IV. Sweet Harness

Two days later for the first time they put a harness on him. It was to be short run in vicinity of Buckland for new team member to adapt. In team were also Sky (on the lead), brothers: Daniel and David and Ice. Sled was driven by John Ash – doctor Tazaku’s son-in-law. Stalwart, short blond-haired American was looking on his new recruit, then he stroked malamute.

“You seem to be strong.” He judged. “Moon, Arrow and Ringo are wonderful doggies, but they are like pups comparing to you. I hope you will turn out to as tough as you look.”

He put a harness on Steele’s neck. Dog felt harsh caress of skin-belt and something like electric bolt shocked his body. Again! Again he could pull the sled! He clenched his jaws for not to pant with excitement. The glorious past, that he once lost, was back. Former leader’s spirit was urging him to run and to feel weight of sled. Steele was burning with pure likeness to whole world, including even Daniel and David, who had been just harnessed next to him.

“Don’t make us shame.” Gasped Daniel, the darker of twins. “We severely punish laziness here.”

“Silence!” barked Ice, harnessed in pair with Steele.

Although he was significantly smaller and weaker comparing to brothers he was respected and obeyed. Huskies seemed to ignore greenland with superiority but they fell silent. Meanwhile Sky (John was putting on her the leader’s harness) turned to brother and smiled radiantly.

“Now we will see if dandies from Nome are actually better that Bucklanders!” Although with that statement she unintentionally touched him (wave of sad memories flooded malamute’s mind) he smiled as well and airy wagged his tail.

They started. Ash’s sled was small “five” - long but light, reminding Indians sleds. Buckland never required to transport heavier loads – food-stock was brought in the summer by whale-ships and during the winter people live from huntings and reserves. Just in case, five or seven-dogged sled (to harness additional belts could be connected) was proper for some light load from Galena. Few times, during the starvation and two epidemics, dogs had to make a over four hundred-miles-way with food and medicines from Nanana, but there were old times, remembered only by Julia and Bernard. Beside small Buckland just couldn’t afford for such a luxury as weekly-mail (as was in Nome). There mail was provided once a month and John Ash was training dogs to March mail-trek to Nenana.

[Picture by Sytana]

Although sun was low above the horizon, it was quite warm as for February. After half a mile Steele felt well know heat, deluging his body from chest to paws. He was on route and he knew it. He wanted to close his eyes and run ahead, guided by his harness (“O, my ancestors! When for the last time I hadn’t to focus on the way?” thought amazed.) – he was trusting his sister absolutely. Sky was leading the sled easy, she wasn’t hurry and she carefully observing snowed way. It was clear that role of leader made her really proud. Steele had to smile – joy of his sister was also speaking to him and making him proud as well. But habits of the leader made him to carefully watch his companions. When they entered Bears Mountain Foot’s clearings, he noticed that sled wasn’t working perfectly. Frail greenland was pulling busily, probably giving it much more effort than he had to. But he didn’t complain at all. Meanwhile twins were going lazy – they were running wider than they should, so not only they didn’t clear the way to companions behind them – smaller greenland and weaker after an illness malamute, but also letting the belts stretch unnaturally, that force leading Sky to additional effort. Steele thought at first that leader (that was: his sister) should keep an order alone, so he was silent. But when he noticed Sky started to pant but didn’t say a word, he judged that it was his fault. Wolfbitch didn’t want to annoy the twins and provoke them to continue recent argument. “She is doing it for me, but she is doing bad.” Thought malamute. “She will exhaust quickly. Also the order in team will be weakened.” And then, guided by old habits, decided to act. He snapped with jaws on Daniel’s tail.

“Back to the line!” growled. “You sidetrack on left!”

Husky, surprised by so unexpected reprimand, at once corrected his position, but after a moment regained cold blood and turned his muzzle to Steele. Barked angrily.

“Don’t be too bossy, you stray!”

“And you too, back to the line!” growled malamute to David, completely ignoring Daniel’s reply. The lighter of twins turned a enraged stare to him but he noticed expression of determination on “stray’s” face. “To the line!” repeated former leader.

“To the line!” support him Sky. Ice also looked wilfully on brothers, clearly showing on what side he would stand in eventual fight. Huskies took a look on themselves and corrected their way. Sled speeded up.

But this was just a beginning. On nearest stop Daniel and David struck on Steele but Sky seeing brother in danger instantly run to support him. When Ice came too with bared teethes, twins regarded themselves as the lost ones. In farther way they obeyed malamute’s instructions. So he felt firmly and without hesitation was scolding Daniel, David and even few times he made an rebuke to Ice. Only Sky was running perfectly and even if Steele wanted to, he had no reason to complain on her. Twins reacted rather harshly on malamute’s orders but they were obedient. Ice was amazed, when malamute scolded him at first time, but instantly corrected his steps. He didn’t want to argue with his girlfriend’s brother and also he knew he made some mistakes.

They returned to Buckland two hours after the sunset, speeding as wind itself. John Ash few times braked his charges, surprised by high spirit of the team. He had no stopwatch but he was sure they broke a record on ten miles distance. Sled stopped before Ashe’s house and John fell on the snowed street due to impetus. Sara Ash instantly run out from house to see her husband lying in snow and laughing. She smiled herself.

“Sara! What a ride it was!” exclaimed trapper. “We were speeding like a storm and this new one is like a devil! He pulls like two dogs and lead as a born-leader. He dealt with huskies when they started to laze about... I haven’t used a whip, even once!”

“He is probably well trained.” Replied short blondie. “So how we will name him?”

“I don’t know...” murmured trapper, undoing Steele’s harness. “Let your father decide. This is his dog actually.” He released all dogs and when he came to Sky said, stroking her muzzle with caressing touch. “And she did it well too. Young but smart, she lead excellent. But I’m curious, how this devil is going on the lead...”

An opportunity for that came just a week later when sled was going for March mail to Nenana. Day of rest and preparation Steele spent with Sky and Ice, only cursorily familiarize with rest of dogs community. He was prised on gathering in kennels, that why elders allowed him to lead mail trip. At first he was objecting and suggesting that Sky would be better to do it, but even Sky judged that was a good idea. She had to felt with her sixth sense that was the most desired dream of her brother – vision of him on lead of team was something definitely soothing his hard memories from Nome.

So malamute accepted that honour but that time he was aware not to show any pride or disrespect to other Bucklanders. Once he even visited recovering Blade, but this talk was nice and polite only for the first sight – under a thin layer of calmness still was sparking whole sea of rage between two rivals.

To the town came first news about Balto’s achievement. Thank to far-sighted Sky no one from Buckland dogs didn’t annoy Steele with that subject and wolfbitch avoided even of speaking that name aloud. Luckily, the pride of locals didn’t let them to bother with adventures of rivals from Nome. They were better than those dandies, aren’t they?

And how we said already, malamute spent most of time with sister and Ice. Dog was charmed by tender and joyful Sky but also greenland got a Steele’s respect and likeness fast. Couple showed him town’s vicinity so whole trio was wandering on snowed fields of Bears River delta. In evenings malamute was endlessly talking with his half-sister, like he was making up the lost time of their parting. He knew her history: their mother Lempi, long after breeders took pups from first litter (that is: Steele and his siblings), was still living in Anchorage breeding. Few times she run in mail sled to villages on seashore. During one of those treks her sled sidetracked from the way and fell from the cliff killing the man and other dogs. Wounded Lempi was found by lone wolf called Regn. He took care of recovering bitch and accompanied her when she was healthy. They fall in love with each other and that how Sky and four of her siblings came to this world. Unfortunately only greyfured bitch-pup survived her first winter and spring in wildness. Her parents crestfallen by loss of four children decided that Lempi and Sky would back to humans to live easier life. It was impossible for Regn, but he ordered it his mate and daughter, to secure their future. Sky didn’t remembered father well, but she knew what they had parted because he wanted only her good. She was living with mother for another year but then age and unknown disease claimed for Lempi and took her for the eternal hunt. Not long after that Sky was sold to John Ash as a gift for his father-in-law-to-be, that was: doctor Tazaku. So that way she came to Buckland.

“So... do you fell all right here?” asked Steele when she finished her tale.

“Yes... with you, with Ice, with mister Tazaku... I feel I’m home.”

Next day after that talk they went for mail. Malamute accepted