that Cher-like female were mixed. Stranger guided him to quite roomy den, where dog sensed another presence.

“You haven’t told him, aren’t you?” asked... a she-canine with voice so similar to Cher’s. “Darling, cease that.”

“Ow, you are right.” Said Steele. “I’m sorry, Daniel. I just... well, being dead has its advantages.”

Female burst in laughter, but soon after she stopped, probably seeing wound of dog.

“O, my God!” she yelled. “You haven’t told me that he is in that condition...”

“I agree, ma’am” said Daniel with tired voice. “There is no use in feeding me...”

“No, Daniel!” she replied quickly. “You are our guest and we will take care of you...”

“How do you...”

“That is my mate, Aleu.” Said Steele. “In fact, she has saved you...”

“No...” disagreed female. “That was our common decision. Daniel...” she turned to husky. “You have very constant friend.”

“Friends.” Said dog. “I don’t know how to thank you, ma’am...”

“Aleu.” Corrected Aleu.

“Right, Aleu...” said dog. “Steele, how it could be?”

“He will tell you everything.” Said Aleu. “But now, come here.” She came to him and helped him to raise up. “On that bedding. I must see your wounds...”

And she put him on own bad, and started to licking his blinded eyes. When Steele had done it with male’s harshness, only in order to prevent the inflammation, she did it in so gentle, feminine way. Every her touch brought a relief and calmness.

“I’ll go hunt.” Said Steele. “Darling, give him that buck I’ve dug nest to oak...”

“Don’t worry, I will take care of him.” Replied Aleu, hugging Daniel like new-born pup.

*

Steele was absent almost all the time, due to constant hunting. Both Daniel and Aleu required many energy, so former leader had to get twice preys he used to.

“We will have puppies.” Said brownish-furred, cleaning husky’s wounds day after.

“What?” gasped shocked Daniel. “You are pregnant and you let Steele to share your food with me? No... this is... Aleu... I’m too heavy burned for you...”

“Easy, Daniel.” She replied. “I know what we could afford. Until we can feed you, we will. Probably, when February-frosts will come, we will have problems. But until that you will be ready to walk and Steele will guide you to Buckland...”

“Why?” asked husky.

“You are my love’s friend.” Said Aleu.

“No, why you are doing it?” inquired Daniel.

“I... I don’t know. I just... have to.” Answered bitch honestly.

“God... you smell almost like Cher.” Said dog with dreamy voice.

“CHER?” gasped Aleu.

*

Steele found them about midnight in den, still talking with emotional voices. Malamute left roe’s carcass in side-chamber of den and looked on mate and friend.

“Steele...” said Aleu. “I know that is hard to believe, but some mysteries had been solved...”

And they said him about everything. Former leader was only nodding without asking any question. When they finished, he said with uncertain voice.

“I don’t know if it is still concerning you, but I made sure Cher reached civilisation.”

“And you didn’t tell me?” yelled Aleu.

“Dear, I didn’t know that was your sister!”

“Ow, yes...” agreed she-canine. “But Daniel... that means she left you in the forest...” dog nodded his head. “I’m so sorry... please... forgive her. I can’t...”

“It’s all right, Aleu.” Said husky. “I can’t be angry on her... I still love her.” He turned his blind stare on her. “But I slowly coming to conclusion that I fell in love with wrong sister.”

“I can understand you.” She said. “Cher is so beautiful... More than me.”

“Objection, You Honour. I think you are!” Whispered Steele to Aleu’s ear. They both smiled, but then again looked on Daniel.

“Daniel, I believe that when she knows the true, she will understand her mistakes. You will back to Buckland and be with my sister. But remember that she would be honoured by that, not you!” then she moaned and tensed her muzzle.

“It’s now?” asked Steele with excitation.

“Now, but it’s coming...” replied Aleu. “I expect the labour any day... Daniel, do you have any objection that we’ll name a son after you? Of course, if there will be the son, but I expect that will...”

“That’s an honour for me.” Replied husky. “Thanks.”

“Right, so there will be second Daniel in few days.” Smiled Steele.

“That means I should go.” Said Daniel.

“Well...” murmured malamute.

“No, it’s all right.” Replied husky. “I understand this. Soon you will have a numerous tiny mouth to feed. I can walk now... just show me the way...”

“Not so fast!” said Aleu. “Steele will guide you to the outskirts of Buckland.”

“Ow, yes, I forgot it.” Smiled Daniel. “You are too noble to think about yourselves... Steele, your mate changed you in unbelievable way...”

“If you knew me from Nome times, you would... know the three different persons.” Smiled malamute. “But you have right, she is amazing. Just like Sky was. I bet the were good friends...”

*

So next day Steele and Daniel started in Buckland’s direction. After warm farewell with Aleu, dog set off after his friend. They made that way in two days and on evening were on edge of forest, where doctor Tazaku had his caribu-enclousure.

“You will get there?” asked Steele. “I would take you farther, but... you know... I wish to be dead to the world.”

“I will.” Said Daniel. “Scent will guide me...” Even from that distance he smelled an aroma of Cher. “Steele, you are the best dead-friend I have... Tell Aleu, that... I don’t know. Just kiss her once from me, right?”

“Right, pal.” Said Steele. “So go home, and show that... Cher who is the dog here!” smiled malamute and turned back to the forest.

 

VII. The return of the claimant

Strong ones are fighting with their strength. Weak ones are fighting with  stronger ones. To recompense our weakness we must use the others. That is natural way of life and only a perfect hypocrite would object that. So when I saw a problem that laid before me I was thinking not only how to solve it but also who would solve it for me. Humans have a game called <chess>. I saw once a technique of playing when player sacrifice one of his pawns to get the enemy’s king. They call it <gambit>. A nice word to describe what don’t have to be nice in details. Because what I had to do wasn’t too elegant in moral perspective. But how elegant it was as a chess move! A perfect gambit in perfect game. To remove two pawns to get the king. Don’t you thing that what some call <cruelty> is always so mathematical-beautiful?

No soothing words had calmed down terrified Jack. But morphine did.

In Galena, doctor Tazaku noticed that wounded husky went mad. Without deliberation he injected him a dose of sedative and put him on sled like another load. In way back Ash set off with his father-in-law and his rifle. It was still danger, at least they thought so. In Nenana no one knew that last thug blasted his head off during fight with Daniel.

“Better we carry that dog on the sled.” Said Arashi. “One of dogs you’ve lost was probably his mate... O, Daniel is missing. He was a great creature!”

Men took a load and started a way back. It was very sad return, still in five dogs in harness. In fact, it was also very hard, because of only five dog in harness and additional load of doctor Tazaku and Jack. During route to Buckland, mushers stopped next to fatal valley and gave a quick look for lost dogs. They found nothing, even no Danny Torbello’s body, already fully devoured by scavengers.

“I’m so sorry.” Said Ice, looking on David. He had gone with humans to examine the place of accident. “We haven’t found him... But he might survive and...”

“If your eyes are still weary, I will lead.” Replied husky with voice totally washed out from emotions. Ice haven’t dared to said a word to him until they reached Buckland. But there they found someone unexpected.

“Cher!” yelled Jack and jump out the sled-card. “You are alive!”

Cherry-furred returned to town faster than they got back from Nenana. What she didn’t know - it was a Steele’s merit, who had cleared her path from dangers and few times planted some meat on her way.

Husky run to cherry-furred and nestled to her. But she greeted him with coldness and tensed neck. She looked on Ice and cried, faking regret and sorrow.

“Ice, forgive me... I got lost... I wanted to stay with you, but...”

“Leave it.” Replied greenland. “Thank God you are alive. But where is...”

“Daniel...” whispered David, searching his brother with sight.
”I... I...” yelled Cher. “Forgive me... Daniel is dead.”

Husky should to be prepared for that but he wasn’t. Hearing this news he froze and motionlessly fell on the snow. In one second whole energy, that we was sparkling with during the march, disappeared. He said nothing, only plunged his muzzle into the snow-drift. After few seconds Eva went to him and laid next to, gentle hugging husky.

“He saved me...” added Cher, still looking on Ice. Disappointed Jack made few steps back. “He fought the evil human, but they both are dead.”

“Well...” said confused Ice. “Let go to the kennel. We all are going cold...” So he started in building direction and dogs followed him. Only David and Eva remained outside.

*

<Dead> Daniel returned Buckland a week after, just after Christmas. It was a middle of night when blinded dog was walking on main town’s street, trying to find Tazaku’s house. Not the kennel but doctor’s residence. He wished to show himself at first to Cher, even before brother. That why he had to march through almost whole town. Armand, who was incidentally walking in that region, spotted him next to bridge.

“Who are you and what...” he asked with serious voice but then he understood on whom he was looking. “Uncle... You are alive! But... your

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