To Build A Fire (Alternate Ending 2)

By Ingrid (Age 13, Hong Kong International School)


Editor's Note: This is an alternate ending to Jack London's short story, "To Build a Fire".


He wet himself halfway to the knees before he floundered out to the firm crust. Shivering, he attempted once more to build a fire, only to find that the wood he had newly gathered was damp, and sparked only faintly when a flame was held to it. Cursing, the man stamped the glowing splint into the snow. The dog whimpered, wishing more than ever that his master had turned back. It was even more deathly freezing than before, and the man's stomach growled in frustration, the biscuits not occupying its interior. Still, the man pressed on, trekking through deep snow, drawing all the strength at his disposal to will his frozen limbs to move.


It was a futile effort, the dog knew. Yet, it followed its master grudgingly as he trekked through the bitter cold. The man fought: fought to keep his heavy eyelids from dropping. Finally, when he could not fight anymore, he collapsed onto the frigid snow underneath a pine tree. His heaving breaths quickly covered his beard in a thin curtain of ice. He curled himself into a shivering ball, protecting the last slivers of warmth he held in his weakening core. What to do, he pondered. There was still a long ways to go, and in his state, traveling was not an option. The dog prodded the quivering ball with its snout. His eyelids drooping, he let go, permitting them to stay shut. His breath grew shallow; the sounds around him, of the dog and of the softly falling snow, disappearing. Finally, with a last breath, he stilled, the overwhelming wind cutting through him like an icy blade. 


The blizzard grew stronger by the minute, and the dog, too, ceased to exist - his loyalty became the death of him. Snow caked onto their bodies, a heavy layer of ice, covering the evidence of the foolish pair. 

To Build A Fire (Alternate Ending)

Editor's Note: This is an alternate ending to Jack London's short story, "To Build a Fire".

By Maggie (Age 12, Hong Kong International School)

Within seconds, his now numb legs were slowly freezing. If he were to build a fire, it would take him at least ten minutes, which he quickly realized would not be fast enough. But, being the type of person he was, he figured the ice was just ice. Yes, it would cause some discomfort, maybe even a sickness of some kind, but that was all.

Lumbering along the ground, accompanied by the dog, he rushed to find loose branches and twigs: anything to help ignite the fire. He limped to an open area, unable to bend both legs. Rubbing the sticks together as he had done before, slowly growing more and more impatient, the man sat and waited, knowing there was no other option. As sparks danced to life over the wood, the dog trotted over to the man. Without a sound, it stretched itself over the man's icy legs.

Had this been other circumstances, the man would have simply regarded the action as an action. But in this moment, he realized the significance of the situation. It was an act of loyalty and compassion, and then he realized how truly special the dog was. His soft fur, radiating warmth onto the man's legs, had a slight glow to it. The man looked around, suddenly realizing the true wonders of the wilderness. And, the imagination that had left him as a child finally returned. One simple act of compassion had changed him.

****

The man, for the first time in hours, smiled. This smile was unlike any other he had ever had. He was so pleased with himself, and with everything around him. He was a mile away from the warmth of the campsite, with a fire already going, and the love of his family. After waiting for his calves to thaw out, he set off down the hairline trail once again, the eagerness of seeing his boys bubbling inside him. 

His gaze shifted from the horizon to the husky trotting beside him. The husky, whose clear instincts had told him to burrow some place warm and protected, had stayed with the man for some odd reason. But this husky had somehow changed the man. By helping him melt the ice from his legs, it had somehow melted away something else. Like a curtain pulling away to reveal the wonders underneath, the man suddenly noticed all the spectacular things in life hidden behind his unimaginative personality.

Then he heard something from in front of him. It could've been the wind, but the man noted the sheer joy in the noise. As he looked up, his eyes rested on the image of his two boys running to him, welcoming him to the camp. And it seemed like, though he knew it was not possible, the sun had come out once again.