Day 9
Erica
As the minibus pulled through the unobtrusive gates of Huskyleir, Erica caught sight of the wooden cabins and Lavvu tents and felt a sense of being home. A feeling of returning from something or to something she couldn’t explain. So much had happened in the long days they’d spent trekking across the Arctic. It had felt at times like no other world existed apart from theirs, or if it did, it was paused, but now they were back and the world had carried on without them.
‘Hmm,’ Henry said from the seat beside her.
‘What?’ Erica asked, following his gaze to the last hour of sunshine stretching its rays across the wide-open plains, so that the snow was no longer its bright white but a soft yellow that made Erica think of vanilla ice cream.
‘You guys realize it only took four hours to get back, right?’ he asked, flicking a mischievous look first to Erica then glancing across the aisle of the bus to Molly. Her left eye was open wider today, but the bruising around it had become dark and blotchy in places. It was impossible not to look at the bruise without wondering how close Erica had come to losing her sister. Erica swallowed and pushed the thought away.
‘Yes?’ Erica turned back to Henry and pulled a face, sensing the track of his thoughts.
‘And how many hours did you spend sledding every day?’
‘About ten to twelve,’ she said.
‘Sort of makes it seem a bit –’
‘Don’t say it,’ Molly and Erica cried in unison.
‘Futile,’ he said a second later.
‘I can’t believe you said it.’ Molly frowned and laughed at the same time.
Erica shook her head. ‘This challenge has been –’ she flicked a smile at Molly ‘– epic, exhausting, fun, scary, wondrous, hard bloody work, amazing, and really really cold. Did I miss anything out, Mol?’
‘Windy? Exhilarating?’
‘And them.’ Erica nodded. ‘I can’t even begin to describe what we’ve been through every day –’
‘So not futile then at all.’ Henry smiled.
‘No.’ Erica and Molly shook their heads as the doors opened sending a blast of bitter wind whipping around the seats.
‘I’m thinking we need a holiday somewhere hot,’ Frankie said to Harry as the twins stood up from the seats in front of them.’
‘Like a desert trek?’ Harry grinned.
‘No, like sun loungers and beaches and cocktails.’
‘Oh. Right. Gotacha.’ The twins laughed and stepped out of the bus with Molly, Erica, and Henry following behind.
‘So, Mushers,’ Lee called as they gathered in a circle in the snow just as they’d done their first night. ‘This challenge has certainly been a memorable one, even for myself and Valek.’ Lee clapped a hand on Valek’s shoulder. ‘We’ve made it back to Huskyleir a day later than planned but I hope you enjoyed an extra evening in Jukkasjärvi. It was a shame Rachel decided to say goodbye in Sweden but we’re glad to have Henry, our honorary musher, travelling with us today.’
A nod travelled around the group. Erica flicked a glance at Noah. He was nodding but his face was drawn. Every few seconds he glanced across at Molly before dropping eyes back to the snow. A stab of regret pierced Erica’s stomach. It shouldn’t have happened to Billy, and it shouldn’t have happened to Noah either.
Henry slipped his fingers through Erica’s and leant closer. It was a small gesture, but one Erica would treasure for a long time.
‘So now you have just an hour here to collect your things, drop off your kits, and say goodbye to your dogs before boarding the minibus for the airport and your flight home. The dogs travelled back yesterday as planned and are in their kennels waiting to say farewell, but before you go, it’s become a tradition for Valek and I to give out a few awards. It’s just our way of saying well done and thank you for your hard work.’
Smiles and laughter spread across the group. Greg lifted his arms and dropped them over his sons’ shoulders, pulling them closer. They shook their heads but didn’t try to move away.
Lee turned to Valek who produced a stack of medals, dangling from white ribbons.
‘Firstly,’ Valek said, ‘we have Best Cook award, which we are giving to Greg, not only for bringing along extra supplies to toast with at the fishing camp, but also for buying us all dinner last night.’
‘And saving us another night of eating the pouches,’ Frankie called, clapping her hands.
‘Thank you,’ Greg said stepping forward.
‘Best Campers,’ Lee said, ‘goes to Frankie and Harry for their tent-pitching skills.’
A cheer went round the group.
‘Best Musher is for Molly.’ Lee stepped forward this time and placed the medal around Molly’s neck. He touched her arm. ‘You showed great skill out there, Molly,’ he said.
Erica watched the tears glisten in Molly’s eyes. Erica released her fingers from Henry’s hand and dropped an arm around Molly’s shoulder.
‘And finally,’ Valek said, ‘Best Dog Handler, goes to …’ he stopped and smiled around the group as if adding a dramatic pause to the announcement ‘… Erica.’
‘Me?’ Erica said over the clapping and Molly’s whooping cheer. Erica shook her head and smiled at the bemused expression crossing Henry’s face.
‘Absolutely,’ Lee said, taking the medal from Valek and handing it to Erica. ‘Remember the first day meeting the dogs?’
The image of Kriger bounding across the snow and knocking her flat replayed in Erica’s head, causing her cheeks to glow red.
‘Over the course of this week you’ve not only learned how to handle to dogs but you’ve also learned to respect them and I think, if I’m not mistaken, like them too.’
Erica held the medal in her hands and swallowed, pushing away the tears threatening behind her eyes. ‘Maybe a little bit,’ she mumbled with a smile.
‘So, Mushers, once again, well done to all of you. I hope you found what you were looking for on this challenge and will remember it for many years to come.’
‘Three cheers for Valek and Lee,’ Greg shouted. ‘Hip hip –’
Erica joined in the thanks to Lee and Valek but her eyes never left Molly. I hope you found what you were looking for. It seemed a million years ago that Erica had booked this trip, hoping to reconnect in some way with Molly, but the bond they’d formed on this trip surpassed anything she could’ve imagined. Erica squeezed Molly close. ‘Love you, little sis.’
‘Right back atcha.’ Molly grinned, hugging Erica back.