head.

“Of course I will. It won’t be so bad… Just… a deeper kind of slumber.” He was really glad to say this. A unwritten rule of universe says that consoling other is the best way to kill own fear. Steele, as the one who seemed to be untouched by death-perspective, tried to think that way too.

“But it will be painful.” She sobbed. “I saw mom and dad. There were in such a pain!”

“We could reduce that.” Smiled Steele with bitter smile. He instantly felt that Berenice frozen in his hug.

“No, that is not right.” She whispered. “Mom said me that it bad to kill if you don’t have to… even to kill your own.”

“Well, I don’t mean euthanasia.” Explained Steele. “Just… a risky therapy. We could try to open our oedemas. I will bite your and you will try to cut mine, that way we will rid off the pus.”

“So why haven’t he done that earlier?” asked amazed Berenice.

“Because there is serious probability we bleed-out in progress and even if we survive, we would die due to exhaustion or external infection later. I estimate our chances… well… about twenty percent.”

“It won’t hurt?”

“Even if, just a while.” Assured Steele.

“But if…”

“If you survive and I don’t, you will just leave me here, go to Galena and be a happy sleddog. I’m sure you will manage.”

“And if I die?”

“That would be a terrible loss, but we can’t help it. Do you want to risk?”

“Of course, I want. But… do not die, Steele.” she whispered and licked his cheek again.

“Right, right…” murmured a bit embarrassed malamute. A caressing touch of beautiful young female warmed something inside him. For the first time he thought that Berenice was actually real beautiful. It was a different kind of prettiness than Jenna’s – more wild, less subtle but somehow stronger. She was still a child, but hard puphood made her to grow up faster. However Steele quickly extinguished those thoughts. “I’m going to die, not to bother this kid with my already lost life. Maybe it’s would be better if she make it and I not.”

“What should I do?” she asked.

“To be sure, I’ll make it as a first. I will bite your neck and as gentle as I can I’ll break your swellings. It could hurt, but it’s unavoidable. Then – of you are able to – try to do the same with me.”

“But if I hurt you?”

“Even if, do not blame yourself. You would only finish my anguish that way.” She looked in his eyes with fear, but he just nodded. “And if something goes wrong, I want you to know I’m really grateful to you. I think you… inspired the best in me.”

“I just discovered what always was, Steele.” she replied and added. “I… You are the great dog. I think Jenna made a grave mistake.” And before malamute replied on that, she added. “But do it quick. I’m too scared to wait.”

So Steele opened his jaws and put them on her neck. For several seconds he was sensing the pulsing oedemas, aiming not to damage any artery. Illness was burning with her and if Steele missed, he just had finished her agony. But he prayed silently, he success. “And then she will probably kill me.” He smiled in mind. “I doubt if wounded pup would do such a hard operation. Even I’m not sure if I do.” But then he clenched his jaws.

Berenice barely repressed her scream, when sharp teethes of malamute pierced her fur and skin. Steele plunged his fangs deep, carefully breaking oedemas. Then he presses whole jaw to extract all pus. Berenice was lying still, shivering, but holding her neck in place. After about minute of pressing, malamute judged he did what he could. He opened his jaws and laid next to she-dog.

“I’m sorry if it hurt.” He said. “I did the best I could. Will you try?”

She barely lifted her head up and closed to his neck. She was bleeding and dripping with pus, pain was clear on her face. But former leader managed to perform operation correctly – no of important blood vessels were damaged. So she bended to him and put her fangs on him. Steele felt that he would most likely die, being bitten to death by that child. However, he wasn’t panicking about that. “For sure she is most beautiful death I could imagine.” And them recalled strange dream with death Balto. He saw clearly blooded neck of enemy and smiled. Then came the pain.

*

Even if you are not dreaming, every awakening could be hard, just due to end of sleep. A brute call of reality, that ends pleasant rest and usually force you to return to hard and tiring life. So Steele felt a bolt of irritation that his body was calling absent mind. He opened his eyes to see rays of sun, breaking into den and shining on him and Berenice. That really surprised him – most probable he survived. But…

“Bere!” gasped dog and felt instantly pain in his neck.

He raised his head up and discovered that his fur was covered in dry blood and pus. Thrombuses were aching him as hell, however the pain was the only factor that made him believe it wasn’t a dream. The reaction is a sing of life.

But then Steele looked on his companion. Cut on her neck was also dry and covered with thrombuses but dog saw no sign of additional infection. Oedemas disappeared, leaving just strange looking bags of stretched skin.

But what was far more important, chest of Berenice was slowly – however decisively – moving up and down and her breath – quiet but constant – was filling silence of den. Steele sighed with great relief, but also with disbelief.

“It’s impossible…” he murmured. “It just can’t be… We’re alive!” He quickly exited the den and stopped on snow in front of it. He looked on frozen forest around and for the very first time since many years he thought that winter is beautiful. However he also felt in his spine that winter soon will be over.

“WE ARE ALIVE!” called to snowed pines. Some of white mass from nearest branches fell down in response.

III.II. Spring

When Barenice woke up, Steele already managed to hunt some real game. It was young buck, maybe exhausted and almost starved due to frost, but big enough to feed them for almost a week, in normal conditions. But those conditions weren’t normal, because Steele ate about three daily portions in one meal. He discovered that they had been unconsciousness over three days.

So when Berenice opened he eyes, she noticed Steele, bended over her and licking her scars on neck. She stood up instantly with smile on her lips.

“Hold on!” called Steele. “I must clean it…”

“Steele!” she cried. “We did it!” and she hugged him in burst of puppyish joy.

“Yes, I noticed that.” Replied dog with usual irony, but then he burst in laughter too. “I’m impressed to, but please: sit down, and let me finish!” She obeyed and bended her neck to his operation.

“It’s wonderful!” she added. “You did it! You saved us.”

“It’s your teethes that took care about me.” Said dog, finishing cleaning. “There is only you to blame.” They both smiled, looking on each other with airy stares.

“And now it’s my turn.” She said finally. “Laid down and I will cake care about your scars.”

“I’ll be grateful.” Murmured Steele, sitting down. “Ow, still can’t believe it… I was sure we would bleed out to death.”

“So, we are destined to do something more in life.” Said Berenice after a while.

“Maybe.” Agreed Steele. “We will stay here, rest few days and then go south. Galena is near.”

*

Although she didn’t said it straight, Steele was sure such a request was on her mind. She wanted him to stay in town with her. There were moments that malamute was seriously thinking about it. But then always came a wave from past, urging him to go back to the north. He had so many to do… So many dirty and sinister work. Berenice was even ready to follow him in his seeking for vengeance, but Steele forbade her even to think about it.

She was too pure, to noble and uncorrupted to step in swam in malamute’s heart. Thinking of dog wasn’t pure moral process, but something connected more with aesthetics – he didn’t want Berenice to do with all disgusting mud he was about to cross.

“I’m a bastard and I have my own, shady businesses. She is angel in dog’s fur and let it stay this way.”

So they reached Yukon and turned to Galena. They reached outskirts of town about first march. The winter was still raging on, however sun going higher and higher over horizon was announcing the spring.

“Go now.” Said Steele, looking on undecided Berenice. “This is fine town, I was here many times. Many sled teams, few real good mushers. They well greet you happily.”

“Steele, please…” she looked on him with her deep green eyes. “Come with me.”

“We talked abut it many times, I can’t”

“Can’t or don’t want to?” she asked with breaking voice.

“Can’t.” replied Steele. “I have my quests. I would be honoured to stay with you… but it just isn’t my destiny. I won’t fit to it.”

“To it, or to me?”

“To you also.” Said Steele, sensing that talk turned to quite unpleasant topic. “Just go there and be whatever you want to be. I’m really happy that you are going to get what you deserve.”

“But it’s not what I want.” Whispered bitch. She came closer and licked Steele’s cheek. “Please, remember me.” Then she turn away and started to run ahead to town.

For one second Steele felt an impulse to run after her, but he repressed it. That was stupid. He was really glad he helped that pup to survive and get there. But it was just a pleasant adventure. He had some debts to pay. When silhouette of Berenice disappeared among Galena houses, Steele turned away his stare and enchantment ceased. Again wave of cold and well know hatred returned to his heart. Nothing would stop him from doing his job. To avenge his father and then – if Fortune would be so kind – to avenge himself on that rascal Balto.

Steele set off on north, more and more drowned in sweet thought about coming payback.

*

Berenice reached main Galena’s street with tears in her eyes. To the last moment she hoped Steele would stay. And maybe because of that she failed