Eighty centuries ago, in the frozen interior of a place that will someday be called Alaska, two events will have for-reaching consequences: a young woman vows revenge after three neighboring tribesmen brutally attack her; and she adopts a baby with a club foot who's been abandoned and left to die. Years later, the boy has become a respected storyteller called Chakliux and is returning to the village of his birth, hoping to bring peace between two hostile groups. But before he can win the people's trust, a double murder jeopardizes his mission...and forces him to travel to distant lands.
So begins a miraculous journey that will touch many lives -- from the Whale Hunters who know the mysteries of the sea; to the lonely, gifted Aqamdax, whose search for a home makes her an outcast among strangers; to a boy called Ghaden, whose elusive memories may hold the key to the storyteller's future. Ultimately Chakliux must grow and learn -- driven by the ancient songs of sea and sky -- as he seeks the truth about the offenses for which his people have suffered.
In a novel of lyrical wonder, Sue Harrison reconfirms her status as a preeminent storyteller of the earliest people on the North American continent. "Song Of The River" is a vibrant, poignant tale of strength, peril and determination that rings with authenticity.
