Global warming will release the deeper smells and coax stories out of the permafrost. Who knows what memories lie deep in the ice?
-- Narrator (Part 1)

Importance: The narrator describes the impact of global warming on the permafrost where her community and all the creatures on the tundra live. This quote introduces the narrator’s understanding of the ice and natural phenomena as sentient forces with agency and memories through its anthropomorphizing language. Global warming, itself an actor which has the power to “release” and “coax,” will influence the ice and release its “memories.” The narrator critiques global warming not through literal descriptions of melting ice or species extinction, but rather through dangerous “deeper smells” and “stories” which might emerge from melting permafrost.

Murder can heal if applied sparingly. Murder can feed us. Life murders us every day.
-- Narrator (Part 1)

Importance: The narrator discusses the role of murder in maintaining a community as she encounters a vengeful...