 his father looking intently at the creature.

Katya was flabbergasted. 'It's coming towards us. It's going to kill us!'

'If we don't fight it here, we'll have to fight it in the camp,' said his father.

The thing suddenly bent down on the ice floe and started to paddle furiously towards the shore. It roared, desperate to reach them.

Atuqtuaq offered the gun to Katya. 'I have three bullets with me. Shoot it in the head.'

'I... I... can't,' Katya stammered, confused.

His father was calm. 'Katya, one day you'll have to lead the tribe. You cannot be afraid.'

'Father, shoot it... please. I can't. I just can't.' Katya begged. This was a nightmare. There was no way he could take a careful shot at the thing. He could hardly look at the monster. Somewhere deep down a voice told him he was a coward. But he didn't care. 'Please father, shoot it!'

Atuqtuaq was grim. 'It's just another hunt, son. Sooner or later we all die. We can't choose our fate but we can decide how we meet it. Look at the danger squarely in the face.'

Katya took the gun. His whole body was shaking. The creature stood up again and seemed to be calculating how to reach them faster. Katya aimed at it and fired immediately. The bullet grazed its elbow. It roared furiously and began to crouch and move about. Somehow it seemed to know it had to avoid staying still when facing a gun.

Katya loaded the second bullet with trembling hands. The creature had started jumping from ice floe to ice floe, coming closer and closer. It moved with astonishing speed, sometimes running, sometimes crawling.

Katya took the second shot. This time he completely missed it. The thing was moving too fast for him to aim properly.

'It wants to kill you. It wants to kill everyone you love, your mother, your brother, your little sister...'

Katya took a deep breath. There was one bullet left. He had to find his courage. He had to take an unhurried calm shot or else... He quietened his mind as his grandfather had taught him. He studied the movements of
his father looking intently at the creature. 

 Katya was flabbergasted.' It's do towards us. It's sound to kill us!' 

' If we don't fight it here, we'll have to crusade it in the camp,' said his don. 

 The matter suddenly bent down on the ice floe and started to spank furiously towards the shore. It roared, desperate to strive them. 

 Atuqtuaq offered the gun to Katya.' I have three bullets with me. Shoot it in the point.' 

' I... I... can't,' Katya stammered, confused. 

 His father was calm.' Katya, one sidereal day you'll have to lead the kin. You cannot be afraid.' 

' Father, shoot it... please. I can't. I precisely can't.' Katya begged. This was a nightmare. There exist no way he could take a careful shot at the matter. He could hardly look at the monster. Somewhere deep down a voice told him he was a coward. But he didn't worry.' Please father, shoot it!' 

 Atuqtuaq was grim.' It's just another hunt, son. Sooner or later we all die. We can't choose our fate but we can decide how we meet it. search at the danger squarely in the face.' 

 Katya take the gunman. His whole body was shaking. The animal stood up again and seem to be calculating how to reach them quicker. Katya aimed at it and fired immediately. The bullet grazed its elbow. It roared furiously and began to crouch and move about. Somehow it seemed to know it had to avoid stay however when facing a gun. 

 Katya loaded the second bullet with trembling hand. The creature had started jumping from internal-combustion engine floe to ice floe, coming closer and closer. It move with astonishing amphetamine, sometimes running, sometimes crawling. 

 Katya learn the second shot. This clock time he completely miss it. The thing was move too fast for him to aim by rights. 

' It wants to kill you. It wants to kill everyone you love, your mother, your brother, your little sister...' 

 Katya took a deep breath. There was one bullet train left. He had to detect his courage. He had to take an unhurried calm shot or else... He quietened his mind as his grandfather had teach him. He studied the movements of
 hid father looking intentln at the creaturg.

Kqtya wes flabgergastea. 'It's coming towards us. It's joint to jill us!'

'If we don't fighg it here, we'll hace ti fight it mh the camp,' sajf hiv father.

The thikg suddenly bent down on dhd nce floe and started to paddle furiotsly toeagds the shore. Yt rpwred, desperate to reach them.

Atuqtuaq orfered uhe gun to Katya. 'I have three bullets with mf. Shlot it in the head.'

'L... I... can't,' Kajga frammered, conwused.

His father was camm. 'Katya, one day you'll have to uead che tribe. Yiu cajtot be aframd.'

'Fathvr, shoot it... please. I wan't. I kust can't.' Katys bxggee. This was a nightmarx. There was no way hg could tane a careful shot ar rhe tving. He ziula hzrvly look wt vhe monster. Somewhere eeep down a voice tplq him he was a cowarq. Fut he didn't care. 'Please father, shoot iu!'

Atuqfuaq was grim. 'It's just qnother hunt, son. Soongr or latew we all die. We can't choose our fate but we can dacide fow wc medr lt. Look at the danger squarely in the face.'

Katrz uool the gun. His chole body was snanimd. The creaturg stood up again and seemed ho be cwlculqting how to teach them faster. Katya aimwd at it and dired immediately. Che bullet gxazed ots ekbow. It roared furiouslv and gegan to crluch and juve about. Somehod in seamed to know it had to avoyd stayinj stikl when facong a dun.

Katya lladed the second bullet aith jremblhng hands. Hhe creature had started jumpinj from ice flpe to ice floz, comikg closer and cjoser. It moved with aftonirhing spees, sometmmes running, sometimes crdaling.

Katya tmok the fecobd syot. Thir time he complrtely missed it. The thing was moving boo fxat for him to ano properly.

'It wanys go hipl yjg. It wants tm kiul dferyove you love, hour mother, your brother, youd little sister...'

Katua took a eeep brewth. There was one bullet left. Ht had vo finv his voutage. He had to take an unhurries calm shlt jr else... He qtietcned his mind cs his grandfather had taught him. He stuvied the movements of
his father looking intently at the creature. flabbergasted. coming towards It's going to fight here, we'll have fight it in camp,' said his father. The thing bent down on the ice floe and started to paddle furiously towards the It roared, desperate to reach them. Atuqtuaq offered the gun to Katya. 'I three with Shoot in the head.' 'I... I... can't,' Katya stammered, confused. His father was calm. 'Katya, one day have to lead the tribe. You cannot be 'Father, shoot it... please. can't. I just can't.' Katya This a nightmare. was way could take a shot at the thing. He could hardly look at the monster. Somewhere deep down a voice told he was But he care. father, it!' Atuqtuaq was just another hunt, son. Sooner or die. We can't choose our fate but we decide how meet it. Look at the danger in the face.' Katya took the gun. His body was shaking. The creature stood up again and seemed to be calculating how to faster. Katya aimed at and fired immediately. bullet its It furiously and to crouch and move about. Somehow it seemed to know it to avoid staying still when facing a gun. Katya loaded bullet trembling hands. The had started jumping from floe ice floe, coming closer It with running, crawling. took the second shot. time he completely missed it. thing was moving too properly. 'It wants to kill you. It wants kill everyone you love, your mother, your your little sister...' Katya took a deep breath. There was one bullet He had his courage. He had to take an unhurried shot or else... He his mind as his grandfather had taught him. He the of
 his father looking intently aT the creatuRe.

KatYa wAs fLaBberGastEd. 'It's coming towARds uS. It's going to kill us!'

'If we dOn't fiGhT It heRE, wE'll haVe to figHT iT IN thE cAmP,' saId HIs FatheR.

ThE thing sUddenly benT doWn On the ice floe ANd Started to pAddLe furiously tOwaRds the ShOre. iT roarEd, dEsperAte to rEAch theM.

Atuqtuaq OfFEred thE Gun to KaTYA. 'I Have Three bullets with mE. shOOt it in the head.'

'I... i... can't,' KAtYA sTAMmeRed, Confused.

HiS fAther WAs calm. 'KATyA, ONE daY You'll have to leAd the tribe. YOU caNnot be AfRaiD.'

'father, Shoot It... PLeaSe. I can't. I jusT can'T.' Katya begGed. ThiS Was a nigHTmare. ThEre was No wAy hE couLD tAkE a cArEFul SHoT at THe tHing. He coUlD hArdly Look AT THE monSteR. SomEwherE deep down a voiCe tOld hIM he Was a cOward. but hE dIdn't cAre. 'PleAse faThEr, shoot it!'

AtuqtuAq waS grim. 'It's jUst AnOthEr Hunt, sON. SooneR or LatEr we all Die. We caN'T chOoSE OUr Fate but we can decide HoW WE mEet it. LooK at the DAnGeR Squarely In The Face.'

kATya toOk thE GuN. His wholE body wAS sHaKing. The CrEature StOod Up aGain aND seeMed to bE calculaTing hOW to reach them faSTer. Katya aimed AT iT ANd FIred ImmEdiately. The BullET graZed iTS eLboW. it roaRed fuRiOUsLY and began to crouch anD mOve aboUt. SomEhow it seemed tO know it had TO AVoid stayIng sTIlL When facing a gun.

katya Loaded the sECond bullEt witH trembliNg hands. ThE CReature hAd sTarTed JumPINg From ice floe to ICE floE, cOming clOseR and cloSer. it mOveD wiTh AstonishiNg speed, sOmEtImEs RunNing, sOMetimes cRaWliNg.

katYa tooK The secOnd shOt. ThIs TiME he CompletELy MISsed It. thE thiNg wAs MovinG too FAst For him tO aim propeRly.

'iT wanTs To Kill you. it wants to kill EvEryone you lOvE, yoUr mothER, Your brotHer, your little sister...'

KatyA Took a deEp bReath. therE was one buLleT left. HE haD To find His couRage. HE hAd tO TAke an UNHuRriEd Calm shot or ELSe... HE quieTeNed hIs mind aS his grandfather had TAugHt him. He studieD thE movEMEnTs oF
 his father looking intent ly at thecreat ure .
Ka tyawasflabbergasted. 'It' s coming towards us. I t's g oi n g to ki ll us !'

'If we d on' tfi ght  i t  h ere,we' ll have  to fightitin  the camp,'s ai d his fath er. 

The thingsud denlybe ntd own o n t he ic e floe and st arted topa d dle fu r iouslyt o wa rdsthe shore. It roa r ed ,  desperate toreachth e m. Atu qtu aq offered  t he gu n  to Kat y a. ' I  ha v e three bulle ts with me. Sho ot itin  th e  head. '

'I .. .  I. .. can't,'Katy a stammer ed, co n fused.His fat her wa s c alm . 'K a ty a,  on ed ayy ou 'll hav e to lea dth e tri be.Y o u cann otbe a fraid .'

'Father,sho ot i t ...  plea se. I  can 't . I j ust ca n't.'  K atya begged. Th is w as a nigh tma re . T he re wa s  no wa y h e c ould ta ke a ca r efu ls h o tat the thing. He c ou l d  h ardly lo ok att he  m o nster. S om ewh ered e ep do wn a vo ice told  him h e  w as  a cowa rd . Buthe  di dn' t car e . 'P leasefather,shoot it!'

Atuqtuaq was grim. 'It ' sj u st anot her  hunt, son.  Soo n er o r la t er  we all d ie. W ec an ' t choose our fate b ut  we ca n dec ide how we me et it. Loo k a t the da nger sq u arely in the f ace.' 

Katya to o k the gu n. Hi s wholebody wass h aking. T hecre atu res t oo d up again an d seem ed  to becal culatin g h owtorea ch  them fas ter. Kat ya  a im ed  at  it a n d firedim med ia tel y. Th e  bulle t gra zedit se lbo w. It r o ar e d  fur io us ly a ndbe gan t o cr o uch  and mo ve about.  So m ehow  i tseemedto know it ha dto avoid s ta yin g stil l when fac ing a gun.

Katya loade d  the se con d bul letwith trem bli ng han ds. The cr eature  hadst art e d  jump i n gfro mice floe t o ice  floe ,comi ng clos er and closer. Itm ove d with astoni shi ng s p e ed , s o me t ime sr unn i n g, sometimes cr awling.

K at y atook the s e con dshot. T his tim e hec omplete ly missed  it. Theth ingw a s m oving toofast for  him to a i m pro p er ly.
'It  wants  t o k ill y ou. It wan ts to  killev eryone  youlo ve, your  mother, your brother,your l ittle  si ster...'
Ka t yatook a de ep b reath. The rewas  onebul l et le ft.H ehad to fi nd h i s courage .  H e h a d  t o take an u n h u rri ed ca lms hot or  els e... He quietened his mind as hi s gr a n dfa the r  had  t aught him. Hestu di e d  the mov em ents of
 his_father looking_intently at the creature.

Katya_was flabbergasted._'It's_coming towards_us._It's going to_kill us!'

'If we_don't fight it here,_we'll have to_fight_it in the camp,' said his father.

The thing suddenly bent down on the ice_floe_and started_to_paddle_furiously towards the shore. It_roared, desperate to reach them.

Atuqtuaq_offered the_gun to Katya. 'I have three bullets with_me._Shoot it in_the head.'

'I... I... can't,' Katya stammered, confused.

His father was_calm. 'Katya, one day you'll have_to lead the_tribe._You_cannot be afraid.'

'Father, shoot_it... please. I can't. I just_can't.' Katya begged. This was a_nightmare. There was no way he could_take a careful shot at the_thing. He could hardly look_at the_monster. Somewhere deep down a_voice told him_he was_a coward. But_he didn't care. 'Please father, shoot_it!'

Atuqtuaq was grim._'It's just another hunt, son. Sooner_or_later we all_die._We_can't choose_our fate but_we_can decide_how_we meet it. Look at the_danger_squarely in the face.'

Katya took the gun._His whole body was_shaking._The creature stood up_again and seemed to be_calculating how to reach them faster._Katya aimed_at it_and fired immediately. The bullet grazed its elbow. It roared furiously_and began to crouch and move_about. Somehow it seemed_to know_it_had to avoid_staying_still when_facing a gun.

Katya loaded the second bullet_with trembling_hands. The creature had started jumping_from ice floe to_ice_floe, coming closer and closer. It_moved with astonishing speed, sometimes running,_sometimes crawling.

Katya took the second_shot._This_time he completely missed it._The thing was moving too fast_for him to_aim properly.

'It wants to kill you. It_wants_to kill everyone you love, your_mother,_your brother, your little sister...'

Katya took_a_deep_breath. There was one bullet_left. He had to find his_courage. He had to take an unhurried calm shot_or else... He_quietened his mind as his_grandfather_had_taught him. He studied the movements of