CHAPTER 7: The First Run
They first put us in a line to see who would go where on the team. Here’s what they decided. Of course they put Spitz as lead dog. Curly was behind him. Her position was called the swing dog. I was behind Curly. My place was called the team dog. And Dave was last, the wheel dog. After that, they put the harnesses on. Spitz and Dave had no trouble staying still, but Curly and I were shaking! We were just nervous, but I wanted this so much. Why should I be nervous about something I really want to do? As I stood there wondering, Francisco and his partner Parralt (I FINALLY remembered his name!), put the harness on me. Soon we were all attached and ready to go! Spitz stood there looking high and mighty, waiting for the first command. Curly was too excited to stay still. I was nervous, very nervous. And Dave looked bored, as if he was saying, “Here we go again…” I guess he didn’t like to dogsled much.
Then Francisco stepped on the back of the sled and with his whip held high (he almost NEVER uses it), he called out, “MUSH!” and suddenly Spitz jerked forward like a torpedo, and then the rest followed. Everything was like a flash of lighting! One second we were waiting, and at this one we’re just…going! Just like that! Dave yelled behind me, “Be ready next time for the first call.” I looked behind me and nodded quickly as I tried to catch up. I thought this would be easier than I imagined. When it was just me, I didn’t have a problem, but now, for the first time, I was on a team. It wasn’t just about me anymore, like Judge Miller always said, “You always come before anything else.” Now, that doesn’t apply to what’s happening now.
As I was struggling to be as fast as the others, I tripped over a strap that was hooked on to the sled. And the rest of the team came down with me. Francisco called the team to a halt. He didn’t yell, as Dave said he normally would. He knew I was a first timer, so he went easy. He just untangled the straps on the team and got back on the sled to call the team to rise again. Spitz looked at me with angry eyes. He growled softly as he was turning back around again. Now I knew Spitz didn’t like me, but that was okay because I didn’t like him either.
The musher yelled mush, and the team was on its way again. I looked at Curly and she seemed to do a pretty fine job at it. Her pace kept with the others, her speed also. It looked like she had done this a million times! Why?!
I gently pulled her tail with my mouth. She turned around quickly and said, “What?” She turned back around because you were supposed to look forward. I didn’t mind. I still knew she was listening.
“Curly, how do you do that?! You make it look so easy for dogs who never dogsled before!”
“I was a street dog, remember?! It was hard times and you had to run a lot from dog catchers!” We both yelled because the wind was so loud. “It’s probably not easy for you because you were a house dog with a good life!”
She was right. Even though she was once Queen of the Streets, it was still torture to be a street dog. So she’s been in situations where she had to run, maybe for miles! Me: The only time I run is to play fetch or to look to sniff a tree! That’s why I couldn’t be as good as Curly. But I knew that the time will come if I just kept practicing.
I was beginning to get tired, but Dave said that was typical for beginners. Luckily, Francisco called us to stop. I was glad he did. Working with a team was harder than I imagined, but I knew it was only my first run, so I would get better at it eventually. Spitz looked at me again, and rolled his eyes. He thought I’d never be good enough. Well I’ll prove him wrong someday…
Our musher took off our harnesses, and started camp. I watched as Francisco and Parralt took many things from the sled and made a small structure by hand. And then I watched them build a campfire. Curly nudged me.
“Hey, what’cha doin’?”
“Huh?” I snapped my head to hers in surprise. “Oh, sorry. I’m just so amazed about what the humans could do. They could make structures and build fires all on their own.”
“Because they have opposable thumbs.” Curly laughed. I laughed along.
“So, are you tired?” I asked.
Curly shrugged. “A little I guess. How about you?”
“I’m not DYING, but I’m kinda tired, too.”
“Well, that was a pretty good run, huh guys?” Dave called.
“Hey Dave.” We both said.
“For first-timers, you’re not really that bad.”
“Thanks.” We both said again.
“C’mon.” He gestured. “I want to talk with you about something.” Curly and I looked at each other in confusion, but followed him. When we were a bit far from camp. Dave looked at us with a worried look on his face.
“Curly, Buck, you have no idea what world you’re in.”
Curly and I looked at each other again, then looked back.
“What you do mean?” Curly asked.
“You don’t have the slightest clue what huge mess you’re in the middle of. Wherever you’re from, it’s 10 times better than this.
“Wow…” I whispered. “Where I lived, everyone was always kind. Why are the dogs here so ruthless?”
“I don’t know. It could be rabies, lack of food, or just a really mean musher or owner. Sometimes they just turn mean when they are abusive of power, like Spitz for instance. Others are just plain mean from birth. It all depends on their origins.”
I nodded, still wondering why they don’t have these kind of things in L.A. Not that I wanted them to be there.
“It’s so sad. Dogs killing other dogs for no apparent reason. That’s just wrong.” Curly said sadly.
“Usually they don’t have a choice. Sometimes, they would have the MADNESS, in which free will does not apply.”
“What’s the MADNESS?” I asked.
“It’s just a condition where you can’t control your own body and you go bazzurk!!!”
“Sounds fun…” I mumbled.
“But remember the one rule that stands above all others when it comes to survival out in the Alaskan wilderness: Kill, or be killed.”
CHAPTER 8: Curly Lives the Rule
Curly and I gulped. Kill or be killed?! That sounds kind of harsh.
“But it’s true.” Dave said. “That’s how you survive here. Do you know how many dogs I had to kill just to eat? But of course I only kill if it’s absolutely necessary.”
“So will we have to…kill?” Curly forced out the last word. She never did any killing when she was queen. She let her servants do it.
“Maybe so. But don’t worry. For your sake, I’ll protect you. I’ll make sure you don’t get harmed. But only for the first few weeks ok? Then it’s on your own.”
Curly and I nodded. A few weeks was more than enough.
We all slept soundly that night. Dave showed Curly and I how to make a nest in the snow to keep from freezing at night. It really helped a lot. And I was sure Dave would protect us from any danger. For the first time in a month, I felt safe.
The next day we got up early to stretch and what not. Then we woke up our masters, who got us in our harnesses and attached them to the sled. In no time, we were all ready for another day of sledding. The musher made the first call and I shot forward with the others. I turned around and Dave gave me a smile of approval. I was glad I had mastered the quick start, but there were so much other things I still had to learn. And I was eager to learn them. I sensed this whole thing as a challenge, a way to work toward something instead of doing the same things everyday, like when I lived with Judge Miller. I wanted so much to be like Curly, but then again I wanted to reach my goals rather than just…do it right the first time.
I was getting a little better that day. I only tangled the traces 3 times. The day before it was 5. Spitz still gave me that angry glare whenever we stopped because of me. I just ignored it. At the end of the day, Francisco patted me on the head and said good job to both me and Curly. I felt appreciated for once and I loved it! And I was going to get a little more when I would be a master at this.
But my happy moments were fading. And there was only one reason why this would happen. And it did.
It was in the middle of the night, when we were all sleeping.
In my nest, it was all peace and quiet. Then I head a ruffle of snow. I popped out of my hole to see what was going on. I saw Curly looking around franticly!
“Curly? What are you doing?” I asked drowsily.
“I just thought I heard something. But it’s fine now. Let’s go back to sleep.” She dove back into her nest and fell back asleep. I did the same.
The same thing happened again, but I didn’t get up this time. Maybe she had to do her business or something. But at the time I didn’t care.
Besides, Dave said he would protect us. What could go wrong?
And of course, those four words always lead to something. Something bad.
I heard a lot of ruffling this time. And then a lot of other sounds, but I still didn’t care. But what made me jump back out of my nest was a shriek. The shriek of Curly to be more specific. When I was out of my nest I saw Curly face to face with a wild husky only half her size. Her face was dripping blood! I knew I had to do something to help. I started charging at the husky but Curly saw me and shouted. “NO! Don’t get involved! I can do this!”
“Curly look at your self! You’re dripping blood!!”
By then Dave popped out and saw what was going on. Curly shouted the same thing to Dave, and he laid back. All I could do was watch the pitiful sight. Curly was losing badly. Each time the husky attacked, more and more blood was coming out of her, to the point where I couldn’t even look! But when I peeked through my paws, I saw a circle of huskies now, waiting to pounce on Curly! She needs help!! But what am I supposed to do? I can’t save her now. I’ll just end up killed.
When the husky attacked Curly once more, she fell down and didn’t get back up. Big mistake.
All the wild huskies pounced on her at once and started to rip her to shreds! That was it! I just lunged on the pile of dogs and so did Dave. We tore apart every dog to get to Curly. And when she was found, it wasn’t even her anymore. All the dogs eventually left after a few fight with us. We went back to Curly to see if she was okay. She wasn’t.
“CURLY?!” I shouted.
“Curly?” Dave whispered.
Curly let out a groan. And she began to speak. “…I’m sorry…I thought I could handle it…but I didn’t…I’m a failure…”
“No you’re not, Curly! Don’t you say that! You’re a natural at dog sledding.”
“…You don’t get it…I SHOULD be good at this…”
“Not everyone is good at everything.” Dave said.
“…I should’ve asked for help…Now it’s too late…”
“No…” I whispered.
“…Buck, I’m dying…”
“Curly…”
“No, Buck…Look at me…”
Her real fur was covered in blood. Not one inch wasn’t covered.
“I’m sorry, guys…This is it…”
“It can’t be it…” I thought aloud.
“…I always thought…I could do things on my own…But…I was wrong.”
“Curly, please. Don’t give up on yourself.”
Curly’s voice was screechy and barely audible now.
“…Good luck…I know you’ll be a champion one day…”
She put one paw in the air and I put mine on hers.
“…friend…” We both said in unison. Then her paw fell to the ground with a thud. It was official. Curly was dead.
I started to cry and so did Dave. But then I heard laughing in the back round. I turned around, and behind my teary eyes I saw Spitz, laughing like we just told a really funny joke.
“Spitz?! How long were you standing there!?” Dave asked.
“Just the WHOLE TIME!”
“…And you didn’t bother to help us AT ALL?!!!” Buck shouted.
“I was to busy laughing. She fights so horribly it’s hallarious!”
“Spitz, your own teammate is DEAD! And you’re LAUGHING?!!!”
“Hey, c’mon. Watching a take down is the best thing I’ve watched since the fight with Kiki and the bear!”
“Kiki was a girl on Spitz’s old team.” Dave whispered in Buck’s ear. Buck was furious. But Dave leaned in again.
“Just ignore him. He doesn’t have a heart. He grew up facing death, and now he’s so used to it he can laugh at it.”
I growled at him, even though he would think nothing of it. And I mourned over Curly again. Then I realized something…
“This…this is all YOUR FAULT!!!” I suddenly shouted at Dave. Dave had a shocked look on his face.
CHAPTER 9: Two More Members
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Oh don’t play dumb with me! You JINXED US!!”
“Don’t tell me you believe in that kind of stuff!” Dave sounded annoyed.
“You told us you were going to protect us if there was any danger! And suddenly, there was danger!! And now Curly’s gone forever!! I say it again, YOU JINXED US!!!”
“I only told you that to inform you. And there is danger almost every night anyway. It’s not even a coincidence!”
I was still in fury even though he was right. “Fine, but you still broke your promise!”
Dave couldn’t argue with that. “You’re right…I should have saved her… And now I’ve paid the price.”
“Yeah! Now I can’t even trust you!”
“Buck, you don’t understand. A lot of dogs on some of the teams I’ve been on have passed away, and I never even felt sad about it. I just shrugged, met the replacement dogs, and went on with my life. Now…now that I caused the death…I…” He broke into tears after that. My scowling face half disappeared. I was still angry at him, but was a softie inside.
“Dave, why didn’t you save her?”
“Same reason you didn’t. I really thought she had a chance of defeating him, and when the group of huskies came out, I knew right then she was going to die, and we couldn’t do a thing about it but have them kill us, too.” The tears were still coming out. I nodded. I understood, but if there was a chance Curly could be saved…, we both should’ve gone for it, but we didn’t.
“I guess it’s not all your fault. Even though you promised, it’s not like you wanted it to happen. And I take some blame, too. I should’ve saved her also, but didn’t take the chance. I’m sorry I yelled at you. Where I live, there are all kinds of superstitions going around. And I just wanted an excuse to be mad at you.” I chuckled. But sighed deeply at the sight of Curly’s now lifeless body. “Well, nothing we can do about it now.”
“Except to bury her. I’ll dig up a hole.” We spent the rest of the night making a proper burial for Curly. And when she was finally in place. We went to bed, thinking of Curly the whole time.
The next morning, Parrult found out Curly had been killed, so went out to buy more huskies. Dave, Spitz, and I were talking while he went to get them.
“So, what do you think they’ll be like?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Hopefully not some sort of freak.” Dave said.
“Like you?” Spitz had an angry look on him, like always.
“No, like your face!” Spitz slapped Dave in the jaw, and Dave growled at him menacingly.
“Whoever they are, I just hope they’re not so mean, like Curly was.”I said softly.
“C’mon! You’re still sad about what’s her name? She’s GONE!”
“YES! So shut up, Spitz!” Spitz was surprised he was able to tell him to shut up. But just ignored him.
“Yeah. Whatever.” Spitz mumbled.
“Well, we’re probably going to get experienced huskies since we’re a little short on money right now.” Dave pointed out.
“Why are experienced dogs cheaper?”
“Because they’re called “used dogs.” They have already been on a team and are usually not in the best condition like new dogs are. Some are almost starved to death, some are too worn out. But we were lucky to get you and Curly with the money we had.”
“Look, here he comes!” I shouted. Parrult had two dogs by the leash. The both had the same dark brown fur, but one had a tan underbelly while the other was white. And one had green eyes and the other had blue. The blue-eyed and tan under-bellied one looked happy, and excited at that. The green-eyed, white under-bellied one looked like he was going to kill somebody! He looked as if that was the only face he had ever made. Spitz ran up to the blue-eyed one first and had no problem telling him that he was the boss, but when he went up to the green-eyed one…he kinda fell back. Dave and I stared in amazement. Dave had said Spitz was the master of all, and that nothing scared him. I guess he was wrong. I was glad that something actually frightened Spitz. But I guess that meant everybody was afraid of him.
I learned eventually the blue-eyed one was named Billie, and the green eyed one, Joe. And I learned Billie and Joe were brothers. I was a bit shocked, considering they act nothing alike. And as Dave predicted, they were both “used dogs.”
When everybody knew each other, it was time again to see who would go where. I would probably stay where I was, since I still had much to learn. But I was wrong.
Since Billie and Joe hate each other, they were separated, and that meant I was being moved! Billie was in front of Dave this time, and I was between Billie and Joe. I was glad they had moved me up. It gave me a sense of pride for a moment. But then we had to leave, and that meant I had to put on my game face. But then I glanced at Curly’s grave that Dave and I put together. My game face disappeared as we were all getting into our harnesses. I was really never going to see her again. But I knew now that my job was going to be like this, and I can’t weep myself to sleep whenever a dog dies. It was part of the line of duty, and I had to accept it. But I was still sad. She told me her entire life story. And now it has ended. I told her everything as well, from when I was adopted, to when the gardener stole me and got me into this mess in the first place. We knew everything about each other. Then I thought if I just…liked her. I mean, I really liked her as a friend, but one of my friends back in
I sighed again as they strapped us to the sled and the musher was getting ready for the first call. Just when his mouth was about to open, the words just slipped out of my mouth, “I love you, Curly.” And we were on our way, with new members of the team, and a new place to go…