“Great!” Jerry yelled in Sandy’s ear, clutching the guard rail with one hand and, with his other hand, protecting his face from the spray of snow flung back by the dogs’ flying feet. “This is better than the roller coaster at Disneyland.”
Sandy nodded vigorously. “That Titan is fantastic, isn’t he? He acts almost human.”
Seemingly aware of his admiring audience, Black Titan put on an impressive display. Setting a pace for his teammates that kept their tongues lolling from their black-roofed mouths, he guided them smoothly into sharp turns and sudden twists and broke trail through muzzle-high snow with his broad chest as if it were light as dust—all the time responsive to the slightest tug at the reins.
“He’s a marvel, all right,” Sandy told Charley later when the dogs were resting after their work-out.
“Boy, would I ever like to get into that big race. You don’t need any passengers, do you, Charley?” Jerry asked.
“Okay for you boys to come along. Need five hundred pounds on sled anyway.”
Sandy was overjoyed. “You mean it, Charley? Really? Jerry and I can ride ballast on the sled?”
“Sure. You ask professor.”
At that minute, Dr. Steele came walking across the landing strip toward them. “You fellows about ready to leave? It’s nine-thirty. Superintendent MacKensie has had our vehicles warming up for almost half an hour now.”
Sandy spoke to Jerry in a low voice. “You help Charley get the dogs in the truck. I want to talk to my dad—in private.”