Chapter 4
2228 Words
4While he’d dragged himself up and gotten dressed, Topper had hummed through breakfast. Now she was humming again as she looked out the window.
Carl had looked at him strangely when they reached his transport vehicle, but Stark had shaken his head to forestall the man’s questions.
One more day—he’d give Topper one more day of ignorant bliss—and then he’d confess about sharing Icela’s light with her without her permission. It was the honorable thing to do.
Stark kept tight hold of Topper’s hand as they climbed from Carl’s vehicle. They were at someone’s residence. He could feel the human energy of the place. There were multiple animal signatures as well as some miniature human ones he’d come to know meant children.
Topper pulled away from his hold, and seeing no one around but him and Carl, Stark let her. When she giggled, his whole body went on alert. A native Alaskan woman slowly walked towards them, nodding as she got close.
“Mrs. Topper?” the woman asked.
Topper nodded and reached out a hand. “Yes. That’s me. You must be Sandra.”
“I am. I’ve got a sled loaded to do the practice run. All we have to do is hook everyone up to the towline. There’s a checkpoint a little over three miles from here where you can turn around. Are you sure you and your husband don’t want company?”
Topper clapped her hands. “That won’t be necessary. My husband is very proficient at dog sledding. Everything is going just as planned.”
The woman laughed softly and shook her head. “Tell that to the weather. It’s not wanting to cooperate, but once you’re out there, you’re sort of out for the duration. We’ve included thermal shelters in your emergency provisions. If you get stuck, those can protect you until someone can come to your rescue. Cut the animals loose. They’ll return home and let us know to come out looking for you. The pack knows how to get there and back. Watch out for avalanches. We haven’t had one yet, but the weather changes have made the accumulating snow unstable.”
Stark stepped forward. He looked at Topper and then at the woman. “Hello. I’m... Mr. Topper.” He felt ridiculous repeating the nonsense and apparently his mate agreed it was silly. Her snickering over his stammering introduction changed to laughter after a couple of snorts.
The woman nodded. “Good to meet you, Mr. Topper. Your wife said you have a special way with animals.”
Stark nodded, afraid now to say anything since Topper had already lied to this woman about his experience with some strange thing he had yet to comprehend. “Yes. I’ve worked with animals for a long time. Large ones mostly, but I’m quite good with most species. Dogs like me.”
“Then you should be fine with ours. They’re a pretty good judge of character,” the woman declared.
“I’m sure the feelings of admiration will be mutual between us,” Stark said, hoping his words were reassuring. He waited until the woman moved a little ahead before yanking Topper back to him by her arm.
“Dogs? Explain this to me,” he ordered in a fierce whisper.
“Sled dogs, Stark. Don’t worry. You’ll be fine,” Topper whispered back.
Picking up her pace, his mate followed the woman walking away who obviously expected them both to follow her. They did, of course, but Stark was still confused about what he was supposed to do with the dogs.
“Yay! Dog-sledding. I love dog-sledding,” Topper declared with a bright smile.
Sled? Stark looked at the rustic vehicle made of metal blades and wooden slats. Beyond it was a very long length of cabling. Dog sledding? Did they expect those small animals to pull that contraption? It might be snow and ice worthy on those blades, but where was the engine if the dogs got tired?
When Topper glared and lifted one eyebrow at his close inspection of the sled, Stark forced himself to smile at Sandra. He’d learned that faking a pleased emotion was much harder to do than it looked. In truth, he was already worried about taking Topper out in the wilderness after last night. Now he had to worry about dogs too? He told himself Topper could always pop back to the hotel if things got too tough on her. He was under no illusion that his hot-blooded mate could deal with the cold for any extended time.
The woman led them to an enormous kennel area. Puppies of all shapes and sizes barked loudly from inside their cages. Some climbed onto dog houses to meet their caretaker more on her level. The woman called out a couple commands in her native tongue and even the smallest ones hushed. She walked by the animals in cages and led them to a large corralled area. Twenty adult dogs roamed about, playing, eating, resting. They seemed to be on very good terms with each other.
Calling out in her native tongue, and then repeating the commands in English, most of the dogs came rushing over to her. She petted each one and let them out, stopping at fifteen. Those freed from the area all trotted behind her and stopped obediently when she paused in front of him and Topper. With one other simple command, they sat as a unit and waited on her. Only a few whined in frustration over the restrain.
“This blue-eyed Malamute beauty by my leg is Mercury. He’s going to be your lead dog today. Mercury, this is Mr. and Mrs. Topper. They’re going out to the checkpoint and coming back. Just a short run, okay?”
Stark noted Mercury’s single bark of understanding seemed to satisfy his owner. He looked down at the beautiful animal and bowed his head to it.
When the dog whined softly in greeting, he stooped until he was eye to eye with him. “It’s an honor to meet you, Mercury.”
The dog whined again and looked up at Sandra.
“It’s okay,” she said. “Say hello to Mr. Topper if you want.”
Mercury trotted closer and pushed his muzzle under Stark’s outstretched hand. He smiled and ran hands over the animal in long sweeps. It took about ten seconds of touching for him to forge a mental link with the very intelligent canine.
They spent another full minute getting used to each other. Surprising him, Mercury lifted a paw and put it on his upper arm. The dog leaned in close and whined softly while looking discreetly at Topper.
Stark nodded, understanding immediately. “Yes. I know her energy is a bit strange, but I promise she won’t hurt you. Tell you what… you take care of the pack and the sled, Mercury. I’ll take care of my mate. She’s my responsibility. I don’t take my duties lightly either.”
Mercury’s lick on his chin was followed by excited barking that had him laughing. Stark looked at the other dogs intently watching his discussion with their leader. “Hello. You guys are beauties too. Want a quick rub?”
Fourteen eager dogs hit him all at once, knocking him down into the snow in their enthusiasm. He was freezing cold for the first time in ages. It felt absolutely wonderful.
Stark’s laughter rang out over the whines and barks of the dogs. Outside his concern for Topper’s strange mood, this continued to be a truly great trip. No wonder Topper had been so adamant about having a proper honeymoon.
“I knew getting out in the snow covered wilderness of Alaska would suit you. Our trip’s not the Iditarod, but maybe you can do that race one day. In the meantime… happy honeymoon. This was the other part of your surprise,” Topper said proudly, staring down at her dog-covered mate.
After hearing the private nature of Topper’s comments, the native woman walked away to give them some privacy, whistling to get the dogs to follow. The dogs left Stark abruptly and took off after her. She called each name and hooked a dog’s harness into a spot along the towing line. About half done, she walked to the front and secured Mercury. He stood watching her walk away and seemed to be waiting patiently for a command.
“Okay, Mercury. On Line,” she called loudly.
Mercury walked forward until his harness strained against the weight of the towline he lifted from the ground. He leaned his weight into the motion and kept it taut as she hooked up the last six dogs. What a truly remarkable animal.
Stark climbed to his feet and wiped the snow off the back of his pants. A giggling Topper took care of the rest. For once, he was too distracted to appreciate her hands on him. “That Mercury is one very smart beast,” he said, watching the dog perform his duties.
“Yes. He has great eyes too. I’m sure we’re in very good doggy paws with him. By the way… you’re driving the sled. I’m sure you can figure it out.”
“What are you planning to do while I drive?” Stark asked.
“What else? I’m planning to cover up and keep warm. The coat and boots help, but I plan to be comfortable for our entire trip.” Topper walked to the sled and took the only available seat. She covered her legs with the fur blanket provided—real fur no doubt—and made herself comfortable.
Their sled supplier spent a few moments going over commands and showing Stark how to operate everything. Mercury barked from the front, letting them all know the dogs were ready and anxious to be on their way.
Stark waited until Sandra was out of earshot. “Are you sure about us going out alone, Topper?”
Topper nodded. “One hundred percent. I trust Mercury completely. I’m sure you’ll do just fine as well. Now yell Mush and let’s get going.”
Stark snorted. “Thanks for your help.”
“You’re very welcome,” Topper sang.
He couldn’t hold it in. “For your information, they don’t really yell Mush. The sled driver is called a Musher. That command was just something in those entertainment vids you enjoy watching.”
“Fine. Yell something else. The dogs and I are both getting bored,” Topper said.
Stark’s eye roll went unnoticed, but it sufficed to express his bemusement. At least that demanding comment had sounded like the female he’d originally mated.
He didn’t understand his apprehension about the trek. How could he feel the need to complain that Topper never even asked the woman a single question about what might happen if things went wrong? Her compliance and ease was making the trip much easier overall, but if he didn’t know better, he’d think his mate had been replaced with some sweet-natured clone in the middle of the night.
He checked the directional device attached to the sled’s steering. All he had to do to get there and back was keep the dog sled following the line on it. That shouldn’t be too hard. According to Sandra, the trip out and back shouldn’t take more than a few hours, even with the fresh snow.
“Hike! Let’s go,” Stark called.
A couple of strong tugs and then the sled was gliding smoothly across a quiet blanket of white.
Resig ran into General Arctic’s office. “Sir—a portal opening has been predicted. It will happen in the next few minutes.”
“Where?” Arctic demanded.
Resig swallowed. “As unbelievable as this may seem… it is happening here. I cannot explain it.”
Arctic smiled. “I can. Fate has decided to become my servant. Or perhaps it is that goddess you secretly worship.”
Resig let the comments go, just as he did most of the General’s insults. “Are you prepared to travel, General? What assistance do you require?”
Arctic stood and inspected his clothing. He walked to a wall and donned outwear he reserved for wearing in the ice fields. It covered him all over and should protect him well. He grabbed a ready pack from a nearby chest—one he’d specifically prepared with weapons enough to finish off any creature he might encounter. One of them he would use to take down Stark.
“Lead me to that portal, Captain. Mind my troops while I’m gone or I’ll have your life in forfeit when I return,” Arctic ordered.
Resig nodded, glad he’d taken so much training in blocking the mind reading powers of the elderly Glacierans around him. Often they couldn’t prevent themselves from probing. The General didn’t even try to stop. “My loyalty is to our troops, General.”
Arctic snorted and followed him out the door.
A rumbling shook the ground as they walked and it sent everyone stumbling. In a nearby flight field several shuttles were tossed on their sides as a large swirling vortex appeared in the middle of them. Both men strode rapidly to it, followed by all the guards on duty with weapons drawn.
Arctic stopped, looked at it, and then briskly nodded. Resig nodded back, hoping the man couldn’t see his relief to see him go.
“May you meet the fate meant to be yours, General.”
“Keep your well wishes for some other fool, Captain. I make my own fate,” Arctic declared, stepping into the portal.
No sooner had Arctic disappeared than the portal closed too. Resig turned his head as a blast of energy rocked him and the troops behind him. When he looked back a beautiful woman stood where the portal had just been. The light she emanated hurt to look upon and it had Resig falling to his knees.
“Goddess… Icela,” he whispered. “I am honored by your visit.”
“Keep your heart strong, my warrior. Tell the council what your wicked general plans,” Icela ordered.
“As you wish, Goddess,” Resig whispered. He glanced behind him and saw all the guards had become frozen statues staring at him. He raised his face to Icela. “Are they alive? Can they hear us?”
Icela bowed her head once. “They are mostly unharmed. It was the quickest way to assure they would not use their weapons on me. You might have been hurt if their aim was less than true. Your warriors will thaw… eventually.”
Resig looked at his men and then back at her. “Is there anything we can do to help General Stark?”
“No,” Icela said sadly. “All you or I can do is hope the Earth will treat him as a favored son.”
With another blast of light that had Resig hiding his eyes again, the goddess disappeared.
- Writer
