*

 

As they past Ground's sled, Mr Maximous leaned over.

   ' Didn't think I would lose, did yer?'

Mr Ground didn't answer. Ted Maximous edged his team on. Chilla's heart sank. Yet before she could think of anything else, Steele's head appeared beside hers. She caught a glance of his wide, grinning smile. She knew there wasn't anything they could do. He drew near Balto's lead and lingered there. Balto teurned to meet his enemy's eye. 

   ' Well, Bingo,' Steele tuated,' Now they will know who's the fastest dogs in this Run.'

Beside him, Nero gave a snort and to Chilla's dismay, his team (incuding Koltav who gave them a wink) doubled quick and moved on. Past the boundry, past Fairbanks, into the wilderness. 

Chilla felt like crying. They had lost the race.

Just then, Chilla heard a gasp and Lurth's face appeared behind her shoulder. Followed Athera, Vallcon and the rest of the team. Soon both teams were running side by side. Like Ted, Sulski learned aside to talk to Rig. 

   ' Caught up with you at last, you sly old rogue.' said Sulski in good - humoredly.

Rig managed a smile.

  ' You sure did.'

  ' You feel okay?'

  ' I'm fine.'

  ' Well, see you in Faibanks. HIKE! HIKE!'

They sped off towards the town.

   ' Well,' Balto panted,' At least we gave them a scare, they won't forget.'

   ' HOLD! Stop, Dad! Hold the sled!'

It was Tam's voice. From his tone, Chilla could tell that something was seriously wrong. 

The sled came to a halt.

   ' What is it now.' snapped Balto, eyeing Tamill. Then his eyes widened. Chilla turned. Mr Ground's whole frame was bent over the sled. His arms had fallen lifelessly, his head was down. Learning towards the nose of the sled, Dingo and Tamill were trying to support the limp figure of Mr Ground. But their reins were too short. They could barely reach him.
   ' Do something!' pleaded Tam.

As he said this, Rig's body fell from the sled. Chilla gasped. Both she and the others rushed out to him. They huddled around their musher, sniffing his face. Balto shouted out.
   'Stand back,' he said, sternly.' Give him air. Chilla, keep him warm. Kodiak, run back to town and get help. 

Kodi nodded and he sped off.

Chilla nosed Rig's knee. She couldn't tell if the man's tempeture was cold or not. His skin was wrapped with folds of cloth and protection. But as she gazed at it, the body trembled and started shaking. Rig gave another groan. Fear ranged through her heart. 
Fear and concern  mingled as she stared at him,
    What do we do! she cried. What do we do!

 

                                                                *

 

Mr Sulski sarted form his sled and looked behind him. Rig, his friend was down. His team crowded around him.

He could hear them, whimpering.
   The old musher sigh, he had forsaw this might happen.

Steering his team, he changed corse...

Towards the fallen Musher.

                                                                *

 

   ' We can't go on.' said Balto to his family.

   ' What do you mean we can't. Why not.' asked Dingo, furiously,

   ' Rig is spent. His leg is in a very bad shape. And he's cuaght some type of fever. We won't be able to go on with the Trail Run.'

Dingo slumped onto the ground,
   ' But we were so close.'

The family were back in the shed in Fairbanks. It had been a few hours since the other teams overtooke them and Mr Ground's fall.

Mr Sulski had carried Rig back to Fairbanks, where a doctor and some nurses were waited with Kodi. Kodiak had somehow convinced them that something was wrong. As soon as he had found the clinic, he had to dragged the man who looked (and smelled) like a doctor. Both he and his staff had been seeing to Rig, and guessed that it had something to do with him. They all carried Mr Ground back to the clinic. Dispite the race and his risk in losing to Ted Max, Sulski stayed by his friend. He had allowed his lead - dog and Balto to come with them. Neather Blato or Lurth spoke during the waiting hours. Balto was worried for Rig and embaressed to be around Lurth. Lurth did not feel like talking. His team had also suffered problems, while they were chasing Balto's team. Now they had finally caught them, they needed to pursue Nero's team. He didn't want to lose to Nero.    

After many hours, the medic appeared and told them that Mr Ground's blood rate had gone low and he would have to be removed to a infirmary. 

   ' But what about Rig?' Chilla asked Balto, after he broke the bad news to them,' It was all about him,  winning this race.'

   ' Nothing,' Balto replied, bitterly.' We're his team. We can't do anything without him. We must go home.'

   ' It would be a pity.' Jenna remarked, sadly.' To depart the race, without finishing it.'

   'Yes.' a voice behind them said. ' It would.'

In walked Lurth, followed by Vallcon and Athera. Chilla felt her blood boil, but she kept herself back. Beside her Dingo bared his teeth and snarled at Sulski's lead - dog.

   ' What do you want?'

   ' Dingo!' Balto's voice was raised.

Lurth ignored Dingo. He stared straight at Balto.
   'You were far ahead of us. Not a bad lead.' Balto pricked his ears. It was the first time Lurth contemplated on their actions. 'You put us off our guard. Sneeking away like that. Put us to the test'

   
   ' Your welcome. What was your road like?'

   ' Pretty harsh. This whole thing is pretty harsh. All my members except for these two are spent. We cut across a river, but that only made it worse for us.'

 

   ' Well, looks like you've got it all under paw now.'

   ' Wait a tick.' Lurth said, patiently, 'Perhaps we can help each other. Sulski's is talking to Rig about joining his team with your team.' Balto's eyes widened, but said nothing.
    'It will work, ' went on Lurth,' If we formed up, together.' he nodded to Vallcon and Athera,' These two are the only ones who are able to go on. The rest are in bad condition. Together, with Sulski we can catch up with Ted Maximous and Nero and win this race.'

Chilla's jaw dropped. It was good plan. Balto sat silent as he listened to Lurth

   ' Even if the humans agree, I don't see how this is going to help our driver, Lurth.' he said afterwards.

   ' Let me explain. If we lose; we get nothing. But if win, Sulski and Ground split the money between them. Then we can all go home.' 

   ' Sulski's a good man.' Balto nodded. He thought for a moment, staring up at the wooden boards. Then stealing a glace at Jenna, heaved a sigh.
   ' We would miss him terribly.'

   ' Yes.' whispered Jenna,' But what good for him, is good for us. I believe we would be doing a good favour for him and Mr Sulski.'

   ' Very well, Lurth.' Balto announced, turning to their new friend. ' If Rig agrees, we would be pleased to accept your offer.' 

 

XXIV 

Tamille could not eat anything that day. The thought they were going to leave Fairbanks soon, leaving Rig behind felt wrong.

Aside from that, many miles away, Steele, Nero, Ted and their team were ahead of them, gaining the lead. Tam felt sick thinking about it. He tried to tuck in his evening meal, but could not.

   'Here wolfies,' Sulski said. Tamille pricked his ears at this strange protocall, 'Here wolfie, wolfie, wolfies.' They all gathered around thir new musher.

   'Well,' he started,' We're not hanging around here all day, are we?'

 

                                                              ***

They left Fairbanks early that evening. To Tamill's dispair, Mr Ground was not there to see them off. 
   We'll never see him again, he thought sadly.

In front of him, ran Vallcon and Athera. Neather spoke to him, but Tamille did not mind. Now that Rig was no longer with them, he did not feel in the mood in socalizing to anyone yet. Perhaps Lurth, Vallcon and Athera felt the same.

Instead of talking, Tamille studied all three of them, carefully. 

Vallcon ( who was the closest ) was tough looking half-breed. His muscles rippled under his gray coat, which made him look five times bigger.

Athera, was the smallest out of the three. To

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