pile of pine’s branches. But instead of swearing he started to laughing and calling with relief some prayers, clearly thinking that God himself gave him fuel for fire. Well, he was probably right but under condition that God used Steele’s team to do that miracle.

Ash quickly lighted a campfire and in bolt of new energy he made a pot of coffee. He drank it at once, burning his tongue but also giving his body long waited bolt of warmth. However Steele understood that man’s life was still endangered.

“Hey! All to master.” He call other dogs. “Nestle to him and warm him up. It’s the best both for him and for us.”

Then he climb on the sled and grabbed a bag of dried meat for his team. Ash forgot about feeding dogs but dogs stomachs forgot not. So Steele one again had to replace a human in his duties. “It’s strange but necessary.” Though, giving portions of food to his pack. “My pack!” whispered in mind. “This is the real a new life!”

On morning wind ceased and they could set off in farther way without problems. John seemed not to remember any of nightly adventures, but also he seemed to regain strength. Joyfully he was petting dogs and giving them solid portions of dried meat. He didn’t notice (or he pretended he didn’t) that bag was tore with dogs teethes. That was impossible, wasn’t it?

“Now it will be easier.” Judged human looking on raising sun, then started their run.

He was right – the rest of way passed them quickly and easy. They got to Yukon’s bed on next day and two days after that they reached Galena. Just before town Steele called for a stop. Ash wanted to drive the pack but decisive stare of malamute made him to reconsider it, maybe reminding drama in mountain pan. So again he trusted team leader and opened dogs harnesses. And Steele went to his sister and give her own belt.

“Now it your turn, Sky.” He said pointing with muzzle on leader’s harness. “Let it be your journey.” Delighted wolfbitch licked brother’s cheek and took her place on the lead. They set off few minutes later.

To Galena sled was running with stunning speed and with proud poses. The most proud was Sky, leading the team but also Steele was smiling on lips and in heart, feeling puppyish joy of his sister. Maybe for the very first time he was proud although not him was greeted by amazed citizens. With amaze he discovered that running in second line could be as pleasant as being on the lead. Because even all admiring stares of locals weren’t so precious as the thankfulness of his loving sister.

V. The second chance

To Buckland they returned with perfect weather and wind blowing in theirs backs. They brought the mail – a load not too heavy but precious and long awaited by Bucklanders. Storm had damaged old orthodox church and few houses – who knows if it was even stronger on seashore that in mountains. So locals, seeing fury of the element, already had bereaved John and his sled and when they returned on fifth March it was a huge surprise. Maybe it wasn’t an achievement of century but for citizens of Buckland soon became a legend. They said: Nome has its Balto, but we have our Sky, the best sled leader on the North!” and fooled wolfbitch with caresses and titbits. Steele was standing in shadow of sister’s fame but even for a second any tone of envy didn’t cloud his heart. Because for that few weeks – so short but somehow so long time – he became the one with Sky, sharing her joys and grieves and with his all might tried to make sure that those first were more and those second. Slowly he was also using to dogs community and becoming real Bucklander. He started to accustom with life in kennels thanks to Daniel. Husky, whom malamute saved on trip, his previous anger and ill-disposition changed into real admire and thankfulness towards the leader. On the contrary to his brother, who was still despising the Steele’s company, the darker husky became almost part of leader’s club. With Sky, Ice and Daniel malamute spent the airy summer in Buckland. That was so unlike to his old life: he could be chief of his group he wasn’t. With his small pack he was bound neither by domination nor subordination but by trust and friendship. He loved his sister and considered ice and Daniel as friends. What was strange he felt no longer urge to be on the top. Buckland was small community that had just one real sledteam (belonging to Ash/Tazaku clan). There were no races, championships or other forms of rivalry and chances to emphasize own greatness. Achievements of Steele’s team were achievements of whole town, so there was even no possibility to stand on podium alone. His old behaviour Steele considered as stupid and puppyish, maybe because he was observing Blade’s acting. Spitz seemed to be some kind of sham reflection of old Steele. Despite of constant health problems (wounds on his back were never fully healed) he was still trying to win with leader. Initially malamute was taking it serious and winning in every contest with Blade, but he no longer felt champion’s satisfaction. In whole town only he and Blade were concerned who was the sled leader. And some day in the end of October 1925 when they were going for mail bored Steele left his leader’s place in harness, went to Daniel and whispered.

“In case, would you change him?”

He didn’t want bad, even he wasn’t expecting he would be heard. But spitz heard that sentence and considered malamute’s resignation as sigh of ultimate scorn from rival. From that on hostility of hybrid turned to freezing hatred – if he wasn’t able to win with enemy on fair rules, he decided to determine their argument in bloody fight. He ambushed few days after Steele’s return from Nenana. When malamute was walking at evening thought the Russian Settlement (in summertime he was working as a courier and that day he was returning home after delivering an aspirin from doctor Tazaku), spitz pounced on him from under the bridge. The fight was short and unfair – weaken by recent injures Blade was struggling poorly. Rage had blinded his reason and instead of sophisticated tactic he used brute strength what had to end in ill-fated way. Weaker opponent fell quickly after just few hits. Leader refrained himself from beating the fallen enemy. With edge of mind he recalled the evening before post when he had been lying in snow beaten almost to death. He knew that pain and feared to inflict it even to mortal enemy. But he did something different, who knows if not worse. For moment voices of old, vengeful Steele called in him.

He knew that he should to leave fallen dog, eventually drag him closer to the main square. But he, out of spite, took the wounded hybrid to Tazaku’s house, barking and calling with all his might to announce to whole Buckland what had happened and that way humiliated adversary even more. Dogs praised Steele for generosity and care for insidious Blade but leader had in mind that bitter-sweet awareness he did something really nasty. That triumph lasted for few days then joy in dogs heart faded, leaving just memory about completely nonsense of that argument. However Steele had never apologised Blade for that – maybe it was some shadow of old dog’s character and pride.

For whole summer malamute was loafing (apart of few task as doctor Tazaku’s courier), running with sister and Ice (later also with Daniel) in Buckland’s vicinity. When snow melted sleds were unnecessary. Stock for town brought ships as soon as sea was free from ice float. In case of emergency situation, John Ash could exchange sled for cart and then use dogs as draught animals, but actually it had never happened. So when snow was gone (or was too thin to slide) all dogs turned from diligent workers into lazybones. But they deserved it after a half year of hard work.

[Picture by Sytana]

Few times doctor Tazaku brought Steele with him on his trips in nearby forest. Japanese was studying animals of Alaska (as it turned out, the caribu enclosure that once malamute had devastated was part of that studies) and took the leader for company and for security. Once it saved his life because they met some hungry wolves on Bears Mountain side.

Doctor was just reaching for gun (in spite of his age Tazaku was a superb sniper. Unfortunately his colt contained only six bullets in barrel, so he could took six of predators but then it was useful – they could attack before he reload) and with right arm he reached for his samurai sword, when Steele advanced before owner and growled wilfully.

“Go away!”

The pack was led by old grey wolf with keen stare. Next to him stood strong beta-male, probably someone like adiutant. Then was another beta, clearly aspirant to the lead, waiting for his time. Muzzle of that male turned out well know to Steele.

“We will...” replied beta. “After a meal.” Uncertainly looked on chief but elder just nodded his head with approval.

“But watch for his gun Owi.”

“Wait!” growled Niju, running to greyfured. “I have a life-debt to this malamute.”

“How sweet... We have not.” Said Owi’s follower, Dymitr.

“Nava, we can’t kill him.” Repeated angrily aspirant. Steele wasn’t sure if wolf was driving by actual gratefulness towards him or he just found some pretext to argue with chief. But this wasn’t mater – the effect was matter. “He is friend of the pack.”

After Niju stood three of his most loyal followers, baring theirs teethes and giving clear signals they were ready to help their superior in eventual fight with Owi and others. Nava closed his eyes with undisturbed calmness and remained silent for few seconds. Then he backed several steps, deciding that unity of pack is more important than one meal.

“Go... this time.” Said wolfleader. “Only this time.” Added, looking on Steele.

“I have never had to...” whispered Niju, passing malamute. After a while