JOURNEY TO THE MIDNIGHT SUN
James Sheldon
LOVE CONQUERS ALL
Book 1 of 3
Chapter 23
It is said that in all of nature the top three distance runners are humans, horses, and dogs. Some claim the horse best of the three. Many claim that a human will eventually catch and pass a horse. Others claim dogs to be number one. Men and women from the 21st century might point out that sled dogs ran the 1,000 mile Iditarod in 10 days. Others might point to 2015 when, in the world’s longest certified footrace, Pekka Aalto of Finland ran 3,100 miles in 40 days. Perhaps it is too close to call. In any case, it is encouraging to know that in the work of creation or course of evolution, or whatever one chooses to call it, great gains came from countless miles traveled in the sometimes grueling race for survival. And in that race, untold numbers of humans, horses, and dogs formed friendships to which all that came after are indebted.
The next morning, John emerged from the tent only to see Nemo chewing on his tether. Seeing John, Nemo jumped up and began to dance and whine loudly. His big brother Yike was gone, his sinew tether chewed in half.
“Yike! Here boy!” Cody called, having come out of the tent. “Yike!” the boy shouted, casting about, “Here Yike!”
“John,” Emma beseeched, “would you please go and find Yike.”
Slipping Ellie’s bridle on, Summerfield mounted up and from the high advantage of the giant’s back walked the perimeter until, spotting fresh tracks, he set off at a trot only to stop and dismount not twenty yards yonder. Then, turning back to the others, he called out, “I see him.”
“Where is he?”
“On the river.” And with a grin, “It looks like he’s found a lady friend.”
Laureal and Cody came alongside, followed by Emma who, seeing Yike doing a mating dance with a she wolf, cried out, “Oh my goodness!”
“Yike!” Cody called, “No Yike! Yike! Yike, no!”
“Good luck with that,” John said laughingly, although as Cody continued to call, the female became alarmed and broke off the dance.
“Where are the other wolves?” cried Laureal.
“Passed out drunk at the party.”
“John! That’s not funny! If they happen along right now, they’ll kill Yike!”
“I’ll get him,” his tone reluctant even as he acquiesced. And turning to Ellie, he removed her bridle so that she might return to grazing. Then handing said item to his wife, he knowingly winked at her before turning to descend the bluff.
“John wait!” exclaimed Emma. And looking between the young couple, “Laureal, go and get a tether for Yike.”
Emma then turned to Cody, “Take the rifle. From here you can cover both river and camp.”
John may have spent days exploring the tunnels had his motivation not shifted from that which pushed him to that which pulled him. As always, everyone worked hard to complete their tasks. Likewise, when they hit the trail they kept pace. Not double-time but all business.
It would take five more days to reach their summer home. Along the way it became obvious that Yike and the wolf had a thing going on. Yike chewed through his tether the first two nights, so they gave up on that. Nor could they keep him from sneaking off to feed his lady friend by way of regurgitation, a common practice among wolves and still a powerful instinct in all dogs. The wolf kept her distance from the family, and the family remained focused on their objective. Clouds moved in and brought the return of the snow. At times the flakes fell so perfectly steady it seemed every individual crystal kept to the exact same angle so that, wherever one looked, one saw an even pattern. At other times the flakes were so tiny and light, they floated aimlessly, like gnats on a warm summer day. When the big river turned east, the family continued north on a well-worn forest trail. On the fourth day they crossed the north fork of the old Saskatchewan River near the ruin of Prince Albert. The next day under a darkening sky, they pushed ever northward. The afternoon brought heavy snowfall and, in waning light, they reached their summer home. Needless to say, it came as a great relief to all.
