once on the following straight sections, the two dogs caught right back up. The section with the hills definitely wore all three of them down, especially because it came so late in the run. The best discretion was to not push too hard on the uphill parts, and push the downhill stretches.
After a little less than an hour, the threesome finished. None of them look too fatigued, although Mika was sweating considerably, and Balto and Kodi were both panting.
"That sure went well," said Mika, sounding a little winded.
"Yeah," said Kodi. "That was a good run."
"A few more of these, plus some hill repeats," added Mika, "and that lead dog position is yours for the taking."
"You really think so?" Kodi asked.
"Well," Mika replied, "you kept up with me the whole time."
"True," Balto put in. "Then again, most of the other dogs in town probably could."
"So, what's next?" asked Kodi.
"Well, for me it's a cool down jog back to my place," replied Mika. "Then I take a hot bath in my sauna to relieve any muscle pain, following that up with an ice cold snow massage."
"Cold shock included," added Balto, laughing at his own joke. Mika didn't find it funny.
With that, the threesome jogged back to Mika's house.
The hot steam bath in Mika's sauna sure felt real good for Balto and Kodi. If they weren't sweating before, they sure were now. Mika wasn't wearing is Detroit Tigers hat this time. He used the same loose-fitting bath towel that he used last night.
"You were right, Mika," said Balto. "This is invigorating."
"How long can you stay in this thing?" asked Kodi.
"Well, my personal record is two hours," replied Mika. "That's all I've been able to tolerate so far. It's also best not to use a steam room if you're overweight or have a heart condition."
"Do you?" Kodi asked.
"No, I don't," Mika retorted. "Why would I even be in here if I did?"
"Just asking," Kodi replied.
All three of them sighed lightly. Mika look out the window from where he was seated. Clearly he looked like he was lost in thought.
"Homesick, Mika?" Balto asked. "Do you ever think about going back home?"
"Not a day goes by when I don't think about going back to Kokkola," Mika replied, sounding weary and depressed. "But like I said, I don't have the money or means to get back."
"You know, Dad," said Kodi, "I kinda see what you mean about him being on the same path you used to be. Are you sure he's having it worse than you?"
"Look, Sport," said Balto. "Even on the Balto scale, this guy's case is a humdinger!"
Even Mika couldn't help but laugh.
"It's not that you brought up my plight," he said. "It's that you said 'humdinger'."
"You've never heard the word before?" Balto asked.
"No, I've heard it before," Mika replied. "I've just never heard a canine use it before."
"Mika, have you really had it as bad as Dad said living here?" Kodi asked.
"You kinda had to be there when I told your Dad the whole story last night,"
replied Mika.
After another 30 minutes, the sauna bath was over. Balto and Kodi sure seemed to enjoy the steam bath. They even enjoyed the snow massage.
"Where do you get snow like this after it melts?" asked Kodi.
"I stockpile it during the winter," Mika responded as he rubbed the snow on Kodi and Balto. "And I keep it in a specially insulated crate to keep it cold right next to my fridge. It has the same cold insulation used in refrigerated boxcars."
"Fascinating," said Balto, shivering slightly as the snow was rubbed on his fur.
After giving Balto and Kodi their snow massages, it was Mika's turn to get his. After dumping some snow on himself, Balto agreed to rub it in. He didn't do too badly at it, despite leaving some marks from his claws on Mika's back.
Mika, however, didn't seem to mind.
"So, what are you gonna do for the rest of today?" asked Balto.
"Well, I don't know about today," Mika replied. "Tonight is what I'm looking forward to."
"Why is that?" Balto asked again.
"Remember how you heard Kaj playing that guitar last night?" Mika replied.
"Yes, I remember," Balto answered back. "What about it?"
"Well, he and some other locals have a band," said Mika, "and they usually play Saturday nights at this one club here in Nome. Kaj is the lead guitarist and does some backup vocals. I'm in it, too, as lead singer and rhythm guitar player on some songs. We had a separate lead singer, but he had a falling out with our keyboard player and left. So I decided to take the position until they find a permanent lead vocalist."
"You? A singer?" asked Balto. "No offense, but I can't imagine you singing."
"You'd be surprised," said Mika. " I'm not the best, but I'm the the best who was available at the time. You wanna come watch?"
"I'm a regular at to these shows," said Kodi. "So, yeah, I'll be there. How about you, Dad?"
"I might come," said Balto. "Oh, and Mika, thanks for the sauna bath and snow massage. I didn't go into cardiac arrest, so I can definitely say I enjoyed it."
"You know, that joke gets less and less funny the more and more I hear it," said Mika said. He then leaned down, glared at Balto, and called him "Shorty."
"Watch it," Balto retorted. "I may be short, but I'm wiry."
"No kidding," said Mika. "So, assuming nothing else comes up, I'll see you both at the show?"
"Yeah, sure," said Balto. "See you then."
"Yeah," said Mika. "See you then."
With that, Mika started for the bathroom.
"You know what the best part about having my own place is?" said Mika as he entered the bathroom. "I can go to the bathroom, and not have to lock the door." He then paused and poked his head out from the doorway. "Or do I?"
"No," said Balto. "I don't go for that sort of thing."
"Me neither," added Kodi.
That said, Mika shut the door behind him without locking it.
All that Mika was able to do in order to pass the day was take a long walk followed by a nap. But even that didn't help him much. Eventually show-time crept closer and he finally made his way to the club. The show was scheduled for 8:00 PM and would feature him and Kaj's band performing a few songs of theirs.
The current name of the group was Lapp Attack. They were basically an early version of an 1980s new wave/mainstream rock band, like Cutting Crew. The current lineup was as follows:
Mika Kykalisko: Lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Kaj Kykalisko: Lead guitar, backing vocals
Keith Black: Keyboards
Colin Stevenson: Bass guitar, backing vocals
Ryan Andrews: Drums & percussion
Mika, at 19, was the oldest member of the group. Kaj, at 13, was the youngest. Keith, Colin, and Ryan, were 16, 15, and 17, respectively. The latter three were considerably more clean cut and much shorter as far as their hair was concerned. Mika, with his blonde mullet, had the craziest hairdo of the five. Kaj's mushroom cut was only slightly more extravagant. All five were clean shaven.
Other performers were there that night to put on their own acts, each one beginning half an hour after the previous act began. There were five others, starting at 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, and 10:30.
Kodi and his teammates had already taken their seats in the audience. Interestingly, dogs were allowed in this club.
"Say, Kodi," said Kirby, "word has it you and your dad took a run with one of those Finns."
"Oh, you mean Mika?" said Kodi. "Yeah, Dad and I went for a run with him earlier today. Apparently, we're the only beings in this town that have been able to keep up with him."
"Really?" asked Ralph, who sitting next to Dusty. "How did it go?"
"It went well," said Kodi.
Soon afterward, Balto and Jenna arrived and took up seats nearby. Jenna had never been to one of Lapp Attack's shows before. And Balto's attendance record at the club was sporadic at best. He wasn't a regular, but this wasn't his first attended show.
"So let me get this straight," said Jenna. "Not only is Mika an athlete, but he's also a singer and guitar player?"
"I'm just telling you what he told me," said Balto in response. "I've been here before for their shows, but not since I knew who the front-man is."
"Hi Dad, hi Mom," said Kodi upon seeing his parents sit down nearby.
"Hi, Sonny," said Jenna.
"Hi, Sport," said Balto.
"First time here?" asked Kodi.
"For me, yes," Jenna replied. "Not for your dad, though. He's been here before."
Eventually, Kodi's siblings, Dingo, Attu, Kiska, and Saba showed up, although not all at once. They took up seats nearby as well.
Also there were the band members' parents, including Mika and Kaj's own folks. Numerous other dogs were there, too, including some that Balto knew for a long time. Yes, even his old enemies Nikki, Kaltag, Star, and yes, even Steele were there, although they weren't all sitting together. Balto apparently heard that Steele had managed to stop Ryan from quitting the band, but didn't believe it. Apparently what happened was, at a show back in March, Steele took a lighter, held it up in one paw, and shouted "LAPP ATTACK RUUUUUUUUUUUUUULES!!"
Backstage, Mika, Kaj, Keith, Colin, and Ryan were doing a sound-check before their show was scheduled to start. The set list was as follows:
Any Color
Fear Of Falling
Sahara
Life In A Dangerous Time
I've Been In Love Before
(I Just) Died In Your Arms
"Okay, we're all set," said Ryan.
"Yep," added Mika, pumping his fists. "Time to tear this place apart! Yeah!"
The quintet walked out onstage at roughly 7:58, with time to set up. All their equipment was already in place on stage, so all they had to do was take their places, and for Mika, Kaj, and Colin, strap on their respective guitars. Mika donned a headset mike, while Kaj and Colin took up their places behind two different mike stands. After checking to make sure his microphone was on, Mika did the
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