This is the best artical 你 will ever read I do not own this. Writer of this gets full credit I get none. This is a to be continued thing but I can't find the 秒 part but as soon as I do I will post it. Again I just copy and pasted this I did not write this. Well here it is.
It was early morning in the town of Nome. The snow was falling and the slim 个人资料 of a grey husky, who had a slightly emancipated appearance, could be seen padding along the fresh snow. He rounded a corner, and went and sat in front of a closed basement window that only came 1 foot from the ground.
“I sure am hungry.” The husky, Star, spoke 说 to himself. “I wonder if there is anything left at the butcher’s.”
He was about to leave when he heard the faint, but unmistakable sound, of someone sobbing.
“I wonder who that is?” 星, 星级 说 as he turned around looking for the 来源 of the noise.
He 迷失 the sound when the sobbing stopped, but then he heard a crash, followed 由 更多 sobbing. 星, 星级 jumped when he heard the crash, the found the 来源 of the sobbing. It was coming from the window that he was sitting in front of.
星, 星级 turned around and pushed on the window with his paw. It would not budge. He pushed harder, and he still could not get it to open. He then threw the entire weight of his body against. He got it to open, but he also fell through the now open window. 星, 星级 screamed as he fell through, and then landed face first on the wooden floor 5 feet below.
“Oooh.” 星, 星级 moaned. “I got to work on those landings.”
Star, as he regained his balance, begun to look for the 来源 of the sobbing. Apparently whoever was doing the sobbing was oblivious to Star’s clumsy entrance.
星, 星级 poked his head around a corner to see the 来源 of the sobbing. About 15 feet away, was a large black and white malamute. He had a muscular build, blue eyes, and a large 领, 衣领 on. The malamute looked much undignified balling his eyes out, with his head down in his paws. The malamute picked up his head to look at a metal bucket to the side of him, and then smashed it with his paws, causing it to crash against the 墙 on the far side of the room. The malamute then put his head on his paws and continued to cry.
Realizing who it was, 星, 星级 quickly pulled himself back around the corner, not wanting to be seen.
“Oh no!” 星, 星级 whispered to himself. “That is Steele! If he sees me he might eat me for breakfast. I’ve got to get out of here.”
星, 星级 ran back to where he had landed and entered the room. He looked up to the window. He jumped and grabbed the bottom of the window sill with his paws. As he was trying to pull himself up, the window slammed shut on his paws. 星, 星级 bit his lip to keep from yelping and being discovered. He then managed to yank his paws out and fall back to the floor with a thump.
“Now I am done for!” 星, 星级 whimpered to himself. “There is no way out, and the meanest dog in Nome is in the same room. What if he discovers me? He will use me as a chew toy. I’ve got to do something!”
星, 星级 began pacing back and forth across the floor, but staying where he would not be seen 由 the malamute around the corner. He then ran into a cobweb that he did not see in front of him, which stirred up a lot of dust. 星, 星级 felt his nose begin to tickle.
“uhhH…uhhH…uhhhH…No! Now is not a good time to sneeze.” 星, 星级 说 as he tried his best to keep from sneezing. Unfortunately, he did not succeed.
AAAAAAACHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The sound of his sneeze echoed off the walls of the room, and 星, 星级 new he was in big trouble now.
Hearing the sneeze, Steele stopped crying immediately and quickly stood on all fours.
“Who’s there?” Steele demanded. “Whoever it is, you’re a dead dog!”
Hearing this, 星, 星级 collapsed to the floor, put his paws over his eyes, and began to tremble.
Steele then walked around the corner, where he saw the little husky. He then grinned, knowing that this would be an easy target. Steele ran over and forced 星, 星级 against a 墙 with his paws on Star’s chest. 星, 星级 gave his trademark embarrassed grin.
“Ok runt….” Steele growled at the helpless husky. “You better say your prayers.”
星, 星级 gulped, and knowing this would probably be the end, he did just that.
“Dear Lord,” 星, 星级 prayed, his eyes closed and still trembling with fear. “Pppleaase let this be painless, please be with Dixie when I am gone, and pppplease be with Steele because he is really not a bad dog….”
Just then, a miracle happened; Steele released his grip on Star. Feeling the paws off his chest, 星, 星级 opened his eyes just long enough to see why his life was spared; he didn’t believe what he saw. Steele was on the floor, his paws over his eyes, crying like a puppy. 星, 星级 walked up to the malamute, and tapped him with his paw.
“Wwwhat’s wring Steele?” 星, 星级 managed to say, still afraid the malamute might turn on him any minute.
“Nobody has ever prayed for me.” Steele whined. “Everybody hates me since I…I…”
星, 星级 knew what he what he was trying to say.
“I don’t hate 你 Steele.” 星, 星级 replied, trying to comfort the malamute that was 由 now looking even 更多 undignified than before.
“You don’t?” Steele whimpered.
“I never have. I was just afraid 你 might hurt me. I don’t like being hit on the head; it hurts.”
Just then, Steele threw his front paws around 星, 星级 and hugged him; startling the husky as this was quite out of character for Steele.
“I did not mean to be so cruel.” Steele continued to whimper. “I just was afraid of losing attention. I hate being alone. Can 你 ever forgive me?”
“Yes, I forgive 你 Steele.” 星, 星级 replied. “And one 更多 thing….”
“Yes?”
“Could 你 not squeeze so tight? I can’t breath.”
“Oh! Of course! Sorry.” Steele 说 as he released 星, 星级 from the 熊 hug; 或者 so that is how it felt to the smaller husky.
“Hey! I got it!” 星, 星级 exclaimed to a bewildered Steele.
“What?” Steele inquired.
“The biggest headache.” 星, 星级 moaned.
Steele frowned, obviously disappointed.
“Now I remember!” 星, 星级 continued. “Maybe if 你 apologize to Balto and the rest of the dogs, they will be your 老友记 again.”
“Really?” Steele asked.
“Yes. I will help you. If they see that I am around 你 and not afraid, they will know 你 have changed.”
“Just one 更多 thing, Star.”
“What is it Steele?”
“Can we keep the crying thing between the two of us?” Steele 说 with a slightly embarrassed look. “It would really be bad if the other 狗 found out.”
“Oh. Don’t worry; I won’t tell.” 星, 星级 replied. “No one listens to me anyways. I always end up getting hit on the head.”
“Thanks.” The grateful malamute said.
“Just one last thing Steele.”
“You name it buddy.”
“How are we going to get out of here?”
Steele walked up to the door that leads out of the room. The door was locked. 星, 星级 walked up beside Steele. Steele then took 6 paces back.
“You may want to stand back.” Steele advised Star.
星, 星级 wisely took 10 steps back, and watched Steele charge the locked door.
CRASH!!!!!!
Steele knocked the door right off its hinges.
“You can come out now Star.” Steele told his friend.
星, 星级 quickly padded through the unhinged door and walked up beside Steele. They were free.
BONK II
星, 星级 and Steele were quietly padding on the snow.
“Steele,” 星, 星级 told the malamute. “I think we should go ahead and talk with Balto first.”
“Ok. But remember to keep that thing between the two of us.”
“What thing?”
“You know, the crying thing.” Steele growled.
“Oh! Heh heh!” 星, 星级 laughed nervously. “It’s just between the two of us.”
“Besides; it was really below my dignity.” Steele remarked with an arrogant look his face.
They approached Rosie’s house, and heard Balto and Jenna behind the house.
“I better go first.” 星, 星级 told Steele as he padded around back in his normal cheerful gait.
Balto and Jenna were having a snow fight. Balto was maneuvering back and forth, while Jenna was getting ready to take a shot at him.
“Bet 你 can’t hit me Jenna.” Balto joked. “I’m too fast…oomph.”
Just then Balto received the lump of snow that Jenna flung at him with her paw, right in the face.
“I think 你 spoke too soon.” Jenna laughed.
“Hey! No fair!” Balto protested. “I was not ready.”
They both ended up laughing and Balto went up and nuzzled Jenna. Just then 星, 星级 came into view.
“Hey Balto!” The small husky said.
“Hey Star!” Balto replied. “What’s up?”
“I got someone who would like to see you.” 星, 星级 answered. He turned his head to the direction he came from. “You can come out now!”
Balto then saw a very familiar malamute come into view. He growled at his former (or soon to be former) nemesis.
“Whoa Balto!” 星, 星级 intervened. “He only wants to apologize.”
“He would never apologize to me.” Balto growled.
Steele sat in front of Balto and stared at the ground.
“Balto,” Steele began apologize. “I really treated 你 unfairly and all, and I shouldn’t of acted the way I did. I was too caught up in being a glory hound that I really let it all go to my head. What I am really trying to say is I am s…..ssoo…”
“Go on.” 星, 星级 encouraged. “Go on and say it.”
“I….am…ssooo…rryy.” Steele managed to squeeze his sentence 由 his pride. “I am sorry.”
Balto looked at Steele.
“It takes a real dog to admit when he is wrong.” Balto exclaimed. “I think 你 have really changed Steele. I would like to have 你 on the team again.”
“Really?” Steele looked up and asked Balto.
“If it’s alright with you.”
“I would be honored for 你 to take me back.”
“Welcome back Steele.”
分钟 later two canines who had been rivals for life were suddenly behaving like they had been best 老友记 for life. Seeing this, 星, 星级 ran off to tell Kaltag and Nikki.
BONK III
“You what!?!” Kaltag yelled at the small husky, who now how that nervous grin on his face again. “I ought to bonk 你 on the head!”
“Let me finish, Kaltag!” 星, 星级 interjected. “He apologized to Balto. He has changed.”
“Yeah right.” Nikki disagreed. “I think youse got too many bonks on the head, dere.”
“Hey, Nikki.” Kaltag schemed. “Why don’t we make a little bet?”
“Yeah.” Nikki agreed. “5 识骨寻踪 says Steele never apologized to Balto.”
“Same.” Kaltag concurred. “Do 你 accept the bet, Star?”
“Uh, sure.” 星, 星级 consented. “But I warned 你 guys.”
“You warned us. Heh heh.” Kaltag laughed. “That’s funny.”
Kaltag and Nikki followed 星, 星级 over to Balto’s place; where Balto and Steele were out back talking. 星, 星级 was the first one around the corner, and the Kaltag and Nikki. Both Kaltag’s and Nikki’s jaws dropped and there eyes became as wide as frying pans at the sight of the two former enemies joking around.
“But…but..how…What’s going on here???” Kaltag stuttered.
Steele and Balto looked over at the two baffled dogs.
“You know,” Steele 说 to Kaltag. “I never knew what a good lead dog Balto could make. Once I realized I was….uh…wrong, I apologized and got to know him. I just wish I had done this sooner.”
星, 星级 looked up at Kaltag and Nikki with a big grin on his face.
“I warned you. Now 你 owe me 5 识骨寻踪 a piece.” 星, 星级 gloated.
“Why you….” Kaltag growled. “I should bonk 你 on the head….”
“No Kaltag.” Nikki intervened. “He’s right, dere. He won fair and square.”
“Uhhhhhh.” Kaltag groaned. “You’re right. We will pay up later. I still can not believe it.”
Kaltag walked up to Steele.
“Hey Steele.” He greeted the former lead dog. “You must have had to 吞, 燕子 a lot of pride to admit 你 were wrong. You’re not a bad dog after all.”
“Yeah, Kaltag.” Steele agreed. “Just don’t rub it in. A dog has to have his dignity, 你 know.”
“Yeah,” Kaltag chuckled. “I can understand that.”
Kaltag’s ears perked up as he picked up a loud buzzing sound in the distance.
“Hey,” Kaltag exclaimed. “Does anyone else hear that?”
Before any of the 狗 had time to answer, the noise became louder as it approached. The large red object screeched across the sky at no 更多 than 150 feet above the dog’s head.
“Was that a bird?” Nikki asked.
“It would be the biggest bird that I had ever seen.” Kaltag answered.
“And the loudest one too!” 星, 星级 added.
Kaltag lifted his paw to bonk 星, 星级 on the head, but before he got a chance, the object came back. This time it was only at 50 feet and the buzz was 更多 of a roar, as it passed over the 狗 head with a huge gust of air.
“Hey,” Kaltag barked. “I though I saw a human in that thing.”
“It must be a machine then.” 星, 星级 proudly said.
“What was your first clue?” Kaltag growled at Star.
“Knock it off, Kaltag.” Balto intervened. “Maybe we should find out 更多 about….”
The roar became louder as this time the object lined up for another pass.
“Here it comes again!” Kaltag exclaimed. “Get your heads down!”
All the 狗 ducked as this time the object passed at only 70 feet, doing a barrel roll, and only missing the tallest building 由 a mere 5 feet. The object then pulled up into a near vertical climb and began doing an immelman.
“That’s the most astounding, the most breathtaking, the most stupendous,” Kaltag began to rant.
“That’s cool!” 星, 星级 added.
Kaltag reached up his paw to bonk 星, 星级 on the head, but then felt something grab his paw. It was Steele.
“That’s enough, Kaltag.” Steele said. “He is entitled to his opinion as well.”
The red object, then pulled an inversion and lined itself up level and began to slow down 由 pulling s-curves. At about 30 feet off the ground it slowly sat down on a flat piece of land, slowly coming to a stop on the outskirts of town. A spinning 支持 then began to slow down and finally come to a stop. Now it was quite evident what it was. The 狗 and a good amount of the townsfolk came running up to the object.
“Two wings, a propeller, and a tail; that must be a biplane.” Kaltag exclaimed.
A man climbed out of the plane, followed 由 a black and white husky.
“Hello, citizens of….” The man said.
“Nome.” One of the people in the crowd said. “This is Nome.”
“Oh, yes. Nome.” The man continued. “I am Captain ‘Wrong Way’ Williams and this is my Breguet Model 19 biplane. I will be staying here for a while because I have no idea where I am and am loving it.”
The black and white husky beside him then barked a cheerful bark.
“Oh.” Wrong Way added. “And this is my dogs, Shadow, who will be staying as well.
The pilot walked off into the crowd being followed 由 a lot of intrigued people. The new husky then ran off looking for other dogs. He then found Balto and his group.
“Hi!” 星, 星级 exclaimed.
“Hi!” The new dog greeted. “My name is Shadow. What’s yours?”
“I’m Star.” 星, 星级 said.
“My name is Kaltag. Nice to meet you.” Kaltag added.
“I am Nikki.” Nikki said.
“I’m Steele.” Steel greeted.
“I am Balto.” Balto said.
“Glad to meet all of you.” Shadow barked. He had a hyperactive and somewhat comical appearance, much like 星, 星级 does.
The five 狗 then began to 显示 Shadow the town.
BONK IV
“So where are 你 from?” Balto asked Shadow.
“Wrong Way has been traveling ever since I was a pup.” Shadow answered. “He has flown with me all over the world. I think he got his plane in France. He can pull some very nice stunts in it.”
“Nice?” Kaltag exclaimed. “They were the most exhilarating, the most heart-stopping, the most spectacular…..”
“They were cool!” Shadow added.
Hearing an interruption in his ranting, Kaltag knocked Shadow on the head, and Shadow passed out. He then realized who he hit.
“Oops!” Kaltag apologized. “Sorry Shadow. I was used to hitting Star. I guess it has become a habit now.”
星, 星级 then broke out in maniacal laughter, rolling around and clutching his stomach.
“What’s up with Star?” Kaltag asked.
“Well, Kaltag,” Balto explained. “If 你 had been paying attention; 你 hit someone other than 星, 星级 this time. That is funny; especially to Star.”
“I never though of it that way.” Kaltag answered.
Star’s laughter slowly died down and he began to get up.
“I think I busted a gut.” 星, 星级 said.
Then Shadow woke up.
“What happened?” a bewildered Shadow asked.
Everyone was looking at Kaltag, who had the first digit of his paw over his mouth in a ‘shhhhhh’ gesture. The other 狗 caught on quickly.
“Nothing happened.” Balto quickly answered. “You must have passed out.”
All the 狗 except Shadow let out a muffled giggle.
“Are 你 going to be here long?” 星, 星级 asked Shadow.
“I think so.” Shadow answered. “We are 迷失 and Wrong Way couldn’t find a 狐狸 in a hen house. He will probably find a job here anyways.”
All the 狗 laughed at the last comment.
“Hey.” Balto exclaimed. “Tomorrow there will be a supply run to the town of Paluva.”
“Gesundheit.” Kaltag joked.
“Hey!” Balto objected. “I didn’t sneeze.”
“I was just joking.” Kaltag explained. “Go on.”
“It is about a 200 mile trip there.” Balto continued. “Since Steele is back, we could have him 加入 the team. And possibly Shadow could come along as well. That is, if it is ok with them.”
“It would be a pleasure, Balto.” Steele answered.
“I’m in!” Shadow agreed.
“Good.” Balto said. “Then it will be me, Steele, Kaltag, Nikki, Star, and Shadow. 你 may be the lead dog if 你 like, Steele.”
“Don’t temp me, Balto.” Steele answered. “I have already 迷失 that privilege.”
“I think we can make an exception since 你 have changed.” Balto replied.
“I guess if 你 insist.” Steele said. Thanks, Balto.”
“You’re always welcome.” Balto said. “Then we will leave early 下一个 morning. Every dog needs to be ready 由 then. Now we should all go 首页 and get some sleep.”
All the 狗 went to their respective homes to get some sleep for the journey that lay ahead.
BONK V
The 下一个 日 the 狗 were getting ready for the sled journey. The sled was already out, and most of the 狗 were hooked up to the harnesses. Steele was already in the lead dog position, the 太空 directly behind him was unoccupied, 星, 星级 was behind the empty space, Shadow was behind Star, Kaltag was behind Shadow, and Nikki was behind Kaltag. The sled was loaded with only basic supplies to get them to Paluva and still have room to bring back the shipment from the destination (which none of the 狗 knew what was). The only ones missing were Balto and the musher.
“Where is Balto?” Steele questioned. “We are not leaving without him.”
星, 星级 looked around and saw something familiar padded their way.
“Here comes Balto, here comes Balto, right down Balto Lane.” 星, 星级 joked.
Kaltag looked at 星, 星级 and 星, 星级 gave his trademark smile of embarrassment to him.
“Sorry guys.” Balto 说 as he ran up to his harness. “Had to say goodbye to Jenna.”
“That’s ok, Balto.” Steele answered. “Know we just have to wait for the musher.”
A man wearing full winter clothing and carrying a Browning Automatic 步枪 (BAR; a portable light machine gun invented during WWI, like an assault 步枪 with full size 步枪 ammunition) and having a Thompson Submachine gun with 50 round drum clip (a new invention at that time) strapped to his back, as well as a 小马, 柯尔特 1911A1 .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol in a military flap 皮套 clipped to his belt. Steele glanced back at the heavily armed musher.
“What are we transporting Balto?” Steele asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe we are going to rob Fort Knox.” Balto joked.
“We have the firepower to do it.” Kaltag added.
The musher also put a Winchester 泵 action trench shotgun in the sled, secured the BAR and its extra ammo, and kept the Thompson strapped to his back.
“I think we are about to leave.” Steele said. “Everyone; get ready.”
The musher then took hold of the leads and told the 狗 to mush. They were now off to Paluva.
BONK VI
The team was well along there way to Paluva. The musher, who went 由 the name of Ingram, looked at his pocket watch.
“I see we are making good time.” Ingram said. “Very good.”
The sled team was going up a shallow grade in a wooded forest area. Balto sniffed the air.
“Steel,” Balto said. “Do 你 smell that?”
‘Smell what?” Steele asked.
“That smell.” Balto replied.
“Wait,” Steele answered. “I think it smells like some kind of animal. A large animal.”
“I think your right.” Balto agreed. “It may be a grizzly.”
“A grizzly???” 星, 星级 说 in a very nervous voice.
Seeing the 狗 slow down and sniff the air, Ingram knew that something must be wrong.
“What’s the matter, mates?” Ingram asked his team.
Steele responded with a low growl.
“Sounds like trouble, then.” Ingram said, as he unhooked the BAR from its mount on the sled, cocked the receiver, and put the cyclic rate on full auto (as opposed to semi auto).
Ingram scanned the trees with the BAR firmly against his shoulder in the ready position. A deep growl was heard from somewhere in the woods.
“Sounds like a grizzly.” Ingram said. “A mean booger at that.”
The growl became a lot louder, then a large brown grizzly ran out of the woods. The 熊 got 25 feet from the sled team and stood on its hind legs, letting out a tremendous roar. Ingram fired a burst of rounds across the bear’s path, kicking up snow as the bullets hit the ground. The bear, deciding that this was an animal not to be messed with, turned back and retreated into the woods.
“Best not to hurt the booger; just scare him off.” Ingram 说 as he stowed the BAR back on the sled with its safety on. “After all, they have families to feed too 你 know.”
Ingram turned to his dogs.
“Good work Balto and Steele.” He complemented them. “Very well done.”
Balto and Steele smiled, and then Ingram grabbed the leads and they were off again.
Several hours later, it was nearing noon. The sun was now well up over the trees. Ingram looked at his pocket watch and decided it was time to feed the dogs. He signaled for the 狗 to stop.
Coming to a complete stop, Ingram dismounts from the sled and opens a bag of meat from the sled. He gives each of the 狗 a piece of meat and begins to eat some jerky himself.
Balto looked up at Steele in front of him.
“Hey Steele,” Balto 说 in between bites. “What really caused your change in attitude?”
“I already told you.” The malamute answered. “I realized I was wrong.”
“Besides that.”
“Well, my owner was also really mad about me abandoning the sled team.”
“I would think so. Go on.”
“He was also ready to shoot me. That is why I went into hiding.”
“He was going to shoot you? But he didn’t. Why?”
“I am getting to that. When I was hiding, being all 由 myself, I got to thinking. No offense, Balto, but at first I tried to tell myself everything was your fault.”
“None taken. Continue, please.”
“But after a while, I realized that what happened was my doing. So I stayed in that basement depressed and er…”
“It’s ok. 你 don’t have to say it.”
“Anyways, 由 some luck 星, 星级 found me, and convinced me to change my ways. Some how something he 说 seemed to change me unexplainably. I think it was when he prayed.”
“A miracle?”
“Something like that. It was like a part of me died. I am a new dog. A better dog. Some habits do die hard, so I am sorry if I still brag at times.”
“It’s ok Steele. Just to see 你 have changed for the better makes everyone like 你 even 更多 then they did before 你 changed.”
“I noticed. Thank 你 Balto.”
星, 星级 was eating his meat 下一个 to Shadow. Kaltag was and Nikki were eating their meat as well.
“This is the most delicious, the most succulent, the most appetizing, the most savory,” Kaltag began to rant. “The most scrumptious, the most tasteful….”
“This is good!” 星, 星级 added.
Kaltag growled and went up to 星, 星级 to bonk him on the head, but instead got smacked over the noggin 由 Balto. Kaltag fell face first in the snow.
“Why did 你 do that?” Kaltag inquired, spitting out a mouthful of snow.
“Because 你 should not be hitting Star.” Balto 说 sternly. “Are 你 trying to give him brain damage?”
“I think hes already got brain damage, dere.” Nikki chuckled.
“Hey, Nikki,” Kaltag chuckled. “That’s a good one.”
星, 星级 showed his trademark grin of embarrassment again. Kaltag chuckled again and went back to his position.
“When are we going to go again?” Shadow 说 jumping up and down.
“Probably in a few moments.” Balto replied.
Ingram finished eating his jerky, and then took his position back on the sled.
“Alright, lads.” Ingram addressed the dogs. “Its time we be off again.”
All the 狗 got up and stood in the ready position. Ingram took hold of the leads.
“Mush!” Ingram instructed. “It’s a long way to Tipperary 你 know.”
The 狗 were off again, kicking up snow as they plowed over the white landscape. They were well over a quarter of the way to Paluva.
BONK VI
It was beginning to get dark. The setting sun was reflecting off of the white snow, causing a blinding glare.
“Whoa.” Ingram said. “We better slow down now. Don’t want to deviate off course.”
The team slowed down, taking a slower pace to avoid hitting anything because of snow blindness. The 狗 looked around while at the slower pace.
“This is the most incandescent, the most luminous, the most lustrous, the most radiant,” Kaltag began to rant. “The most shiny, the most lucent….”
“This is bright!” Shadow interrupted.
Kaltag growled at Shadow, giving him dirty look.
“What?” Shadow asked, not knowing that Kaltag hates to be interrupted.
“Maybe wes should dos something to pass the time, dere.” Nikki suggested. “Don’t want youse getting any 更多 angry, dere.”
“I guess I can recite a poem.” Kaltag replied, with a proud look on his face. “This is one that Alexi the Russian 狼狗, 猎狼犬 taught me. I am not quite sure what it means, though. Well, here goes.
“The sons of the Prophet as valiant and bold,
And quite unaccustomed to fear;
And the bravest of all was a man, so I'm told
Called Abdullah Bulbul Amir.”
“What’s a prophet?” Shadow asked, followed 由 a growl from Kaltag.
“It’s someone who predicts the future.” Balto quickly replied. “Please continue, Kaltag”
“As I was saying,” Kaltag continued.
“When they wanted a man to encourage the van,
或者 harass the foe from the rear,
Storm fort 或者 redoubt, they were sure to call out
For Abdullah Bulbul Amir.
There are 超能英雄 in plenty, and well known to fame,
In the legions that fight for the Czar;
But none of such fame as the man 由 the name
Of Ivan Petrovsky Skovar.”
“What’s a Czar?” Shadow once again interrupted.
“It’s a Russian king! Ok?” Kaltag snapped. “Now back to the poem….
“He could imitate Irving, tell fortunes 由 cards,
And play on the Spanish guitar;
In fact, quite the cream of the Muscovite guards,
Was Ivan Petrovsky Skovar.
One 日 this bold Muscovite shouldered his gun,
Put on his most cynical sneer,
And was walking downtown when he happened to run
Into Abdullah Bulbul Amir.”
“What’s a Muscovite?” Shadow inquired.
“It’s a resident of Moscow!” Kaltag roared. “Now, without further delay…..
"Young man," say Bulbul, "is existence so dull
That you're anxious to end your career?
Then, infidel, know 你 have trod on the toe
Of Abdullah Bulbul Amir.
"So take your last look at the sea, sky and brook,
Make your latest 报道 on the war;
For I mean to imply that 你 are going to die,
O Ivan Petrovsky Skovar."
So this fierce man he took his trusty chibouk,
and murmuring "Allah Akbar!"
With murder intent he most savagely went
For Ivan Petrovsky Skovar.”
“What’s a chibouk?” Shadow again asked.
“It’s a type of tobacco pipe!!!” Kaltag yelled. “Moving along….
“The Sultan rose up, the disturbance to quell
Likewise, give the victor a cheer.
He arrived just in time to bid hasty farewell
To Abdullah Bulbul Amir.”
Shadow was about to open his mouth again when it was quickly held shut 由 Star’s front paws, as 星, 星级 shushed Shadow. Kaltag then continued.
“A loud-sounding splash from the Danube was heard
Resounding o'er meadows afar;
It came from the sack fitting close to the back
Of Ivan Petrovsky Skovar.
There lieth a stone where the Danube doth roll,
And on it in characters queer
Are "Stranger, when passing by, pray for the soul
Of Abdullah Bulbul Amir."
A Muscovite maiden her vigil doth keep
由 the light of the pale northern star,
And the name she repeats every night in her sleep
Is Ivan Petrovsky Skovar.”
“That is how he taught it to me.” Kaltag 说 proudly. “Do 你 think I did a well job reciting it?”
“Reciting what?” Shadow asked.
Kaltag growled and stared daggers at Shadow, but Balto quickly interrupted.
“You did a very good job, Kaltag.” Balto said, trying to prevent another brawl.
The sun was nearly all the way down. Ingram lit a couple of lantern headlights.
“Alright now.” Ingram said. We can pick up the pace now. We will rest when we get to Paluva.”
The team began plowing through the snow at a much quicker pace, now well over half the way to Paluva.
BONK VII
It was now sunrise and the team was only about 30 miles from Paluva.
“Good.” Ingram observed. “We should make it 由 lunch time, now.”
Steele looked back at Balto.
“Hey Balto.” Steele said. “Do 你 remember when I fell off that cliff?”
“Yeah.” Balto replied. “That must have hurt, were 你 ok?”
“Yeah. But I was mad as heck at you.”
“I remember. 你 messed up all the trees I marked.”
“Yeah…I’m sorry about that. I was just too much of a…..”
“You mean an idiot?” 星, 星级 yipped out.
“Don’t help me!” Steele growled back at Star.
“Nyaaah!” 星, 星级 whimpered, 展示 a very nervous smile. “Sorry! Please don’t hit me!”
“I’m not going to hit you, Star.” Steele replied. “That Steele is dead. I am a changed dog now.”
“We are all glad 你 changed, Steele.” Balto said. “Now most of the 狗 have welcomed 你 back. Although some of them may never forgive you.”
“That is my fault.” Steele replied. “I was being too much of a bully to realize what I was doing. At the time I got attention and that is all I cared about.”
The 狗 continued at the brisk pace, kicking up snow as they proceeded through the white terrain.
About 5 hours later, the team could 说 the outline of building in the distant horizon.
“Land ho!” Ingram shouted. “Or in this case; town ho.”
“We are almost there, Balto.” Steele said.
“Yes, this has been a somewhat long trip.” Balto replied.
“Yeah,” Kaltag began another rant. “This is a drawn out, lengthy, prolonged, elongated, extended….”
“It has taken a long time?” Shadow asked.
“Are 你 trying to get us both bonked?” 星, 星级 growled at Shadow.
Shadow let out a nervous laugh. They were approaching the outskirts of Paluva.
BONK VIII
The team is pulling into the Paluva town limits. They see the bustle of people and 狗 going about their everyday business. Ingram guides the sled towards one of the largest buildings in town. It is a large 3 story building made of stone and wood. There are no windows in the building except for the third floor. The structure has a few normal sized doors, as well as several large warehouse sized door. There is 8 foot wooden 墙 surrounding the structure with a large gate and gatehouse in the very front. Two guards carrying BARs stand outside the gatehouse. Ingram stops the sled in front of the complex.
“Good day.” Ingram greeted the guards.
“You must be Ingram.” One of the guards said.
“I am he.” Ingram replied.
“It’s ok!” The guard shouted back to another man behind the gate carrying a Springfield ’03 bolt action rifle. “Open the gate!”
The wooden gate then began to open. When it was fully open, the guard motioned for the team to pass.
“You may enter.” The guard said.
The team pulled into the gate and saw one of the warehouse doors open. Another man motioned for them to pull in. The team did so and they were in the complex.
“You may let loose your 狗 here.” The man said. “I am Evans. 你 can stay in here for the night until it is time to take the cargo back to Nome tomorrow.”
“Thank 你 very much.” Ingram 说 as he unhooked the 狗 from the sled.
Now free from the sled, all the 狗 begin to wonder off in the building. Ingram followed Evans to another room in the complex.
星, 星级 saw an open door at one side of the room they entered. He ran towards it and through it, until he got to a fork in the corridor and he abruptly stopped. When 星, 星级 stopped he was hit 由 something from behind which cause him to 拍击, smack, 味道 into a wall.
“Nyaaahoooooooo!” 星, 星级 screamed as he thudded into the wall. He looked around and saw a familiar black and white husky who had smacked into the 墙 after him. It was Shadow. 星, 星级 got up and looked at Shadow, still feeling woozy from his encounter with the wall.
“Hey!” 星, 星级 exclaimed. “Why did 你 do that?”
“I was following 你 and suddenly I ran into you.” Shadow exclaimed.
“Well, let’s just go.” 星, 星级 said. “I’m hungry and want to find food.
星, 星级 and Shadow took a right down the corridor and walked at a fast pace instead of running this time.
Meanwhile, Balto, Steele, Nikki, and Kaltag had wondered down another hall. They got to a staircase.
“I wonder what is up there?” Steele asked.
“Only one way to find out.” Balto replied as he went up the stairs. The others then followed him.
In another part of the complex, 星, 星级 and Shadow had also found a staircase. The staircase was very dark because there were no lights.
“I am going to go up there.” 星, 星级 说 to Shadow.
星, 星级 started going up the staircase and Shadow followed. When the two 狗 got far enough up the staircase that neither dog could see anything, Shadow decided to play a joke on Star.
“Boo!” Shadow 说 as he pulled Star’s tail with his mouth.
星, 星级 let out a scream as he jumped 3 feet up into the air. Unfortunately when 星, 星级 came down, he 迷失 his footing and began falling down the stairs.
“OUCH! OHH! YIP! UNH! WHOOPEE!”
Shadow raced down the stairs and found 星, 星级 laying flat on the floor with his legs spread out and his eyes half open; his irises both spinning and his tongue hanging out of his mouth.
“Star! Wake up Star!” Shadow 说 as he nudged his friend. “Are 你 ok? Speak to me!”
“No, Mommy; I don’t want to go out and play today.” 星, 星级 muttered, still dazed from his tumble down the stairs.
“Snap out of it Star!” Shadow pleaded, bonking 星, 星级 on the head.
“Ouch!” 星, 星级 cried, finally coming to his senses. “That hurt!”
“I’m sorry Star. I really am.”
“You are almost as bad as Kaltag!”
“Star, please….”
“No. 你 are even worse than Kaltag!”
“But…Star…I though we were friends…” Shadow whimpered and began to cry.
星, 星级 saw this and changed from being angry to sad.
“No, Shadow.” 星, 星级 said. “I didn’t mean it….”
Shadow then took off running up the stairs as fast as he could, still crying.
“Shadow!” 星, 星级 pleaded. “Come back! I’m sorry!”
But the husky just kept going and soon was far out of sight. 星, 星级 then began to walk up the staircase.
Balto and the other three 狗 were now up the staircase and navigating through a dark room.
“It sure is dark in here.” Steele remarked.
“It’s the most murky, the most dusky, the most obscure,” Kaltag began to rant. “The most dim, the most dismal……”
SMACK!!!!!
“Shut up Kaltag!” Steele growled, removing his paw from Kaltag’s face. “You are not helping things.”
Balto stared at Steele with a look of dismay.
“I’m sorry Balto.” Steele apologized. “Some habits die hard. Unfortunately my temper is one of them. I will try to control my temper better in the future.”
“That’s ok.” Balto replied. “We all make mistakes.”
The 狗 kept moving forward, not being able to see a thing. They started to hear some fast paced thumping noises. The 下一个 thing the 狗 knew, something hit them and they were all in a dog pile.
AHHHHHHHHHHHH!
“Did anyone get the license of that locomotive?” Kaltag asked, lying on 最佳, 返回页首 of Balto and under Steele, who had Nikki on 最佳, 返回页首 of him.
“That locomotive had a very familiar scream…” Balto said.
Nyaaaayaaaaaaaaaaaa……
“Star? Is that you?” Steele asked.
“Owww.” The voice replied in a half conscious manner. “Why did 你 bonk me on the head, Kaltag? I did not say anything stupid this time.”
“I didn’t bonk 你 on the head. 星, 星级 was not here to….” Kaltag said, suddenly realizing who the voice belonged to. “Star! Its you!”
“Oh, hi Kaltag.” 星, 星级 replied. “I think I have a concussion…”
“Why were 你 in such a hurry, Star?” Balto asked, unsuccessfully trying to pull himself out from under Kaltag.
“I don’t remember.” 星, 星级 replied. “I have a headache now.”
“Uhhh..Kaltag.” Balto said. “Can 你 please get off of me now?”
“I wish I could.” Kaltag replied. “But someone is on 最佳, 返回页首 of me. No offense Steele but 你 way a ton! Would 你 mind climbing off of me?”
“Hey!” The malamute growled. “I will have 你 know that is all muscle. And for me to get off of you, Nikki has to get off of me first. Nikki. Can 你 get off of us now?”
They heard a loud snoring sound.
“Oh, great.” Kaltag moaned. “Nikki has fallen asleep. 由 the time he wakes up I will have all my ribs crushed. I can’t get enough air in my lungs to shout. Would 你 do the honor for me, Steele?”
“It would be a pleasure.” Steele snarled. “NIKKI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
THUD!!!!!!!
The chow jumped up and fell to the floor.
“Hey.” Nikki said. “Did youse call boss?”
“Yeah, I did.” Steele 说 as he pulled himself off of Kaltag.
“Finally!” Kaltag sighed in relief. “Now I can breath.”
“Would 你 mind getting off of me now?” Balto said, still under the Chinook.
“Oh!” Kaltag exclaimed as crawled off the wolfdog. “Sorry Balto! I forgot.”
“Hey, it’s alright. It could happen to anyone.” Balto 说 as he got up on all fours. “Star? Where are you?”
“Balto?” 星, 星级 说 in a frightened voice. “It is dark in here! I can not see where anyone is!”
“I am right here Star.” Balto 说 as he tapped the small husky on the shoulder.
“AHHHHH!” 星, 星级 screamed from fright. “Don’t do that!”
“It’s ok.” Balto replied. “We are all here. Wait…..where is Shadow?”
“Now I remember what I came to tell you!” 星, 星级 exclaimed. “Shadow ran off!”
“What? Why?”
“Well…..We were going up a dark staircase and he decided to scare me, and I fell down the stairs and hit my head. I then snapped at him and 说 he was worse than Kaltag…”
“Hey!” Kaltag exclaimed. “I ought to bonk 你 on the head…..”
“Shut up! This is one time that he is telling something important!” Steele growled. “Go on and finish Star.”
“Anyways,” 星, 星级 continued. “I think I really hurt his feelings and when I tried to apologize he ran off crying. I tried to catch up with him but he got too far off and I 迷失 him.”
“This could be serious.” Balto said. “We need to find him.”
“I’m sorry Balto.” 星, 星级 whimpered. “It is all my fault….”
“It’s alright Star.” Balto comforted the small husky. “It is not your fault. Things like this sometimes just happen. We can all go and look for him. I will try to get his scent.”
Balto held his nose in the air to get a good whiff, and then motioned towards the other 狗 to follow him. They did so and the five 狗 went off into the darkness to find Shadow.
BONK IX
The five 狗 were walking down the dark hallways looking for Shadow.
“Shadow!” 星, 星级 yelled. “I’m sorry! Come back!”
There was no reply.
“Now I have 迷失 my best and probably only friend.” 星, 星级 whimpered.
"He who has a thousand 老友记 has not a friend to spare, And he who has one
enemy will meet him everywhere." Kaltag said.
“What does that mean?” 星, 星级 asked the Chinook.
“It was a quote from Ali ibn-Abi-Talib.” Kaltag answered. “It means that one can not lose any friends, and when one makes an enemy he will always run into him.”
“We are all your 老友记 Star.” Balto said.
“Thanks, Balto.” 星, 星级 replied. “I hope we find Shadow soon.”
“I am sure we will.” Balto replied as he sniffed the air again. “Come on; this way.”
The 狗 kept going through the dark rooms and then spotted a light at the end of one of the corridors, where the luminosity gently bounced off the corridor making a distinct but gradual contrast between lightness and darkness.
“The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.” Balto remarked. “Let’s go check it out.”
As the 狗 began to walk over to the light, one of Kaltag’s paws got snagged on a loose floor and the Chinook fell flat on his face in a most ungraceful manner. All the other 狗 quickly looked at him.
“Oh, 你 fall down.” 星, 星级 说 in a childish voice.
“Its not funny, Star!” Kaltag 说 getting up. “Now my paw hurts.”
“Maybe now 你 know how 星, 星级 feels when 你 bonk him on the head.” Steele taunted the Chinook.
“That’s different!” Kaltag 说 as he began to rant. “Star is the most annoying, the most bothersome, the most irritating, the most galling, the most vexatious, the most troublesome…..”
星, 星级 then broke out in tears. No Kaltag was annoying Steele.
“Can 你 be nice just this one time???” Steele roared. “You are beginning to get on my bad side! Do 你 remember my bad side???”
“No, of course not Steele.” Kaltag replied. “You know we have all been under a good deal of stress.”
“He’s right Steele.” Balto intervened. “We need to calm down before we are at each others throats.”
星, 星级 gave his traditional idiot/confused look.
“You’re right, Balto.” Steele 说 his expression turning normal. “We need to all come down before we do something foolish.”
Balto went up to 星, 星级 who was still crying and licked him.
“Its ok, Star.” Balto said. “He didn’t mean it. Let’s continue looking for Shadow.”
“Ok, Balto.” 星, 星级 说 meekly.
The five 狗 then quickly hurried down the corridor towards the light.
BONK X
When the five 狗 got to the end of the corridor, they saw a lighted room with some a staircase on the other side going up, and several mats on the floor apparently for sleeping on. There was a 火, 消防 place on the far left side of the room, apparently the 来源 of all the light. 由 the 火, 消防 place was a large black lab that raised his head when the five 狗 entered the room.
“Greetings.” The lab barked. “I am Abraham, but 你 may call me Abe. What brings 你 up here?”
“We are in 搜索 of a friend of ours.” Balto responded.
“Would that be the black and white husky that was here earlier?” Abe answered.
“Yeah, that’s him!” 星, 星级 说 excitedly. “Did 你 see where he went?”
“Up the stairs he went.” The lab answered. “Follow me.”
The lab went up the staircase followed 由 the other five dogs. When they got to the top, they were in a long hall that had a lot of doors on either side of the corridor.
“Where are we?” Balto inquired.
“This is the third floor.” Abe replied. “It is where the living quarters and the kitchens are. As well as any room that is not for warehouse storage.”
“Kitchen?” 星, 星级 asked. “Where is the 厨房 at?”
“This is not a good time to think about food!” Kaltag scolded.
“ME???” 星, 星级 burst out. “I think that is where Shadow may have gone.”
“Yeah, sure.” Kaltag 说 in a sarcastic tone. “Because 你 want 食物 he would just happen to be in the kitchen.”
“Me and Shadow were both looking for food!” 星, 星级 replied.
“The 厨房 is this way.” Abe interrupted, trying to avoid a fight.
The lab continued walking down the corridor and the rest of the 狗 followed.
They walked into a large room with several storage facilities and 食物 preparation facilities. There was a doorway on the other side. 星, 星级 padded up to the doorway.
“Shadow!” 星, 星级 exclaimed at his friend who was being fed a 牛扒, 牛排 in a dog bowl. “I have been worried sick about you!”
“Are 你 still mad at me?” Shadow whined.
“No. I am not.” 星, 星级 explained. “It was just a prank turned bad. I am not mad.”
“Do 你 still think I am as bad as Kaltag?”
“No! I had forgotten how bad Kaltag can be. 你 are not anywhere near as mean as he can be.”
“Do 你 want some of this steak?”
“Sure! Where did 你 get it from?”
“The man who runs the 厨房 feeds all the 狗 steaks if they have been stored too long. He can get us all steaks.”
“Sure!”
“Yes. I forgot to tell you.” Abe explained. “This is where all the 狗 and humans eat.”
Abe let out a bark and a man came in the room.
“Ahh.” The man said. “I see 你 brought friends. Let me get some 更多 steaks.”
The man came back with 5 更多 steaks and gave on to each one of the dogs.
BONK XI
The 狗 had finished the steaks. Kaltag sat up.
“That meal was the best,” The Chinook began to rant. “The crème de la crème, the superlative, the unsurpassed….”
“That was the best meal I ever had!” 星, 星级 added.
Kaltag raised his paw up.
“Nyaaiaaaiaiiiaa!” 星, 星级 whimpered.
Then unexpectedly Kaltag gave 星, 星级 a friendly pat on the back.
“I concur, Star.” Kaltag 说 patting the husky on the back. “I concur.”
“Huh?” 星, 星级 was at a loss. “You are not mad?”
“Nah. Why would I be?”
“Heh heh. Cause I interrupted?”
“No. 你 just 说 it so that Shadow could understand it.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Shadow said, staring at Kaltag.
“Nothing.” Kaltag chuckled. Nothing at all.”
Balto looked at the rest of the dogs, then at Abe.
“Now what, Abe?” Balto inquired.
“I suppose 你 are tired?” the lab answered.
“Kinda sorta.” Balto yawned.
“Right this way.”
Abe led the 狗 back down the hallway they came from to another hallway on the other side of the stairs. They then got to a room that had a wood floor and a furnace heater. It also had some old rugs on the floor.
“Here 你 are.” Abe said. “The room is all yours. Sleep well, 你 will have a long journey ahead of 你 when tomorrow comes.”
All the 狗 huddled near the center of the room, except for Steele, who went to lie down 由 the fireplace. Kaltag looked over at him with a grin.
“You’ll be sorry.” Kaltag 说 in a singsong voice.
“I am sure I will be alright.” Steele said. “Besides, it is warmer over here.”
Steele lied down on the floor besides the fireplace, while the other 狗 all huddled together. They soon fell asleep.
星, 星级 was sleeping when a muttering voice woke him up.
“The most dead centered…..on target….precise….” The voice muttered.
It was Kaltag, who was ranting in his sleep. 星, 星级 went over to Kaltag and tapped him on the shoulder. Kaltag woke up in a startled manner,
“What?...What?” Kaltag asked.
“Wake up and go back to sleep.” 星, 星级 said.
“I was asleep.” Kaltag growled.
“You were also ranting in your sleep.”
“I was? Oh, sorry. I will try not to do it again, but it is hard to control your action while 你 sleep.”
“Yeah. Let’s just get back to sleep.”
星, 星级 and Kaltag both went to sleep.
Steele was snoozing off 由 the warm fire. The 火, 消防 was kicking up several small specs of burning embers, which promptly floated in the air. A few of these embers decided to land on Steele’s furry tail. The malamute was fast asleep, unaware of how hot his tail was getting.
His tail then began to get hot enough to smoke. The malamute woke up slowly with a sleepy look.
“What’s burning?” Steele asked.
Steele looked back and discovered the 来源 of the smell; it was his tail.
ARWHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steele jumped up in a frenzy as his tail was red hot, This woke up all the other dogs.
“Hey!” Kaltag growled. “Where’s the fire?”
“It’s my tail that is on fire!” Steele screamed. “Help me put it out!”
Kaltag ran over and grabbed a small fireplace coal shovel in his mouth and went over to Steele.
“Now hold still, Steele.” Kaltag murmured with the shovel in his mouth.
Kaltag then smacked Steele’s tail until the 火, 消防 was out.
“OUCH!” Steele yelled. “Did 你 have to do it that hard???”
“Would 你 rather have had your tail burn?” Kaltag replied.
“No…But 你 still did it very rough!”
“No good deed goes unpunished….” Kaltag mumbled. “This time sleep with us instead of 由 the fireplace, ok?”
Steele nodded, mumbling under his breath, and followed Kaltag to 加入 the rest of the 狗 in sleep.
BONK XII
Daybreak came and the 狗 were still asleep. Then a knock came on the door. All the 狗 woke up as Ingram opened the door.
“It’s time to get this cargo back to Nome.” Ingram said, and then walked out.
“Morning…already?” Steele yawned.
“Well, if 你 had not slept 由 the fireplace 你 would have slept better.” Kaltag remarked. “And your tail would not be sore.”
“Why you…..”
“Steele.” Balto 说 sternly. “Lay off. We need to eat and get moving.”
The 狗 walked to the 厨房 where the same man gave them steaks. After the 狗 finished eating, the six of them went down to the first story where their sled was. Some men were 下载 something on the sled. From the looks of it, they must have had something heavy. It was in a 箱, 板条箱 and had no marking on it. After that was loaded, Ingram began to load the supplies needed for the trip back to Nome, as well as the 枪 he brought.
Abe walked into the room.
“Just wanted to see 你 off.” Abe said.
“Thank you.” Balto 说 as he took the lead position. Then Steele got behind Balto.
星, 星级 got into his position. Then Shadow bounded up to his position but slipped and fell on his face.
“Oh….” 星, 星级 said. “You fall down go boom.”
Shadow got up and gave a big smile, then got in his place. Kaltag got behind Shadow and Nikki behind Kaltag. Ingram walked towards the sled, when Evans walked up to him carrying something rather large in his arms.
“Goodness me.” Ingram said. “Is that for us?”
“You know how to operate your run of the mill mortar, right?” Evans asked.
“Certainly. Used to use them often.” Ingram replied.
“You may need it, do too the priority of the cargo 你 are transporting.”
“Of course.”
Ingram stowed the mortar gun on the sled, along with a case of mortar shells. He then put a sheet over the contents of the sled and got on the back of it. He grabbed the reins and told the 狗 to mush. The sled took off through the open door and through the open gate. They were off to Nome.
BONK XII
A good ways out of Paluva the team was going at a grueling pace. They though they heard something in the distance. Thinking it was nothing, the continued. They passed through a forest when suddenly there was a large explosion some 200 feet in front of them. Ingram promptly slowed the 狗 to a stop, as something large crashed through the trees, causing the ground to rumble like an earth quake. Ingram immediately recognized what it was.
“Goodness me.” Ingram remarked. “A German A7V. Haven’t seen one of those since the war.”
The massive 26 ton vehicle spun around, its tracks mangling snow and anything else under it, until it’s 57mm 大炮, 加农炮 was pointed towards the sled team. Then a voice came from inside the machine.
“Get your hands in the air.”
Ingram promptly complied. A man in a battlefield trench 涂层, 外套 and officer’s hat got out of the tank followed 由 17 others with Kar 98 rifles (a bolt action infantry 步枪 made 由 Mauser in 1898 and fires a box of 5 7.92mm rounds). The first man to get out, who was apparently a commander, went right beside Ingram. The other men followed.
“Did 你 not know that the war is over?” Ingram said.
“That’s very funny.” The commander said. “But vere not with the German army. We are what 你 would probably call a private army. Ve are here for your cargo. I am afraid ve must take 你 prisoner as well.”
“Would 你 be fair enough to let my 狗 go free? They really have nothing to do with this.” Ingram asked.
“You may let two of the hundes go.” The commander said. “That small grey husky and the black and white husky behind him may go. The rest must stay. Go unhook your hundes. And no funny business 或者 ve will kill all of your hundes.”
“Very well.” Ingram replied.
Ingram walked up 由 星, 星级 and bent over to unhook him. Why he was bent over he clipped something to Star’s running harness.
“Be a good sport and see that Wrong Way Williams gets this.” Ingram whispered. “He will know what to do with it.”
星, 星级 nodded as Ingram unhooked him. Then Ingram unhooked Shadow. Ingram then stood up.
“You know the way.” Ingram 说 to the two dogs. “Now go home.”
星, 星级 and Shadow ran as fast as they could towards Nome, leaping and bounding over the snow. They were the sled teams, and the mysterious cargo’s, only hope.
BONK XIII
星, 星级 and Shadow were running as fast as they could over the snow. Shadow was running directly to Star’s right. 星, 星级 looked over at Shadow.
“Shadow, I’m scared right now.” 星, 星级 whimpered. Will we ever make it?”
“I am scared as well.” Shadow replied. “Maybe if we sing something it will take our minds off of it.”
“Sing what?”
“A song that Wrong Way taught me from The War. It is called Belgium Put The Kibosh On The Kaiser.
A silly German sausage
Dreamt Napoleon he’d be,
Then he went and broke his promise,
It was made in Germany.
He shook hands with Britannia
And eternal peace he swore,
Naughty boy, he talked of peace
While he prepared for war.
He stirred up little Serbia
To serve his dirty tricks
But naughty nights at LiIge
Quite upset this Dirty Mick.
His luggage labeled ‘England’
And his programme nicely set,
He shouted ‘First stop Paris,’
But he hasn’t got there yet.
For Belgium put the kibosh in the Kaiser;
欧洲 took the stick and made him sore;
On his 王座, 宝座 it hurts to sit,
And when John 公牛 starts to hit,
He will never sit upon it any more.
His warships sailed upon the sea,
They looked a pretty sight
But when they heard the bulldog bark
They disappeared from sight.
The Kaiser 说 ‘Be Careful,
If 由 Jellico they’re seen,
Then every man-of-war I’ve got
Will be a submarine.’
We chased his ship to Turkey,
And the Kaiser startled stood,
Schratch’d his head and 说 ‘Don’t hurt,
你 see I’m touching wood;’
Then Turkey brought her warships
Just to aid the German plot,
Be careful, Mr. Turkey,
或者 you’ll do the Turkey Trot.
Belgium put the kibosh on the Kaiser;
欧洲 took the stick and made him sore;
And if Turkey makes a stand
She’ll get ghurka’d and japanned,
And it won't be Hoch the Kaiser any more.
He’ll have to go to school again
And learn his geography,
He quite forgot Britannia
And the hands across the sea,
Australia and Canada,
The Russian and the Jap,
And England looked so small
He couldn’t see her on the map.
Whilst Ireland seemed unsettled,
‘Ah’ 说 he ‘I’ll settle John,’
But he didn’t know the Irish
Like he knew them later on.
Though the Kaiser stirred the lion,
Please excuse him for the crime,
His lunatic attendant
Wasn’t with him at the time.
For Belgium put the kibosh on the Kaiser;
欧洲 took the stick and made him sore;
We shall shout with victory’s joy,
Hold your hand out, naughty boy,
你 must never play at soldiers any more
For Belgium put the kibosh on the Kaiser;
欧洲 took the stick and made him sore;
On his 王座, 宝座 it hurts to sit,
And when John 公牛 starts to hit,
He will never sit upon it any more
After Shadow finished the song, 星, 星级 looked puzzled.
“Who’s the Kaiser?” 星, 星级 inquired.
“It’s the man who started The War.” Shadow replied. “It is a song about how the Allies won The War.”
“Oh.” 星, 星级 said. “Hey! I really do feel better!”
“Told you. How much longer do 你 think we have to go?”
“It’s been what, four hours of running?”
“That sounds right. How much longer of a run do 你 think it is?”
“I don’t know. I am not a good tracker. If I try to take a shortcut I will get lost.”
“Me too. We better just run in a straight line, and hope we hit Nome soon.”
“Yeah.”
Star’s stomach growled; loud enough that Shadow could hear it as well.
“You’re hungry too?” Shadow asked.
“Yeah.” 星, 星级 replied. “We haven’t eaten since we left Paluva.”
“Bless you.” Shadow joked.
“He he he he…oooh.” 星, 星级 whined, as his sides began to hurt. “Please don’t make me laugh; I can not run if I am laughing.”
“Sorry.” Shadow apologized. “I was just trying to make us feel better.”
About four hours later, the two dog’s pace had begun to slow, as they grew exhausted from eight hours of nonstop running.
“I... (pant, pant)...need…. (pant, pant)…to….rest… (pant, pant)…Star.” Shadow struggled to say while panting from exhaustion.
“We… (pant, pant)…can’t stop… (pant, pant)…now, Shadow.” 星, 星级 managed to squeeze out while breathing heavily. “We must… (pant, pant)….get back so…. (pant, pant)….the team…. (pant, pant)…..can be rescued. They are our…. (pant, pant)…friends.”
“I…can’t…run anymore.” Shadow whined out as he plopped face first into the snow, coming to a fast stop.
“Shadow!” 星, 星级 cried, looking over his shoulder at his fallen friend.
星, 星级 slowed down and ran back towards Shadow. When he got 下一个 to Shadow he laid down 下一个 to him.
“Maybe we should rest.” 星, 星级 said, comforting his exhausted friend.
“I’m so cold.” Shadow whimpered.
“I know.” 星, 星级 said. “So am I. We will keep each other warm.”
星, 星级 looked up at the sky and saw that the sun was setting. It was beginning to get dark.
“We should rest for the night.” 星, 星级 told his friend. “We could get 迷失 in the dark. We will run for Nome when the sun comes up.”
Shadow nodded. 星, 星级 and Shadow both out their heads down and went to sleep. They would have a long run when the morning came.
BONK XIV
星, 星级 woke up to the warm rays of the sun. The first thing he knew he was awake, the 秒 thing he knew is he had not eaten in over a day. Shadow woke up to the growling of Star’s stomach, followed 由 the growling of his own stomach. Both 狗 stretched and got up on all fours.
“We better go now.” 星, 星级 told Shadow. “We need to get to Nome before we starve.”
Shadow nodded and both 狗 took off running as fast as they could, towards Nome. Over the glaring white snow they sprinted, not stopping for fear of losing their 老友记 as well as themselves. They kept up this pace for what seemed like ages. Neither dog knew exactly how long they had ran, but they knew it was longer than 8 hours.
As the afternoon grew near, the 狗 had still not slowed down. It now appeared to be only a couple of hours before sunset. Then they saw it.
“Look!” 星, 星级 exclaimed. “It’s Nome! I can see Nome! We are almost there!”
“Good.” Shadow replied. “I though we’d never make it.”
The 狗 ran full speed toward Nome. Both 狗 were normally skinny, but the hard long running for over a 日 with no 食物 took its toll on them. Both 狗 had exposed ribs from starvation, overworking, and exhaustion. Their slender profiles were just barely visible from the town borders.
星, 星级 and Shadow ran into the town limits.
“Quick, Shadow.” 星, 星级 said. “Help me find where your master lives. I do not know how much longer I can stay conscious.”
“Follow me.” Shadow replied, leading the way.
星, 星级 followed Shadow into town, around several buildings, and to a small Inn. They ran through the doggie door in the front and up the stairs. Shadow stopped in front of one of the doors in the upstairs hallway and started clawing at the door.
“Just a minute; I’m coming.” A voice came from inside.
The door opened; it was Wrong Way Williams. H
It was early morning in the town of Nome. The snow was falling and the slim 个人资料 of a grey husky, who had a slightly emancipated appearance, could be seen padding along the fresh snow. He rounded a corner, and went and sat in front of a closed basement window that only came 1 foot from the ground.
“I sure am hungry.” The husky, Star, spoke 说 to himself. “I wonder if there is anything left at the butcher’s.”
He was about to leave when he heard the faint, but unmistakable sound, of someone sobbing.
“I wonder who that is?” 星, 星级 说 as he turned around looking for the 来源 of the noise.
He 迷失 the sound when the sobbing stopped, but then he heard a crash, followed 由 更多 sobbing. 星, 星级 jumped when he heard the crash, the found the 来源 of the sobbing. It was coming from the window that he was sitting in front of.
星, 星级 turned around and pushed on the window with his paw. It would not budge. He pushed harder, and he still could not get it to open. He then threw the entire weight of his body against. He got it to open, but he also fell through the now open window. 星, 星级 screamed as he fell through, and then landed face first on the wooden floor 5 feet below.
“Oooh.” 星, 星级 moaned. “I got to work on those landings.”
Star, as he regained his balance, begun to look for the 来源 of the sobbing. Apparently whoever was doing the sobbing was oblivious to Star’s clumsy entrance.
星, 星级 poked his head around a corner to see the 来源 of the sobbing. About 15 feet away, was a large black and white malamute. He had a muscular build, blue eyes, and a large 领, 衣领 on. The malamute looked much undignified balling his eyes out, with his head down in his paws. The malamute picked up his head to look at a metal bucket to the side of him, and then smashed it with his paws, causing it to crash against the 墙 on the far side of the room. The malamute then put his head on his paws and continued to cry.
Realizing who it was, 星, 星级 quickly pulled himself back around the corner, not wanting to be seen.
“Oh no!” 星, 星级 whispered to himself. “That is Steele! If he sees me he might eat me for breakfast. I’ve got to get out of here.”
星, 星级 ran back to where he had landed and entered the room. He looked up to the window. He jumped and grabbed the bottom of the window sill with his paws. As he was trying to pull himself up, the window slammed shut on his paws. 星, 星级 bit his lip to keep from yelping and being discovered. He then managed to yank his paws out and fall back to the floor with a thump.
“Now I am done for!” 星, 星级 whimpered to himself. “There is no way out, and the meanest dog in Nome is in the same room. What if he discovers me? He will use me as a chew toy. I’ve got to do something!”
星, 星级 began pacing back and forth across the floor, but staying where he would not be seen 由 the malamute around the corner. He then ran into a cobweb that he did not see in front of him, which stirred up a lot of dust. 星, 星级 felt his nose begin to tickle.
“uhhH…uhhH…uhhhH…No! Now is not a good time to sneeze.” 星, 星级 说 as he tried his best to keep from sneezing. Unfortunately, he did not succeed.
AAAAAAACHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The sound of his sneeze echoed off the walls of the room, and 星, 星级 new he was in big trouble now.
Hearing the sneeze, Steele stopped crying immediately and quickly stood on all fours.
“Who’s there?” Steele demanded. “Whoever it is, you’re a dead dog!”
Hearing this, 星, 星级 collapsed to the floor, put his paws over his eyes, and began to tremble.
Steele then walked around the corner, where he saw the little husky. He then grinned, knowing that this would be an easy target. Steele ran over and forced 星, 星级 against a 墙 with his paws on Star’s chest. 星, 星级 gave his trademark embarrassed grin.
“Ok runt….” Steele growled at the helpless husky. “You better say your prayers.”
星, 星级 gulped, and knowing this would probably be the end, he did just that.
“Dear Lord,” 星, 星级 prayed, his eyes closed and still trembling with fear. “Pppleaase let this be painless, please be with Dixie when I am gone, and pppplease be with Steele because he is really not a bad dog….”
Just then, a miracle happened; Steele released his grip on Star. Feeling the paws off his chest, 星, 星级 opened his eyes just long enough to see why his life was spared; he didn’t believe what he saw. Steele was on the floor, his paws over his eyes, crying like a puppy. 星, 星级 walked up to the malamute, and tapped him with his paw.
“Wwwhat’s wring Steele?” 星, 星级 managed to say, still afraid the malamute might turn on him any minute.
“Nobody has ever prayed for me.” Steele whined. “Everybody hates me since I…I…”
星, 星级 knew what he what he was trying to say.
“I don’t hate 你 Steele.” 星, 星级 replied, trying to comfort the malamute that was 由 now looking even 更多 undignified than before.
“You don’t?” Steele whimpered.
“I never have. I was just afraid 你 might hurt me. I don’t like being hit on the head; it hurts.”
Just then, Steele threw his front paws around 星, 星级 and hugged him; startling the husky as this was quite out of character for Steele.
“I did not mean to be so cruel.” Steele continued to whimper. “I just was afraid of losing attention. I hate being alone. Can 你 ever forgive me?”
“Yes, I forgive 你 Steele.” 星, 星级 replied. “And one 更多 thing….”
“Yes?”
“Could 你 not squeeze so tight? I can’t breath.”
“Oh! Of course! Sorry.” Steele 说 as he released 星, 星级 from the 熊 hug; 或者 so that is how it felt to the smaller husky.
“Hey! I got it!” 星, 星级 exclaimed to a bewildered Steele.
“What?” Steele inquired.
“The biggest headache.” 星, 星级 moaned.
Steele frowned, obviously disappointed.
“Now I remember!” 星, 星级 continued. “Maybe if 你 apologize to Balto and the rest of the dogs, they will be your 老友记 again.”
“Really?” Steele asked.
“Yes. I will help you. If they see that I am around 你 and not afraid, they will know 你 have changed.”
“Just one 更多 thing, Star.”
“What is it Steele?”
“Can we keep the crying thing between the two of us?” Steele 说 with a slightly embarrassed look. “It would really be bad if the other 狗 found out.”
“Oh. Don’t worry; I won’t tell.” 星, 星级 replied. “No one listens to me anyways. I always end up getting hit on the head.”
“Thanks.” The grateful malamute said.
“Just one last thing Steele.”
“You name it buddy.”
“How are we going to get out of here?”
Steele walked up to the door that leads out of the room. The door was locked. 星, 星级 walked up beside Steele. Steele then took 6 paces back.
“You may want to stand back.” Steele advised Star.
星, 星级 wisely took 10 steps back, and watched Steele charge the locked door.
CRASH!!!!!!
Steele knocked the door right off its hinges.
“You can come out now Star.” Steele told his friend.
星, 星级 quickly padded through the unhinged door and walked up beside Steele. They were free.
BONK II
星, 星级 and Steele were quietly padding on the snow.
“Steele,” 星, 星级 told the malamute. “I think we should go ahead and talk with Balto first.”
“Ok. But remember to keep that thing between the two of us.”
“What thing?”
“You know, the crying thing.” Steele growled.
“Oh! Heh heh!” 星, 星级 laughed nervously. “It’s just between the two of us.”
“Besides; it was really below my dignity.” Steele remarked with an arrogant look his face.
They approached Rosie’s house, and heard Balto and Jenna behind the house.
“I better go first.” 星, 星级 told Steele as he padded around back in his normal cheerful gait.
Balto and Jenna were having a snow fight. Balto was maneuvering back and forth, while Jenna was getting ready to take a shot at him.
“Bet 你 can’t hit me Jenna.” Balto joked. “I’m too fast…oomph.”
Just then Balto received the lump of snow that Jenna flung at him with her paw, right in the face.
“I think 你 spoke too soon.” Jenna laughed.
“Hey! No fair!” Balto protested. “I was not ready.”
They both ended up laughing and Balto went up and nuzzled Jenna. Just then 星, 星级 came into view.
“Hey Balto!” The small husky said.
“Hey Star!” Balto replied. “What’s up?”
“I got someone who would like to see you.” 星, 星级 answered. He turned his head to the direction he came from. “You can come out now!”
Balto then saw a very familiar malamute come into view. He growled at his former (or soon to be former) nemesis.
“Whoa Balto!” 星, 星级 intervened. “He only wants to apologize.”
“He would never apologize to me.” Balto growled.
Steele sat in front of Balto and stared at the ground.
“Balto,” Steele began apologize. “I really treated 你 unfairly and all, and I shouldn’t of acted the way I did. I was too caught up in being a glory hound that I really let it all go to my head. What I am really trying to say is I am s…..ssoo…”
“Go on.” 星, 星级 encouraged. “Go on and say it.”
“I….am…ssooo…rryy.” Steele managed to squeeze his sentence 由 his pride. “I am sorry.”
Balto looked at Steele.
“It takes a real dog to admit when he is wrong.” Balto exclaimed. “I think 你 have really changed Steele. I would like to have 你 on the team again.”
“Really?” Steele looked up and asked Balto.
“If it’s alright with you.”
“I would be honored for 你 to take me back.”
“Welcome back Steele.”
分钟 later two canines who had been rivals for life were suddenly behaving like they had been best 老友记 for life. Seeing this, 星, 星级 ran off to tell Kaltag and Nikki.
BONK III
“You what!?!” Kaltag yelled at the small husky, who now how that nervous grin on his face again. “I ought to bonk 你 on the head!”
“Let me finish, Kaltag!” 星, 星级 interjected. “He apologized to Balto. He has changed.”
“Yeah right.” Nikki disagreed. “I think youse got too many bonks on the head, dere.”
“Hey, Nikki.” Kaltag schemed. “Why don’t we make a little bet?”
“Yeah.” Nikki agreed. “5 识骨寻踪 says Steele never apologized to Balto.”
“Same.” Kaltag concurred. “Do 你 accept the bet, Star?”
“Uh, sure.” 星, 星级 consented. “But I warned 你 guys.”
“You warned us. Heh heh.” Kaltag laughed. “That’s funny.”
Kaltag and Nikki followed 星, 星级 over to Balto’s place; where Balto and Steele were out back talking. 星, 星级 was the first one around the corner, and the Kaltag and Nikki. Both Kaltag’s and Nikki’s jaws dropped and there eyes became as wide as frying pans at the sight of the two former enemies joking around.
“But…but..how…What’s going on here???” Kaltag stuttered.
Steele and Balto looked over at the two baffled dogs.
“You know,” Steele 说 to Kaltag. “I never knew what a good lead dog Balto could make. Once I realized I was….uh…wrong, I apologized and got to know him. I just wish I had done this sooner.”
星, 星级 looked up at Kaltag and Nikki with a big grin on his face.
“I warned you. Now 你 owe me 5 识骨寻踪 a piece.” 星, 星级 gloated.
“Why you….” Kaltag growled. “I should bonk 你 on the head….”
“No Kaltag.” Nikki intervened. “He’s right, dere. He won fair and square.”
“Uhhhhhh.” Kaltag groaned. “You’re right. We will pay up later. I still can not believe it.”
Kaltag walked up to Steele.
“Hey Steele.” He greeted the former lead dog. “You must have had to 吞, 燕子 a lot of pride to admit 你 were wrong. You’re not a bad dog after all.”
“Yeah, Kaltag.” Steele agreed. “Just don’t rub it in. A dog has to have his dignity, 你 know.”
“Yeah,” Kaltag chuckled. “I can understand that.”
Kaltag’s ears perked up as he picked up a loud buzzing sound in the distance.
“Hey,” Kaltag exclaimed. “Does anyone else hear that?”
Before any of the 狗 had time to answer, the noise became louder as it approached. The large red object screeched across the sky at no 更多 than 150 feet above the dog’s head.
“Was that a bird?” Nikki asked.
“It would be the biggest bird that I had ever seen.” Kaltag answered.
“And the loudest one too!” 星, 星级 added.
Kaltag lifted his paw to bonk 星, 星级 on the head, but before he got a chance, the object came back. This time it was only at 50 feet and the buzz was 更多 of a roar, as it passed over the 狗 head with a huge gust of air.
“Hey,” Kaltag barked. “I though I saw a human in that thing.”
“It must be a machine then.” 星, 星级 proudly said.
“What was your first clue?” Kaltag growled at Star.
“Knock it off, Kaltag.” Balto intervened. “Maybe we should find out 更多 about….”
The roar became louder as this time the object lined up for another pass.
“Here it comes again!” Kaltag exclaimed. “Get your heads down!”
All the 狗 ducked as this time the object passed at only 70 feet, doing a barrel roll, and only missing the tallest building 由 a mere 5 feet. The object then pulled up into a near vertical climb and began doing an immelman.
“That’s the most astounding, the most breathtaking, the most stupendous,” Kaltag began to rant.
“That’s cool!” 星, 星级 added.
Kaltag reached up his paw to bonk 星, 星级 on the head, but then felt something grab his paw. It was Steele.
“That’s enough, Kaltag.” Steele said. “He is entitled to his opinion as well.”
The red object, then pulled an inversion and lined itself up level and began to slow down 由 pulling s-curves. At about 30 feet off the ground it slowly sat down on a flat piece of land, slowly coming to a stop on the outskirts of town. A spinning 支持 then began to slow down and finally come to a stop. Now it was quite evident what it was. The 狗 and a good amount of the townsfolk came running up to the object.
“Two wings, a propeller, and a tail; that must be a biplane.” Kaltag exclaimed.
A man climbed out of the plane, followed 由 a black and white husky.
“Hello, citizens of….” The man said.
“Nome.” One of the people in the crowd said. “This is Nome.”
“Oh, yes. Nome.” The man continued. “I am Captain ‘Wrong Way’ Williams and this is my Breguet Model 19 biplane. I will be staying here for a while because I have no idea where I am and am loving it.”
The black and white husky beside him then barked a cheerful bark.
“Oh.” Wrong Way added. “And this is my dogs, Shadow, who will be staying as well.
The pilot walked off into the crowd being followed 由 a lot of intrigued people. The new husky then ran off looking for other dogs. He then found Balto and his group.
“Hi!” 星, 星级 exclaimed.
“Hi!” The new dog greeted. “My name is Shadow. What’s yours?”
“I’m Star.” 星, 星级 said.
“My name is Kaltag. Nice to meet you.” Kaltag added.
“I am Nikki.” Nikki said.
“I’m Steele.” Steel greeted.
“I am Balto.” Balto said.
“Glad to meet all of you.” Shadow barked. He had a hyperactive and somewhat comical appearance, much like 星, 星级 does.
The five 狗 then began to 显示 Shadow the town.
BONK IV
“So where are 你 from?” Balto asked Shadow.
“Wrong Way has been traveling ever since I was a pup.” Shadow answered. “He has flown with me all over the world. I think he got his plane in France. He can pull some very nice stunts in it.”
“Nice?” Kaltag exclaimed. “They were the most exhilarating, the most heart-stopping, the most spectacular…..”
“They were cool!” Shadow added.
Hearing an interruption in his ranting, Kaltag knocked Shadow on the head, and Shadow passed out. He then realized who he hit.
“Oops!” Kaltag apologized. “Sorry Shadow. I was used to hitting Star. I guess it has become a habit now.”
星, 星级 then broke out in maniacal laughter, rolling around and clutching his stomach.
“What’s up with Star?” Kaltag asked.
“Well, Kaltag,” Balto explained. “If 你 had been paying attention; 你 hit someone other than 星, 星级 this time. That is funny; especially to Star.”
“I never though of it that way.” Kaltag answered.
Star’s laughter slowly died down and he began to get up.
“I think I busted a gut.” 星, 星级 said.
Then Shadow woke up.
“What happened?” a bewildered Shadow asked.
Everyone was looking at Kaltag, who had the first digit of his paw over his mouth in a ‘shhhhhh’ gesture. The other 狗 caught on quickly.
“Nothing happened.” Balto quickly answered. “You must have passed out.”
All the 狗 except Shadow let out a muffled giggle.
“Are 你 going to be here long?” 星, 星级 asked Shadow.
“I think so.” Shadow answered. “We are 迷失 and Wrong Way couldn’t find a 狐狸 in a hen house. He will probably find a job here anyways.”
All the 狗 laughed at the last comment.
“Hey.” Balto exclaimed. “Tomorrow there will be a supply run to the town of Paluva.”
“Gesundheit.” Kaltag joked.
“Hey!” Balto objected. “I didn’t sneeze.”
“I was just joking.” Kaltag explained. “Go on.”
“It is about a 200 mile trip there.” Balto continued. “Since Steele is back, we could have him 加入 the team. And possibly Shadow could come along as well. That is, if it is ok with them.”
“It would be a pleasure, Balto.” Steele answered.
“I’m in!” Shadow agreed.
“Good.” Balto said. “Then it will be me, Steele, Kaltag, Nikki, Star, and Shadow. 你 may be the lead dog if 你 like, Steele.”
“Don’t temp me, Balto.” Steele answered. “I have already 迷失 that privilege.”
“I think we can make an exception since 你 have changed.” Balto replied.
“I guess if 你 insist.” Steele said. Thanks, Balto.”
“You’re always welcome.” Balto said. “Then we will leave early 下一个 morning. Every dog needs to be ready 由 then. Now we should all go 首页 and get some sleep.”
All the 狗 went to their respective homes to get some sleep for the journey that lay ahead.
BONK V
The 下一个 日 the 狗 were getting ready for the sled journey. The sled was already out, and most of the 狗 were hooked up to the harnesses. Steele was already in the lead dog position, the 太空 directly behind him was unoccupied, 星, 星级 was behind the empty space, Shadow was behind Star, Kaltag was behind Shadow, and Nikki was behind Kaltag. The sled was loaded with only basic supplies to get them to Paluva and still have room to bring back the shipment from the destination (which none of the 狗 knew what was). The only ones missing were Balto and the musher.
“Where is Balto?” Steele questioned. “We are not leaving without him.”
星, 星级 looked around and saw something familiar padded their way.
“Here comes Balto, here comes Balto, right down Balto Lane.” 星, 星级 joked.
Kaltag looked at 星, 星级 and 星, 星级 gave his trademark smile of embarrassment to him.
“Sorry guys.” Balto 说 as he ran up to his harness. “Had to say goodbye to Jenna.”
“That’s ok, Balto.” Steele answered. “Know we just have to wait for the musher.”
A man wearing full winter clothing and carrying a Browning Automatic 步枪 (BAR; a portable light machine gun invented during WWI, like an assault 步枪 with full size 步枪 ammunition) and having a Thompson Submachine gun with 50 round drum clip (a new invention at that time) strapped to his back, as well as a 小马, 柯尔特 1911A1 .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol in a military flap 皮套 clipped to his belt. Steele glanced back at the heavily armed musher.
“What are we transporting Balto?” Steele asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe we are going to rob Fort Knox.” Balto joked.
“We have the firepower to do it.” Kaltag added.
The musher also put a Winchester 泵 action trench shotgun in the sled, secured the BAR and its extra ammo, and kept the Thompson strapped to his back.
“I think we are about to leave.” Steele said. “Everyone; get ready.”
The musher then took hold of the leads and told the 狗 to mush. They were now off to Paluva.
BONK VI
The team was well along there way to Paluva. The musher, who went 由 the name of Ingram, looked at his pocket watch.
“I see we are making good time.” Ingram said. “Very good.”
The sled team was going up a shallow grade in a wooded forest area. Balto sniffed the air.
“Steel,” Balto said. “Do 你 smell that?”
‘Smell what?” Steele asked.
“That smell.” Balto replied.
“Wait,” Steele answered. “I think it smells like some kind of animal. A large animal.”
“I think your right.” Balto agreed. “It may be a grizzly.”
“A grizzly???” 星, 星级 说 in a very nervous voice.
Seeing the 狗 slow down and sniff the air, Ingram knew that something must be wrong.
“What’s the matter, mates?” Ingram asked his team.
Steele responded with a low growl.
“Sounds like trouble, then.” Ingram said, as he unhooked the BAR from its mount on the sled, cocked the receiver, and put the cyclic rate on full auto (as opposed to semi auto).
Ingram scanned the trees with the BAR firmly against his shoulder in the ready position. A deep growl was heard from somewhere in the woods.
“Sounds like a grizzly.” Ingram said. “A mean booger at that.”
The growl became a lot louder, then a large brown grizzly ran out of the woods. The 熊 got 25 feet from the sled team and stood on its hind legs, letting out a tremendous roar. Ingram fired a burst of rounds across the bear’s path, kicking up snow as the bullets hit the ground. The bear, deciding that this was an animal not to be messed with, turned back and retreated into the woods.
“Best not to hurt the booger; just scare him off.” Ingram 说 as he stowed the BAR back on the sled with its safety on. “After all, they have families to feed too 你 know.”
Ingram turned to his dogs.
“Good work Balto and Steele.” He complemented them. “Very well done.”
Balto and Steele smiled, and then Ingram grabbed the leads and they were off again.
Several hours later, it was nearing noon. The sun was now well up over the trees. Ingram looked at his pocket watch and decided it was time to feed the dogs. He signaled for the 狗 to stop.
Coming to a complete stop, Ingram dismounts from the sled and opens a bag of meat from the sled. He gives each of the 狗 a piece of meat and begins to eat some jerky himself.
Balto looked up at Steele in front of him.
“Hey Steele,” Balto 说 in between bites. “What really caused your change in attitude?”
“I already told you.” The malamute answered. “I realized I was wrong.”
“Besides that.”
“Well, my owner was also really mad about me abandoning the sled team.”
“I would think so. Go on.”
“He was also ready to shoot me. That is why I went into hiding.”
“He was going to shoot you? But he didn’t. Why?”
“I am getting to that. When I was hiding, being all 由 myself, I got to thinking. No offense, Balto, but at first I tried to tell myself everything was your fault.”
“None taken. Continue, please.”
“But after a while, I realized that what happened was my doing. So I stayed in that basement depressed and er…”
“It’s ok. 你 don’t have to say it.”
“Anyways, 由 some luck 星, 星级 found me, and convinced me to change my ways. Some how something he 说 seemed to change me unexplainably. I think it was when he prayed.”
“A miracle?”
“Something like that. It was like a part of me died. I am a new dog. A better dog. Some habits do die hard, so I am sorry if I still brag at times.”
“It’s ok Steele. Just to see 你 have changed for the better makes everyone like 你 even 更多 then they did before 你 changed.”
“I noticed. Thank 你 Balto.”
星, 星级 was eating his meat 下一个 to Shadow. Kaltag was and Nikki were eating their meat as well.
“This is the most delicious, the most succulent, the most appetizing, the most savory,” Kaltag began to rant. “The most scrumptious, the most tasteful….”
“This is good!” 星, 星级 added.
Kaltag growled and went up to 星, 星级 to bonk him on the head, but instead got smacked over the noggin 由 Balto. Kaltag fell face first in the snow.
“Why did 你 do that?” Kaltag inquired, spitting out a mouthful of snow.
“Because 你 should not be hitting Star.” Balto 说 sternly. “Are 你 trying to give him brain damage?”
“I think hes already got brain damage, dere.” Nikki chuckled.
“Hey, Nikki,” Kaltag chuckled. “That’s a good one.”
星, 星级 showed his trademark grin of embarrassment again. Kaltag chuckled again and went back to his position.
“When are we going to go again?” Shadow 说 jumping up and down.
“Probably in a few moments.” Balto replied.
Ingram finished eating his jerky, and then took his position back on the sled.
“Alright, lads.” Ingram addressed the dogs. “Its time we be off again.”
All the 狗 got up and stood in the ready position. Ingram took hold of the leads.
“Mush!” Ingram instructed. “It’s a long way to Tipperary 你 know.”
The 狗 were off again, kicking up snow as they plowed over the white landscape. They were well over a quarter of the way to Paluva.
BONK VI
It was beginning to get dark. The setting sun was reflecting off of the white snow, causing a blinding glare.
“Whoa.” Ingram said. “We better slow down now. Don’t want to deviate off course.”
The team slowed down, taking a slower pace to avoid hitting anything because of snow blindness. The 狗 looked around while at the slower pace.
“This is the most incandescent, the most luminous, the most lustrous, the most radiant,” Kaltag began to rant. “The most shiny, the most lucent….”
“This is bright!” Shadow interrupted.
Kaltag growled at Shadow, giving him dirty look.
“What?” Shadow asked, not knowing that Kaltag hates to be interrupted.
“Maybe wes should dos something to pass the time, dere.” Nikki suggested. “Don’t want youse getting any 更多 angry, dere.”
“I guess I can recite a poem.” Kaltag replied, with a proud look on his face. “This is one that Alexi the Russian 狼狗, 猎狼犬 taught me. I am not quite sure what it means, though. Well, here goes.
“The sons of the Prophet as valiant and bold,
And quite unaccustomed to fear;
And the bravest of all was a man, so I'm told
Called Abdullah Bulbul Amir.”
“What’s a prophet?” Shadow asked, followed 由 a growl from Kaltag.
“It’s someone who predicts the future.” Balto quickly replied. “Please continue, Kaltag”
“As I was saying,” Kaltag continued.
“When they wanted a man to encourage the van,
或者 harass the foe from the rear,
Storm fort 或者 redoubt, they were sure to call out
For Abdullah Bulbul Amir.
There are 超能英雄 in plenty, and well known to fame,
In the legions that fight for the Czar;
But none of such fame as the man 由 the name
Of Ivan Petrovsky Skovar.”
“What’s a Czar?” Shadow once again interrupted.
“It’s a Russian king! Ok?” Kaltag snapped. “Now back to the poem….
“He could imitate Irving, tell fortunes 由 cards,
And play on the Spanish guitar;
In fact, quite the cream of the Muscovite guards,
Was Ivan Petrovsky Skovar.
One 日 this bold Muscovite shouldered his gun,
Put on his most cynical sneer,
And was walking downtown when he happened to run
Into Abdullah Bulbul Amir.”
“What’s a Muscovite?” Shadow inquired.
“It’s a resident of Moscow!” Kaltag roared. “Now, without further delay…..
"Young man," say Bulbul, "is existence so dull
That you're anxious to end your career?
Then, infidel, know 你 have trod on the toe
Of Abdullah Bulbul Amir.
"So take your last look at the sea, sky and brook,
Make your latest 报道 on the war;
For I mean to imply that 你 are going to die,
O Ivan Petrovsky Skovar."
So this fierce man he took his trusty chibouk,
and murmuring "Allah Akbar!"
With murder intent he most savagely went
For Ivan Petrovsky Skovar.”
“What’s a chibouk?” Shadow again asked.
“It’s a type of tobacco pipe!!!” Kaltag yelled. “Moving along….
“The Sultan rose up, the disturbance to quell
Likewise, give the victor a cheer.
He arrived just in time to bid hasty farewell
To Abdullah Bulbul Amir.”
Shadow was about to open his mouth again when it was quickly held shut 由 Star’s front paws, as 星, 星级 shushed Shadow. Kaltag then continued.
“A loud-sounding splash from the Danube was heard
Resounding o'er meadows afar;
It came from the sack fitting close to the back
Of Ivan Petrovsky Skovar.
There lieth a stone where the Danube doth roll,
And on it in characters queer
Are "Stranger, when passing by, pray for the soul
Of Abdullah Bulbul Amir."
A Muscovite maiden her vigil doth keep
由 the light of the pale northern star,
And the name she repeats every night in her sleep
Is Ivan Petrovsky Skovar.”
“That is how he taught it to me.” Kaltag 说 proudly. “Do 你 think I did a well job reciting it?”
“Reciting what?” Shadow asked.
Kaltag growled and stared daggers at Shadow, but Balto quickly interrupted.
“You did a very good job, Kaltag.” Balto said, trying to prevent another brawl.
The sun was nearly all the way down. Ingram lit a couple of lantern headlights.
“Alright now.” Ingram said. We can pick up the pace now. We will rest when we get to Paluva.”
The team began plowing through the snow at a much quicker pace, now well over half the way to Paluva.
BONK VII
It was now sunrise and the team was only about 30 miles from Paluva.
“Good.” Ingram observed. “We should make it 由 lunch time, now.”
Steele looked back at Balto.
“Hey Balto.” Steele said. “Do 你 remember when I fell off that cliff?”
“Yeah.” Balto replied. “That must have hurt, were 你 ok?”
“Yeah. But I was mad as heck at you.”
“I remember. 你 messed up all the trees I marked.”
“Yeah…I’m sorry about that. I was just too much of a…..”
“You mean an idiot?” 星, 星级 yipped out.
“Don’t help me!” Steele growled back at Star.
“Nyaaah!” 星, 星级 whimpered, 展示 a very nervous smile. “Sorry! Please don’t hit me!”
“I’m not going to hit you, Star.” Steele replied. “That Steele is dead. I am a changed dog now.”
“We are all glad 你 changed, Steele.” Balto said. “Now most of the 狗 have welcomed 你 back. Although some of them may never forgive you.”
“That is my fault.” Steele replied. “I was being too much of a bully to realize what I was doing. At the time I got attention and that is all I cared about.”
The 狗 continued at the brisk pace, kicking up snow as they proceeded through the white terrain.
About 5 hours later, the team could 说 the outline of building in the distant horizon.
“Land ho!” Ingram shouted. “Or in this case; town ho.”
“We are almost there, Balto.” Steele said.
“Yes, this has been a somewhat long trip.” Balto replied.
“Yeah,” Kaltag began another rant. “This is a drawn out, lengthy, prolonged, elongated, extended….”
“It has taken a long time?” Shadow asked.
“Are 你 trying to get us both bonked?” 星, 星级 growled at Shadow.
Shadow let out a nervous laugh. They were approaching the outskirts of Paluva.
BONK VIII
The team is pulling into the Paluva town limits. They see the bustle of people and 狗 going about their everyday business. Ingram guides the sled towards one of the largest buildings in town. It is a large 3 story building made of stone and wood. There are no windows in the building except for the third floor. The structure has a few normal sized doors, as well as several large warehouse sized door. There is 8 foot wooden 墙 surrounding the structure with a large gate and gatehouse in the very front. Two guards carrying BARs stand outside the gatehouse. Ingram stops the sled in front of the complex.
“Good day.” Ingram greeted the guards.
“You must be Ingram.” One of the guards said.
“I am he.” Ingram replied.
“It’s ok!” The guard shouted back to another man behind the gate carrying a Springfield ’03 bolt action rifle. “Open the gate!”
The wooden gate then began to open. When it was fully open, the guard motioned for the team to pass.
“You may enter.” The guard said.
The team pulled into the gate and saw one of the warehouse doors open. Another man motioned for them to pull in. The team did so and they were in the complex.
“You may let loose your 狗 here.” The man said. “I am Evans. 你 can stay in here for the night until it is time to take the cargo back to Nome tomorrow.”
“Thank 你 very much.” Ingram 说 as he unhooked the 狗 from the sled.
Now free from the sled, all the 狗 begin to wonder off in the building. Ingram followed Evans to another room in the complex.
星, 星级 saw an open door at one side of the room they entered. He ran towards it and through it, until he got to a fork in the corridor and he abruptly stopped. When 星, 星级 stopped he was hit 由 something from behind which cause him to 拍击, smack, 味道 into a wall.
“Nyaaahoooooooo!” 星, 星级 screamed as he thudded into the wall. He looked around and saw a familiar black and white husky who had smacked into the 墙 after him. It was Shadow. 星, 星级 got up and looked at Shadow, still feeling woozy from his encounter with the wall.
“Hey!” 星, 星级 exclaimed. “Why did 你 do that?”
“I was following 你 and suddenly I ran into you.” Shadow exclaimed.
“Well, let’s just go.” 星, 星级 said. “I’m hungry and want to find food.
星, 星级 and Shadow took a right down the corridor and walked at a fast pace instead of running this time.
Meanwhile, Balto, Steele, Nikki, and Kaltag had wondered down another hall. They got to a staircase.
“I wonder what is up there?” Steele asked.
“Only one way to find out.” Balto replied as he went up the stairs. The others then followed him.
In another part of the complex, 星, 星级 and Shadow had also found a staircase. The staircase was very dark because there were no lights.
“I am going to go up there.” 星, 星级 说 to Shadow.
星, 星级 started going up the staircase and Shadow followed. When the two 狗 got far enough up the staircase that neither dog could see anything, Shadow decided to play a joke on Star.
“Boo!” Shadow 说 as he pulled Star’s tail with his mouth.
星, 星级 let out a scream as he jumped 3 feet up into the air. Unfortunately when 星, 星级 came down, he 迷失 his footing and began falling down the stairs.
“OUCH! OHH! YIP! UNH! WHOOPEE!”
Shadow raced down the stairs and found 星, 星级 laying flat on the floor with his legs spread out and his eyes half open; his irises both spinning and his tongue hanging out of his mouth.
“Star! Wake up Star!” Shadow 说 as he nudged his friend. “Are 你 ok? Speak to me!”
“No, Mommy; I don’t want to go out and play today.” 星, 星级 muttered, still dazed from his tumble down the stairs.
“Snap out of it Star!” Shadow pleaded, bonking 星, 星级 on the head.
“Ouch!” 星, 星级 cried, finally coming to his senses. “That hurt!”
“I’m sorry Star. I really am.”
“You are almost as bad as Kaltag!”
“Star, please….”
“No. 你 are even worse than Kaltag!”
“But…Star…I though we were friends…” Shadow whimpered and began to cry.
星, 星级 saw this and changed from being angry to sad.
“No, Shadow.” 星, 星级 said. “I didn’t mean it….”
Shadow then took off running up the stairs as fast as he could, still crying.
“Shadow!” 星, 星级 pleaded. “Come back! I’m sorry!”
But the husky just kept going and soon was far out of sight. 星, 星级 then began to walk up the staircase.
Balto and the other three 狗 were now up the staircase and navigating through a dark room.
“It sure is dark in here.” Steele remarked.
“It’s the most murky, the most dusky, the most obscure,” Kaltag began to rant. “The most dim, the most dismal……”
SMACK!!!!!
“Shut up Kaltag!” Steele growled, removing his paw from Kaltag’s face. “You are not helping things.”
Balto stared at Steele with a look of dismay.
“I’m sorry Balto.” Steele apologized. “Some habits die hard. Unfortunately my temper is one of them. I will try to control my temper better in the future.”
“That’s ok.” Balto replied. “We all make mistakes.”
The 狗 kept moving forward, not being able to see a thing. They started to hear some fast paced thumping noises. The 下一个 thing the 狗 knew, something hit them and they were all in a dog pile.
AHHHHHHHHHHHH!
“Did anyone get the license of that locomotive?” Kaltag asked, lying on 最佳, 返回页首 of Balto and under Steele, who had Nikki on 最佳, 返回页首 of him.
“That locomotive had a very familiar scream…” Balto said.
Nyaaaayaaaaaaaaaaaa……
“Star? Is that you?” Steele asked.
“Owww.” The voice replied in a half conscious manner. “Why did 你 bonk me on the head, Kaltag? I did not say anything stupid this time.”
“I didn’t bonk 你 on the head. 星, 星级 was not here to….” Kaltag said, suddenly realizing who the voice belonged to. “Star! Its you!”
“Oh, hi Kaltag.” 星, 星级 replied. “I think I have a concussion…”
“Why were 你 in such a hurry, Star?” Balto asked, unsuccessfully trying to pull himself out from under Kaltag.
“I don’t remember.” 星, 星级 replied. “I have a headache now.”
“Uhhh..Kaltag.” Balto said. “Can 你 please get off of me now?”
“I wish I could.” Kaltag replied. “But someone is on 最佳, 返回页首 of me. No offense Steele but 你 way a ton! Would 你 mind climbing off of me?”
“Hey!” The malamute growled. “I will have 你 know that is all muscle. And for me to get off of you, Nikki has to get off of me first. Nikki. Can 你 get off of us now?”
They heard a loud snoring sound.
“Oh, great.” Kaltag moaned. “Nikki has fallen asleep. 由 the time he wakes up I will have all my ribs crushed. I can’t get enough air in my lungs to shout. Would 你 do the honor for me, Steele?”
“It would be a pleasure.” Steele snarled. “NIKKI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
THUD!!!!!!!
The chow jumped up and fell to the floor.
“Hey.” Nikki said. “Did youse call boss?”
“Yeah, I did.” Steele 说 as he pulled himself off of Kaltag.
“Finally!” Kaltag sighed in relief. “Now I can breath.”
“Would 你 mind getting off of me now?” Balto said, still under the Chinook.
“Oh!” Kaltag exclaimed as crawled off the wolfdog. “Sorry Balto! I forgot.”
“Hey, it’s alright. It could happen to anyone.” Balto 说 as he got up on all fours. “Star? Where are you?”
“Balto?” 星, 星级 说 in a frightened voice. “It is dark in here! I can not see where anyone is!”
“I am right here Star.” Balto 说 as he tapped the small husky on the shoulder.
“AHHHHH!” 星, 星级 screamed from fright. “Don’t do that!”
“It’s ok.” Balto replied. “We are all here. Wait…..where is Shadow?”
“Now I remember what I came to tell you!” 星, 星级 exclaimed. “Shadow ran off!”
“What? Why?”
“Well…..We were going up a dark staircase and he decided to scare me, and I fell down the stairs and hit my head. I then snapped at him and 说 he was worse than Kaltag…”
“Hey!” Kaltag exclaimed. “I ought to bonk 你 on the head…..”
“Shut up! This is one time that he is telling something important!” Steele growled. “Go on and finish Star.”
“Anyways,” 星, 星级 continued. “I think I really hurt his feelings and when I tried to apologize he ran off crying. I tried to catch up with him but he got too far off and I 迷失 him.”
“This could be serious.” Balto said. “We need to find him.”
“I’m sorry Balto.” 星, 星级 whimpered. “It is all my fault….”
“It’s alright Star.” Balto comforted the small husky. “It is not your fault. Things like this sometimes just happen. We can all go and look for him. I will try to get his scent.”
Balto held his nose in the air to get a good whiff, and then motioned towards the other 狗 to follow him. They did so and the five 狗 went off into the darkness to find Shadow.
BONK IX
The five 狗 were walking down the dark hallways looking for Shadow.
“Shadow!” 星, 星级 yelled. “I’m sorry! Come back!”
There was no reply.
“Now I have 迷失 my best and probably only friend.” 星, 星级 whimpered.
"He who has a thousand 老友记 has not a friend to spare, And he who has one
enemy will meet him everywhere." Kaltag said.
“What does that mean?” 星, 星级 asked the Chinook.
“It was a quote from Ali ibn-Abi-Talib.” Kaltag answered. “It means that one can not lose any friends, and when one makes an enemy he will always run into him.”
“We are all your 老友记 Star.” Balto said.
“Thanks, Balto.” 星, 星级 replied. “I hope we find Shadow soon.”
“I am sure we will.” Balto replied as he sniffed the air again. “Come on; this way.”
The 狗 kept going through the dark rooms and then spotted a light at the end of one of the corridors, where the luminosity gently bounced off the corridor making a distinct but gradual contrast between lightness and darkness.
“The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.” Balto remarked. “Let’s go check it out.”
As the 狗 began to walk over to the light, one of Kaltag’s paws got snagged on a loose floor and the Chinook fell flat on his face in a most ungraceful manner. All the other 狗 quickly looked at him.
“Oh, 你 fall down.” 星, 星级 说 in a childish voice.
“Its not funny, Star!” Kaltag 说 getting up. “Now my paw hurts.”
“Maybe now 你 know how 星, 星级 feels when 你 bonk him on the head.” Steele taunted the Chinook.
“That’s different!” Kaltag 说 as he began to rant. “Star is the most annoying, the most bothersome, the most irritating, the most galling, the most vexatious, the most troublesome…..”
星, 星级 then broke out in tears. No Kaltag was annoying Steele.
“Can 你 be nice just this one time???” Steele roared. “You are beginning to get on my bad side! Do 你 remember my bad side???”
“No, of course not Steele.” Kaltag replied. “You know we have all been under a good deal of stress.”
“He’s right Steele.” Balto intervened. “We need to calm down before we are at each others throats.”
星, 星级 gave his traditional idiot/confused look.
“You’re right, Balto.” Steele 说 his expression turning normal. “We need to all come down before we do something foolish.”
Balto went up to 星, 星级 who was still crying and licked him.
“Its ok, Star.” Balto said. “He didn’t mean it. Let’s continue looking for Shadow.”
“Ok, Balto.” 星, 星级 说 meekly.
The five 狗 then quickly hurried down the corridor towards the light.
BONK X
When the five 狗 got to the end of the corridor, they saw a lighted room with some a staircase on the other side going up, and several mats on the floor apparently for sleeping on. There was a 火, 消防 place on the far left side of the room, apparently the 来源 of all the light. 由 the 火, 消防 place was a large black lab that raised his head when the five 狗 entered the room.
“Greetings.” The lab barked. “I am Abraham, but 你 may call me Abe. What brings 你 up here?”
“We are in 搜索 of a friend of ours.” Balto responded.
“Would that be the black and white husky that was here earlier?” Abe answered.
“Yeah, that’s him!” 星, 星级 说 excitedly. “Did 你 see where he went?”
“Up the stairs he went.” The lab answered. “Follow me.”
The lab went up the staircase followed 由 the other five dogs. When they got to the top, they were in a long hall that had a lot of doors on either side of the corridor.
“Where are we?” Balto inquired.
“This is the third floor.” Abe replied. “It is where the living quarters and the kitchens are. As well as any room that is not for warehouse storage.”
“Kitchen?” 星, 星级 asked. “Where is the 厨房 at?”
“This is not a good time to think about food!” Kaltag scolded.
“ME???” 星, 星级 burst out. “I think that is where Shadow may have gone.”
“Yeah, sure.” Kaltag 说 in a sarcastic tone. “Because 你 want 食物 he would just happen to be in the kitchen.”
“Me and Shadow were both looking for food!” 星, 星级 replied.
“The 厨房 is this way.” Abe interrupted, trying to avoid a fight.
The lab continued walking down the corridor and the rest of the 狗 followed.
They walked into a large room with several storage facilities and 食物 preparation facilities. There was a doorway on the other side. 星, 星级 padded up to the doorway.
“Shadow!” 星, 星级 exclaimed at his friend who was being fed a 牛扒, 牛排 in a dog bowl. “I have been worried sick about you!”
“Are 你 still mad at me?” Shadow whined.
“No. I am not.” 星, 星级 explained. “It was just a prank turned bad. I am not mad.”
“Do 你 still think I am as bad as Kaltag?”
“No! I had forgotten how bad Kaltag can be. 你 are not anywhere near as mean as he can be.”
“Do 你 want some of this steak?”
“Sure! Where did 你 get it from?”
“The man who runs the 厨房 feeds all the 狗 steaks if they have been stored too long. He can get us all steaks.”
“Sure!”
“Yes. I forgot to tell you.” Abe explained. “This is where all the 狗 and humans eat.”
Abe let out a bark and a man came in the room.
“Ahh.” The man said. “I see 你 brought friends. Let me get some 更多 steaks.”
The man came back with 5 更多 steaks and gave on to each one of the dogs.
BONK XI
The 狗 had finished the steaks. Kaltag sat up.
“That meal was the best,” The Chinook began to rant. “The crème de la crème, the superlative, the unsurpassed….”
“That was the best meal I ever had!” 星, 星级 added.
Kaltag raised his paw up.
“Nyaaiaaaiaiiiaa!” 星, 星级 whimpered.
Then unexpectedly Kaltag gave 星, 星级 a friendly pat on the back.
“I concur, Star.” Kaltag 说 patting the husky on the back. “I concur.”
“Huh?” 星, 星级 was at a loss. “You are not mad?”
“Nah. Why would I be?”
“Heh heh. Cause I interrupted?”
“No. 你 just 说 it so that Shadow could understand it.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Shadow said, staring at Kaltag.
“Nothing.” Kaltag chuckled. Nothing at all.”
Balto looked at the rest of the dogs, then at Abe.
“Now what, Abe?” Balto inquired.
“I suppose 你 are tired?” the lab answered.
“Kinda sorta.” Balto yawned.
“Right this way.”
Abe led the 狗 back down the hallway they came from to another hallway on the other side of the stairs. They then got to a room that had a wood floor and a furnace heater. It also had some old rugs on the floor.
“Here 你 are.” Abe said. “The room is all yours. Sleep well, 你 will have a long journey ahead of 你 when tomorrow comes.”
All the 狗 huddled near the center of the room, except for Steele, who went to lie down 由 the fireplace. Kaltag looked over at him with a grin.
“You’ll be sorry.” Kaltag 说 in a singsong voice.
“I am sure I will be alright.” Steele said. “Besides, it is warmer over here.”
Steele lied down on the floor besides the fireplace, while the other 狗 all huddled together. They soon fell asleep.
星, 星级 was sleeping when a muttering voice woke him up.
“The most dead centered…..on target….precise….” The voice muttered.
It was Kaltag, who was ranting in his sleep. 星, 星级 went over to Kaltag and tapped him on the shoulder. Kaltag woke up in a startled manner,
“What?...What?” Kaltag asked.
“Wake up and go back to sleep.” 星, 星级 said.
“I was asleep.” Kaltag growled.
“You were also ranting in your sleep.”
“I was? Oh, sorry. I will try not to do it again, but it is hard to control your action while 你 sleep.”
“Yeah. Let’s just get back to sleep.”
星, 星级 and Kaltag both went to sleep.
Steele was snoozing off 由 the warm fire. The 火, 消防 was kicking up several small specs of burning embers, which promptly floated in the air. A few of these embers decided to land on Steele’s furry tail. The malamute was fast asleep, unaware of how hot his tail was getting.
His tail then began to get hot enough to smoke. The malamute woke up slowly with a sleepy look.
“What’s burning?” Steele asked.
Steele looked back and discovered the 来源 of the smell; it was his tail.
ARWHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steele jumped up in a frenzy as his tail was red hot, This woke up all the other dogs.
“Hey!” Kaltag growled. “Where’s the fire?”
“It’s my tail that is on fire!” Steele screamed. “Help me put it out!”
Kaltag ran over and grabbed a small fireplace coal shovel in his mouth and went over to Steele.
“Now hold still, Steele.” Kaltag murmured with the shovel in his mouth.
Kaltag then smacked Steele’s tail until the 火, 消防 was out.
“OUCH!” Steele yelled. “Did 你 have to do it that hard???”
“Would 你 rather have had your tail burn?” Kaltag replied.
“No…But 你 still did it very rough!”
“No good deed goes unpunished….” Kaltag mumbled. “This time sleep with us instead of 由 the fireplace, ok?”
Steele nodded, mumbling under his breath, and followed Kaltag to 加入 the rest of the 狗 in sleep.
BONK XII
Daybreak came and the 狗 were still asleep. Then a knock came on the door. All the 狗 woke up as Ingram opened the door.
“It’s time to get this cargo back to Nome.” Ingram said, and then walked out.
“Morning…already?” Steele yawned.
“Well, if 你 had not slept 由 the fireplace 你 would have slept better.” Kaltag remarked. “And your tail would not be sore.”
“Why you…..”
“Steele.” Balto 说 sternly. “Lay off. We need to eat and get moving.”
The 狗 walked to the 厨房 where the same man gave them steaks. After the 狗 finished eating, the six of them went down to the first story where their sled was. Some men were 下载 something on the sled. From the looks of it, they must have had something heavy. It was in a 箱, 板条箱 and had no marking on it. After that was loaded, Ingram began to load the supplies needed for the trip back to Nome, as well as the 枪 he brought.
Abe walked into the room.
“Just wanted to see 你 off.” Abe said.
“Thank you.” Balto 说 as he took the lead position. Then Steele got behind Balto.
星, 星级 got into his position. Then Shadow bounded up to his position but slipped and fell on his face.
“Oh….” 星, 星级 said. “You fall down go boom.”
Shadow got up and gave a big smile, then got in his place. Kaltag got behind Shadow and Nikki behind Kaltag. Ingram walked towards the sled, when Evans walked up to him carrying something rather large in his arms.
“Goodness me.” Ingram said. “Is that for us?”
“You know how to operate your run of the mill mortar, right?” Evans asked.
“Certainly. Used to use them often.” Ingram replied.
“You may need it, do too the priority of the cargo 你 are transporting.”
“Of course.”
Ingram stowed the mortar gun on the sled, along with a case of mortar shells. He then put a sheet over the contents of the sled and got on the back of it. He grabbed the reins and told the 狗 to mush. The sled took off through the open door and through the open gate. They were off to Nome.
BONK XII
A good ways out of Paluva the team was going at a grueling pace. They though they heard something in the distance. Thinking it was nothing, the continued. They passed through a forest when suddenly there was a large explosion some 200 feet in front of them. Ingram promptly slowed the 狗 to a stop, as something large crashed through the trees, causing the ground to rumble like an earth quake. Ingram immediately recognized what it was.
“Goodness me.” Ingram remarked. “A German A7V. Haven’t seen one of those since the war.”
The massive 26 ton vehicle spun around, its tracks mangling snow and anything else under it, until it’s 57mm 大炮, 加农炮 was pointed towards the sled team. Then a voice came from inside the machine.
“Get your hands in the air.”
Ingram promptly complied. A man in a battlefield trench 涂层, 外套 and officer’s hat got out of the tank followed 由 17 others with Kar 98 rifles (a bolt action infantry 步枪 made 由 Mauser in 1898 and fires a box of 5 7.92mm rounds). The first man to get out, who was apparently a commander, went right beside Ingram. The other men followed.
“Did 你 not know that the war is over?” Ingram said.
“That’s very funny.” The commander said. “But vere not with the German army. We are what 你 would probably call a private army. Ve are here for your cargo. I am afraid ve must take 你 prisoner as well.”
“Would 你 be fair enough to let my 狗 go free? They really have nothing to do with this.” Ingram asked.
“You may let two of the hundes go.” The commander said. “That small grey husky and the black and white husky behind him may go. The rest must stay. Go unhook your hundes. And no funny business 或者 ve will kill all of your hundes.”
“Very well.” Ingram replied.
Ingram walked up 由 星, 星级 and bent over to unhook him. Why he was bent over he clipped something to Star’s running harness.
“Be a good sport and see that Wrong Way Williams gets this.” Ingram whispered. “He will know what to do with it.”
星, 星级 nodded as Ingram unhooked him. Then Ingram unhooked Shadow. Ingram then stood up.
“You know the way.” Ingram 说 to the two dogs. “Now go home.”
星, 星级 and Shadow ran as fast as they could towards Nome, leaping and bounding over the snow. They were the sled teams, and the mysterious cargo’s, only hope.
BONK XIII
星, 星级 and Shadow were running as fast as they could over the snow. Shadow was running directly to Star’s right. 星, 星级 looked over at Shadow.
“Shadow, I’m scared right now.” 星, 星级 whimpered. Will we ever make it?”
“I am scared as well.” Shadow replied. “Maybe if we sing something it will take our minds off of it.”
“Sing what?”
“A song that Wrong Way taught me from The War. It is called Belgium Put The Kibosh On The Kaiser.
A silly German sausage
Dreamt Napoleon he’d be,
Then he went and broke his promise,
It was made in Germany.
He shook hands with Britannia
And eternal peace he swore,
Naughty boy, he talked of peace
While he prepared for war.
He stirred up little Serbia
To serve his dirty tricks
But naughty nights at LiIge
Quite upset this Dirty Mick.
His luggage labeled ‘England’
And his programme nicely set,
He shouted ‘First stop Paris,’
But he hasn’t got there yet.
For Belgium put the kibosh in the Kaiser;
欧洲 took the stick and made him sore;
On his 王座, 宝座 it hurts to sit,
And when John 公牛 starts to hit,
He will never sit upon it any more.
His warships sailed upon the sea,
They looked a pretty sight
But when they heard the bulldog bark
They disappeared from sight.
The Kaiser 说 ‘Be Careful,
If 由 Jellico they’re seen,
Then every man-of-war I’ve got
Will be a submarine.’
We chased his ship to Turkey,
And the Kaiser startled stood,
Schratch’d his head and 说 ‘Don’t hurt,
你 see I’m touching wood;’
Then Turkey brought her warships
Just to aid the German plot,
Be careful, Mr. Turkey,
或者 you’ll do the Turkey Trot.
Belgium put the kibosh on the Kaiser;
欧洲 took the stick and made him sore;
And if Turkey makes a stand
She’ll get ghurka’d and japanned,
And it won't be Hoch the Kaiser any more.
He’ll have to go to school again
And learn his geography,
He quite forgot Britannia
And the hands across the sea,
Australia and Canada,
The Russian and the Jap,
And England looked so small
He couldn’t see her on the map.
Whilst Ireland seemed unsettled,
‘Ah’ 说 he ‘I’ll settle John,’
But he didn’t know the Irish
Like he knew them later on.
Though the Kaiser stirred the lion,
Please excuse him for the crime,
His lunatic attendant
Wasn’t with him at the time.
For Belgium put the kibosh on the Kaiser;
欧洲 took the stick and made him sore;
We shall shout with victory’s joy,
Hold your hand out, naughty boy,
你 must never play at soldiers any more
For Belgium put the kibosh on the Kaiser;
欧洲 took the stick and made him sore;
On his 王座, 宝座 it hurts to sit,
And when John 公牛 starts to hit,
He will never sit upon it any more
After Shadow finished the song, 星, 星级 looked puzzled.
“Who’s the Kaiser?” 星, 星级 inquired.
“It’s the man who started The War.” Shadow replied. “It is a song about how the Allies won The War.”
“Oh.” 星, 星级 said. “Hey! I really do feel better!”
“Told you. How much longer do 你 think we have to go?”
“It’s been what, four hours of running?”
“That sounds right. How much longer of a run do 你 think it is?”
“I don’t know. I am not a good tracker. If I try to take a shortcut I will get lost.”
“Me too. We better just run in a straight line, and hope we hit Nome soon.”
“Yeah.”
Star’s stomach growled; loud enough that Shadow could hear it as well.
“You’re hungry too?” Shadow asked.
“Yeah.” 星, 星级 replied. “We haven’t eaten since we left Paluva.”
“Bless you.” Shadow joked.
“He he he he…oooh.” 星, 星级 whined, as his sides began to hurt. “Please don’t make me laugh; I can not run if I am laughing.”
“Sorry.” Shadow apologized. “I was just trying to make us feel better.”
About four hours later, the two dog’s pace had begun to slow, as they grew exhausted from eight hours of nonstop running.
“I... (pant, pant)...need…. (pant, pant)…to….rest… (pant, pant)…Star.” Shadow struggled to say while panting from exhaustion.
“We… (pant, pant)…can’t stop… (pant, pant)…now, Shadow.” 星, 星级 managed to squeeze out while breathing heavily. “We must… (pant, pant)….get back so…. (pant, pant)….the team…. (pant, pant)…..can be rescued. They are our…. (pant, pant)…friends.”
“I…can’t…run anymore.” Shadow whined out as he plopped face first into the snow, coming to a fast stop.
“Shadow!” 星, 星级 cried, looking over his shoulder at his fallen friend.
星, 星级 slowed down and ran back towards Shadow. When he got 下一个 to Shadow he laid down 下一个 to him.
“Maybe we should rest.” 星, 星级 said, comforting his exhausted friend.
“I’m so cold.” Shadow whimpered.
“I know.” 星, 星级 said. “So am I. We will keep each other warm.”
星, 星级 looked up at the sky and saw that the sun was setting. It was beginning to get dark.
“We should rest for the night.” 星, 星级 told his friend. “We could get 迷失 in the dark. We will run for Nome when the sun comes up.”
Shadow nodded. 星, 星级 and Shadow both out their heads down and went to sleep. They would have a long run when the morning came.
BONK XIV
星, 星级 woke up to the warm rays of the sun. The first thing he knew he was awake, the 秒 thing he knew is he had not eaten in over a day. Shadow woke up to the growling of Star’s stomach, followed 由 the growling of his own stomach. Both 狗 stretched and got up on all fours.
“We better go now.” 星, 星级 told Shadow. “We need to get to Nome before we starve.”
Shadow nodded and both 狗 took off running as fast as they could, towards Nome. Over the glaring white snow they sprinted, not stopping for fear of losing their 老友记 as well as themselves. They kept up this pace for what seemed like ages. Neither dog knew exactly how long they had ran, but they knew it was longer than 8 hours.
As the afternoon grew near, the 狗 had still not slowed down. It now appeared to be only a couple of hours before sunset. Then they saw it.
“Look!” 星, 星级 exclaimed. “It’s Nome! I can see Nome! We are almost there!”
“Good.” Shadow replied. “I though we’d never make it.”
The 狗 ran full speed toward Nome. Both 狗 were normally skinny, but the hard long running for over a 日 with no 食物 took its toll on them. Both 狗 had exposed ribs from starvation, overworking, and exhaustion. Their slender profiles were just barely visible from the town borders.
星, 星级 and Shadow ran into the town limits.
“Quick, Shadow.” 星, 星级 said. “Help me find where your master lives. I do not know how much longer I can stay conscious.”
“Follow me.” Shadow replied, leading the way.
星, 星级 followed Shadow into town, around several buildings, and to a small Inn. They ran through the doggie door in the front and up the stairs. Shadow stopped in front of one of the doors in the upstairs hallway and started clawing at the door.
“Just a minute; I’m coming.” A voice came from inside.
The door opened; it was Wrong Way Williams. H
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