Legend of the Salmarine

Legend of the Salmarine

  By Carlton Goode

  Copyright 2013 Carlton Goode

  Preface

  I was a tour guide on the island of Revillagigedo, Southeast Alaska. I have heard lots of fact and fiction about this area, and it has amazed me. As tour guides our employers often have us take “fam” tours, to familiarize ourselves with the stories and customs of the area. On one rainy day, we were spoken to by representatives of three native tribes: Tlingit, Haida and Tshimsian. All three gave a different story of the same totem pole. This stunned us: later we would come to realize that the pole was interpreted differently for each tribe, but at the time we were baffled.

  That night, sitting around the table at the drivers’ house, having hot chocolate and cookies; this tale came to me. I have since improved on and defined it. Several of my coworkers encouraged me to put it into writing, so I have. It’s not a long story, but answers a few questions of why things are the way they are. I hope you enjoy it.

  Legend of the Salmarine

  The Tongass Forest, in Southeast Alaska, is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Ketchikan Creek on the island of Revillagigedo is smack dab in the center of it. Here is where I first encountered the Salmarine.

  On a warm summer’s day, I had a stomach full of blueberries and found a comfortable place upon the slate rocks to lie back and nap.

  I was awakened a little after dark by splashing noises in the creek. I looked, rubbed my eyes, and looked again; for there before me was the most hideous creature I had ever seen. Immediately it knew I was there and began to come towards me. I jumped up and ran, but it kept on coming, closer and closer. Right about the time I thought I was gonna get got! An Alaska Native stepped out of the woods, shouted some words in Tlingit, and the creature gave up chase.

  “Did you see that?” I stammered.

  “I gotta call 911 or the Army or somebody,” I exclaimed.

  “They already know,” he said, “nuthin’ they can do anyhow.”

  “What was it?” I sputtered, still trying to catch my breath after my narrow escape.

  Reverently he responded, “That was the Salmarine.”

  “The Salmawhat ?” I inquired. “The Salmarine,” he stated. “Out of respect, we don’t talk much about it around here.”

  “Please, please tell me about that thing,” I implored!

  “Well all right” he muttered, “but ya didn’t hear it from me.”

  Making our way to the safety of Creek Street, we took a seat upon one of the many benches on the boardwalk. Under a starry sky beneath a full moon, alongside babbling Ketchikan Creek; I was told the Legend of the Salmarine.

  Long, long ago, before there were any humans around these parts, before Ketchikan got its name, way back then is when this story happened. The Creator had placed Karjuk, the blue hawk in charge of Alaska. Karjuk in turn had placed Raven in charge of Southeast. Raven had magical powers and all, but was never supposed to use them without Karjuk’s permission. The Earth was pristine, nature was one with God and life was good.

  Jack the wolverine was out meandering along the creek, observing life, when he noticed a beautifully colored sockeye salmon showing her children how to catch herring. “How fascinating,” Jack reflected.

  Just about then a shadow came from overhead; it was a majestic bald eagle swooping down to strike one of the salmon children.

  “Too bad,” Jack mused, then did something extraordinary. Jumping right as the eagle descended for the kill, Jack thwarted the eagle and saved the fish.

  Eagle was furious: “I’m telling Raven” he cried, and off he went.

  Salmonella, the mother of the salmon children confronted Jack: “why did you save us like that?”

  “I don’t know,” Jack confessed “I’ve never done anything like that before…it’s just, well…you’re so pretty and all…I didn’t want anything bad to happen.”

  “Well, I’ll be,” exclaimed Salmonella, “I’m Salmonella. What’s your name?”

  “I’m Jack,” he replied.

  This is how the relationship began.

  Jack and Salmonella began to visit each other daily, sometimes where the hemlock trees hang over the waterfall, other times by the alders along the creeks edge. He would bring her pretty feathers and bouquets of forget-me-nots, and she would bring him pretty sea shells and pebbles. They spent quite a bit of time together and had a strong friendship. You know how these things go, eventually they fell in love.

  Now this was as strange as it reads; a wolverine and salmon in love. Yet it was true, they were deeply in love and getting deeper still. Meanwhile, Eagle had kept his promise and told Raven about Jack’s behavior. Raven was quite the trickster, kind of mean and mischievous in his own way. Raven was nothing but trouble.

  One sunny day, Raven was out and about, up to no good as usual, when he witnessed Jack and Salmonella romancing each other.

  “What’s going on here?” Raven asked.

  “We are in love,” Jack stated.

  “It’s true” Salmonella added.

  “Are you really, truly in love?” Raven asked

  “Oh, Yes” they both responded with joy.

  “Do you want to be together forever???” Raven inquired

  “Forever!!!” Jack and Salmonella insisted, gazing at each other like lovers do

  “Well, alrighty then!” stated Raven.

  With the blink of his eyes, a spark of magic flashed and his evil was done.

  Salmonella’s children gasped; Raven cackled with laughter and flew away. All around them was an eerie silence. Something was wrong; Jack couldn’t see correctly; he stumbled over to the creek. Salmonella began to cry as she saw herself in the water. Raven had made them both one, half wolverine and half salmon.

  This is what he had meant when he asked if they wanted to be TOGETHER forever. This creature had a wolverine’s body with a salmon’s head and tail. Its fur was a mix of hair and scales, truly a horrific sight. Jack and Salmonella had been morphed into a Salmarine.

  Because of their condition, lifestyles had to change. Jack went into the water more often to keep the scales moist and Salmonella had to eat foods that both she and Jack could live on. They began to dwell in caves and only go out at night. Dora the steelhead took care of Salmonella’s children. It wasn’t long before creatures near and far, large and small were spreading the word about their predicament. Mary the owl saw what Raven had done and decided that it wasn’t right, she went and told Karjuk.

  Karjuk, the blue hawk, was majestic. His feathers were large as trees and had every color imaginable. Gigantic in size, he lived on top of the mountains in a huge nest made of whale bones. For food he didn’t eat salmon, no, for him only black fish would do. (What we call a killer whale or Orca) Blinking his eyes created lightning, and when he flapped his wings thunder echoed out. He was a fair and just ruler. As Mary the owl told him of the events which had occurred, Karjuk decided something had to be done.

  Upon finding Jack and Salmonella, Karjuk was shocked to see they were fused together, not all wolverine, not all salmon; a Salmarine. He patiently listened to their story and then spoke:

  “I cannot undo what Raven has done; after all, you brought it upon your selves by breaking the laws of nature. Wolverine and salmon were never meant to love. Jack as the male, you are responsible for this atrocity; because of your actions you will never again have offspring. Salmonella, you were foolish as well; because of your actions, no salmon after you will ever know their children.”

  Karjuk knew this was harsh punishment, but he had to ensure that no other creatures would follow the path that Jack and Salmonella had chosen.

  Raven was listening nearby and chuckled when he heard their punishm
ents. Karjuk heard him and bellowed, “Raven because of your evil deeds you will no more be the great bird you once were. Now I will make Eagle rule over you. No one will ever put you on a coin, make you their national bird, or write songs about you; Eagle will take that from you!”

  At this point, Jack wailed out, “Karjuk, please have mercy on us, for all we are guilty of is love.”

  Karjuk considered this for a moment and responded “here is what I will grant you. Since Raven put you together forever, I will let you live forever, forever in love. For protection, I will give you the ability to know others’ thoughts. When they are thinking about you, seeing you or talking about you; you will know. This way you can avoid danger and live in peace.”

  Now, destined to be a Salmarine forever, Jack and Salmonella wandered off into the forest.

  Every now and then a hunter comes back from the deep woods, telling an incredible yarn about a wolverine with a salmon face. Several fishermen have reported seeing a similar creature stealing bait off their lines and fish from their nets. I saw it that evening by the creek; best I can figure, it didn’t notice me till I woke up.

  The police take the reports but won’t say much; pictures always disappear and so on. You can’t deny it. There aren’t any wolverines on Revillagigedo anymore. Salmon moms now lay their eggs and pass away. People find whale bones up on top of the mountains and remains of large nest.

  Have you ever heard any songs about “flying on wings of Ravens” or “gonna fly like a Raven” or seen any flags with Raven’s on them. I don’t think so.

  The evidence is all there.

  If you ever get the chance to visit spectacular Ketchikan, Alaska, perhaps you will stay for a while. Take a few hours and climb Deer Mountain, look at the ocean. Smell the flowers and hug the trees. Eat some berries and hang out on Creek Street. Gaze at the totem poles in Saxman and Totem Bight.

  But if you’re walking in the woods and hear some noise in the brush, beware: it could be the Salmarine!!!

  Glossary

  Alaska: 49th state, a.k.a. The Great Land

  Blackfish: Orca or Killer whale

  Bald Eagle: National bird of United States of America, got its name from Pie bald, old English for something black and white. Hence bald eagle means black and white eagle.

  Blue Hawk: fictional giant bird (or is it?) also called Karjuk.

  Creek Street: boardwalk area in Ketchikan, Alaska right alongside Ketchikan Creek.

  God: Master of the Universe, Creator, Jesus dad.

  Karjuk: magical giant bird, god figure in native culture, also called Blue Hawk.

  Ketchikan Creek: Beautiful creek on Revillagigedo where half of the world's Pacific Salmon return each year.

  Raven: black bird, god figure for native culture.

  Revillagigedo: Island in Southeast, Alaska. Named after Juan Vicente Güemes Pacheco de Padilla, Count of Revilla Gigedo, viceroy of Mexico

  Salmon: fish that inhabits both coast of America, on the Pacific we have five species of Pacific Salmon. Using your hand is the easiest way to remember them: hold up your thumb, rhymes with Chum; Next hold up your index finger, this is the one you poke people in the eye with, so that’s for Sockeye; next is your middle finger, that’s your biggest finger so it’s for Kings; now your ring finger, rings are silver so that’s for Silvers; last but not least is your pinky, obviously that’s for Pinks. The five species: Chum, Sockeye, Kings, Silvers and Pinks.

  Sockeye: one of the five species of Pacific Salmon, the vegetarian of the group; my favorite.

  Southeast: Southern part of Alaska

  Tlingit: native tribe in Southeast

  Tongass: Tongass National Forest, Southeast Alaska, just under 17 million acres of pristine beauty.

  Wolverine: fierce mighty creature, once king of the forest in Southeast.

  If you enjoyed this story, check out the book "Totem Bight, A Walk Thru." It has the stories of Totem Bight totem poles, plus details not included in the park brochure and most tours.