Heq (standard:Inspirational stories, 1031 words)
Author: Cyrano	Added: Mar 30 2009	Views/Reads: 3271/2071	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Shaman prays to the spirits for blubber...what comes is his destiny.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story


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

“It is the Spirit of Love.” 

“Love! What is this spirit?” 

“Such a spirit I can tell you about, though you will never fully
understand its importance until it shows itself to you. 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 morning will come soon enough. Sleep now.” 

Heq fell asleep dreaming of green nights, lightning that tears a sky
apart, herds of whales singing mystical hymns.  Morning comes. Heq is 
eager to show Shaman that he is ready. 

“Heq, you must demonstrate your skill with one last test. You have made
your spear, now you must prove your accuracy. I will go and stand next 
among the seals, 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 nods, it will be a simple task. “If your spear is wayward you will 
kill me. Do you understand?” Heq smiles, for the thought of a wayward 
spear does not enter into his mind. 

Shaman looks into the eyes of the boy. “You have come to save us. You
are wise. You will do what is right.” He kisses the boys head. Heq has 
long been ready to prove his ability. Shaman stands next to the seal 
and points out the target. Heq draws back his spear and with great 
force and great accuracy launches the spear. Shaman steps in front of 
the seal, falling dead, the spear piercing his heart. There is no 
consoling Heq, grief strikes like the claw of the Polar Bear. Love had 
found him. 

When Heq returns to the village none immediately recognized him. With
his spear he carved a great circle in the ice. The people gathered. He 
enters the circle, kneels, calling on the spirit of the ‘Great Sleigh 
Dog'. From beneath sealskin he produces the bloody heart of Shaman, and 
watches as a ravage of wild dogs tear and eat at the heart. 

Shaman had come of age. 


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