My uncle Gerry Karlsson was a storyteller—a great one. My cousins and I loved his stories and even loved the fact that they changed a bit—sometimes a lot—with each retelling. We'd all listen closely ... [+]
Sometimes, a fishhook and a bit of flesh are all you need to save your baby and yourself. Take the knife, slice off a piece of thigh, and with that meaty part of your own body: Bait the hook. Savor the sweet taste of the fish, the cool, arctic flavor of this lake trout that saves you. Everything may be frozen, encased in the ice that killed your tribesmen. Your son may grow cruel. But for now: You survive. You need only a knife, a hook, madness enough to sliver your own flesh.