ready to go. Steele just ate some in home then simply joined the group of dogs waiting to be harnessed. When Gunnar Kaasen notice that, came closer to pet his favourite.

“No Steele, you are retired.” Said, stroking malamute. “Your leg would definitely wouldn’t help you.” Dog looked on his owner with piercing and whole-speaking stare. “But on the other hand… ow, hell! You are the only one here who actually know the Eagle Pass. But it’s hard journey, in your age and in your condition… Will you make it?” Steele barked with decisive bark. “Well… so it will be like in old times.” Smiled human and led him to front harness.

“Boss!” amazed Star. “Are you coming with them?” Husky wasn’t allowed to participate, although he wanted that from all his might. But he was rather small puller, yet not in his prime. However it somehow touched him that Steele – older and laming was taken to the team.

“As you see.” Replied malamute with unexpected gentle voice. “I have to show them patch through the Eagle Pass. You know… since our team is gone, no one was there in winter.”

“I don’t know why they don’t let me…” started Star, but suddenly he stopped and looked on malamute with humble plead in his eyes. “Will you find them?”

“I can assure if I wasn’t sure of that, I wouldn’t interfere in that. It’s all will be all right.” Star nodded his head and went to other pullers.

Meanwhile both Berenice and Jenna came closer to sled, looking on preparation. In fact round team gathered a serious crowd, however those two were standing closer, following every move of human and dog team.

“Balto, come aside.” Ordered Berenice and wolfdog followed instantly. So malamute stayed with Jenna. She was looking on old adorer for longer while without a word.

“What?” asked Steele, gently smiling. “Did I something wrong even now?”

“No, Steele.” she sighed. “I’m very grateful you are going with them, but… tell me why?”
”For you.” Smiled malamute.

“I don’t think so.” Replied Jenna and her muzzle shaded with anxiety. “Tell me why you really want to go.”

“As you heard: for you.” Repeated dog. “I would give no heck about death of Balto son. However your child is… a bit different cause.”

“Remember! You promised never to kill him!” almost growled husky and Steele burst with laughter.

“O, my God! Do you think I plan to assassinate him during that trip? I confess I have a baroque style, but running over hundred miles to find better scene to my revenge somehow exceeds my aesthetic needs.”

“I’m serious, Steele!” she gasped. “Don’t do that!”

“You are very intelligent, but somehow you not so smart. Can’t you believe that I’m really doing it, because I loved you?” She shook her head, like she wanted to dispel those words.

“You did?” he nodded. “And… now?”

“I successfully passed it.” Replied malamute. “However I hade some promises… and I’m damn good in keeping promises… One of them was I would never let you cry. So I’m trying to do my best to help it.” She had actually tears in her eyes, but when Steele said that, she raised her muzzle and looked in his eyes. In that moment Steele thought she was really beautiful. But it mattered not. Steele was going for his own purpose.

“Is that true, what Balto said about you?” she asked with uncertain voice.

“True, however it doesn’t matter.” Replied malamute. “The point is what you are thinking and how despise me. You could ignore it.”

Then returned Berenice and Balto. Wolfdog had a nervous expression, eyes of she-malamute were almost sparking with anger, however she instantly appeased when saw Steele. She came to her mate and once again she licked his cheek.

“Return quickly.” She whispered. “As the fastest leader on Alaska should.”

Then came Gunnar Kaasen to check the harnesses. They set off few minutes later.

*

To dusk they made about twenty miles, what was – due to weather conditions – extremely good result. It was quite warm (as January), wind was weak but thick layer of snow after blizzard three days earlier was turning the way into real challenge. And Steele was on lead. He even asked himself that the heck for? He had been picked for a guide on the last fragment of way and there was no need to tire him before that. But he was happy that master Gunnar let him run as a first.

It was unbelievable how delightful could be burden of leader. His paws was aching, he felt cold, however he was sure those minor problems would disappeared in run. He was caressed by gentle warmth of working muscles (and felt cold on paws in the same time, but it didn’t mattered) and stroked by monotonous moves of leather belts. The way in front of him was straight and if not the absurd depth of snow-layer the route would be most pleasant think Steele could imagine. Because of heavy effort it was just pleasant.

“It’s all right, sir?” asked dog from second rank, chow-chow Jimmy.

“You see that something is wrong?” asked Steele. It wasn’t his intention but it sounded rather harshly.

“No! Not at all.” Instantly denied puller.

Malamute heard something strange in that. A tone of admire, something he had been missing for many years. Young chow-chow was really fascinated in famous leader, both scared by his mysterious history and impressed by tales about his old achievements. It was even more unusual, because next to Jimmy was running Balto in person. “But he chose me to stare at. Nice.” Thought Steele, but then he discovered that it could be cause by something else.

Saying straight – over the half of male dog population was enamoured in Berenice. Of course, it was one way attachment, because Steele could hardly imagine more constant and devoted mate than was Berenice for him. However she had admirers all over the Nome and there was a serious probability that young Jimmy was one of them. “I can understand that.” Thought malamute with poorly covered pride. “She is the most wonderful bitch on the world.”

On first stop, on band of Reme Creek, Gunnar Kaasen even didn’t bothered with real camp. He just prepared and ignited a fire, then improvised tent from sled card and his trapper’s cape. Dogs had to manage at their own, what was obvious for northern pullers. So all of them dug a hole in the snow, surrounding the campfire.

When Steele finished making his lair (“God, what a fun one could has even with such a simple task?” he thought), he discovered that his hiding is placed next to Balto’s. He clenched his jaws, pretending that he didn’t care, however that somehow disturbed his excellent mood on that evening. Maybe even better – frankly speaking moods of team were grave-like, because almost every one had a relative or friend in lost team. The fate of Kodi, son of town hero Balto was also concerning everyone. On that company Steele seemed very airy – he was going for no kin, just to… well, no one actually knew why he was going, however team was glad he was around. Star, Kaltag, Nikki and others veterans from times of serum run confirmed that simple truth – Steele was only guide capable to lead in Eagle Pass.

“Steele?” asked Balto from his den nearby. “Are you sleeping?”

“I think that question asked so loud is highly rhetoric.” Snorted malamute. “What now?”

“I’m sorry to interrupt you… but you know that area. Do you think… they have a chance.”

“Ehhh… Have you ever seen the Yukon Range?” asked leader.

“It was long time ago.” Replied Balto. “In fact I was born there.”

Some bell sounded in Steele’s mind, however dog ignored it. Just he didn’t associate some facts about Balto, that he had already known. He just answered.

“A nasty place. So nasty, that I’m really surprised that your son led his team there.” He paused, took a deep breath and continued with hidden satisfaction. “But I guess he wanted to as father… or better than father. You have never passed the Yu.”

“Once, with father.” Said hybrid. “When we lost and got separated from pack. But it was without sled. But you have right – I’m responsible for that accident.” Added with growing anger. “I’m guilty. Are feel satisfied?” almost shouted.

“Ow, easy…” hushed him Steele. “In fact, I like to annoy you as in old, good times, however I must assure you I have nothing against Kodi. Its your son, but it isn’t his fault.”

“That was supposed to be funny?” asked Balto.

“No, it supposed to be honest.” Replied Steele. “I hate you, rascal, however I’m ready to help anyone from your family, because… it’s just a right thing to do.”

“But if I was in that situation – would you go?”

“No way.” Murmured malamute. “But sleep now. Tomorrow we will have a hard part to do.”

*

Indeed, the next day was a hell. Weather was quite good, but with tempo that they had, even running on wide streets of Anchorage would be exhausting. And Steele was still on lead. Of course Gunnar tried to switch him with Balto (malamute growled) then with Jimmy (malamute just looked into master’s eyes with puppyish plead in stare not to do that), but it happened that old leader was still a leader.

It was bright and with no wind there, but temperature was quickly dropping. Somehow it could in the same degree the salvation or doom for survivors from lost sled. Because there was no wind and new snow it was easier to dig out from avalanche. But more of cold could faster kill the team, if no help would be on time. So expedition was doing their best to be on time. It was mainly up to Steele to make sure about that.

About midday malamute felt a terrible pain in his paw. Left, that once wounded by Star. Probably it had been hurting since long time, but just then dog stopped to ignore it. He panted to the rest of team.

“Please, stop for a while.” They obeyed. Master Kaasen instantly went to his dogs.

“I’m sorry, but someone should take a lead.” Said Steele. “I’m not sure if could maintain that speed any longer.” Saying those words cost him dear – it was admitting he wasn’t the best. At least Steele