The Snow Walker Page #3

Would you look at me?

What are you doing?

He doesn't need

these things, you know.

Fine.

The world has many spirits.

All things ...

Breath?

Everything breathes?

Some spirits good...

some bad.

They trick you.

When you die...

"Tarquiup" will come.

Who's that?

Who is Tarquiup?

Is he a spirit?

He...

He sees you?

He watches you?

He says...

Come. It's Ok.

It's your time now.

It's Ok.

Where does he take you,

when he comes?

Good hunting.

Many fields...

fish...

walrus?

Sounds like a good place.

When you die...

you need...

You need your tools.

I see.

So, where does Tarquiup live?

The moon?

Hey.

I was just trying to figure

out whose dog that is.

You off work?

No, just a break.

Told Jimmy I needed some air.

I wanted to tell you something.

I know you feel bad, Shep.

But this wasn't your fault.

You aren't responsible for him.

Nobody was.

When it comes right down to it,

all of us are just alone in this world...

and that's just the way it is.

I brought you something.

I thought you might

like to have it.

Ok.

What are you doing?

Gettin' my stuff.

I heard they called off the search.

Yeah.

That's a tough break.

Listen, if you're looking for another flyer,

I got a buddy you might wanna meet.

He and I are partners on

a couple of side deals we got going.

I do a little speculating now

and again myself, you know?

Matter of fact, you know

we should talk.

Because, uh...

maybe we could...

work out a little arrangement?

Get out.

What?

You heard me.

Go on.

Get the hell outta here.

Before I throw you

through the goddamn wall.

Look.

Thank God!

Look at that.

How could you miss her?

Come on. I know you

guys left something here.

Alright. Come on fellas,

I know you left it. So where is it?

Come on, Shep, Pierce.

I don't believe it.

Damn it!

Nothin!

Not a note. Not a sign. Nothin!

How could they miss this?

How could they not see us?

You know, the snow is comin'.

What is it gonna get?

20, 40 below?

How we gonna eat then, huh?

How we gonna stay alive?

I don't even know

why you came for me.

But you know what

the real joke is?

We never had a chance.

We were dead the minute

we hit the ground.

(Speaking Eskimo)

Leave me alone.

(Speaking Eskimo)

I said leave me alone.

Charlie, no!

No!

Charlie?

Charlie?

What?

You Ok?

Here.

What is that?

Looks like fat.

You eat this?

Pretty good.

(Speaking Eskimo)

I was just thinking about this...

steak house in Montreal.

Called "Moishe's".

I use to always go there

with the fellas from my outfit.

I'm tellin' ya, the

steaks in this joint

were at least five inches thick.

They had it all, boy.

They had...

top sirloin, New York, rib eye...

and you walk in there,

and you could smell it...

waft into the joint,

sizzling on the grill.

They come to the table

with these giant spuds...

just swimming in butter

and sour cream...

and chives, and fried onions

and mushrooms...

and the wine, just...

flowing like bloody spring water.

Course, the fellas would

get a little tight...

gettin' lit up on the sauce,

and start jaw waggin' about...

all the crazy, dumb ass sh*t

we did during the war.

Those were good times.

Funny thing, you know, what

war does to some people.

You know, you think

you know a fella...

seems perfectly normal,

then one day...

the hammer drops,

and he snaps, you know?

He falls all to pieces.

Just because a...

what we saw over there, you know,

what we saw during the war.

Never in your wildest dreams

thought you'd see stuff like that.

You never thought you could

do the things you did.

Things you just grow

to hate yourself for.

But somehow you know

you'll make your peace with it.

At least you try.

Soon, we walk.

(Speaking Eskimo)

Here.

Put this around you.

Oh, damn.

That's enough for today.

Ok?

Oh sh*t, you're burning up.

It's Ok.

It's Ok.

You just pushed yourself

too hard today.

It's Ok.

It's Ok.

It's Ok.

How you doing?

You alright?

I'm Ok.

Good.

There was small girl.

Family. Family hunting?

She was hunting with her family?

Father...

Father was hurt?

Couldn't hunt.

The storm...

snow...

Many days never eat.

Tarquiup Inua took father...

mother...

She went away to die

because there was no food?

More food for her.

Sure.

Sister was dying.

So the girl...

You fed her with your blood.

Then what happened?

People came.

But Tarquiup never came.

Tricked him.

You are not going to freeze.

Yeah, I figure just keep headin' north...

We're bound to run into

a hunting party, or a village.

Sooner or later.

I can radio from Medivac

and get straight into a hospital.

They'll take care of

you in a hospital.

They got good medicine

since the war.

I'll tell you another thing.

We're not going to Yellowknife, either.

Take you to the big city,

like Edminton.

Ever been to the city?

You wouldn't believe your eyes.

There's cars and people,

everywhere all over the streets.

Millions of "cabunas"

everywhere.

"Moishe's"?

"Moishe's"

No, that's in Montreal.

But, they have the

same thing in Edminton.

Plus, I'll tell you what...

soon as you get out of the hospital,

I'll take you for a big steak dinner.

Alright?

Mushrooms...

potatoes and onions...

I didn't know Charlie Holladay

for very long...

but I do know he

was a good pilot...

and a good friend.

We are gathered here today

because he was taken from us.

Much too soon.

Words are cold comfort when

a young life is cut so short.

But I thought I might read

from a poem I found,

written by a young Canadian flight lieutenant

named John McGee during the war

and found in his locker

after he was shot down.

"Oh, I have slipped the

surly bonds of Earth,

and danced the skies

on laughter-silvered wings.

Sunward I've climbed,

and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds --

and done a hundred things

you have not dreamed of --

wheeled and soared and swung

high in the sunlit silence.

Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along,

and flung my eager craft

through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long,

delirious burning blue,

I've topped the windswept

heights with easy grace

Where never lark,

or even eagle flew.

And, while with silent, lifting mind

I've trod the high untresspassed

sanctity of space,

Put out my hand,

and touched the face of God."

Not very good boots.

Thank you.

My people.

Brother.

Kanalaaq.

Kanalaaq!

Kanalaaq!

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