her pale faced lover

Chapter 3

       "Nanook Sir, NANOOK SIR, call the Chief! Call the soldiers! The animal is caught!" shouted one of men of the tribe. 

On the floor lay a human-like struggling shape. On top of it was a net made of long leaves.  Suddenly, 20 men surrounded the animal.  Ten held a bow and some arrows and the rest held spears. Their faced their weapons at the head and heart of the animal.  

The Chief arrived and observed the animal. "Men," he concluded. "He looks dangerous. I give you permission to kill him." 

  Instantly, the animal screamed. "AAAAH! Please, please, do not kill me! I am innocent! I have committed no crime!" 

 "Guards, move back. He is man, like us," commanded the Chief.  "Who are you? And what do you want?" asked the Chief sharply. 

 "I came here by accident. I was exploring. I mean no harm," replied the man.  

"Are you sure? If you are being completly honest, that what your explaination to your attempt at killing my daughter?" Nanook interrogated. 

 "No! NO! NO! NO! That was all a misunderstanding. Please, please take this net off of me and let me stand up. Then I will explain. I promise, I won't run," the man said. A soldier looked up at the Chief. Chief Beshkno nodded. The soldier took off the net off of the man, while two others held his arms to ensure he was not going anywhere. All of the tribe had arrived by now. The man started talking. 

    "Um, hello everyone! My name is Eugene Jameson. I was heading to somewhere far north of your land but there was a long and hard storm and all my men and I fell into the water. I had a long piece of wood with me so I sat on it and floated along with the water, waiting to see where it would take me. As you all can see, I washed up here. I was very hungry so I decided to look for food. So, I took out my pocket knife. I carry my pocket knife with me everywhere in my pocket," he stopped for a breath. Nayeli, Naira, Sayen, and some other girls giggled after his last sentence. Eugene smiled at the girls. It was the most handsome, most mischievous, most cute smile that Nayeli had ever seen. 

"I used the knife for cutting branches, twigs, and stems, and possibly killed a small animal with it. I also carry my small gun with me," Eugene informed. The tribe oohed and aahed. 

"After that,  I heard some rustling near the close by bushes. I held my gun slowly ahead of me, and then ..." Eugene stopped for suspense. "And then ... I JUMPED INTO THE BUSHES!" Eugene laughed. Nayeli's heart swooned once more. "Only to hear a little girl scream! I put my palms out making the sign 'stop', and I said stop as well, but the girl must have thought I was some sort of animal, new animal, like the rest of you thought."  

"I did," Naira came out from behind her mother, smiling. "But now I know that you are harmless." 

Eugene chuckled. Nayeli and some other girls behind her sighed. "I hope you do not mind me asking you a personal question," Chief Beshkno smiled.   

     "What?" Eugene asked, a little worried that the Chief might reconsider killing him.  

"What happened to your skin?" Chief asked.  

"Poor boy," someone said from the back. "His skin must have lost its color as a baby."  

"He probably did not eat his deer meat," somebody else said. "See, Poca, that is why I tell you to eat all your deer meat. Look what happens if you do not. And you have very pretty skin," said a mother. 

"All right, mummy. But please cook it well. And you do not make it nice and sweet anymore. And sometimes it is not juicy." replied Poca.  

 Eugene was confused. "No, no, no. First of all, I do not deer meat. I am not light skinned because of that." The tribe gasped.  

Eugene was worried once more. "But, I am willing to try," Eugene chuckled nervously, hoping he would never have to try. 

"Anyways, I was always white. Even my ancestors were light skinned. It's a family thing."

  "Oh, no! He has some family disease! Anco, Millaray, stay away from him. You have both got beautiful skin," said another mother.   

"No, no! Jesus! My whole town is light skinned. Everyone's got beautiful light colored skin, like light pink, peach, white, apricot, vanilla, and sand. It is not  a disease or because I'm not eating certain things. It is just natural." Eugene corrected. 

The tribe was still confused, but did not question further. Every young maiden shrieked, "Eugene is so cute!" or "Eugene is such a nice name!" Sighs and giggles filled the air. Nayeli herself thought, "Eugene is adorable!!!" All the men, on the other hand, were intrigued by Eugene's tools and tales. 

 Eugene uncomfortably, yet politely asked, "Where will I stay? And may I please get something to eat?" 

 "Of course!" smiled Nanook. "Nayeli, meoma, would you and Sayen please take Eugene to the extra hut, alright?"  

"Yes Father," Nayeli nodded, as all the girls gave her envious glares. 

"Oh, and Eugene, when it's time for lunch, Nayeli will call you over," Nanook added.  

"Thank you, Sir, for your gracious hospitality. Thank you everybody for being so welcoming. And Mr. Chief, what should I call you and sir?" Eugene asked.  

Chief Beshkno replied, "You are welcome. You may call me Chief Beshkno and sir, Nanook sir." 

Eugene nodded. "Oh, and Eugene," Nanook and Chief Beshkno called. Eugene turned to listen. "Welcome to the tribe!" 

  Nayeli motioned Eugene to follow.  Nayeli and Sayen whispered quietly while walking; Eugene just shrugged, smiled, and followed from behind.  Nayeli stammered a few questions while Eugene kindly and confidently answered them. 

"Here's your room," Nayeli smiled.

 "Thanks! It is super nice of you to show me around," Eugene smiled. 

Nayeli blushed, "Your welcome! Ask me if you ever need something!" Eugene nodded and thanked Nayeli again. 

Nayeli and Sayen ran out back to the working huts. They sat down on a woven mat. 

"Ahhhh," Nayeli sighed and fell into Sayen's lap. "He is so striking! He has got this smile and these charasmatic eyes." Nayeli sighed once more and Sayen laughed, both thinking about this new boy they met.

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PSA: This chapter was NOT meant to offend to anybody ... it just shows how Eugene is new to the tribe/how he's different. Anyways, hope you enjoyed it :)

~ Arshia M