as it was possible. “Sir, wait! She is here.” Cried spitz.

“Pal, I appreciate your hospitality, but…” then Steele understood that there was no way back. Night had fallen, the only route away was returning to Eagle Pass. Walking it on night – apart of being quite pointless, after he had made that way recently – was real dangerous. Maybe even more than meeting with infected dogs. “All, right, I’m staying here… But do not approach me!”

“Of course, sir.” Replied female voice.

From bushes nearby exited two silhouettes. One was malamute with scar, the second was bitch, also pure breed, looking on Steele with curiosity. She was a bit younger that her mate and definitely beautiful, in spite of visible sings of illness. Her neck was even more swollen than dog on her side.

“Do not be afraid, sir.” She added. “We know well how not to be danger for others.

“I hope so.” Thought malamute. “I have nowhere to run.” Then he said aloud. “My name is Steele, son of Sharp and Lepmi. But I still don’t know who are you.”

“We are probably only survivors from your father’s team.” Said infected dog. “My name is Barry, left in third row and this is Kate, left in second row in harness of chief Sharp.”

“Nice to meet you.” Murmured Steele. “I’m sorry, but I won’t shake your paw.”

“Of course, sir.” Replied Kate. “We will be careful. Relax, we know how to keep our curse… only our. But now, come with us. Twenty feet behind will be good enough.”

“But, why…”

“You are hungry, sir.” Said Barry. “We have stock of food. Relax, it’s long dead and frozen. Those snacks are clear now.”

“Thank you. Lead!” replied Steele quite loud to muffle his rumble.

*

During way through dark forest Steele was thinking heavily. Whole situation seemed very funny to him and he was simply curious how it could go. On the other hand, he had something to do and if he could afford for dying from disease, he also couldn’t afford for dying from starvation. So he followed his “host” to small cave in slope of lower Pass Peak.

“Here, enter that.” Said Barry. “There is a stock of meat… But wait! Are you sure you are healthy?”

“If you didn’t give a <gift>, I’m clean for sure.” Replied Steele.

“Sorry, sir. Just to make sure…”

“Make sure? But for what?” asked malamute in mind. “If they are dying they should give no heck for infecting their food… Or this isn’t their food!” thought in moment of clarity. “They are aware not to infect someone else… Rest of pack?” He entered a small chamber where frozen pieces of meat were lying half covered with snow. “Not too much for a pack.” Estimated Steele.

“Please, eat as much as you wish.” Said Kate from outside. “But if you don’t have to, leave some. It easy to find preys now, but we must manage it carefully…”

“You hunt or find meet and leave to froze and clean from disease.” Said malamute. “Smart and touching. For whom you are doing that?”

Kate gasped with sudden fear, but then Steele heard a muffled voice of Barry. “My dear… that is son of boss. He will help her. We have to trust him.” Then malamute understood he was in deeper swamp the initially thought. If he was able, he would have run away from that place. But unfortunately – the only way out was cut out by infected dogs. “Werk!” thought dog with anger.

“For Berenice, our daughter.” Said Kate with quiet voice. “She still have a chance…”

“WHAT?!” called Steele. “You drove to place where someone infected was feasting!?” He growled with rage. If could meant death sentence or just nothing if illness happened to be weaker on that carrier. And - as we mentioned – Steele didn’t fear death as a normal creature. But he was enraged that he was cheated.

“No, wait!” yelled Barry. “Sir, I’m sorry, but Berenice is healthy almost for sure…”

“So I almost for sure won’t kill you!” growled malamute.

“Do not fight with us, sir.” Said Kate with unexpectedly hard and decisive voice. “If you touch us, you will be infected. And we need you alive!”

“Deer’s dropping!” gasped Steele, but then he started to eat the meat fast. He decided to be prepared for everything, so the full belly was welcome. He hoped that parents were wise and carefully planned feeding their daughter and food was safe. “But if get the black death, I will march straight to Nome and make Balto to drink my pus!” added in mind, imagining the full-scale epidemic in town. Balto saved citizens from diphtheria? Sure, but how he could deal with bubonic plague? Dog burst with hysterical laughter, spitting the meat from his mount.

“Sir?” asked a bit scarred Barry.

“O, my God!” whispered Kate. “He could has a rabies!”

But then Steele called from inside of cave. “You’re good! I though I’m the bad guy here, but what you did was nasty indeed. But I see some serious lack in your plan. What is condition of your daughter?”

“Healthy, but very weak.” Said Barry. “We just yesterday gave her some frozen meat. Also she was starving for over two weeks when we coming here. You have to take care of her, because we will be done in few days. It won’t be too hard, she is almost one year old. What you need to keep her alive to spring, then she will manage.”

“I understand…” said malamute. “But tell me: your plan is to leave that Berenice with me and pass away in peace. You lured he here and eventually infected with illness she has, because I have no reason to avoid her – we are or destined to survive if she is carries or to outlive together if she is not... But tell me, you smart-heads: why did you suppose I won’t kill your daughter in spot or just leave her, after you die and stop threat me with your infection?”

“Because you are son of Sharp.” Said Barry with firm voice. “We were praying to God for someone like you and our pleads were fulfilled. You will save her.”

“However, we would like to hear your swear you will do it.” Added Kate.

“And I would like to be hundred miles away.” Growled Steele.

“Do it, sir.” Said bitch. “I feel very uncomfortable insisting it from son of my leader, but Steele… if we decide you won’t do it, we will simply enter the cave and infect you.”

“I will kill you then…” whispered malamute, but cold sweat deluged his neck.

“Go on, sir.” Replied Kate with mixed grave and amused voice. “Your fangs are quite tempting alternative to slow death from general sepsis.”

“Damn you!”

“We are damned already.” Said Barry. “For what we did to your father. But please, have mercy on our innocent child. She did nothing.”

In Steele’s mind awoke another question. They were still talking about his father… and knowing much more than him. He left memories of his parent when he understood in early puphood it was useless to find him. But then his curiosity was fuelled. After short consideration, dog decided to play game of infected dogs, to get know more about great Sharp.

“Let say… that I eventually… Hypothetically: I’ll take care of your daughter.”

“He agreed!” cried Katy with cry of relief. Suddenly she ran to cave, probably wanting to hug stranger. But growl of Steele stopped her in half a way. “Sorry… I forgot…” She slowly stepped back to exit.

“You are going down, so a little madness won’t hurt you too much.” Panted malamute angrily. “But few more such a jokes and I will lose my mind. And I’m going to live for a while, all right?”

“Right, sir.” Said Barry. “We’re sorry. We will leave now. You stay here, eat and rest. Tomorrow you will follow our pawprints. It will lead you nearby Berenice’s lair. She will find you at the end of the path.”

Then Steele understood that parents would do anything to save their child. They were planning whole action so carefully, that malamute discovered that the danger is minimal – at least for young she-dog. In the same moment he saw the crisis from perspective of pair of infected malamutes. They were doing they best to save what they could save. Although former leader was still furious on that strange couple, he had to admit he admired their devotion and sacrifice. If he was father of that bitch, he would have done the same. If, if, if. But he was not, so he still was boiling with anger. However, he didn’t showed it – he had to find what happened with his father.

“No, Barry, wait.” Ordered. “You owe me a serious favour. I want to know everything you know about my father. Every word. What happened before you left him.”

“As you wish, sir.” Replied infected malamute. “I have no intention to lie in face of death… But please, do not blame Berenice for what we did.”

“Blame? Her?” asked Steele with hollow voice. “Do you think I’m so vegenful?”

“No, of course you are not.” Replied Barry instantly. “You are son of noble Sharp.”

Steele barely repressed his laughter. “Now it got even more interesting.” Thought dog. He laid down on ground of cave and closed his eyes. Then ordered.

“Speak, Barry. I want to hear your confession. I promise, I won’t project my vengeance on your daughter.” Said with hidden irony. “But it doesn’t mean I will help her now.” Added in mind. “Maybe you didn’t notice, but I promised you nothing about it.”

“Thank you, sir.” Said infected dog. “Of, course, sir, I will tell you everything. From when I should start?”

“From very beginning.” Replied Steele. “Where and when you met my father.”

“It was a fall of 1921, in Fort Yukon. Our soon-to-be owner, Patrick DuMeil, was looking for dogs to his sled. I was young puller, but I probably caught attention of master DuMeil. He bought me and took to his pen where I met rest of team. Your father was already the unquestioned leader of your pack. He just looked on me and said instantly; <Hey, you. You look strong. You will replace Mark in third row.”

Steele was listening carefully, understanding a little, but being more and more wrapped up.

I.II. – For those who died

“Sir!” Barry was trying to overscream the blizzard, but leader, laying just next to was barely hearing what his