Free Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival by Velma Wallis Page B

after a few visits, they all talked more easily, and soon laughter and light-hearted chatter could be heard from inside the shelter. Each time the visitors came, they brought the two women gifts of moosemeat or animal furs, which the women accepted gratefully.
    Relations became better between The People and the two women. Both learned that from hardship, a side of people emerged that they had not known. The People had thought themselves to be strong, yet they had been weak. And the two old ones whom they thought to be the most helpless and useless had proven themselves to be strong. Now, an unspoken understanding existed between them, and The People found themselves seeking out the company of the two women for advice and to learn new things. Now they realized that because the two women had lived so long, surely they knew a lot more than The People had believed.
    Visitors came and went daily from the women’s camp. Long after they left, Ch’idzigyaak would stand and stare after them. Sa’ watched her and felt pity for her friend, for she knew that Ch’idzigyaak expected to see her daughter and grandson, but they did not come. Ch’idzigyaak harbored a secret fear in her heart that perhaps something bad had happened to them and The People did not want to tell her, but she was afraid to ask.
    One day, as Ch’idzigyaak gathered wood, a young voice behind her said softly, “I have come for my hatchet.” Ch’idzigyaak stood slowly and the wood in her arms fell unnoticed to the ground as she turned. They stared at each other, almost as if they were in a dream and could not believe what they saw. Faces wet with tears, Ch’idzigyaak and her grandson stared at each other in happiness, and no words seemed worth speaking at that moment. Without further hesitation, Ch’idzigyaak reached out to embrace this young boy whom she loved.

    Sa’ stood by smiling at the happy reunion. The young boy looked up to see Sa’ and went over to her and gave her a gentle hug. Sa’ felt her heart swell with love and pride for this youngster.
    Still, Ch’idzigyaak wondered about her daughter. Despite all that had happened, Ch’idzigyaak yearned to see her own flesh and blood. Being the observant one, Sa’ knew this was why her friend seemed sad despite their good fortune. One day after another of the grandson’s visits, Sa’ reached over and grasped her friend’s hand. “She will come,” she said simply, and Ch’idzigyaak nodded her head, although she did not quite believe it.
    Winter was almost over. A well-trodden path lay between the two camps. The People could not get enough of the women’s company, especially the children, who spent many hours laughing and playing in the camp while the old women sat beside their shelter and watched. They were grateful to have survived to witness this. No longer did they take each day for granted.
    The young grandson came every day. He helped his grandmothers with their daily chores as before and listened to their stories. One day, the older woman could wait no longer and finally found the courage to ask, “Where is my daughter? Why does she not come?”
    The young boy answered honestly. “She is in shame, Grandmother. She thinks that you havehated her since that day when she turned her back on you. She has cried every day since we parted,” the young boy said as he put his arms around her. “I am worried about her, for she is making herself old with grief.”
    Ch’idzigyaak sat listening, and her heart went out to her daughter. Yes, she had been very angry. What mother would not be? For all those years she trained her daughter to be strong, only to find the training had been for nothing. Yet, Ch’idzigyaak thought to herself, she is not to be blamed for everything. After all, everyone had participated, and her daughter had acted out of fear. She had been frightened for her son’s and mother’s lives. It was as simple as that. Ch’idzigyaak also acknowledged that her daughter had been