CHAPTER EIGHT
OONIK BUILDS AN IGLOO

The fairies built up the fire in the workshop. Sadly they threw doll beds and toy blocks, wooden soldiers and boxes of trucks into the flames. The room grew warm again and the fairies stopped shivering and sneezing and were able to smile.

But Oonik watched with tears in his eyes as the fabulous toys went up in flames.

"Don't worry," the fairies said, "We'll be able to make toys again when Santa destroys the miserable Ice King."

"He mustn't destroy the Ice King," corrected the Queen Fairy. "We want winter in the wintertime but we also want summer in the summertime. That's what Santa is to straighten out with the Ice King. Oh, it will be lovely to see a flower growing again!"

"Oonik!" growled Tweedleknees. "Come here!"

The flappy –eared dwarf had taken apart seven toy wagons and rebuilt them into a long red sled with wagon sides for slats and steel wheel spokes curved into runners.

"How is that?" demanded Tweedlknees.

"Beautiful!" exclaimed Oonik truthfully. "It looks also very fast."

"Any sled I make is fast," boasted Tweedleknees. "The fairies have brought in the reindeers' harness. Hitch up your dog and you're ready to go. Oh, and here's something else you may need."

The gruff old dwarf handed Oonik an ice saw and a seal spear far finer than the ones he had lost on the frozen sea.

"Oh, thank you," said Oonik, surprised and pleased.

Santa came carrying a sack of food. "Mrs. Claus felt so much better when I told her my plans she got right out of bed and made doughnuts and cookies and gingerbread men – all for Oonik the Eskimo boy, she said."

Now Oonik had never in his life eaten cake or cookies but when he asked what they were Santa said, "Never mind. You'll soon find out. I have raw meat here also for Keotuk."

They packed the tools and food on the sled. Then Santa and Oonik climbed on and while Tweedleknees shouted a tearful goodbye, away they went.

Keotuk wore his little seal skin shoes and bounded joyfully over the snow. But the sled was large and the load heavy and soon Keotuk had to slow down. Again and again Santa and Oonik got off to walk but often they fell or got separated in the falling snow so finally they stayed on the sled and let Keotuk pull it as best he could.

The further they went the colder it became. This was good because it meant they were getting closer to the Ice King's domain. But finally, Keotuk could go no further and they had to stop.

The snow drifts were packed so hard it was impossible to burrow into them for protection while they slept and ate.

"I shall build an igloo!" exclaimed Oonik

"I am afraid it would take too long," protested Santa.

"Oh, no," replied Oonik. "My father has taught me. I can build one in an hour. Watch!"

With his snow saw he cut out blocks of ice from the drifts. Each block was about the size of a small suitcase. With Santa's help, he placed the blocks in a circle about eight feet across being careful to lean each block inward. The next two blocks he shaved down in such a way what when the second row of blocks went on it spiraled upward and inward.

Soon the spiral almost closed over Oonik's head. He decided to leave an opening there to let in light.

But now he was inside a house with no door. He dug his way out making a long tunnel under the wall.

Then he said to Santa, "Come on in!"

It was a very tight squeeze through the tunnel but Santa made it by pulling in his tummy and holding his breath. Then Oonik brought in Keotuk and pulled in the sled which was easy because the sled was long and narrow.

Now they were safe and warm and not even the Ice King could harm them.

Next: An Unwelcome Visitor

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