Chapter 19 Homeward Bound
Swartz Auto Junkyard April 10, 1929
A small paw repetitively tapped Balto's nose. He opened his eyes to see Suki over him. In the distance the sun had barely begun to announce its arrival. The pink clouds occasionally parted to show a glint or two of the new sun.
"What are you doing? It must be five in the morning." Balto complained.
"That big dog Bismarck told me to come and wake you up." She said apologetically.
"It is time; we had best get an early start." Bismarck said as he walked into the small metal crate Balto and the others had called home for the last twenty four hours. Balto decided to just follow along and get up. Steele and Loki where also roused from slumber and got ready to leave. Boris and Stella came down from their roost in the trees and they looked well rested given their new habitat. Boris patted Balto's side and looked up to speak.
"Are you alright Balto?"
"Fine, why do you ask?"
"Just thought I should, last few days have been bit too exciting for my taste. How is Suki holding up?"
"Better than I would in her place." He looked her way; she and Loki were happily playing with each other, all most like the last few days had never transpired. "She is a good kid, so is Loki, but they are headstrong and overconfident; I just hope either doesn't overestimate themselves." Boris watched them play as well and smiled the smile that Balto had not seen since they had arrived.
"Do they remind you of anyone?"
"Who?" Balto asked, thrown for a loop.
"They remind me of when you and Steele were young and innocent. Now you two are old and, I leave it at that." Balto silently chucked and took in the small grace of downtime before they had to go back into the meat-grinder. Steele walked up and sat down next to Balto and yawned.
"Morning Howler, ready to go home?"
"Do I really need to answer that? What I am not ready for is another dose of that city though, give me Nome any day."
"Amen to that one brother." Steele decided to ask the question that kept him up half the night. "Do you think they will come after us?"
"I hope we can avoid them, but that is just wishful thinking. How about your leg? You took a nasty hit the other day." Steele lifted up his front paw and moved it around.
"Doesn't hurt too bad, I should make it back home without too much fuss. That said, I still might take an extra break now and again." Bismarck walked up to them; he made a motion with his head in the directi8n of the gate.
"Come on folks, it is time we left." Just as Bismarck turned around, he saw his son standing in front of him.
"I want to come along." Lukas said.
"Really? Ever since Jo, you haven't wanted to go to the suburbs much less the Loop." Bismarck and Lucas shared a small look that said a thousand words.
"I know, but there is no use in hiding from it. I may as well do it now rather than later."
"Alright, you can come. But I want you to be careful, no running off." Bismarck patronized.
"I'm not a pup anymore, I can handle myself." Bismarck cracked a smile that hinted his silent approval.
"You are exactly right. Let's move. Ripley, watch after the others until we come back." All six dogs departed with two geese honking above them. Not particularly eager to walk the mean streets of Chicago again, they slowly made way to return to the city on the far horizon. They marched down the winding road out of the mountainous forests behind them and did their best to make small talk for the trip.
"So, it looks like that overcast is starting to go away." Balto noted the clouds above them. For days the clouds had made a blanket over the city were now starting to part, revealing slivers of sunlight. Bismarck looked up and saw the same.
"Hmm, so they are. It will be good to have some warm sun here soon." Higher up Boris and Stella also took in the scenery below them.
"It has been a long time since I flew over a place that looked like this." Stella said. "I grew up in Central Park, now I remember why I left home."
"Why is that?" Boris asked her.
"This whole vacation we've had, it has been one helleva trip. I've seen us almost get killed more times in the last two days than we have in the last two years." Boris knew what she meant; he had raised Balto from a pup and had been at his side since. In the last few years, Boris's little boychik had managed to endanger himself many times, but this was the first time he ever saw Balto scared.
"Da, I hope we don't have to repeat this." Boris hung his head slightly, and then he saw it. The glittering city show through from the other side of the hill. From here it seemed so peaceful and pristine. But the reality was something altogether more deadly. Soon they would be walking its streets once again, and once again, danger would walk with them.