Plot Summary

1634, New France. Nearing the onset of winter, French Jesuit priest Father Laforgue, one of the younger ones in the settlement founded by explorer Samuel de Champlain, is embarking on a journey estimated to be 1,500 miles largely by canoe, to discover what happened to the missionary settlement meant to convert the Huron to Christianity. He is accompanied by non-Jesuit laborer Daniel, who hopes, from this experience, to be able to work toward being ordained upon returning to France, and a tribe of Algonquins who are acting as his guides, not only in navigating the geography, but arguably more importantly liaising with other indigenous tribes they will ultimately encounter along the way. Champlain himself and the older priests in the settlement view this mission as one from which Laforgue will never return alive. One of the reasons is the general distrust between the Jesuits and the indigenous population, even the generally peaceful Algonquin, some who consider Laforgue a demon in not understanding his rituals around his faith. Conversely, Laforgue does not try to understand his guides, but rather know their rituals so as to at least work with them. While the Jesuits live by their faith in a global sense, the indigenous tribes have their own faith largely tied to a sense of place, which will affect what happens between Laforgue and the Algonquin on the trek. Another issue is the enemy status between some of the tribes, especially the Iroquois, with those tribes arguably having a difficult time losing what has long been their kill or be killed mentality. Adding to the complications is Daniel falling in love with Annuka, an Algonquin, their relationship which only makes Laforgue question his own faith.—Huggo