Brother Wind Read Online Free PDF Page A

tattoo lines on her lower legs. “The oil is yours, my sister,” said Lemming Tail in a small voice.
    “Good,” Kiin said, then added, “I give half to you. Perhaps you should use it to fill our lamp. It smokes.”
    Kiin spent the rest of that day repairing her suk and unpacking bundles that Ice Hunter had left in the Raven’s lodge. At first Lemming Tail hovered over Kiin as she untied each bundle, but finally the woman sighed and said, “He cares for no one but himself. He promised me necklaces and furs, but see, there is only food, oil, and carvings.”
    Kiin did not answer, but worked until everything was put away, then, seeing that Shuku still slept, she picked up a small bladder of oil she had saved from one of the trade packs and said to Lemming Tail, “I go to see the Grandmother and the Aunt. I will be back soon. Watch Shuku.”
    Kiin took the long way, walking behind lodges and up around the village refuse pile, so she would not have to talk to other women. Let their questions wait for another day when Kiin’s tears were not so close to her eyes.
    She used a branch to scratch at the woven grass door flap of the old women’s lodge.
    “You did as we told you,” called out Woman of the Sky, her voice high and thin.
    A chill raised bumps on Kiin’s arms and scalp. How did Woman of the Sky know it was her? Kiin crawled into the lodge and stood. She straightened her suk then walked between stacks of death mats to squat before the old women.
    Woman of the Sky’s hands stopped their work on the death mat she and her sister were weaving, but Woman of the Sun still wove, and as she wove, she swayed, eyes closed, so that Kiin was not sure she was listening.
    “Yes,” Kiin answered. “I gave my son Takha to the wind spirits.”
    Woman of the Sky leaned forward, pressed her fingers to Kiin’s lips. “Do not say his name,” she said. “It may bring him here, back to us.”
    Kiin stood up. Perhaps she had been foolish to visit the old women so soon after returning to the village. Already she could feel her spirit’s frantic need to leave their lodge. What good would it do to stay here and listen to the old women and their talk of curses?
    “Your brother is dead?” Woman of the Sky asked.
    “Yes, the Raven killed Qakan and I buried him.”
    “Tugidaq,” the old woman said, using Kiin’s spirit name, “why do you say his name? Why take chances with the spirits? He has cursed you enough. What brother should use a sister like a wife? What brother forces a sister to do what only a wife should do?
    “But now that your son is with the wind spirits, we are safe; this village is safe. You are a strong woman, Tugidaq.”
    Kiin looked long into Woman of the Sky’s face. “Yes, Grandmother, I am strong,” she said. She handed the woman the oil bladder. “My husband brings you oil from the Traders’ Beach,” Kiin said.
    Woman of the Sky took the bladder and smiled. “Ice Hunter brought us oil, too,” she said and set the bladder down beside her. She began weaving again, and Kiin looked over at Woman of the Sun. Woman of the Sun’s eyes opened. She smiled at Kiin but said nothing. Kiin sat down beside the old women and for a time watched as their hands, small like children’s hands, wove split grass into the death mat. They did not speak, nor did Kiin, and finally the silence seemed to fasten itself to the ache in Kiin’s chest, enlarging the pain of her loss.
    “I am leaving now,” Kiin finally said and stood. Woman of the Sky continued to weave, but Woman of the Sun followed Kiin through the entrance tunnel. As they stood outside, the wind from the bay blowing cold, the old woman reached out, clasped Kiin’s arm, looked deep into Kiin’s eyes.
    “Sometimes my dreams are a curse,” Woman of the Sun said. “Sometimes I wish I did not know those secrets the spirits choose to tell me.” She sighed, looked out toward the bay. Finally she said, “What you have done, you have done. My sister does not