Just then Mr. Simpson returned from inside the post office with his hood down. The door shuttered behind him and the bell above the door echoed inside the building as he glided down the steps. “Come on, we got to go get our new gear.” He said with a rosy-cheeked smile before noticing Sarge standing by Dusty. Mr. Simpson turned with a frown and walked towards Sarge with a brisk and angry pace. “Come on, get!”
“I’ll catch you later Dusty.” Sarge whispered before bolting away from Mr. Simpson’s boot which sprayed snow high into the air after him. Sarge turned one more time to wink at Dusty before vanishing around the corner of the post office. Dusty sighed with a deep tone of love in her voice as she turned to look at Kodi, then away.
Mr. Simpson returned to the sled and jumped on. “HIKE!”
The team stood and leaned into the leather harness’ which squeaked and moaned as the many stitches stretched out around the force of their paws and the broad muscles of their chests. The sled started with a terrible shutter; the force of the dogs making the entire sled, every nail, lashing, and board jump and shake.
They moved through the town slow and careful, reaching the carpenters buildings without a single
breath uttered in exhaustion. Mr. Simpson left the sled and bolted through the door with a childlike energy, leaving the dogs standing among the shadows of the buildings in the growing cold.
Kirby and Ralph both turned post-haste to Dusty. “So where’s he taking you tonight?” Kirby asked with a blunt shrewdness.
“Is he taking you to the boiler room?” Ralph said.
Everybody drew very quite and eyed Ralph down with a coarse malevolence. “What?” Ralph threw back at their scorning faces. “What?”
“No.” Dusty said plainly, seemingly un-offended by Ralph’s comments. “I wouldn’t let him take me to such a place as the Boiler room, to many young dogs get pregnant there and I don’t intend to be one of them … He’s taking me to the ice falls.”
Kip, Fell, Kirby, and Ralph all oozed an amazed gasp. “What a first-rate gentlemen to accompany you to such a luxurious locality.” Fell said.
“Oh, thanks Fell.” Dusty smiled.
“Tell me though.” Fell continued. “Will he be providing victuals?”
“Yes, I believe he will be brining food.” Dusty translated for Kirby and Ralph who whispered into each others ears and looked at Fell with dumbfounded eyes searching for an answer.
“What will he be brining?” Ralph asked. His eyes began to creep towards the sky as he began to elaborate on the different kinds of meat. “Oh, maybe some moose intestines or some pig fat trimmings. Maybe some caribou leg bones…” Ralph trailed off with dreams of meat dancing in his head.
“No I don’t believe that he’ll be brining any of those. I think he’s going to bring some moose steaks.”
“OOOHHHH!” Ralph groaned in pure ecstasy. “There’s nothing better.” He drooled down his jaw for several seconds, eyes in the sky, and his mind somewhere very nice.
“Hey Kodi.” Came a friendly and suave voice from nearby. Everyone turned and watched a large black and white malamute walking casually towards the team from down the street, giving them all a belittling once-over like a disgruntled parent at his son’s choice of friends. The strangers face lightened up when he saw Kodi and even a crack of his right lip in the form of a smile came through. “Kodi.” He repeated again. “Funny seeing you around here.”
“Hi Steel.” Kodi replied. “What are you doing?”
“Oh nothing much. Me and some friends were just out stretching my legs when I saw you.” Steel jerked his head over his left shoulder where two dogs stood watching them at a distance. “So I thought I’d come and see if you managed to get over the little problem you’ve been having with the team.”
Kodi felt the eyes of all his teammates come over him in the exact same moment. “What problem.” Kodi forced an obvious laugh. “I don’t have a problem.” Once again he could feel the eyes.
“Oh come on Kodi. Remember what you told me yesterday, about how you deserve the lead.”
“I never said that.” Kodi laughed again, not knowing if he had actually said anything of the sorts. The eyes burned into him.
“Well do you remember what I told you to do in order to take back your place at the lead?” Steel grinned.
“Kind of, yeah.”
“So why haven’t you done it yet?” Steel snapped, frightening Kirby and Ralph into stepping as far away from Steel as their harnesses would let them. “Just stand up and tell them that you, Kodi, are going to lead from now on.”
“Kodi, tell him to go away.” Kirby said cringing, yet still talking like a leader.
“Yeah.” Ralph threw in.
Steel turned towards Kirby and Ralph. “And I’ll tell you to jump in a river if you speak to me again… Only a true leader can speak to me.” He looked straight into Kodi.
Kodi could feel something brewing inside him. It was a strange feeling, something between power and anger and it felt good; it felt like something that Kodi could just throw around in any way he pleased, whenever he pleased. It was a secret power that burned deep, and it felt like it was about to come up like vomit. But yet it felt wrong to do it against his friends.
“Come on Kodi he’s your friend, tell him to go away.” Kirby pleaded.
Steel looked at Kodi. “It’s your choice Kodi. I’ll go away if you want me to – but only if you want me to.”
For a long while all of them stood still, waiting on Kodi to make a choice. In his face it looked like one of the hardest choices Kodi ever had to make; his eyes flashed from Kirby and Ralph to Steel and back. A sense of deep anguish filled the air and centered completely on Kodi.
“KODI!” Jenna shouted running towards him.
“STEEL!” Balto growled just behind her.
Both Balto and Jenna ran up the street towards the team. Jenna bolted to Kodi’s side and stood guard between him and Steel. Balto ran right up to Steel who backed away from the team with little or no sign of being scared. His two comrades ran down the street to his side and they all stood defiant against Balto.
“Steel.” Balto growled right into his face, a few dribbles of saliva landing on Steel’s fur.
Steel looked down at his chest with a sneer and wiped the dribble away with his right paw. “Balto.” He said in a voice of respectful contempt. “Glad to see you again.” Steel glanced over Balto’s shoulder at Jenna. “Jenna.”
“Shut it Steel!” Balto snapped. “You have no reason to speak to me, Jenna, my son, or his friends – SO GET OUT OF HERE!”
“Oh I quite disagree. I think Kodi has a choice to speak to whoever he wishes.” Steel fired back calmly.
“He doesn’t need to talk to you.” Balto growled slow, deep and full of rage. “Now why don’t you go back to the hole you came from and leave my family alone.”
Steel began to turn casually. “I suppose I will since you ruined my fun, but just remember that Kodi has the right of an adult dog like you or me. Are you just going to keep treating him like a puppy for the rest of his life?” Steel crossed his gaze over Kodi. “And you think about that Kodi, because I’m sure you’re tired of being treated like a pup, stepped on by everyone and being crushed because nobody takes a great leader like you serious.”
“Quiet Steel!” Balto barked. “Kodi’s already a great leader, better than you ever were.”
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