Tunqquallk's Tale

Excerpt from Smithsonian Research Notes - 1988 Expedition, Anonymous

"The oppression is palpable in this cave. Even lit up with our feeble floodlights, the darkness feels overwhelming - as if it is a hungry thing, ready to swallow us whole. Stuck in an increasingly dark cave, the air growing thinner by the moment, the wailing of their children... these people suffered a fate that I would never wish [up]on even my worst enemy. If I was a more superstitious man, I would even say this place was cursed. I never wish to experience the sheer terror these poor souls felt in their last minutes, and for once I am glad the dead do not speak."

***

"It's time to return home" Sanqquallk pleaded to her brother. Leaves and dust whirred past the two siblings as a thick rain began to fall. Tunqquallk remained transfixed on the horrendous blackened sky swirling above him as he peered over the cliff. The wind whipped his black hair and the shaggy pelts on his back violently, as thick rain weighed down around them. "Tunqquallk, it isn't safe. We must go back to the cave! They are waiting for us! For this storm to pass!" Sanqquallk barked. Tunqquallk's gaze remained fixated on the waves below. The water, in all its fury, felt serene. Waves rose to immense heights, higher than the biggest trees. Their white caps were darkened by the furious tempest hanging low above them. "Tunqquallk! Very well, I will leave you to your thoughts. Crazy fool, you'll be left out here all by yourself!" His sister stormed off into the brush.

Home could wait. Who knew how long this storm could last? He might be stuck inside the cave for the entire night. He wouldn't be able to breath in the fresh sea breeze off the waves - just the chocking smell of cooking smoke and unwashed people. He lowered himself and dangled his legs off of the cliffside. Even on this cliff, far from the violent waves, he could taste the crisp salt of the water.

The great storm reminded him of Ninuna's stories. Of the Beginning. Back when the land did not yet exist, and the first peoples lived with the fish in the waters. The hungry and tumultuous sea was their home, but the sea also made it so there was no stasis but only change and transformation. The people and fish were forever thrashed about, and never knew calmness nor peace. Tunqquallk envisioned Ninuna telling this story by waving her arms in the motion of renegade waves. Her crone hands projecting silhouettes of fish and people on a backlight stone wall. This was until the tree spirit descended from the heaven like a petal. The tree spirit and the sea began to converse and discuss their world. Eager to provide a respite from the waves of change, the tree spirit gave her fruits to the hungry and tumultuous sea. The sea, hunger satisfied, stopped his horrible rage and with the unconsumed core of the fruits built the islands so that they may be home to many peoples.

Tunqquallk wondered why the sea was so angry again. Why did it pound his home with so much force. Why did it darken the sky and cause the animals to flee. Why did it cause his family to cower in the dark, stuffy caves. Ninuna had mentioned these storms happened before even her ancient and wizened time, but never did they happen with so much rage and frequency. The wind howled and the tree trunks began to bend back into the hillside. Tunqquallk raised himself from the ground and began to hurry back to the cave.

He knew that even though he couldn't resist the exhilaration of the storm, back home he'd find other comforts. By the fire pits would be Sanqquallk dotting over the little ones and jostling their hair. By the cave of the spirits, Ninuna sitting with her fellow ancient ones, weaving together tales of times long past. Mixing among all would be wise-woman Kanqqulna, comforting her children and preparing them for fishing tomorrow. Past a small grove, he spotted the entrance. A faint orange from a fire flickered defiantly against the storm. Normally, old Ranqquallk would be keeping watch on the entrance, but even he decided it was better to wait inside then be soaked. In spite of the ferocious rain pelting down, a surreptitious aroma of bone broth wafted from the cavern. His mouth watered instantly as he pictured the rich brown fluid with tender chunks of mammoth tongue floating in it.

Caught again in a daydream, Tunqquallk didn't notice the ground beneath him as it slipped. Instantly, the cliffside lurched like the sea. The grove began to drag against soil. He found himself falling on his hands, scraping both of his palms on the cave floor. Behind him trees snapped and earth furrowed like the lips of angry beast. Further inside he could hear screaming echoing as the ground shook all around him. Locked in a fight or flight response, he tried to steady himself and run towards the cave's entrance. The earth itself felt like mud and his body tumbled out backwards, flung like a discarded fruit peel. Rocks shattered beside his ears as the sound of screaming began to get drowned out by a deep guttural moaning in the earth itself. In an instant the mouth of the cave closed like two gargantuan jaws before him. A gust of debris and air knocked him down once more. As the dust settled, Tunqquallk looked up to jagged grey stone laying thick upon the entrance.

"No. No. No. This can't... this... no"

"Sanqquallk! Sister! Can you hear me! Please! Are you there?!"

The stone stood silent.

The storm groaned loudly, ripping trees from their roots. A bird squawked pitifully as it was obliterated against a trunk.

The stone stood silent.

Desperate anger filled him. He took an handaxe from his side and began to chip at the grey stone. Swinging wildly, he chipped and chipped at the stone until his cut hands began to bleed and his arms began to bruise.

The stone stood silent.

With his bruised body he put all his strength into pushing the stone. Its jagged edges clawed into his arms and face. He poured all of his remaining strength out in a moment of sheer desperation as he let out a terrifying scream. In a daze of exhaustion and fear, he slumped to the drenched floor of the cave entrance, the rain and wind battering his body.

The stone stood silent.

***

The day emerged, sky red and vibrant. Tunqquallk opened his bloodshot eyes and wiped streams of tears from his face. He put a scraped ear against the grey rock. And listened, hoping for his sister's voice to tell him that she was still there, hoping that Ninuna would soothe him with another one of her tales, hoping that Kanqqulna would find emerge from the cave with the tenacity she always demonstrated.

The stone stood silent.

Tunqquallk turned from the cave and gazed forward, the sunlight illuminated a calm sea. He fell transfixed on the the light dancing upon the waves. The breeze wafted up gently towards him, smooth, calm and warm. So deep in his trance, he didn't notice when he walked off the cliff.