Chapter 5: The Obvious Riddle
"Balto, what the heck is it?" exclaimed Boris, Balto old Russian goose friend, as he saw Balto and Kaltag dragging a unconscious wolf that looked so much like Balto up onto their boat. Muk and Luk ran out of the cabin curiously.
"We found him in the woods, or rather, he came to us and faint," said Balto, panting. To carry a wolf from such a distance away had worn him down. "He is one of the –
"Lone wolves in the forest." Interrupted Boris with a twinkle in his eyes, "this news is all over Nome already! Jenna came to us and told us everything; she left us only minutes ago."He turned to the unconscious wolf, which was now covered in a blanket and lying in the cabin room, "So tell me, who is this wolf? Have you found your wolf counterpart in the forest?"
"I don't know," Balto replied, apparently irritated by Boris' statement "But you can ask him when he awake."
"But will he ever awake?" Boris muttered.
For the next few hours, Balto watch over the wolf with Kaltag went back to the town and told the dogs of what they have discovered, he also told them not to disturb Balto until he gets more information, this request upset a few, especially Sylvie. Of the three of them, Boris got the hardest job: he had to keep Muk and Luk's curiosity at bay so the wolf could rest. But he didn't seemed to be good at it, they kept asking "Why is there are to Baltos?" or "How can Balto split into two?" Plus a great amount of Luk's unrecognizable murmur. Until finally, old Boris had enough, he yelled angrily at them to keep their silence. It turned out they did quite for a while, but it certainly didn't apply for the main goal, as the wolf stirred, he moaned and opened his eyes.
The moment Balto saw the eyes of the wolf, he knew that they weren't all the same after all; the wolf's has a pair of emerald green eyes, unlike Balto's own brown eyes. "Where am I?" He finally asked, his voice was weak, but Balto was sure that it must be quite charming when he is healthy.
"You are in where I live, a deserted boat not far away from a human town." Answered Balto, "You bummed right into me and passed out after that, why?"
"You will share how I am feeling now if you try running non-stop like a rabid for four days and eat only so few." The wolf said. His voice was still weak.
"Then you must be really tired!" exclaimed Balto, his eyes widen in surprise. "You should rest, and when you get stronger I'll bring you some food." He commanded.
The wolf obeyed, but soon asked "May I know your name? Mine is Kirdo."
Kirdo… That sounded so familiar, but Balto just can't catch the line, he decided to ask him, but he knew the wolf was still weak and cannot manage a long talk, so he simply answered "My name is Balto."
Kirdo's entire body shook, as if he had heard something abnormal, he raised his head and looked at Balto's face, his face showed a look that Balto could not recognize whether it is shock or joy or relieve.
"We've got much to talk about, Balto, once I can get myself ready for a long talk…" and he closed his eyes, ready to sleep, leaving the already puzzled Balto a cliffhanger.
The next time Kirdo awake was in the night. Balto had got him some food from the town earlier in the day and was ready to go to sleep. Jenna was there too, Rosy knew she was getting closer to and closer to Balto and allowed her to visit to Balto in the night, as long as Jenna is safe, which Balto will most certainly keep it. She left when Kirdo awake.
Balto tilted his head, telling Kirdo to eat the meat on the deck, and he watched as he finished the meat, not really quick, in silence. When the meat was finished, Kirdo tried to sit up but failed, he gave Balto a defeated smile. "Well, maybe I am not going to sit up yet, but I'm sure I can talk much now, I'm feeling stronger" and without giving Balto a chance to speak, he continued "I can tell by your face that you have much to ask, so let's don't keep your questions waiting."
Balto thought of what is more important and what to ask first, and after a long pause, "What is the connection between us?" he asked.
Rising one side of his eyebrow, Kirdo asked, "Don't you remember anything? My body? My name?"
Balto shook his head "I only feel that you are somewhat familiar, and that I must've met you in my past, perhaps my puppyhood, my memory of that time had turned to tiny little fragments over time." He chuckled and continued "Maybe it's because once I reach Nome, where Boris the goose brought me, everyday is all about survival, so I have no time to think about my past and eventually forget it all. It might not be really nasty but it was hard enough to steal as a puppy, not to mention one with lots of dogs just want to stand in your way just because you're half wolf."
"But at least you could guess, isn't it obvious enough?" Kirdo suddenly had the strength to sit up; he looked directly into Balto's eyes "I am your brother."