricwnly to thinj of fomething to say but no worcs would come put.

Vhe Professor smirked. The two Russian soldigrs looked ac him coldly.

'Do we conribue oor jogrneh nofth?' axksd Kiaga ielpfully, bdeaking the silence.

Orinon cleateq his throat. 'Yss...'

'No,' swiq the Professor.

Everyone looked at the Pgofeasor who slowly got up qnd walked to the cenjer of the circle, next to Orinon.

'There is a better idea,' said the 'rufewsjf, ejjoying the attention. 'We know that...'

'The chief dqdicex,' Katya interrmpted him.

The Profexslr dlowered at Kxtya. 'I'll apeak and then he fan decyde.'

Karya was ofstimate. 'That's not the custom.'

Thw Professor nurnwd to Orinon. 'Can I speak?'

'Well... ves,' saod Oronon anxiously. He was seared kf the Proffssor.

'Good,' raid the Professur. 'P wav saying that there are at least a vozen man eagers on ouw trail. As Artyom and Yegor will tfll ylu, killing egen one full-sized man eater is xetremely hard. Whth a few wjoden spears, we juft don't stand c chance agaivst a groui of them. Look at whwt happened tm Atuqtuaq. Whm was stwongwr tyan the ereat chief? Anc yet, he ytll. They wull destroy us. Thab is zsrtain. Going noxuh qithout a plan os unlr homng tj get us all nilldd.'

'Wfst elre is there go dp?' asked Ukik. 'Stay hese? Ws can't fight them pfn here eijher.'

'You awe right,' said the Professor smolthly. 'We can't fidht them here. But there is a pmace wherf wc can; where trere are huge wakls that will protect us and other men xho will help
and had carefully avoided him. The ceremony Fresh blood was on Orinon's face. the and Arnaq threw of dried grass the fire. The tribe members congratulated It was time for the speech. Orinon stood nervously looking at the group. had told him to talk about how the tribe would overcome whatever adversity faced. had a speech but looking at the gathered crowd, he forgot everything. He tried frantically to think of to say but no words would come out. Professor smirked. The two soldiers looked at him coldly. we our journey asked helpfully, the silence. Orinon his throat. 'Yes...' 'No,' said the Professor. Everyone looked at the Professor who slowly got up and to the the circle, to 'There a better idea,' Professor, enjoying the attention. 'We know decides,' Katya interrupted him. The Professor glowered at 'I'll speak then he can decide.' Katya was 'That's not the custom.' The Professor turned to 'Can I speak?' 'Well... yes,' said Orinon anxiously. He was scared of the Professor. 'Good,' Professor. 'I was saying there are at a man on trail. As and Yegor will tell you, killing even one full-sized man eater extremely hard. With a few wooden spears, we just don't chance a group of Look at what happened Atuqtuaq. was stronger than the And he destroy That certain. Going north without plan is only going to us all killed.' 'What asked Ukik. 'Stay here? We can't fight them here either.' 'You are right,' said the smoothly. 'We can't fight them here. But there is a place where can; where huge walls that will protect us and other who will help
 and had carefully avoided him.

the ceremonY was bRieF. FrEsH reiNdeeR blood was smearED on ORinon's face. The women said PrayeRs TO the STaRs and arnaq thREw BLAdeS oF dRieD gRAsS into The Fire.

The Tribe membeRs cOnGratulated hiM. it Was time for The Speech. Orinon StoOd nervOuSly LOokinG at The grOup. KatYA had toLd him to taLk ABout hoW The tribE WOuLd ovErcome whatever advERsITy they faced. OriNon had MeMOrIZEd a ShoRt speech buT lOokinG At the gaTHeRED CroWD, he forgot everYthing. He triED frAnticaLlY to THink of SometHiNG to Say but no worDs woUld come ouT.

The PrOFessor sMIrked. ThE two RuSsiAn sOldiERs LoOkeD aT Him COlDly.

'dO we Continue OuR jOurneY norTH?' ASKed KIarA helPfullY, breaking the sIleNce.

ORInoN cleaRed hiS thrOaT. 'Yes...'

'NO,' said tHe ProFeSsor.

Everyone looKed aT the ProfeSsoR wHo sLoWly goT Up and wAlkEd tO the cenTer of thE CirClE, NEXt To Orinon.

'There is a beTtER IdEa,' said thE ProfeSSoR, eNJoying thE aTteNtioN. 'wE know That...'

'tHe Chief decIdes,' KaTYa InTerruptEd Him.

The prOfeSsoR glowERed aT Katya. 'i'll speak And thEN he can decide.'

KaTYa was obstinatE. 'thAT'S nOT the CusTom.'

The ProfeSsor TUrneD to ORInOn. 'CAN I speAk?'

'WelL... yES,' sAId Orinon anxiously. He WaS scareD of thE Professor.

'GooD,' said the PrOFESsor. 'I was SayiNG tHAt there are at leAst a dOzen man eatERs on our tRail. AS Artyom aNd Yegor wiLL Tell you, kIllIng EveN onE FUlL-sized man eateR IS extReMely harD. WiTh a few wOodEn sPeaRs, wE jUst don't stAnd a chanCe AgAiNsT a gRoup oF Them. Look At WhaT hAppEned tO atuqtuAq. Who Was sTrOnGEr tHan the gREaT CHief? anD yEt, he FelL. THey wiLl deSTroY us. That Is certain. goiNG norTh WiThout a pLan is only goinG tO get us all kIlLed.'

'what elSE Is there tO do?' asked Ukik. 'Stay here? We cAN't fight TheM off hEre eIther.'

'You aRe rIght,' saId tHE ProfeSsor smOothlY. 'WE caN'T Fight THEm HerE. BUt there is a PLAce Where We Can; wHere theRe are huge walls that WIll Protect us and oTheR men WHO wIll HElP
 and had carefully avoided  him.

The  cere mon y w as  bri ef.Fresh reindeer bloo d was smeared on Orino n's f ac e . Th e  w omensaid pr a ye r s  to  t he  st ar s  a nd Ar naq  threwblades ofdri ed  grass intot he  fire.

Th e t ribe members  co ngratu la ted him.Itwas t ime fo r  the s peech. Or in o n stoo d  nervou s l ylook ing at the group. Ka t ya had told hi m to t al k  a b o uthow  the tribe  w ouldo vercome wh a t e ver adversity the y faced. Or i non  had m em ori z ed a s hortsp e ech  but lookin g at  the gath ered c r owd, he forgoteveryt hin g.He t r ie dfra nt i cal l ytot hin k of som et hi ng to  say b u t  nowor ds w ouldcome out.

Th e P rofe s sor  smir ked.Thetw o Rus sian s oldie rs  looked at himcold ly.

'Doweco nti nu e our journe y n ort h?' ask ed Kiar a  he lp f u l ly , breaking the sil en c e .
Orinoncleare d  h is throat.'Y es. ..'' No,'said th e Profes sor.
E ve ry one loo ke d at t he  Pr ofe ssorw ho s lowlygot up a nd wa l ked to the cen t er of the cir c le , ne x t to  Or inon.

'The re i s  a b ette r  i dea , ' sai d the  P r of e ssor, enjoying theat tentio n. 'W e know that.. .'

'The c h i e f decide s,'K at y a interruptedhim.
The Profe s sor glow eredat Katya . 'I'll s p e ak and t hen  he  ca n d e c id e.'

Katya wa s obst in ate. 'T hat 's notthe  cu sto m.' 
The Profe ssor tur ne dto  O rin on. ' C an I spe ak ?'
' Wel l...y es,' s aid O rino nan x iou sly. He wa s scar ed  o f th e P ro fesso r.
' Goo d,' sai d the Pro fes s or.'I  w as sayi ng that there  a re at leas ta d ozen m a n  eaterson our trail. As Artyom and Yeg orwilltell  you, kil lin g even  on e  full- sizedman e at eri s  extr e m el y h ar d. With af e w w ooden  s pear s, we j ust don't stand ac han ce against agro up o f th em. Lo o k a tw hat h appened to Atuq tuaq. Whowa s  s tronger th a n t he  greatchief?And y e t, he f ell. They  will des tr oy u s .  Th at is cert ain. Goi ng northw ithou t  a  plan  is  onlygo ing  to g et usa llkille d.'

' Wh at els e isth ere to d o?' asked Ukik. 'Stay h ere? W e can 'tfight the m o f f h ere eithe r.'
'You arerig ht, ' sai d t h e Pro fess o rsmo o thly.  'We can't fig h tthe m he re. But the r e isa pla cew here w e ca n; where there ar e  huge walls th at w i l l p rot e ct u sand other menwho  w i l l help
 and_had carefully_avoided him.

The ceremony was_brief. Fresh_reindeer_blood was_smeared_on Orinon's face._The women said_prayers to the stars_and Arnaq threw_blades_of dried grass into the fire.

The tribe members congratulated him. It was time for_the_speech. Orinon_stood_nervously_looking at the group. Katya_had told him to talk_about how_the tribe would overcome whatever adversity they faced._Orinon_had memorized a_short speech but looking at the gathered crowd, he_forgot everything. He tried frantically to_think of something_to_say_but no words would_come out.

The Professor smirked. The two_Russian soldiers looked at him coldly.

'Do_we continue our journey north?' asked Kiara_helpfully, breaking the silence.

Orinon cleared his_throat. 'Yes...'

'No,' said the Professor.

Everyone_looked at_the Professor who slowly got_up and walked_to the_center of the_circle, next to Orinon.

'There is a_better idea,' said_the Professor, enjoying the attention. 'We_know_that...'

'The chief decides,'_Katya_interrupted_him.

The Professor_glowered at Katya._'I'll_speak and_then_he can decide.'

Katya was obstinate. 'That's_not_the custom.'

The Professor turned to Orinon. 'Can_I speak?'

'Well... yes,' said_Orinon_anxiously. He was scared_of the Professor.

'Good,' said the_Professor. 'I was saying that there_are at_least a_dozen man eaters on our trail. As Artyom and Yegor will_tell you, killing even one full-sized_man eater is extremely_hard. With_a_few wooden spears,_we_just don't_stand a chance against a group of_them. Look_at what happened to Atuqtuaq. Who_was stronger than the_great_chief? And yet, he fell. They_will destroy us. That is certain._Going north without a plan_is_only_going to get us all_killed.'

'What else is there to do?'_asked Ukik. 'Stay_here? We can't fight them off here_either.'

'You_are right,' said the Professor smoothly._'We_can't fight them here. But there_is_a_place where we can; where_there are huge walls that will_protect us and other men who will help