His thoughts were focused on the spring-snow covered ice. The sun was quickly sinking behind the horizon. Sub-Arctic winds blew through his ski mask as he pushed the snowmobile to its limits. He continued to pick up speed, making good time as he raced over the isolated, frozen lake. He was heading for the camp, a base set up for winter training programs meant to teach survival skills to Northern youth. As the instructor, Arthur had stayed behind to clean up some loose ends after the day's adventure. The students had departed a short time earlier for the warmth and shelter of their canvas tents. Arthur eagerly anticipated the aroma of fresh, brewed coffee he knew would be waiting on the wood burning stove.
He changed direction and headed back towards the land off the ice. Suddenly, the crystal-white snow became heavily speckled with dots of red blood and chunks of severed flesh. He slowed down, wondering if this apparent kill had been made by an animal, or by man. Northern hunters would not have left so much waste. The wise hunter has a 'take what you need and use what you take' attitude. Poaching had been all too common lately in the area. Arthur knew the authorities would have to be notified if this waste of life had been merely for the hide that most poachers sought. Poachers tend to leave the meat to rot, or as bait to assist them in luring additional animal victims into their inhumane traps.
As he rounded an outcrop of rock, a disturbing sound made him turn his head. He became a witness to something he would never wipe from his memory. A beautiful eagle was straining to take flight as it struggled for it's freedom, seemingly bound by some invisible force. As Arthur approached the enormous bird, he could see the eagle's talon caught by a trap attached to a four foot chain that had been tied to a twelve foot, stake.
Arthur realized he had to try and help this wonderful creature. As the huge bird once again attempted to rise above the stake that held it down, he gunned his snowmobile and drove it under the bird in an effort to stabilize the stake with the
snowmobile's ski. This forced the startled eagle back down onto
the ground. Now man and bird were face to face. The bird was
huge, when it settled down some eight feet from Arthur,
their eyes were amost level.
Faced with such an unpredictable creature and situation, Arthur was temporarily lost as to what his next move should be. After a moment of contemplation, he took off his heavy winter parka. Holding it out in front of himself, he slowly crept towards the watching bird. The eagle must have instinctively understood Arthur was trying to help him. The bird bowed its majestic head as Arthur cautiously approached. Slowly he slid his parka over the bird's head and upper body, then noiselessly backed away to the
snowmobile, where he sat and considered his next move, the removal of the trap.
After a moment of contemplation, he ventured back to the now
shrouded eagle. Conscious of the bird trembling under the heavy
parka, he reached out his hand and gently caressed the eagle's
feathered back. He had never been this close to a live eagle before, much less stroke one. Arthur could feel the fear radiating from
the creature as he felt the might of it's wings through the dense
parka. His strong hand seemed to have a calming effect on the
terrified animal. He spoke to it softly in his native Slavey
language. "Be still," he whispered. The bird ceased to
struggle. Using touch as the only sense to guide him, he
yet cautiously, reached for the springs of the trap
that held the bird captive.
Arthur realized if he jerked the trap, the bird might fight against his rescuing efforts, so he bravely reached for, then held, the shank of the giant birds talon with the one hand as he used the other hand to press down on the spring of the trap to open it's jaws. As soon as the trap opened, he lifted the talon out and pushed the trap away with his foot, as he simultaneously released the uninjured talon that he held in his gloved hand. He felt great relief as he assessed that the eagle's talon wasn't broken.
Unafraid, he slowly pulled the heavy parka off of the great bird by holding the sleeve and cautiously backing away. The silence being broken only by the sounds of snow crunching lightly under his mukluks and a slight wisp created from the lining of the parka as it gently slid off the now liberated eagle. Regally, the eagle shook his ruffled feathers and began to prance around in a circle, testing out it's one sore talon.
Arthur backed away to a safer distance and watched the bird's freedom dance. The eagle lifted it's head proudly in triumph, then leaped into the chilly, arctic air. Instantly, it's wings expanded to their full width. The bird circled above Arthur a couple of times, casting a shadow over his rescuer as it let out a piercing screech. With his curiosity satisfied, the eagle darted
up into the heavens flying as an arrow with a purpose, not pivoting in the least from his set course, soon to become just a speck in the Northern sky. Eventually becoming invisible to the watching eyes below. Propelled to seek out the highest heavens by the realization it was finally free from it's snare, having feasted on the fear of it's own death, instinctively desiring to put as much distance as possible
between himself and his would-be grave.
