Fallout

Balto panted heavily as he sprinted toward Kemo's den. He had not run this fast since the 1925 Serum Run, yet he had great incentive. If Eyak tells Kemo before I do . . . Doggone it! I knew this would happen! I just hope I'm not too late. The minutes seemed like hours and the hours like days as he ran. If only his luck held, another disaster might be averted, yet he feared his impending meeting with his brother. This isn't going to be easy.

Soon, he arrived at the partially frozen stream that marked the western boundary of Kemo's territory. He angled deeper into the woods and made his way to the cave. Not that he expected Kemo to be there this late in the day, but he hoped to at least pick up a trail. He quickly reached the concealed den opening and entered. He looked around. No one home. Maybe I'm not . . .

"Balto. I've been expecting you."

. . . too late. Balto suppressed a grimace and turned around. Kemo was sitting beside the cave's mouth, safe from immediate detection. "I figured as much. We've got a lot to discuss."

Kemo offered a slight nod. "That we have, so why don't we begin with the truth. It seems to have eluded you recently."

Balto shook his head. "I see Eyak has already been here."

The wolf's voice grew suddenly intense. "That is irrelevant the point. Is what he said true?"

"Depends on what he told you," Balto said as he sat down.

"If that was an attempt at levity, I is poorly timed. So why don't we cut to the chase, as you like to phrase it. You know what I am going to ask, so is he staying with you or not, this human?"

Balto nodded. "Yes, he is."

"And has been since he arrived?"

"Yes."

Kemo stared hard at him. "Then this is what you tried so hard to conceal from me the night you and Jenna brought news of the human's arrival? Why did you not tell me then?"

Balto released his frustration with a deep breath. "I feared for safety of the human and his canine companions. And that of my own family."

"Why? You do not trust me?"

"It's not you I don't trust. You would be obliged to tell the other packs since it concerns them as well, and I couldn't be sure how they would react."

Kemo jumped to his feet. "That is no excuse to lie!"

Balto held his anger in check. Barely. "Back the sled up! Let's suppose that I had told you of this human's whereabouts. If news had gotten to Eyak or extremist members of other packs, the human and his dogs would have been endangered, and my family would be targeted for harboring them."

"What makes you think I would not have kept your secret, had you asked?"

"As I said, you would be obligated to tell the others. You've said as much in the past."

The white wolf spat in disgust. "Do you really know so little of our kind? If you look deeper into wolf society, you will see that bonds of kinship outweigh those with outsiders. Counting the what-ifs will get us nowhere, however. What is done is done, and there is no turning back." Balto opened his mouth to speak, but Kemo cut him off. "The truth I would have understood. That is honorable. A refusal to answer I could have understood. That is honorable, though bordering upon guile. But willfully lying and skulking about the truth is an unforgivable offense. And to endanger every clan in this area . . ."

I can only take so much. Balto rose to his feet and looked his brother in the eye. "I wasn't endangering anyone, Kemo. I kept you apprized of everything except his location, and I would have revealed that too if it became necessary. Where is the danger in that?"

"The problem is that I am no longer sure of what you tell me. The more one avoids the truth, the easier the lies become. Just what is the level of danger in which we reside?"

"I'm not sure . . ."

Kemo turned and paced the cave floor. "That answer was expected. It appears Eyak was correct in his reasoning. You have become tainted by your association with humans. You betrayed your own kind. My only question is, 'why?'"

"My kind?"Balto bristled. "You have no idea what it is like to have two 'kinds.' Both look to you for assistance, yet both see deceit and innuendo when you help one over the other. And you accuse me of betrayal? How do you think I feel about your sudden association with Eyak? That wolf was willing to harm your niece, my daughter, last night just to get information to hurt me? Be careful who you lie down with. You may just rise up with fleas. Or dishonor."

"Dishonor?!" Kemo spun and pinned him against the rock wall. "Let me tell you of dishonor. Dishonor was lying to me. Dishonor was lying to the clans. Dishonor is trying to shirk your responsibility to your kin. I may disagree with Eyak's methods, but they were certainly effective in exposing this treachery." Kemo stared hard at him. "Lower your hackles, friend. As much as I despise your actions, I do not wish to fight or inflict harm upon you."

Balto glared back. "A bit late for that. I guess you're content letting me dwell in my owndishonor."

Kemo slammed him against the wall again. "And do not mock me," he growled. "That you cannot see the disgrace in your actions . . . Go."

Balto pushed him away and the two eyed each other. "How can you say that? This isn't settled yet. What about these bonds of kinship you spoke of? I'm your brother!"

Kemo shook his head. "I have no brother here. Not anymore. This argument is closed."

"Kemo don't do this. 'Words spoken in anger accomplish nothing and are often soon regretted.' Doesn't that sound familiar to you?"

"I will regret nothing." Kemo turned his back. "Go."

"But the human. What will you do?"

"I will do what I must. Leave me. Now."


Balto arrived back in Nome long after night fall. He had been dejectedly roaming some of his old haunts since his fallout with Kemo. I have no brother here. Not anymore . . . I will regret nothing . . . I will do what I must. Kemo's ominous words still rang in his ears. He shut his eyes tightly as he tried will them away. I can't let Aleu hear about what happened.

"Where were you?" Jenna asked when Balto walked into the house. "Aleu said you rushed out of here like a . . . What's the matter."

"I had to talk to Kemo. Apparently Aleu told Eyak about the human staying here."

"Eyak?"

"A pack leader who has a vendetta against me. His father was the one who planned the attack on Kaltag, and the one who fought and lost to Tricksy. Eyak blames me for convincing the other leaders that Tricksy didn't provoke the fight. He's been looking for a way to get even with me for a long time. Looks like he's finally done it."

Jenna gasped. "You mean he told . . ."

Balto nodded.

"Did Kemo actually. . ."

Balto nodded again.

"But surely he'll listen to reason. How did it go?"

Now Balto sighed. "It didn't. We started arguing, and one thing led to another. Next thing I know, he disowns me. I should have told him when I had the chance."

"It's not your fault! If anyone is to blame, it's me. I discouraged you from being open with him. If you were to tell him this . . ."

"Then he would think of me as a weak liar instead." He sighed heavily. "I'm afraid I'm stuck."

Jenna leaned comfortingly against him. "You were only doing what you thought was best."

"Unfortunately it wasn't good enough," he grumbled.

"You think Aurora and Dash's human is in danger?"

"I'm not sure, Jenna. I'm not sure about anything anymore."

She leaned comfortingly against him. "Don't give up hope yet. After Kemo cools down, maybe he'll listen then."

"I wouldn't count on it. Even if he decides he is wrong, he'll be too proud to admit it."

"Then look on the bright side."

He gave her a puzzled look. "What bright side?"

"You may have just saved four lives."

Balto lowered himself to the floor. "Maybe, but I've more likely just condemned sixty."

"Balto, you still don't know that this project will hurt any of the packs."

"True, but even if it is harmless in that sense, they won't listen to me anymore. If Eyak's calling the shots, that human and his dogs are dead meat if they're found, and thanks to Aleu that won't be much of a problem. If that happens, they'll have set themselves up for extermination. You know how humans react when wolves attack pets or livestock. Think what will happen if the humans lose one of their own kind."

"You don't think . . ."

Balto nodded. "Every pack would be slaughtered. It won't matter if they were involved or not."

"That's pretty unlikely, don't you think? Kemo's always been a leader, not a follower. He wouldn't just let someone else make all the calls."

"That's why he'd be right up front when the bullets start flying. I just hope he thinks before he gets himself and everyone else killed."

There was a long pause before Jenna spoke again. "Do you think Kemo would actually allow an attack to happen?"

"Depends on how threatened he feels, but you're assuming he would be included in the decision. I wouldn't put it past Eyak to make the first move, claim the humans attacked his pack, and then draw Kemo into the conflict. It doesn't matter how the human is killed. It will still start a war the packs simply can't win." He paused and perked his ears.

Jenna tensed. "What's wrong?"

Her mate shrugged. "I thought I heard something."