Michela rubbed Allison’s hands, as much to warm Allison as herself. “I’m sorry, honey, but he’s dead and for the moment you’re going to have to trust me on that one.” She held up her hand. “Please, don’t ask me about it now. I suggest we give Sarah a quick report and then get out of this field.”
Allison nodded, seeing the barely concealed anguish in Michela’s eyes.
Michela picked up the short-range radio and depressed the prezzle switch. “Finlayson Base, this is Michela. Do you read, over?”
After a short delay the call was answered. “Michela, this is Sarah.”
“Sarah, are you alone at the moment?”
“Yes, I am. Rick and Di have gone to their hut and Rob’s busying himself with the solar generator.”
Michela frowned. “Is there something wrong with it?”
“No, but there’s a big storm bearing down on us here. It’s due to reach us in the next thirty minutes or so. I asked him to check the anchor ropes on the solar generator, just to make sure it didn’t blow away. He’s checking those and the blizzard ropes. Did you find Ewan?”
“Sarah, he’s gone. By the looks of it he fell into a crevasse and kept on falling. I had visual to about one hundred and seventy yards and couldn’t see the bottom of the crevasse.” Allison gasped. Michela rubbed Allison’s hand.
“The storm’s heading your way. You need to find cover where you are.”
Frustrated, Michela shook her head. Can this day get any worse? “You say it’s due to hit you in thirty minutes, which gives us about an hour or so. Sarah, we’re on a crevasse field.”
“Shit! Can you track your way back again?”
“I don’t know if we can safely do that. I really don’t know how long we traveled onto the field before we actually realized where we were.”
“Have you got your GPS handy?”
Michela turned to Allison who was busy removing the instrument from its docking port. Michela read the figures on the compact screen back to Sarah.
“I’m checking the map.” There was a slight pause before Sarah’s voice was again heard. “You’re right. You’re on top of a glacier. But by your coordinates you’re close to the edge. Unfortunately, that’s the furthest edge.”
Michela closed her eyes. “Do you have any good news for me?”
“Yes I do. If you take a westerly heading for about two hundred and twenty yards or so, you should find yourself out of the field. But one of you is going to have to go ahead of the ski-demon and check the ground as you go. Have you got your map?”
Allison handed the map to Michela. “I have now.”
“Right. Look at grid reference 8099 4050.”
Michela located the relevant easting and northing. “Got it.”
“Once you get to the edge, if you plot a bound in that direction, in about three miles you’ll come across one of the emergency huts. You’ll have to wait out the storm there.”
“Hang on a minute.” Michela plotted the small westerly move into the GPS before plotting the longer northerly move. Double-checking her numbers, she then placed the GPS in its docking port and activated the button that allowed both GPS and ski-demon to work together to get them to the emergency hut. She depressed the prezzle switch. “Do you have any suggestions once the storm passes us?”
“Yes. The snow and ice should be a lot more stable to cross from higher up the glacier. Once you can leave the hut, plot a bearing to grid reference 9595 4050. This will give you a safe path across the glacier. Once you’re on the other side, take a reading and plot a bearing back home. Do you understand?”
“Yes I do. We’d better start before we run out of time. If we lose communications with you, I’ll use the following code. Two bursts of static will mean we’re off the glacier and three will mean we’ve reached the hut.”
“Roger that. Michela, you and Allison be careful. I hope to see you soon.”
“We hope to see you soon also. Can you radio the information about Ewan to Wills Station? I’ll give a full report when we return.”
“Roger that, Michela. Now get going, out.”
She handed the radio to Allison and eased herself off the snow mobile. “We better get out of here, before the storm hits.”
Chapter Eight
My Darling Charlotte,
The last few weeks have been somber to say the least. The tragic loss of our team members gravely affected the group. As for me, I still feel as if I’ve failed as the expedition leader. I should have watched my team more closely; this continent and its seductive nature are not to be trusted. We held a service for our comrades who did not return and then we were forced to continue on with life. To do nothing other than to dwell on their passing would not be productive, either emotionally or physically.
We have finished the main hut, marking its completion with a small celebration out of our meager rations. The loss of the others and the food they took with them has meant that I have been forced to ration some of our provisions, aware that not to do so may see us run short before our ship returns.
We have a little wood left and it is my intent to use this to construct a small building, for the purpose of developing a photographic record of our expedition. My photographer Ian Ross is an enthusiastic man, however his equipment is taking up far too much of the internal space of our working and living area, not to mention the awful smell of developing photographs. Hopefully this will keep him happy and the other members of the crew as well. All my love,
ERF
Antarctica—2010
ALLISON WATCHED MICHELA alight from the ski-demon. “Where do you think you’re going?” she demanded.
Michela turned and frowned. “What do you mean? We’ve got to get out of here and the only safe way to do this is if someone walks in front of the snow mobile and checks the path.”
Allison scowled. “I understand that. But, why are you doing it?”
Michela tilted her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
“Just stop and think. You’ve spent the better part of the last hour going down into the bowels of the earth before having to drag yourself out. You must be about dead on your feet.” Allison eased her leg over the side of the vehicle. “Let me do this. Tell me what needs to be done.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why?” Allison asked, her hands on her hips.
Michela forced herself to remain calm. “For a start, you may have a rudimentary understanding of glaciers, but have you had training in this?”
“No, but how difficult can it be?”
“It isn’t that easy to do, Allison. It requires a lot of focus and a fair degree of quick reaction. I’ll go ahead of you and check the ground. You’ve got to be prepared to maneuver the ski-demon to miss any cracks in the ice.”
Allison snorted. “Seriously, it can’t be that hard. Give me a quick run down of what has to be done.”
Closing her eyes, Michela rubbed the back of her neck in frustration. “Look, I know back at the camp we’d all normally discuss something before we reach agreement, but this isn’t the time or place for consensual decision making. I’ll do the probing and you drive the vehicle. There’s a storm bearing down on us and we really don’t have the time to discuss this.”
Allison braced her feet and shook her head. “Be reasonable. You said this requires focus and reaction. You can’t possibly tell me you’re completely focused now; not after what you’ve been put through.” Michela turned away. “Why won’t you let me do this?”
Michela wheeled, desperation on her features, her eyes glistening. “Because I can’t afford to lose you too damn it. Please, if you want to argue about this later, then fine. But right now we’ve got to get out of here, and fast.”
Michela grabbed her ice axe and moved to a position roughly three yards in front of the snow mobile. Not looking back, she checked the surface to her front, relieved when she finally heard the vehicle’s engine roar to life.
Michela carefully edged
across the ice, using her axe to check the ground as she went. More than once she held up her hand to halt the vehicle and prodded the ground until again the axe found purchase.
Meandering across the cold surface at a snail’s pace seemed to take forever, further taxing Michela’s frayed nerves. All I want now is a warm bath, a good glass of scotch and, a decent sleep—none of which I’m likely to get in the near future. She winced as she bent down to check the ice. Her fall in the crevasse had left its mark on her tired body. Only now as her system cooled down did she become aware of how many aches and pains she had. She was certain she’d have her fair share of bruises when she finally removed her multiple layers of clothing.
Allowing her mind to wander, she instinctively prodded the ground, almost losing her balance as the axe broke through yet another thin layer of snow. Feeling herself teetering toward the chasm before her, she threw all of her balance backwards and fell face up on the cold surface. That was too close. I’ve got to keep concentrating on the task at hand, if not for me then at least for Allison.
Allison hovered above her. “Are you all right?”
Michela, trying hard to mask a grimace of pain, sat up. “I’m okay, just a little bit of hurt pride.” She leant forward and looked at the break in the ice where her axe had plummeted through. Realizing going after it wasn’t an option, she rose and turned to Allison. “I’ve lost the snow axe.”
Allison gently gripped Michela’s arms with her gloved hands. “Lost the snow axe. Who cares about the bloody snow axe? I almost lost you. Are you sure you don’t want me to do this?”
As tired as she was, Michela knew she had to get them off the glacier and soon. “No, I’m okay. I could use another axe if you could possibly let me play with yours,” she said, a hint of teasing in her voice.
Allison stepped back and shook her head. “You’re incorrigible, but I guess you know that.” She retrieved her axe from the vehicle and gave it to Michela. She then returned to the snow mobile. “We better get going then, Superwoman.”
Michela tiredly smiled before turning around and again tracking a path across the glacier. It took another ten minutes before she was certain they were out of immediate danger. She keyed the radio and found they’d lost communications, and so used the prearranged signal to let Sarah know they were clear of their first obstacle. Now all we have to do is find this hut. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
They’d barely managed to reach the emergency hut when the increase in wind speed and the closing in of the clouds heralded the oncoming storm. Michela checked the door and found it unlocked.
“I think we’ve got about ten minutes max before the storm hits. I’ll get this gear inside.” Michela pointed to two metal points, firmly entrenched in the ice. “Could you take the rope and tie the ski-demon to the anchor points by the side of the hut over there. You know how to tie knots and lashings don’t you?”
Allison rolled her eyes. “If what I currently do for a living didn’t come with the requirement to tie such things, then I’m sure my old Girl Scout training would help me. Of course I can bloody-well tie knots. Get inside and I’ll be in shortly.”
A Girl Scout hey? I can just imagine what sort of havoc you’d have wreaked on your poor Scout Master. Exhausted, Michela managed a smile before she stepped out of the wind and cold, and into the building.
She plonked the gear on the table, collapsed into a seat, and scanned the building’s interior. It was like their mess hut, except without the solar heating element to generate internal warmth. It’s certainly darned small for a prolonged stay with Alli.
ALLISON PULLED THE collar of her extreme weather jacket up around her ears as she came through the door.
Despite being inside a sealed container, the sound of the wind was a constant as the storm began in earnest. “Brrrr, it’s like an ice box in here. Where’s the heating unit?”
Michela tiredly shrugged. “I don’t think there is one. We’re going to have to rely on the old fashioned method.”
Allison gave her a quizzical look. “What old fashioned method?”
Michela rose and looked around the room. “There should be Stinson pressure lamps in here somewhere.”
“What are they?”
“They’re a kerosene lamp, invented in 1813 and they’ve been used in Antarctica from the very beginning. They not only give off light, they give off heat as well, at least some degree of heat that is.”
Michela lifted the lid of a box, peered inside, and then pulled out two of the lamps. “Here they are.” She bent down and pulled out another two. “See if you can find any kerosene.”
Allison went to one end of the small building and scanned the cramped surroundings, looking for fuel. She stopped in front of a plastic container filled with a clear blue liquid and turned to Michela, who was busy checking the serviceability of the lamps. “I think I’ve found some.” She dragged the large container from under the bench, opened the top, and sniffed the contents. Pulling back and scrunching her nose, she sealed the container. “Yep, that’s kerosene all right. I remember that smell from my great grandfather’s heater. No matter how much we wanted to replace it with something more modern he wouldn’t be swayed.”
Michela smiled. “Stubborn streak, hey? I wouldn’t have thought that’d be a family trait.”
Allison opened her mouth then just as quickly closed it. “There’s a tap at the bottom here. We’re going to have to get it onto the table to pour the kero. We should be able to do it together.” Allison went to one side of the container while Michela took her position on the other. They hefted the flammable liquid onto the table and, out of the corner of her eye, Allison spied Michela’s strained features.
Once the container was stable, Allison moved around the table to where Michela had gingerly sat down. “Are you all right?”
“I’m okay. I got bounced around a bit in the crevasse, that’s all.”
“Bounced around a bit? What do you mean?”
Michela shook her head. “Not now, please. Maybe later. Let’s get these Stinsons’ filled.” She attempted to stand but Allison put a hand on her shoulder and gently held her down.
Allison picked up the lamps. “No. You stay there. Just tell me what to do. I can cope.”
Michela nodded. “I understand, but things will go a lot quicker if we work concurrently. How about you let me try and find the sleeping bags? It’s going to be very cold tonight without them.”
Allison shrugged. “Either way, I reckon it’s still going to be cold. Okay, see if you can find them, but then I want you to rest while I get something ready for dinner.” She looked at the cupboards below the small stove. “There’s got to be food here somewhere.”
Michela walked to the beds. “There always is. These huts are pretty well provisioned for long stays. We’ll have to remember to radio Wills Station when we return, and let them know which hut we used. That way they’ll restock it before its next use.”
Allison filled the first lamp. “How long do you think we’re going to be stuck here?”
Michela shrugged. “I really can’t say. It could be days or weeks. These storms are highly unpredictable, but at least we’re out of the cold.”
She pulled two sleeping bags sealed in plastic from the compartment underneath one of the foam mattresses. “Ah, here we are, our sleeping gear for the evening.” She pulled both out of their packing and shook them to increase their loft. “They look okay. Hopefully they’ll keep us warm.”
Allison filled the lamps as she surreptitiously observed Michela. She looks like she’s been dragged through a wringer backwards. And what’s this about bouncing in the crevasse? She looks as if she’s ready to sleep now. I better finish this and find us something to eat.
Allison completed filling the four lamps and took them and a box of waterproof matches to Michela. “How about you get these things going while I wash my hands and get some hot water on.”
Michela put the first lamp in front of her and pumped pressur
e into the container. After feeling resistance, she eased the pump back to its original position and lit the lamp, its light reaching the corners of the room. She lit the other lamps and placed them around the hut, attempting to generate both light and warmth.
Allison placed a steaming mug on the table where Michela had been working. “Try that. It’s hot chocolate and if it’s like any chocolate I’m used to it will at least make you feel a little better.”
Michela gratefully lifted the warm mug to her cold lips. The smooth liquid warmed the back of her throat and her stomach. “Marvelous, I think that’s all I need before sleep.”
“I don’t think so. I know we ate before we left, but I think it’d be best if we both had some sustenance before we get some rest.” Allison pointed to the pot on the stove. “Besides, I’ve already started and it’d be a shame to waste good food.”
Michela released her cup and held up her hands in mock defeat. “Okay. Food, then bed. Hopefully by then it’ll be warm enough in here to strip down to our long Johns.”
Allison almost dropped the spoon she was holding. “Are you sure that’s necessary?”
Michela shook her head. “I hate to say this but it makes more sense to strip down to our long Johns. It’s a little bit different back at our base camp with the controlled heating and normal bedclothes. While the lamps here will add some warmth, it won’t be as warm as what you’ve been used to. If you hop into the bags with too many clothes on, all you’ll do is trap the cold air between the loose layers of clothing. In your long Johns, you’ll have trapped the warm air close to your skin and then you can rely on the loft of these Antarctic sleeping bags to do the rest. Trust me, I’ve tried both and long Johns are a lot warmer.”
Allison placed a plate of food in front of Michela. “Dehydrated chili con carne. I can’t vouch for its taste, but at least it’s warm.” She retrieved her own plate and sat down. “I’ll admit I’m a bit doubtful about this clothes thing.”
Michela swallowed her mouthful of beans and wiped the sauce from the edge of her mouth. “I understand, but at least give it a go. If it’s too cold, there are other options open.”
Colder Than Ice Page 17
