pack cheered loudly, feeling much relieved. Aleu smiled at Sleath. 'Because you've shown wisdom and loyalty, I will give you my leadership till the day I return.' Sleath's eyes grew wide in amazement. Aleu turned back to the rest of the pack.' Obey Sleath like you'd obey me. Meanwhile I shall decide when to start my journey.'
****
Aleu had a lot on her mind. It was the afternoon and she was planning on leaving when the tide waves were calm.
She turned to the grove behind her and walked through it. There she hunted a small-rabbit, and began to eat. If Aleu was to start travelling soon then she must gain strength.
Aleu finished eating and sighed.
'Sleath talked with good sense, didn't she?' A rough voice interupted Aleu. She turned to see who it was. Behind her stood a young male wolf she had never seen before. His fur was dusky red and his eyes were amber coloured.
Aleu stared at him for a moment before asking,'Who are you?'
The wolf blinked.'Don't you know me?' he said.
Aleu gazed into the wolf's eyes, and immediately saw all his thoughts. Then she gave a cry of joy.'Hanler!' Hanler it was. But he had changed. He looked so young and strong, his eyes seemed to shine as if he'd seen happiness everywhere. His leg showed no sign of being broken. 'I thought you had died.'
'And so I had. But my spirit lives.' he smiled at her,'But I must warn you. You are to face many dangers on your journey. Even after you cross the great sea. So I am going to guide you, on your quest.'
Aleu's mouth dropped open. She couldn't think of anything to say. She looked up at Hanler, and to her astonishment she saw that his whole body was shimmering vividly. His eyes glowed as it did this. His paws had suddenly disappeared. Aleu knew that she had to thank him quick!
'Thank you,' she said, finally. 'Thank you, Hanler.'
Hanler nodded and smiled. Then gradually vanished in the cool, afternoon sunlight.
VI
After her meal, Jenna flopped down on the bedroom carpet and was asleep at once. But her mind never rested.
Her dreams showed her crowds, trials, sleds and prizes. But most of all the sled-dogs.
She remembered that her grandad Flench, had been a famous sledding dog, and had always been chosen for races of all kinds. All the running exhausted and, eventually, killed him.
Balto was getting on in years.
Could there be a way to stop this?
*
When she got up the next morning, Jenna was surprised to see her owner Rosie sitting up in bed and crying.
Jenna rushed to her owner and licked her hand. Whatever's the matter?
Rosie stopped crying and hugged Jenna tightly.
After a few moments she let go and looked at Jenna for a long time. Finally she said.
'Daddy came home from the post-office yesterday,' she said.' He heard that Balto is going to run to Anchorage! He's going to leave tomorrow!'
Jenna eyes went widened. Why so soon! Then she remembered what Mel had said. The trials would start the next week.
Enough time to get to Koyuk, Jenna thought bitterly.
The bedroom door opened and in came Rosie's father and mother, Mr and Mrs Loran. Both looked troubled. Mrs Loran wanted to talk to Rosie.
Mr David Loran got hold of Jenna's bandana and lead her out of the bedroom, through the kitchen and out of the house.
Jenna breathed in fresh air and waited for Mr Loran to let go of her bandana.
But to her suprise, Mr Loran kept hold of her. She was even more surprised when he led her into the outside shed and put down a bowl of food. Hungry but confused, she ate. It was very different from her usual breakfast of meat.
After she had eaten, David Loran called to her from outside the shed. She ran to him. He made beckoning gestures for her to follow. What's going on?
She walked at his heels through town. Soon they came to a large wooden barn. At it's closed doors stood two men, who waved to them.
'David Loran! So you've brought the dog,' said one.
Brought the dog?
They approached the men. One of them knelt down to pat Jenna.
'So she's related to Flench?' he said, and Jenna ears pricked with a little annoyance as he started to examine her.
Mr Loran nodded. 'That's what the man I bought her from said, Mr Rege.'
Mr Rege nodded back, before pulling out a document from his pocket and reading it aloud.
'Russet fur; white markings, under-side and chest; triangular, erect ears; and patch of white hairs between shoulders,' he said.
What! Jenna had never known that! She watched as the other man, who had not spoken since she and Mr Loran had arrived, bent over and lifted her bandana slightly.
'It's there,' he announced, and stood up-right again. 'So, David. Are you alright with putting her into our team?'
Jenna's stomach tightened. The team? Could that be Balto's team?
'Almost wish I didn't have to, for my daughter's sake,' answered Mr Loran after a while. 'But alot of people say I should, they want Nome to win these trials so badly. And regretfully to say, my own boss is one of those people. It's in with the dog or out of the job!'
Mr Rege snorted. 'Ridiculous,' he muttered in a voice barely audible.
Mr Lorand nodded. He patted Jenna on the head,' Please make sure she doesn't get hurt.'
Then he shook hands with Mr Rege, then walked away. Jenna watched him go, unable to believe what was happening. Mr Rege grabbed hold of her bandana.
'Hold onto her, Tep,' he said to his companion,' While I open the door.'
Mr Rege pushed the big barn door, and Mr Tep led Jenna in. It was dark inside and little light shone through the wooden windows in the walls. The floor was of hard stone, strewn with straw at the far end of the barn. The men looped a rope around Jenna's neck and tied it to a ring in the wall.
They left her there, closing the door behind them...
VII
Jenna stood in the darkness, staring at the shut door. She couldn't see anything except the beams of light shafting through the windows. Jenna gazed around at the darkness, thinking as she did; Was it true that she was to be part of Balto's team? If she was, then why was she here?
A sudden voice interupted her thoughts,
'Jenna! Is that you?' From the shadows emerged the familar shape of a dog.
'Balto!' Jenna cried. Balto rushed out, they nuzzled each other. Although she had no idea what was up, she was glad to see him. Then she noticed that, like her, he was tied up with a long length of rope.
She was about to ask Balto whether he knew why they were here, when another voice called,
'Mother, are you there?' It was their son Kodi. He too was roped up at the other side of the barn. And beside him sat...
'Tamill! Saba!' Jenna cried. She was shocked to see her two other pups there.
'' 'Scuse me for asking, but what's happening?' moaned somebody in a sleepy tone. Everyone looked 'round and saw a broad figure of a male-dog and it was Tamill who guessed who it was.
'What...? Dingo!'
Dingo was sitting on some bundles of dried grass, looking at everyone with an expression of puzzlement. It was clear that neither any of them knew why they were here, except Jenna and Balto. Quickly they told their pups why. Moments later, the barn was quiet.
*
After an hour, the barn door opened and a fierce light shone in. Jenna blinked at it. She could just hear Mr Rege and his partner Tep, come in.
They had pulled a dog into the barn and were knotting it's rope to the wall, beside the door. It made a fierce struggle, growling at Mr Rege and Tep. They withdrew quickly, and started talking in hushed voices. Jenna could just about catch the words, 'the last one?'.
Then they went out, shutting the door behind them.
Jenna eyes grew used to the light, as she stared at the dog. It wasn't a Nome dog, nor one she knew...or was it? Beside her, Balto had stiffened and her children were fidgeting. Jenna took a curious step forward, trying to make out the dog in the half-light. It had white markings, which were clearly seen. It's scent was unfamiliar. Once more Jenna took a step. The dog looked up, and her head touched a sun shaft. Jenna immediately recognised the dark red body-fur.
'Chilla!' Jenna cried and ran forwards. Balto pulled at his rope as far as it could go, to reach their daughter while Chilla stood beaming, eyes showing relief and joy. Kodi and the others watched silently, too amazed to speak. They hadn't seen Chilla since she had been sold as a pup.
Chilla explained that she lived far outside Nome with her owners, who were a family of six. They had a very nice cabin home that was surrounded by hills and trees. She worked in the winter as a supply-hauler, along with her team. Her own girl Moria, would sometimes hitch her to a little cart in the spring time so to pick berries and herbs for the mother of the family. It made Jenna smile when she heard this, as it reminded her of when Rosie and herself had gone out together too.
When Chilla the told them about her suddenly being handed over to Mr Rege, Balto, Jenna and the others exchanged glances.
' What's wrong?' Chilla asked. 'Why are we all here?'
Balto explained about the Trails. Chilla shivered, as if her fur was wet, 'But I've never entered a race thing before,' she said.' I won't know how to cope!'
Dingo nodded his head.
'Neither have we. Except Dad and Kodi,' he added. 'But what choice do we have?'
VIII
The whole clan gazed at the sea. The waves were calm but the the weather seemed hard
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