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ON PATROL

Mekkar grew up in a region where the power nations of the world seem to have interest in. For what reasons, he was unsure. The historical records show that his homeland has been desired through the ages for specific resources. To him that means those are items that can be used for specialized military means. For these very reasons there was a great need to protect their lands from being overrun. Some resistance had to be exhibited to prevent outright thievery. Thus, when Mekkar came of age he had to be trained like a soldier and go through the mandatory military training.

Normally, the first extensive combat related drilling and instruction time period usually was around two years. There was also required retraining intervals of a few months every five years until a person their very late elder years. Women were not excluded either, as there were just not enough people in the region. Females had a choice between regular and militia duty. The ladies might have to turn any type of manufacturing company into one producing military equipment or goods in a very short period of time.

After the initial boot camp, everyone also had military weapons that they took home with them. Each town and many villages even had more sophisticated weapons mini-armories located within them. With this type of open access, Mekkar felt that being trained in these areas would be grasped easily. Past history also played a part in the preparation readiness of the inhabitants. It was due to numerous enemy invasions, brutal treatment of the local natives, and havoc created upon their lands.

Henrik’s oldest son, Mekkar remembered when enemy warplanes and helicopter gunships would arrive overhead and started firing away at them when he was younger. The first time Mekkar was aware of a skirmish happened when he was seven years old. The boy was on a reindeer trek and remembered Asnak, Antti’s brother, had gotten shot in the back by a fully armed, swooping helicopter and a number of animals being picked off as well. Poor Asnak didn’t make it and lost his life that day. Mekkar had been aimed at from the sky also. He figured that, as a small boy, he was a hard to hit target. This occurred as the adults were shouting instructions for any inexperienced, younger members to be hidden from danger.

Those memories fueled Mekkar desire to be properly trained on who the enemy was and how to defeat them. Exacting a little revenge for being shot at as a boy was also justified by him. Soon afterward, Mekkar had the various leaders of the community teach him how to properly use the military items available in his village. He absorbed the information like a sponge and caught on quickly. He now felt he was ready for next time the enemy would show up. Later on as a teen, Mekkar experienced these arms in action himself when Antti had him shoot at an elevated enemy fighter plane in the sky. Mekkar missed. Antti did not and blew it apart with a hand-held surface to air missile launcher.

Near his village anti-aircraft guns and rocket launchers were strategically placed and camouflaged by the terrain. It seemed that some of the batteries were old, from an earlier period, possibly World War II. Hand-held weaponry was also hidden in the brush and could be used to fire back when loaded and physically cranked into position. Mekkar didn't understand some of the implications to all these activities until he reached his service age. He couldn’t accept that a powerful outsider wanted to pick on them. Mekkar contemplated the potential reasons, but arrived at few answers. However, his desire was to help fight back in any he could and not be completely defenseless is a trait that became more ingrained as he grew up. Mekkar was not one to take the hit and turn the other cheek. His passion to seek of immediate retaliation was exposed as a weakness in other endeavors such as hockey. It resulted in much time spent in the penalty box.

After recovering from major surgeries that ended his ice hockey career, Mekkar was finally ready to complete his obligations of military service. He was the oldest person in his platoon. On one occasion, a group of four soldiers had to go on patrol to find an enemy aircraft that had been brought down, by someone else, after invading their airspace. The goal was to pinpoint the location and bring back the pilot – dead or alive. All of the four were natives of the region. However, none of them were from the same village and their homes were far away from this place where they were stationed. This meant there were some differences among them. The loaded up their gear and headed out on their skis to navigate on the snow topped ground. They had to search a specifically determined section in an area that none of them was truly familiar with. Fortunately, cross-country skiing covers a lot more area quickly than on foot.

The four troops had been out for a number of hours carrying out their mission, in the freezing temperatures. After extensively searching, they never found any signs of a grounded plane or aviator. Instead, they did encounter a single polar bear in the distance. Mekkar had seen larger ones before and didn’t spot any cubs nearby. As the animal reached a specific range away from them, Mekkar set his sight on his standard issue machine gun and fired a shot. He was an excellent sharpshooter when on the hunt back home. Thus, Mekkar knew that he had hit his target and confirmed it in his scope. He saw a metallic object lodged in the bear’s skull, right between the eyes. The arctic bear continued coming their way at a faster pace now. This panicked the rest of the patrol and they deserted Mekkar. As they were leaving one, in the group, gave Mekkar a grenade launcher along with some of the ammunition. The patrol had been supplied, at the outset, with only one of these weapons.

Next, Mekkar fired another shot from his gun and the bullet impacted the same exact spot right behind the first one. The polar bear sped up his approach. Mekkar thought to himself that if the animal could have laughed in his face right then, it would have. The village where Mekkar came from had a tradition of no retreat from a battlefield for any reason. Alf and Lasse both say that is the basis for Mekkar’s extreme stubbornness in many parts of his overall personality. He was now stuck with figuring out a solution, and fast. Mekkar began loading up the more powerful armament and positioned it in the correct position. At the same time, began to get defiant in his attitude. Even challenging the bear with “Let’s go!” and other similar comments.

Yet, Mekkar is not stupid and aimed the grenade launcher at the polar bear’s stomach as opposed to his head. Since, the two earlier shots were not effective in slowing it down. Mekkar fired his weapon and then dove into the snow to avoid any potential shrapnel as the gap of space between them was narrowed now because those large bears have a rapid pace. The arctic soldier figured he would get just one attempt to take care of the problem, otherwise he would be dead. The explosive device did its job and blew the bear apart sending blood and guts in all directions. Some of the remains ended up on Mekkar’s all white military apparel as well. Even though this grossed him out, Mekkar felt it was still better than being a snack. He was hoping that someone else had heard the explosion and come back to help him. After an initial pause, Mekkar realized that he was on his own and removed his outer layers of clothing to burn them. Then, he buried them in the snow as he knew that wolves would soon be attracted to the remains. Fortunately, Mekkar had heavy long-john underwear underneath and it was still a good distance back to the base. Even though it was about zero degrees Fahrenheit (-17.77 degrees C°) outside, at least the skiing would keep him somewhat warmer. Later, when he reached his destination Mekkar sought out those three that had left him alone. He wanted to chew them out and kick their butts. Nevertheless, his superior officer approached Mekkar instead and told him, “At least, you are still alive to tell the story”. 

FURTHER NORTH

Mekkar had a relative from his mama’s side of the family who lived even further north than he did above the Arctic Circle. When Mekkar was young, he and his younger brother Alf would travel with Sirga to visit her relatives in that area. Most of the time his papa wouldn’t accompany them on their infrequent journey near the top of the continent. In those days there wasn’t even a paved road between the closest small town and the small inlet village on the other side of the island where Gretta lived. This was especially hazardous during the latter part of the calendar year when the road was basically plowed snow pack. Very much like a dirt road to make it accessible to vehicle traffic at all. Frequently, it was easier to get there by boat.

The inlet was a small fishing village of people who gather their livelihood from the nearby Arctic Ocean. That is, when the waterway approaches were not frozen over. The area hasn’t changed much since then, except for local animal observation tours that cater to travelers. Many tourists hope to see rare wildlife that inhabit a cluster of islands nearby.

The boy played in deep snow in the open area next to Gretta’s house. It wasn’t really a flat field in the usual sense, but a series of small hillsides to climb on. Most of the houses and the small number of businesses were mainly located on one strip of land. Otherwise, the surrounding landscape was fairly barren with just brush plants. Trees are unable to gain roots and grow on the rocky hills that are mostly confined by water. At least, that would be the average visitor’s perspective. Those same rocky plains would be blanketed in snow during wintertime. At times, the powder could be up to little Mekkar’s waist. For him that was one way to interact with a few of the local kids in outdoor activities. The choices were extremely limited as there wasn’t many people living in this area to start with.

Every so often, polar bears would arrive on the shoreline from one ice flow or another. Their goal was to scour around on land looking for any scraps of food they could find to fill their aching bellies. One time, Mekkar saw a rare event that was not only remarkable, but showed him the power possessed by these animals. A regular bear had arrived this far north on the tundra, which was out of the ordinary. Mekkar wondered why that bear was there when there almost no trees of any significance to forage on. Usually, many land animals don’t travel this far north of the forest areas due to the lack of available game. Mekkar thought that this fairly large brown bear must have gotten lost somehow and was way out of his element. It might possibly be delirious from hunger. When Mekkar eventually spotted this scene, he tapped some of the other kids on their shoulder. He wanted the whole group’s attention and warned them to be aware. The kids began to send signals between them and whispered to each other to be quiet. The hope was that the wandering unexpected visitor wouldn’t notice their presence very easily.

Of course, neither Mekkar nor any of the other children on that snowy hillside were stupid enough to yell at the lost animal. They definitely didn’t want to attract its attention. It was a good thing that bear was way over on the other side of the inlet and far enough away from them for any real danger to occur. The youngsters continued to keep their wits about them. Still, none of the now huddled children saw the large polar bear arrive into their view until it was nearby the lost brown bear. The other bear must have come upon the floating ice from another direction, thought Mekkar. Everyone assumed both were both males in gender because no cubs were there. However, when both animals were almost face-to- face one could see the arctic beast was much larger in size and towered over his counterpart. Someone pointed out that a territorial confrontation was about to occur. The polar bear then suddenly moved forward while still standing straight up on his hind legs. What an imposing figure he was. The two of them wrestled for a bit. Next, the arctic animal raised its hand and gave a back-handed swat to the lost brown bear’s head. A separation and decapitation occurred. The now deceased beast’s head went flying away from the torso for a few feet. After that, the smaller bear’s whole body fell to the ground with a resounding thud that sent tiny shockwaves.

Wow! The kids thought with the mouths aghast. They only whispered their surprise under their breaths in the cold air. This reaction was not only due to their frightened state, but because they were hoping to avoid the attention of the victorious animal. Too late! The lighter colored bear had used its keen sense of smell and could easily smell the little ones from a distance. It was decided among them, the kids should now respond with action and Mekkar led the group of kids back to the houses in the village. They figured the adults would know what to do to scare off any aggressive animals. They immediately began functioning on pure adrenaline. Full awareness with regard to exercising the fight or flight response and other undeveloped human mechanisms within their little beings. Soon, they all reached their destination back to the village structures. By the time they all reached their destination, each of them was completely out of breath. Yet, they didn’t seem to notice. Mekkar felt that the group did not care at this point. The desire was for the curious children to be in a secure place and out of harms way.

HAPPINESS ON THE FERRY

On a few occasions Mekkar and an assortment of his buddies would board a round trip excursion ferry from one of the larger cities to another and back. There were a host of different routes to choose from that left from that spot to a variety of intended destinations. They all said the main reason for this jaunt was they wanted to visit other people they knew across the water. Mekkar himself did not believe it and mentioned that was not the main intention at all. Since the trip itself was an overnight journey the collection of rebels figured why not party and have some outrageous fun.

At the time underagers could have a run of the boat minus a lot of restrictions they encountered on land. It did help that everyone in their bunch appeared to look older than they really were. First of all they could drink duty-free and was much cheaper in cost. Sometimes, that meant also getting hammered with a small number of crew members. The gang had done this sporadically, so they were on a first name basis with a portion of boat employees. Mekkar and his pals were seen by the crew as relatively harmless. The chums all thought the junket and the coastal stop in between was a good place to meet different women too.

As soon as the transport pushed away from the dock Mekkar, Eppu, Kallio, Vanha, Mikko, and a revolving cast of characters would start up the flurry of inebriation. Engaging in revelry was part of the action as well. In other words, party throughout the night. A wide selection of booze was available for consumption: Beer, vodka, other grain spirits, rum, bourbon, tequila, and more. Mekkar endeavored to try and experience as much of the different flavors at his disposal each time. Well, as much as his body could tolerate. Not forgetting the basic staples of alcoholic beverages the Arctic warrior already enjoyed.

Mekkar problem occurred when he would mix the hard stuff with beer. His system, especially his stomach, did not like this too much. As it would happen, he would feel the effects quickly. Then, proceed to get sick due to the mixing of the two different types of drink. Otherwise, when Mekkar stuck to one or the other he would arrive in a good festive state without the sickness and nausea.

The lack of extra taxes on the spirits on the boat made the liquor prices less expensive. Thus, the gang ingested more. Mekkar and his friends also saved a bundle of cash by usually renting one room or two at most. Not a cabin for each individual which would have cut into the amount of money on hand for partying. The troop rarely stayed in any of the rooms they did hire unless it was to place to pass out or bring female companions back to. Much of the time was spent run around the decks in a crazed state of drunken madness or playing pranks on others. To many outsiders it would be hilarious to watch them in action.

This type of activity on their part would be in full swing early in the journey. That is, way before reaching any halfway point of the shortest trip between two distinct locales. A few other forays might involve short stops at islands and coastal entrances along the way.

The pack would party all night long. On this particular trip there was a band onboard. So, Mekkar and the group definitely took advantage of that! On some trips they would reach the main destination city and stay on the boat not bothering to go ashore. Then, depart on the same course back to where they originated, to do it all over again. On the sojourn back, the fellows could be quite loaded.

In one instance, Mekkar and his buddies were going down in one of the elevators and Mekkar got sick by mixing the consumed booze. He became queasy from the combination and assimilation of the different beverages. As a result, Mekkar threw up in a big way on the floor of that lift. His barfing session was followed by others who saw it, were affected, and did the same. It became a considerable mess. Mekkar and the gang reached their floor and got out rapidly. They didn’t want anyone else to notice who had made the nasty mess.

As they walked away laughing, carousing, and carrying on, most of them noticed an older couple about to get into the same elevator they had just left. There was a thud. The old woman had slipped and fell on her bottom in their vomit. Mekkar thought those people should have noticed the puke on the floor. At the very least, the nasty smell of it before getting into the lift. He concluded the reason why the older ones were not aware beforehand because they might have been drunk too! Mekkar still muttered to himself, “They are so stupid”. The little old maid started blurting out derogatory statements and swear words in a loud manner not caring who heard. She said, “Those spoiled brats. Uncontrolled heathen!” and she went on and on cursing for a bit.

The elderly couple probably assumed that Mekkar and his friends didn’t understand what they were saying. The boys had been steady conversing in a totally different tongue on the boat and in the vicinity of the other guests. However, Mekkar and the gang understood every word that came from those seniors’ mouths. They just pretended not to understand. Mekkar along with the rest of his posse just thought it was funny and continued to laugh and joke about it. Still, there was plenty of time to carry on their merry way to consume more booze and create more commotion.

ON THE TREK & ENVIRONMENT - PART 1 (B)

Later on, Mekkar thought his original analysis was correct as he listened to the main trek leaders speak with each other in the sauna tent. Frequently, he would pretend to be asleep or not appear like he was paying attention. Good thing for him that he kept his mouth shut and was absorbed by the discussion environment going on around him. The boy attempted to recall in his mind any similar past examples as what was broached in the sauna. Unfortunately, Mekkar was unable to find any comparisons. He resolved to ask questions about any concerns he had, the next time he had a chance. However, this was not right time.

Mekkar soon figured out that the leaders of the trek were not referring to this journey, but their own past adventures. Some had involved being in the nation’s military. There were no details whether it was related to required regular military service or militia duty, otherwise known as regional home guard. The youngster overheard one of them say the destroyed equipment along the ground over there was not one of theirs. Yet, the boy did not know where that equipment came from and the adults weren’t giving up more details. Many in the group wanted to drop the subject altogether as not alarm the others on the trek. A small number of the adults there appeared to have no interest in describing details of past horrors they had seen. They didn’t want to be reminded either. Why relive painful memories?

Previously in the village Mekkar has heard the air raid sirens, but he usually ignored them as false warnings and didn’t respond with any cautionary measures. Here before him was real evidence and live carnage. He had the realization that sometimes ignoring those alarms can have consequences. It was not pleasant to see and the eyesore of strewn out wreckage penetrating his mind. He detected that there was more than one flying apparatus that had been destroyed, he counted at least three maybe four. Arms, legs, other body parts, plastic, and metal pieces were visible too and the scene him ill with dread. Mekkar thought it looked worse than any trip to the butcher shop he had been to. He was definitely disgusted with the view around him. He had an awful feeling in the pit of his stomach. A sensation of distressful nausea was the result. With that, the group still continued on their way. Mekkar heard somebody make another related comment near him. He decided to seek out answers to calm the anxious state he was now in.

Antti approached Mekkar and replied to the boy feel better, “Yeah, I used to be a scout in a special military unit and these are not ones that we used. These helicopters are deployed for war. Someone else has shot them down. You can tell.” Mekkar was wondering why he had not heard any explosions or gunfire near them. Still, the boy did not grasp everything Antti was speaking about. Mekkar was aware, by Antti’s speech intonation, that devious intent was carried out through someone else’s actions. The young trekker understood those helicopters had been knocked out of the sky, but didn’t know why. Being the curious kid that he is Mekkar began to question anyone he could regarding how did it happen?

Those images would haunt and preoccupy Mekkar’s thinking for the next few days. The visions haunted Mekkar and kept him up most of each night. He was too worried to close his eyes and go back to sleep. This was not a good thing. Mekkar did not want to be distracted too much. Ansetti pointed out that Mekkar’s lack of extended rest could become a concern and possibly affect his performance. He was brought along on this expedition to learn needed skills to use for future treks. Mekkar was required to perform his normal duties like all the herders in the group. There was a codependency within the group that involved each member of the trekking party. Everyone depended on him as he did on them. In fact, due to his youth he relied on his leaders much more than the other way around.

The inexperienced young herder started to let his thoughts wander with fearful questions such as what if those people came back and saw the mess. How would they respond in retaliation? Revenge perhaps? The concerns flood the boy’s brain as he listened to Antti speak.  Mekkar had to calm himself and ask Antti, “When might they be back? Would they try to get us all? Why? We didn’t cause this.” The main worry firmly planted in his still developing mind was, why did this occur? The youngster was beyond understanding and comprehension of the situation at this point. He heard the words, but he did not understand. The lack of shuteye was making matters worse for him. Ansetti thought Mekkar was slightly delusional.

Ansetti was a large man, big and strong Mekkar thought to himself. The boy observed that Ansetti is almost as big as my papa. Mekkar always was of the opinion that Henrik was a much bigger than normal individual and was correct about this. Yet, Mekkar had a belief that the person with the most experience, which described Ansetti, had the most answers.

So, Mekkar attempted to ask the mighty Ansetti about these matters, but Ansetti was not in the mood to talk about it at this time. Even Ansetti looked somewhat perplexed and worried about this situation as well. A few of the others tried to unsuccessful hide their anxiety from the boy and Mekkar didn’t know what to make of it. It was further reinforced when Mekkar discerned the look on the chief of this trek’s face. This made him worry even more. An increase of additional stress Mekkar was already afflicted with and could do without right now.

It was odd that as he heard Antti repeated similar speech to others on the trek. He said that to the effect of surrounding nation’s own military aircraft and helicopters don’t normally fly in this area unless there is terribly, terribly wrong. So, there has to be a reason they were overhead recently. The band of herders saw other debris as they strode by. More items were scattered along the ground. It was estimated that the items were in the hundreds and that was what could not be identified. Mekkar was still alarmed and this feeling was increasing the more he saw. However, the overriding chore was keep the animals on task and calm as avoid any possibility of a frightened stampede.

Mekkar was now preoccupied with just getting to the town that was not far away now. He thought that would be the best answer and the safest habitat for the trekkers. Others in the group were of the opinion that some protection and cover was better than being out in the open. Mekkar agreed with that opinion. He also thought there might be more overhead activity to be anticipated soon. In either case, their path would bring the group into the town to get needed supplies and replenishment. It seemed to Mekkar that this last part of the trip, before they reached the town, became more difficult. Their arrival could not have come at a better time because they all could use the rest.

The lad’s thoughts in his head started flowing as he entered the community. He said to himself silently that there something peculiar about this place. Mekkar wondered if he had been here on a previous occasion. The faces look eerily similar, along with the clothing and its basic colors, and even the décor of the structures as compared to back home. Plus, other features as well. There were some differences also. The town was not only larger than Mekkar’s home village, but appeared to be more modern also. On this day, quite a few tourists from the continent were visiting. Mekkar village never has this many visitors at one time. He noticed there was less of an international flavor here, among the travelers, than back home. Animals, mostly reindeer, far exceeded the number of people staying in this place.

The adolescent still stayed on task and his group began to keep track of which reindeer were theirs and which were not. That way there would less hassle and confusion created through mixing of animals and afterward the hectic sorting out process. This is a tough assignment, but Mekkar along with others in his group felt they were up to it. It dawned on Mekkar as he remembered that each herder has their own distinctive branding mark, usually on the ear. No two are alike. This determines whose reindeer belongs to whom. It is extremely helpful, with identification, when moving larger herds.

It was an overwhelming sight to see the sheer numbers of reindeer herders and individual animals they saw in the valley on the other side of the town. There was a overflowing of people as opposed to the relatively small size of the town. At least, the boy thought so. Mekkar speculated after listening to his fellow trekkers that maybe all of these extra groups flocked there because of the situation in the skies up above. Outsiders outnumbered the locals by a great margin. It was a battle for everyone to pickup their supplies and find space to stopover here, due to all of the extra people. Mekkar walked with Antti, Ansetti, and a few of the trek leaders. Most felt that the town was not quite prepared for this onslaught. The trekkers finally found a location just outside of the town to set up the tents for a day or two. Then, they went on their way.

Sunshine was a bright break as the trekkers continued on. By noontime the clouds came rolling in. The mood of Mekkar and some of the others changed just as quickly as the weather. They knew they were about to encounter another fierce storm. This one appeared to be more vicious than the ones they had faced recently. This time it was damp, wet, soft snow that fell down from the sky in torrents and resembled a blizzard. Everyone’s ability to carry out their duties was hindered for awhile due to lack of visibility. Interaction by the herders was the least of the problems as the communication methods changed. It was done by only through calls, yells, and other sounds between them. Regular speech was ineffective and normally not loud enough to bridge the distance and the current elements. Unfortunately, this bad weather continued day after day. They bypassed another small town on their journey because there was no good area large enough for them to setup camp. They had plenty of food, yet everybody was weary from the harsh travel conditions.

Mekkar didn’t want to fall asleep because realized predators might notice and there would be a greater chance of an attack against him or his group. Speed of movement continued to get slower as the temperature dropped, but the tribe continued on. Even after rationing, this band of trekkers ate all of the food and used up most of the supplies. At that point they had to stop soon to re-energize and formulate a plan. Mekkar put on some clean clothes. Lucky for him he located a pair of high boots that fit him. The winter flakes easily reach a level up to his knees. The youngster overhead another adult saying it was odd and not right for the season to encounter such wet snow in this area.

Nobody anticipated or could have predicted this no one. Mekkar thought to himself, ever since he had seen the strewn out helicopter wreckage, that everything seemed out of order. Events had become very weird and peculiar in his inexperienced mind. Mekkar fired himself up with outward motivation and felt he was ready. His demeanor was if we are going to have to fight, then bring it on! This was Mekkar’s attitude; actually more of hostile characteristic exhibited by this situation. A temperament inherited from his mama, Sirga. Definitely, this disposition was not the best mindset necessary to survive in this Arctic environment. Any wrong mental outlook on a trek could kill you, if you are not careful.

Few outsiders know this area and its past history. Some are only aware as far back as the end of World War II. Mekkar was uninformed, but others in the party have known that foreign aircraft roam this area on a regular basis. They have been doing it since the last Great War under the guise of keeping the area free of invaders. Ansetti, Aslak, & the leaders thought that was a ruse to conduct additional not well known activities. In times gone by, other nation’s militaries invaded this region and spread far beyond the individual country originally targeted. During that time a few invaders were soundly defeated after quite a bit of damage was done to the territory and environment. Many things were completely obliterated and buildings were burned en masse.

The youthful Mekkar could sense the local’s cautious view when any military action was being conducted in this area. Battle exercises were treated with suspicion by those who live in this region as a result of past brutal atrocities. Juhani brought this subject up with Mekkar and asked the boy whether he would be extremely bothered if his home had been destroyed. How about the region decimated by foreigner armies as in the past. Only a handful of nations could relate to that type of carnage. For example, the residents of a couple of Japanese cities that were nuked near the end of World War Two could relate. How about the German metropolitan areas were fire-bombed unmercilessly from the air during the last world war and so on? They persevered on the trek. During the next few days they were exposed to more of the same destroyed objects in the snow. The blizzard could not completely hide them. Mekkar figured that maybe some of the storms must have played a part in the fragments he now witnessed.

Mekkar wondered where the time went as it they prepared the camp of animals and tribal members for the night nearby a different hamlet. This community was much smaller than the town they stopped at previously. Mekkar more accurately described it as a village, with about the same inhabitants as back home. The trekkers labored and at the beginning constructed the temporary sauna tent. It was like a teepee and many of them wanted to enjoy relaxation time in there, after completing their work. It is ironic and contradictory, warm and toasty in the sauna, yet freezing cold outside. There is an opening in the center of the teepee, but the chilliness doesn’t seep in because of the flame inside. Since heat rises it forced any smoke from the fire to escape through the cylinder hatch.   

Antti and rest of the trek leadership discussed and agreed on a strategy of staying put to outwait the repeating storms they expected to continue for some days. Outside the wind blew and blew. Nevertheless, due to the construction and study design of the native nomadic portable dwelling in use for many years, those inside were unaffected by the conditions around them. Anyway, Mekkar observed these things and listened at the news of Ansetti who said, “They (the group) could be in for a long stretch.” Blizzard after blizzard came upon them. There was no letting up. They could tell that some of the trekkers were wondering when a break in the atypical cycle would occur. The hope was for a nice return to normal for this time of year in this district.

A person’s natural dangerous tendency is to fall asleep, when outside, during these frosty conditions. It is a battle because that is the last thing you should do. An individual’s body might go into shutdown or shock mode the colder it gets. Drinking alcohol deceives the mind into thinking that one is warm and is fully functioning at the correct internal temperature. The reality of physical effects upon the body is still there and real damage cannot be ignored. Fortunately, even the young Mekkar was trained to notice this trend and fight his natural inclination during his guard watch time outdoors. The awful weather partially changed the schedule among the herders. Total neglect of duty was out of the question. Required functions still had to be done with modifications. Survival was always at stake as enemies could show up at any time and cause mayhem.

In spite of the best intentions of the leaders in riding out the storm waves, it was not to be. A new course of action was undertaken to now attempt to resume the trek and optimistically move away from the barrage of strong weather. As they trekked along, more snow accumulated. Snow can fun for some of those who do not see it very often, sort of a novelty. This was no illusion as the struggle on the path continued. Mekkar also went forward despite the bombardment of big flakes and thick snow descending out of the sky. The powder was deep and very soft as his boots planted deeply with each little step. At times, Mekkar felt like he might be swallowed up by all of the whiteness. The youngster himself was exhausted and annoyed by the lack of sunshine. He forgot about the positives aspects. Snow actually provides some brightness and light especially in dark areas and the dead of winter. Yet, this trip was not happening in full winter according to the calendar. The fact was the boy was weary and not enjoying himself as he yelled out loud, “Give us something else besides this!”

Older ones on the journey were used to these extreme changes as they had been on many treks. The problem was Mekkar is still quite young, inexperienced, and new to all of this. Antti told Mekkar that many of them felt the same way about the unpredictability when they were young like him. Now with more experience they are better adjusted to that way of thinking. Another in the group mentioned to Mekkar that familiarity in a way brings about an ignorance of bliss. Blocking out some of the negatives and just except them because they are there. A realization or discovery materializes that as an individual you are powerless to control certain aspects or unable change them.

Now in this region as one turns and travels further to the north toward the sea they are find themselves near the top of the mainland, the continental shelf. Normally, in this type of arctic area one can find winter huts, winter homes, and additional temporary shelters. Some of them are constructed in a way that is burrowed into the earth like a beavers’ residence or manmade caves built into the hillsides with plenty of space. However, in this particular area Mekkar did not notice any of those types of dwellings. This was in the flatland, not a mountainous expanse, what could be considered a valley in the Arctic. Basically, this was the equivalent of a desert and usually described as the tundra with sparse rolling plateaus.

Mekkar estimated after about five days of this same routine, they were approaching another reasonably sized township in the north-country. As they got within about ten kilometers (6.21 miles) away the landscape was sight to behold. The town was very high on the latitude scale and was much further north than some other places Mekkar could think of. Plus, the bad weather started to let up and the morale of the group improved.

Nevertheless, the military air intrusions had come back with a vengeance due to better visibility. Mekkar had heard that the residents here had encountered this for many years. Mekkar thought that they were sort of indifferent to this activity above them as a result of overexposure to this type of activity. As they reached closer to the town, Mekkar saw more debris. More military wreckage than he had ever seen before in his life, worse than earlier on this trek. The whole crew predicted there were more guns here. This information made Mekkar more afraid once again as he didn’t who the actual enemy was.  Clearly it was decided that weapons would not used here and have their group stuck right in the middle of a skirmish.

Later in the night, Mekkar would hear tales in the sauna about past history. What had happened to this whole region in the days of old. Mekkar didn’t think this still existed today. He was under the impression that it was just a myth or only occurred in the past. When Mekkar saw more of these remains, he was disturbed again like before. His belief system was altered and began to think these incidents still happen on a regular basis, even today. His mind refused to fully believe this and accept it, despite the evidence before him. If he admitted that these expeditions were really so frequent and not imaginary, then he would really be increasingly frightened. For practical reasons, Mekkar had to ignore it because paralysis from fear would affect his reindeer herding duties on the trek.

HOME GAME

There was a home game in front of the same fans that support the local team Mekkar was a defenseman of. The opponent that night was the mighty and experienced USSR National hockey squad. Yes, that one that had been victorious against international teams from all around the globe. It was also the same group that had a high winning percentage versus professional teams from top leagues everywhere. The Soviets delivering the goods on a consistent basis in international tournaments too! Many considered Mekkar’s opponents on this night as the best squad in the world, including the National Hockey League.

At first, Mekkar thought it was a prank setup by some of his teammates and didn’t believe it. Soon enough, he found out the game was on and the true foe was confirmed. The teen from the Arctic made a crack to a media acquaintance of his, “Maybe we are just a warm up until their next match versus a top notch adversary.” The Stars team Mekkar was playing for during this time was young in comparison. A scant number of members on his squad had not even participated in any matches outside of the country yet. However, the home side was still a quality minor league equivalent professional team with a winning record.

Mekkar was still not awed by the Soviets as many in the building and most of his team were. He had encountered wild animals in their habitat, so to him no person could ever intimidate him. Even though Mekkar was quite aware that his team was greatly overmatched, he always strived for victory each time. Still, it would take a massive effort for his club to defeat their rival on this evening. Mekkar expected a monumental upset to occur.

When the game began the Russians jumped on the Stars early and often. It was quickly become a rout. At least, Mekkar salvaged a little local pride by scoring the only two goals for his team during the first two periods. One of the defenseman, on Mekkar’s side, had previously faced off against powerful squads in the Soviet Union and had experienced this same result. Mekkar was not amused and by the third period, he turned physically vicious and continued to hit everyone on the other side. He crossed the line himself in regard to the rule book, but it didn’t matter to him at this point. He told a friend afterward, “I was returning the favor for the nasty stickwork and uncalled cheap shots that were not penalized. You know me; I will not tolerate that under any circumstances.”   

The Stars coaching staff was not happy with the team’s on-ice performance because the Soviets crushed them 10-2. They also told Mekkar flatly, “It is not your job to pot goals and be that deep into the offensive zone. That is, so close to the opposition net. Your main task is to prevent scoring by the other squad against us. Look at the scoreboard, they tallied ten.” Mekkar snapped back, “Those guys did not score any goals versus our team while I was on the ice. I was a plus two in the plus/minus rating for the match. Exactly, what is the problem?” This response by the insolent youngster infuriated the team coaches and administrators that were present and embarrassed. They were indignant with Mekkar’s remarks considering the fact the Stars simply got their rear ends whipped.

Team management responded forcefully before Mekkar left the bench area by telling him that he was suspended a game for each goal he had scored that evening. Thus, the suspension was for the duration of two matches that he would miss as a result. Mekkar was ticked off after hearing these words and shouted at the club officials. Anyone who was close enough could hear his response of, “Screw You!” He proceeded to the dressing room and rapidly changed out of his gear. Next, the young hothead avoided everyone, including any reporters, and left the arena in a foul mood.

Mekkar interpreted the situation and overreaction by the club as being extremely unreasonable. The Arctic Warrior felt that he had performed very well against a high quality opponent for the first part of the match. He also saw his ferocity in the last portion as a type of exhibition in civic pride. Mekkar refused to return to represent that Stars team in any more games remaining on their schedule for that particular campaign. He stated that he might consider coming back, in the future, if those in charge and the coaching staff were replaced. Therefore, Mekkar went back to play for his regular regional squad. He felt they better appreciated for his all around contributions while continuing to pile up victories because Mekkar loved winning more than anything else.

ON THE TREK & ENVIRONMENT - PART 1 (A)

[This story is an improved version from mini cassette recordings of Mekkar’s actual voice in 1990 while hiking and walking as a University student; Then, it was converted to a Windows Media Audio File and transcribed in 2011. Mekkar’s spoken English skills are nowhere near as polished as Saavo’s are.]

For the next week or so it is very warm here for this area. No one living here was used to this, Mekkar recalled. Over the eighty degrees Fahrenheit (26.66° Celsius) was considered hot. This was not normal for this time of the year or this long of a time period. The effects are very noticeable around this area and people get ill if it gets too hot, especially if it stays that way. Mekkar was also affected by these heat issues. His symptoms included not feeling in top peak form and being constantly nauseated. This heat wave seemed to last about a whole week straight. There were no clouds to be seen nor was it overcast in any way.

There are some benefits from uninterrupted heat emanating from the sun that melts the snow and does provide some relief from battles against winter storms. However, that is usually short lived. Mekkar would rather be cold where one can dress for it versus being too warm. His thinking is that he could take off all of his clothing and still feel roasting hot like in an oven. He doesn’t think of himself as food to be cooked! Since they were stopped at this point near cover and shade to protect them from the abnormal warmer weather, Mekkar had time to think. He must combat his boredom of just waiting around for the weather to improve. Plus, provide distractions for himself to alleviate his uncomfortableness.

He began to remember the nearby bridge his group had recently passed. Usually, in the early summer those crossings and bridges are above you as you pass. This time, he could only see the girders or the top part of the foundation due to massive accumulated snow of the previous winter. The unexpected and vast differences are regular features one has to face in the Arctic, Mekkar noted.

One advantage reindeer have is in their feet because they have much better traction than people. Sometimes Mekkar wished he was like them in their environmentally adaptation. Especially, when the animals would slip and slide a lot less on the ice and snow than him.  The great benefits in speed also fascinated the boy. He fancied having those advantages and having a greater weight for better movement and mobility. But, Mekkar was resigned to the fact that it all comes down to controlling the factors you are able.

At one of the nighttime stops, they unpacked and prepared for a much needed rest period. The teepee was set up with the inner frame as the key. A set of curved ones are used inside to reinforce the teepee and improve its sturdiness against potential winds and storms. A second set of straight outer poles are placed at an angle while meeting at the top. Those outer poles, over the curved ones, that form the teepee shape never seem to exactly be perfect in size and length. Nevertheless, the idea is to use what is available and modify as needed. One would be wise to leave an opening, in the middle of the tent, at the top; otherwise you could get completely smoked out from the fire that usually kept a pot of coffee or some other warm concoction.

Mekkar believed the best materials were used to assemble the more secure sauna tent. To him it was rarely, if ever, empty. It seemed as though there was activity in the hot box all the time. Mekkar needed to go in there himself too. That is, to increase his ability to adapt to the most recent hot spell from above or anytime there were higher temperatures outside. The arctic boy thought that the sauna was also a great place to unwind, absorb, and soak it all in. Some of the head trekkers of the party would use it to plan and discuss matters regarding the trek. Inside they would drink, talk about general subjects, or share old stories in the oral tradition. Mekkar would shut up and listen to those who would reminisce regarding their past personal experiences and many encounters.

The veterans of the treks would also use this area to help them coordinate, adapt, consider various matters, and plan the rest of the journey. Mekkar would at times ponder, think, and come up with some wild ideas while overhearing the adults in the sauna. As a kid he itched to mention some of his thoughts to the trek leaders. However, Mekkar never did voice them out loud and let the leaders do their job without interference from an inexperienced boy.

Quite a few of these trekkers had been over this terrain before, but Mekkar had not. It was all new to him at this point. They knew that they were on solid ground in some areas and avoided the potentially sketchy spots below them. These imbalances and shifts on the surface could happen during any season in many types of scenarios. Mekkar didn’t consider those factors at all. It was chalked up as a matter of his inexperience, but there is only one way to truly learn …

Mekkar though of speaking to Aslak the shaman to possibly spur him to take action. He wanted Aslak to reach into his bag of special powers and modify the weather. Mekkar was thinking that it would help the group and animals on the trek. The boy was convinced that providing the most suitable environment for this time of the year would be the most beneficial for all. The shaman was already at work with the others without Mekkar being aware of it. Aslak was making use of his drum, tools, chanting mechanisms, and related symbols that he had at his disposal for this task. Mekkar recognized that Aslak had started his specialized ritual. It went on for quite awhile. Yet, the boy did not understand right then what the outcome might be. Even though he saw it, Mekkar originally thought that he might have been dreaming about the ritual activity occurring around him. Soon enough he fell into a daze and then asleep near the warm fire for a few hours. This was in contrast to the cool night air outside. The next day after the ritual, it seemed to Mekkar that his earlier concerns were not important anymore.   

Anyway, the trek continued and weather was much better. It was sort of overcast in the sky. Not too cold or too warm. The temperature was about 7° Celsius (44.6° Fahrenheit). Mekkar reveled in it and thought it was nice, perfect weather. Maybe too good which, in turn, could make them somewhat lax executing their duties? It was now time for a small roundup to take sampling of the whole herd. The reasoning behind it was to separate some animals out that might have issues, etc. Mekkar helped check the reindeer to ward any potential dilemmas before they might arise. The boy even participated in some new functions which increased his confidence a bit.

The trekking party was now ready to send out a forward scouting patrol. They were supposed to check for any recent changes and differences in terrain, fresh tracks of unwelcome predators, and that type of thing. They might go out far ahead of the main group beyond their sight to fulfill their mission. The scouts still must travel that same distance all the way back to meet up with the others again. Antti chose a young Mekkar to be with him in that forward two-person patrol. The wise Antti specifically selected Mekkar to expose him to new activity and further his learning curve. They both would stay in close proximity to each other and be very observant, as well as alert at all times. The object was to seek out any likely hazards, promising advantages, extra sources of food supplies, and many other factors.

Antti and Mekkar headed out much earlier than the rest of the group and were a good distance ahead. They occasionally climbed small hills and reached elevated locations to get a better view. Some of the places had melted snow that saturated the ground to make it wet and a mess. Sometimes the ground had been turned to mud and even the recent heat wave didn’t completely dry out the earth. Once in awhile as Mekkar climbed around he would slip. The difference was that most of the trekkers had better footwear for this type of journey. Their hiking boots were constructed with a combination of leather, deer hide, and rubber. They were ideally suited for this environment. On the other hand, the inexperienced Mekkar wore more modern shoes. Despite his reference to his footwear as boots, they were better adapted for moseying around the village playing with his friends. In his stubbornness Mekkar failed to listen to his parents and chose his footwear for his personal comfort instead of function. He was now regretting that decision of ignorance.

In one place ahead of the others, they reached the top of hill and saw a town off into the distance. Mekkar’s spirits were raised even if he hid this outwardly. Mekkar thought to himself that it was a good thing that he had brought some personal funds as to remedy his previous mistaken footwear choice. This was his first trek without any member of his immediate family along with him. Of course, there were the elders on trek with little Mekkar and they were all watching over him. Whether he realized or not, his life was in their hands, but he still needed to learn some lessons on the trek.

Mekkar had no idea who resided in that town ahead of them. He questioned whether these were strangers or not. Would the people have an idea of who he was? He could guess, but would it do any good? He resolved this by realizing that the trek leaders knew the territory and probably knew the people they would encounter along the way. Since, it wasn’t their first journey of this kind. Determining what type of people in the far off town was not his primary job. His main tasks were to keep his eyes open and stay alert to protect the reindeer. When he was not in a role as a scout, some of his functions included bringing back any stragglers and help those animals in the rear catch up with the rest of the herd. Each trekker, even Mekkar, had to be resourceful and multifunctional with their actions in mind. The main consideration was whatever is needed at that time to make everything move more efficiently. It was time to go back and join the rest of those from the tribe on the trek. Fortunately for him, the herd and crew had been moving toward their advanced position so the distance was closed somewhat. Mekkar was glad and relieved when he and Antti made it back to join the others. Antti is a seasoned individual at this. He has been doing it for at least fifty years and considered to have more experience than any other person in the trekking party.

The scouts gave their observations to the chief of this trip. Ansetti, the chief, took those factors in his overall account regarding this journey. Ansetti was chosen as the lead because Antti didn’t want the job. Antti hated the politics and other aspects of leadership. He preferred to take a more physically active role. Antti actually recommended Ansetti for the position and his judgment had great sway in the younger man’s selection as the head of this trek. Ansetti wasn’t bothered about any possible extremely bad situations ahead. His mighty experience told him that, at most, they might hit minimal snags in the road. He had a plan and, along with the other leaders, was sticking to it. Since it was working just fine, why change? Mekkar saw that Ansetti beamed fully confident in what he was doing. Mekkar thought there was something of substance behind that assured expression and was ready to follow along, with his fellow trekkers, in support of their leader.

One time during one of the gatherings, Mekkar was advised by an elder to consider a certain observation that was widely believed in his culture. The assertion that ninety five percent of a person’s personality was created by the time they are five years old. According to methodology, that means that only five percent is left and no real total change will ever happen to anyone after that age. Mekkar did not grasp much of that statement at the time. He felt it might make more sense to him when he got older, so he brushed aside the concept for now. As a result of hearing and learning from, what he saw as the older and wiser people in his tribe, aspects of Mekkar’s character developed rapidly during this time. It cultivated a suspicious element that revealed itself, later on, as part of his personality. Obvious to all around him the tenet became: when in doubt, be suspicious and question everything. Definitely what you think you might accept as fact. Isn’t that the underlying basis and true value of experience and education? Mekkar also learned the notion that if there are any positives in your life then, by all means, accept it. It might just be a rare bonus. Plus, life itself can be hard enough as testified by the stories he listened to in the sauna tent.

Maybe that was just a part of the cultural environment Mekkar grew up in. In reality, it can be different from the normally accepted native thought processes. Many attributed it to the boy’s exposure to various situations. It was speculated that he might have seen too much at his tender age. Much more in other environments outside his home base than some kids around him and this could have partially warped his thinking in some respects. Mekkar was of the opinion, but didn’t say it out loud out of respect for the adults, that his variety of experiences had opened his eyes a bit. He felt that even if was less experienced in reindeer herding and trekking, he was already ahead in some other areas of life, despite his youth. Mekkar got the impression that Ansetti and some of the others had never left this region and visited other places. He was unknowingly mistaken in his assumption. Some of the leaders in the trek unit had been to the capital city and to other large cities far away.

Mekkar was aware that the government seat of the nation was not the center of the world. He had already read about the Middle Ages and understood that the darkest time periods of the past were long gone. Whether they admitted it or not, the natives were well informed of the activity occurring in the big cities closest to them. Internal conflicts arise within each native person as they are torn between their tribal upbringing and the modern world around them. Their very existence also includes non-natives and the dominant cosmopolitan lifestyles which can cause problems. Bad decisions and inconsiderate laws contrary to native survival affect them too! Unfortunately, it is seen as outsiders don’t care about the consequences and possible negative outcomes pertaining to them.  

Anyway, the scouts reached the group, while the crew made up for lost time by avoiding a very muddy and hilly area. It took about an extra day to bypass those sections down in that valley. The fortunate thing was the more accessible food and berry bushes along this alternative path. Footing was better and there also was a plentiful supply of fresh water for the animals. The stream here had parts that were still running where the ice did not build up to a great amount and freeze down too deep. Powdered snow and the shallower ice would melt away fairly quickly when the weather got warmer and flow into the stream. It helped at this point that the trekkers had not encountered any irregular pattern of weather for about a week and a half straight. Usually the region as a whole had extreme climate fluctuations during this time of the year. Reliable was just fine by Mekkar as long as it is not hot. Others agreed that some consistency made the journey easier. Trouble was, this trend also made all of them just a tad complacent.

The youngster was mindful that circumstances could change at any moment. Weather patterns in that area were very peculiar in their consistency. If it was going to be sunny that particular day it usually blessed the inhabitants with sunshine all day. It was not standard to have ten minutes of good weather and then sudden change to a completely different situation. That rapid switch was almost never the case like in many other parts of the world. An example of this would be the short, powerful, massive monsoon rain bursts from the clouds in the Southern Hemisphere. Suddenly, the rain would cease but not the flood waters overwhelming the limited infrastructure apparatus. Short ice and hail storms emerge and disappear in this manner as well.

Mekkar, like many in his tribe, preferred consistent benchmarks the group could plan for and hopefully rely upon most of the time. Looking skyward could give away indicators of the opposite situation when a lot of or a little snow would be falling earthward. Any amateur meteorologist could tell when the weather was going to be nasty and warn of a blizzard. It was obvious and easy to predict. Mekkar falsely began to believe he had an additional inherent ability to be able to read the weather. Imaging himself as similar to other special individuals, like Houdini, he had learned about. After this point when Mekkar made a determination, he was normally unwavering and decisive with little doubt in his mind. Only in a rare instance would he change his mind. Some that know him well refer to it as stubbornness.

Being able to count on something for the rest of the day always seemed to reassure Mekkar. The sky, right now, was like a good friend to him in his mind. One present factor regarded by him as unchanging in normally extreme irregular surroundings. In the Arctic inhospitable conditions are usually the rule. Even though he had trouble naming the various types of clouds, Mekkar saw patterns develop. This deciphering talent got better as he got older. He would claim to notice future trends based on past history in almost every area of his life. In some things, these theories have been proven right on the money and in other areas not so much. Of course, the boy had absorbed much of the comparable thinking from his fellow tribal members whether he realized it or not. Mekkar liked regularity, some routine, and predictability in quite a few areas of his life. He felt that it is easier to manage and count on. Chaos, all of the time, to him is stressful and wells up in anger from within him.           

Usually that was the case, but not this time. This instance would be the exception. What struck Mekkar as odd is that as they went on a different path to reach the town. You know the one that Antti and Mekkar saw earlier on their scouting venture. As the trekkers got closer and closer to that hamlet, they were at the same time moving away from the originally chosen route. Mekkar looked ahead and thought he perhaps saw a mirage. He thought that maybe his mind was exhausted at this point and it was playing tricks on him. One of the others on the journey pointed out the metal like items strewn over the ground. He accepted that he was not deceived and was blown away by what he saw. He said, “Hey, what is going on here?” This was the first time Mekkar he had been truly exposed by noticing these things. Since this was not his home area, his understanding was lacking, to say the least, regarding these damaged objects. He was unable to identify what he saw and had to ask one of the adults nearby.

Yes, Mekkar heard his mama complain back home about the fact that he would echo modern equipment sounds. All the local kids now did it. She would compare it to the audible noises she would imitate when she was a young girl. Sirga told her son that she used to copy the noises of various animals instead like the reindeer. She criticized the younger generations for not doing the same like in times past. She commented to him many times, “There is something wrong here. You are evolutionizing, but in a way, you are also losing the old (native) way.”

Anyway, Mekkar saw one of these flying machines and the items were all scattered about. Everyone in the trekking party saw it. Some tried to pretend not to and turned their gaze away while continuing on. But, Mekkar’s curiosity was amazed and his attention was grabbed. He struggled to recall the times when his papa would speak to him about different flying objects. Henrik spoke from his experience as a jet pilot and could fly many different types of equipment. The young boy examined the objects more as he got closer. He made the assumption the wreckage was not from any tool used for reindeer herding.