Gunnar’s arrival had attracted very little attention. It was too early in the morning for most people, and no one thought the serum would come through because of the governor’s mandate.
Julie stood by crying tears of joy as Dr. Welch received the cylindrical package and hurried inside to reveal its contents. Sam and Julie joined the party, but their hearts stopped when Dr. Welch announced that the serum was frozen. Everyone waited in pained anticipation, wondering if the trip had been for nothing. Finally word came from Seattle that the serum would be unharmed from the freezing and simply required a slow warming to bring it back to its original state.
Gunnar Kaasen and his huskies had covered the last fifty-three miles in less than seven-and-a-half hours. The entire serum run had covered more than 674 miles in a record 127.5 hours, bringing with it the renewed hope of life.
By February 21, Nome’s quarantine was lifted. It had been exactly one month since the outbreak of the epidemic.
With every passing day, life seemed to take on a more normal routine. Schools reopened, much to the disappointment of the children and the relief of the parents. Store owners were happy to have full shops again, and everywhere people were glad to have lived through the crisis. George Nakoota even showed up to reveal a perfectly healed arm to Dr. Welch.
It was no different at the Curtiss house. Julie and Sam had settled into a comfortable life at the edge of town, and although Julie had been extremely busy nursing the sick and helping Dr. Welch, Sam had been patient with her absences. Julie wondered, however, how long it would be before Sam’s patience wore thin and he would demand that she stay home more.
Several days after the quarantine had been lifted, Julie contemplated the situation as she prepared breakfast. Her heart belonged to Sam, yet part of her belonged to nursing as well.
“You’re mighty deep in thought,” Sam said as he came into the room and took a seat at the table. He threw the Nome Nugget on the chair beside him and smiled. “I suppose you’re thinking about the serum run again.”
“Well, as a matter of fact, I heard something quite fascinating yesterday,” Julie said as she offered Sam a plate of fried eggs and bacon. She returned to the counter, where she retrieved a stack of freshly baked biscuits. Their tantalizing aroma filled the air, and as soon as Julie placed them on the table, Sam reached for one.
“No doubt another miracle,” Sam teased. Julie had been enthralled by the stories of miraculous blessings that enabled the drivers to deliver the diphtheria antitoxin to Nome in only five and a half days.
Julie put her own plate of food on the table and joined Sam. “You know how I love the way God moved in this crisis,” she said, smiling. “I just can’t help being fascinated with it.”
“I know, Julie, and I feel the same way. Let’s have a prayer.” Sam took her hands. “Father, we thank You for the bounty of our table and for the healing of our community. We praise You that the deaths were few and that the medicine was provided in a much quicker time than any of us dreamed possible. Amen.”
Sam started eating as Julie began to tell what she’d heard. “Leonhard Seppala cut out a lot of distance by taking a shortcut across Norton Sound. The water was frozen solid, but it was difficult for him to see his way so he had to rely upon the dogs.”
“I’d heard that,” Sam answered. “It takes a brave man to venture out across an open bay like that. Even if it is frozen solid at the shores, you can’t know how it will be once you get out in the middle of the inlet.”
“Well, as wondrous as that was, what happened after Leonhard crossed the sound gives even more cause for praise,” Julie said, leaning forward. “Not more than three-and-a-half hours after Leonhard crossed Norton Sound, the entire thing broke up, and the ice moved out into the Bering Sea. The crossing would have taken Leonhard’s life, no doubt, had he attempted it at a later time. Talk about the hand of God!”
“Incredible,” Sam said as he paused between bites. “Our God is truly a God of miracles.”
“Leonhard’s shortcut saved hours and probably many lives, Sam. I’m amazed that he was able to stay on the sled. After all, he’d driven those dogs for more than one hundred and sixty-nine miles just to get to the serum at Shaktolik. Then to turn around and travel another ninety-one miles to get the serum closer to Nome, well…” Julie shook her head. “It staggers my imagination.”
“That lead dog of his is something else,” Sam said, sipping his coffee. “His name is Togo, and Leonhard never thought he’d amount to much—that is, until he jumped the fence one day and followed Leonhard across part of the interior. Leonhard finally harnessed him up to keep him out of trouble. Lo and behold, the dog’s a born leader!”
“Thanks to Togo and the other dogs, Nome is safe, and the epidemic has been defeated,” Julie said. “I simply can’t imagine the way God planned this all out. Who can know the mind of God?”
“I know how much you’ve enjoyed learning about the hazards that the men met on the trail. I have one that I think you will find quite rewarding,” Sam said with a smile.
“Oh, tell me, Sam! What did you hear?” Julie asked as she leaned forward, her eyes wide in anticipation.
“You remember we heard that the run was to be halted because of the weather?”
“Sure, I do,” Julie said with a nod. “How could I forget? I’ve never lost control like that in my life.”
“Well,” Sam continued, “it was just about the time we decided to pray that Gunnar Kaasen made the decision to drive on past Solomon and keep the serum moving. He felt compelled to go on and not waste time with a stop. No one had the opportunity to tell him about the mandate from the governor because he never stopped.”
“It’s just like you said,” Julie remembered. “A man can’t be faulted for not doing what he knows nothing about. Good for Gunnar!”
“Well, there’s more,” Sam said as he finished his breakfast.“The wind came up something fierce, and Gunnar couldn’t see a thing in front of him. All of a sudden his lead dog, Balto, stopped dead in his tracks. Gunnar couldn’t understand why, but Balto wouldn’t budge.”
“What happened?” Julie asked, captivated by Sam’s story.
“Balto had led the team out across the Topkok River, and it wasn’t solidly frozen. Balto was standing in running water when he came to a stop.”
“Poor thing,” Julie sympathized. “His feet could have frozen to the ice. What did Gunnar do? Balto looked just fine when they got into Nome.”
“Gunnar’s a good man. He thought fast and unharnessed Balto. There was plenty of powdered snow on the banks, so Gunnar rubbed Balto’s feet in it until they were fairly dry.”
“How ingenious! I’ve got to remember that one when I’m out on my route,” Julie said, braving a reference to her job. Even though the epidemic was over, Julie hadn’t found the nerve to talk with Sam about her nursing career. She started to clear the table to avoid Sam’s reaction.
“It never hurts to be prepared, and the more you know about surviving accidents, the better off you are. That’s what made me so mad about my own accident,” Sam reflected. “I knew better than to take the risks I was taking. I should have slowed down a bit and paid more attention. However,” he added with a grin, “there was a certain black-haired nurse on my mind. It seems she had just told me that she loved me.” Sam pushed his chair back and pulled Julie onto his lap.
“Oh, Sam,” Julie whispered against his hair. How she wished she could clear things up and explain how she felt about her work. She was so afraid that if she insisted on continuing her nursing career, Sam would stop loving her.
Sam nuzzled his lips against Julie’s neck and began kissing her. Julie found the contact electrifying, yet she knew she needed to finish getting ready for work. As gently as she could, she pushed Sam away.
“I’ve got to finish up here and get down to the hospital,” she said and jumped up abruptly. Sam’s surprised face told it all. “I’m sorry,” Julie whispered and hurried to wash the breakfast dishes.
Sam’s silence worried Julie. She wiped the soap suds from her hands and went back to the table where he was still sitting.
“We should talk,” she said and waited for Sam to put down the newspaper.
“What about?” Sam asked hesitantly. Julie hadn’t been her normal self the last few days, and he wasn’t sure that he was up to dealing with whatever was troubling her.
“Sam, do you know how long I dreamed of becoming a nurse?”
“I know it was a longtime dream. I know, too, that it was a dream you shared with your mother.”
“Yes, that’s right,” Julie said, searching her mind for the right words. “Being a nurse is very important to me, not just because it’s a job I do every day, but because of the need. These people are without many of the comforts available in the States, and I want to be a part of seeing to it that they have what they need in the way of health care.”
“It’s an admirable position,” Sam said as he reached out for Julie. “I’ve always admired your determination and dedication.”
Julie stepped back to avoid Sam’s touch. He frowned but said nothing.
“It’s my determination and dedication to what I believe God wants me to do,” Julie said, stressing the reference to God. She paused to see what Sam’s reaction might be. His face was unreadable.
“Go on,” he said unemotionally. He was troubled by the way Julie had distanced herself from his touch. She hadn’t seemed herself since the critical part of the epidemic had passed. Sam was determined to get to the bottom of whatever was bothering her.
“I love what I do, Sam. I love to help people, and I enjoy my work with the natives.”
“I don’t see what you’re getting at, Julie,” Sam said more impatiently than he’d intended. “I know that you love your job. I know you love the people and the land. What I don’t know is what this has to do with us and why you’re acting so strangely.”
Sam got up and took two long strides to where Julie stood. He reached out to hold her, but Julie turned away.
“Please don’t touch me. I’m trying to explain this to you, and you aren’t making matters any easier,” Julie said, close to tears.
“Julie, are you sorry that you married me?”
Julie turned back quickly and shook her head. “No, Sam. I love you, and I hope that you still love me.”
“Of course I love you.” Sam could no longer stand Julie’s coolness. He took her into his arms and crushed her to his chest. “I will always love you,” he whispered as his lips pressed a long, passionate kiss upon hers.
Julie melted against Sam. She could never imagine life without him. Maybe giving up her career was the only way she could save her marriage. Tears streamed from her eyes. A sob escaped her throat, causing Sam to pull back.
“What in the world?” he muttered and dropped his hands. “I don’t understand what this is all about, but I’ve had just about enough.” He stormed out of the room, barely remembering his parka as he went out into the cold.
Julie jumped at the sound of the front door slamming. Knowing it would be impossible to work, Julie retreated upstairs, locked herself in their bedroom, and had a good long cry.