by Sioux Dallas
“Forgive me, but I’ve only heard about wolves and wolf dogs. I’ve never been near one, but she seems friendly. Dozens of people have been singing her praises so I guess she’s all right.”
“You bet she’s all right,” Tom stated. “She saved our lives once and mine again later. She’s been a friend to loads of people in this town. It’s all in how kindly you treat an animal and how you make them understand that, even though you’re in charge, they’re still loved and appreciated.”
“I repeat, may I make a story film on her and your family?”
“Yeah, Dad. Wouldn’t that be great? Just like Jack London. Yahoo. We’ll all be on television.” Tom was too excited to calm down immediately.
With a thoughtful look, Tim said, “But it would have to be handled with great care or people would get the wrong idea about owning a wolf dog. They might think it sounds special for them and then either get in trouble or ruin a good animal.”
“I agree with you, Tim.” Anna said.
“I think what Tim means is that some people have a tendency to go with the herd, so to speak. When there’s a movie about a black stallion, the demands for black stallions go up. Not everyone is qualified or emotionally capable of training such an animal,” Herb explained.
Irene stepped beside Herb. “The documentary was about beautiful Alaska and the people who settled here. The history of Alaska, and present day Alaska, is important, but we are just one family here and we won’t be here much longer. There are hundreds of people who should be given attention for keeping the development of Alaska going forward. We don’t deserve it, even with a wonderful dog.”
“Well said,” Herb smiled. Tom was disappointed, but Greatheart didn’t care. The director was disappointed, but he couldn’t persuade, or bribe them to do a separate film on them and their wolf dog.
After the film crew left, the town was quieter that it had been in several weeks. The townspeople felt a let-down, but everyone was looking forward to seeing their town, and their people, on national television.
Irene warned the children to keep Greatheart on a leash outside. “She is ready to mate and I don’t want the same thing happening to her that happened to Galena.”
‘Why not, Mom?” Tom questioned. “It would be super to have Greatheart’s babies.”
It could be dangerous,” Irene warned again. “If she mated with a wolf, her pups, or cubs, would be almost wholly wolf. It would be against the law to keep them and we would be forced to get rid of them. More than likely they would be destroyed or turned loose to roam with the wild wolves.”
“Oh, no, not that,” Tim worried. “Let’s keep an eye on her. Hey! I have an idea. Why don’t we select a good dog and have her mated? Then we’ll be sure she’s okay.”
“No way, Jose,” Irene smiled. “My idea is to have her spayed so that she can’t have babies. If we take her back to Virginia, our neighbors will be anxious enough about having a wolf dog near them without her having babies.”
“Mom’s right. We’ll have enough problems getting Greatheart accepted,” Anna nodded wisely as she continued cooking dinner.
Herb listened gravely. “Let me think about this and check with the home office to see what has to be lawfully done to take her to Virginia.”
“Tom, are you awake?” Tim whispered leaning over Tom.
“I am now. What’s your problem?” he answered with a big yawn and turning on a light. “You idiot. It’s two in the morning.”
“Of course it’s morning. I’ve had a supersplendifferous idea. Let’s ask Mr. Whitzel if we can mate Greatheart to his prize malamute. Her babies would be safe then.”
“You wouldn’t be safe when mom and dad got hold of you. Didn’t you hear mom? She intends to have Greatheart spayed so she can’t be mated. Besides I’m not sure Mr. Whitzel would allow us to use his dog. After all, his dog’s a champion. And where would we get the fee? People pay through the nose for his dog’s services.”
“Well --- if we got the two dogs together and our folks and Mr. Whitzel didn’t know about it---” Tim spoke slowly and thoughtfully.
“How are you going to do that? Wow! Mom and dad won’t believe this. You’re talking more like me than I do.”
Tim talked until he made Tom believe it could be done. They were impatient for the hours to pass so they could talk to Ben, Charlie, Alan and Sam and get their help. The next morning the twins rushed out right after breakfast before they could be asked what their plans for the day were. They met the four boys and shared their plan.
“Are you crazy?” Ben exploded. “In the first place Mr. Whitzel will never agree to mate his champion with a half wolf. His dog’s puppies sell for an astronomical amount of money. With wolf in them they would be of no use. Your parents will string you both up by your thumbs when they found out.”
“It’ll be too late to do anything when our parents find out. And we won’t talk to Mr. Whitzel. We’ll get the animals together ourselves,” Tim persisted.
“Crazy for sure,” Sam muttered. “You can’t mate animals any time you want. They have to be ready. Hasn’t anyone ever told you about the birds and the bees?”
“Yes,” Tom said with a sneer. “I know about the birds and bees. We happen to know that Greatheart is ready. Why do you think we’re talking about this now? I’m just wondering about the final phase of our plan.” The six boys walked slowly lost in thought.
“Look!” Charlie hissed. He grabbed the others and pulled them into the alley by the grocery store. Mr. Whitzel is leaving and Koko is in the yard.”
“But there’s a high fence around the property,” Alan pointed out.
“He left in such a hurry that, as far as he knows, he might not have shut the gate securely. We can let Koko out and make sure he meets Greatheart.”
Tom was so excited, he was stuttering.
“Hoboy. Prepare to lose our heads,” Sam said with a quiver in his voice.
“Where’s Tim?” Tom looked around.
“He took off running as soon as Mr. W. got out of sight. Here he comes now with Greatheart,” Alan answered.
Tom ran over and opened Mr. Whitzel’s gate. “Hi, Koko. Come here. What a pretty boy you are. Have you seen our pretty girl? Her name is Greatheart.” Koko ran out and straight to Greatheart. Tim let her off the leash and the two dogs ran off together.
“Catch him,” Ben called nervously. ‘We’ll be in real hot water if anything happens to that champion dog. He’s a registered Malamute.”
“He won’t be hard to catch in a short time,” Tim grinned.
The boys walked slowly back toward their homes. They played a game of basketball and talked about the Jackson family going back to Virginia. Much later Greatheart came running to them with Koko close beside her. The boys jumped guiltily when Mr. Whitzel ran up to them.
“I say there, boys. I don’t know how my dog got out. Would you hold his collar until I can get hold of him? I’m thankful your dog was here for him to stop and visit. No telling where he might have run off to. Thank you so much.” He led Koko off.
“Whew,” Alan blew his breath out trembling. “I was sure we were goners.”
“That’s what a guilty conscience will do to you,” Ben said even though he was shaking as he dropped to sit on the ground. “My legs feel like wet noodles.”
The twins looked at each other. “Now I feel bad about this,” Tim said, “but it’s too late. Let’s just hope she’ll be healthy and have healthy babies.”
“We’ll know in about sixty-three days,” Sam told them.
The boys separated to go to their own homes. Tom and Tim walked with Greatheart between them, now on her leash. They hesitated before entering the house.
“Well, here goes nothing,” Tom whispered.
“Boys, what’s wrong with you? You’re not eating as you usually do.” Irene reached to feel Tom’s forehead. “Are you feeling sick?”
“Uh--no, Mom, we’re fine. We just have a lot on our minds,” Tom answered.
“Yeah, a lot on our minds, Tim mumbled. He straightened up and spoke more clearly. “It is getting close the time for us to leave. May we be excused?”
As the twins left the room, Herb looked after them with a frown. “Am I getting unnecessarily suspicious in my old age, or did those boys act as if they were guilty about something?”
Anna shook her head. “I don’t know what it could be. They’ve just been in the neighborhood with their friends all afternoon.”
“Herb, I do think it’s because we are about to wrap up our time here and go back to Virginia. We’ve all made a lot of friends here and it won’t be easy to just walk off even though we’re anxious to go home,” Irene soothed him.
“Maybe you’re right. But something doesn’t feel right. I just have a feeling. Oh, well.”
“Well, if they’re up to something, I haven’t a clue as to what it could be,” Anna said as she stood to clear the dining table.
April seemed to rush by. The days had more light now that the sun stayed in view longer. Anna asked that nothing be done for her eighteenth birthday. “Just going home will be sufficient.”
The first week of May, the twins walked into the kitchen. “Mom,” Tim started, “Tom and I have been talking and we don’t want anything done for our sixteenth birthday. We don’t really feel like celebrating anything. We’ve made so many good friends that we’re going to find it hard to leave.”
Herb called his work crew together. “Friends, I first want to tell you how proud I am to have been a part of your group. There just isn’t a better work crew anywhere.” He paused for the cheering to die down. “We did what we set out to do. We proved that natural gas can be found under the tundra and it will be easy to get out with proper equipment and a lot of care. There is also some coal, but I don’t know how much at this time. I won’t be here to head the work crew that sets up machinery and does the drilling.” Groans and calls of concern were all that could be heard for a few minutes.
Herb continued. “I’ve made recommendations for administrative positions. This does not mean that I don’t approve of the rest of you. Believe me, these are difficult decisions to make. All of you have been honest, reliable, diligent workers and, best of all, you have become close friends. I had to follow government guidelines to make my selections. Of course you understand that my recommendations are not ironclad. The final decision rests with our federal government. At any rate, I’m thankful that I had this opportunity to work with all of you and get to know your families. My family and I will be leaving the second week of June.” More groans. “I plan to return for a visit and observe your progress. In the meantime, let’s make sure our project is documented correctly and that all required government papers are filed properly.” Laughs followed this because filling government papers took time and were a headache.
“I know that whomever is chosen for your administrators will be someone you can appreciate and with whom you’ll work as well as you have for me. I can’t thank you enough for making my stay here so pleasant. God bless you all.” there was a lot of cheers, backslapping and a few tears.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Boys!” Irene called angrily charging into the house with Greatheart dragging on a leash. Herb was sitting in the living room and Anna came running from her bedroom.
“What is it, Mom?” Anna asked anxiously as the twins sauntered into the living room.
It was obvious to all of them that Irene was angry. “If you know anything about this, you’d better confess now and save yourselves getting into later trouble.”
“Know about what?” Tom asked softly. Tim just stared.
“I’ve been thinking that Greatheart was gaining weight. I felt something move in her stomach and rushed her to the veterinarian thinking she might have worms. Well, guess what?”
“What, Mom. Is she sick or going to die?” Anna asked shaking.
“Do you want to tell her, boys?” Irene snapped
“Tell her what?” Tom asked with a frown.
“For heavens sake, Irene, just tell us,” Herb urged.
“It wasn’t worms I felt moving in her. It’s babies,” she said with a sob as she sank into a chair. With gritted teeth she glared at the twins. “I don’t imagine you know about it.”
Tom fell on his knees, hugging the dog and hiding his face in her fur. “Babies? Really truly? Greatheart, are you really having babies?”
“Honey, maybe she got out sometime or a male came into our yard. It doesn’t have to mean the boys know about it, does it, boys?” Herb looked sternly at his sons.
Tom giggled. “Babies. I don’t know nothing about babies,” he said in a falsetto voice as if he were in ‘Gone With The Wind’. “Come on, Tim, let’s go tell our friends. I’m sure they’ll want one of the babies.” the twins ran out before their mother could question them further.
“I tell you, Herb. They’re guilty,” Irene choked.
Herb chuckled reaching to hug her and calm her. “If they’re guilty, they sure cover it well. Greatheart, old girl, we’ll have to take better care of our little mother. Wish you could tell us the true story. Did you get special vitamins for her?” he asked Irene.
“Yes. She also has to be walked for a specific time each day and fed on schedule.”
“When will we have her babies?” Anna asked.
“About fourteen days.”
“Man, how did you get out of answering your mother?” Ben asked. “My mother may be little, but she would have had me in a wrestling clinch if she thought I was guilty.” the boys laughed at the idea of his small, very kind mother holding him in any kind of clinch.
The days flew by. The three children made excellent grades on their exams. They came home from school to be met by Irene motioning them to be quiet.
“Déjà vu,” Tim shuddered. “Is this familiar? Remember when Galena had her babies?” he asked fearfully. “What is it, Mom?”
“Come into the kitchen.”
They trooped into the large kitchen. There in the corner, on soft rugs, was Greatheart with four fat, healthy babies. One male and three females. “We can’t tell yet how they’re going to look,” Irene said. “As soon as they mature a little, we’ll be able to guess who the papa is.”
“Wow. They look fat and healthy,” Anna stated in awe. “It doesn’t look as if we’ll have problems with them like we had with Galena’s babies. I’m so relieved.” she giggled. “It’s a good thing we have a large kitchen with this corner going to the dogs, else people would think we’re terribly unsanitary.”
“Who cares what other people think.” Tom stated. “We take care of our animals.” He reached to pick up a puppy and jumped back in surprise. “Did you see that?! Greatheart growled and snapped at me.”
“This is her first litter and she’s protective. And her last,” Irene said firmly. “Let her get used to having them and then she’ll let you pet them.”
One night, after dinner, Herb called a family meeting. “Our clothing and household items need to be packed and ready to ship to Virginia. Just keep a small case of items you’ll need for about two days. Paul will fly us to Fairbanks, where we’ll make arrangements to fly to Virginia. We’ll actually land at Dullus Airport.”
“Will Greatheart fly with us?” Tom asked. Silence.
“Dad?” Tim was concerned.
Herb dropped his head. “I’ve been a coward. I haven’t been able to tell you what I know you’ll be anxious to hear.” Herb took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. Irene already knew what he was having trouble saying. Anna dropped to the floor at his feet and waited.
“Well. Go on, Dad,” Tom urged impatiently.
“I told you I’m a coward and I’m truly sorry.” Herb answered with a shamed expression. Tim sat silently and waited. “I checked with my office in D.C. and with the airlines about Greatheart. My boss informs me that they’re reluctant to have a half wolf brought into Virginia. Too, she would be placed in quarantine for a month to make sure she is healthy a
nd safe.”
“What’s the bottom line?” Tim almost whispered.
“The bottom line is that Greatheart would be placed in unfamiliar situations without us to comfort her. The stress would be unpleasant for her and ----”
“And what?” Anna encouraged him.
“There is a possibility that the stress might bring out the wild side of her causing a reverse in her personality. In that case she would have to be destroyed.”
“What you father wants you to do is consider what is best for Greatheart. Forget our feelings. She would be the one feeling as if she were being punished without knowing why. Too, she would feel that we no longer loved her.” Irene told them.
Herb continued. “We can put her through a very successful situation that will be alarming for her or we can leave her in familiar surroundings with someone who knows her and will treat her as we have.”
“What about the babies?” Anna asked softly.
“It might be possible to take one with us. We have to obtain a health certificate and an okay from several departments both here and in Virginia. She might have to be put in quarantine for a very short time.”
The three children looked at each other with agonized expressions. “May we talk it over and let you know what we decide?” Anna asked.
“Of course. It is a serious decision and your mother and I want you to be happy. We also want the dogs to be well cared for and happy. I know we love our girl for her own sake and because she’s Galena’s daughter. Your decision must be for the good of the dogs.”
The next morning, after breakfast, Tom told Irene and Herb that they were ready to discuss their decision, however, they wanted to wait until they had talked to some friends.
The twins asked Ben, Sam, Charlie and Alan to meet them at the Community Center. Anna asked Daniel and several friends to meet with them.
None of the family felt much like eating dinner, but they pushed their food around on their plates. Anna and Irene quickly cleaned up while the twins sat on the front porch waiting for the family discussion. They were surprised to see Mr. Whitzel coming up their driveway.