down at them, his weather beaten hands stroking their fur. Walking away the pair arrived at the Alameda that was now clear of humans.

  “Do you think we should take a look around?” Steel asked looking at the boat.

“It would be fun and we might not get another, what happens if we get caught?”

  “We can outrun any human we are pure breed huskies after all and human are so slow.”

“Let’s go” Jenna replied grinning at her friend.

       Together the pair ran up onto the boat and onto the deck their claws making a gentle noise of the wood. Looking around the pair spotted a large metal cage in one corner of the deck, inside it was a large male beaver. Walking over the pair saw the sadness in its eyes but also noticed that though the bolts were drawn the locks were not locked.

  “Well now two husky pups what are you doing here?” asked the beaver.

 “We live in Nome and fancied a look around the boat” Jenna replied.

“That is good for you to be free how I wish I was.”

“Why are you in this cage?” Steel asked.

“I am a trophy of the trip.”

“That is cruel and unfair I am so sorry” Jenna replied sadly.

“Jenna look” Steel whispered pointing to the open locks. “Our friend would not understand but we do.”

“Of course” Jenna whispered looking at Steel “You can be free Mr Beaver.”

“How is that possible?”

    Working together Jenna removed the locks while Steel drew back the bolts with his teeth, using their combined strength to open the door. The amazed beaver stepped out of his cage and sniffed the air.

  “Thank you both very much.”

“Don’t thank us just yet we still have to get you off the boat” Steel replied.

      Together the three animals ran down the gangplank onto the ground instantly the beaver dived into the water.

 “THANK YOU BOTH YOU HAVE GOOD HEARTS” he called before diving underwater.

       Watching him go Steel and Jenna smiled at each other both waving their tails in goodbye.

“I am glad we were able to help him he did not deserve to be kept as a pet” Steel said watching the beaver.

  “He would have been so unhappy in a cage at least now he is free” Jenna replied as they walked on.

     Walking further on the pair came to the naval ship where they were spotted by a couple of off duty sailors.

“Looks like the locals have come for a look around” said one.

“I bet they want a look around the boat” said another as he wrote in a notebook.

 “Well you cannot blame them for being curious” said the first man as the Captain arrived.

“Well what have we here?” He said kneeling down and stroking the dogs. “They are certainly a friendly pair.”

  “They just arrived Sir seemed very curious about the boat.”

“We should take them to the bridge the crew would be pleased to see them, might even lift their spirits” the Captain replied. “I imagine being on duty is a little tedious when we are in port.”

 “Imagine so Sir.”

    Picking up the pups the captain took them on board and onto the bridge where they were greeted by the rest of the crew. Grinning at the pups the crew stroked them and gave them each a biscuit which was shaped like a ship. Under the eye of an officer the pups were taken below deck and showed the crews living quarters, passing both on and off duty crew. Opening one door they found its occupant laying bunk reading a book, seeing the pups he grinned and stroked them. In the next room the radio was on with the occupant writing a letter to his family. All greeted the pups cheerily and one even giving them a piece of fudge.  A few rooms later found the occupants absent  a few magazines on a bed and several family pictures on the walls. Walking down to the next deck all heard laughter from a room. Leaving the ship a short time later Steel and Jenna waved their tails in goodbye glad they had lifted the sailor’s spirits.

      Walking along the harbour they watched as cargo was unloaded, some of which was placed into carts by crane. Sat on a cart Dr Curtis Welch helped load medical supplies bandages, crutches, and a box of anti toxin among others items were placed gently into the cart. Seeing the pups Dr Welch climbed down and stroked them, as town doctor he knew each and every resident well something which meant he knew who owned dogs.  Leaving the doctor the pair heard a variety of accents being spoken by the sailors, American, Russian, Norse, Welsh and Irish to name a few. In the midst of hustle and bustle the sound of a tin whistle drifted to Steel and Jenna’s ears, following the sound the pair came to a quartet of Irishman sitting on boxes. The man playing the whistle was about forty with the youngest no more than twenty two. Walking over the pair sat at their feet as the men sang of home, of Little Ireland in New York City and spoke of the family they had left behind. One even spoke of the Emerald Isle, of Tara where the ancient kings were crowned and Dublin on the river Liffey. Jenna and Steel listened with fascination utterly entranced by the songs. Seeing the pair the youngest man bent down to stroke them running his fingers through his soft fur.

  “You are a pretty pup girl red hair just like mine.”

“A husky that one will be pulling a sled this winter” said one man.

       Then a horn sounded through the port with a sound of a ship’s engines staring up and the gangplanks being raised. As the ship set off there was the sound of shouting as three young men raced towards the boat, one jumped and managed to grab onto a rope. With the help of two crew members he was hauled aboard with a huge grin on his face.

  “Thanks for that mates, almost missed it” he gasped with relief

      On the dock the other two cursed their rotten luck, the boat and whisky at Jo’s bar. Looking at the pair Steel and Jenna laughed as they walked home.

  “Today has me such fun Steel.”

“We have seen so much today, it was fun playing with Jenna.”

“Thank you Steel” Jenna laughed as they ran through the streets.

Winters Beginning

      Winter had arrived in Nome, standing at the port Jenna, Rosie, Violet and many other residents watched as the last ship until spring departed. As the ship moved into the open ocean seals swam next to it to the delight of the crew. Walking along the harbour the three watched as the seals played in the water, their sleek bodies perfectly suited to the icy conditions. Leaving the harbour the three walked home, passing the mail team on the way with Steel and his fellow rookie Kaltag barking out greetings. Arriving home Violet headed indoors while Rosie and Jenna stayed out playing with Annabelle and Sylvia as well as other children and dogs that lived in the area. The dogs raced each other while their human friends engaged in a snowball fight, with more than one ball hitting a window when it’s intend target ducked. It was not only windows that were hit, Dr Welch had the misfortune of receiving one in the face as he left a house.

  “Sorry Doc” called the boy who had thrown it. “I was aiming at my mate.”

“Not to worry son” Dr Welch replied laughing throwing one back at the boy.

       The snowball fight proved poplar, very popular in fact, with some of the older children ambushing their fathers when they arrived home from work. The men received a freezing shock and once they had recovered their wits a furious fight between fathers and children erupted. With Jenna and Rosie at his side Arthur walked the house collapsing onto the sofa in exhaustion.  That night Jenna and Rosie curled up in bed together utterly exhausted from the day’s fun.

     The following day the townsfolk awoke to discover that fifteen foot of snow had fallen in the night. Donning coats and boots people forced their doors open and began the task of clearing paths, buildings and opening business. For Rosie and Jenna the snow brought fun as they spent the day building a snowman with Violet dressing him up in an old tie (an eye aching shade of green) and very battered top hat. Arriving home that evening Arthur admired their work before, glad to see that tie had been put to good use. Getting out his camera Arthur took a picture of the three with the snowman.    

     Two days later Jenna, Rosie, Violet and Arthur stood at the side of the racetrack watching as Fire raced Togo’s team to the finish line. Both teams were neck and neck, out of the blue,  Fire put on a burst of speed crossing the finish line seconds before Togo. The crowd cheered with delight at such an exciting race with Rosie and Jenna rushing over to Fire and Fiona.

 “That was amazing Dad you were so close” Jenna said nuzzling her parents.

 “It certainly was Togo is fast and young Steel has a natural talent” Fire replied.

“Well Togo is seen as a legend but he lost this race” Fiona said as Togo walked over.

 “Congratulations both of you that last corner was certainly close.”

“Thank you Togo you raced

Previous Page

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Next page