“Well, it doesn’t matter. Step in.” Dog came closer. “Do you want to talk on side?”

“If you would be so kind.” Said Batlo and malamute was barely believing that those words are sounding in his rival’s mouth.

“All, right, I’ll go on walk.” Said Berenice, carefully looking on her mate. Steele nodded his head. “I’ll be in half an hour.” She exited the shed and Steele pointed Balto a place in front of him. Hybrid came there, however he didn’t sit.

“Please, don’t enrage me, because I really don’t want to be rude for you today.” Said former leader. “What do you want?”

“You heard about sled…” started Balto. “Kodi is there.”

“Not only Kodi.” Noticed Steele. "Seven of Nome most gifted pullers are there. You want to hear that I’m sorry? Well, I am, but not for you, but for others dogs and their families. Hell… for Kodi too, after all he is son of Jenna… But you are the last person on this world I could sympathy with.”

“I do not ask for sympathy.” Murmured hybrid. “I ask you for help.” Steele gasped with amazement. “Yes, I came here to ask you, if you could lead the rescue team.”

“Are you nuts?” called malamute with amusement. “I’m a cripple now, thanks to your friends and sidekicks. I’m still far better puller that you, but it just couldn’t be taken as a compliment in any way.”

“Steele, please, listen to me.” Said Balto with breaking voice. “Just let me say it… You may believe or not, but I’m really sorry about that what happened three years ago. If I could replay that I would have tried to play it… in smother way, for both us to… act properly.”

“You depose me from lead on the route.” Growled Steele. “That is against the First Rule of the Sled Code!”

“I’m sorry!” yelled wolfdog. “I’m really sorry.”

“You have been reconsidering you acting for a long time.” Murmured malamute. “Why it took almost three years to your conscience?” Balto turned down his stare. “I don’t believe you. You just want to use me, saying that. You can’t regret that, because that event made you whom you are today. A hero. A hero instead of me.”

“Steele! Help me!” almost sobbed wofldog.

“Why?” asked former leader.

“I know how it was. Star and Nikki told me. Only you had made it. You were the leader that three times when master Kassen crossed the Eagle Pass. Star don’t remember the way, anyone else the same. But you… You made it even in such a blizzard.”

“Please, remind me, when that was?” asked Steele with poisonous voice.

“January, 1925.” Said Balto with breaking voice. “You carried the serum thought the most dangerous part of way.”

“Wow! Who would though that!” laughed former leader. “I? The coward and traitor? That a very dangerous thought, Balto. It allows to see some events in completely different perspective. Unfortunately, no one would know the truth.”

“I will tell them.” Assured Balto. “I will tell them what you did. That… actually you brought that medicine.”

“But for a prize…” murmured dog. “I mean your confession. You would tell it, because you hope that by flattering me you make me to lead that expedition. Aren’t you?”

“But I…”

“Go away, Balto.” Snorted Steele. “I used with being monster and I like that. And forced truth is somehow a lie. So hear me – I won’t even move an inch to save your son. Even if I was healthy, I wouldn’t have wanted to.” Balto lowered his ears. “So go away, mutt, and still be a hero. Remember, that coward and traitor just can’t be a saviour. It’s just improper.”

“I… really sorry, Steele.” said wolfdog and exited the shed.

Strange, but Balto was true. It took him few years to notice that, but he understood that his acting in mountains three years earlier was so far from heroic fame as Steele’s one from his black legend. He understood a wounded pride of malamute. Of dog he once had been admiring for his strength and courage… and some of that admire stayed. “I doomed Steele because of my pride… And I doomed Kodi because of my pride! I made him to go through the Eagle Pass. He wanted to be like me!” He closed his eyes and two tears fell on the snow. It was too late to mend those errors. But he still could prevent some future falls.

“Dogs of Nome!” called wolfdog to gathered crown in front of post office. “I wish to say something…” All eyes turned to him with curiosity. “I want to correct some myths that arose around past of our town, especially one of its greatest citizens.” Steele stood up and ran outside with amazement of his face. He had no idea what Balto was up to, but he decided to be ready to react on it. “Dogs of Nome… When I said you story about serum run I missed an important chapter of that tale. Those who were there could witness my words. Star, Kaltag and others.”

Steele smiled with understanding. So Balto wanted to mock him even more, just to have a revenge on him. But it didn’t matter, Steele didn’t care about fame in town. He was just curious about that.

“Before the story you all know took place another chapter of tale was written. It was a chapter about bravery and mastery. About long forgotten glory.” Star looked on his chief with confusion. “Because before I took a lead I team… I did it against the laws of pullers, however I believe I had no other way… Before I did it, the team made the most dangerous part of journey. Those heroes were actually saviours on Nome, greater than I, who came just take their glory. Those dogs are here, respected among us, maybe not as respected as they should, but we know about them. But one of those heroes is now forgotten and neglected. It’s shame on us.”

Steele’s jaw dropped almost to the ground. In the same time he was nudged in side by Berenice who just had come there. She asked.

“What’s going on? Is he making fun on you?” she bared her fangs with angry bark.

“Worse!” gasped Steele. “He is going to say the truth!”

“The route from White Fort to outskirts of Buckland, including the hardest way in Eagle Pass was lead by leader Steele of Nome, son of Sharp and Lepmi.”

“No s**t!” murmured Steele, not knowing if that was sign of amazement or irony.

Dogs around were shocked in similar degree and most of them instantly looked on malamute with question in their eyes.

“Drop it, Balto!” called former leader. “As I said: I won’t go there!”

“He want you to lead the rescue team?” Asked Berenice. “He is even more cheeky than I thought!”

“What the heck…” murmured confused Star. Some others dogs murmured with surprised voices.

“You said.” Agreed Balto. “I know it, but I still have to do that: say how it actually was. Star, Kaltag, Nikki. Witness to me. Steele was your leader on Eagle Pass, right.”

“Well, he was.” Said confused Nikki as he just had discovered that simple truth.

“He was even leading you longer than I.” Added Balto.

“Yes, we could say so.” Agreed Kaltag.

“Do with that knowledge whatever you want.” Said wolfdog to the crowd. “But I think you should thank Steele.” He stopped for while, then called with breaking voice. “I’m sorry, Steele. I regret I depose you from the lead.”

Answering on inquiring stare of Berenice, malamute said quickly. “I’m not so amazed by that, because I don’t fully believe in that.”

“But it’s true.” She replied. “You are hero.” Then she added instantly. “Of course it doesn’t matter. I loved you all the time, not knowing about that. However, I suspected…”

Dogs of Nome were looking with silent amaze on Steele and Berenice coming back to Kaasen’s shed. When they finally escaped those stares, Steele whispered to ear of his mate.

“I know I’m idiot… I know you should be mad on me… But I have to go.”

“Where?” she panted.

“To the Eagle Pass. I’m afraid they are right. No one would reach it, only master Gunnar having me on lead.”

“But you said…”

“I acted as a last hypocrite, making you leave the league and deciding to back to pulling in the same time. But I guess… I’m a hypocrite.”

“You are…” she said with breaking voice. “You are the best sled leader in Alaska. I understand that you have to… You are the best and it’s you nature. Just as me and my fights… But You have to promise me, you will back. You have to be back.”

“For the very first time in my life I have a home to return.” He smiled.

“And tell my me one thing more.” She asked. “You are helping Balto. Why?”

“I say I won’t move an inch to help Balto’s son.” He said. “However I said nothing about helping Jenna’s son.”

I.II. Waiting till the end

<Eagle Pass; 29th January 1928; Third day under the avalanche>

They were finally together, at least those who made it.

All dogs, driven by deepest instincts, managed to dig to the sled. When Kodi heard first sign of life of other dog, he burst in tears. However he was taught to save every joule of energy and every litre of air. He ordered surviving compactions to slowly dog in sled direction, trying not to tire themselves. And on third day of imprisonment they all were at the side of unconscious Peter Kinrs. Human was wounded, however in not so terrible condition. Not all had those luck.

“Kodi…” whispered Maya with tear in her eyes. “Bart is down… he is dead, I saw his cold body.”

“Stay calm.” Replied leader, feeling a terrible burning in his throat. So he killed his friend. “You couldn’t prevent it.” Added. “But I could.” He thought.

“Dusty is wounded and unconsciousness, however her pulse is still. Rest is in moderate condition.”

“Good, that’s good.” Sighed Kodi. “Take Dusty closer to the human. And let’s lay round him. We must save warmth and oxygen.”

“Do you think they will search for us?” asked Maya.

“I’m absolutely sure of that.” Lied Balto’s son.

II.I. Where Eagles Dare

Though you mount on high as the eagle, and though your nest is set among the stars, I will bring you down from there, says Yahweh.
Obadiah 1:4

When decision had been made, it took a little time to prepare the expedition. About midday team was almost ready to go. Steele