Ice Dogs Read Online Free PDF Page B

other five point their muzzles in the air—black lips ringing in an
O
. The song undulates and wavers with layers of different voices. As if the conductor had waved his arms in finale, all the dogs stop at the same time. I always wonder how they do that.
    â€œWhoa.” Chris is staring at the dogs from his sleeping bag. I notice his lips look better—less blue.
    â€œThey’re hungry after all that work saving you.”
    â€œWell tell them I’m not that tasty. Pretty stringy actually. Why is the big ugly one staring at me?”
    Ugly?
“Listen, genius, my dogs are the only things that are important right now. They’re going to haul both of us out of here, so they deserve some respect.” He obviously doesn’t know a good dog when he sees one.
    â€œWhoa,” he says again, arching his brows. “Sorry, they seem like very nice dogs with big teeth. You haven’t even told me your name.”
    I grab the bag with the fist-size chicken chunks and march over to the dogs. “Victoria Secord,” I yell over the dogs’ demanding screams.
    â€œLongoria?”
    â€œVictoria.” I toss a chunk to Dorset. She snaps it from the air and turns her back on Blue, who’s reaching for me with front paws outstretched.
    â€œVictoria Secret?”
    Oh, so annoying. “You’re hilarious.” I sweep my arm toward the dogs. “I race sled dogs. I’m one of the top junior mushers.” I’m not sure why I feel the need to tell him this.
    â€œOh, yeah! I thought I recognized you. I saw you yesterday at the race.” He takes a swig from the water bottle and wipes his mouth with the back of his glove. “The pink tights fit, but they’re a little short. They only go to my knees.”
    I bite my lip to keep from laughing and turn away. “You were at the race?”
    I throw a chunk to Blue, who has worked himself up to such a frenzy that he has to put the chunk between his feet and pant over it before he can start to gnaw.
    â€œYeah, Mom and I went to check it out. Some jerk sideswiped us, though. Took the mirror off my mom’s Chevette.”
    I blink. “Uh, sideswiped? You see who did it?”
    â€œNo, happened when we were parked—”
    Chris is interrupted by Drift, who screams as if someone is ripping off her toenails. I toss her a chunk and she grabs it expertly from the air.
    â€œSo . . . ” I change the subject. “Which school do you go to? Fairbanks?”
    â€œI’ll be starting at Spruce River High on Monday. I’m a sophomore . . . er . . . that was the plan. So I’m guessing I’ll have the privilege of your cheery personality greeting me in the halls?”
    He grins and I almost smile at how ridiculous he looks, sitting up with his broad shoulders stuffed into the bag and the red scarf tied lopsided around his head. Flickering light from the fire glows on his face. When he turns to me, I notice the startling colors in his deep-set hazel eyes.
    A gust of wind blows sparks and snow pellets against both of us. Chris tilts his head and shuts his eyes. He tucks farther into the bag.
    â€œSo, why did you start racing sled dogs? I mean, it’s cool, but sort of different.”
    â€œI like being different.” My voice sounds a little too loud. “And it’s not that different. Lots of kids my age race.”
    I try and think of something profound to say about why I run dogs. About how I’d been around dogs my whole life with Dad and how I can understand them. How I feel alive when I run them, how they take me to a magical place that I can get to only behind a team. And how running the dogs makes me feel close to Dad.
    â€œAnd I like racing.” Less profound than I wanted. “I’m good at it.”
    I give up and add more wood to the fire.
    Chris shrugs and huddles closer to the flames. Falling snow swirls around him and I suddenly