"So, how are your friends adjusting to Nome?" Bethel asked her eldest brother just two days after he'd settled back for good, while the two were taking a stroll around the streets of Nome. Taking a walk with her after a long time of being separated was meaning a lot to Beringo, who gave her the answer: "Oh, I can tell you that they're liking it here! It's still taking them a while, but they'll make themselves like they're like at home, Bethel."
"Nice, not bad." Bethel smiled as she wished good intentions to her brother, as Amak and Ridge, who, while they were good brothers to her, always seemed like to hang out with one another and sometimes forget on Bethel. Beringo sighed as he gazed at the streets and the rooftops, saying: "You know, I still can't believe that I didn't miss anything ever since."
Actually, that was not true, but no one had told him yet until now. Bethel looked at her brother and revealed: "Oh, you don't know it yet? The thing is, next month will be the face off between mom and dad's team against the another team, some sort of Christmas race! They'll be racing to the town of Golovin, like any other time."
"Really? Wow, I can't wait to cheer them on that one!" Beringo was surprised by these news and was blessed that he'd be in the first row to support his parents in that race. Though, the next news she'd told him revealed: "But after that race is over, no matter if they win or not, mom and dad are going to officially retire from the sled service."
Beringo's excitement faded with that revelation. Did he hear that one right? Mom and dad were going to retire from their duty? Something had told him that it might have been for the best, but at the same time, he felt like that there should have been one more year for them to remain in the service…
"Oh, I didn't see that one coming." Beringo said this in a monotone voice, trying not to sound like he was hurt by these news. Bethel let him know this: "Well, what should I say? Mom and dad, before they finally got together and had us, they were kinda late to begin with and it had been for years they had been in a sled service, so it is reasonable."
He had shrugged it off, hoping that there was still some time left. Even though, he compensated for the lost excitement: "But hey, if it is true, then me and my team will succeed mom and dad where they leave at. Isn't that something?" The smile on Bethel's face was good enough to convince him he was right.
"Speaking of my team, tomorrow morning we'll be having a run, as a test out there on the Main Street! I was wondering if you, Amak and Ridge would come and watch us run?" Beringo invited her to watch her brother ascending career-wise and of course, she had nuzzled him by the neck and answered: "We'd love to see you try!"
He got his answer and he was ready to move on by saying: "Alright, I'll go let Amak and Ridge know about tomorrow!" But before he could, Bethel was a bit faster than him to stand in his way and told him: "You know, maybe I should be the one to tell them, Beringo. Any way possible, there is a surprise for you and we've decided to reveal it together."
"Hiding secrets, aren't we?" Beringo raised his eyebrow when he had seen his sister standing in his way to let his brothers know. Still, knowing that she'd know better where they lived than him, decided: "Okay, you win, Bethel. You go tell Amak and Ridge that tomorrow at 10 in the morning they should come to the Main Street, okay?"
"You got it!" Bethel happily accepted the offer, being happy that her brother wasn't stubborn to see what she had in mind, thus knowing that there would be no surprise spoiled. Watching his sister leave in the distance, he was wondering what kind of surprise his siblings had for him… maybe a delayed "Welcome home, Beringo!" gift?
The next day, just slightly before ten in the morning, Beringo was already with his team on the Main Street, waiting for Nash to give orders. He watched how his team was stretching and yawning, as if they were having a good night previously. Hallie commented: "You know, I just hope that this run will get me working for today! That was a fun night!"
"Just don't over stress yourself, Hallie. It is important for you to rise and shine once again." Roger let her know that, even if there was nothing that would make Nash switch places between Hallie and Roger right now. Dakota looked around and front, noticing that there was no one and nothing standing in their way, saying: "Alright, get ready! We'll show to the residents of Beringo's hometown how we're doing our run!"
"Beringo! Beringo, hey!" Just as it was looking like as if they were ready to run on Nash's orders, Beringo was being called by three separate voices, all of them belonging to his siblings. However, when he glanced at each one of them, there he could notice that it was not just three of them, but there were also three more following them!
"Hey, you three! Wait, who are you?" Beringo moved closer to his siblings as he could see company these three had brought. Amak and Ridge were sided with each of two females whereas Bethel was sided with one male. It was her who told him: "Beringo, we'd like to meet our friends! That's our surprise!"
"Hey, you must be Beringo, right?" The black husky next to Bethel spoke, having brown eyes. Bethel smiled to him with that friendly tone as he had introduced himself: "I am Paxon, friend of Bethel." Beringo politely greeted him: "How do you do? Yes, I'm Beringo." It wasn't enough as there had to be…
"Hello, I am Lily, a friend of your brother Amak!" One of two females, tan one with icy blue eyes, got to meet Beringo, for which a red female with pink muzzle and bright green eyes had an honor to meet as she said: "So you're Beringo? The eldest of Ridge's litter and the most spoken one for taking a lot after Marion and Clark? I am Galena, by the way!"
"Hi, hi you three." Beringo got to meet them, trying to leave a good impression while gazing at Lily, Galena and Paxon. So that was why Bethel paid no interest in Roger the other day - Paxon was her friend and maybe these two already shared a strong bond. Still, he had to ask them all: "How… how did you get to know one another anyhow?"
Paxon looked at Bethel and with her nodding, he decided to tell him: "Well, when I was adopted, my owners thought that there should be an another puppy in the house and so Bethel came to be that puppy. It didn't take us a while to realize we got to get along very well!" It seemed like an interesting backstory from Paxon.
"Well, as for us, Galena and I were adopted by the same people and the two of us have grown to become best friends!" Lily explained her and Galena's backstory, for which Galena decided to reveal further: "And it wasn't long enough until we got to meet Amak and Ridge, who were adopted separately… but it just seems like our friendships together mean something!"
"Really?" Beringo wondered, taking all that information from these new dogs he'd just met. Then, Amak stepped in front of his brother and noticing that Lily was not paying attention at the moment, he asked him: "Beringo… I have a strange favor to ask… would it be fine if I were to sneak among your team in this training session? I'd like to leave an impression… for… Lily."
Raising his eyebrow to hear something like that, Beringo's surprise was changed into delight when he'd told him: "Why, sure! Since Ridge is also here and… Paxon, I think? Why don't you come with us?" However, Ridge politely rejected: "Nah, it's okay, brother. I am not really interested in mail delivery and that stuff. I'll pass."
"Thanks for the offer, Beringo, but I ain't interested either. Still, we can watch from the sidelines!" Paxon answered him and suggested the females and Ridge to come, leaving Amak with Beringo, who beckoned to him: "Well, little brother, come with me! I'm sure that you're going to make my teammates envious with your speed!"
Of course he didn't mean it seriously so he'd not hurt his teammates, but Amak chuckled nervously and answered him: "I guess I will!" He didn't suspect any of this as he led him in the middle, for Beringo to announce: "Listen up, everyone! I decided to let my little brother Amak run with us in this training session! Can I count on you?"
"You know me, Beringo." Indiana answered him and Beringo felt the relief that Indiana didn't call him "chief" right here. The others seemed to be fine with it and then, Justin told them: "Here comes the master, I wonder what is he going to say?" Indeed, as Nash came to count them all, he had realized that he made "seven" countings instead of "six" and he realized that there was a tan husky among them.
"And who are you now?" Nash asked Amak when he realized that there was a tan husky he did not train for his future team. Still, he didn't feel like doing anything else but to say: "Well, this is one of the days. I guess having an extra dog in this run won't be that bad. Alright! Let's get ready and when I fire my gun…"
The entire team was prepared for the run and Amak too, albeit his reaction was a bit slow. Still, he knew that once the gun was fired, he had to muster all the strength and run forward and not away in fear. He had glanced at his siblings, friends and Lily as the moment had come when the gun blazed and the shot was heard!
The run from one side of the street to the another one was on! Beringo and Dakota were tied this time around, as if she had a perfect breakfast that was making her feel strong and full of energy! In fact, it seemed like as if there was going to be more than one winner, when that improvised line was near...
However, Beringo glanced behind himself. Sure enough, Indiana and Hallie were just behind, and so were Justin and Roger. The unpleasant surprise was how Amak was last and as if he were already giving up on pursuing any further. This had slowed Beringo down, but not nearly enough as he'd reached the third place, letting Justin pass ahead.
Turning for one hundred eighty degrees to see why his brother came last, he'd paced through the snow to Amak and asked him: "Amak? What was all this about? How come you are the last?!" Amak looked at him with the sorrow look and answered: "Well… guess that I don't have nearly as much as potential as you have, Beringo."
"Wait.., what? But you said that you're going to make it?!" Beringo couldn't believe any of this, now having Roger and Indiana by each sides, each of them being confused. It was embarrassing for Amak to explain: "Well… it isn't that I didn't train… I did actually! But to think that mom and dad are sled dogs and I am pretty bad to be a sled dog…"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Slow down! Who says that you're bad?" Beringo stopped him right here, not letting him to belittle himself for this failure. Amak didn't say anything as Beringo didn't want to hear any other nonsense so he asked him: "You're not bad! If you really want this, to be a sled dog, then you should not quit! It isn't easy from the start, but you've got to get hold of it!"
Amak looked at him, then at Lily, who cheered him on no matter what, and then back at him, saying: "If you say so… I just hope that Lily will dig in what I'm doing, if you know what I mean?" He blushed slightly as soon as he said this, wondering what'd she say to hear something like that? Beringo encouragingly told him: "Say, why don't you come with me to run on the beach and I help you improve? That will help you!"
"Really? You think so?!" Amak asked him, seeing that there was a path down the road to a success he could dream of. Roger even told him: "Well, who else you can rely on anyhow? You'll be thankful for chief's training!" He had heard "chief" again and he glared at Roger with an unamused look. Though, it could have been said that he was getting less and less bothered by that nickname, even when he'd heard Amak yelling happily: "Oh, thank you!"
Amak sought help and advice from his older brother, who had taken him on daily tranings for the next few weeks onto the beach where they'd run from the town all the way to the old, abandoned boat over there. It was not easy for young Amak at first, but he had to know that he could not give up easily but to go beyond his limits.
"Amak, for what I've seen, if you keep advancing like this, I think that in less than a month you'll be able to overrun me! Too bad you are not in the sled team with me." Beringo told his brother when the two had been done with their run for today. Truth to be said, Amak did an outstanding run today, albeit he was still behind him. He was better and faster than the previous month.
"Ohhhhhhh boy! I just hope that Lily will see how far I can go to impress her!" Amak said this, catching his breath while laying on his back in the snow and sand. No doubt, Beringo knew how much his little brother liked Lily, which made him feel envious, knowing that he had no friend like Amak had with Lily...
"Beringo, I hope you didn't forget that mom and dad are doing their final race and run today! We should go to the post office and wish them luck!" Amak remembered that today was the day which would decide whether Marion and Clark's retirement would end in a triumphant victory or in a proper defeat. There was no time to waste.
"Come on! We better get going!" Beringo beckoned him to get up and move as both brothers wouldn't want to miss the beginning. Racing to the town, nothing stood in their way, not even passing the narrow alleys as they had made it to the post office. Ridge, Bethel, Lily, Galena and Paxon were already there, with Lily saying: "Look, they've made it!"
"Hi! Hi, you all! Has the race begun already?" Amak greeted them, being happy to see his friend, along the others, already there. Ridge had answered him: "It will begin in a few minutes, we were worried you'd not make it in time!" Saying no more, there they were, being glad that their parents would have a fortune following them.
"Hi, you young ones! Came to wish us luck for our last race?" Clark had come, being patched up and ready for his final race. The young dogs nodded to them, knowing how much they were eager for their parents to win, to which Bethel said: "Oh, I really hope that your team will win, dad! It'd be great to end your career on a high note!"
"Now, now, Bethel. We cannot give any promises! Sure, we may have been aces for ages, but the competition is not weak as you may think." Marion, co-joined by her mate, let her daughter know that there was a rival sled team that'd question their position to be the aces of this year again. Paxon asked: "Marion, who are you going to race against?"
The answer came, but not from Marion. It was seen by the young black malamute, with golden eyes and brown sled collar, coming to the post office. Galena spotted the black malamute coming and with the realization hitting her, she had to ask: "Is that Fritz? That malamute who used to substitute you when you were pregnant?"
"The one and only!" Marion answered, looking at the young dog who'd been replacing her for those weeks back then. He might have been older now, but his attitude towards them remained the same: "Marion, Clark! It is good to see you! I cannot believe our teams are racing against each other, but there it is now."
"Fritz, hey. I see that ever since you've returned to your master, you've done some fine workout! Is this your first race?" Marion complimented the young malamute, who was now only taller than her and the equal height as Clark. Fritz had answered with nodding, as if this very first if it were to bring him a victory, would skyrocket his career.
"Fritz, we wish you a good luck for your first race!" Clark kindly told his rival, knowing that between them there were no hard feelings so far and Fritz answered: "And I wish you a good luck for your last!" Soon enough, both mushers, Gundarsson and Kaasen, were told to muster their teams, leading Marion and Clark to their sled and Fritz to his.
"Who'd say that Fritz, who used to be dad's sled teammate, is the one he's racing against?" Ridge asked this, finding this both ironic and amusing. As if the malamute had not noticed them, thinking they were as the cheering dogs, not a family, he smiled to each one of them, hoping they'd receive fun and joy from this race.
"Alright! Muster your teams at once! For the final race of the year, we're hosting an annual post race between the two toughest and strongest teams! The race begins as soon as the gun is fired and from here to Golovin and back again the teams are racing! The first team to return to Nome with the new mailbag is the winner!" The announcer announced this on an old stereo speaker, which seemed like it belonged to an obsolete radio, with the terrible sound quality.
"On your marks, get set…" The announcer stood in the gap between the two rival teams and before the shot was heard, Clark and Marion gave the nod to Fritz, who gracefully took it and returned to them. The one he'd received he'd shared to a black female malamute next to him with the icy blue eyes. As if he had to share it!
BANG! The gunshot was heard and both teams, one led by Gundarsson and other one led by Kaasen, had begun the last race of the year, each loaded with mail bags. Marion and Clark were cheered on by their pups and their friends as both teams were seen disappearing behind the horizon to the east.
The weather conditions for today's race were estimated to be clear and safe from any snowstorms. The race to Golovin was not going to be dangerous if the race between the two teams was being done fair and square. In fact, neither of the teams could, even if they had a chance, to play dirty.
If Fritz were to play dirty, not only that it'd make his victory unfair, but it'd be like as if he'd disgraced the dogs he'd grown to admire as a little puppy. Marion and Clark, on the other paw, were always fair racers, and playing dirty against the team led by the dog who'd been admiring them would just seem wrong in their eyes, as if they were going to backstab him.
If anything, Fritz not only feared that, but he feared that the lack of understanding of his teammates would further fan the flames, something he didn't want to happen. Breaking his his troubles, after hours and hours of running eastwards, the female malamute next to Fritz barked: "Fritz! Look ahead, we've made it to Golovin!"
"Huh?!" Fritz had confusedly asked her, not paying attention to that detail. Both his and Clark's teams were pretty much tie right now, even there were some moments when either team was leading. She was right, the first half of this race was done, added with Marion's: "Come on, we're almost there! Hurry!"
They ran towards the post office, which was ready with the both mail bags for both Clark's team and Fritz's team. As both had their five minute break in front of the office, it was a matter of time when they were going to hear that gun firing to indicate the continuation of their race. So far so good, they were both in good shape.
No doubt, soon that man, ordered to fire for the second part of the race, showed up in front of the office and standing in between both teams, each of them being ready to dust off, or in this case, snow off, when the gun was pointed in the air, the man yelling: "AND ONE, AND TWO, AND…" BANG! The loud and thundering gunshot indicated the start of the second part of the race.
Now it was hours of running and mushing westwards, back to Nome. Whoever was to win this race, was heard on the chants of each leader: "Let's get going, team! If we make it, we will have a proper send-offs each!" and on the other side: "Come on, faster! If we are going to make it, this will rise us above like never before!"
The sun was already in the western sky, as if it were calling for them to be home before it was going to set so they'd be safe from perils from the Alaskan wilderness. Besides, they'd not want to have their families, friends and relatives to be worried. Speaking of them…
"How are we going to know when the teams are coming back?" Galena asked her friends around, as they were anxiously awaiting at the finish line on the main street, where the teams were meant to pass. Ridge offered her his limited knowledge: "By the shots, Galena. Each of them will indicate how much further they got!"
"Like three, two and one mile?" Bethel asked this, as she was never trained to be a sled dog, to which her brother had answered with nodding. Even if they were going to wait for hours, they didn't want to miss this anyhow. Paxon asked them: "If your parents win this race, wouldn't it be great that they and their team retire with triumph?"
"That'd be a great outcome! But that Fritz dog and his team aren't something to sneeze at…" Amak said after he'd a good look on the rival team. Still, there were no promises, just waiting for the first shot to be heard. Lily turned her head to Beringo and asked him: "But hey, Beringo. When your parents retire after this race, we'll be seeing you as their successor!"
"Heh, thanks, Lily… although you should know that Gundarsson is not going to be my musher Just don't forget on Amak!" Beringo let her know about these things and Lily gazed at Amak, after which they'd smiled and giggled to one another. How could she just overlook her potential soulmate like that?!
It was not until an hour and twenty minutes, when the sun was already two thirds above horizon, that the first shot was heard: "Three miles!" The females had said this as they could expect them to be here anytime soon! The canines and humans around gathered to see the outcome of this race as the second shot was heard and the boys yelled "Two miles!"
Looking at the other end of the Main Street, where the two teams were going to show up for their final stretch, they just waited and waited when the third and final shot was heard and this time all seven of them yelled: "One mile! They'll be there any minute soon!" The tension and excitement started growing exponentially at this point!
"There they are! I see them coming!" Bethel cheerfully let them know when they were able to see not just one team, but both teams entering the street, still tied. Clark and Fritz's teams were pretty much both tie at this point and was this going to be one's final victory and the first defeat, the last defeat and first victory or a tie for both teams?!
"Come on! Come on, dad, mom! You can do this!" Everyone started chanting in Clark and Marion's support of them seven as the teams were so close at that moment! It was a fair final stretch and only few hundred meters were left… three hundreds… two hundreds… one hundred… there they were aaaaaaaaaaaaaand…!
The red line that was meant to be snapped in two but the first team to pass was indeed split in half, but as quick as flash, no one was able to see well whether Fritz or Clark's team had taken a victory and even Beringo asked: "What happened?! Did mom and dad come first?! Did they?!" And the answer came from the man sponsoring the race on the side…
"Congratulations! After a tense tied race in the final stretch, we have a winner team: Gunnar Kaasen's!" The man had this announced at first, the dogs on the side had heard wrong "Gundarsson", but upon gazing how the trophy and badges were not going to him but to Kaasen and his team, led by Fritz, Bethel was heard: "Mom and dad… they lost the race…"
For the pups and their friends to witness the loss was truly disappointing, hoping that if they were to win, this would have been a great inspiration of the young ones! Clark, Marion and their team, as hard and as fast as they were running, gracefully accepted their defeat, with Clark panting: "Well… it was not a triumphant final victory, my friends… but you've done a great job… congratulations!"
Their teammates, who were to be retired too, nodded in understanding, being tough and veteran dogs in the team. As for Marion, she was saying: "We may have… lost, Clark… but at least our… retirement has come…!" If anything, they were not looking at this defeat as an embarrassment, but as any other race they had been in.
They looked at Fritz's team, who, joined with the female malamute, was finally able to escape from the flashing camera for the "Nome Nugget" newspaper and beyond. He had looked at his rival team leaders, whom with respect he greeted: "Clark… Marion… ths was a great first race… and you were pretty much… a competition for me…"
"Don't worry about that, Fritz… you've earned that victory…" Clark fatherly told him that, as there was no room for resentment and animosity between them. Fritz answered them with: "Well… I'd not be this good without your inspiration… and we'd not be that good… if it weren't for my teammate and pretty… friend over here… Della!"
The female black malamute, Della, who was panting from the race, finally got to talk to her rivals, whom she treated with respect too: "Hello, you two…! Fritz had told me that… you were his role… models to become a sled dog!" As for both Clark and Marion, they were seeing something special in Della. Marion answered to a young female: "We helped your friend to follow his dreams, yes. It is nice to meet you, Della!"
"My pleasure… Marion, and you too, Clark." Della politely greeted the older female while Fritz was still catching a breath. Furthermore, Clark told them: "I hate it to… break it up for you… two, but your… master is calling you to… come to him…" Indeed, Kaasen was heard telling them, as their teammates were already lined up next to one another: "Fritz! Della! Get over there! We've got a lot to do!"
"We'll talk about this some other time, yes?" Fritz asked them this all in one breath and both Clark and Marion agreed while telling them to go to their master so he'd not get upset! The malamutes left whereas the seven young huskies had joined their parents, just as the sun was already below horizon and the streets were getting clear.
"Mom, dad… you were so close to beat Fritz's team! What happened?!" Amak was still in disbelief by this loss. Clark and Marion looked at one another and knew that they had to handle this, so Clark told him: "Look, son… I know that you hoped… that your mother and I… will win this last race… but Fritz and his team were… in an advantage…"
"...his team is consisted… mostly of young and flexible… dogs whereas our team is… or rather was… consisted of aces, but not as flexible… as we used to be because… it was about time we retire…" Marion decided to finish in the name of both of them, hoping that this was going to compensate their sorrows at least. Well, they were silent for a bit more.
"Hey, hey, hey! Your parents are right, you guys! Look, Fritz and his team may have won, but look at your eldest brother! He's the new and young sled dog who will very likely be a tough competition for Fritz next year!" Paxon took the matters in his own paws to show the lighter side of this defeat and so he was being looked at with an aspiration.
"Well, I may not be the only one, you know. I have been training Amak for weeks and who knows? Maybe he will be tough competition for Fritz next year, not me!" Beringo was just being modest, knowing that having all that burden on his shoulders was overwhelming. Amak told him: "Don't mention it, Beringo! Who knows, if I get the hold on your trainings, maybe I'll be your competition!"
The others, including Beringo, had laughed at this, and of course, no one meant anything dastardly. It was a time to move on as the streets were now really empty and the skies were dark so Marion suggested: "How about you all come to our place and celebrate with us? Besides, soon will be Christmas and so will be your birthdays, remember?"
"Yes, we remember that, mom!" Ridge answered, feeling like as if he and his siblings were blessed to be born on Christmas day! Marion and Clark led the way, with their pups, Galena, Lily and Paxon following. For years had the eldest dogs among them held the titles of Nome aces and now the new aces, or at least one ace, was rising and his name was Fritz. Even so, the former aces were going to celebrate in his name.