Ice Island Read Free Page A

chunks so they’d thaw faster, then scooped the doggie stew into metal bowls. “The dogs are staying here with a friend.”
    “What about Bandit?”
    Beryl sighed, sitting back on her heels. “I haven’t told her yet, but this was her last race.”
    “You’re retiring Bandit?” Tatum couldn’t believe it. “But why?”
    “She’ll be nine next year. Besides, she’s led our team into the top twenty more than once. That’s something.” Beryl sounded like a proud mother. “It’s time to let her younger brother take over.”
    Tatum buried her face in Bandit’s ruff. “I’ll take her,” she said.
    “Oh, Tatum. You know how much trouble and expense these dogs can be. Tons of exercise. And …” Beryl paused. “Bandit hasn’t been herself lately, kinda sluggish. Maybe it’s the race. But if it’s something else, it could mean vet bills.”
    Tatum didn’t hesitate. “I have a savings account.” She didn’t mention that it was a college fund. Or that she’d spend every cent on Bandit if she had to.
    “What about your parents?” Beryl asked. “Shouldn’t you run it by them first?”
    “Dad’ll be thrilled I’m getting a dog,” Tatum said, not mentioning her mom’s feelings about it.
    Beryl nodded as if that sounded reasonable. She poured a twenty-five-pound sack of dry dog food into a plastic garbage bag and added Bandit’s bowl, harness, and a handful of booties. “I’ll mail you her vet record.”
    “Great.”
    Beryl knelt down and gave her lead dog a warm hug.
    Tatum looked on quietly, knowing how hard this was for her friend.
    Beryl held Bandit’s ears and kissed her on the nose. Then she stood up and pulled a T-shirt from her sled. “I brought this for you.”
    Tatum nearly cried reading the slogan: ALASKA—WHERE MEN ARE MEN AND WOMEN WIN THE IDITAROD .

3
    Tatum led Bandit down the street, towing the heavy bag over her shoulder. Her mom was going to be mad, real mad, and quick to point out her “no dogs until we’re settled in one place” rule.
    Worse still, the apartment they were bunking in didn’t allow pets. And besides, it was too cramped for a dog. Tatum had a lot to figure out.
    Bandit stayed at her heels, nuzzling her thigh. Halfway down the block her dog stopped, looking back at the dog yard. “It’s okay, girl,” Tatum said, feeling sad and excited at the same time. She’d never imagined she’d have a dog like this of her own.
    She bent down and looked directly into Bandit’s eyes. “I’ll take real good care of you,” she promised. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”
    Bandit licked her cheek.
    The glare of sunlight on the frozen sea drew Tatum’s gaze to a green circle a hundred yards out. Then she saw the pin and flag. Astroturf. Guys in ridiculous costumes were hitting red golf balls off the deck of a tavern. People did silly things to entertain themselves during the long winter.
    Tatum stopped at the Arctic entrance to the Polar Café—a small space between two heavy doors that kept cold from seeping into the main part of the building. “Not a sound, Bandit, okay?”
    Bandit cocked her head, licking the air.
    Tatum hugged her neck. “Mom won’t be able to resist you!”
    She led Bandit through the back door into the kitchen. “Nice dog,” the cook said, scratching Bandit behind her ear.
    “Bandit,” Tatum said, “meet Jake.”
    Bandit sniffed Jake’s shoe.
    Tatum set down the bag and peeked into the dining room, searching for her mom. Mismatched tables and chairs were tightly packed. Snowsuits and parkas hung on hooks. Boot liners littered the floor.
    “Looks busy,” she said.
    Jake grunted, flipping two bloody slabs of meat. “As a hound in flea season.”
    Steaks, fried eggs, and sourdough pancakes filled plates set out under a heat lamp. Between exercise and subzero temperatures, some mushers lost more weight than was healthy. A body burned thousands of calories to keep from freezing to death.
    “Who gets the steaks?” Tatum