resurrection, hybrid excused Kaltag and Nikki and ran to the post office.

Around Steele gathered a crowd of dogs, asking constantly what had happened. Balto’s heartbeating stopped when Steele opened his mouth to answer that. But then his jaw dropped when sled leader replied.

“I don’t recall details… there was an awful blizzard.” Said Steele. Then he noticed Balto and smiled radiantly. “I was totally lost and surprised. But it was exactly like in old good times – nothing I would be unprepared.” Wolfdog came closer, carefully looking on muzzle of Malamute. “But somehow I managed to return here.”

“E… Steele?” asked Morse carefully. “Don’t you have a grudge against rest of the team.”

“For what?” leader faked his amaze.

“Well… technically they left you.” Murmured telegrapher’s pet.

“I would have do the same in his… I mean: their place.” Replied dog and looked on hybrid.

“Steele, you are alive…” whispered Balto.

“Yes, I noticed that.” Said dog and almost everybody laughed with airy laughter. Then he steeped closer to the rival and whispered to his ear. “You impressed me, pal. I’m serious… the real genius is the best hidden one. I would have never expected that… So you showed you are good in planning… But you definitely lack in executive area. But maybe… soon I will teach you that!” Then he left confused Balto on the street.

And wolfdog shivered inside, because he discovered that he wasn’t actually feeling guilt and looking the way to mend his crime, but he was feeling anger and was looking the way to correct his error. And do what he did, but then properly.

V.I. Vengeance is mine

Never try to get revenge: leave that, my dear friends, to the Retribution. As scripture says: Vengeance is mine-I will pay them back, the Lord promises.
Romans 12:19

With return of Steele some kind of strange fear was cast on town. From humans only Gunnar Kaasen and Peter Kirns knew that malamute had been left on Eagle Pass. When Norwegian discovered that his favourite was back, he screamed, thinking he saw a ghost.

“Steele!” he whispered, when dog just cam to him and with perfect calmness just bended his head to pet. It was on evening of next day, when early spring snow was falling, maybe for the last time before next autumn. “But how… I’m so sorry, Steele… I left you for the second time.”

“Don’t back to that, boss.” Murmured malamute. Of course human couldn’t understand him, but by his body language he expressed the full trust and love towards owner. “I would say we’re equal now.”

“Let me see your leg…” asked Gunnar, bending down to wounded dog’s paw. “Ow, I see teethes again. You were fighting? Wolf?”

“I could say that.” Murmured Steele, reminding Balto.

“But wound cured clear.” Judged trapper. “You had much luck you returned here with such a injure.”

“Enormous luck.” Nodded leader. “But no I must go. Take care, boss.” And he left shocked Norwegian, leaving his house via dog-hatch.

Then he hobbled back to shed, where he found Berenice with pups, but also guests. Maya, Star and Balto. Seeing hybrid, malamute smiled again. But then he took a quick look around. When he not spotted Victor, he sighed with relief. Presence of yellow furred still was mystery for locals. So Steele decided still to play the game that he had fixed with mongrel.

“Good afternoon.” Said malamute with rather indifferent voice. “Something is wrong?”

Star and Maya were looking on him with confusion. Finally husky said. “You are back…”

“Sorry to say that, but I am.” Smiled leader, with his usual irony. In that moment Star actually believed he had a real Steele in front of him. Meanwhile Maya turned her eyes to the ground and sighed with remorse. “Come on, baby, that was definitely not your fault.” Said malamute, nudging her in side. “It was blizzard and you were exhausted and wounded. If many healthy dogs didn’t noticed it got lost, why should you have done it?” Hearing that Balto lowered his ears.

“What happened there?” asked Star.

“Sit down.” Said Steele, but then he asked Berenice. “Won’t they disturb kids?” she shook her head. “So sit down and let’s talk easy.”

Pups were sleeping on mother’s side and she-malamute was laying on special furs-made bedding under wall of shed in the warmest place of room. Gunnar Kaasen took special care about those, not only hoping to have excellent, pure-breeds dogs, but also with concern amplified with guilt after presumably death of Steele.

“Sir, we are terribly sorry.” Started Maya.

“Leave that.” Murmured leader. “I’m alive and that matters.” He looked on Balto and smiled with proud smile. Hybrid was splitting his awareness between malamute and Berenice.

“It was an awful accident.” Said wolfdog with hollow voice. “…that I failed.” Thought. “I wonder why he didn’t tell about my motives to Berenice. But if he did… would be doomed.”

“It was.” Nodded Steele. “However it’s a past. We all… apart poor Fitch and Bart, survived. It just could have gone worse and I’m sure you are glad that it came as it came.”

“So, I guess you will manage now.” murmured Star carefully. “We will go now.”

“Thank you for your concern.” said Steele. “You thanks you too, Balto. Berenice said you were… very helpful.” Hybrid clenched his jaws, but stayed silent.

“Balto, come.” Nudged his Star and all three exited the shed. After few minutes, when he was sure that wolfdog wouldn’t return, Victor came out from under furs.

“Did you see him?” asked Steele. “That is Balto.” Yellow furred nodded. “However, as I said, you still have to find some way to get him while he isn’t among other dogs. Almost every one would stand for great Balto, local hero.”

“No, if you say them what he did.” Noticed Victor, but Steele shook his head. “All right, just help me distract him, when he is in some public place. I want destroy him, not only his body but also his fame. I want him to cry in front of crown and…” Berenice gasped with sudden disgust.

“Steele… Could you leave us for few moments?” she asked. Malamute was a bit surprised, but he nodded.

“So I will go on walk.” He said and exited shed. Using the beautiful night with maybe the last aurora borealis that spring, he went on main street, looking on the sky. Mean while inside Berenice was gazing on Victor with questioning stare.

“Why do you do that?” she asked finally.

“I know that is wrong.” Said yellow furred. “Or it’s wrong in your eyes. But I have no other way, even no other perspective to see the world around. From youth I’m seeking vengeance and I’m sure couldn’t do anything else.”

“But what when you do it? When you kill Balto?”

“I don’t know, I really don’t know.”

“Look at Steele.” interrupted him Berenice. “He was almost like you! But it happened that I helped him to overcome what was dark inside him. We taught each other to live. I’m sure you also could learn that.” He shook his head, but she continued. “Who is Steele for you.” He was wandering for few moments.

“I guess… a friend. In fact the only friend I ever had.” Said yellow furred. “However I’m not sure if I’m able to really understand what the friendship is.”

“And I?”

“Well…” replied Victor uncertainly. “I would like to call you a friend too, but…” She point him a place on her side, and when he sat down, she licked his forehead. “All right, I guess you are my friend, presuming that I know what that means.”

“So there is a good start to leave your old live behind.” Said Berenice. “I’m sure that Agatha was special person, wonderful mate and someone worthy to die for. But isn’t there better to live for than die for? I bet she is somewhere on the sky and praying you are back to life you once dropped.”

“It’s too late.” Said Victor. “I’m now just one-purpose tool. I must do what I was made to.”

“Steele won’t let you.” Replied she-malamute. “If you attack Balto he will stand at your side to help you, whatever dangerous it will be. Not because he has own debts to Balto, but because you are his friend. So you are endangering life of your friend.”

“I, friend?” smiled Victor. “A mutt being friend of pure-breed master?”

“No, I’m sure Steele didn’t…”

“He was calling me <mutt> all the time.” Replied yellow furred. “ or ” Eyes of Berenice narrowed in confusion, but Victor just laughed. “And I was calling him or . You wouldn’t believe how long you could insult your only companion, if you have nothing else to do… Those were just jokes. In fact Steele never let me feel I’m worse because my breed. He was judging me only by what I did.” Then he smiled once again. “And maybe we quickly found a common ground because we both don’t like wolves?”

“You see?” asked she-malamute. “You are able to feel something more than just anger.” In the same time one of pups, probably Sol, woke up and climbed on Victor’s side. To help herself in that achievement, she plunged her tiny fangs into dog’s fur. Mongrel didn’t wanted that, but he reacted with smile. Berenice noticed that with satisfaction and put her daughter down on bedding. “I just don’t believe that you can’t see the beauty of world outside your vengeance.”

“I know it’s wonderful.” Said Victor. “But it’s not mine.”

“It could be your!” exclaimed Berenice. “Find the link! As Steele found me, there must be something... maybe someone to bind you with all what you see now so distant. Just try…” Then hatch opened and to shed came Steele. He was panting and on his face expression of excitation was clear.

“Damn! You won’t believe it!” he panted. “In front of boiler room… there is a meeting. A judgement actually. Kodi brought in a charge… against himself for remissness of leader’s duties.” They looked on him with amaze. “And more! Maya charged Jimmy for remissness of leader’s duties… because I was lost.”

“That’s is nonsense!” yelled Berenice. “Kodi could feel real remorse for what happened… But why the heck they accused Jimmy?”

“As I found out, it was