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apparently got the message, as she said no more about it.
    As the boat slowed and turned toward land, Kelly stepped over to Pippa and asked, “Is this where Nivi gets off?”
    Pippa nodded, then pointed. Kelly followed her finger to locate a bright yellow house on shore, a sheer wall of rock behind it. The house was a typical Greenland-style wooden structure, square with a steep roof. With its bright paint, it stood out in sharp relief from the gray landscape beyond it. There were no other houses in sight. Kelly heard dogs barking. As they got closer, she saw them, several huskies chained just out of reach of one another among a cluster of doghouses.
    “There’s no village?” Kelly asked, searching the shore for other houses.
    “Just this house. She lives here with her son and daughter-in-law. They’re hunters.”
    “It seems awfully scary to be so isolated.”
    “Don’t you have people who live outside of towns in Colorado?”
    “Sure. But they can get on a road and drive to town if they need to.”
    Pippa laughed. “It’s all in what you’re used to.”
    They edged up to a weathered dock and Nuka clambered onto it, taking one of the guidelines in both hands and easing the boat into position. He wrapped the rope around a post and Amaalik cut the engine. Pippa rushed over to the side to unfold the stairs, then she reached for Nivi’s hand. Nivi gripped it firmly and stared intently into Pippa’s face. She spoke to her in Greenlandic, gesturing emphatically, then stepped up on the stair and transferred her grip from Pippa to Nuka, who helped her make the final stretch to the dock. When she had steadied herself, she turned and waved up at Amaalik with a toothy grin.
    When they were underway again, Kelly joined Pippa in the cabin for another cup of coffee.
    “What did she say to you?” Kelly asked.
    “Nivi? Oh, nothing. Just talking about my eyes. I get that a lot. The old-timers have their stories.” Pippa held her mug between both hands.
    “Stories? Like what?”
    “Legends, you know. Like light-eyed people have special sight. In English, you would say seer or shaman.”
    “She thinks you’re a shaman?”
    Pippa snorted. “Yeah, sure. Traditionally, Greenlanders gave special status to people with blue eyes because they were so rare. They believed we could see into the future and the past and talk to spirits. Some of them still believe that. Like Nivi.” Pippa shrugged. “Anyway, she was just telling me I was special.”
    Kelly smiled. “You are special, Pippa. Even if you can’t see into the future.”

Chapter Five
     
    When at last the time came to send the boat back to Ilulissat, Pippa helped the Stewarts aboard while Sonja Holm stood beside Kelly on the dock. She wrote her name and email address in a small notebook, then tore out the page and handed it over.
    “Send me a note when we’re both back home,” she said. “we can meet at the Jumping Bean for coffee.” She leered, holding her bangs back from her face. “Or something.”
    “Thanks,” Kelly replied, tucking the note in her camera bag.
    “Maybe we’ll run into each other again here in Greenland.”
    “Maybe. We’ll be around the area for a few more weeks.”
    “If that’s an invitation to visit,” Sonja purred, “I may just make an effort.”
    Kelly smiled at her teasing hazel eyes and the liquid movement of her body, so obviously offering to pour itself onto Kelly’s.
    Pippa waved her arm impatiently to urge Sonja to get onboard.
    “Have fun on your hike,” she said, grasping Kelly’s hand briefly, then she ran to the boarding ramp.
    Pippa and Kelly waved goodbye as the boat eased away from the dock. A few moments later the sound of its engine faded as it moved further into Disko Bay and disappeared around a bend. Almost as soon as the boat was out of sight, two little boys came running across the rocks, a puppy scampering awkwardly after them. A woman appeared from one of the houses with a basket of laundry, walking