6. The canoe in danger

surroundings Tierra del Fuego (02)You can handle a lot if you live in a place where it storms twenty-five times a year. You go ahead even though the wind blows strongly, because you never know whether you will find a fish for dinner. Or there’s a wounded marine animal left behind somewhere, because it couldn’t keep up with its group. That happens sometimes to sea lions and then they are doomed.

Father drags the canoe to the seashore. The fire from the hut comes along. They carry it carefully in the canoe on top of a heap of clay and stones. Thanks to the wet canoe skin, the clay and stones, the canoe doesn’t burn. They keep the fire slow and it delivers warmth to the children who are sitting next to it, warming up their hands. That feels pretty good in this cold. Each one takes his position in the boat. Father in the front with his fishing tools at hand. Gaméla and Sisoi in the middle guarding the fire. Mother with the paddle in the back. There is also a basket with dry grass to light the fire, some paint, two shells and a few meters of rope; those are all their possessions.

Mum paddles the canoe toward the immense waters of the sea. The first big wave breaks right in front of the canoe. The second wave falls partially inside the boat. Sisoi and Gaméla draw water from the canoe with a large shell. Dad is in the bow with the fishing spear lurking. A single bird glides over the water and takes a dip. Aha! There must be fish up there. Father points out where mum has to go, and she paddles quickly and skillfully toward that direction. It takes quite some time due to the strong wind that seems to want to drift them away from their target. They pass right next to a rocky massif. Father lifts the spear and resolutely impales a mackerel. He sees some more, catches them and ties them together into a bundle of fish. Due to the bad weather, they try to stay at sea as short as possible. Everyone is looking forward to the next season hoping for better weather. The children are bailing and bailing out the water, but the shell slips from their hands and disappears into the deep water … lost. They look in the basket in the back of the canoe. Fortunately there is another shell, but that one is small. Suddenly there is a gust of wind pulling the boat sideways. Dad bends down quickly to catch less wind. Cautiously and with a lot of effort mum continues paddling. Not far from the beach they can already see their camp and suddenly, after all, it happens … A sharp rock rips the fragile and delicate skin of the canoe and the icy water enters. How should they come ashore?

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