was surer that he had ever been before.

Steele is alive. But is even Steele able to ... Balto shaked his head. Of course he is. He tried to kill me. Oh, anyway, what I am thinking about?

It is a long time ago and lots of things have changed since then.

But some of them haven`t changed after all. And some of them will never change.

Balto stood up and went to check Aleu and Jenna.

-------------

Sledge was flying like the wind, but although it was quite fast, it could not surpass the time and a nightfall.

They stopped at a little plain, right under large slope covered with trees. "Great work today, you three!" said Robert and hugged

all members of his sledge team. Connie was tired but happy, Ryan was just tired, but Steele had saved some of his strenght for his plan.

He waited until Robert unharnessed Connie and Ryan and when was Ryan set free, he made a run for it, dragging the sledge.

 

Great, now I need to get rid of the sledge!

 

But although he wasn`t as tired as others, he was not as fast as he would like to be,

because the sledge was loaded by furs. Ryan started off just few second later than Steele,

and he was closer and closer.

 

No... did he assume this?

 

"Hey, Steel, wait! Where are you running?! WAIT!" cried Robert while he was wading through the snow followed by Connie.

 

Steele looked back and... there was nothing but loud - very loud - sound. Snow slided from the slope and formed an avalanche.

Ryan turned his head too. Connie and his master were behind, but he couldn`t see them, because of the clouds of snow.

Noise was fading out... Did they managed it, or are they...?

Steele forgot to run and he was watching. He didn`t want it this way, but...

 

It`s done?

 

"Hey, I say... Ryan, Steel! Are you there?!"

 

Obviously not. What a pity.

 

They made it, Ryan was relieved. Robert and Connie were covered by snow, but unharmed. Robert turned his back and saw the avalanche came even over the plain where they stopped. "Uh.... Steel? You just have saved us all..." he gasped.

 

WHAT?!

 

Connie ran towards Steele and looked worried: "Steele, are you okay? We didn`t know what happened. You just ran away and... You saved us!" She smiled and kissed him briefly "Thank you... you are... my hero!" Steele was speechless.

 

So that`s how does it feel when you save somebody?

No, no, no! I didn`t want to save them!

But you did, a quiet voice in Steele`s head whispered.

What? Shut up!

 

But Ryan wasn`t as happy and grateful. He came near Steele and said slowly and quietly: "I know what you... wanted to do. But everything went wrong and

now you are a hero... I don`t know, who you really are, but.... I will keep my eyes on you. Try to do something similar one more time and....," Ryan quickly moved his head near Steele`s, looked into his eyes, bared his fangs and growled, "and I will kill you... try to hurt Connie or Robert and I will do it."

Ryan `s eyes were full of anger, hatred and slight. No, that was not a threat. That was just a statement of fact.

 

For the rest of night Ryan watched Steele as the best as he could.

----------------

 

CHAPTER 4: NAME? JUST CLAY...

 

Balto couldn`t find Aleu. He was convinced he looked everywhere. Oh... no, not everywhere. Forest. Aleu loved it, she was there for almost all of her free time, altough Balto many times warned her and told her it is too dangerous for her.

Well, thought Balto, I need to go there...

So he headed to forest, but his thoughts were still with the scene he saw in his dream. He didn`t even watched where he goes. And then he ran into something furry.

„Pardon me,“ he mumbled and raised his head for to see what he ran into, „I wa....“ He suddenly stopped and gasped. It is possible?! he thought. Steele?

„Oh oh oh oh, It`s okay. It was just mine fault after all.“

No... he is not Steele. Steele would never apologize himself for something like this. And although this dog looked nearly same as Steele, there were differences. He was little bit smaller than Steele, had black markings upon his eyebrows and looked more pleasant than Steele. And younger.

„I mean, are you okay?“ he asked Balto.

„Uh, I think so... you just looked familiar to me,“ Balto was relieved, „I am sorry for bumping into you.“

„It`s all right!“ dog smiled widely, „But... maybe you could help me. I am heading to Nome now and...I got lost,“ he sighed, but then he smiled again and continued, „anyway, I haven`t introduced myself yet. I am Clay.“

„Balto, pleased to meet you.“ Balto replied. Clay appealed to him. He seemed like jolly good fellow and well-mannered to Balto.

„Balto? You mean... Balto?“ Clay`s eyes opened widely and there was a lot of surprise and pleasure in them. „Are you the hero of that diphtheria cause several months ago?“

Balto was surprised, too. He never thought he was a hero...

„No, no... I am not a hero. I only did what i had to,“ he said modestly.

„And isn`t it heroic, too? One needs a lot of courage to do what he must. And you hadn`t to do it!“

Balto blushed and tried to change the topic.

„Ahh... could you tell me, what do you wish to do in Nome? I am just curious, so if you do not mind...“

„No... I heard about ... whatishisname?... Steele. He is really good they say. Well, he is not as good as you, obviously... do you know him?“ asked Clay.

‘Of course I know him! He tried to kill me, he is a liar, selfish egoist, deceiver and he is really bad.’ Balto wanted to spit out all these words, but then he looked in Clay`s face and said: „I have seen him for two or three times. But I am afriad he is not in Nome any longer.“

„Oh,“ Clay was dissapointed, „and don`t you know where is he now?“

„I am sorry, no idea...“ said Balto and thought: ‘And that`s good. He can ruin your life. Stay away from him. Everybody should stay away from him...’

---------------

“Well... Nome isn`t too far now. If we try, we could be here this afternoon!“ cried Robert McBride while Steele, Ryan and Connie were doing their best. It was miscalculation, but Steele tried to make another plan. But he couldn`t set up anything meaningful and Nome was nearer and nearer.

--------------

„So, then... I will go to Nome though. But that`s a pity. I made it from....“

And then they heard scream of fear. Not so loud, but high and voice of it`s author was dreadfully familiar to Balto. Aleu...

“Move, it`s coming this way!“ yelled Clay and ran. Balto followed him. ‘That Clay is really quick...‘ Balto thought as he was running along him.

They ran for about half a minute, and the cry was louder and louder. Clay stopped suddenly and whispered to Balto: „Three wolves are after one young lassie. You take care of lassie, I will lure away that three ‚heroes’. And try to get somewhere safer. To Nome, yes?“ and without waiting for the reply he yelled: „You three! I am talking to you! You must be very brave if you chase one girl. Come get me!“ It worked. Wolves forgot about Aleu and ran after Clay. „You see?“ Clay turned his head on Balto, „now go!“ And he ran, chased by wolves.

‘He has to be very brave or just mad...’ Balto ran towards Aleu. „Aleu! Are you all right?“ he cried. „Dad?“ she was relieved and surprised. „What are you doing...“

„Wait! I should ask YOU what are you doing here?! But not now. Let`s get out of here, to Nome! Follow me!“ and so she did. „And dad?“

„Hmm?“

„Who was the one who lured them away?“

----------

 

CHAPTER 5: MEETING WORTH 220$

 

Robert McBride arrived in Nome. He left sledge and unharnessed dogs in front of a general store, laid out furs and went inside with them. Connie was excited and happy. It had been a long time since he was in a town. Ryan was rude and suspicious like always. And Steele?

„Do you know it here?“

„What?“

„I have just asked, if you do know it here,“ Connie smiled, „I would like to make little tour. Will you go with me?“ Her eyes were full of hope and wish.

„Uhh....“ Steele would like to show himself in Nome as the least as he could, „and what about the sledge?“

„Ryan will stay here,“ Connie replied and then turned to Ryan, „won`t you? Please...“

Ryan didn`t look he wanted to, but he said: „Of... course.“ And then he sent a look full of a cold anger and threat to Steele. ‘Try to hurt her.....’

„Yay, thanks!“

And so Steele went to confront his past.

-------------

By that time, Balto and Aleu were near Nome.

„Dad, you didn`t tell me. Who was he?“

„He is called Clay. I haven`t met him before. We just bumped to each other and then, and THEN... you were again in forest alone!“ Balto was becoming angry.

„But dad....“

„No, no, no... Aleu. No buts. If me and Clay hadn`t been...“

„Have somebody said my name?“ Clay walked towards them. „Oh, at least you two are safe.“

Balto took look on him. He had blood stains on his fur and ...

„Are you hurt?“ Balto asked in grief.

„Oh what? Ahh, you mean this? Yes, one was too quick. But it is just a little scratch.“

Balto pushed Aleu in front of himself. She knew exactly what did Balto want her to say.

„My name is Aleu. I am sorry for causing you so much trouble. Thank you very much for saving me.“ she said silently and tried to sound as guilty as she could.

„Hey, that was nothing. Anyway, I am....“

„Clay, I know. Dad already told me,“ Aleu interrupted him.

Clay smiled widely. „Really? You have a great dad, you know, lassie? So obey him.“

„I will, I promise.“

„So, now I have some bussiness that needs to be taken care of here. See you.“ Clay turned himself and headed to Nome.

---------------

Things were going well for Steele. There were many new dogs, and just few of the ones who remembered that diphtheria matter. He saw few faces he knew, but they didn`t say anything. Did they forget, or just they were ignoring him?

 

Good... It`s better than...

 

„Ohhhh... look who came back?! Hey! Everyone! Steele is here!“

Steele looked

Previous Page

1 2 3 4

Next page