name was Pharoâ¦â
Blank gazes showed they understood nothing of what he was saying. âThe place where summer lives,â he repeated, pointing south. âThe place from where summer comes and sends winter back to the home of all cold.â He pointed north. Nothing. He pointed south. Bafflement.
âAnyway,â Mimk ɨ tawoâquâsk persevered, âthey brought picture signs that speak, like these, a long time gone by, back beyond the distant edge of story and of memory. See this picture mark here? It is like our picture mark for creek. And that island? These picture marks beside the drawing mean Apekwit.â
âWhatâs he saying?â Antonio asked.
âThat word Apekwit ...itâs what they call the red island,â Athol ventured. âI heard it mentioned frequently.â He turned to Mimk ɨ tawoâquâsk. âWe had a grand weekend there, didnât we laddie! Heâs a great wee lad, this Mimkâ Mimticââ
âMimk ɨ tawoâquâsk,â said Mimk ɨ tawoâquâsk, laughing. âMy name is Mimk ɨ tawoâquâskâhow many times do I have to tell you?â he repeated, purposefully running the words together in one breath, smiling broadly.
âWhatâs he saying?â Antonio repeated.
âThat enormously long, half-whispered, extremely sibilant word appears to be his name. What a time we had! I say, what a time! Sang and danced the nights away. I introduced the bagpipes. They became great admirers of my skill, I say, great admirers, clearly much moved by the blessed pipeâs music, all my stirring chants and mournful laments. Oh my. Aye. We walked delightful beachesâmile after mile of pinkish, golden sands, which they stroll for no apparent reason other than to chat among themselves, and walk off the excesses of the previous night, which are considerable and varied. There were dozens there. Not only the folk from around this bay, but their clans, and clan-friends who appeared to have come from great distances out of the northwest. They chat, laugh, take serious council, play at games of strength. Games of skill and courage. And they bathe! Daily! Some several times a day. Apparently for the pleasure of it! What madness. I can comprehend a bath after a long sea voyage. Or bloody great good battle. If absolutely, I say, if absolutely, necessary. Theyâre forever hopping out of their leather clothesâscant though they beâand leaping into the salty sea. The men on one side of an outcropping; the women, secluded from prying eyes, on the other. I myself waded one dayânot above my ankles, mind. The water on the red isleâs northern shore is unnaturally warm. The beach slopes gently, stretching far offshore. The young lads dive from the sandstone rocks into shallow bays, three or four fathom, clear as crystal, swim like otters to the bottom and return to the surface, a lobster in either hand! Lobster, gentlemen, I say, lobster as big as cats and in great number. Bays and tidal rivers, rich beyond description, creep with all manner of crustacea. I gorged on clams, mussels, enormous oysters succulent and abundant. Near their main encampment luxuriant meadows abound, ripe with vine and berry. And, my! The vistas across the numerous bays and rivers. And the colours! Red-earth cliffs, blue sea and skyâthe sky is vastâand the rolling landscape shows more shades of green then old Hibernia herself. Aye. The red island. It is a pretty place this Apekwit.â
âYes, Aâthol! Apekwit.â Mimk ɨ tawoâquâsk pointed to the island, and then to the map. âGood for you. Means the-side-of-a-boat-when-you-see-it-a-long-way-off-and-it-is-low-in-the-
water. We call it cradle-on-the-waves for short.â
They looked at Mimk ɨ tawoâquâsk, each blank as though theyâd been struck on the back of the head with a stout
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