Whispers of Winter

by Tracie Peterson

  “Leah tells me you’re very good with the animals. That Jacob trained you the summer she and Jayce came to stay with us.”

  “Yes. I had to earn my keep,” she said with a small smile. “I don’t mind at all, however. I love the dogs.”

  “Love Jacob, too, as I hear it.”

  This startled her. “I … uh …” She turned away, hoping she wouldn’t say something stupid.

  “It’s all right. I think it’s great. Leah tells me that Jacob is in love with you as well.”

  “She doesn’t know that’s true anymore,” Helaina said, lifting a can of fish entrails. The foul smell was something she’d never quite gotten used to, but every time she had to deal with it, she reminded herself that she was doing it for the man she loved.

  “Jacob isn’t a fickle man. If he’s given his heart to you, you can rest assured that he won’t be changing his mind.”

  Helaina put down the can and straightened. Turning, she braved a glance at Adrik’s face. She found only compassion there. “I know you must think me a horrible person, Mr. Ivankov.”

  “Call me Adrik. And, no, I don’t think you a horrible person.” “I caused your family so much trouble. For that I’m sorry.”

  He smiled and moved toward her. “You’re forgiven, even if you don’t believe it.”

  “I believe God forgives, but I know it’s hard for others. Especially when great pain was inflicted. So many suffered because of me. Lives were threatened, and …” She fell silent, thinking of Leah’s rape.

  Adrik surprised her by taking hold of her hands. “It might be hard to forget the past, especially for some. But when Jesus lives in your heart, you need to forgive and forget. The Bible says God forgets, even for His own sake. If it’s good enough for God, it’s good enough for me.”

  Helaina bit her lower lip to keep it from quivering. She felt like collapsing in Adrik’s fatherly arms and crying like a baby.

  “You don’t have to worry about whether we can accept you as Jacob’s wife,” Adrik said softly. “Truth is, Jacob is a wise man, and if he loves you, that’s good enough for me.”

  “But that’s just it,” Helaina said, tears spilling down her face. “If he loves me. He’s been gone for a long time. The last time he saw me he didn’t make any promises or pledges. He didn’t speak wonderful words of love. How could he love me? He let me go.”

  “He let you go because he loved you. What good would it have done either of you to have him declare his love and press for your love in return, when he knew you couldn’t stay here in Alaska?”

  Helaina studied his face for a moment. He seemed to know everything—no doubt Leah had been open with her family about Helaina’s presence in her life. It only took Adrik’s letting go of her hands and opening his arms to her to finish breaking Helaina’s pretense of strength. She fell into his arms and sobbed.

  “I just want him back. Even if he doesn’t love me. I just want him back.”

  Chapter Ten

  It’s already August.” Ben Kauffman wasn’t one given to elaborate shows of emotion, but the anger was evident in his voice.

  “We did as you asked, Captain,” Travis added. “But we have to make plans now to leave this island and get back to civilization.”

  The other men quickly agreed. Jacob knew they wouldn’t be satisfied to remain on the island, yet the idea of heading into the open waters was daunting. No one wanted to be home more than Jacob, but he wanted to get there alive.

  The captain rubbed his bearded chin. “Look, men, I know how you feel. I, too, long to be with my family and loved ones. I would like a more palatable fare for my meals and a bed of down instead of fur. However, we have to be sensible about this matter.”

  “Indeed we do,” Dr. Ripley said, taking a step forward. “Sir, I respect your command, but as you know, we already have two sick men. One is injured and in desperate need of more attention than I can give him here. The other has some kind of sickness that I do not even understand. I seriously doubt either one will live much longer. Not to mention we’re all sick from lack of proper diet. There’s not a man here who isn’t suffering from scurvy.”

  “And well I know it, Dr. Ripley. However, would you put weakened men into boats and send them out on the water without hope of reaching their destination? Should we desert the sick men—leave them here to die?”

  “Why do you speak without hope when referencing our attempt to leave by boat?” Ripley countered.

  “Because I see very little hope for us if we head out wandering around the ocean. First of all, as weak as the men are, they’ll be no match for the strong currents that flow in this area. Second, we won’t stand a chance if a storm should come our way, which of course we can count on experiencing. These northern waters are always volatile.”

  “Better to take our chances and leave this accursed island before winter sets in than to suffer another year here,” Ben muttered.

  Jacob felt it important to back the captain’s position. “We have two small umiaks, but none of you are familiar with the use of such boats. We used them to haul goods over the ice and little else. I’m very familiar with the umiaks, and yet I wouldn’t begin to feel comfortable taking them out on the water with the purpose of trying to navigate the Arctic Ocean or the seas that might take us home.”

  “Then stay here,” Travis said flatly.

  “Men, we need to work together,” Captain Latimore said sternly. “What we need is more driftwood for our warmth and cooking. We also need to work on sewing those skins. We need to ensure that we have proper warmth against the chilling nights. Even if we can work out a way to take the boats and leave the island, we will need to be prepared.”

  The men grumbled but said nothing that could really be heard. One by one they wandered away to go about their duties, but Jacob could tell it would only be a matter of time before they mutinied, and then what?

  “I’m sorry about the trouble, Captain,” Jacob said as the last of the men left them. “I know this is hard on the men. I wish I had a simple solution. I had hoped we would be rescued by now.”

  The captain picked at his well-worn jacket. “The men are right to feel a sense of desperation. They sense the change of weather. They know what’s coming.”

  Jacob nodded. Just then Jayce came into view. He’d been off hunting and carried several ducks. They’d make a good meal to be sure.

  “Captain, if you feel confident that we can navigate the ocean, I’m willing to reconsider the matter,” Jacob said turning his attention back to Latimore.

  “I will think on the matter and speak with the men. I see value in looking at all sides of this issue.”

  “As do I,” Jacob replied, though he was uncertain whether he’d go along if the men decided to leave the island.

  Jayce crossed the distance and held up his catch. “They’re nice and fat,” he said, tossing them down on the ground.

  “It’ll be a good change. Maybe duck has better nutritional value than seal,” Jacob said with a shrug.

  “When I was atop the hill I saw you had the men gathered,” Jayce said, pulling the shotgun from his shoulder.

  “What was that all about? Nutritional values?”

  “The men are restless.” Jacob lowered his voice lest they be overheard by anyone other than Latimore. “I fear it will be mutiny if we can’t find some way to give them hope.”

  “How are Bristol and Elmer?” Jayce questioned.

  Bristol had been gravely ill after a wound he suffered while skinning a seal had become infected. Now the doctor was certain he would die. Elmer’s ailment left the doctor with the same conclusion, although he had no real understanding of the disease that was slowly killing the man.

  “Bristol isn’t good. The doctor says he’s gone septic. It’s just a matter of time. He’s been unconscious all day. Elmer isn’t much better. He’s in hideous pain. His abdomen is distended and feels warm to the touch. Dr. Ripley gave him a good dose of cocaine in hopes of easing the misery, but I don�
�t see that it’s helped much.”

  “Pity. The poor men have nothing to comfort them. They must surely realize the situation.” Jayce looked toward the dwelling where the sick were being kept. Latimore readily shared the shelter with the sick, but the other men had crowded into one place to avoid having to face anyone’s mortality. “I guess I’d best get to work fixing these ducks,” Jayce said, tossing the shotgun to Jacob. “There’s still plenty of daylight for more hunting.” Jacob nodded. “I think some time alone would do me good. Maybe God will give me some answers.”

  He moved out across the land, following the shore to the east. Sometimes things just didn’t make sense. He truly believed that all things happened for a reason—that God didn’t just allow His children to go through situations for no reason. Of course, Jacob also believed that some things just happened because life was … well … life. There was no way to keep the natural course of living from happening. Jacob had known there was a risk when he took this expedition north.

  There were enough horror stories to keep any sane man from making such a choice.

  “But maybe I’m not all together sane,” he mused aloud. Surely a sane man wouldn’t have let the woman he loved get away.

  Jacob had been considering what he needed to do once he returned to Last Chance. The plans rolled through his mind once again. He would need to sell the dogs. Jacob couldn’t imagine a life without the dogs; the past year had been incredibly lonely without his favorite companions. But at least he didn’t have to worry about them. No doubt John would take most of them and would see that the animals were well cared for.

  Jacob stopped and looked out across the island he’d called home for all these long months. It wasn’t such a horrible experience. In fact, it had proven to him that he could endure most anything. And in his mind, that included leaving Alaska forever.

  “If that’s the price for Helaina’s love,” he said with a sigh, “then it will be worth the sacrifice.”

  They were starting to have a few hours of actual darkness, for which Jacob was grateful. He drifted into a fitful sleep that night, praying and pleading for God’s intervention on their behalf.

  Send us a rescue ship, Lord, he prayed. Send someone soon to take us home.

  It seemed he’d barely closed his eyes when something caused Jacob to bolt upright. He wasn’t sure what had awakened him. Nothing seemed amiss. Jayce slept not far from him, his even breathing evidence that he was alive and well.

  Jacob strained his ear to hear anything else. One of the men would be on guard duty watching for ships and protecting the camp against animal attacks—especially bear, although without the vast stretches of ice for the bears to utilize, there were fewer and fewer on the island. Still, they couldn’t let down their guard. A polar bear could swim over fifty miles without resting. John had told him this—had experienced it himself when a bear followed after him once. John had only had his small kayak, and the bear seemed determined to do him in. John had finally harpooned the bear and brought him home for food.

  Jacob listened again for any sound that might indicate a problem. Then it dawned on him: Perhaps one of the sick men had died in the night and Latimore had found it necessary to draw the man out of the shelter. Whatever it was, something wasn’t right. Jacob pulled on his boots. He needed to see what was going on in camp. Maybe it was nothing—but on the other hand, maybe it was a problem that couldn’t wait until morning.

  “What’s wrong?” Jayce asked groggily.

  “I don’t know. I just have a strange feeling. It woke me from a dead sleep.”

  Jayce sat up, yawning. “Wait for me and I’ll come with you.” He threw off his fur covering and reached for his own boots. “Did you hear something?”

  “I don’t know. I was sound asleep, but something woke me up. I can’t say that I heard anything at all, but I just feel like something is happening.” He crawled to the opening of their shelter, with Jayce right behind him.

  Outside, it was already getting light. Streaks of a sun on the southeast horizon showed the promise of a beautiful day. The camp was quiet…. Maybe too quiet. Jacob looked for the sentry but found none.

  “Who was supposed to be on guard duty?”

  Jayce suppressed another yawn. “I think it was Matthew.”

  “I don’t see him anywhere.” Jacob walked a few steps across the way, careful to avoid a stretched-out seal hide.

  Jacob scanned the beach in both directions, but the man in question was nowhere in sight. Then it occurred to Jacob that something else was missing. “Where’s the other umiak?”

  “What?” Jayce looked at him oddly. “The other umiak?”

  “Yeah. Look for yourself. There’s the one we used to help make the shelter for Latimore and the sick men. Where’s the other one?”

  “Well, it was on the beach, last I knew.” Jayce followed Jacob to where the boat had once been. There were clear markings to indicate it had been dragged toward the water.

  “They’ve gone.” Jacob felt a sickening sensation settle over him.

  “Surely they wouldn’t just load up and leave us here,”

  Jayce said. “The captain wouldn’t let them do that.”

  “The captain probably had nothing to say about the matter. He was on our side, remember? My guess is that he’s still sleeping with the sick men.” Jacob walked toward the shelter where the others would have been. One look inside confirmed his worse fears. “They’re gone.”

  “Guess we should wake up Latimore and let him know what’s happened.”

  Jacob straightened and shook his head. “Might as well let him sleep. There’s nothing we can do at this point.” Dread washed over him in waves. Dread for the men who’d gone, as well as for those left behind.

  “They’re completely ignorant of what they’re facing,” Jacob murmured as he went back to bed. “They won’t make it.”

  “Dr. Ripley no doubt encouraged it. Those men were good about following Latimore unless Ripley got them stirred up.”

  “I’m sure Ripley had something to do with it, but the men were already eager to go. I’m sure it was a mutual decision. Just as I’m sure it will be a mutual disaster.”

  Three hours later, Latimore met Jacob and Jayce at the campfire. Jacob was working on sewing fur coverings for his well-worn boots.

  “It’s just as you said,” Latimore confirmed. “I looked through the tent and everything of personal value is gone.”

  “They also took all of their furs and a good portion of the meat stores,” Jayce said, looking up to meet the captain’s grim expression. “They’re thinking to make it back to the mainland, but I don’t see that happening. They’re too inexperienced.”

  “Indeed. For many it was their first time working on board a ship. They had little real knowledge of the sea. There’s not a man among them who could navigate by the stars. Only Elmer was good at that, and he’s here with us.” Latimore eased onto a makeshift seat while Jayce poured him a cup of tea.

  “They left us a few supplies. Probably knew it would be murder to do otherwise.”

  Latimore took the cup. “I’m sure they meant us no harm. I pray they make it to safety.”

  Jacob stretched out his feet. “I wouldn’t give them much hope. It would take God’s direct intervention, as far as I’m concerned. I would believe we would have a better chance walking out over the ice this winter to Siberia than trying to navigate the waters ourselves.”

  “I’m going to take some of the seal broth to Elmer and Bristol,” Jayce announced. He lifted a tin can from the edge of the fire and got to his feet.

  Once he was gone, Jacob’s anger replaced his shock. “Those men considered no one but themselves. Their comrades lie sick—even dying—and they desert them.”

  “Jacob, everyone has their breaking point.” Latimore shook his head. “Those men would not have acted as they did had they any hope of rescue or enduring the days to come. I’m also very certain Dr. Ripley influenced them. The man has given me no e
nd of grief in trying to persuade me to change my mind about leaving. I place this event at his feet.”

  “Jacob, Captain, you’d better come. Bristol passed on in the night, and I don’t think Elmer will be long in following.”

  He was right. An hour later they were faced with the task of burying two men. Jacob knew the permanently frozen ground would make burial difficult. They finally devised a place by scooping out the earth as best they could, then piling rocks atop the two dead men. It hardly seemed a fitting end.

  Jacob’s rage burned. He didn’t know which made him angrier—the fact that the other men had deserted them or that he hadn’t been able to prevent it from happening. There should have been some way for me to stop it. Some way to persuade them from leaving. Now they’ll die. They’ll all die. He shuddered at the thought of the men forever lost to the icy depths of the Arctic Ocean.

  Jayce opened the Bible and began to read aloud, but Jacob hardly heard the words. How dare they leave us to this? The isolation of their circumstances seemed to overwhelm Jacob all at once. Somehow with nearly a dozen men on the island things hadn’t seemed so bad. With just the three of them, however, Jacob felt as though they were the last men on earth.

  “Jacob, would you like to pray?” Jayce asked.

  The words startled Jacob. “Pray? I’ve been praying. I’ve prayed without ceasing since we were marooned on this island. Pray?” He’d had enough and walked away. If he didn’t get away by himself, there was no telling what he might say. He certainly didn’t want to take out his anger on Jayce or Latimore.

  He stalked up the hillside as he’d done a thousand times before. Often he’d gone to the top to seek solace, other times he’d gone for information. The perch had generally afforded him a clear view for as far as he could see to the east and south, as well as a good portion of the west. Only this time he had no interest in the view.

  “Wait, Jacob.” Jayce followed after him.