style="font-size:15px;"> Blue was watching Ella and tilted his head in encouragement. Ella smiled back. Her confidence was so strong that she lifted the box as easily as if it was a box of tissues. She put it on the ground, then stood back. She was hot with exertion and unzipped her coat a short way, welcoming the feel of the chilly air on her neck. The dogs watched her expectantly, waiting for their next command. Silently Ella pointed back the way they’d come. There wasn’t much room to turn, but with a few shunts they managed it and, once the sled was facing in the right direction, Ella climbed on to its runners with her hands resting on the driving bow. No one spoke until they were out of the forest and back in the open.
The weak autumn sunlight reflected off the snow, dazzling Ella. She screwed up her eyes and called, “Easy,” to the dogs, who immediately slowed down.
Ella was pleased she’d found the crate’s owners, but a niggling feeling told her that her task wasn’t over. Her initial surprise and unease at finding a drilling camp in the middle of nowhere had now turned to suspicion. Exactly what were the people looking for and how would their activities affect the Arctic wildlife? There was one person Ella knew who might have the answers to her questions.
“Acer,” she called. “Can we go to Port Nanuk? I want to talk to Saskia.”
“Yes, of course,” said Acer.
Ella guided the sled back the way they’d come and although the tracks she’d followed earlier had been wiped out with fresh snow she recognised certain landmarks. There was the coniferous, Y-shaped tree, the three trees huddled together like gossiping friends and the gently sloping hill. The dogs were panting as they reached the top and Ella called them to a halt to let them catch their breath. There was an amazing view from up here. A bubbling feeling rose in Ella’s stomach as she stared at the brilliant white world stretching before her. It was so beautiful and so unspoilt. Leading the Starlight Snowdogs and exper iencing this wild landscape was the most wonderful thing ever. For a split second Ella wished that Isabel was there to share it with her too. But at least she had Saskia. Ella couldn’t wait to see her new friend again. Gathering up the gangline she prepared to send the dogs forward, but before she could, something caught her eye. A long dark line that from this distance resembled marching ants was heading towards the river from the opposite direction. Ella stared in fascination until the ant-like figures grew large enough to make out.
“Caribou!” she exclaimed in wonder. There were so many it was almost impossible to tell where one ended and the next began.
“Where are they going?” Ella asked.
“They’re moving to their winter ground,” Acer explained. “In the summer they live in the north where the mosquitoes are fewer and there’s a plentiful supply of lichen for their newborn calves. In the winter they return to the south, where the climate is milder and there is a fresh supply of food.”
The herd moved steadily towards the river in an orderly line. The adults were easy to spot with their enormous velvety antlers. The calves were much smaller and their growing antlers resembled twigs. Ella had never seen such an enormous herd of animals and was so impressed she stood staring at the caribou as they calmly picked their way towards the river. It was a complete surprise when, without faltering, the lead animals waded into the water and, thrusting their heads forward, began to swim. The river was fast flowing, carrying chunks of ice that clunked against each other. The caribou didn’t swim straight across it. Instead they snaked their way to the opposite bank, making wide serpentine loops. Ella held her breath, fearful that they wouldn’t make the journey safely.
“Why are they swimming like that?” she asked. “Won’t it take longer to cross?”
Bandit sniggered and Acer gave him a low warning growl before answering.
“The current makes it impossible to swim in a straight line.”
“Of course,” said Ella, feeling slightly silly.
All she could see of the swimming caribou were their thrusting heads and occasionally their stumpy tails bobbing in the water as they struck out for the opposite bank. There seemed no end to the herd. As more animals launched themselves into the water there were others filling their place on the land. Ella’s eyes flickered from the caribou swimming in the semi-frozen river to the long line of animals still crossing the snow-covered land to reach it. There were hundreds of caribou ranging from the very young to the very old. It seemed a long while before the first swimmers approached the shore. Nimbly they scrambled out of the river, picking their way across the rocks and continuing their journey on land like an unstoppable army.
“Lucky they’re going the opposite way to us,” said Ella half to herself. It was going to take ages for the whole herd to be clear of the river and she was getting cold. She wriggled her fingers inside her padded gloves and then wiggled her toes, but even though she was wearing cosy thick socks her feet still felt numb.
“Hike,” she said reluctantly, knowing if she stayed where she was she would freeze.
Eagerly the dogs moved forward. Acer and Honey needed little guidance as they sure-footedly made their way down the hill, Ella struggling to tear her eyes away from the spectacular sight of the migrating caribou. Soft grunts rang out in the distance, until a sudden bellow made Ella twist her head in surprise.
“No!” she gasped.
A young caribou was being swept away by the river. Eyes rolling with fright, it frantically kicked at the icy water. With heart-wrenching bellows its mother swam after it. The rest of the herd ignored the drama and continued on their way, elegantly rising from the water as they reached the shore and tiptoeing across the rocks. Ella gathered up the gangline. There was no way she could watch the calf drown. She had to rescue it.
Chapter 4
“Hike!” Ella shouted, leaning across the driving bow. “Hike!”
The dogs tensed, but didn’t move.
“Hike!” cried Ella wildly. “Hurry, Acer, the calf needs our help.”
Acer stood proud, his triangular ears pricked forward, his plumed tail arched over his back. Ella was confused. She knew Acer could hear her, so why was he refusing to move on? She jumped from the sled runners and ran along the line of dogs until she was in front of him.
“What’s wrong?” she asked frantically. “Why won’t you help me? Is this something I have to do by myself?”
Ella was aware of Blue and Honey’s sympathetic looks and Bandit’s scornful stance. But she didn’t care how stupid she sounded. All that mattered was saving the caribou calf.
“Tell me what to do,” she begged.
Carefully Acer scraped a hole in the snow with his front paw.
“I’m sorry, Ella,” he said at last. “This isn’t a matter for the Starlight Snowdogs. The problem is a natural one, not something that’s been caused by humans. Harsh as it seems, we must let nature take its course.”
Ella was shocked. Why did they have to let nature take its course? For a few crazy seconds she thought about ignoring Acer and going to help the calf anyway. But as she went to move a thought occurred to her. Would her magical powers work if she wasn’t acting with the Starlight Snowdogs? Ella had more than a suspicion they wouldn’t and deep down she knew she mustn’t interfere with nature. This was a battle the calf must fight on its own.
Ella didn’t want to
