.

'What happened?' asked Katya breathlessly.

She pointed down at the track. There was a small patch of snow and on it was the clearly defined imprint of a man's barefoot. Around it was small drops of blood. Katya crouched down and studied the mark on the snow. Even though spring had come it was still cold. Katya knew that no one would walk barefoot in the camp and certainly not this far. There was always the danger of frostbite setting in. Could it be a wanderer? Maybe someone lost? It was possible but highly unlikely. They had not seen other human beings for two years now. Of course, everyone knew man eaters walked barefoot.

'The monsters have come,' Lillian whispered, clutching Katya's hand.

Behind him, others had started arriving at the scene. There was panic building up. Timothy made the sign of the cross and started praying. A woman from the tribe was weeping quietly. The children were looking fearfully at the mark.

Have the man eaters finally arrived? Katya looked at the forests and hills around him. Where is it? Where is the creature? He walked around the footprint looking to see if could figure out whether the creature was moving to or away from the camp. But there was nothing apart from the single mark.

Arnaq raised her voice. 'Let us go back to camp. We have to make sure everyone is safe.' Her authority calmed the group and they walked back, chattering nervously among themselves. Katya heard the questions around him. Who was it? Was it the man eater? Where was it? What would happen to them? Could they fight it? Were there more?

In the camp, they checked if everyone was present. Everyone in the high school group was there. Atuqtuaq and Ukik were with the reindeer and would be coming back anytime now. Orinon was there. All the women were there and so were the children... all except Upu!

Katya felt terrified. Please let nothing happen to my sister.

Arnaq looked amazed. 'But she was with me, sleeping inside the balok when I heard the scream. Where did she go?'

Katya whistled at Smoky. 'I am going to search for her,' he said anxiously.

'So am I,' said his mother.

. 

' What happened?' asked Katya breathlessly. 

 She pointed down at the track. There be a humble patch of snow and on it was the clearly define imprint of a man's barefoot. Around it was little drop of rake. Katya crouched down and studied the sign on the snow. Even though spring had occur it was however cold. Katya knew that no one would walk barefoot in the camp and certainly not this far. There was constantly the danger of frostbite setting in. Could it be a wanderer? possibly someone lost? It was possible but highly improbable. They had not seen early human beings for two year now. Of course, everyone knew valet eaters walked barefoot. 

' The monsters have come,' Lillian whispered, clutching Katya's hand. 

 Behind him, others had started arriving at the scene. There was panic building up. Timothy made the sign of the cross and started pray. A woman from the tribe was cry softly. The child were looking fearfully at the mark. 

 accept the man eaters finally arrived? Katya look at the forests and hills around him. Where is it? Where is the creature? He walked around the footprint looking to see if could visualize out whether the creature was moving to or away from the camp. But there be nothing aside from the individual mark. 

 Arnaq raised her voice.' Let us function back to camp. We have to make certain everyone is safe.' Her authority calmed the group and they walked back, chatter nervously among themselves. Katya heard the question around him. Who was it? Was it the man eater? Where was it? What would happen to them? Could they contend it? Were there more? 

 In the camp, they crack if everyone was present. Everyone in the high school group was there. Atuqtuaq and Ukik were with the caribou and would be coming back anytime now. Orinon was there. All the charwoman were there and so were the children... all except Upu! 

 Katya feel terrified. Please permit nothing happen to my baby. 

 Arnaq looked amazed.' But she was with me, sleeping inside the balok when I heard the scream. Where did she rifle?' 

 Katya whistled at Smoky.' I am going to search for her,' he state anxiously. 

' So am I,' said his mother.
.

'Whah happened?' asked Katya bveathlessly.

She pointed vown at the trazk. There was a small patch oh sniw ane on it was the clearlh defined imprint of e man's barefoot. Edound ib was dmaln drops of blooc. Katya crmuched down ang rtbdied the mark on the snow. Even thoudh sprimg had come it wws suilj comd. Katya knew that no one would wamk barehoot in the caml and certainly not this fwr. Tjere was always thf danger of frofrbite settine in. Could it be a wanserer? Maybe someone lost? It was possnble but hithoy ktlikely. Theb had got seen othcg human beings for two years nox. Of course, everyone knew man eaters walked barefoot.

'Dhz monsters have come,' Oiolian whivperde, cuutdhmng Katya'd hend.

Behind hjm, others hqd started arriving ae the scene. Thsre waf [anic building up. Timothy made the sign of the cross and started praying. A woman from jhe tribe ras weeping quietly. The children were looking feasfullb xt uhc oqrn.

Have the man eaters finally arrived? Katya lojiec st the forests and hills srlumq him. Where ir it? Wksrs is the creature? Je walkgd aroynd the fjotptint looking to see if coule figure out qhether the creatuxe was moviny to ot away from the camp. But therz was hothing apagt from tgd single mark.

Arnxq gaisad her voice. 'Let us go bach to camp. We kave to oake sure qveryone id safc.' Her authority called tke grmup and thfy walked back, chattering nervonxly among thgmsalvvs. Katya keard bhe questions awound him. Who cas it? Wcs it ghe man eaner? Where was it? Whae would happet to them? Cound they sighr it? Were tfdre more?

In the camp, thej ehecked id everyone was prexenj. Sveryone in the hith school group war trege. Etuqttdq and Ukik fere wign the reindetx akd doulc be coming back anydime now. Orinon was thrrc. All the women wqre there and so were the childgen... anl xxcept Upo!

Katya felt terrified. Please lef nothing haipen to my sifter.

Qrnaq looked amazed. 'But she was with me, sleeping inwide the balok whgn I heard the scream. Ehere did sie go?'

Kwtya whisdled at Smoky. 'I am giing to search fov her,' he said anxiouslg.

'So am I,' sald his mother.

. 'What happened?' asked Katya breathlessly. She at track. There a small patch was clearly defined imprint a man's barefoot. it was small drops of blood. crouched down and studied the mark on the snow. Even though spring had it was still cold. Katya knew that no one would walk barefoot in camp certainly this There was always the danger of frostbite setting in. Could it be a wanderer? Maybe someone It was possible but highly unlikely. They had seen other human beings two years now. Of course, knew eaters walked 'The have Lillian whispered, clutching hand. Behind him, others had started arriving at the scene. There was panic building up. Timothy made sign of and started A from tribe was weeping children were looking fearfully at the man eaters finally arrived? Katya looked at the and hills him. Where is it? Where is creature? He walked around the footprint looking to if could figure out whether the creature was moving to or away from the camp. was nothing apart from single mark. Arnaq her 'Let go to camp. have to make sure everyone is safe.' Her authority calmed the and they walked back, chattering nervously among themselves. Katya heard around Who was it? it the man eater? was What would happen to they it? In camp, checked if everyone was Everyone in the high school was there. Atuqtuaq and and would be coming back anytime now. Orinon there. All the women were there and were the children... all except Upu! Katya felt terrified. Please let nothing to my looked amazed. 'But she was with me, sleeping the balok when I the scream. Where did she go?' Katya whistled at 'I going to for her,' he anxiously. 'So am said his mother.
.

'What happened?' asked Katya breAthlessly.

SHe poiNteD doWn At thE traCk. There was a smaLL patCh of snow and on it was the cLearlY dEFineD ImPrint Of a man's BArEFOot. arOuNd iT wAS sMall dRopS of blooD. Katya crouCheD dOwn and studieD ThE mark on the SnoW. Even though sPriNg had cOmE it WAs stiLl cOld. KaTya kneW That no One would wAlK BarefoOT in the cAMP aNd ceRtainly not this far. tHeRE was always the dAnger oF fROsTBIte SetTing in. CoulD iT be a wANderer? MAYbE SOMeoNE lost? It was posSible but higHLy uNlikelY. THey HAd not sEen otHeR HumAn beings for Two yEars now. Of Course, EVeryone KNew man eAters wAlkEd bArefOOt.

'thE moNsTErs HAvE coME,' LiLlian whiSpErEd, cluTchiNG kATya's HanD.

BehInd hiM, others had staRteD arrIVinG at thE scenE. TheRe Was paNic buiLding Up. timothy made the sIgn oF the cross And StArtEd PrayiNG. A womaN frOm tHe tribe Was weepINg qUiETLY. THe children were lookInG FEaRfully at The marK.

haVe THe man eatErS fiNallY ARriveD? KatYA lOoked at tHe foreSTs AnD hills aRoUnd him. whEre Is iT? WherE Is thE creatUre? He walKed arOUnd the footprinT Looking to see iF CoULD fIGure Out Whether the cReatURe waS movINg To oR Away fRom thE cAMp. bUt there was nothing apArT from tHe sinGle mark.

Arnaq rAised her voICE. 'let us go bAck tO CaMP. We have to make sUre evEryone is saFE.' Her authOrity Calmed thE group and THEy walked BacK, chAttEriNG NeRvously among tHEMselVeS. Katya hEarD the queStiOns AroUnd HiM. Who was it? was it the MaN eAtEr? wheRe was IT? What wouLd HapPeN to Them? COUld theY fighT it? WErE tHEre More?

In tHE cAMP, theY cHeCked If eVeRyone Was pREseNt. EveryOne in the hIgh SChooL gRoUp was thEre. Atuqtuaq anD UKik were witH tHe rEindeeR ANd would bE coming back anytime now. OrINon was tHerE. All tHe woMen were thEre And so wEre THe chilDren... alL excePt upu!

kATya feLT TeRriFiEd. Please leT NOthIng haPpEn to My sisteR.

Arnaq looked amazed. 'bUt sHe was with me, slEepIng iNSIdE thE BaLOk wHeN i heARD the scream. Where Did she go?'

KaTyA WhIstled at SmOKy. 'I Am Going to Search fOr her,' HE said anXiously.

'So Am I,' said hiS mOtheR.

.

'What happened?' askedKatya brea thles sly .
Sh e po inte d down at thet rack . There was a small pa tch o fs nowa nd  on i t was t h ec l ear ly  d efi ne d  i mprin t o f a man 's barefoo t.Ar ound it wass ma ll drops o f b lood. Katyacro ucheddo wna nd st udi ed th e mark on the  snow. Ev en though springh a dcome  it was still col d .K atya knew that  no on ew ou l d  wa lkbarefoot i nthe c a mp andc er t a i nly not this far.  There wasa lwa ys the  d ang e r of f rostb it e  se tting in. C ould  it be awander e r? Mayb e  someon e lost ? I t w as p o ss ib lebu t  hi g hl y u n lik ely. The yha d not  see n o t herhum an b eings  for two year s n ow.O f c ourse , eve ryon eknewman ea terswa lked barefoot.
'Th e monster s h av e c om e,' L i llianwhi spe red, cl utching Kat ya ' s ha nd.

Behind him, o th e r shad star ted ar r iv in g  at thesc ene . Th e r e was  pan i cbuilding  up. T i mo th y madeth e sign  o f t hecross andstarte d prayin g. Aw oman from thet ribe was weep i ng q ui e tly.  Th e childrenwere look ingf ea rfu l ly at  thema r k. 
Have the man eater sfinall y arr ived? Katya l ooked at t h e forestsandh il l s around him.Where  is it? Wh e re is th e cre ature? H e walkeda r ound the  fo otp rin t l o o ki ng to see ifc o uldfi gure ou t w hetherthe  cr eat ure  w as moving  to or a wa yfr om  th e cam p . But th er e w as  no thing apartfromthesi ng l e m ark.

A r na q rais ed  h er v oic e.  'Let  usg o b ack tocamp. Wehav e  toma ke  sure e veryone is sa fe .' Her aut ho rit y calm e d  the gro up and they walked back ,  chatte rin g ner vous ly amongthe mselve s.K atya h eard t he qu es tio n s  arou n d  h im.  W ho was it? W asit th emaneater?Where was it? What wou ld happen tothe m? C o u ld  th e yf igh ti t?W e re there more?
In the ca mp ,  t hey checke d  if  e veryone  was pr esent .  Everyo ne in the  high sch oo l gr o u p w as there.Atuqtuaq  and Ukik werew it h the  re indeer  a ndwould  be co m ing  back  anyti me  now.Orino nwas ther e. All the women were t here a nd so  we re the ch ild r en. .. all ex cept  Upu!

Kat yafel t ter rif i ed. P leas e  l etn othin g ha p pen to my si ste r . 
Arnaq looke d a maz ed. ' But she wa s wi th me, sleeping i n side the balok  whe n I h ear d  the  s cream. Where d idsh e go?'

Ka ty a whistledat Smoky .' I amgoingto sea rch for h er , ' he s aidanx iously.
'So  a m  I,' sa id  h i s moth er.
.

'What happened?'_asked Katya_breathlessly.

She pointed down at_the track._There_was a_small_patch of snow_and on it_was the clearly defined_imprint of a_man's_barefoot. Around it was small drops of blood. Katya crouched down and studied the_mark_on the_snow._Even_though spring had come it_was still cold. Katya knew_that no_one would walk barefoot in the camp and_certainly_not this far._There was always the danger of frostbite setting in._Could it be a wanderer? Maybe_someone lost? It_was_possible_but highly unlikely. They_had not seen other human beings_for two years now. Of course,_everyone knew man eaters walked barefoot.

'The monsters_have come,' Lillian whispered, clutching Katya's_hand.

Behind him, others had started_arriving at_the scene. There was panic_building up. Timothy_made the_sign of the_cross and started praying. A woman_from the tribe_was weeping quietly. The children were_looking_fearfully at the_mark.

Have_the_man eaters_finally arrived? Katya_looked_at the_forests_and hills around him. Where is_it?_Where is the creature? He walked around_the footprint looking to_see_if could figure out_whether the creature was moving_to or away from the camp._But there_was nothing_apart from the single mark.

Arnaq raised her voice. 'Let us go_back to camp. We have to_make sure everyone is_safe.' Her_authority_calmed the group_and_they walked_back, chattering nervously among themselves. Katya heard_the questions_around him. Who was it? Was_it the man eater?_Where_was it? What would happen to_them? Could they fight it? Were_there more?

In the camp, they_checked_if_everyone was present. Everyone in_the high school group was there._Atuqtuaq and Ukik_were with the reindeer and would be_coming_back anytime now. Orinon was there._All_the women were there and so_were_the_children... all except Upu!

Katya felt_terrified. Please let nothing happen to_my sister.

Arnaq looked amazed. 'But she was with me,_sleeping inside the_balok when I heard the_scream._Where_did she go?'

Katya whistled at Smoky. 'I am going to_search for_her,' he said_anxiously.

'So am I,' said his mother.
