Heq (standard:Inspirational stories, 1189 words)
Author: KShaw	Added: Aug 16 2005	Views/Reads: 3723/2194	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Some lessons cannot be taught. Heq is the answer of a Spirit. Now he must learn many things.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story


“But I am ready, Shaman, see there the polar bear. A single spear.” 

“The polar bear is a large target, Heq. But there is another hunt one
must make, a great hunt, and it is to be tracked with care. When you 
find it you must not wish to kill it, but to live with it inside you.” 

“Not kill it, for what hunt can this be, Shaman?” 

“It is the Spirit of Love.” 

“Love! What is this Spirit. It is a Spirit I cannot tell you about, nor
will you ever fully understand its importance. Such a Spirit. Each 
child, each mother, each hunter in the village is your responsibility. 
When illness comes to the people they will turn to you for a remedy, 
when fearful they will find solace with you, when hungry they will rely 
on you to feed them, and when threatened they will look to you for 
protection. You will require more than your spear, Heq.” 

“How will I know this Spirit, Shaman.” 

The Shaman took Heq to a place where the seals gathered. 

“Heq, you must show your skill with one last test. You have made your
spear, now you must prove your accuracy. I will go and stand next to a 
seal, I will point to the seal and you must throw to kill, you must 
throw with great force and great accuracy, do you understand?” Heq 
nodded, it would be a simple task, he thought. “If your spear is 
wayward you will kill me. Do you understand?” Heq smiled, for the 
thought of a wayward spear did not enter into his mind. 

The Shaman looked into the eyes of the boy. “You have come to save us.
You are wise. You will do what is right.” The Shaman kissed the boys 
head. Heq had long been ready to prove his ability. When the Shaman 
stood next to the seal and pointed, Heq drew back his spear and with 
great force and great accuracy launched the spear through the air. The 
Shaman stepped in front of the seal. He fell dead, the spear piercing 
his heart. 

When Heq returned to the village no-one knew who he was. Not one soul.
With his spear he carved a great circle in the ice. The people 
gathered. He entered the circle and knelt, calling on the Spirit of the 
‘Great Sleigh Dog'. From a seal skin he produced the bloody heart of 
the Shaman, and watched as a ravage of wild dogs tore and ate at the 
heart. 

A new Shaman had come of age. 


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