Chapter 6

Seamus was lying down in the old mill. A black cat padded over to him.

"Who are you?"

The cat didn't give her name. "I'm here representing the big headed dog."

Seamus frowned. "Who?"

The cat arched an eyebrow. "The big headed dog?"

"Who...?"

"The-big-headed-dog."

Seamus's eyes widened in realization. "Oh him. Where?"

"He wants you to meet him on the outskirts. Near your house."

Seamus nodded. "Okay. Thank you."

The cat turned and padded out. Seamus padded out an hour later.

Balto was lying down on the deck of the boat. Suddenly his ears perked up.

He had heard a wolf howl. He got up and headed down the ramp.

Seamus came to the area. There was no one there. The area was empty.

He frowned. Bolt was very late.

As he padded forward Bolt rose from the snow, perfectly camouflaged by the white around him.

He grabbed Seamus by the collar and smashed his face into a tree.

"Shit!" Seamus exclaimed, blood dripping from his muzzle.

"Language Seamus." Bolt warned.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Seamus demanded.

"I'm arresting you." Bolt snarled.

"Arresting me?" Seamus laughed. "For what?"

"For being the Butcher of Nome." Bolt replied. He began dragging Seamus towards town.

"This is crazy. Do you know who I am Bolty? I am the farmer's dog. I am the most respected dog in town. Who the hell are you? You're a cold blooded killer, wanted dead or alive! Who do you think they're gonna listen to?"

Bolt spun Seamus around. He punched him in the face. "SHUT UP!!"

There was a pause. Seamus breathed heavily. "You know something? I wanted you to live. I let you escape cause I didn't want you dying for my crime. But I swear when I am free I'm gonna rip you to pieces."

"I told you to shut up." Bolt snarled.

"You know, I'm sure there's something of a brain in that gargantuan head of yours. Now listen. I'm your only friend out here. Nobody else gives a crap about you. Balto wants you dead. I'm your only option."

"Don't move."

They both stared as Balto approached. "Bolt, let him go."

"I called you! I called you here! I sent the howl. Now just listen to me. This guy is the Butcher of Nome."

Balto paused. He looked at Seamus. "Is this true?"

Seamus shook his head. "No. This guy's nuts. Could you please kill him?"

Balto sighed. "Okay Bolt. Let him go. We can talk about this."

Bolt shook his head. "Balto, you're just as nuts as he is. The second I let him go you'll snap my neck. I know it!"

"No…"

"Well I'm tired of it! I'm tired of running! I've been running my whole life! I'm sick of it!" Bolt shouted.

Suddenly he felt someone grab his collar. "Let him go Butcher. I've got you."

Bolt released his grip on Seamus.

"Don't move a freakin muscle prick." Kaltag snarled. "I got him Balto."

Balto stared at Bolt. "Now tell me why Seamus is the Butcher."

Seamus was about to protest but Balto shot him a look.

"Okay." Bolt calmed down. "He said he was going to a meeting. Then yesterday you said he never showed up. And that was the time of the murders."

Balto nodded. He turned to Seamus. "Where were you?"

Seamus backed off. Suddenly he grabbed Kaltag by the collar.

Balto and Bolt padded forward in alarm."Don't come any closer!" Seamus snarled. "Listen dipsticks. I am getting on a trail to Anchorage. You'll never see me again. I won't kill here again."

"Anchorage?" Balto asked. "You know who's in Anchorage? My son. Are you gonna kill him?"

Seamus smiled. "Balto come on. I was at his freakin birthday. You actually believe you're best friend is the Butcher?"

Balto shook his head. "I don't know what to believe anymore."

Seamus smiled. Bolt noticed blood had started trickling down Kaltag's neck.

"Oh god. He's killing him!" He cried.

Seamus threw Kaltag's limp form at the two dogs. Then he turned and ran.

Bolt and Balto looked at each other.

"So are you gonna kill me?"

Balto smiled. "Not yet."

They both ran after Seamus.

Seamus ducked through alleys and street corners. He was bleeding badly but he was to desperate to get away. He looked back. No one was pursuing.

He stopped to catch his breath. He couldn't understand why he wasn't being chased.

"Give it up Seamus." Balto said, padding out of an alleyway.

Seamus glared at him. "You believe the big headed dog? You do don't you?"

Balto could see the sanity leaving his once best friend.

"Seamus, you need help."

"Oh really?" Bolt snapped from behind him. "You didn't offer to give me help."

"Shut up Bolt." Balto snapped. Bolt went quiet.

Seamus smiled. "You know there is an advantage to your best friend being your enemy."

"What is that?" Balto asked.

"I can anticipate your every move." Seamus replied. He lashed out, striking Balto in the head. Balto fell into the wall behind him. He went limp.

Bolt charged into Seamus. "You lying manipulative motherfu-"

"Language Bolt." Seamus taunted. He kicked Bolt in the stomach.

Bolt was pushed back a bit. Seamus turned to run. Bolt made one last effort to catch him. If he got into the street he was gone.

He dove out and bit into Seamus's leg.

Seamus cried out in pain. Bolt released him. He collapsed onto the ground, his leg bleeding.

He grunted from the pain. Bolt calmly padded over to him, spitting some of the blood out of his mouth.

"I don't like you." Bolt said bluntly. "But I'm not gonna kill you."

"Neither am I." Balto said, padding up next to him. "We're taking you in."

Seamus shook his head. "You'll never take me alive."He got to his paws and ran towards the street.

There were very few automobiles in Nome in 1929. But they were there.

And one happened to be zipping down the street just as Seamus ran across.

There was a screech of tires and a crash. Seamus was flung onto the side of the road. Bolt and Balto ran to his unmoving form.

"Seamus? Are you okay?" Balto asked.

Seamus looked up at the two dogs. Blood was streaming down his muzzle.

"Sorry Balto." Was all he managed. Then he went still.

Balto sighed. "I guess I owe you an apology Bolt."

"Yeah well you'd be amazed how much blood I lost when you pulled those stitches out."

Balto chuckled. "Whining like a baby?"

Bolt snapped. "I almost died yesterday because of you. Now I'm trapped in 1929..." He froze. "I'm trapped in 1929."

"What do you mean you're trapped in 1929?"

Bolt sighed. "I mean I'm stuck eighty years in the past!"

Balto stared at the dog, puzzled. "You are crazy."

"Can we talk? Is there someplace to talk thats private?"

Balto nodded. "I got a place."

A cat and a hamster in a plastic ball.

Balto shook his head. "They're not coming are they?"

Bolt nodded. "Well...they're stuck here too."

Balto shrugged. "Okay. We can talk."

He turned back to the body of his friend. "I'm disappointed Seamus."

He tried to hide the tears as he led the trio to his home.