Colder Than Ice

by MacPherson, Helen

  Allison, Dianne, and Rob all spoke at once.

  “We’ve got so much to do inside the hut.” Allison’s voice cut through, silencing the others. “Not to mention trying to identify where the photographer’s hut might lie. For all we know this camp may be right on top of it.”

  Michela nodded. “I understand and that’s why we need to work together these last few days to get as much done as possible. I know there are some here who’ll be more than happy to see the last of some of us. But, for the moment, we’re a team, relying on each other to get as much done as possible. Now, we can do that or we can all retire to our huts and sulk until it’s time to pack up.” She scanned the faces in front of her. “What’s it going to be?”

  Rick pointed to Rob. “Is he going to be able to keep his fists to himself?”

  Rob cracked his fingers and made a pretence of picking his nails before staring at Rick. “Depends. Are you going to give me a reason to use them?”

  “That’s enough, the two of you. There’ll be no more of that while I’m in charge.”

  Sarah held up her hand. “Look, to allow you three to focus on the dig, I’ll pick up the slops task as well as cooking.”

  Michela shook her head. “I know how much you hate cooking. How about I do that and you do the slops?”

  Sarah breathed a sigh of relief. “Sounds fine by me.”

  Michela looked around the team. “Okay, then let’s get on with it.”

  AS SHE CATALOGUED, Allison’s mind wandered, as it had done over the past week, to Rick’s words: Do you like what that damned psychologist dyke puts out? She’d been shocked into silence and was grateful if not a little regretful of Rob’s physical defense of her. It wasn’t until later, in the silence of her own counsel, that she’d managed to give the matter more thought.

  How do I really feel? There was something about Michela that drove her crazy and yet drew her at the same time. That morning in the hut, when they’d returned from trying to find Ewan, she was sure Michela meant to kiss her. She’d waited, surprisingly eager for Michela’s intimate touch. Even now, the thought evoked feelings she’d never felt before. But, with Sarah’s knock on the door, the spell had been broken. Maddi was waiting for a report. Of course she’d be more interested in reporting to her than anything else.

  Since the incident in the hut, Michela had been polite, going out of her way to give Allison space. But the more Michela gave, the closer Allison realized she wanted to get and yet she was unsure how to do so. When Michela prepared for bed, she’d secretly watch her undress, marveling at Michela’s toned but powerful body. Now, within days, the dig would be over, they would travel back to Wills Station, and return home. Michela would slip from her life, returning to her own job on the other side of the world. So how do you feel about that? Yes, but how does a straight woman, broach such a subject without looking completely hypocritical?

  DIANNE HELD UP one side of the wooden barrier as Rob hammered the other side to one of the posts of the existing hut. “Are you sure this will keep out the snow?”

  “I suppose you won’t know until you’re down here next, but it can only help. When we first got here there was no door and the whole place was full of snow and ice. At least next time you mightn’t have so much to dig.” He shifted his weight so he could hammer the other side of the door. “So, when do you think you guys will be back?” Just so I can be forewarned and make sure we never run into each other again.

  Dianne shrugged. “I don’t know. It depends on whether father decides it’s worthwhile to finance another expedition and that’ll depend on what we have to report. Somehow I don’t think he’s going to be all that happy.”

  “I don’t get it. You’ve collected a heap of stuff from the site.”

  Dianne shuffled from one foot to the other. “My father is, well, a little conservative. While he’ll be excited by the find and the circumstances around the discovery, who we discovered may set him back a bit.”

  Rob bent down and hammered the final nail in the door. “What, you mean because Eric’s actually Elizabeth and Elizabeth was living with a woman and child as husband and wife?”

  Dianne nervously laughed. “Something like that. You have to admit it’s a little odd.”

  Rob straightened and silently observed Dianne. “That’s where I think you and I won’t ever agree. I see nothing odd about it. Who gives a toss whether it’s a man and woman, a man and man or a woman and woman? What’s the issue if there’s love involved?” He shook his head and, muttering, walked away.

  “HEY WHERE ARE you off to big boy?” Sarah called as she crossed the camp from toilet cleaning duty.

  Rob held up a blade. “I was going to oil this before I pack it. If I can sea prep the equipment here, it means I don’t have to worry about it when I get to Wills Station. And if that’s the case, then you and I can have a couple of very quiet or very loud drinks together.”

  Sarah slapped Rob’s back. “Isn’t that the truth. Do you want to finish that and head for the mess hut? Michela said she had some news. I’ll go and let Di know.”

  “WE HAVE A little bit of good news,” Michela said to the group gathered in the mess hut. “I’ve been on the radio to Maddi this morning and she’s organized two opportunity lifts with the Chinook that delivered some of our stores here.”

  Rick rested a booted foot on the edge of the table. “So what exactly does that mean?”

  “The Chinook has a lift capacity of about sixteen thousand pounds. It means we’ll be able to completely transport the camp, excepting the bare minimum, back to Wills Station without having to rely on surface transport. This will give you more time to ensure your artifacts are ready for sea travel,” Michela replied.

  Rob reached for a couple of biscuits in the middle of the table. “So what’s to move, boss, and what’s not to move?”

  “The first move will be an under slung load of the mess hut and most of what’s contained in it. The second move will be all stores and accommodations with the exception of the two apples. Stores that we can’t put in the spare space of the mess hut will be placed inside the Chinook, along with the artifacts.” Michela turned to Allison.

  “Alli, I’ve spoken with Maddi and she tells me they’ve a small refrigerated container that’ll be capable of carrying Finlayson for the move back to base and the duration of the sea journey. That way we can free up the sno-trak’s storage container for when we need to start packing away the remainder of the camp. Is that okay with you?”

  Allison nodded. “That should be fine, but I don’t think I could get back up in one of those helos so soon. Who’s going to look after the artifacts?”

  Michela turned to Rick and Dianne. “That’s where you two come in. There’ll be plenty of space so you two can go back to base to act as an advance party. The rest of us will break down the camp, before I confirm it’s clear of any human waste or rubbish. Rob, Alli, Sarah, and myself will be responsible for that.”

  Rick nodded. “Sounds like a plan. When do we start dismantling that solar generator thing? I’d like to know when my last hot meal is.”

  Thinking about yourself yet again. “That won’t be dismantled as it was put here under trial conditions. Under the agreement, only the people who installed it are qualified to remove it. This fits in well with our plans. It means Rob can disconnect power progressively until there’s only power to the two remaining apples. That power will remain until the day we leave for Wills Station.”

  “What about the impact of the helicopters landing near the site?” Allison asked.

  Michela smiled. “That won’t be a major problem. We’ll establish a LZ on the far side of the site. The only time the helo will get close is when the load master slings our kitchen and carries it on its merry way. The weather forecast indicates the wind should be pretty calm for the move back to the station. It should take about four hours there and back, with the loading taking advantage of the extended light conditions and extra helicopter crew.”

  Mi
chela turned to Rick and Dianne. “For you two this will be an especially long day, but Maddi assures me there’s now enough spare living space in the main building that we’ll all be accommodated in there. Any final questions?”

  “I’d still like to give it one more try at finding the location of the photographer’s hut,” Rick said.

  Michela shook her head. “I understand, but I don’t think we have the time. When we return to the station I’ll ensure that the site’s marked to prevent any possible site egress or damage. Maybe it’s a consideration you can make for subsequent digs, finding the hut that is.”

  “If you think I’m coming to this God forsaken place ever again, then you’ve got another thing coming,” Rick said.

  “And Antarctica will be grateful to see the ass end of you too, mate,” Sarah muttered for only Michela’s ears.

  ALLISON, RICK, AND Dianne confirmed the site was relatively stable until the next dig. Rob, Sarah, and Michela progressively broke down the camp, crating equipment and stores for the journey to Wills Station and Hobart. Rob and Sarah moved into the mess hut when the googie was dismantled, to live in until they took over the second apple when Rick and Dianne departed.

  Fortunately the weather held and the first helo lift arrived at eight the following morning.

  Allison was surprised at the helicopter crew’s efficiency. “What are they doing now?”

  Sarah pointed to where the crew was working. “They’re checking to make sure the boxes within the mess hut are well stowed or the load may shift during its move to the station. Then they’ll rig it within a chain frame which will be hooked onto a lead that will be suspended from the helo. Once that’s complete the load master will get off the top of the hut and the helo will carry it away. The load master will then be picked up on the next trip.”

  Allison frowned. “We put a heck of a lot of stuff in there. What happens if it’s too heavy to lift?”

  Sarah smiled. “Do you remember the other day Rob was filling out a chart of what we put in the hut?” Allison nodded. “He was raising a cargo manifest. This details the weight or at least the approximate weight of everything in there. He then totaled this and added the weight of the container to make sure it didn’t exceed the under slung load tolerance of the helicopter. Trust me, it didn’t by a long shot. It’ll be fine, don’t worry about it.”

  It wasn’t long before the helicopter returned, and set down on the LZ. Using the sno-trak, the artifacts from the dig and the remainder of non-essential stores were transported into the bowels of the aircraft before Rick and Dianne boarded for the flight back to Wills Station.

  The team watched the helicopter until it was no more than a speck on the horizon. “Thank Christ they’ve gone,” Rob muttered.

  “Rob, that’s enough,” Michela said. “Remember you’ve got a sea journey with Rick to contend with yet.”

  Crossing his arms, Rob smugly smiled. “That may be so but I’m banking on the journey being as rough as the trip down. If that’s the case then Rick will spend most of his time in his bed or praying to the porcelain god. But you know the best bit about that?”

  Sarah laughed. “What?”

  Rob threw his arm around Allison’s shoulders. “This time this young lady can enjoy herself instead of playing nurse maid. The idea of Di cleaning up after that bastard does my old heart good.”

  The group shared a laugh. The long-range radio crackled to life.

  “Finlayson Base this is Wills Station. Michela, this is Maddi, do you read me, over?”

  Michela went to her daypack where the radio was stored, but not before she saw Allison stalk off in the opposite direction. “Maddi, this is Michela, go ahead.”

  “Michela, our meteorologists are recording the possibility of enhanced solar flare activity in the next twelve hours.”

  Michela frowned and clicked her tongue, as she recalled the ability of such activity to render useless their long-range communications. “How long is it expected to last?”

  “They’re not sure, but you can bank on being out of contact for at least three to four days.”

  Michela removed her beanie and ran her fingers through her hair. “I guess there’s nothing we can do about it.”

  “That isn’t the worst of it. They’ve also picked up a major storm front heading in your direction that’s due to hit within eight hours. There’s no way you could make it back to the station in that time. I suggest you maintain your position until the storm’s passed.”

  Michela turned to Rob and Sarah. Sarah held up her hand. “We’re on it. We’ll check the huts and ensure everything that can be tied down, is.”

  Michela nodded and returned to the radio. “We’ll batten down here. I won’t break camp until we can establish communications with you and determine the storm cell’s passed.”

  “That sounds fine. And, Michela, take care of yourself. I’d like to see you back here soon and in one piece.”

  “I’d like to see all of us in your location and in one piece. Keep an eye on Rick and Di, will you.”

  “Michela, this is Maddi, roger, out.”

  Michela put the radio back onto her pack and headed to her apple. She entered the hut, put her pack on the bed, and turned to Allison. “Maddi says there’s a storm cell coming and it’s due to be upon us in the next eight hours. I’m sorry to disturb you, but we really do have to ensure the camp is safe.”

  Allison closed the book she was reading and quickly stood. “Sorry, I was engrossed in Finlayson’s diary. I really didn’t want it to go back to the station with the rest of the artifacts. Speaking of artifacts, will Finlayson’s hut be okay during the storm?”

  Michela held back a terse response when she saw the concern on Allison’s face. She gave Allison’s arm a reassuring rub. “I don’t know, but it’s been here for over one hundred and ten years, so I don’t think it’ll give its place up in history all that easily. Besides, Rob’s boarded the hut’s entrance, so the worst that can happen is the snow will cover it over again.”

  “What needs to be done?”

  Michela picked up her heavy-duty work gloves. “Rob and Sarah have started checking the anchor points for their building. If you could check out the short range radios for serviceability that would be great.”

  Allison pulled on her jacket. “Why the short range radios? I thought their distance was limited.”

  Michela nodded. “They are, but Maddi also said solar flares were expected. This’ll cut out our communications with Wills Station. I want to be able to at least talk between the two apples once the storm hits. I’m going to check the anchor points of our apple. Can you tell Rob and Sarah we’ll meet in their hut in, say, ten minutes?”

  “Okay. I’ll grab the radios from the sno-trak and meet you there.” Allison turned to the door, halted, and turned back to Michela. “Is there anything else I can do?”

  “Can you make sure the blizzard rope around the base is still anchored correctly? Once this storm hits there’ll be no telling what will happen.” Michela followed Allison through the door. Pausing on the top step, she looked at the deceptively blue sky that displayed no hint of the oncoming storm. Here we go again. Small spaces and Alli—I hope we don’t end up murdering each other.

  MICHELA QUICKLY COMPLETED a check of the camp and entered Rob and Sarah’s hut. She pulled her beanie from her head. “The wind’s already picking up out there. I don’t know if the weatherman got it right this time.”

  Sarah laughed. “Well, it wouldn’t be the first time they got it wrong. What’s the plan?”

  “If we still had the googie I’d have recommended we all bed down in that. The apples are a little too small for four people over an indeterminate period of time.”

  “What do you mean indeterminate period of time?” Allison asked. “How long do you think the storm will last?”

  “You never know how long these babies are going to last,” Rob said. “I’ve been in one that went for twenty days before it blew itself out. Don’t worry tho
ugh, this one may be as short as the last storm that blew through here.”

  Michela nodded. “Rob’s right, but I’m going to err on the side of caution. We’ll pull the emergency rations and power from the storage container in the sno-trak and divide them between us. Once the storm hits I don’t want any unnecessary movement outside the buildings. It looks like we’re going to have to wait this one out. At least the short range radios will allow limited communications between the apples.”

  THE STORM HIT the camp three hours before its forecast arrival. While it was uncomfortably close within their apple, Michela and Allison used the time to focus on their respective tasks. Allison occupied the hours reading and cataloguing Finlayson’s diary, pausing only when an extra-strong gust of wind buffeted the hut. Michela collated her research notes and made a rudimentary start on her final report. They worked through the early evening, stopping only for refreshments and dinner. As the storm continued to lash the sides of the hut they went to bed, both hopeful that the morning would bring an end to the storm and the forced occupation.

  The following morning Michela woke and wasn’t surprised to hear the sounds of the storm. It looks as if we’re in here for another day. Looking around, she saw that Allison had already risen.

  Allison brushed her hair and smiled. “Good morning, sleepy head. Feel like some breakfast?”

  Michela sat up. “Thanks. What have you got planned for the morning?”

  “Oh, more of the same I suppose. I really do want to finish this diary before I have to hand it over. Are you continuing with your research?”

  Michela nodded. “Yep. But if I’m to get anywhere I better get up.”

  Allison carefully placed her brush on her already overloaded makeshift bookshelf. After ensuring it was stable, she walked toward the stove to make breakfast.

  ALLISON CHECKED HER watch, surprised to find it was mid-morning. She closed the book and rubbed her tired eyes. “Ugh, this is murder. Elizabeth was a prodigious writer and this cursive text is bloody hard to read.”