WEATHER STATIONS

‘Why?’ Tekk feels his head splitting in the elevator. He can barely walk straight, and
he feels like vomiting.
‘Because they are the people who invited you for this trip, and pay your hotel bills.
They would love to have you speak at the conference.’
As they enter the office, they are told to wait for a few minutes as the chairman is still
in a meeting. Tekk sinks his body into a sofa. When Hans returns from the bathroom, he
discovers that his friend is already sleeping, snoring loudly.
As Hans waits on the sofa patiently, one of the organizers comes to greet them. But
as soon as he sees the state of their guest, he suggests to Hans: ‘why don’t we let this
poor fellow rest today, and do some sightseeing if he wants to. He can come back for the
conference tomorrow.’
Hans agrees.
In the afternoon, Hans takes Tekk to the Tiergarten, which makes the young man feel
much better and more energetic. As they walk deep into the woods, they come across a
pond. Some ducks are swimming around peacefully. Then they see a little canoe, with a
man and a woman paddling. Tekk stares at the little canoe. He feels his heart swell with
yearning. When the couple on the boat wave at him, he takes this as an invitation. He
runs along the bank and, without removing his clothes, jumps into the water and swims
towards them. This makes the couple on the boat a little frightened and bemused at the
same time. Tekk manages to climb onto it in no time.
Tekk is laughing and having fun in his new canoe. Despite Hans’ yells and
gesticulations from the bank, Tekk grabs the paddle from the man’s hands and starts to
dip it into the water. Hans runs along the bank and yells to the couple: ‘Please excuse my
friend! He is from Greenland — he doesn’t know the rules here!’
4.
The press conference is held in the morning. When the general delegates arrive, a line of
important speakers are already on the stage. Tekk is on the stage too with a nametag on
his chest. He is given a place at the side of the table, next to Hans.
The chairman makes a welcoming speech and emphasizes the deep importance of
research into climate change. His speech is long. Tekk starts to doze, slumping in his
seat. Then the chair begins to introduce the delegates on the stage: scientists, professors,
activists, and so on. When he gets to Tekk, he announces Tekk as the ‘last Nanook from
Greenland: the ice melting community.’ The audience applauds with excitement, while
cameras click frantically. Hans hints to Tekk that he should stand up for photos.
Then the chairman continues: ‘Tekkeit Qaasuitsup, one of the last Nanook from
northern Greenland, will be making a speech in the next few days about his family’s
traditional way of life, and what we can learn about the Inuit culture. Now, without
further ado, let’s begin the conference…’
A few hours later, a huge close-up of Tekk’s face under his walrus fur hat has
appeared everywhere in Berlin’s media. The headlines above the photo say things
like: ‘LAST NANOOK IN TOWN!’ or ‘WHAT ESKIMOS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT OUR
MODERN WORLD’.
The conference moves along smoothly, and soon all the delegates are having their
lunch break. They are in the dinning room next to a very lush garden, enjoying a buffet.
A number of people come to shake hands with Tekk, asking him about his family and his
trip. Tekk’s attention is drawn by something in the garden.
His eyes are following a young woman in a red dress passing through the garden.
Hans follows Tekk’s line of sight, and sees the black haired young woman, carrying a
caged raven across the flower bed.
A THOUSAND WORDS FOR SNOW
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