Balto: How the Mighty Rise Again(part 2)

Boris was washing the deck of the boat. He had to keep himself busy or he would worry. He had waited a month for Balto to return. But he had heard no wolf howl. Only the howling of the wind.

Suddenly he heard a howl. It was an ugly howl, but a howl all the same.

He waddled down the ramp as fast as his legs could take him. He slammed right into the visitor. It wasn't Balto.

"Ah!" Boris exclaimed. The visitor's jaw swiveled freely. He was terribly deformed. Boris looked at the stump where his ear had been."Who are you?" Boris demanded.

The visitor chuckled. "I am an old acquaintance of your friend Balto."

Suddenly the intruder pounced on the goose. He pinned him to the deck.

"Does my appearance frighten you?" He asked. He was grinning madly.

"V-v-vell…"

The intruder's paws closed on the gooses throat. "Does it?! I can't hear you!"

Boris nodded slowly. The intruder started laughing maniacally, his dislocated jaw swinging loosely.

Suddenly he became serious. "Because that is what I do. I scare people."

He thought for a second. "Screw that! I kill people!" He began laughing again.

"Vhat do you vant?" Boris asked weakly.

The intruders face became serious again. "I want to cause…pain. Lots and lots of pain!"

Boris didn't speak. He was frozen with fear.

"My name is Chiffre. I would very much like to meet your friend."

"He's…not here." Boris replied weakly.

"Oh yes he is." Chiffre replied. "He landed this evening. He is in Nome."

Boris couldn't contain his excitement. "Really? Vhere is he?"

Chiffre growled. Boris became quiet.

"I want to meet him. Tell him I'm looking for him, when he comes."

Chiffre released him. He turned to leave. Then he looked back.

"If I am hunted, I will return and kill you."

With that Chiffre sprinted off into the woods. Boris shivered.

"Vhy does the little boychik make so many enemies?"

Balto stayed in the shadows once he entered the city. He headed for the old mill. He padded inside.

It was empty. "Nice place." Samson said sarcastically.

Balto looked around. "There should be people here."

"How long were you gone?" Samson asked. Balto was confused by the question. "One month. Why?"

"Well a lot can change in a month. Maybe they've found a new meeting place."

Balto looked around some more. "Or maybe something's going on."

He gestured to the door. "Keep watch outside."

Samson padded over to the door. He opened it and there was a loud cracking sound. Something whizzed over Samson's head.

"Shit!" Samson exclaimed. "I'm sick of guns!"

Balto saw the bullet hole in the wood next to his head. "Close the damn door!" He yelled.

Samson slammed it shut. "What is there a curfew?!"

Balto looked around. "We have to go. Up the chute!"

Samson was confused. "What?"

"The old mill has a chute. We can crawl up it and escape."

Samson sighed. "Okay. Where is it?"

"Here!" Balto climbed up onto the chute. Samson sprinted up it and then climbed down onto the street.

They heard gunshots behind them. Balto dared a look back. There were four humans with hunting rifles. They were firing.

"Oh boy." Balto groaned. He and Samson turned down a dark alley.

He suddenly felt a sharp pain in his back leg. He yelped in pain and fell to the ground.

Samson turned, and began dragging Balto. "What the hell are you doing? Go!" Balto ordered.

"Boss doesn't want you dead!" Samson yelled back.

"Screw him! I'll be fine! Just go!"

Samson hesitated then sprinted off down the street.

Balto could see no way out. He was alone now. He looked down the dark alleyway. He had fallen right into a trap. Now the humans would kill him.

He wouldn't even be able to say goodbye to Jenna. He saw the humans. They were searching for him. Suddenly something caught him by the neck. He was pulled behind a bunch of trash cans.

"Stupid mutt! What are you doing out past curfew?!"

Balto recognized the figure immediately. "Evening Kaltag."

"Eh…Balto?" Kaltag's mood seemed to brighten up. "Thank god you're back!"

Balto groaned. He had been shot in the back leg. "Why is the Old Mill empty?"

Kaltag sighed. "A lot can happen in one month."

Balto nodded. "So they tell me. How's Jenna?"

"She's fine. Sad as hell, but fine. I think you should see her."

"I will. First I'll go to the boat. How do we get down their?"

Kaltag grinned. "The pipeline."

Kaltag opened the hatch. He and Balto had crawled the length of the town, through the pipeline.

"That is the last time I go in a lead pipe!" Balto exclaimed.

"Better get used to it. It's the only safe way through town at night."

Kaltag noticed that Balto was limping. "You okay?"

"Bullet wound. Humans are good shots."

Kaltag nodded. "There's a curfew. Anything on the streets after 10:00 PM is fair game. They're scared stiff of wolves."

Kaltag noticed Balto wince at the word 'wolf.' "Sorry Balto. They are crazy about you. They think you have some wolf thing that made you kill Silver.""I didn't kill Silver!" Balto snarled.

Kaltag backed off. "I believe you, Balto. The humans don't. They want you dead."

Balto chuckled grimly. "Both of Alaska's 'heroes' brought down on the same day."

Kaltag sighed. "I'm sorry. We dogs know the truth. We'll protect you."

Balto shook his head. "The humans have guns. Dogs can't protect me."

He sniffed back tears. "God help who can."

Jenna watched hopefully out the window. She had every day since Balto's departure. Lately her hope had been dwindling.

The family was sitting together in front of the fire. Rosy was with them.

"Mommy, where's Balto?" Rosy asked.

Her mother looked confused as to how to answer. "I don't know dear."At that moment her father returned home. He had a rifle over his shoulder.

"Sorry I'm late dear. We had a couple of wolves at the old mill."

He laid his rifle on the table. Rosy's mother looked up.

"Could you put that away dear, I don't like looking at it."

He hung up the rifle in the closet. "Did you shoot any?" Rosy's mother asked.

"Actually, yes. I got one in the leg. Unfortunately he got away."

He frowned. "Now that I think about it, it looked rather familiar…"

"Daddy, where's Balto?" Rosy asked.

Her Dad was speechless. He was the only human in the house who knew about the Balto killings.

"Well I'm sure he's around here somewhere."

Balto saw the old boat. He ran up to it. "Going to say hello to the goose?" Kaltag asked.

Balto chuckled. "I'm going to make my dramatic entrance."

He summed up all his strength and jumped on deck. Just as he had calculated, Boris was in his sleeping spot. Balto landed on top of him.

Boris screamed out in terror. "Please, Chiffre! Don't kill me!"

Balto paused, startled. "What?"

Boris gasped. "Boychik! You are here!" He jumped up and kissed Balto on the head. "Oh Balto! I thought I vould never see you again!"

Balto shook it off. "Chiffre? Was he here?"

Boris's eyes filled with fear. "He came and attacked me! He asked for you!"

Balto was confused. "He want's me? But I want him."

Kaltag broke in. "What the hell are you talking about? Who's Chiffre?"

Balto sighed. "Never mind. Go home Kaltag. It's not safe here."

Kaltag opened his mouth to argue. Balto shot him a look. He turned and crawled into the oil pipeline.

Balto turned back to Boris. "I'm going to check on Jenna. If Chiffre comes back, I want you to run like hell."

Boris nodded. "Don't get shot boychik."

Balto chuckled grimly. "Too late."

There was a scratching at Jenna's door. She nervously went to open it.

There was a black cat standing there. "Who're you?" She asked suspiciously.

"My name is Samson." The cat bowed. "Is Balto here by any chance?"

Jenna shook her head. "He hasn't been here for a month."

Samson hit himself on the head. "Dammit! I shouldn't have left him!"

Jenna was confused. "Why would he be here?"

"He's in town. He got shot. And I left him behind!"

"He's in town?!" Jenna asked excitedly. Suddenly her look turned to anger. "You left him behind?"

Samson shook his head desperately. "He told me too!"

Jenna started for the door. Samson stepped in the way. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going find to my mate." She replied.

Samson shook his head. "No. I will go. It's too dangerous for you."

Jenna frowned. "What? You think I'm not tough enough? I'll help you look."

Before Samson could protest she had sprinted off into the night.

Samson sighed. "They're both so stubborn." He sprinted off after her.

Balto padded up to Jenna's house. He smiled. There were lights on inside.

He sprinted to the front door and started scratching at it. There was no response.

"C'mon Jenna, it's me." He whispered.

He knew one call that would definitely let her know he was there.

He let out a long wolf howl.

Suddenly the door opened. Rosy's father stood there with his hunting rifle.

Balto padded towards him. He suddenly raised the gun. He pointed it at Balto's head. Balto could see the angry expression on his face. "You've got a lot of nerve showing up here!" He snarled.

"You're not welcome here! Shoo!"

He pulled back the hammer on the rifle. "Go on boy! Don't make me shoot you!"

Balto let out a low whimper, then turned and ran off into the night. Rosy's father sighed, then closed the door. He had been told to shoot Balto on sight. But he had been unable to do it.

Balto was limping through the snow. He had no idea where he was. He didn't really care. If he froze to death out here, the humans would just have a big celebration.

"Rough life, huh?" A voice behind him said.

Balto turned. "Who's there?"

"A friend." The voice replied. "Someone you can trust."

"How do I know that?" Balto asked suspiciously.

The figure stepped out of the shadows. It was Chiffre. "I believe we've met before."

Before Chiffre could react, Balto had pinned him to the ground."Someone I can trust, huh? You ruined my life!"

Chiffre shrugged. "I ruin many lives. I end many more."

Balto growled. "You son of a bitch!"

Chiffre began giggling. "Sticks and stones, brother."Balto paused. "What did you call me?"

Chiffre grinned. "My mother's name was Aniu. As was your's."

Balto hesitated. Suddenly Chiffre kicked. He hit Balto in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Then he grabbed him by the neck.

"Now, be a good boy and listen."

Balto growled in response. Chiffre hit him in the face.

"Oh, we can't have that." He tutted.

"You're not my brother. My siblings were all killed. The disease…"

"Ah, yes. However I was born earlier. I was spared the pain of watching my siblings die."

"What do you mean you were born earlier?"

"I was born a month before the rest. I was in town once and a hunter saw me. He took me. My parent's never talked about me?"Balto shook his head. "I would want a psychotic son kept secret."

Chiffre look ready to hit him again. He stopped himself.

"You are mean to me. Just like my family. The hunter already owned dogs. They were hunting dogs. The father dog, I loved him. He hated me. He would beat me every night. When I asked why he would look at me and say:

Because you're part wolf." A look of sadness appeared on Chiffre's deformed face. "Only one of them was nice to me. Their son. I believe you've met him.

Balto gasped. "Silver."

Chiffre nodded. "The pieces fall into place. One night I gathered up a group of wolves. I went to the house." Chiffre suddenly started giggling. "I beat the father dog to death. An eye for an eye, no?"

When Balto didn't respond he continued. "Then the hunter, he got his rifle."

A tear appeared in Chiffre's eye. "I killed him too."

"What do you want from me?" Balto asked.

"Well isn't it obvious? The town hates me because I killed someone. The town hates you because you killed someone. Together we can get revenge on those who hate us."

"I never killed anyone!" Balto snarled.

Chiffre shrugged. "Killing is easy. Perhaps I should teach you."

"If I ever kill anyone it'll be you." Balto snarled back.

Chiffre giggled. "I would like to see that."

"Then allow me!" Balto punched Chiffre in the damaged jaw. He howled in pain. Balto went for his throat.

Suddenly Chiffre reached out. He put his paw on one of Balto's nerves.

Balto immediately went limp. Unconscious.

"You disappoint me brother." Chiffre said. Then he padded off into the woods.