Chapter 4

Chapter Four

-Rosalyn-

Saturday, November 19

“Can I see that?” I asked Abby. “Sure” she replied, handing me the sword. I have always been interested in swords and vikings.

“Why would someone send us this?” I questioned, confused.

“How does this connect with the tupilak?”

Until now Ersta had only been listening, but when I mentioned the tupilak she suddenly sat up straight in her chair.

“Did you say tupilak?” she asked in a scared voice. I looked over at Abby, she looked as puzzled as I felt.

“Yes, I did. Is there something wrong?” I asked quickly.

Slowly Ersta rose from her chair, walked over to the door and quickly yanked it open. Hurriedly she went outside and disappeared around the corner of the house.

“This is very strange.” Abby whispered when Ersta still hadn’t returned. I looked around, the stone house Ersta lived in was fairly small with a table surrounded by four chairs. The wall was pretty bare except for two windows one on either side of the house, and a door leading outside  facing away from the cliff. There was also another door that I assumed lead into her room. On the wall against the cliff hung a large portrait of the sea.

“I think she knows something we don’t.” I replied just as Ersta came back around the other corner of the house.

When she sat down across from us again she had relaxed a bit, but her face was still very pale.

“What’s wrong, Ersta?” Abby asked worriedly.

Looking around again, Ersta finally took a deep breath and explained.

“There is group here in Greenland that still believe in tupilak, I  one of them before I become Christian. They  do anything to get one. Because  hardly anybody believe that anymore, they have no shaman to make one for them that they believe actually has magic.” She explained, then asked, “You have a real tupilak?”

“Yes. We don’t know who sent it to us, though.” Abby answered.

“This group, they still believe all that nonsense?” I asked. It surprised me that people still believed in that kind of thing after all these years.

“Yes, the belief was passed down the generations, my parents believed in tupilak and taught me also. It is only by grace of God that I saw the truth.” She smiled as she offered us another cookie.

I declined, but Abby accepted  it absentmindedly, as she thought about our situation. She looked pensive, soon she reached for another. I watched her stare into nowhere and realized she didn’t know how many cookies she was actually eating. I giggled as I watched her.  

“Does anybody know you have tupilak?” Ersta questioned.

I thought a bit. Yes, there were people after us, but did they know we had the tupilak with us?  Yes, they would have to know, why else would they follow us?

Abby was the one to answer. “I think some men from back where we are from know we have it. They followed us here, to Greenland.”

“That no good. They cause trouble if group know there tupilak in Greenland.” she answered worriedly.  “May I see?”

I hadn’t let my suitcase out of my sight the whole trip. And had also taken it along into the house when we arrived. I didn’t want to take any chances.

“I am sure that would be fine.” I answered when Abby had given her consent.

I opened my suitcase and carefully took out the tupilak. I had wrapped it in cloth to keep it from damage as we traveled.

“Here it is.”

I set it on the table, Ersta gasped when I removed the cloth.

“Many people will want this tupilak, you must hide it.”, she whispered, looking around again.

“Do you have a safe place?” I questioned.

I thought it would probably be better to keep it in a safe hiding spot instead of carrying it around in my suitcase all over the place.

“Aap, yes, I think I do.” she stood up, walked over to the window, and looked outside once more before walking to the portrait. Gently she lifted it off the hook, it looked heavy, so Abby and I quickly ran over to help. Carefully lowering it, we leaned it against the wall.

Behind where the portrait had been there was an outline of a small door. All Ersta had to do was press on it  and the wall  popped open revealing a safe behind it.

“Isn’t this kinda cliché? You know, having a safe behind a picture?”

I asked jokingly.

“Yes, it so ‘cliché’ as you say, that I thought no one would think of it!” she answered with a laugh.

     I felt relieved having the tupilak in a fairly safe place.

Abby and I decided to spend the night in this home of our sister in Christ.

After supper,  Ersta brought a single mattress out of the adjoining room, and set it in the open front room.

She graciously gave us her own bedroom.  We kindly thanked her, and asked if she wouldn’t mind if we would take a stroll before we settled in for the night.  With a smile that reached her eyes, she said, “Come and go as you please, my house your house.”

    Ever since Abby saw the icy beaches of Greenland from the air, she hasn't stopped pestering me to go walk on them.

That is, when we weren't busy running from villains, and meeting new people. I guess she hasn't pestered me as much as it first felt!

As we walked on the beach, with the fresh chilly air blowing our hair, we sensed God's amazing love for us. The waves were lapping at the shore and hundreds of stars were now visible in the clear sky. We stood in awe of the big pieces of ice lying on the stony beach. The love of God that surged through us as we stood looking at His wonderful creation washed away all sense of fear and danger.  

In the stillness of the night air, God once again reminded us that He is in control.

“Isn’t it gorgeous?” remarked Abby quietly, afraid to break the peaceful silence.

“It makes one wonder how God even sees us sinful humans through all His majestic beauty. He even sent His own Son to die in our place, to pay for our penalty of death, and rose from the dead, so that we may have eternal life. He made us in His image.” I spoke in amazement and awe.

Abby spoke up once more, “And that's why we are on these expeditions, to get the gospel message out there.”

“Isn’t it wonderful to live in the will of God?” I whispered breathlessly.

“It  sure is!”Abby said enthusiastically.

The air was steadily getting colder, so we headed back to the house.

Chapter 3

Chapter Three

-Abigail-

Friday, November 18

Finally, I can relax! I hate airports. They are so confusing, and busy!

I thought I would never find Rosy. My head still swam from the bustle and the hundred times I had to ask directions to the same place.  

Now we are in the air, the hum of the jet’s engine thrumming in my ear, sleep tugging my eyelids. But, I could not sleep, my mind was wide awake, buzzing with too many thoughts.

I was tense, thinking about the men Rosy had seen on the bus.

I look at her, and I can see she is nervous; either from flying or the thought of being followed by thieves. I think it is both.

I smile and take her hand. “Let’s pray?” I suggest.

I can see her relax, then she smiles and nods, then I begin.

“Jesus, keep us safe on our journey, and give us wisdom. Let the glory be to you in this. Thank you for this opportunity. Amen. ”

Rosy remembered a verse, and said aloud, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”

We both felt much better now, and I could see the calm on Rosy’s face.

As I am unable to sleep, I got out our laptop and began recording our journey, writing everything down from receiving the package to now.

It gave me a headache, so I decide to practice Kalaallisut with Rosy.

Later, while I am walking to the bathrooms, I pass two men.

They are watching me.

I quickly turn my eyes away, hoping they did not notice that I saw them, my heart beating so loud I was afraid it would be heard.

Once I returned to my seat, I, in hushed tones, filled Rosy in on the men who were watching us.

Stealthily, sort of, Rosy makes a quick peek over her shoulder.

She whips her head around, her eyes are wide and she looks slightly pale.

“Those are the two men who were talking about us on the bus!” she squeaks.

I sigh disappointedly, but of course they wouldn’t just let us get away when they have just been talking about us and following us this morning.

I sigh again. I do not like being followed by crooks.

I almost sigh once more, then decide to educate myself on Greenland instead, as it seemed to be the more practical thing to do.

Soon my head nods, my eyes close, and  I lull off into sleep, dreaming of Antonio and his partner, chasing, always chasing, reaching for us.

My legs will not move.

Antonio’s fingers reach for my neck; I scream.

I am being shaken violently, then the dream vanishes.

Rosy is staring at me, with some shock, I note.

So is every passenger on the jet, including the two men.

I swallow, still shaking, then breathe deep and try my best to act natural.

I don’t think it is working, so I just ignore the stares.

The rest of the flight to Greenland, I stay calm, but I hear people whispering about me. I sink into my seat and do my best to camouflage in.

“How do these things manage to  happen?” I ask Rosy despairingly.

She grins. “You’re Abby.”

That is all the explanation I need. This is going to be a miserable flight.

We will only be arriving tomorrow. I think maybe I shall cry.

-Saturday, November 19-

I slept well, surprisingly, considering yesterday’s events.

I do feel slightly nauseous, though. I am not used to sleeping in the sky.

I wonder how the pilot stays awake, if he indeed had.

I didn’t want to think of that.

We would be landing today, Lord willing, and thank goodness.

Later in the afternoon, the pilot’s voice crackles through the intercom telling passengers to prepare to land. I hug Rosy with force and she laughs at my silliness.

And I am always the one who is talking about wanting to fly. Balderdash.

A little while later, we are landed!

It is cold outside, and my jacket is in my suitcase, so I shiver in my sweatshirt.

Rosy has thought ahead and kept her jacket by our seats, so she is warm, that smart girl.

We get our luggage, then look around.

“What do we do now?” Rosy asks. I am wondering the same thing, then I see a man with a sign that says our names.

“Look! I think there is our ride.” I tell her, so we jog over.

When we reach the man, he smiles broadly and  says, “Tikilluarit!” Welcome.

“Qujan. Qanoq ateqarpit?” I thank him and ask his name.

His name is Daavi and when we ask how he knew we were coming and why he was waiting for us,  he explains in broken English and hand gestures that he was told to rent a car for us and meet us at the airport. He does not know who it was that told him, it was just a note and some money.

Daavi gives us the keys and bids us good luck and goodbye.

We get in the car, and Rosy takes out the address that was in the box with the tupilak. Thankfully, there is a GPS in the car;

I can hardly find my way from one street to another back home.

The GPS takes us out of the city and into a desolate place, there are no people, no traffic, hardly a house to be seen. A place of dismal emptiness.

Finally, we arrive at a lone house on a cliff by the sea.

We walked up to the door, then looked at one another.

Rosy motioned for me to do the knocking and talking, which I did.

The door creaked and a little old woman, with long black hair and black twinkling eyes, stepped out.

Wrinkles fanned out across her face when she smiled. “Aluu. Ajunngilatit?”

She is  greeting us and asking how we are doing

“Ajunngilanga. Illimmi qanoq ippit?” I reply.

“Ajunngilanga, qujanaq.” Her smile broadens. “Qanoq ateqarpit?”

We introduced ourselves, then she introduced herself as Ersta.

She invited us in and began warming water, and placed brownies and cookies on the table. “Tuluttut oqaluttarpi?” I ask.

She smiles. “Yes, I do. Would you like some coffee, or hot chocolate?” she replies with a thick accent.

“Coffee, please.” we both say simultaneously with relief. It is hard communicating when we know so little of the language.

Soon we were all sitting around the table sipping coffee and eating treats.

“It seems like you have been expecting us. It isn’t coincidence that there are fresh cookies and brownies, is it?” Rosy asked.

“Yes, I expect you. I cannot say who tell me. You find out sometime. I am friend of who send you tupilak.” She bit into her cookie.

“I get package today. Note tell me to give to you.” She got up and went into the next room. She returned with a cardboard box.

We cut the tape and opened it. I grasped the hilt of a thousand year old  vikings sword hilt. The blade was broken off about three inches from the guard. I could barely make out some writing on the remainder of the  blade.

I brushed some of the rust and dirt off.

“Old Norse.” Ersta says. “Icelandic viking sword.”

There is a piece of paper taped on the end of the pommel.

“Elliðaár.”

That is all. No address; but there is a boat fare.

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

-Rosalyn-

Friday, November 18

I had just packed my last things in my suitcase when I heard a beep, I looked down at my communicator watch, as I turned up the volume I heard Abby’s panicked  voice on the other end, saying that the artifact had been stolen.

Only then did I realize I had forgotten to tell Abby the the day before that I had taken it home with me.  Quickly I told her before she panicked too much.

I knew Abby, she would probably blame herself for letting it get stolen. She was relieved that I had it, it was a close call.

I made sure once more that I had everything I needed to take along to Greenland, said goodbye to my family, and then headed for the door.

I was excited, I have always wanted to go to Greenland and now I had a chance.

I walked to the bus stop and waited for the next bus to arrive.

I checked the schedule, “11:45 A.M.” It was going to arrive.

I checked my watch. “Only 5 minutes till I leave” I said to myself. Today was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and the birds were singing.

Finally the bus arrived, I walked up the stairs, said where I wanted to go and then paid for passage. The bus was fairly large with numerous comfortable looking fabric seats lining the sides.

There were only a couple people scattered throughout the bus so I had a large selection. Walking to the back of the bus I sat beside a window.

My flight is scheduled for 1:30 P.M. and it takes 1 ½ hours to get to the airport, so I sat back and relaxed.

Just as the bus was about to leave, when two rough looking men jumped on, paid for passage and sat down a seat in front of me.

I didn’t think anything of their sudden jump on. I figured they had just been a little late, so I continued looking out the window.

As the bus left the station however the two men started a hushed conversation. Although I tried not to at first, I couldn’t help but overhear.

“You think we’ll make it on time, Antonio?” asked the younger looking of the two.

“Of course we will, I am never late for anything!” the man Antonio retorted. “Why do ya ask? Are ya nervous?”

“Of course not! Its going to be way easy following them two treasure hunters around Greenland.” he defended himself.

“We ain’t gonna follow them remember? We’s just gonna do the real crimes, you know stealing and such, so the bosses get off the hook skot free if they’s caught.  Now stop talking, someone might overhear.” Antonio replied ending the conversation.

Soon they were both snoring away as if they hadn’t a care in the world.  

Obviously these crooks were talking about Abby and myself.

‘So there are people after the artifact after all’ I thought to myself. ‘They even have a boss, or bosses as they said.’

I would tell Abby as soon as I got to the airport.

As I looked out the window I thought of how exciting it would be to have another mystery to solve, but we can’t do it without the help of God.

“Lord, please protect Abby and me as we travel.” I prayed. “And protect us from people who want to steal the artifact for their own glory and not for yours.” I don’t know why people would want to steal a religious artifact that nobody believes in anymore.

Soon I dozed off, it seemed like only a couple of minutes but it was really and hour when I was awakened by squealing brakes. I had arrived at my destination. I quickly gathered my suitcase and an extra jacket, I will probably need it in Greenland where it is cold most of the time.

The men in the seat ahead of me were still sleeping when I got up to get off the bus. I smiled to myself, ‘maybe they will be late after all!’

It felt good to stretch my legs.

The airport was busy so I had to weave my way between all the people, I quickly found a not so busy place where I could call Abby on my watch.

“Abby? I have arrived at the airport, where would you happen to be?” I whispered so as not to draw attention.

“Rosy! Yes, where would I happen to be, I hardly know myself!” She replied with a laugh. “Where are you?”

I checked my surroundings, I was standing near some waiting couches, just beyond them was a Chinese restaurant.

“I am at a chinese restaurant.” I replied, wondering how many of them there were in a big airport like this.

“Hmm, we should have picked a place to meet before we came.”

Yes, we should have, I realized now but we can’t wish for something that’s too late to change.

Finally we agreed to meet near the security check place. I quickly started walking, we had no time to lose or we would be late for our flight.

It was hard work getting through all the people, some leaving and some entering. Finally I got to where Abby and I planned to meet.

She wasn’t there yet so I waited patiently, checked my watch, “It’s almost 1:00 already.” I said to myself.

I sat down on a bench close by and waited. Finally Abby arrived panting hard.

“Sorry I took so long, Rose, I was further away from here then I thought I was.”

I chuckled “I thought you stopped for lunch and a nap!” I joked.

“Well….. It was tempting,” she replied as she plopped down beside me on the bench. “I did stop to pick up a snack for us to share though!”

She broke a delicious looking pastry in half and gave me a piece, I must admit it was really good.

“We better get through security before we are too late.” Abby said sensibly.

Quickly we gathered our things and headed for the line up. Our suitcases were light enough to be carry on’s, so we would get to keep them with us on the jet. This suited me just fine since I didn’t want to let the artifact, which is in my bag, out of my sight.

Soon we were walking up the plank into the jet. As we walked to our seats in the back I looked at all the faces to see if Antonio and his partner were on the same jet, didn’t see them, but there were still more people boarding.

We found our seats and sat down, Abby got the window, and I sat beside her.

Only then did I tell her in a hushed voice, all the while watching all the people coming on board, about what I had overheard on the bus.

Chapter 1

Chapter One

-Abigail-

Friday, November 11, 2016

This morning, a package arrived at the door of our headquarters.

It says it is to “Abigail and Rosalyn”. There is no return address, which makes me curious.

I call my cousin Rosy over and we begin tearing the package open. Inside was a rather plain wooden box with a latch. It looks very old, and smells old.

There is a small inscription on the lid, in a language I do not know.

Rosy snapped a picture and researched what language it is.  It is Kalaallisut, a Greenlandic language.

It says “Lluatitsilluarisi”, meaning “good luck”.  We are puzzled by this, then decide that opening the box might give us an explanation. Inside is a figurine, which we learned is called a tupilak, and a small note. The note is in Kalaallisut, so Rosy translates.

It says:

“Nuuk Havalimani”

The airport. Then there is an address beneath it; that is all it says.

There are two airplane tickets for Greenland taped on the back of the note!

Rosy and I grinned at one another.

This looked like the beginning of  a scavenger hunt! But how the sender of the package  knows our names…..

Excuse me, I forgot to introduce us.

There’s me, Abby, and my partner, Rosy.

We are professional  scavenger hunters, explorers, and archeologists.

In our minds, anyway.

Wasting no time (mostly, we were just excited), we began learning Kalaallisut phrases and researching the area we will be heading to. I examined the tupilak, to see if it might have some writing or something on it. It did not, so I put it back in its box.

The date on the tickets give us a week to pack, so for now we will do research and learn as much of the language that we can.

We started with researching the tupilak. We learned that in Greenland, the tupilak is a monster fabricated by a practitioner of witchcraft or shamanism. Creepy.

Well that explains why it looks so gruesome. It is believed this started 5,000 years ago. People do not believe that stuff anymore.

We read on. How they were made is really creepy, and what was believed about them. One would make them at night, using only the forefinger and thumb to assemble the bone pieces, lest it fail. In what? It’s magic, I suppose. It was then wrapped in old skin, then a song was sung in belief that it would give it life.

Magic this and that. Ridiculous! I am glad it is not made from human bone, as they apparently were at times. Though it was interesting to find out about the tupilak, it was a little scary.

I decided to put the box on our desk for the time being, but as I passed the window, a movement caught my eye. Someone’s head quickly disappeared!

I rushed back to Rosy, whose fingers were clicking away on the laptop.

“Rosy! I just saw someone disappear by the window. I think we’re being spied on.”

Rosy, always quick to react, jumped up in alarm. Perhaps I am overreacting. I try not to, for Rosy will always react more than I. I try to stay calm, but I guess seeing a head beneath my window caught me off guard. I take a deep breath.

“Perhaps it is nothing. We are in town, after all. There are always people around.” I try.

Rosy cocks an eyebrow then laughs. She knows what I am trying to do.  

“Let’s keep our eye out. This is an artifact after all, even though not an extremely valuable one.” she replies. I had not thought of its value.

“How much do they sell for?” I ask.

Many go for a nearly a thousand dollars or more. Wow! I did not think they would be that valuable, and ours is not a replica, but an original tupilak.  

Perhaps it is valuable enough to steal. Or enough to be followed.

I guess you could say Rosy and I are quite widely known. It has not happened yet, but I should not be surprised.

Then I remembered. We had prepared for this sort of thing when we first began, and got a safe. We kind of have a museum with all our souvenirs from previous adventures, which is actually just an old warehouse, but we keep it locked.

Not very thief-proof, I hate to admit.

I pour my thoughts to Rosy, who suggests getting security cameras.

I thought so too. Then I had another thought.

“Rosy, why would we still have everything in our warehouse if there is a thief about, trying to get our artifacts? There are plenty more valuable ones in there than this tupilak.”

She doesn’t know what to say. Then she speaks up.

“Maybe there is someone who knows more about this package than we do, besides the one who sent it.” she suggests. Hm. I had a feeling this venture would be different that what we have ever been on.

-Friday, November 18-

This morning we leave for Greenland! I check my watch. We should be leaving in half an hour. Rosy will meet me at the airport.

Before I leave, I decide to check on the warehouse, and the security cameras.

The door creaks when I open it. I switch my flashlight on, since we don’t have lights in here. My boots clunking sounds loud as I walk around slowly in the silent warehouse, looking at every  ‘souvenir’ as I pass them, remembering each journey it took us on.

Now I wonder why no one followed us then.

We had far more valuable things than this time.  Something is not right.

I walk faster. When I reach the place for our  tupilak, it is gone!

As a run to our computer room, I smack myself in the forehead over and over.

“Abby, how could you be so dumb? You never suspected, all this time!” I scold myself.

I run the cameras to see who stole the  tupilak, but there is nothing.

Our cameras have been disabled.

I hold in the button on my communicator watch. “Rosy, our tupilak has been stolen. The security cameras have been disabled. Someone cut the cords.”

Her voice crackles through. “I thought this might happen. I took the tupilak out of its box. It’s in my suitcase. The thief only has the box!”

I breathe in relief. But I am not satisfied. Who knows who might steal us blind while we’re gone? But then, if there is someone follows us, they will be right behind us, not here.

I push it to the back of my mind. Right now, I have a flight to catch!