Chapter 2

As the Huskies woke up, they all saw their owners crying, blowing their noses with rather damp looking handkerchiefs and once some of them saw the newspaper for today, they understood why: there had been an attack on a Navy base, leaving over a thousand American soldiers dead or seriously injured. The dogs knew that it was a great lost to their owners, but they thought that they would get over it easily. But as they walked around Nome, they saw how badly they were affected.

"I can't believe it: all those men and women at that base!" some heard a woman make out in between her hiccups and her blowing her nose. "This attack won't go unanswered!" shouted a man who was standing outside the post office, while other men were gathering around him. "I'm gonna join the army the next chance I get. Who's with me?" To this, most of the men who were gathered around him cheered in agreement. "Quiet: the President is about to speak!" said the postman, a man named Mr. Thompson, as he turned up the radio for the people on the outside to hear.

"December 7th 1941: a day that brought great sorrow to our nation...The United States of America was purposely attack last night by the Naval and Air forces of Japan on an American Naval Base..." the President said over the radio, the slightest bit of anger trying to fight its way into his speech. By this point, the dogs had found places to sit and listen to their own radio. The President sighed, before saying, "I regret to inform that over 3000 Americans...have lost their lives." Several of the women listening burst into sudden tears, and the men here started to shout angrily at the radio. "Oh no," said Jenna sadly. "This is terrible: just terrible," agreed Sylvie, shaking her head in shock.

"Please, please: don't go to War," whispered Jenna, her eyes starting to well up. "Because of the uncalled for attack by Japan, I am forced to declare War on Japan and her allies." No, please, no, thought Jenna, as her tears finally started to run down her face. "I really hope me owner doesn't go there," said one dog, fearfully. "Same here," said a small terrier. "I don't think we can stop our humans from going: there going because they want to," said Jenna through the tears. Dixie looked at her, shocked, and asked, "Why would they want to do that?" Jenna explained, "It's because they want to protect their homes and families." "Oh, I hope they don't go," said Dixie, a tear running down her face.

Meanwhile, just a few roads away from where Jenna and the rest of the dogs were, Balto and Borris had found their way into town and were now currently looking at today's newspaper, with the headline reading, America declares War on Japan and its Allies. "I can't believe this," said Balto, shaking his head in shock. "Well," said Balto, turning to face Borris, "looks like we're in this War now." Borris started to wave his wings in front of him, and said, "No, no, no: you and me are staying out of this! This is a human War, not ours." Balto shook his head in confusion, and started, "Yeah, but..."

But Borris cut him off, "NO BUTS" he yelled, crossing his wings in front of him, "besides: they don't let dogs joined the army anyway." Balto smirked, and said, "Dogs, yes: but they didn't say anything about half-breeds." Borris sighed, and pinched the top of his beak with two of his feathers and said, "Balto, who could you possibly want to protect by going into the Army? They're all been so cruel to you!" Balto looked up to Borris, and said a just one word, "Jenna," before he turned around and ran towards the centre of town.

Meanwhile, in Jenna's house, raised voices could be heard from outside. "ARE YOU COMPLETELY CRAZY!" shouted Caroline to her husband, a man called Johnson. "I'm sorry, but I have to go: if I don't go, who will?" he asked. "You've seen those photos of battlefields: the dead soldiers all lined up; all those wounded survivors...Why on EARTH would you want to go through with THAT!" Caroline screamed at him. Johnson sighed, and said, "Look, there's a draft happening, so even if I didn't want to join, I'll have to: besides, I have to do this, to protect my country...and you." He then bent down to give Rosie a hug, and she said, "Daddy, please: don't go." Johnson sighed again, and stroked a finger against his daughter's cheek, and said, "Listen, if I don't go, then the bad guys will come here and hurt everyone in Nome, and I can't let that happen."

Rosie was about to say something else when a knock came from the front door. "Wait here," said Johnson to his daughter, standing up and walking towards the door. A man with a thick brown bead stood there, wearing an Army hat, along with the rank of Sergeant printed onto the left sleeve of his grey overcoat. "Good morning, sir," the man said, "my name is Gunnery Sergeant Will Hunt: I'm here to recruit men for the US Army." Johnson saluted him and said, "Well then, sign me up, sir." Sgt Hunt nodded and said, "You're doing your country a great favour, sir, but I have one more question to ask you sir." Curious, Johnson asked, "And what is that, sir?"

"The Army need dogs to help sniff out Nazi soldiers and spies, and I understand that Nome has rather large dog population." Johnson said, "But there all sled dogs: they can't possibly fight fully trained soldiers and attack dogs!" Caroline then spoke up, "Wait a minute, there's a wolf/dog in Nome, what's his name...Balto!" Sgt Hunt, now curious, asked, "A wolf/dog, eh? That's exactly what we need. He'll be the town hero, no doubt? Do you know where he is?" "Um, he's a stray, Sergeant," replied Johnson. Sgt Hunt chuckled, and said, "A stray? That makes it much better: his senses should be better tuned than the average house dog. How often does he come into town?" Checking his wristwatch, Johnson replied, "He'll be coming about now to find some lunch."

As Balto made his way through the alleyways of Nome, he caught a glimpse of a long line of men waiting to sign themselves up to join the Army. But as he looked around, he saw a sight that broke his heart: it was Jenna, her beautiful face slightly ruined by tear lines running down her face. Concerned, Balto trotted up to her and asked, "Jenna, are you OK? What's wrong?" When Jenna looked and she knew it was him, she flung herself at him and cried heavily onto his shoulder. "Oh, Balto: Rosie's father's going to that horrible War," she mumbled through her tears and his fur. Balto shuffled nervously: he had had a bit of a crush on Jenna ever since he saw her, but he had never been this close to her before.

"What did I say about coming into my town, half-breed?" came a voice from around a corner: it was Steele. Growling angrily at him, Balto said, "Beat it, you self-centred jerk." Steele, momentarily, leaned back in shock: Balto had never insulted him before. But, then again, it would be his dying words... "Oh, tough guy. How about we settle it, right here, right now, lobo," said Steele, growling at Balto and showing his teeth. "Ah, there he is," said another voice that stopped the three canines. Around the opposite corner that Steele came around, came Sgt Hunt and Johnson, now wearing a brown overcoat. "Are you sure you won't consider Steele?" asked Johnson, pointing at the black and white Husky.

Sgt Hunt laughed heartily, and said, "Johnson, no offence, but the Army needs tough tracker dogs, not fancy sled dogs that do the opposite of what you do in battle: they don't fight, they run." Growling angrily at the human insult, Steele purposely stood on Balto's front paw, causing the wolf/dog to bare his teeth at the Sergeant and growl in pain. "Did you see that? He snapped at you: he can't be trusted!" said Johnson, walking up until he was level with Sgt Hunt, who had taken a few steps forward to examine Balto. But the Sergeant was smiling, and he said, "Are you kidding? This is perfect: he won't hesitate to kill a Nazi when he spots one." Scratching the top of Balto's head, Hunt asked, "What do ya say, boy? Do you want to fight for freedom?" To this, Balto barked in response. Sgt Hunt smiled, "Good boy. I'll pick you up for training tomorrow."

As Hunt and Johnson walked away, Jenna asked, "Balto, please don't tell me your actually going through with this?" Steele, angered by the humans chose Balto over him, said, "Of course he's not going to! He's just a cowardly half-breed!" Balto, a smirk playing across his face, said, "Excuse me, I believe they want 'tough tracker dogs, not fancy sled dogs." Growling menacingly, Steele said, "If this War doesn't kill you, lobo, then I WILL." And with that, he turned tail and left, leaving a determined Balto and a shocked Jenna. "Balto, please tell me you don't actually want to go," Jenna whispered, tears starting to form in her eyes again.

Balto sighed, and said, "What's the point in worrying, Jenna? Everybody in this town wants me dead: no one likes me." Jenna, completely shocked, gasped, "That's not true Batlo!" to which Balto gave her a confused look. Balto then asked, "Ok, name one other person, other than Borris, that care's for me?" But the moment those words left his mouth, Jenna blurted out, "I care for you!" Balto, completely stunned by what she had just said, was about to say something when Jenna flung herself at him for the second the time today, tears running down her face. She mumbled, "I don't want you to go," as she nuzzled his neck fur.

Sighing, Balto stroked the back of her head soothing, and said, "Hey, hey, hey, it's alright, Jenna. Hopefully, you'll be about to visit me." Jenna looked up at him with a hopeful expression and asked, "Really?" Balto smiled warmly, and added, in a comforting tone, "And don't worry, I'll make sure that I come back alive." Balto then looked up to the sun: it was about five o'clock. "Listen, Jenna, I've really got to get going: I need a decent night's sleep for tomorrow." Though secretly, he didn't want to leave Jenna in this sort of state.

Sighing, Jenna gave the wolf/dog a final nuzzle and said, "Alright, then. Goodnight, Balto." Smiling, Balto nuzzled her back and started to trot back to his boat. After a few minutes' walk, Balto arrived at his boat, and saw Borris mopping the wooden floor of the boat, and Muk and Luk, two polar bears that Balto had befriended, sleeping in the cabin. "Ah, boychic, you vinally managed to vind your vay home," said Borris, putting the mop back into the bucket. Balto didn't respond: he was too busy thinking about how he should break it to Borris that he had joined the Army. Sensing something was wrong, Borris asked, "Uh, Balto? Is something wrong?" Aware Borris was speaking to him, Balto chuckled nervously and replied, "Um, uh, no... Just that, I've joined the Army," he said the last part quickly, hoping Borris would understand it. He did.

Borris stood there, mouth agape, looking at Balto. "Uh, Borris are you OK?" asked Balto, looking at the frozen goose. The next moment, Borris broke out into a fit of Russian curses. "Идиот! Дура! Why would you do something like that?" Borris shouted in Balto's face. Sighing, Balto waited until Borris to a moment to breath before saying, "Look, I want to something with my life, Borris, even if it means that there's a slight chance that I might be killed." Borris was about to speak again, but he stopped and

Sighed: he knew when Balto wanted to do something, he was persistent. "OK, OK Balto, I know you're not a pup anymore, so I guess that you're old enough to decide what you want to do with your life." Balto smiled at the old goose, and said, "Thank you, Borris: I'll see you in the morning." And with that, Balto went below decks to a pile of blankets that he used when Muk and Luk stayed the night. Crawling underneath a tattered and torn brown blanket, Balto closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Meanwhile, all was not well in Nome. Well, the dog population of Nome, anyway. Steele, completely infuriated by the humans choosing Balto over him to defend his country, was on a rampage through the abandoned warehouse were the dogs met, taking his anger out on the fellow dogs. "HOW COULD THEY?" Steele shouted, the other dogs shrinking back in fear that he might turn on them. "HOW COULD THEY CHOSE THEY MUTT OF A WOLF OVER ME?" he shouted again, swatting a bone again the wall angrily. "Steele, why would you want to go into War anyway?" asked Jenna, shocked to how Steele was reacting to Balto being chosen over him to serve and get killed.

"I can't believe that Balto actually took the job," said Kaltag, receiving several angry glares from the dogs surrounding him. "He might actually die," muttered Sylvie, the ever so slightest hint of shock and sadness trying to fight its way into her voice. "Hey, if he does, he won't be any of our problems anymore," shouted a husky, causing the entire room to burst out in laughter. "DON'T YOU ALL HEAR YOURSELVES!" shouted Jenna, getting up and facing the other dogs, "BALTO IS GOING TO FIGHT FOR US, AND YOU ALL WANT HIM DEAD? NONE OF YOU HAVE HEARTS!" Whimpering, all the dogs shrunk back in fear: none of them had ever heard Jenna shout like that before.

"W-Well, when you put it that way..." said the husky who said about Balto not being their problem. "Yeah, he does have some guts to go out there," said another husky closer to Jenna. "Are you kidding? He's nothing! He's a stupid stray! A bet you he runs away at the first sight of trouble!" shouted Steele, still fuming about the humans comments. Disgusted by Steele's last comment, Jenna walked up to him and slapped him hard in the muzzle, leaving three thin claw marks. "You are sick, Steele!" she shouted, before storming out and down the street towards her house, thinking about how Balto was feeling.