Dr. Steele nodded. “Yes. Then we’ll drive back to his place and pick up his dog team.”
Jerry James’s granite-jawed face appeared over the back of the seat as he knelt, facing Sandy. “What’s this about dogs?”
“Berkley Crowell breeds sled dogs as a hobby,” Dr. Steele explained. “Eskimo huskies. He’s taking his prize team up to Alaska to compete in the annual race from Whitehorse to Skagway.”
“Hey, that sounds like fun,” Jerry said.
“As a matter of fact,” the doctor went on, “that will be one of your major jobs on this expedition. You boys will drive the truck with the dogs and help the professor with their care and feeding.”
Dr. Steele turned his attention back to his book as Sandy and Jerry got into a conversation with the young corporal who had served the coffee.
“Both you fellows from California?” the corporal asked. “Whereabouts?”
“Valley View,” Sandy told him. “That’s near San Diego, but more inland.”
“I have a cousin in the Navy,” the corporal said. “He was stationed at San Diego. Nice country.” He grinned. “You guys are going to find the climate of Alaska a lot different than California.”
Jerry shivered. “You’re telling us!”