A locomotive is, next to a marine engine, the most sensitive thing man ever made



Spring never came to Alaska without one last cold snap from old man winter. So February morning was bone clatteringly cold. Snow hung in the trees, buildings, ground, and roadbed of the Nome railroad yard. Thick clouds of steam could be seen rolling out of the stacks of the locomotives as they prepared for the day ahead. The little switch locomotive or “Yard Hog” as she was called, was already busy. A string of loaded cars slid out down one track, and a string of empties took their place. Bales, crates, boxes, jars, carboys, frails, cases, and packages flew into them from the freight-houses as though the cars had been magnets and they iron filings.

The Yard switcher was rolling forward pulling a line of flats loaded with lumber. Suddenly, a husky brake dog who was standing on the back foot board, pulled the pin, and a yard dog opened a switch ahead; the little locomotive turned up it like a rabbit as the yard dog snapped the switch behind her, and the long line of twelve-foot-high lumber the little locomotive was precisely pulling jolted on into the arms of a full-sized road-loco, who acknowledged receipt with a dry howl.

The switcher was pushed forward a foot at a time; whirled backward, the locomotive’s rear drivers clinking and clanking, a quarter of a mile; jerked into a switch (yard-switches are very stubby and unaccommodating), bunted into a Red D, or Merchant's Transport car, and, with no hint or knowledge of the weight behind, started up anew. When the load was fairly on the move, three or four cars would be cut off, and the yard hog would bound forward, only to be held by the brake. Then she would wait a few minutes, watching the whirled wands of the yard dogs in the swirling snow, deafened with the clang of the bells, giddy with the vision of the sliding cars, the brake-pump panting forty to the minute, the front coupler lying sideways on the cow-catcher like a tired dog's tongue in his mouth.

Balto nodded as the switcher rolled past. Pulling his brown coat up to though off the cold, He stepped over the rails…nothing more then iron bands jutting from the snow, and walked over to the Yard office. As district manager, he was in charge of the Nome to Nenana section. Nome was the end of the Line for the Western, Outbound, Louisiana, and Florida RR (which went nowhere near either of those final named places)…and the beginning for supplies heading into the isolated northern towns. Nome was like a trading post, an oases locked in a frozen desert.

                                                           ***********

Dusty sat in the cab of her locomotive, #3; an 1800s Ten Wheeler bought second hand from the “Nenana Northern” Railroad. She wore a warm fleece over a blouse and trousers. Her Fireman, Kaltag, a yellow and white chinook held his scoop gingerly after depositing another coal load into #3’s firebox.

The Husky remembered all she had ever heard of landslides, snow-piled boulders, blown trees, and Icy rails. She had just gotten promoted to a road engineer, the 4-6-0 monster was twice the size of the little switch engine she used to run, and that didn’t make this first run any easier. At each jarring bump she believed an axle had smashed, and she took the eighty-foot bridge over the Nenana River without a guardrail like a cat on the top of a fence.

She looked back at her chagrin, a Maintenance Of Way train with a derrick and a work equipment was coupled to a line of boxcars coming east from Nome. Her fireman noticed her staring at the MOW equipment and laughed.

“What are you laughing at Kaltag?” Dusty asked.

“Oh, the Empire State must learn to wait, And the Cannonball go hang! When the West-bound's ditched, and the tool-car's hitched, and it's 'way for the Breakdown Gang.” Kaltag sang in a catchy little tune.  

Dusty smiled. Kaltag was an awesome fireman. Always willing to help her out, she even thought he might have had a crush on her.

She turned and paid attention to the rails outside. A bit of snow stuck against the glass of the headlight and threw a flying shadow on the track, which looked like two small black lines against the pure white of the freshly plowed snow.
Suddenly an arm wrapped around Dusty, pulling her from the seat, she had barley enough time to struggled on the wooden floorboards of the locomotive’s cab when she felt the needle going into her shoulder, and her vision become blurry.

                                         *********************

“There are thousands of miles of un-known, un-touched, and unseen land, just feet from the edge of the roadbed. You have to be unbelievably stupid to think we know everything that is out there”



 
Aleu stood beneath the great black hulk of iron and steel which bared the nameplate “Texas” The mighty boiler towered high above her in the snowy darkness like the body of some horrible antediluvian monster, and the steam rushed angrily from the diamond stack, as though the great animal were fretting under the unaccountable delay, and longed again to be off, rending the tempest with its iron snout, and awakening the sleeping hills and hollows of the great untamed north with its hoarse shriek. She smiled and patted the cylinder heads. The locomotive was of the old 4-4-0 class, with a mahogany red cab and deep green boiler topped by a burgundy diamond shapes stack and a big box headlamp.

“You’re a fine fiddle big boy,” she said to the locomotive. She stood wearing her jacket closed up and work jeans, her tail flicking back and forth. Apparently oblivious to the 40 below temperature. Aleu climbed into the wooden cab of the 4-4-0-steam locomotive, and watched the lantern attached to the highball single raise up to indicate a clear passage.

With a low moan from the whistle, she threw the throttle open, and pushed the Johnson Bar into the last notch. The great machine seemed suddenly animated with a demoniac energy, and soon they were shooting through the black, snow-beaten night.  The track was illuminated for scarcely fifty feet, and the night yawned beyond like some engulfing abyss. Behind him, a string of flatcars loaded with machinery bound for Nome fallowed obediently.

Aleu was in her element. Coming home to Nome Alaska. She had spent almost a year in-between Colorado and Nevada, and was eager to head back to her father and mother. She smiled when she thought about her quite little hometown.  

She was rudely shaken out of her lethargy as the train struck a slight curve half way down the grade. The locomotive shied like a frightened steed, and shook in every iron muscle. The flanges shrieked against the rails, the cab swayed and cracked, and the very earth seemed to tremble.

“Careful up there!” Aleu barked to her locomotive. Running without a fireman, she had become accustomed to voicing her emotions on her iron steed. She always referred to her assigned locomotive as “he” and in the male gender. She grabbed the whistle cord and let Texas’s low wail echo once more across the Alaska tundra. She rounded a bend and started up the line as it paralleled the frozen Nenana River.

Suddenly, from around the corner, she saw what looked like a train. But it was high on a hillside on the opposite end of the river. And was slowly moving backwards, with all lights extinguished. Aleu knew the line ran to the old gold mines of the Kenneth Mining Company. But Kenneth had closed out and moved east to the Yukon when gold was discovered outside Dawson.

"Thats strange.” She said. The grabbed the cord once again and gave a succession of quick blasts. The locomotive crew had to hear…but the other train stayed silent.

Texas turned and started crossing the river. Aleu closed the throttle and leaned out the cab window. The roar of the train crossing the bridge was defining. And below her was the frozen ice of the river, which seemed to glow red in the firelight from Texas’s firebox.  

***************

Balto was frantic. This couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t believe it was happening. He paced back and forth in the telegraph office.

“Wire Isloosa again, see if the #3 passed.” He said to the telegrapher, who was an old human.

“Sorry Balto, but they reported that she never passed. In fact, the train that was fallowing her reported in without any problem.”

Balto looked at the clock. That train was an hour late.

Just then the door opened and a brown and white Husky stepped in.

“Balto, #47 just arrived.”

“Thanks Ralph.” Balto said and headed out into the snowy night.

******************

The railroad line came into Nome via Main Street. It then cross the town center axis before splitting into the Railroad Yard, so the citizens of Nome where not worried at all when Texas came rolling out of the clouds of snow. He rolled to a stop by the depot, bell ringing. The flakes of snow falling in his headlamp where beautifully illuminated before disappearing out of the beam. Balto walked up to the locomotive, just as Aleu was climbing down the stirrups.  

“Papa!” she yipped and she ran up to hug him. The father and daughter stood in this embrace for a moment, before both turning and walking into the depot.

“Hello Aleu, its great to see you again.” Balto said as Aleu dropped her grip into the wooden floor of the waiting room. A clock audibly ticked off the minutes and the wind howled outside accompanied by the ragged heartbeat of the Texas. Even threw the glow of the gas lamps, Aleu could see the longing in his eyes. “I guess you’ve been taking care of yourself.”

Aleu smiled. “ The road takes care of me.”

The two walked over to a bench and sat down.

“So, have you found anyone yet?” Balto asked with a sly smile.

Aleu laughed. “Why is it that you and mother are so eager to mate me off?”

“Because you’re the one pup who hasn’t found even a boyfriend yet.”

Aleu wasn’t even going to bring up her past flings. “Well, Texas takes up a good chunk of my life. Speaking of which, when is my next freight due?”

“Tomorrow…9:09 pm sharp.” Balto looked around. “But we have a little situation that concerns me deeply. Only the dispatchers and managers know about it, and I’m tiring not to show too much emotion over it.”  

“What’s the problem?” Aleu asked.

“Three trains have gone missing.”

Aleu sat there confused. “Missing…as in robbed.”

“No…missing, as in the whole thing, caboose and all, was just plucked off the main line!”   

Aleu sat still, her mind contemplating. “How do you lose three freight trains? Don’t they have to fallow the tracks?”

“I don’t know, there are over a thousand miles between here and the next town: White Mountain. I’m just glad its freight trains and not passenger. If a passenger train disappears, there is going to be wide spread panic.”

Aleu nodded. “Alaska is a strange and un-forgiving land. You know the native wolf packs believe in a witch who used to lure passing travelers into her liar, where she would take them into the spirit world…not dead, yet not alive, trapped forever. It how they would explain the sometimes irrational disappearances of fellow pack members.”

Balto nodded. “Yah, but where not talking about a lone wolf in the woods, were taking about 200 tons of iron and steel.”

Aleu nodded. “Well, there is nothing we can do about it tonight. Say, how is mother doing.”?  

Balto finally smiled. “She’s cooking us dinner. She was able to get her work in the yard done before noon and spent the whole evening pre-paring a “welcome home” supper for you.”

Aleu smiled. Unlike her, her parents had decided to work outside the road crew life. In fact, most of the WRR’s locomotive fleet had Balto’s fingerprint in them somewhere along the line. He even built full classes of Locomotives in Nome’s extensive steam shop. The Railroad had a large 20-stall roundhouse on the edge of town, bordering the seashore. Not to far from the roundhouse was the old washed up trawler Balto used to make his home in. he had renovated it into a small design office after Boris Gooseanov passed away.
Jenna on the other hand was a yard manager. Although she had her hobbies too. Few knew it, but Jenna moonlighted as an artist and sculptor, she was the one who came up with WRR’s distinctive green and burgundy paint scheme.

“What about Kodi?” Aleu asked.

Balto sighed. “He’s had it rough since the railroad took the mail contract away. Lost three jobs here and decided there was nothing in Nome for him. He left for the Yukon Gold fields after the mill closed.”

**************************

Inside the old wooden house, Jenna was busy setting the table. Rosie, the 19-year-old girl who lived with Jenna was sweeping the wood board floors.

“I can’t wait till Aleu gets here!” Rosie said excitedly. She always had an exited hyperactive streak in her, and age hadn’t slowed her down. She showed no signs of the diphtheria that at one point crippled her. Ironically, if the outbreak had waited two more years, the antitoxin would have come in by train, and Balto and Jenna would have never met. Jenna thought: how much the world has changed with the coming of the steam train.

The door opened and Aleu and Balto stepped in. “Look whose here!” Balto called out.

Rose ran out of the kitchen and embraced Aleu in a huge hug.

“ohmygodAleuyourbackhowwasColoradoandtherailroadandthewildwildwestoomygodyousmelllikeoilandsmokeandsteamandotherstuffisthatwhatTexasmellslikeifsohesmnellsooooawsomeIsowantarideonTexascanyougivemearideonTexas?”

She said all this extremely fast. Aleu’s head was spinning.

“Sure…come down to the yard and I’ll let you chug him up and down the sidings.”

“Oh Goodie!” Rose said hyperactively.  

Jenna stood in the doorframe of the kitchen and laughed. Balto walked over to her and gave her a kiss, then walked into the kitchen and dining room.

“You can set your things by the couch. Dinner is ready.” Jenna said to Aleu who was hanging her jacket on the coat jack, she wore a black sweater underneath. Turning to her mother, she nodded, and then pulled her pocket watch out of the jacket, and pocketed it.

Railroad iron is a magician’s rod, in its power to evoke the sleeping energies of land and water. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson



Aleu sat in the rocking chair on the bridge deck of the old trawler. She slowly rocked back and forth. Her eyes glued in the northern lights as they crackled and whipped above. Not too far away, separated by a small field of snow, the roundhouse stood.  She looked at the semicircle of bold, unwinding headlights looking out the stall doors, heard the low purr and mutter of the steam mounting in the gauges - scornful hisses of contempt as a slack valve lifted a little. Locomotives all readying for some night jog that would find them elsewhere by morning. She watched as a 4-6-0 pushed out gingerly, accompanied by the clang of her own bell onto the turntable, then spun about. Lanterns waved, or danced up and down, and the locomotive moved into the yard, and out of sight behind the buildings of Nome. Then with the faint clashing of couplers and squeals of hand brakes, she was attached to her train.

“Sometimes I wonder how we don’t get calls every night about the noise we make.” Balto chuckled as he walked out of the bridge door and sat next to Aleu on an old bollard.

Aleu knew why. Nome rode on the Railroad. It needed the WRR to haul in supplies not just for the town, but also for the mines, and to the outposts outside Nome. It also needed the Railroad to sell its goods outside the town, to the rest of Alaska. Nome had survived without the railroad before…but Aleu knew that it couldn’t do it again. The Railroad was a lifeline; the sound of whistles and bells was the sound of progress to the town on the edge of frozen hell.

“You worried about those trains?” Aleu asked.

Balto sighed. “Yes, I am. I’m also worried about you making that run in the morning.”

Aleu laughed. “Are you trying to discourage me from running my own train…on our own railroad? Papa, we both know the Mountain Trail like the back of our rather bushy tails.”

“I know, but sometimes…well…Alaska is a large and unforgiving land, we don’t know everything out there.”

Aleu stopped rocking and looked at her father. “Papa…doesn’t tell me you believe in Ghost Trains!”  She burst out laughing at the idea. “There is nothing supernatural on that railroad line! The line is dangerous yes…but nothing supernatural.”

“I don’t know Aleu. I remember several years back, I was on a work crew out on the line between Nenana and Safety checkpoint. It was a snowy and cold evening. We stopped work when a freak blizzard showed up. In the middle of this blizzard we all saw this cloud roll down the track, and in this cloud an ancient outside frame wood burner steam locomotive pulling these civil war era coaches roll passed. Each window was ablaze with light. Music and laughter was coming from each car. But the train made no sound. It came and went without as much as a clack on the rails.

Afterwards we checked the dispatcher, the other trains out on the line, and even the roundhouse crew. No train was scheduled to pass…no ancient wood burner was out that night.

To this day, a apart of me is certain that train was more then iron and wood.”




Aleu almost passed out laughing. She held her head in her hands and was laughing so hard tears streamed out her eyes.

“I’m sorry papa, but if I counted all the “ancient outside frame wood burners” on this railroad, I would have become a mathematician! So you saw a train in a blizzard and your eyes played tricks on you. It is all scientifically explainable, and you’re giving it supernatural credence.”

“Oh come on Aleu…if your so shire of yourself, then explain why you carry that Gunpowder Falls Railroad Lantern with you?”    

“That has nothing to do with this conversation.” Aleu spat back. “I just have not had the chance to give it back to the crews at Wolf Creek.”

Balto smiled. He new the old railroad superstition that it was good luck to have a lantern from another line aboard. “Nonetheless…I’m going with you. Besides, an old pal of mine is getting married in White Mountain.”

Aleu’s ears perked up and her bushy tail started to wag. “Who?”

“Your old babysitter, Star.”

Aleu smiled as she thought back. Star had been a sled dog on the team that brought back the antitoxin back in 25. He used to baby-sit the pups for Balto and Jenna every now and then. “Who’s he wedding.”?

“Miss Dixie of Nome…one of Jenna’s gossip pals. Don’t say anything to her you don’t want the whole town to know.” Balto laughed.

Aleu leaned back in the chair.  “We’ll just have to not be late then.”

*****************




Morning found snow. The switch-lamps at Nome Yard twinkled faintly through the swirling flakes as they gently fell down from the heavens.

Aleu gently let her 4-4-0 roll out of the roundhouse and onto the turntable. Texas had a good head of steam, but she wanted to load up with a fresh pile of wood. Having her father on board meant she could use his wood burning skills.

Texas spun around on the turntable like a battleship preparing for war. His pumps hissing, and steam wafting lazily from his diamond stack. His headlamp glowed faintly in the morning flurries.  

Once the right track was aligned and locked, Aleu gave two blasts on his whistle and away the locomotive and engineer went.

Balto stood by the water tank. He watched as Aleu and Texas rattled up alongside, small dunes of fresh powder being kicked up by the beams of his cowcatcher. He clanked to a halt with one final blast of his whistle.

“I already checked it, the pipes clean.” Balto hollered up as Aleu clambered onto the Tender. She knew he meant that the waterspout wasn’t frozen.

“Start loading the wood.” She hollered back.

Balto brushed the snow off a pile of logs located by the tank. He quickly started chucking them up into the bunker. Careful not to hit Aleu who was now watching the water roar into the tank. Once it was at its mark, she lifted the spout, and before closing the tank, kicked some of the snow around the deck in.

While Balto finished wooding up the Texas, Aleu walked around him, filling his tallow cups, and taping his wheels and rods with a small hammer.

“You ready big boy.” She said to the locomotive.  The clack valve went off  as if to say: “Born ready.”

“All right then, lets do this.” Aleu silently replied.

She turned to Balto who was putting the last logs into the tender. “Where is our train?”

Balto wiped the dirt off his hands with a rag and pointed across the yard. “Track 4, it’s a load of boxcars filled with fish.”

Aleu nodded, then walked around to the back of Texas and opened his coupling. “Well, climb aboard.”

Texas ambled threw the yard, leaving a white string of smoke in the frigid air. The Yard was a maze of tracks and switches. Another train ahead, an open switch=one awful crash, and the engine would become a gridiron for her tender flesh. Yet Aleu kept the throttle open at a simple pace. Balto had placed some bacon on the fire door, and the smell was already perforating the cab.

Aleu backed onto the line of wooden truss rod boxcars. With a “chu-lunk” and the patter of snow falling of the newly made couplings, Texas mated with his train.
Balto swung down and connected the air hoses. After a brake-test, they where given the highball signal. Aleu gave two blasts on the whistle, and opened the throttle. The huge iron horse quivered and stiffened, as if bracing itself for its task; expelled one mighty breath, then another and another, quicker and quicker, shorter and shorter, until its respirations were lost in one continuous flow of steam. The Texas was on his way.

The locomotive responded to Aleu's touch with an alacrity which seemed almost human, and which, familiar though she was with the work, thrilled her through and through. She glanced at the timetable. They were twelve minutes behind time. But that didn’t matter; she would make that up on the tundra.

Texas roared out of the tiny town on top of the world.

A brave soul rides dragon, and even braver soul controls it.- Unknown 

Inside the telegrapher’s office and the Safety Checkpoint, the telegraph receiver clacked out several messages. He then took the message jotted it down on appear and walked out into he cold air. The snow had stopped but the white clouds above made it clear it could start anytime. Stepped threw the snow next to the railroad tracks, he attached the message to a mettle hoop and held it into the air.

Of in the distance, the wail of a whistle could be herd. The rails started to him and with a shriek, roar, and a clank, the Texas came around the bend and past the lonely outpost. Snow flew from his pilot, which was dusted with white, the sun glinting off his brass bell as it clanged out its time honored warning.

Aleu leaned out the cab window. She was practically sitting on the windowsill, and grabbed the hoop in the crotch of her arm. Then with a blast of his whistle, Texas raced by with his line of boxcars, small flurries of snow kicked up and flying out from the under frame. Behind the caboose was a roster tail of white powder.

                        **********************

“We have the mainline.”  Aleu said reading the message.

Balto nodded and picked up another log for the firebox. Normally Texas ran on oil, with a log every now and then put in by Aleu. But with Balto riding along, Aleu took this chance to give the old boy a little bark for his bite.

The train was racing threw some of the most beautiful landscape imaginable. Craggy mountains and cliffs climbed high above the train as it wound threw the dark forests in the valleys. The tracks had left the Nenana River valley and where climbing into “Mountain Trail” an old sled path the railroad utilized. Aleu blasted the whistle for a tunnel, carved into the icy mountainside. As Texas descended into the darkness, his headlamp bounced off the ice, forming cacophonies of lights, rainbows, and all sorts of strange images and psycadelac light shows.

He burst out of the tunnel with a roll back of smoke and steam, and crossed a spindly looking trestle over a deep gorge. Far below, bits of ice and snow, knocked off by the passing train, fell onto the sharp icy spikes that where formed on the gorge floor.

The Texas now raced along the forested mountainside, providing a breathtaking view of the Alaska Range. McKinley glared out of the mist in a blood red evening sky. Aleu and her trainload of smelly perishables had the mainline, and she was going to make every second count to make up those 12 minutes. She opened or closed the injector, to economize heat and water, and eased the steam when it could be spared. Aleu coaxed, cajoled, threatened, and goaded her iron steed, like a veritable thing of life, Texas seemed to strain every nerve to do their bidding, and whirled them faster and faster over this icy fantasy land.

Balto stopped tending the fire and looked out the cab over the tender. “You know, sometime I wonder why I never left Nome for some warm line down in the lower 48. All I have to do is come out here to see why.”

Aleu smiled. “Its one of the reasons I did leave. Alaska is beautiful, but so is the Colorado range, the Appalachians too.  Tell me papa, you ever see the Blue Ridges glow Blue under a morning sun?”

Balto shook his head no.

Aleu smiled. “This railroad travels threw some of the most stunning landscape you can ever imagine…can you tell me if anyone else has a job that routinely throws them threw this?”

Balto smiled, understanding Aleu’s way of thinking. They were now winding through the Council Hills, where the road was as crooked as the sled dog trail it fallowed. The Texas jerked viciously from side to side, as if angrily resenting the pitiless goading from behind. But Aleu kept him in check, the two working as one soul. The wheels savagely ground the rails at every curve, and made them shriek in agony. One side of the engine first mounted upward, like a ship upon a wave, and then suddenly sank, as if engulfed. One instant Aleu was lifted high above Balto, the next dropped far below him.

Soon the twinkling evening lights of White Mountain came into view, Aleu blew a long blast, the tune reverberation among the hills. Soon she was closing the throttle, passing a train heading west, and rolling into the small 3-track freight yard in White Mountain. She had blasted threw here in the past, but now as she applied the brakes, feeling the iron wheels griping the icy rails, Aleu felt a since of unease arriving.

Then, with a grind, and squeal, and a bit of snow falling from the headlamp, Texas stood still and steady. 

“Jump Sim, Jump”- Casey Jones, five minutes before his locomotive plowed into the rear of another train.




Aleu looked at herself in the mirror inside the caboose. Her gray/blue eyes seemed as cold and as beautiful as the snowy world outside. She looked at her body, noting how she had matured so fast. In a few years she would be thirty. It sounded so old when she was twenty, and she knew it would sound so young when she was forty. She wished she could stop the clock and stay twenty-eight forever. Her fur had a warm red glow to it. But she reckoned this was because of the red lanterns that flickered inside the caboose interior. Outside she could here the wind howling.  

She had missed Star’s wedding after a freight lost its air passing threw the town, instead spending the time helping the crew repair the train line out in the street.  

She disrobed and stepped into the small shower inside the caboose. The water trickled out at first due to low air pressure. Aleu wondered if there was a way to work these things without having the use air from the brake cylinders. If someone hit the brakes right now, she would be suddenly hit with a torrent.

A knock came on the back door of the caboose.

“Come in.” Aleu barked.

Balto walked into the car, looking rather splendid in his brown suit. It matched his fur color stylishly.

“The reception is about to begin in half an hour. I really want you to go, and so does Star, you know, all of your old friends from Nome are there.”

Aleu turned the water off. “Old friends…yah right.”  

Balto frowned. “Well, at least know that I got you a gift for this occasion.”

“Gift?” Aleu said cocking her ears.

“Yes, I’ll leave it right here on the bench. If you feel like it, come to the reception, its at the hotel by the town hall.”

With that last bit of conversation, Balto turned and walked out of the dimly lit caboose.


Aleu slowly pulled the shower door back, and looked inside. A small box sat on the seat. She grabbed a towel and wrapping it around her curvy body, left the shower to examine Balto’s present.

*************


The Dogs of the Alaska range may be toughened by their hostel environment, but they did indeed have a since of nobility, and Victorian style. In some ways it events that allowed them to flower and don evening where gave a release from the hard work and extreme environment.

So it came to no surprise to see the lobby of the Grand Hotel filled with dogs who looked strangely perfect in formal attire despite the fact Aleu recognized a few of them from town.  The room was ornate in a simple northern way, with fancy rugs thrown over a hardwood floor, and several oil lamps hanging on the walls accenting while a giant chandler above illuminated. Aleu noting the simplicity of it all. A small string quartet played in one corner.

But what turned heads was Aleu herself. She walked into the lobby clothed in a stunningly beautiful deep red strapless evening gown that began atop her breasts and went down to her ankles, it was made of luxurious fabric, delicately and exotically trimmed with gold inlayed with flower shapes.

But what was more stunning, was the wolf wearing it.

Aleu’s fur glowed like a locomotive headlamp, each bit of fur groomed and in place. Her hair flowed evenly along her bare shoulders, and she smelled just faintly, but not overpoweringly, of flower petals.

Balto walked up beside her. “I see you like it, I got it for your birthday, but I thought it best to give it too you know. Sure looks better then the little Blue Dress you usually wore. "

Aleu smiled. “I usually hate wearing anything that can’t survive in the cab of a locomotive, but I’ll make an exception for this…but this corset is killing me!” she growled.

Aleu was approached by a small thin looking husky. He wore a dark black suite that was perfected by a simple red flower. Aleu knew this was the lucky dog that was the groom.

“Hello Star.” She began.

“My, my, you do clean up good.” Star said. “I remember when you we’re cutting your teeth on your father’s sled traces.”

Aleu giggled. “Yes well, where’s Dixie. I haven’t seen her in a good couple of years.”

Star sighed. “She left early because of a cold. Shame really, poor girl was upset that we have to postpone our honeymoon.”   

Balto smiled. “I guess that explains the constant sneezing at the chapel. And I thought it she was allergic to those flowers. Don’t worry; it will be ten times better when she isn’t hacking up mucus.”

Star smiled and took a swing for his drink his drink. “Yes well, thank you for coming. I have to tend to my gusts.”

Star turned and walked back into the crowd.

Aleu turned to her father and the two walked over to the food table. “So whose who in this northern melting pot.” She whispered to her father.

Balto pointed across the room, and too a dark brown husky. “Well to begin with, that’s Nikkei, you might recognize him as he was on my sled team during the epidemic. Son of a tree stump still treats the other teams as if they where born in a pauper’s grave.”

He pointed to a red and yellow cocker spaniel. “That’s Winfred, Bessema DeWinkerville. She hails from San Francisco. Is licensed with the San Fran Terminal Railway.”

Aleu razed an eyebrow. “What is she doing up here?”  

“Said something about looking at an 0-6-0 porter for their line.” Balto said waving his paw. His eyes narrowed as he recognized a black and white malamute, he was smiling and telling some tale that was keeping his audience of delicate girls in complete aghast horror.

“Oh and that…is Steele.”

Aleu growled. “The same screwball that tried to sabotage you on the race long ago. I don’t think I ever met him.”

Balto nodded. “Yah, he moved to White Mountain along with Star and Kaltag after being ridiculed as the team that gave up. Son of a bitch still has a crush on your mother.” He stopped and glanced. “Speaking of which…what is Kaltag doing here.”

Aleu looked at the yellow Chinook Balto was looking at. “What do you mean?” she asked perplexed.

“Kaltag is a fireman on our railroad. I thought he was working all week.” Balto said, his lips turned into a frown as his brain started thinking something was strange about Kaltag’s appearance.

But before Balto could ponder on that thought anymore, the doors opened and in stepped a black and cream husky that wore a brown miners jacket over a vest and trousers. “Sorry I’m late.” He announced stepping in the door.

The local girls all ran over to him and gathered around him giggling silly like and hoping her would pick one to take onto the dance floor. Aleu watched in amazement. The dog had some nice muscles, and had a look of supreme confidence around him.

Balto saw her starring and knew this was his chance. “Aleu…there is someone I would like you to meet.”

He took her hand and led her over to the dog. Who turned and said. “Balto, you old grizzled railroader you.”

“Jonathan, good to see you.” Balto replied light heartedly. “This is my daughter, Aleu. She’s blown into town and is staying for a while with us.”

“Why hello Aleu.” He said, his eyes dancing up and down her body. He then reached out and took her hand, kissing it gingerly. “Pleasure to meet you. You father and I where discussing you some time back.”

Aleu giggled, taking her hand back, he was a charmer. “Really now.” She looked at her father, and even though she smiled, Balto could see the “What is he talking about?” look in her eyes.

“Yes,” he spoke up. “Aleu this is Jonathan Brewbaker, he’s been working with Kennacot Corporation on mining the gold out of the Yukon Mountains. They took over from Kenneth. He is very wealthy and knows a lot about mining.”

Jonathan laughed. “Well, enough to get into the shafts and help out my men whenever I can. I’m not your average robber baron, but there is gold in ‘tem dare hills’ and I aim to squeeze it dry.”  

“How ruthless.” Aleu said, a small tone of distaste in her voice. She looked at her father.

Balto though, ignored it. “well, I’ll let you two get acquainted.”

He walked away leaving Aleu with the canine miner.

“Well, Miss Aleu, would you like to dance.” He asked.

Aleu looked at him and smiled. “Yah… it’s the best offer I’ve had all evening.”

The two dogs made their way onto the dance floor, and stepped hand in hand as the musicians played out a ragtime. Aleu wasn’t much of a dancer, the only real moves she could do was a gandy dance…and that didn’t count.

But Jonathan swept her as if she was as light as a feather. Comparably, she was. He was a good foot taller then her, and much more stronger. But Aleu won a secret victory in noticing how her hands could match his grip.

“You got quite a grip there.” He whispered in her ear.

“Johnson bars and throttles are quite a task to handle.” Aleu said

“Yes, you father told me you worked with steam locomotives. We have a few pumping boilers up at the mines. I can keep my hand with the best on them.”

“Yes well, a pumper is nothing like a railroad locomotive.” Aleu replied back, getting the since he was trying to whew her with his talents. Her heals clicked across the floor with his as they continued to dance among the other couples.

“You can teach me, and my men. We just got a small switch locomotive.”

“I don’t think so.” She replied, slowly pulling herself away from him. But he put his hand at the small of her back, and closed the gap.

Holding her close he whispered in her ear. “Aleu, I know we’ve just met, but I feel like I’ve known you a long time.”

Her heart fluttered, he wasn’t serous, was he.

“Me and your father have been talking.” He began, pulling her off the dance floor. Aleu fallowed, wondering what hew as up too. He pulled her over to an alcove and took her hand sin his. “I understand you must be very lonely riding all over the country, and he’s worried sick about you. I’ve been told so much about you, hoe you are, and your work attitude, and I must say I’m impressed.”

“You flatter me.” Aleu said sarcastically. “Go on.”

Jonathan kissed her hand again. “Well, I think it would be prudent if we become mates.”

Aleu stood there; she saw this coming like a freight train on a deer. “I have to talk with my father.”   



She turned and walked quickly over to where Balto was sitting, drinking a glass of wine. He stood up as she approached and put the glass down on a table. Aleu crossed her arms in an angry stance and glared at him. “What in the hell!” She hissed.

“Aleu, don’t you give me that tone of voice.” Balto scolded.

“Don’t give me that ‘don’t you give me that tone of voice’, what have you been spreading!” She hissed back.

Balto sighed. “I’m guessing you don’t like Mr. Brewbaker.”

“Well, he’s nice, but he’s not my type. And what’s with this arranged marriage crap?”

Balto sighed. “I was hoping you’d like it. You mother and I are worried about you. Always running around this railroad. Your 28, time to settle down and have pups. Jonathan Brewbaker is perfect for you. He’s a rough outdoorsman who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He cares for his men, and he’s rolling in enough money to provide you with whatever you want. We talked it over with him, and he is willing to take you.”

“I don’t want him, I want Texas. The mainline, and the railroad!”

“You can still work for the railroad, in fact it was his suggestion that if you two mated, he would buy the Texas, and you two can work the mines here in Alaska. You’ll be married, have a family, be close to your own family, and still ride the rails. What more do you want.”

Aleu’s face dropped into a snarl “So everything, this journey backs up here, the welcome home, the freights, even this dress! It’s all to impress Mr. Brewbaker and get me married!”

Balto frowned, he looked very hurt. “Well…yes.”

Aleu swiped the wine glass off the table; it shattered when it hit the floor. “You can keep it all! I’m out of this frozen hellhole!”

“Aleu, don’t get angry, your still my daughter and…” Balto begin.

Aleu almost spat in his face. “That’s right, I’m your “little baby.” Sorry papa, but why do you think I left home in the first place!”

And with that she turned tail on Balto and walked outside into the snow.

Nothing worse then a gambler…except a train robber- Pete Duel, Alias Smith and Jones

It had stopped snowing. The switch-lamps in the small siding still twinkled faintly.  Texas sat on the siding. Steam rising from the piles of snow on his boiler as they melted. His pump and injector thumped like a heartbeat. The light in his headlamp flickered and burns, shining a shaft of yellow into the darkness. It was past midnight, and most of the houses in White Mountain where darkened. 

            Aleu walked alongside her locomotive. Her steel toed boots crunching in the newly fallen snow. She was back in her railroad garb, Her jacket unbuttoned. But that didn’t bother her, even though she wore nothing but a simple cotton shirt underneath. She had a lantern in one hand as she swung herself into the cab of her locomotive.

“Hey, who are you?” she barked seeing the yellow Chinook from the reception in the cab, he too had left his evening where into work clothing.

“I’m you firedog, the names Kaltag.” He said lifting a log from the wood pile  “I must say its an honor, a privilege, a treat, to operate with you.”

Aleu took the log from him “I don’t use firemen.”

She chucked the log into the firebox and closed and latched the door.

“I’ve been assigned to you!” Kaltag continued, he pulled out his roster sheet and pointed out their names. “See, Aleutian and Kaltag, #47.”

Aleu wasn’t in the mood to argue. “Ok, whatever.” She attached an order form to the clipboard chained to the backhead to find her next train “Alright, we have a line of 13 flatcars loaded with iron pipes.”

She pulled the Johnson bar back and opened the throttle. Texas hissed and moved backwards to the line of flatcars recently vacated by the ten wheeler now at the water tower. The couplings came together with an icy “Clu-unk”

Kaltag was busing himself with the woodpile. If Aleu was in her normal mood she would have kicked him out of the cab, be the recent events had left her very subdued and thoughtful. And she honestly thought she could sue some company on this trip.

With a low bleat of Texas’s whistle the train departed from White Mountain, exactly five minutes late, Aleu wasn’t doing so well on her schedule. But she was almost never failed to make up time. Ahead she made out the glowing headlight of the eastbound train, side-tracked and waiting for west bound run, her engineer and conductor doubtless fuming and fretting. Aleu gave a few blats of her whistle as she passed. The eastbounder’s 2-8-0 consolidation returned the gesture with a few high-pitched shouts.

                                    *************

Balto walked into the depot at White Mountain. Crossing the dimly lit waiting room, he approached the counter.

“Did Aleu sign out?” he asked.

The malamute looked over his list. “Yes she did. Seemed rather upset too…strange, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her upset. I’ve seen her angry, happy, and stern, but never that upset.”

Balto sighed. “I think she is pretty angry with me.”

The dog nodded. “She left something for you.”

He turned and picked dup a box and handed it to Balto. Opening it he found the red dress.

“Shit.” Balto muttered to himself. “I only wanted to make her happy.”

                         ***************

“I am going to let him take the bone!" Aleu cried out.

Texas was mounting the run up and over the Alaska Range. A helper locomotive drifting downhill had slowed them and cost them an extra 10 minutes. And Aleu was determined to get back on the schedule.

Kaltag did not answer - perhaps he did not her in the sound of the drive wheels of the eight wheeler trashing threw the powder.

 Setting her teeth, Aleu assumed the grim burden with her locomotive. Texas fell over the brow of one hill, with his throttle agape, and the fire seething in his vitals with volcanic fury. Then he lowered his pilot like a maddened bull in its charge. The long, heavy train, Sweeping down the sharp descent, might fitly have been likened to some winged dragon flying low to earth, so appallingly flight like was the motion. It seemed to Aleu as though they dropped down the grade as a bolt of lightning drops from the heavens - loud, irresistible, awful, touched only by the circumambient air.

Texas ran upon a snowdrift at the bottom of the hill, hidden in the darkness of the forest. Aleu saw it in the half circle of the headlamp just before they hit it.

“Hang on” She said to Kaltag.

Texas smashed into the drift, which went up and over his red pilot. Snow sprayed like sand chucked from a bucket. It covered his headlamp, pilot beam, and settled onto his boiler and cab. For a moment Aleu was sure they were goanna hit the ties, or at least throw her and Kaltag into the backhead. But it was only the terrible momentum lifting them momentarily from the track, and in a few seconds - though every second meant 150 feet - the fire-eating behemoth ran back on threw the ice and snow. Yet its beautiful equilibrium was gone; and, as if abandoning itself to its engineer's mad mood, Texas rolled and pitched, and rose and fell, like a waterlogged vessel in a storm. The bell, catching the motion, began to toll; and the dolorous sound, fell upon the ears of the wolven engineer and canine fireman like the notes of a storm-tossed bell-buoy sounding the knell of the doomed.

“Jesus Christ!” Kaltag yipped grabbing a handhold “No wonder you don’t carry firemen! They’re probably scarred of your handling!”

Aleu smiled. She was one of the best engineers, passengers sometimes switched trains or delayed their travel plans to ride behind her. It wasn’t her engine handling skills that scared men from riding the cab with her…it was fear of aggravating her notorious temper. 

As the track became smoother, Texas grew calmer; but his barred tongue licked up the flying space for many a mile before the momentum of that perilous descent was lost. As the roar of their passage over the long bridge spanning the Nenana River, sixty miles from Nome, died away, Aleu felt the first rays of the sun beginning to shine threw the overcast sky.

She blasted her whistle as the thundering sound of the train roaring over the bridge downed out. She glanced at the pressure gauge.

In the reflection, she noticed Kaltag fumbling with a log in the tender. She saw something shinny sparkle in the lantern light. Watching in the pressure gauge, Aleu saw him pull the rubber off a syringe.

Carefully, so as to not look suspicious, he held the syringe behind a log, and started for the firebox door.

“Hold on.” Aleu said, still watching the pressure gauge. Kaltag stood with the log clutched against his body.

Aleu carefully dropped the Johnson bar, but left her hand on the shaft. “All right, chuck it in.”

Kaltag opened the door. As he was busying himself placing the log in, Aleu carefully, and look forward, ran her hand along the Johnson bar shaft to the wall, and alongside the wall and sweatbox to where her colt .45 pistil was secretly stored.

It wasn’t there!

Aleu turned and looked down confused, she suddenly felt a hand pull her from the seat and place her in a neck hold!

“What the!” she gasped as she struggled against her assailant, but unlike the other times Kaltag pulled this, Aleu saw it coming. Instead off falling aside in a stunned confusion, she lifted her body backwards, slamming Kaltag into the woodpile. A pile of shovels and re-railers fell onto the two canines.

Stunned at finding resistance, Kaltag lost a precise few second sitting there. Aleu on the other hand, grabbed a crow bar and flung herself up. Kaltag jumped up two, and grabbed one of the logs from the tender.

They didn’t spend much time looking at each other; Kaltag flung the log at Aleu and smacked her in the shoulder. He fallowed with the syringe, pinning her to the floor of the cab on the rolling locomotive.

With one Hand, Aleu grabbed the wrist of the hand holding the syringe, and held it just inches from her neck. With the other, she reached with the crowbar and rammed it into Kaltag’s rear end, claw down.

Kaltag screamed as his tail was broken and sheared. This gave Aleu enough time to throw him off her and reach for the brake handle. Knelling, she grabbed it but before she could make an application, Kaltag grabbed the back of her head and slammed it in the housing.

Aleu went limp and crumbled to the cab floor.

Kaltag grabbed the throttle and spiting out some blood on the backhead, where it sizzled, he closed it and brought Texas to a crawl. He was about to pass the telegraph house. Carefully he lifted the girl up, and holding her, sat in the seat so she was sitting in his lap. He then grabbed Aleu’s hand and arm within his own, and placed it on the throttle, holding her head and upper body upward like she was sitting.

If anyone outside the locomotive looked up, all they would see was Aleu, sitting in the seat, with one hand on the throttle. He even took the show to the next level by lifting her other hand to the whistle cord and like some morbid meat puppet, gave one blast of the whistle as they passed the little dimly lit shack.

They stayed like this for another mile, once Kaltag was sure no one was around, he roughly shoved Aleu onto the floor, and took the throttle himself.

About three miles from the bridge and telegraph shack; he brought the train to a halt behind a switch. The other track was old, and rusty with disuse, the snow between the rails bumpy and rough from never having a plow run down it. In some places it went above the rail tops, clocking the track in a white shroud of secrecy. 

Kaltag opened the switch; it turned with an audible screech. After extinguishing the headlamp and marker lamps, he then climbed back into the cab and started backing the Texas and his train up the old line.

Aleu lay on sprawled out the cab floor, her jacket flung crazily over her back and her bushy tail limp and lifeless, the only sign she was alive was blood seeping from a cut on her forehead. From all appearances she looked unconscious. But her ears swiveled silently and deliberately careful, hearing everything.

Thank god mother thought me a few acting lessons! Aleu thought silently as she lay on the cab floor, feeling the rattle and rocking at her now pirated train moved up the disused branch line.

Its is the machine that thundered into the lives of many, its steel tracks reaching out to every corner of the globe…and yet, it still has a certain personality, that makes it all but human.”-  unknown.




Balto paced the station floor. Outside the snow poured down, wind howling. He looked up as Jenna walked into the depot, her red scarf blowing in the wind. A few traces of snow blew into the building as she closed the door.

“Any sign of her?” She asked.

Balto shook his head no. “She missed the Eagle River Block….if she doesn’t arrive in a day, I’m sending out a search team and alerting the authorities. This railroad is too important to be held hostage by a bunch of railroad pirates!”

“Train robbers.” Jenna corrected.

“Huh?” Balto said rising one eyebrow.

“You said Pirates…pirates are in shipping, Train robbers are the railroad’s version.”   

Balto threw his arms up in submission. “Whatever…but whomever they are, I have a feeling they have our daughter.”

Balto threw himself down at the window, his head bowed against the cold glass. Outside his shadow flickered against the snowy street.

Jenna came up behind him and put her hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t fret just yet.” She said smiling. “Aleu could just be sitting on the mainline, stuck in snow, or even delayed. Have faith in your daughter Balto, she isn’t as self absorbed as she seems.”

Balto looked up. “I hope your right Jen…I hope you are right.”


**************


Aleu lay on the floor, quite and subdued. The sound of the locomotive’s drivers as they clanked up the hill was accompanied by the occasional crunching of snow under iron wheels, and brush being pushed aside by the steel and wood intruder into the natural world of the dark forest.

She kept her eyes closed, but she heard and understood each click of the throttle and Johnson bar, each clack and squeal of the wheels over the iron rails. Aleu was very much aware of her situation.

Which is why Kaltag never saw the girl slowly moving her hand along her body towards the log her left on the cab floor.

Suddenly the train grinded to a halt. But unlike normal stops, this one wasn’t accompanying by the toll of the bell, or the blats of the whistle…it was simple quietness. The only outside sound was the wind howling threw the crevasse.

Then Aleu heard it…the sound of boots crossing the cab, then stop right next to her head. She mentally braced herself for what was about to occur.  

Kaltag grabbed her by her shoulders and lifted her, but before he could lift her onto her knees, she grabbed the log and jammed it with unbelievable force into the dog’s shin,

Kaltag yelped and tried the reach for the girl, now rising onto her feet. But before he could recover from the display of pain and twisted agony, he felt the sting of his own needle into his arm. The last thing he saw as he blanked out, was Aleu’s smiling face, and one hand waving a simple “good bye”  


After Kaltag fell into the world of dreams, Aleu dragged him into the tender, and pulled him up and over the woodpile. Leaving a divot in the snow collecting atop the tender. Carefully so as not to hurt him, she chucked him off her locomotive. He landed in the snow alongside the tracks with a thud.

“Sorry, but I didn’t think I could get you down the stirrups.” She said mockingly. She then grabbed some rope from atop the tender and jumped down alongside him. She then found a sturdy enough tree next to the right of way, and tied him tightly against it.  

One she was sure he would be no threat, she stood up and looked around. She was on the old mine siding, facing outward. The mine was long since abandoned and the old loading structure looked ghastly as it spiked against the dark moonless sky.

The mineshaft was covered with a large iron door, and Aleu was sure she could penetrate it without some kind of dynamite.

But alongside Texas on the loading sidings sat three long dark shapes. Aleu grabbed a lantern from the cab, and walked to the nearest form. She saw it was covered in a tarp, white so as to blend in with the snow. She brushed some of the snow off and lifted the tapeline up. Shining her light into the darkness underneath she recognized the paint scheme of a WRR 4-4-0 steam locomotive, her light ominously hit the nameplate.

“Barbara Luddy…that’s a WRR locomotive if there ever was one. These must be the missing freights.”

Aleu carefully pout the tarp down and continued alongside the train. The whole freight train was wrapped up like a cocoon. But each car had been relieved of its load. The whole train was empty.

After half an hour of looking, Aleu came upon the caboose. Ducking under the tarp, she mounted the steps. Letting the tarp fall behind her.


It was a gloomy and surreal world under the tarp, only her lantern illuminating the door and back platform. Her breath clearly visible in cold puffs. Aleu carefully pulled out her skeleton key and unlocked the door. She then braced herself for whatever was…or wasn’t…inside.

She opened the door and shined the light around. The inside of the caboose was a mess, every drawer opened and empted, cabinet doors hung on their hinges, and broken lanterns littered the floor.

But what caught Aleu’s attention were the ten canvas bags lying in the bunks. Large enough to hold a person, they slowly moved up and down as if the occupants where in a deep sleep. She had a good feeling what was inside. Carefully she approached the nearest one and began undoing the laces.

Aleu was startled by the face of a female husky looking back at her, bug eyed and shaking, the husky was just as startled. She moaned threw a bandana that was knotted in her mouth.

“Its all right…I’m with the Railroad.” Aleu whispered.

This put the girl at ease. Aleu approached and carefully pulled the bandanna out.

“What took you so long?” the husky asked.

“Sorry, but Casey Jones rear ended me, and the robbers didn’t help.” Aleu smiled.

“Thank you.” The husky said, her voice now fully relived. Aleu helped her up, and undid the canvas bag from around her. As she set abound removing the hemp rope holding the husky down, the husky told her story.

All the trains had fallen victim the same way. The engineers falling unconscious at the throttle. The conductors and brakemen fell the same way. No one got a good look at their captors, they where blindfolded and led into the caboose. One conductor was killed in a resistance, but everyone else was mowed over pretty easily.

“And you are sure, you have no clue why or what these guys are up too?” Aleu asked as the husky stood up.

“Feels good to be on my own legs again…no I have no clue.”

Aleu nodded, and then looked around the caboose within the circle of light the lantern threw out. “I guess there are no weapons aboard.”

The husky shook her head no. “They raided all the cabooses.”

Aleu nodded. “Look, I have a locomotive standing outside at steam. Release the crews, and couple him up to your trains. He has steam and is ready to go.”

“What about you?”

“I’m going after these screwballs. By the way, what’s your name?”

The husky smiled. “Dusty.”

Aleu smiled. “Your very brave. Now get going, I have a mountain to climb!”

                                         ************

Curiosity Killed the Cat- unknown proverb  




The mineshaft bored into the hillside in a small alcove, above it toward the deep dark steep embankment. Snow had already accumulated here and made the climb tough and gritty. Aleu found that she could make good time by grabbing onto the trees and pulling herself up and over. She had a hunch that the mine’s water pump station wasn’t bored up, and it would provide access to the old shaft.
The wind howled in her ears, and snow gathered in her hair and on the bridge of her muzzle. Her own breath looked like a cloud of exhaust plumes trailing from a hard working steam locomotive.

Twice she lost her grip, and twice she almost rolled down the hill and fallen onto the rails of the mine loading sidings.  The final time, she actually rolled a little bit, but luckily, some quick thinking and a tree branch stopped her decent.

Down in the valley, Aleu got a small victory in seeing the strange convoy of trains slowly move under the power of her own Texas. She silently wished them luck and that the authorities would be quick in coming.

But still she pressed on.

At the top of the hill, she came upon her goal. The old pumping engine and pump house still stood. They sat in a small clearing high above the mineshaft, looking like a Dolby painting, morphed against the rich outline of the jagged peaks.  And like Aleu’s hunch told her, the house was open.  

Opening the door slightly, Aleu found a lantern hanging in the ceiling, a quick whiff told her in contained kerosene. A simple turn of the flint wheel, and an orb of dim orange light filled the building.

Aleu swung the lantern along the old boiler of the pumping engine. It was cold, and bits of rust flaked off in the fur of her hand. She then looked down the shaft that led into the mine. It looked like some strange dark cavern leading into a frozen hell, just barely big enough for someone to climb down on the ladder.

But Aleu saw a better way, a pulley and rope harness hung stored above the shaft. Carefully she wrapped herself in the harness and sat on the edge of the shaft. Holding the lantern in her muzzle, and with both hands grabbing the rope, she started to lower herself into the old mine.  


The trip down was nerve wracking, the sound of the ropes creaking and the squeak of the pulley wheel echoed down the dark metal shaft. All the while Aleu imagined some horrific death by the rope braking or the wheel snapping, leaving her to fall unheeded into the depths of the earth.

Then her ears picked dup a sound that she feared most…running water. The bottom of the shaft was flooded. But how much she didn’t know.

It didn’t take long to find out; soon she saw the ripples outlined in the light of her lantern. As she got within a foot or two of the surface, she wrapped the rope into her arm, and hung there.

Looking into the stream, her spirits were lifted by a warm glow that was in the water itself. The stream ran into the mine. But how long was the stream.

Aleu carefully grabbed the lantern, and chucked it into the stream, under handing her arm so it flew up under the water.

The glow of the lantern bobbed for a few seconds…then became still when it hit the end of the path…the opening was only four or five feet away.  

But the water looked to be above seven or eight feet deep.

“Well…I always thought winter was a bad time for a swim.” Aleu mumbled to herself.

She kicked off her steel toes, as they would be like anchors in the water, and watched them sink to the bottom like stones, and disrobed from her denim jacket. Leaving the jacket tied into the rope, not just to not get it wet, but as the preverbal bread crumb for the rescue party, Aleu found herself starting to get the chills. She knotted her white shirt above her waist, and let go of the rope.


The water was unbelievably cold. Even with her arctic pedigree, its icy embrace stunned the wolf’s body. Aleu submerged and felt the cold sticking like needles into her body as she floated, her body suddenly immobile, floating down like a leaf from a tree.

But her mind soon over came the sheer force of the blood stopping cold. Aleu kicked her canine feet and started moving forward, pulling herself along the underwater passage by the eerie glow of the lantern, still burning in its housing, Aleu thought it was a pure miracle that the water hadn’t snuffed it out yet.

But then she felt a tug on her right leg. Looking back, Aleu found that the rope from the pulley system had wrapped itself around her bare ankle, and it was keeping her from going any further.  

She kicked and swarmed, but it felt as if the rope was just getting tighter.  Aleu could feel her lungs starting the burn of drowning. She made a few frantic kicks before the rope finally let go, and she bobbed to the surface inside the mineshaft.




Aleu surfaced with a bout of coughing and hacking. She lifted herself from the water pool and onto the rock floor of the shaft, her fur and hair-sopping wet. She lay on her stomach in the dirt, catching her breath and letting herself dry off. The floor felt warm and comforting.

After a few seconds, Aleu realized that indeed the floor was warm! Very warm, Her clothing had dried and gone back to its original opacity, and her legs and feet had significantly dried on the rock floor.

Then it hit her…bare rock, no snow or ice. The tunnel was warm enough to prevent the cold artic from entering.

Aleu looked around the shaft, above her head burned several lanterns, throwing orange highlights that accented the brown and gray of the stone. Wooden beams stood five feet apart, and every other one had a lantern dangling from it. The haunting moan of the outside wind could be herd inside the mine. Giving Aleu the strange suspicion that she was being watched.

Her bare pads felt the cold iron of rails. And sure enough, Aleu looked down to see a pare of narrow gauge rails, connected not with wooden ties, but iron bars. Bolts held the gauge together, and it unbelievably narrow, two feet perhaps!

Aleu started walking down the track, in the direction away from the mineshaft entrance. The sound of her pads on the rock floor seemed strangely out of place in this subterranean world. She didn’t talk, didn’t whisper, and dared to breath as she skulked her way threw the tunnels.

The brain is like a railroad freight car…guaranteed to have a certain capacity, but often running empty. - Wise proverb




The mineshaft went on for miles. The deeper it went though, the warmer it became. Aleu felt as if she was slowly approaching the center of the earth. The tunnels, although showing life, where completely barren, but she kept to the walls and out of the light just incase someone would happen to be walking down.

One thing was for sure, these tunnels where not abandoned. The rails on the track looked like two mirrors, the shiny glint reelecting back in the lantern light, which had only been burning for a few days.  

Another thing told Aleu she was getting close to the epicenter…food. On the airflow that breezed its way in the tunnel, she could catch faint wisps of a kitchen.

She came to an intersection between two tunnels, a diamond and stub switch led down one track, and the other track turned and met the one she was walking down.

As Aleu debated which way to go she heard a faint whizzing, like sound of steam as it leaking out of a pipe. She recognized it instantly as cylinders pumping on a locomotive. The glow of lanterns started to appear down the intersecting tunnel

Retreating into the corner beam of the tunnel opposite the light, Aleu her breath she watched as the rails hummed and a small mine locomotive with a vertical Boiler hissed past, leaving a stream of smoke in its trail. The locomotive was diminutive. Smaller in size then the malamute driving it. It had no whistle, or bell. A single lamp burned on its bumper beam. She recognized it as a British built Merlin and Westinghouse mine locomotive.

“I knew those things where evil.” She whispered to herself.

The locomotive was towing four small 4-wheeled flatcars, loaded with creates and burlap bags. Aleu’s eyes picked out the shipping notes on a few of the creates. All read: Nome AL, WRR.

Waiting till the train was past, Aleu stealthily moved around the corner and started down the path the train had come from.



The track curved along a similarly structured tunnel, bet here the beams where newer, and the track hadn’t even had the time to rust. Aleu ran on for another fifteen minutes till she came to a stub switch and siding. A line of similar flat cars stood, and a female malamute wearing a jacket that had the logo of the Kenacot mining company was shifting the load on the flatcars. Aleu noticed the Smith and Wesson pistol in her jacket pocket

Aleu carefully walked up alongside the train, one the side that was opposed the malamute. When he pulled down a crate reviling her, she smiled and waved her hand

“Howdy…good evening isn’t it.”  She said giggling.

The malamute was taken aback by the sudden appearance of a she-wolf, and before she had the chance to react, Aleu pushed the flatcar over, dumping its load onto the hapless canine.

She fallowed the car, and jumped atop the dog, holding her hand over the dog’s mouth. With a quick bash of a lantern from the flatcar, she was knocked silent.

Aleu dragged the dog over and dumped her in-between the train and the wall. Righting the flatcar so it didn’t look too suspicious, she retreated behind the train and to her unknown capture.

“Sorry, but I need these.” She said taking off the girl’s boots. She also took the jacket, and helmet. She donned both and after lighting the lantern on the ten cap and looking like any of the other mineworkers, Aleu started walking down the shaft again.

The closer she got to the heat source, the more she started running onto workers. In the jacket she didn’t look out of place. The mining helmet covered up her hair and made her face unseen to the workers who hurried along. She gave a slight lift of one hand whenever someone looked at her, but didn’t speak. She acted as just another worker rushing off to do a job.

She soon found herself in a large cavern. On each side where boilers, feeding heat to some unknown source. Men stood on each side, feeding coal in the dark and dim red lights emanating from the fire doors. It looked like a scene from hell itself.

Passing threw the boiler rooms she found what they where feeding. A Giant multi-storied cavern had been hollowed out in steppes. The narrow gauge tracks ran along these steps and a multitude of steam drills, hammers and blasting power fed ore to the small coal hoppers being pulled my the little locomotives. The whole scene was lit by thousands of small lanterns hanging from posts of all shapes and sizes. Wooden bridges and boardwalks crisscrossed the open shaft and pit. It looked like an ant farm. Aleu realized she was in the main shaft of the Kenacot Silver mine! The Kenacot had blasted its way into the old Kennigton mine, and she had somehow worked her way into the main legitimate mine shaft.


Looking around, Aleu saw a small office built into a ledge. It was made of wood and hung prosperously over the shaft. It looked like some dark box with three large orange squares in the sides.

Looking like another worker, Aleu made her way alongside the door. And looking down the pit, shifted her vision to the door and window. The Building was empty. When the other workers where busy elsewhere, she slipped inside.  

*********************




The little office was just that…. little. It had two desks, a filing cabinet made of wood, and three gas lanterns attached to the walls. A small stove kept the room nice and warm, and a clock gave off a monotonies ticking sound as it counted the hours. Aleu noted it was almost 6:45 in the morning. Down here time seemed distant, as did the idea of daylight and nighttime.

Aleu quickly doused the lanterns, and after waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkened lighting, started looking threw drawers and files. She found everything needed to run a mine. Receipts fro everything from wooden beams and shovels, to over thirty agriculture engines from the Merlin and Westinghouse. The desks gave little clues to the hijacking of her trains, just everyday work notes.

She was about to give up when she found a dispatchers list of every train running between Nenana and Nome. The trains that had gone missing, including her own Texas, where circled in red. Ominously, two more train that where to leave in the next week, where also circled…and most scary off all, in the next week, a passenger train was highlighted in blue.

She pocketed the list. Worried about what could happen if this wasn’t stopped. But as she put the list in the jacket pocket, she heard the door handle start to turn. As fast as a prairie dog ducking into its hole, Aleu dove under the desk she was standing at. But her miner’s helmet still sat on the other desk. Holding her breath, she pushed as far into the desk’s leg space as she could tuck herself, pulling her legs up into her arms.

The door opened and two pares of boots walked in. one of the gaslights was lit, and Aleu heard a char move in front of her desk. Luckily its occupants sat there, and didn’t bother coming behind the desk and into her hiding spot.

“How the hell did you lose those trains!” a voice said. It was rough and angry sounding.

“Well, you’re the one who didn’t want to kill the crews!” Aleu recognized that voice as Brewbaker, the mine executive.

“Well, Kaltag failed miserably with your girlfriend.” The other voice shot back. “I wouldn’t be surprised to find that she’s wondering the woods right now, looking for some telegraph office.”
 
Aleu’s heart skipped a beat, they where looking for her.

Brewbaker opened a desk. Next came the sound of a bottle opening and liquid filling a glass. He took a drink. “Don’t worry Steele, if we don’t find her, the elements will take her out on their own. There’s not even a wolf pack within sixty miles!”

Steele…the other voice was her father’s archrival. For some reasons the girl wasn’t surprised.

“You don’t sound all too happy about that.” Steele said mockingly.

“I will say I had a soft spot in my heart for the little hybrid.” He took a drink. “She would have made a lovely mate.”   

Steele laughed. “I met Aleu when she was 12. She bit me in the arm. I would only date that girl if she came with a straitjacket and a muzzle!”

It was all Aleu could do to contain her anger. But still she sat there, not even batting an eye.     

Brewbaker put the glass on the desk above her head. “I’ll be glad once we get rid of the stuff though. This train-jacking thing is really wearing on my nerves. Your buddies better be here by tomorrow night.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve worked with him for ages, he spent a while coming up with this plan and its fool proof! Balto can have his choo-choos back. We have what we really want!”

Steele stood up and walked over to the file cabinet. Aleu ducked even further into the shadows of the desk as he passed. He stopped at the cabinet opened it up, and then looked at the other desk. Silently he picked up the tin helmet and sniffed it.

“We have company.” He said ominously.

Steele kicked the desk from over Aleu, reviling her to the two dogs. The desk clattered against the wall and papers went flying.  One of the gas lanterns fell, casting a red light over the two dogs faces as they looked down at the dog-wolf.

Aleu was prepared for it, and as soon as the papers landed, she jumped up and rammed the top of her skull into Steele’s jaw. He screamed as his teeth were mashed together. One tooth cracked.

Before Brewbaker could react. Aleu charged him, slamming into him with the force of a runaway train. The two canines hit the door to the shack which broken under their weight and threw them out, tumbling, onto the ledge.

Aleu then leapt from atop Brewbaker and started sprinting for the tunnel entrance.

“Someone, stop her, thief!” Steele yelled.

A few workers made to grab Aleu as she passed, but she pushed them all aside, She actually made it to the shaft portal! But as she ran into it, she looked back at the perusing workers, and ran headlong into another dog. Before she could get a look at him, a log came crashing down atop her head. It found its mark between her ears and fell the she wolf to the floor with a thud.

Kaltag dropped the log when he had dragged from the trackside. It was the same one from Texas’s cab.

“And this time…stay down!” he hissed, spiting onto the she-wolf’s unconscious head.

You might as well be asking us to build a railroad to the moon!- US congress on the proposal of a Transcontinental Railroad.




The first thing that Aleu felt as the cobwebs cleared from her mind was a throbbing pain in her head. It was right near her left ear, and a little towards her forehead. She wanted to instantly reach up and rub her head, but found that her hands were unable to move.
The next thing that awoke her conciseness was the feeling that something soft and cloth like was wedged in her mouth, she tried to push it out, then chew on it, but to no avail.  As her mind cleared she opened her eyes and her vision returned…along with the past events of the last few hours.

She was setting atop a large crate in a long cavern. A singe track went down the center of the cavern. The same dim lanterns provided light But the cavern will full of freight.

She tried to maneuver herself but found her hands behind her back entwined with cord, the knot out of reach of her fingers and tightly knotted, her legs bound together above her knees, and her ankles the same. Her tail base was tied into her wrists, making it impossible for her to move her hands in any real direction. Her arms where bound to her sides with two lines of rope that went below and above her breasts. The soft cloth object was a band of cloth between her teeth, and another one was tied over her muzzle; she was kept very quiet. Who ever was in charge, they where not fooling around.

She glanced around the cavern, sacks and crates, pipes and machinery. She saw a fully dissembled skidder and stationary boiler. She looked down and saw a reporting list attached to the create she was sitting atop. It said that the create was full of feed and was bound for the town of Isloosa, ten miles outside Nome. There had to be over thousands of dollars worth of goods in this cavern. Each peace taken from the pirated trains. The whole of a small town economy was inside the cavern.

“I see my guest has woken.” A voice that was easily recognizable said.

Aleu swung her head around to see Brewbaker leaning against a stack of creates behind her. This revelation sent the she-wolf into a line of swarming, and muffled cusses.

“Now relax, I’m not going to hurt you, in fact you can thank me for keeping Steele from dropping you into a stone crusher!” he said holding his hand up.

“Brewbaker!” Steele’s angry voice called. “Don’t mess with the girl?”

Steele walked alongside the tracks.

“I think I can convince her to join our little group.” Brewbaker said.

As Steele emerged into the light, a smile formed under the cloth running across Aleu’s mouth, his muzzle had a brace on it! At least she had caused some damage before getting knocked out.

“Yah right…that girl is a menace. Anyway Kaltag will be here soon with the team to take the freight north to Applegate.”

Brewbaker looked back at Aleu. “She seems peaceable, and who can resist those puppy dog eyes?” he said.

Steele laughed, but his laughter wasn’t filled with joy, rather it was dry and cold. “Remember what I said about her…well right now she’s in that strait jacket. I promise you, if those cords weren’t keeping her still she would be at your throat.”  

Not far from the truth. Aleu thought.

Brewbaker nodded. And looked at the hapless she-wolf. “Shame too, after all, this wasn’t my idea. If I had my way you and I would be one rich couple.

See, Aleu, this is. Well, I hate to use the word scheme…a benefactor project. As I’m sure you are aware, the railroad is the only major lifeline running to Nome, which is the distribution center for the north. Usurping most of the work from the sled dogs. Now Steele and his sled team have been for years dropping freight off in the woods and returning to sell it at jacked up prices to the small towns of the sled routes. It was a small kickback. But with the coming of the railroad, there was no way for that system to work.

But one of Steele’s teammates came up with this idea. See if a few trains where “relived” of their goods, a small drop would occur in the amount of freight moving to the towns that have no rail connection. The price of good that was moving would rise drastically. Once the price rose, then Steele and his team would sell the good they originally stole back to the towns! Everyone wins.”

“I’ve been paying Jonathan here to store the contraband in the abandoned Kenneth mines.” Steele chimed in.

Aleu couldn’t believe her ears, this was an economical manipulation. These dogs acted as if they would be doing a service to some of the small isolated communities of Alaska, but she knew most of those towns couldn’t survive without the goods that would be sent to them, in the time between the scarcity, and their approach with the contraband, a few towns could fall onto the brink of economical or full collapse! Prices would rise and People would starve!

“And it wasn’t even my plan!” Steele said, braking Aleu out of her nightmarish future outlook.

Jonathon moved closer to Aleu, and putting his hand under her muzzle forced her to look at him. “So, The reason I’m telling you this is we all stand to make a good killing on this. I can retire south, possibly to Mexico or some other southern country. Now like I said, I have a soft spot for you…and I want you to come with me, as my mate.”

Aleu launched herself at the canine; in a move similar to the one she pulled on Steele, attempting to ram her skull into the bottom of his jaw.

But Brewbaker saw it coming, and backed away. Leaving Aleu to fall haplessly to the rock floor, there she lay on her stomach. Steele in anger kicked her in the ribs, then put his foot atop the small of her back.

Just as it looked like he was about the ram his steel-toed boot into her muzzle, a hissing sound echoed up and down the cavern as Kaltag arrived riding one of the agricultural locomotives. It ground to a halt as he stepped off the riding platform.

“The rest of the team is here. We’re ready to start loading this stuff up to take to the caverns in Isloosa.” He said.

Steele looked at Brewbaker. “Well sir…its been a pleasure and a pain, but I think we can warp up your services now.”   

The mine boss nodded. “Right, now if you will come to my office we can discuss pay….”

That was as far as the malamute got before Steele whipped out a Smith & Wesson revolver and shot his in the back. Jonathan fell to the floor with a sickening thud.

Aleu righted herself onto her bottom and watched as the miners blood seeped into the cavern floor.

“Sorry pal…but I like the idea of having more then 50% of our earnings.” Steele said pocketing the revolver.

Kaltag stood staring at the body, then at the bound and gagged she-wolf. “What about her.”

Steele looked at Aleu, his eyes full of cold malice. “Oh I have something special for the wolf-dog’s daughter.”

Her grabbed Aleu by the nap of her neck and dragged her over to the mine train, sitting her on the riding platform, he situated her on her knees and with a little bit of rope, bound her hands to her ankles, her tail sticking out in-between.

“Hand me that line on the wall, and a wrench.” He demanded to Kaltag, who instantly replied with much haste.

He then ran the line over Aleu’s waist and threw the frame of the locomotive. When he was done, she sat on her knees on the riding platform, he back to the controls.

Kaltag handed Steele the wrench, and he un-did the bolts on the throttle. Then with one swift move he opened it wide, and pulled it out of its housing.

With a blast of steam and a small show of sparks out its stack, The agricultural locomotive shot off down the track, caring Aleu on its back like some helpless rider on a runaway horse.

Steele waved as she disappeared into the darkness of the tunnels.


****************




  Aleu felt her body waver side to side as the little engine rattled on down the dark tunnels, before and behind her impenetrable darkness. The lanterns on this shaft weren’t lit, the only light being the single lamp on the engine. The track and tunnel descended like a roller coaster, curving in and out of the abandoned mine.

The first thing Aleu found, was that a wolf with cloth in its mouth screaming sounding like a cow. The next was that the chain drive of the locomotive wasn’t all that far from the ropes binding her arms together. It she could maneuver her back towards it, they might cut the ropes and free her just enough to move her wrists towards the same chain…then her hands would be free and she could make an escape.

It was easier though then done, the locomotive’s wild gyrations and diminutive stature made moving on it extremely rough. Each bump and jar in the track sent Aleu’s body off in some unknown direction. And no matter how she based herself, she just couldn’t control it. Her hair waved and whipped in the train slipstream. Her only view backwards looking as the tracks retreated into a chasing darkness that lay just beyond the edge of the glow of the lamp.

Faster and fast the engine flew, the rock side looked like blurs as it pumped every ounce of steam it could muster into its cylinders. Deeper and deeper into the mine it dragged the poor bound she-wolf.

But still Aleu tried for it. Finally, she was able to brace her hands against her ankles and lean back far enough for the rope running below her breasts and behind her back to touch the chain. It took every once of restricted energy she could muster to hold that painful position as the seeding chain cut the rope. Finally with a snap, the rope fell away, and was intently wiped off her body and backwards into the darkness behind her.

Next she lifted her wrists to the chain, but the ropes holding her to the frame prevented her from reaching it. She cussed herself and being unable to hit her wrists against the freedom bring drive chain, but she found that by moving her tail up just slightly, even though it brought her wrists away, it brought the ropes holding her to the frame, and her hands to her ankles, right into he chain! If she could cut that she could roll off this roller coaster ride from hell!


Suddenly she felt a blast of cold air, turning her head she saw the giant open maw of the shaft ending. But the tracks ended as a ledge that fell away deep into a pitch-black downward crevasse that seemed to stretch into infinity!


Aleu panicked and jammed the ropes into the chain, they snapped just as the diminutive locomotive launched itself into he deep abyss! It lantern looking like a red dot falling into the infinity of space!



For a good 2 minutes it fell into the downward shaft that stretched across for a good 400 feet…darkness surrounding it in some cold wicked game of destruction. The wheels still turned as if trying to reach for a track that it would never touch again. Wind whistling. Finally the rock floor, which was lined with sharp stalagmite, appeared.


The agricultural locomotive exploded when it hit the stalagmites, its boiler pierced. The light from the explosion illuminated the gravesite for a few second before it went out and darkness again shrouded the wreckage forever.

Its been said that the only three places total darkness can be achieved is underwater, in space, and underground.
Aleu could vouch for that last one. Even with her heightened since of wolven vision, she felt as if she was suspended in a thick black blanket, muffling her movement and slowing her thinking pattern.  

As the little narrow gauge locomotive jumped from the cliff, Aleu fell forward. With the link between her wrists and ankles broken, she did a contortion in the air and reach out with her still bound hands, wrapping the rope between her wrists on the other edge of the narrow gauge rail, braking her fall, but suspending her over the cliff. After the light from the locomotive disappeared in the chasm, she was plunged, hanging by her wrists from above her head, into the darkness.  

He ankles were still bound, and she was still gagged…not like her screams would make any difference, she was on her own.

Carefully, and inch by inch in the darkness, she dug the toes of her boots into the cliff face, and using the rope around her wrists like a grab slide, she pulled herself up along the rail till her fingers could rap around the iron band. She was glad for the darkness as it prevented her from looking down and seeing how deep the gaping subterranean cavern really was.

Her ears and fingers each worked to picked herself out of the hole. She once said that she could climb a mountain with one hand tied behind her back…but she never though it would happen with both hands tied in front of her! About fifteen minutes into her uphill climb, she was able to pull her shoulder and breasts over the precipice. Leaning forward, she threw her center of gravity over the edge and was able to slide onto the ledge.

Breathing heavily from the exhaustion, she lay there on the track, and took a few moments to catch her own breath. Then she set about freeing herself. With the knots in front of her now, she reached her fingers threw and tugged. Being a railroader she knew how to tied knots and shift weight. Within a moment the rope around her wrists slid free and she pulled the cloth bands away from her mouth.

Stretching her jaw and muzzle from the soreness of being clamped shut; Aleu quickly freed her legs and stood up.  Reaching her hands along the roof of the shaft she found a lantern, and with the turn of the flint wheel a small orb of red dim light glowed around her.

Turning around Aleu looked down at the underground rift. She gulped thinking about how it almost became her grave.

Taking off at a brick run, she started up hill.



Unlike the last time she ran threw the shafts, Aleu sprinted threw the tunnels, driven on by an unnatural bland of both hate and fear.

She arrived at the original cavern where she had awoken only 45 minutes before. Glancing around she saw most of the contraband had already been moved. But a single agricultural locomotive sat with steam up. A smile broke Aleu’s muzzle as she saw Kaltag, his eyes glued to a clipboard.

Edging around the crates around him, she slipped out behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. Kaltag looked behind him, and a look that was a mix of seeing a ghost, and being caught with one hand in a cookie jar, spread across his face.

“’ello” was all Aleu said before burying her fist into his muzzle. She grabbed him by his shoulders and as he fell forward slammed her knee into his face. Kaltag flopped backwards, blood seeping from his snout. As the final move, Aleu smashed her foot into his crotch.

“And this time, Stay down.” She hissed.

Turning away from him, she mounted the Agricultural locomotive and ripped the throttle open. The little locomotive raced down the line, this time in the opposite direction then before.

********************

Aleu sped threw the caverns, like knight on a steed, she rod on with the idea of giving it all for this fight. If she failed, it could mean an economical disaster for the Alaska Range, and for the WRR.

Up ahead  she saw the entrance to the mine, where the stolen trains had been parked. But this time, the steel plug was open, the dark forms of freight could be seen piled around the entrance, along with the silhouettes of workers moving the cargo around. The sun was just rising.

Aleu felt a bullet wiz past her face fur. Another one shattered the sight glass on the minute engine. Aleu fell backwards as the locomotive reached the group of men standing by the portal. The locomotive slammed into the freight, tossing end over end into the group who fled like scared rabbits. It landed outside in the snow in front of the old ore chutes.

Aleu slid along the stone floor, spinning around she flailed her leg out kicking the first dog she saw off his feet. It turned out to be Steele. She jumped up and landed on her feet.

A bullet missed her muzzle by centimeters. Grabbing the dazed Steele’s Smith and Wesson, she launched herself behind a pile of machinery. Steele and his group dove behind a pile of lumber.

Aleu launched a volley of fire into the group, seeing one husky fall in a puddle of blood, she received a cloud of bullets in return.

As she reached down to reload, a red and white paw grabbed her by her tail and pulled her backwards.

“What the!” was all she could say before scrambling around to see the familiar white and red face of her own flesh and blood.

“You!” Both Aleu and Kodi blurted out at the same time.

“Kodi, what are you doing here!” Aleu barked. He brother didn’t say, he just slammed the startled she-wolf in the stomach with the butt of a rifle.

Aleu flopped onto the floor of the cavern. Holding his hand up, Kodi stopped the firing from the group of dogs.

Aleu rolled over, dabbled back in pain. She opened her eyes to see the rifle bore of Kodi’s Winchester.

“Sorry Sis.” Was all he said. She closed her eyes and prepared as the husky’s finger closed the trigger.

But her eras picked up a filmier moan, caring on the wind outside the portal of the mine. It feathered up and down and was accompanied by a roar that sounded like the cross between a tornado, and an avalanche.

Kodi pulled the trigger…but not at Aleu, he swung his rifle up and fired at Texas as the 4-4-0 steam locomotive screamed into the old mine yard, sparks flying as his brake shoes dug into the icy rails. His whistle howling like a demented soul.

Aleu jumped up, and tackling her bother, both fell outside into the snow. The rest of Kodi’s team were busy fighting off the US army’s Alaska cavalry as they poured out of the boxcars behind Texas.

Kodi dove his fists into Aleu’s chest. The she wolf crossed her arms deflecting most of the blows, but she took several to the face, leaving a red stream that stained her white face fur. Standing up she threw a few kicks at her brother, but Kodi instead ducked under one, and caught the other. Throwing her leg up, he pushed Aleu off balance and backwards. She fell off the slope and slid down to the mainline which bordered the river. Aleu came to a rest on her stomach next to the outer rail.

Suddenly sparks flew from the rail next to her face as Kodi’s rifle barked. He was running down the slope, and restocking the shotgun.  

Aleu jumped up and reached for the Smith and Wesson, but she had lost it in the mine portal.

The icy gravel around her feet erupted in a small geyser and a round buried itself in the roadbed. Above the siblings, the sound of the battle between Kodi’s rail pirates and Texas’s regiment could clearly be heard.

Aleu backed over the bank of the river, standing on the ice. Kodi slowly approached her, closing the gap between the two.

“You stupid dog. We didn’t you just marry the mine boss and live out the rest of your life in merriment.” He said spiting out a tooth.

Aleu looked at her brother. “You know about dad…”

“Who do you think recommended Brewbaker.”? Kodi spat back and he too started across the icy river after the backing she-wolf.  “You ruined it…you would have died a rich mistress…instead of here on an icy river.”

“What happened to you?” Aleu asked looking at her brother.

Kodi reached out with the rifle, Aleu dove as a hole was blasted in the ice where she had previously stood.

Aleu slid across the ice, holes blasting behind her as she scrambled back to her feet and then dove at Kodi.

Kodi was knocked off balance as she rammed into his legs. The two canines rolled onto the ice, spider web crack forming around them as they fought like the primeval wolves they where descended from. The rifle slid away.

“Aleu!!!” Balto’s voice called out. He stood on the rail line, confused at the sight of his two offspring out on the ice. Torn between whom he should reach out. Rather then help one, he ran out onto the ice to separate the two. But instead of helping, his added weight on the stressed ice caused rifts to form. He jumped back onto dry land and watched in horror, as the cracks reached out like the hands of death to his children, he knew one wouldn’t come back alive.

Aleu heard the cracks, and as she separated from her bother, her arm went threw. Suddenly the ice around the two dogs seemed to disintegrate into ice-cold water. Aleu contorted in the water, grabbing the edge of the ice hole, her back to Kodi. Her whole body suddenly went into a cardiac arrest as the cold water drove itself into each fur and flake of her skin. Her clothing suddenly waterlogged became anchors, and her muscles started to act sluggish and confounded.

Kodi fell backwards across the ice as the rift fallowed him Kodi grabbed the rifle as the hole swallowed him. Just as he went under, he hit the trigger.

Aleu felt it more then heard it, she was clinging to the side of the hole. The bullet hit the ice in front of her, splitting it and causing it to overturn. The last thing she saw before blacking out was the hand and arms of her father, reaching into the icy water as he franticly grabbed his beloved daughter.  

One day, we will be propelled around the world in carriages moved by steam. Perhaps at speeds over 20 Miles per hour!- Newspaper article, 1832.


Through the drawn curtains of the hospital room that had become Aleu’s sanctuary, which squatted in the right angle formed by the street and the tracks, a hundred yards or more from the station, a light shone dully. Aleu lay on the down bed. Her loose gown, girdled at the waist with a tasseled cord, only half concealing the sturdy, sweeping lines of the form beneath. Her placid, blue eyes were light with what seemed a habitual earnestness of purpose, and her sweet wolven mouth drooped seriously.

After she had arrived in town, more dead then alive, Balto had swooped her into the local hospital as quickly as he could. She was a lucky dog…

Aleu quietly sat up, and scratched at the belt that was draw across her waist and around the bed, locking her in. Balto’s precaution. He knew that Aleu would instantly leave town on Texas, and not give her body time to heal. Also, he had Texas go into the shops for an overhaul. The 4-4-0 was currently disassembled, his boiler on blocks and his driving wheels standing outside in the snow. As a measure of comfort, Balto had his headlamp sterilized (a feat of ingenuity!) and brought into the hospital. It sat across the room. Aleu smiled quaintly as her eyes glanced on it. She knew when she got back in the cab; Texas would be better then ever before.

She looked around the room, the wooden walls and paneling gave off a warm glow, the gas light flickering gently. Snow fell on the crystal glass as the wind howled outside. It made the battle at the mines and the stolen trains seem so distant.

Then the spell was broken by the distant scream of a locomotive, half-drowned in the howling wind. Aleu glanced at the clock.

"There's the 'Overland,'" she murmured. "She's three minutes late.”

Aleu watched as a beam shone threw the window, then the blast of the whistle and the outline of a locomotive, firebox flickering drew past. Fallowed by a strange of bright yellow squares, some with the outlines of passengers in them.

Kodi hadn’t been found. Another hole in the ice had been discovered downstream. Aleu found out from her father that her brother had changed drastically. After he had lost his job with the sled company, his route taken over by the railroad, he joined Steele to head to the mining town of Dawson. It was Kodi that introduced Balto to Jonathan Brewbaker. Aleu knew that something had gone on between them.

She reached over to the nightstand and picked up a sketchpad. Its pages where filled with rough sketches of the inner workings of locomotives. Valves, injectors, valve gear. Even a way to work vacuum brakes with Westinghouse.

Just as she started to put her graphite to the paper, a knock came at the door.

“Come in!” Aleu barked.

The door opened and Balto walked into the room. He grabbed a chare and sat next to the bed. “Texas is getting his new flues installed. He’ll be back on his drivers within the week. Then he’ll get his steam up, and by next week…”

Aleu jolted up right. “I can be back on the throttle, right!” she said with her voice full on enthusiasm, her tail wagged happily on the bed sheet.

Balto laughed, “I mustn't do that again,” he said, demurely. "The doctor said you were not to be excited."

Aleu sulked. “I hate this room. I feel like I’m in a cage.”

Balto frowned. “You almost died. Aleutian, give your body some rest.”

Aleu looked at her father, discontent spreading over her muzzle. “Papa, please. I know how to take care of myself. I’m not your little baby.”  

Balto sighed. “I understand. I still feel utterly horrible for the bit with Brewbaker. But Kodi….”

Balto stopped. His mind thinking about his son. His son who not all that long ago seemed as happy a joyous as his other pups. His son who was now bitter and cold.

“Where did I go wrong?” he whispered, putting his head into his hands. His eyes looking at the hardwood floor and the brass air grates.  He remembered back when he was courting Jenna, crawling down there to learn news of Rosie’s doom.

Aleu put her hand on her father’s back. “Its not you fault, you raised us all right. Kodi is a good pup, I think something’s affecting him papa, when I looked at his eyes on the ice.” Aleu looked out a nearby window. “I didn’t see him”

Balto sat in a chair by the bed. “I know, its not like calm a quite Kodi. I wonder if something is wrong with him. Anyway, changing the subject, whose been visiting you?”  

Aleu shook her head, smiling, “The Railroad workers whose trains I saved have been in here. Also several newspaper reporters tried to get in here, but Ol’ Doc wouldn’t stand for it.”

Balto nodded. “Your pretty big news. All over Nome, the tale of the Economic Scandal of the North is front page.”

“Is that what they’re calling it now?” Aleu said shaking her head. “I did nothing special, just anything any other person would do in my place.”

Balto put his hand on hers. “You did everything, the doctor says you can move around on your own, but only for short moves. No long distance running.”

He placed a key on the table. “This is too that strap, Tomorrow if you’d like we can do lunch.”

“It’s a date.” Aleu said with a wink.

Balto stood and headed for the door, as he left Aleu reached over for the key. It was just out of the reach of her paw.

“Oh come on.” She moaned rolling her eyes, unable to reach the little brass key.

No beast is so fierce but knows some touch of pity, But I know none, therefore I am no beast. - Willem Shakespeare. 

The sun was finally peaking out from behind the snow clouds. Nome was basking in the few moments of pure sunlight.

Balto shivered in the frigid air. His coat pulled over him was doing a good job at keeping him warm. He looked across the street and between two buildings at the railroad line. It appeared as a single black line in the white powder.

He swung around to see Aleu opened the door and walk out. She wore her jacket over a white blouse and blue skirt.

“What took you?” He said. “I only have an hour for lunch, got to be back at the yard.”

She waved one paw in the air, dismissing her father’s comment. “Oh papa, I’m just glad to get out and have a nice relaxing lunch. Do you think of anything other then your responsibilities”

Balto gave a sharp smile. “What, I’m no fun anymore. I should have let you stay in that hospital room. Now no strange movements for a while.”

The two started off down the sidewalk. A ford model T chugged its way past in the ruts in the snow on its way to some unknown destination.

“I haven’t been outside in three weeks.” Aleu said laughing, her tuscan brown hair shimmering in the sun.  The two rounded a corner. There was a small restaurant. The sign read: ‘The Old Mill’. It was a false fronted building, red drapes hanging in the windows.

Balto nodded at the sight. “Nice place. Haven’t been here in a while”

“Yah, kind of a local watering hole.” Aleu said leading him to the front door.

Strains of the ragtime “Northwood Hills” played out over the restaurant. The Old Mill was simple decorated with a woodland style décor. Antler chandeliers, hardwood flooring, and bare wood tabletops stood out alongside the bar. Even at Lunch, the restaurant was full, and a band was playing on the stage.

Aleu and Balto took a seat at one far end, away from the bar. After ordering and Balto having to talk Aleu out of a glass of champagne, saying it wasn’t good for her healing, The two began talking about railroading, and the future.

“So, did they find Kodi.” Aleu asked while stuffing her face with some roasted duck. Balto had a hard time not cracking up at his daughter’s wolfish eating habits. Aleu scarified down food as fast as it was laid in front of her. 

“Not a sign, a hole was found in the other side of the river. I think the boy got out.” Balto smiled thinking back to his son’s younger days “He’s a survivor, that’s for sure.”

Suddenly, Aleu felt a pang inside her. At first she though it was some kind of reprieve from the bullet she had taken…but it was deep in the back of her mind. Almost like Texas’s connection. But this one was much deeper…almost, brotherly.

That though suddenly hit Aleu square in the stomach. She had heard that siblings sometimes could connect to each other in times of deep stress. But she never believed it as it had never happened to her. But now. She started tapping her heal. Balto saw the look cross over her face. Outside the restaurant the echo of a steam whistle from the yard could be heard.

“You all right?” he asked.

Before Aleu could answer, a malamute waiter tapped her on her shoulder.

“You miss Aleutian Aniu?” he asked.

She nodded.

“Some reporters want to see you.”

“Oh god, not again.” She said looking around the restaurant

“You can take the back door.” The waiter said. Balto knew Aleu’s reaction to being in the spotlight and wasn’t fazed by it. 

She stood up. “I’ll be right back after they leave.” Smiling she winked at him. “I hate publicity.”

                                    *************

Aleu fallowed the waiter threw the door. She found herself being led threw a food storage room and past the freezer and kitchen. Threw a door she ended up in a dark back room. Creates and trunks stood all around them. Her eyes saw a large steamer trunk, lid open. A single gas lantern stood on a table, giving a warm glow.

 “I don’t think they will stick around.” She said, suddenly feeling a little estranged. Why was this waiter going on a limb for her?

The Malamute nodded. “I’ll check for you Miss.” He turned and disappeared, leaving Aleu standing in the darkness. She suddenly felt a lot better having the strange dog gone. After all, a part of her was thinking he was going to make a move on her.

 Aleu looked around. She was surrounded by boxes and creates for food supplies. Now feeling certain that she was just paranoid, her curiosity led her over to the creates. Reading the labels she saw several food names, and several local brewing logos. Finally she looked down at the large open steamer trunk.

It was a strange object. Its inside lined with red satin. She leaned down looking in it, her bushy tail flicking behind her.

Suddenly she was taken aback by a shadow that crossed behind her. Before she could stand up, she felt a hand clasp itself over her muzzle.

But Aleu wouldn’t go easy; she kicked her leg, nailing her aslant in the stomach with her high heal. The hand let go of her, but another problem occurred. Without her aslant holding her, and with her leg up in the air, she lost her balance and fell forward.

She landed in the trunk. Getting up on her hands, she lifted her head above the edge of the Trunk, preparing to leap out, and she suddenly found a mailbag being thrust over her head.

Suddenly the lid came down with a crack, knocking the wolf/dog out cold.  The lock on the steamer truck shut with a click. Aleu was trapped.

                                    ********************

 When Aleu awoke, she found herself lying on her side. She slowly brought herself upright and realized that a blindfold had been placed over her eyes. She reached up and yanked it…only to find that she was surrounded by total darkness. Wherever she was, it was unbearably cold.

“What the…” She whispered.

 “You take the structure blinding you off to see…and yet you still can’t not see. I find that so poignant.”

Aleu recognized the voice; she steadied herself for the approach.

“Kodi.” She hissed. “What are doing?”

Suddenly a large spotlight that shined down on her and only her blinded Aleu. Outside the circle of light that surrounded her, was darkness. Kodi stepped in out of the light. His clothing neat and pressed, Sled dog traced around his stomach and waist. He smiled as he saw Aleu, in her dress and heals, take a step back.

“Ah darling sister… come to join the party.”

Aleu saw it…traces of foam on his mouth. “Kodi, you…your….”

He waved his hand. “I spent a lot of time in the woods after your beloved Railroad lost me my job.”

He stepped into the circle, and approached Aleu. She took her stance and balled up her fists, ready for a fight.

“No need for any of that.” Kodi said.

“Where have you taken me, little brother.”? Aleu growled.

Kodi waved one hand. “All you need to know is I have a deal for you.”

Aleu braced herself. But the amount of foam she realized her brother had gone rabid in his days in the woods. “What?” she said, somewhat meekly.

“You agree to a fight…. to the death. Agree and I will let you go.”

Aleu looked at her brother, deep down inside she knew the Kodi who she had grown up with was there, suppressed by anger and rabid hatred.

“Kodi…don’t do this. We can help you.” She whispered to him, her eyes full of love and concern.

For a second there, Kodi looked as if he was going to give in.

“No…you wouldn’t.”

Aleu sighed. She would have to think fast.

“Ok.” She whispered, her head bowed in morbid grievance.

                        ***********************

Balto ran threw the streets of Nome. When Aleu hadn’t returned, he checked the restaurant for the waiter she had left with. A strange look at the manger’s face and he knew something wasn’t right.

Wasting no time, Balto ran to the Railroad’s roundhouse. Jenna was away on a maintenance of way train, so Aleu couldn’t have gone with her mother.

Balto may have been reaching middle age but his mind was still sharp and his since of direction keen. Another Blizzard was due on Nome for days. It wasn’t much to the town that had suffered threw many a storm, including the “Basher of 25” But Balto could feel the snow melting and sizzling on his head and neck as he charged down the tracks.

It had been years since Balto had even touched a sled, His legs and arms, although well fit and strong, hadn’t been put to the test in a long time. But now as he raced along the track he could feel that adrenaline pumping in him. A mix of love for his children and hatred for the events that pitted them against each other, along with a little bit of self loathing for unknowingly sticking Aleu in the center of the situation. He smiled and remembered years ago when a similar rush carried him miles in a storm to fetch a box of medicine, as well as the thought that a train could have done the same job within a day instead of the four days it took him on foot.

Throwing his jacket off he said to himself. “There was no railroad then…you can do this.” And he galloped off as fast as his two legs could carry him The wind in his ears and the snow flaying behind him.

 Hoping up onto the roadbed and right of way he saw a 2-6-0 shoving a string of flatcars, their decks buried under a layer of snow. He stood and watched as the locomotive grinded to a halt, steam hissing impatiently as the air pump ticked off the minutes like a breathing heart.

“What can I do for yah?” The engineer, a rather chunky looking husky said, an engineer’s stripped cap perched lopsided on his head.

“Do you know where I can find Aleu?” AJ called.

The dog nodded. “Sorry, haven’t seen her all day.”

Balto nodded, his mind starting to think haphazardly. “Does the road fallow the railroad tracks far?” he asked.

The engineer nodded. “Yep, up until the old log mill…then it becomes a sled dog track that borders the railroad for a few miles. But the Log mill was abandoned”

“Was abandoned?” Balto asked, not sure why when he said it but something in his gut told him the engineer saw something out of the ordinary.

The Husky scratched his head and hat. “Yah, strange if I know. Smoke was poring out of the stack from the boiler rooms. So it looked like someone was using it.”

It hit Balto like the preverbal freight train. The Kenacot Company owned the old Log mill. The same company that was now deep in the “Northern Scandal”

“We need to get down there. Now, I’ll explain on the way!

“Balto Hop on!” The husky called.

Balto mounted the cab. “Thank Kirby, I owe you one.”

Kirby opened the throttle. The mogul’s wheels slipped for a few seconds on the icy rails before they gripped and while a high moan on her whistle, she started off down the track. As they passed the dispatcher’s office Kirby leaned out and called to a platelayer.

“Get Ol’ Doc to clear the line as far as Milepost 5.4! We’re an emergency train!” he yelled, grabbing the cord and giving a few blasts of the whistle.

                                    ******************

*****************

Aleu felt the tings of sweat drop from her head fur. The him of her skirt flittered in a small breeze from some unknown fan. Kodi stood a few feet away from her. His eyes flickering like flint. The cold air of the abounded warehouse was interrupted by water dripping from some unknown location.

“Kodi, we don’t have to do this.” Aleu said, her voice soft and full of love.

Kodi just stared at her, growling madly. Aleu got a good look at the shell that was once her brother, his clothing was ripped and in some places she could see that he had been scratching himself rabidly till the skin bled. Small rivers of foam dripped from his muzzle and his eyes seemed distant and clouded. Aleu felt a tear swell, knowing that her once proud brother had been driven to madness after his dreams where crushed.

“All of it…gone.” Kodi moaned. “My life…my team, my job.” His eyes focused on Aleu. “You…and that god damn railroad. Its steel tentacles sucking the lifeblood out of Nome.”

He sprang forward, his powerful sled dog legs propelling him across the room like a lightning bolt.

What saved Aleu in those two seconds was the distance between the two, a good eight feet. If she had been any closer then Kodi would have been all over her like an avalanche. As It was, Kodi struck her like a cannon ball at a glancing blow, throwing Aleu to the ground. She slid along the cement floor, knocking into he side of the old conveyer belt housing.

Aleu reached into the him of her dress and pulled out a small derringer, she planted into Kodi’s right arm, hoping to incapacitate him until help arrived.

Kodi was stopped in his tracks but did not fall. He was too muscular, his fur too thick. He grinned feverishly, Foam flopping on the dirt and cement.

“That pop-gun only holds two bullet dear sister.”

“I wish you stop calling me “Dear Sister” Aleu mumbled jumping to her feet, she kicked her heals off, wishing she had chosen a much less formal restaurant to dine in.

Now it was Kodi’s turn. He grabbed a chain that was dangling from the ceiling and started twirling it like a pare of numb chucks slowly advancing on Aleu.

Aleu chucked the derringer like a baseball. At four feet away it couldn’t miss. The little gun, as solid as a peace of rail, thudded off Kodi’s face, just above the muzzle and in-between the eyes.

The blow staggered him more then the bullet in his right shoulder. There was no grasp of pain, no blood curdling cry, he just merely grunted and charged Aleu.

Aleu tried to back flip over the belt, But Kodi grabbed her by her leg and chucked her across the room with strength no less then phenomenal.

Then as Kodi charged her again, Aleu grabbed the derringer, which had landed nearby and without hesitation, the thought that this was not her beloved brother she was among at but a monster that wanted to kill her, fired the gun.

She missed.

                                    *****************

Balto leaned from the cab of the locomotive as she raced backwards. Smoke flying from her stack as if it was a streamer attached to a dancer. The wheels galloped along as the flames from the firebox licked the rear drive wheels.

Balto felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning he saw Dusty holding a coal shovel. With a wink she gave his a Winchester rifle. “It’s got rubber bullets, so be careful”

Balto nodded, then holding onto the grab irons as the locomotive turned into the mill complex, he dropped down to the ground.

                                    *************

Kodi was suddenly on top of her, Aleu felt his body on top of hers, pinning her arms to her sides. He put his hands around her neck and started to close. Aleu coughed and wheezed.

“That’s what it feels like, the railroad slowly closing its tendrils around your life, squeezing it!” Kodi grunted, watching Aleu gasp for air.

He grabbed her muzzle and laughed. “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. I’ll just awaken you to the reality!” he said. Suddenly Aleu realized what he was doing. One bite and his rabid mind would be transferred to her. Outside she heard the sound of a passing train

“Don’t worry my dear Aleu, it will just burn in your soul forever! Just one kiss is all you need.”

She couldn’t pull her head away with him holding her muzzle, she couldn’t scream with it clamped shut. She could just watch as his lips neared hers. 

Suddenly Kodi screamed as a shot echoed around the mill. He fell to the side releasing her.

Aleu rolled out and took a deep breath.

Suddenly the large door blasted in as the wood it was made of splinted and shattered. A WRR 2-6-0 Mogul came screeching into the building, smoke and steam blasting out the stack. Balto at the throttle. Aleu recognized the engineer as Kirby, the dog Balto was speaking with when she first arrived, and Dusty as the locomotive’s fireman. Dusty held a rifle and gave Kodi another shot in the back. 

Then threw the other door, in came the poise the dispatcher had sent after the emergency train left Nome. They quickly gathered around Kodi and started binding his hands with rope, a quick run to the hospital would save his life.

Kirby jumped down from the locomotive and lifted Aleu into his arms, her vision was fading but she was able to wheeze one question before her vision faded and she drifted into dream world.

“Who fired the first shot.”?

Kirby laughed and pointed up. Balto was running down a spiral e staircase from the catwalk above. Holding the riffle he nodded. “Rubber bullets.”

Aleu looked at him dumbly. “You make one heck of a father. Shooting you own son in the back with rubber bullets and letting her daughter freeze to death” And then dropped off completely.  

A Dog cannot make this journey alone, but maybe a Wolf can

The Twinkling sun shined across the snowy fields outside on Nome. The fresh snow seemed to glinted and sparkle under the onslaught of the retreating light.

In the town, shops where closing and people where sturing about, preparing for the close of the day. But one last show would come upon this frozen oases of a town.

"Boom!" went the clock in the big yard-tower, and far away one could hear a full, vibrating twinge echo down the icy rails that split threw Nome. Then with a blast of a steam whistle and a headlight twinkled on the horizon like a star, grew an overpowering blaze, and whooped up the humming track to the roaring music of a happy giant's song:

The 4-4-0 on the head of the train looked unbelievably splendid. His big box headlamp reflecting along the tracks, the nameplates that spelled in brass letters, newly whipped, read: TEXAS. A superb eight-wheel-coupled racing-locomotive, who hauled the pride and glory of the Alaska road - the gilt-edged “Serum Special”, the millionaires' West-bound express, laying the miles over his shoulder as a man peels a shaving from a soft board. The last defiant blast of the whistle was delivered a mile and a half before the town. The rest was a blur of maroon enamel, a bar of white light from the electrics in the cars, and a flicker of nickel-plated hand-rail on the rear platform as he slid into Nome with the grace of a wolf sliding up to its pray.

Balto watched from the platform as the 4-4-0 released steam from between its wheels and ground to a halt. The light and dark brown hybrid walked over to the cab stirrups and looked into the cab.

“You did wonderful Rosie!” Aleu exclaimed. She stood next to the Engineer’s seat, the 12-year-old girl with red hair looked like a mix of fear and pure exuberating! She looked at the she wolf and smiled.

“Thatwassoawsome!” she said without a single space in her words, jumping excitedly. As Rosie leapt from the cab Balto couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Well I did promise her.” Aleu said. Balto helped his daughter dismount the cab. “By the way dad, I love the new pilot!”

Texas stood proud with his new horizontal strap pilot. Its straps, although clogged in a few spots with snow, giving quite the contrast to the two black lines sticking out of the pure white he rode upon.

It had been two weeks since Aleu and Kodi fought. Despite the pushing of several insurance companies and the loss of freight revenue, The WOLF intervened with the case of the “Northern Scandal” and clamed Kodi had formed his plans and carried them out bases on the knowledge and false information fed to him by the already dead Steele and his rabid mind. Balto had watched with sullen eyes as his son was loaded aboard a baggage car to be sent south and east to a mental institution where they where working on a cure for the disease. Jenna had also gone along to make sure their son was treated farley, the whole affair was paid for by the WOLF Railroad and Navigation Company.

Aleu spent another week in the hospital till the doctor handed back to her the brake handles to Texas. She had found him steamed up in the yard, a new pilot, stack, and paint job.

After picking up her father Aleu brought Texas and the empty coaches over to the wye to turn the whole train. The Aurora Borealis started to stretch and sparkle above them. The wye’s two legs ran over the rocky beach and past the beached trawler Balto had lived in for so long. Texas’s smoke, tinged purple against the red and blue sky drifted out over the boat. The Bering sea looked beautifully splendid from the cab windows.

“How long are you planning on staying?” Balto asked.

“I don’t know.” Aleu answered and smiled.

The Texas backed to the furthest leg and stopped. Balto got down from the cab and threw the switch, with a wave of his hand, the blast of the whistle echoed across the Alaskan town which has seen so much, Texas’s giant wheels rolled and he started back towards the depot, facing the opposite way with his train which was being cleaned and prepared.

Balto climbed into the cab as the locomotive passed.

“How about for another few months?” He said. “If you want to.”

Aleu looked at her father, one hand holding onto the bell cord. “If I want to?”

Balto looked out the cab window. “Your not my little baby anymore. You can do what you want.”

Aleu smiled. “Oh papa, I’ll always be your baby.”

Aleu caught the small twinge of a sly smile on Balto’s face as he looked at the setting sun. The tolling bell sounded above them as the Locomotive rocked down Main Street, the headlamp reflecting off the store windows. Balto looked into the empty rooms of the local hospital as the train passed, he remembered years ago looking into that window and wondering how long Rosie could hold out under the onslaught diphtheria.

Then with a blast of his whistle, Texas set out under the Northern Lights, accompanied by the sound of the wail of steam under a whistle, the cacophony of wheels on rails, and leaving a beautiful trail of orange and purple smoke behind him, reaching for the light above.