When Linka finishes getting dressed, she finds Wheeler already waiting for her and reading his new book.
"Are you finding it interesting?"
"Very."
"Think you can put it down long enough to go on our tour?"
"Yeah, I've been thinking about being wrapped up in this blanket and keeping you warm all evening," he leers.
She smiles because to be honest, she had been thinking about it too.
"How will you take pictures then?"
"I'll manage."
The photography tour was done by sled. Linka was expecting to be pulled by snowmobile, not actual sled dogs.
"I am not sure I can do this. It is cruel."
"Come with me," Lars, the driver, says. He shows her around where the dogs are kept. "They have nicer living quarters than some people in this world. I promise they are very well taken care of and loved. They are all my family. I have raised them since they were pups. If one is injured or does not seem like they are feeling up to going out, I do not make them. But the truth is, they LOVE to run. They love the snow and the cold weather. It is what they are bred for. They do not feel it like we do. Just to be safe though, they have 'snowshoes' to keep from getting frost bite on their pads. They do not like wearing them, but they tolerate them."
"That ok with you, Babe?"
"Da, I suppose."
"Trust me, having them strapped up and ready to go and then NOT taking them out would be crueler. They are very excited to go for a run. You will see how happy they are. Unfortunately, I cannot deny that there are sled dogs that are treated inhumanely, but that is not the case with mine. Spoiled rotten!"
"Ok," she relents.
They take a seat on the front of the sled while their guide stands behind them. Linka is seated in front of Wheeler, between his legs, her back to his chest. Wheeler wraps his arms around her along with the blanket encompassing both of them. Lars gives the command for the dogs to go, and they take off, putting the hotel and town behind them and moving further into the darkness.
Wheeler takes photos along the way when he gets inspiration. He got a few good shots of the dogs leading them towards the lights. Lars even offered to take a few from his viewpoint behind them so that the cozy couple could be included in the photo of the dogs running towards the swirling shades of green, against the various shades of purples, blues, and black sky. The lighter colors showing where the sun was setting and bleeding into the blackness to the east. The stars adding to the mystique. Lars showed them a spot where snow covered pine trees stood in front of the lights and another spot where a black river was lightened by the snow surrounding it and the Aurora Borealis reflecting off its surface.
"These are some great shots!" Wheeler says excitedly.
"We will set up here for a bit," Lars says when they arrive at some tents.
They're not your typical modern day camping tents though. They look like authentic tents that the nomads would have set up when traveling. He offered to take more pictures of his travel companions together with his camera. One of them smiling for the camera and another when they weren't looking; their backs to him and gazing up at the sky together. They made a lovely couple, he thought. His favorite was one of Wheeler and Linka surrounded by the huskies, petting them and getting their faces licked in return. When finished, he tells them what the plan is for the rest of the tour. "The dogs and I will be in that shelter over there getting some water and resting up for the trip back. This tent is for you to get out of the cold. You can still get a good view through the open flaps, or if you are not deterred by the cold, you can bring the chairs outside and enjoy the show from there."
They check out the tent. It is a little bit warmer, but with their extra layers, they're not that cold.
"What'dya say, Babe? Inside or out?"
"Outside. Unless you are too cold?"
"Nope. I was hoping you'd say that."
"Just bring out one chair though. I think staying close is helping us keep warm."
"I was hoping you'd say that too."
He brings out a chair and takes a seat. She sits on his leg so that she's half facing him but still able to look out and see the scenery ahead of them.
"It is beautiful."
"Sure is," he says as he snaps a picture of the side profile of her face with the sky behind her.
She takes the blanket from around her shoulders, wraps it behind him, and pulls it around them both. He puts an arm around her waist while his other hand pulls something out of his jacket pocket and hands it to her.
"What is this?"
"Just a little something I picked up today."
She opens it up and examines it.
"Amber wings?"
"Close. It's Freyja's cloak of falcon feathers."
He goes on to explain what he has learned today about the Norse goddess, both from the merchants they met and in his book.
"And when we got back to the hotel, I read in my book that Freyja's father, Njord, is god of the WIND and of the sea and its riches. So not only are you the two most beautiful women I've ever seen, but she also has a connection to the wind element."
"That is very interesting. Thank you, Jason. I love it. Help me put it on?"
Taking off his gloves, he smiles and nods, happy that she likes it so much.
"Maybe having a symbol of the goddess of love and fertility will bring me some good luck."
"Maybe…we can ask her."
"Oh? Do you know where we can find her?" Linka teases.
"I have my ways of getting the attention of beautiful blondes."
"Is that so?"
"Isn't it?" He asks, confidently.
She laughs, unable to deny it, but not willing to give him the satisfaction of admitting it.
"So, what is your plan?" She asks, leaning her head on his shoulder and looking up at the sky.
"We can talk about it tomorrow," he says as he puts both of his arms around her to help keep them warm and nuzzles his nose against the top of her head. "Tonight, let's just enjoy this moment."
"I wish it could always be this easy," she sighs.
"Why can't it?"
"There are a million reasons."
"I can't think of any," he replies.
She reluctantly fills him in on why.
"Because nothing is ever easy with the Planeteers. Days like today, evenings like tonight…we are here on this trip because it is not possible any other time."
"Something like this isn't a trip that everyone is able to experience…but the moment…just sitting here alone enjoying each other's company…that can happen anywhere. Maybe not while we're on a mission, but I'd love to spend my free time on Hope Island like this."
She inhales and exhales slowly, thinking of it fondly and allowing herself to believe for a moment that it might be possible.
"Nothing would ever get done around there," she laughs.
"Oh well."
"You make it sound so simple."
"It doesn't have to be complicated, Babe. Don't make it into something that it's not."
She sighs.
"I am afraid it is you who is making it into something that it is not…something that it cannot be."
"Why not?"
"Do not make me say it, Jason. Let us just pretend for tonight that my issues do not exist…but you know that my condition is what stands in the way of any possibility of a future."
"I wish you'd stop thinking like that. It's not an issue for me."
"It is for me."
"Isn't there anything I can do to convince you that it doesn't need to be?"
"Nyet…unless your Lourdes miracle water works. Otherwise, I cannot plan for a future that cannot be."
"So, we'll just both be alone?" He asks.
"I will be. You will move on." When she senses he's getting ready to argue, she stops him. "You say now that you will not, but you must. You deserve to be happy. You deserve a second chance at building the family life that you did not get to have as a child."
Knowing that there's no point in arguing with her and not wanting to ruin their evening, he holds her tighter and whispers in her ear,
"You're wrong. I can't wait to say, 'I told you so,' someday."
She hopes for that. She really does. She's never wanted to be more wrong about anything. She looks up at the swirling lightshow above her, slightly obscured by the tears filling her eyes.
Time passes as they sit in silence, the cold a non-issue. Unbeknownst to them, Lars has used his own camera to take their photo in what appears to be a loving embrace as they watch the natural phenomenon above them.
"Ahem…sorry to interrupt, but it is almost time to head back. I have been taking my own photos as part of the tour package. Passengers are welcome to take their own photos on the photography tour, of course, but I am a professional and my photos usually turn out much better than theirs because of my equipment. Although your camera is very nice, so I am sure you'll have nicer quality shots than most others on my tours. While you have been enjoying the view, I have taken some nature shots, some candid shots of the dogs being silly in the tent, and a very beautiful one of you two sitting here. How about a few more to close out the evening with the Northern Lights? Something to use in the engagement announcement or to show your children in the future?" Lars teases but has no idea how wrong he's got it.
They stand and turn to face him.
"We're not…" Wheeler starts but is cut off by Linka.
"…very photogenic."
"Nonsense. You are the definition of a perfect couple," Lars tells them as he raises his camera. "Now, if you can just turn to face each other…that's right, gaze up at him…and you…perfect. Didn't even have to tell you to look longingly at her. Hold that pose. I'll snap a few. Beautiful. I think the next step is a kiss. Would be a great shot with the aurora borealis behind you."
Wheeler is about to object, sensing Linka's hesitance, but then she raises her lips to his ear and whispers,
"Remember, just for tonight, we are pretending that everything is perfect. Tomorrow, it is back to reality, but for now…"
She doesn't get to complete her sentence because before she has a chance to change her mind, he takes her face in his hands and kisses her. Her hands wrap around his back, and she lets him take control, following his lead.
"Gorgeous," Lars says encouragingly.
When they finally break, Wheeler rests his forehead against hers, his nose nuzzling hers.
"For the record, I wasn't pretending," he whispers.
Neither was she, but that's not what she meant. She knew they did not have to pretend they had feelings for each other. The reality for her though is that nothing more can ever come from it. She's too breathless to explain it though.
Her silence gives him hope that he's struck a chord with her.
"Excellent. You two could be models," Lars says. "I'll get these photos processed and email you the proofs. You can pick which ones you want and what sizes you'd like them in, then I'll mail the prints to you."
"Just mail them all…the scenery all five by seven. The ones of us, all eight by ten."
"I have a photobook option too. Makes it easier to show friends without worrying about them smudging the originals."
"Perfect, send that too," Wheeler says, never looking away from Linka. "I want to remember this night forever."
To Be Continued…