
'Why are you asking me this?'

Katya shrugged. 'I was just thinking.'

'We came from mountains far south of these lands hundreds of years ago,' said Arnaq.

'I wish I didn't look like this.'

His mother looked at Katya sternly. 'What happened?'

Katya stared into the fire. He was too ashamed to even talk about it to his mother. He searched for the right words. 'Rob told me I was ugly. He said a lot of horrible things about the way I look. Things I had never thought of before. I don't know why he hates me so much.'

'Oh child, don't you see? It's fairly obvious,' said his mother.

'What is? What did I ever do to him?' asked Katya gloomily.

'It's not what you did.'

He looked at his mother, puzzled. 'Then what?'

'It's the girl.'

Katya was surprised. 'Kiara?'

'She likes you,' his mother smiled at him. 'And he knows that.'

#  

# CHAPTER 3

#

The boats were made of seal and walrus skin. They were light and moved swiftly in the cold water. Katya and Ukik paddled the first boat. His father stood at the stern-looking through his pair of binoculars, scanning the water around him. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining brightly and the glare of the ice was blinding. Katya inhaled the crisp sea breeze. It felt good to be out in the water. Of course, it would have been even better if the Professor and his group had stayed on land. Katya looked at the boat following them.

The Professor was eagerly searching for their prey. Rob and Mark were paddling while Elvis was lazily lying in the boat with his hand skimming over the water. Two boats would make the hunt easier and Atuqtuaq had given the Professor permission to join. Orinon had pleaded sick but everyone knew it was because he hated seeing blood and the walrus hunt would be a very bloody affair.

Katya had been careful navigating his way between the floating slabs of ice. They could easily crush the light boat if it got ensnared among the moving lumps. His father suddenly saw what he was looking for. He pointed it
' Why are you asking me this?' 

 Katya shrugged.' I was just thinking.' 

' We do from mountain far south of these lands hundreds of years ago,' allege Arnaq. 

' I wish I didn't look like this.' 

 His mother looked at Katya sternly.' What happen?' 

 Katya star into the fire. He was excessively ashamed to even talk about it to his mother. He searched for the correct words.' Rob told me I was despicable. He say a lot of horrible things about the way I look. thing I had never thought of before. I don't know why he hat me so much.' 

' Oh child, don't you see? It's reasonably obvious,' said his mother. 

' What is? What did I always do to him?' asked Katya gloomily. 

' It's not what you did.' 

 He looked at his mother, puzzle.' Then what?' 

' It's the girl.' 

 Katya was surprised.' Kiara?' 

' She likes you,' his mother smiled at him.' And he knows that.' 

 #  

 # CHAPTER 3 

 # 

 The boats were lay down of seal and walrus skin. They were light and moved swiftly in the cold water. Katya and Ukik paddled the first boat. His father stood at the austere - looking through his pair of binoculars, read the water around him. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining brilliantly and the glare of the internal-combustion engine was blinding. Katya inhaled the crisp ocean breeze. It felt good to be out in the water. Of course, it would have been even better if the Professor and his group had stayed on land. Katya looked at the boat following them. 

 The Professor was eagerly research for their prey. Rob and Mark were paddling while Elvis was idly lie down in the boat with his hand skimming over the water. Two boat would make the hunt easier and Atuqtuaq had grant the Professor permission to join. Orinon had pleaded disgusted but everyone knew it was because he hat seeing blood and the walrus search would be a very bloody affair. 

 Katya had been careful navigating his way between the float slabs of internal-combustion engine. They could easily crush the abstemious boat if it got trap among the moving lumps. His father suddenly saw what he was looking for. He pointed it

'Why are you asking me this?'

Kxtya shrugged. 'I was juvt thihking.'

'We zame from mountains far souti of thest lands hundreds of years agl,' said Aenaq.

'M wish I didn't look like this.'

Hjd mochxr looked at Kajya sternly. 'Fhat happened?'

Kdtha stared into the fire. He was too asramed tp fven talk abouj it uo ris jother. He searched for the right wkrds. 'Rou told me I was ugly. He said a lot of horgiblf things about the way I look. Thigts I had nevdr thought of before. I don't know why he hates me so mjch.'

'Oh child, don'j gok see? It's famrly ofvious,' said mps mothar.

'What os? What did I cver vo ti him?' asked Katya glommily.

'It's not what iou did.'

He nokked at his mothee, puzzlgd. 'Than wfqt?'

'Ig's uhe gjrl.'

Katja xas surprissd. 'Kiara?'

'She likes you,' his mothtr fniled at him. 'Znd he kgows that.'

#  

# CHAPTER 3

#

The boats were made of seal and walrus skin. Tyey were light and moged swiftjy in the cold water. Katya and Ukik paddled the fhrst uoxt. Klf dahher stood at the stern-looking through his payd pf binoculars, sccnning the water agoigd him. It was a beabfirul day. The sun wad shinigg brughtly anq thr glare of the ice was blineing. Katya iuhaoed the crisp sea yreeze. It feut gpod tp be out in the water. Oy courae, it would have beeh even better if ghe Psofessor and his group had stayed oi lanb. Katya uookgd at tre boat foplowikc them.

The Professog was edgerly seagching for their prey. Rob and Meck were paddlonc wvile Elvns was lazily lying in the boat wnth his kand syimming ovvr the waver. Two boatf would make dje hunt easixr and Attqtuqq hqd givev the Professor permission to join. Orinon had pleadev sizi but everyone jneq it was becausr hd hwtvd xeqhng blood ang thd wxkrus funt would ne x vety bloody affair.

Katyd has been careful navogwting hiw way beeween the flosting slabs of ice. They conld eaxili crush the light boat if it gof ensnaref aiong the movyng oumps. His facher suddenly saw what he was looking foc. He pointed it
'Why are you asking me this?' Katya was thinking.' 'We from mountains far of ago,' said Arnaq. wish I didn't like this.' His mother looked at sternly. 'What happened?' Katya stared into the fire. He was too ashamed to talk about it to his mother. He searched for the right words. 'Rob me was He a lot of horrible things about the way I look. Things I had never thought of I don't know why he hates me so 'Oh child, don't you It's fairly obvious,' said his 'What What did ever to asked Katya gloomily. not what you did.' He looked at his mother, puzzled. 'Then what?' 'It's the girl.' Katya was 'Kiara?' 'She his mother at 'And knows that.' # 3 # The boats were made walrus skin. They were light and moved swiftly the cold Katya and Ukik paddled the first His father stood at the stern-looking through his of binoculars, scanning the water around him. It was a beautiful day. The sun was and the glare of ice was blinding. inhaled crisp breeze. felt good be out in the water. Of course, it would have been better if the Professor and his group had stayed on looked the boat following The Professor was eagerly for prey. Rob and Mark while was the with hand skimming over the Two boats would make the easier and Atuqtuaq had join. Orinon had pleaded sick but everyone knew was because he hated seeing blood and walrus hunt would be a very bloody affair. Katya had been careful his way floating slabs of ice. They could easily crush light boat if it ensnared among the moving lumps. His father suddenly saw he looking for. pointed it

'Why are you asking me this?'

KatyA shrugged. 'I Was juSt tHinKiNg.'

'We Came From mountains fAR souTh of these lands hundreds Of yeaRs AGo,' saID ARnaq.

'I Wish I diDN't LOOk lIkE tHis.'

hiS MoTher lOokEd at KatYa sternly. 'WHat HaPpened?'

Katya sTArEd into the fIre. he was too ashaMed To even TaLk aBOut it To hIs motHer. He sEArched For the rigHt WOrds. 'RoB Told me I WAS uGly. HE said a lot of horribLE tHIngs about the waY I look. thINgS i Had NevEr thought oF bEfore. i Don't knoW WhY HE HatES me so much.'

'Oh chIld, don't you sEE? It'S fairlY oBviOUs,' said His moThER.

'WhAt is? What did i eveR do to him?' aSked KaTYa gloomILy.

'It's noT what yOu dId.'

HE looKEd At His MoTHer, PUzZleD. 'theN what?'

'It's ThE gIrl.'

KaTya wAS SURpriSed. 'kiarA?'

'She lIkes you,' his motHer SmilED at Him. 'AnD he knOws tHaT.'

#  

# CHAPtER 3

#

The Boats WeRe made of seal and WalrUs skin. TheY weRe LigHt And moVEd swifTly In tHe cold wAter. KatYA anD UKIK PaDdled the first boat. HIs FAThEr stood aT the stERn-LoOKing throUgH hiS paiR OF binoCulaRS, sCanning tHe wateR ArOuNd him. It WaS a beauTiFul Day. the suN Was sHining Brightly And thE Glare of the ice wAS blinding. KatyA InHALeD The cRisP sea breeze. IT felT Good To be OUt In tHE wateR. Of coUrSE, iT Would have been even beTtEr if thE ProfEssor and his grOup had stayED ON land. KatYa loOKeD At the boat folloWing tHem.

The ProfESsor was eAgerlY searchiNg for theiR PRey. Rob anD MaRk wEre PadDLInG while Elvis waS LAzilY lYing in tHe bOat with His HanD skImmInG over the wAter. Two bOaTs WoUlD maKe the HUnt easieR aNd ATuQtuAq had GIven thE ProfEssoR pErMIssIon to joIN. ORINon hAd PlEadeD siCk But evEryoNE knEw it was Because he HatED seeInG bLood and The walrus hunt WoUld be a very BlOodY affaiR.

kAtya had bEen careful navigating his WAy betweEn tHe floAtinG slabs of iCe. THey couLd eASily crUsh the Light BoAt iF IT got eNSNaRed AmOng the moviNG LumPs. His FaTher SuddenlY saw what he was lookiNG foR. He pointed it

'Why are you asking me th is?'

Katy a shr ugg ed.  ' I wa s ju st thinking.''Wecame from mountains fa r sou th of t h es e lan ds hund r ed s ofye ar s a go , 'saidArn aq.

'I  wish I di dn' tlook like th i s. '

His mot her  looked at K aty a ster nl y.' Whathap pened ?'

Ka t ya sta red intoth e  fire. He wast o oasha med to even talka bo u t it to his mo ther.He se a r che d f or the rig ht  word s . 'Robt ol d m e I was ugly. Hesaid a loto f h orribl ethi n gs abo ut th ew ayI look. Thi ngsI had nev er tho u ght ofb efore.I don' t k now  why he  h ate sm e s o  m uch . '
'Oh chil d,  d on'tyous e e ?  It' s f airl y obv ious,' said h ismoth e r.
'Wha t is?  Wha tdid I  everdo to  h im?' asked Katy a gl oomily.
'It 's  no twhaty ou did .'
He  looked  at his mot he r , pu zzled. 'Then what? '' It 's the g irl.'Ka ty a  was sur pr ise d. ' K i ara?' 

'S h elikes yo u,' hi s  m ot her smi le d at h im . ' And  he k n owsthat.' 

#  

#  CHAP T ER 3

#

The b o ats were made of s ea l  and  wa lrus skin.They were  lig h tand moved  swif tl y  i n  the cold water. Ka ty a andUkikpaddled the f irst boat. H i s father  sto o da t the stern-lo oking  through h i s pair o f bin oculars,  scanning t he water  ar oun d h im. I twas a beautif u l  day .The sun  wa s shini ngbri ght lyan d the gla re of th eic ewa s b lindi n g. Katya  i nha le d t he cr i sp sea  bree ze.It  f e ltgood to be o ut i nth e wa ter .Of co urse ,  it  wouldhave been  ev e n be tt er  if the  Professor an dhis groupha d s tayedo n  land. K atya looked at the boat followi ngthem. 

Th e Profess orwas ea ger l y sear chingfor t he irp r ey. R o b  a ndMa rk were pa d d lin g whi le  Elv is waslazily lying in th e  bo at with his h and  ski m m in g o v er the  w a ter . Two boats would  make thehu n teasier and Atu qt uaq had  giventhe P r ofessor  permissi on to joi n.  Ori n o n h ad pleaded  sick bu t everyon e  knew it  wasbec ause h ehat ed se eing b l ood  andthe wa lr us hun t wou ld  be a ve ry bloody affair.

Katy a hadbeencar eful navi gat i nghis way b etwe en the flo ati ngslabs  of ice.They co uld easil y cr u sh the li g ht  bo a t  i f it got en s n a red  amon g t h e movi ng l umps. His fathers uddenly saw wh at h e was  lo o king  f or. He pointed  it 

'Why are_you asking_me this?'

Katya shrugged. 'I_was just_thinking.'

'We_came from_mountains_far south of_these lands hundreds_of years ago,' said_Arnaq.

'I wish I_didn't_look like this.'

His mother looked at Katya sternly. 'What happened?'

Katya stared into the fire._He_was too_ashamed_to_even talk about it to_his mother. He searched for_the right_words. 'Rob told me I was ugly. He_said_a lot of_horrible things about the way I look. Things I_had never thought of before. I_don't know why_he_hates_me so much.'

'Oh child,_don't you see? It's fairly obvious,'_said his mother.

'What is? What did_I ever do to him?' asked Katya_gloomily.

'It's not what you did.'

He looked_at his mother, puzzled. 'Then_what?'

'It's the_girl.'

Katya was surprised. 'Kiara?'

'She likes_you,' his mother_smiled at_him. 'And he_knows that.'

#  

# CHAPTER 3

#

The_boats were made_of seal and walrus skin. They_were_light and moved_swiftly_in_the cold_water. Katya and_Ukik_paddled the_first_boat. His father stood at the_stern-looking_through his pair of binoculars, scanning the_water around him. It_was_a beautiful day. The_sun was shining brightly and_the glare of the ice was_blinding. Katya_inhaled the_crisp sea breeze. It felt good to be out in the_water. Of course, it would have_been even better if_the Professor_and_his group had_stayed_on land._Katya looked at the boat following them.

The_Professor was_eagerly searching for their prey. Rob_and Mark were paddling_while_Elvis was lazily lying in the_boat with his hand skimming over_the water. Two boats would_make_the_hunt easier and Atuqtuaq had_given the Professor permission to join._Orinon had pleaded_sick but everyone knew it was because_he_hated seeing blood and the walrus_hunt_would be a very bloody affair.

Katya_had_been_careful navigating his way between_the floating slabs of ice. They_could easily crush the light boat if it got_ensnared among the_moving lumps. His father suddenly_saw_what_he was looking for. He pointed it