‘How can you shorten the journey?’ Jack asked.
‘I can redirect some of the oceans currents for a short time,’ Doug replied.
‘How long?’ Jack asked again.
‘Three weeks,’ Doug said. There was no apology in his voice.
‘Three weeks?’ Jack said.
‘It is far.’
‘We haven’t got enough rations to survive three days, let alone three weeks,’ Brayden interrupted.
‘The ocean will provide,’ Doug replied. He walked into the sea up to his calves. The water, an icy grey, looked like it should be causing frostbite but it didn’t affect Doug at all. Doug reached down, speaking in a strange language; his speech was quicker, wilder. Before Jack’s eyes a large tunnel opened in the ocean that extended as far as he could see, deep into the sea and darkness.
‘How are we going to breathe?’ he asked quietly. He didn’t want the others to think that he had any doubts. Cali answered.
‘He’s going to create an air pipe running from the top of the tunnel to the outside. Like they had at the settlement.’
‘Is everyone ready?’ Doug asked. Loomis nodded.
‘As ready as I’ll ever be,’ Brayden said with a nervous smile and Esther lifted her bag firmly onto her shoulder.
Doug and Loomis led the way, walking together though they weren’t talking. Brayden and Esther followed. Brayden was talking about his family; mum, dad, little brother. Cali trailed behind waiting for him.
Jack took a long deep breath of the cold air. It was the same as it had been for the last few days but he relished it – he had a feeling he wouldn’t breathe fresh air again for a while. Then Jack walked into the ocean behind his friends.
Doug was right. Although he managed to manipulate the currents, they walked at a punishing pace and had little time to rest. Doug insisted that they move faster, ever faster until the minutes and hours and days blended together becoming a swirling mess of blisters, seaweed and salt water.
At first Jack wasn’t sure why Doug was inflicting this gruelling pace day after day. Soon, however, he noticed Doug had become drawn and pale, his eyes more glazed and vacant with each passing hour. They had been hiking for what Jack guessed to be a pain filled, terrible week before he spoke to Cali about it.
‘It’s the effort of keeping the tunnel open and air flowing,’ Cali said dully. She looked almost as bad as Doug, though her black eye had almost returned to normal.
‘I thought it was natural for a Water Elemental?’ Jack said.
‘It is, but not 24 hours a day. He’s had no rest since we started,’ she said her head bowed to stare at her feet; putting one foot in front of the other. Jack grew thoughtful – their progress in the last two days had slowed, mainly because Doug was exhausted. The tunnel was smaller, colder and much darker. They couldn’t carry on like this. Jack moved up to where Doug was leading the group.
‘Doug, we have to surface,’ Jack said.
‘Why?’ Doug asked.
‘You need to rest. The others need to see the sky.’ This last part was true. Brayden and Esther, Earth Elementals, were suffering beneath the ocean.
‘That is not necessary.’
‘Doug, the tunnel is too small and too cold.’
‘I will work harder,’ Doug said. The tunnel grew but Jack could see the strain on Doug’s face.
‘No. We surface. Now.’
‘There is nowhere to go.’
‘We’ll work something out.’ Jack didn’t know what, in the middle of the Antarctic. Doug nodded and began muttering under his breath. Although Jack could feel no movement he sensed that they were rising. It took a long time to surface.
When they did Jack, despite the bitter cold, couldn’t help but smile. Especially when he saw the iceberg ahead.
‘I noticed it as we were ascending and thought it would be a suitable place to rest,’ Doug said with his rare smile.
‘Definitely,’ Jack said. It was good to be out in the open for everyone. Cali was transformed. It hadn’t been so bad for the first few days, but as the tunnel grew smaller and darker and colder so too it seemed that Cali grew quieter, paler and more frightened.
Doug directed the floor of the bubble to the iceberg – it was strange to be walking on water - and when they set foot on the harsh, solid block Cali laughed, threw her arms wide and span with delight on the cold ground.
The air was freezing, the wind bitter and their mission as far away from success as it had ever been, but Jack could not help but be touched by her joy. The ocean floor was a secret place; there was little colour or light. Even the hostile iceberg seemed an oasis in comparison.
Everyone was smiling, even Esther. Jack watched as she shrugged her backpack off, fished about inside it and brought out the electric cooker. Realising that this might be the last time they had the chance of a proper meal for who knew how long Jack turned to Doug. He looked worse than ever in the daylight.
‘Doug, rest. We’ll be here when you’ve recovered,’ Jack said. Doug nodded then did something Jack wasn’t expecting. He climbed into the icy water to rest, floating, a ghostly figure in the icy water. Jack watched him for a while then walked to join the others in the middle of the iceberg.
‘Where’s Doug?’ Cali asked.
‘Sleeping. Don’t ask,’ Jack said, watching as Cali scanned the iceberg. ‘Let’s set up a couple of the tents – we can double up, it’ll be warmer. We might as well rest while Doug is.’
‘I’ll cook,’ said Esther wafting the electric cooker.
‘Take it in turns with Cali. And keep at least one pair of gloves on,’ Jack said, aware of how bitter the wind was.
The day passed pleasantly enough despite the cold and dark. Esther and Cali cooked lunch and Jack put up the tents with Brayden. Brayden used his considerable skill to carve chunks from the iceberg and they used these as a wind block which proved extremely effective. That day, more than any other, Jack was grateful for his cloak.
Doug didn’t return the first day, nor did he appear the next and Jack, Cali, Brayden, Loomis and Esther made simple fishing rods to gather more food. They didn’t do too badly either, catching enough food for the day and swelling their supplies with fish. Esther prepared it so that it would last for at least a week.
The third day Doug emerged from the water looking restored.
Jack was relieved – the iceberg that seemed like an oasis when they arrived had increasingly become a floating prison. Even Cali, who found the underwater tunnel claustrophobic, was ready to leave. Jack hurried to Doug as soon as he arrived.
‘Are you ready to go?’ he asked. Doug nodded.
It didn’t take long to return to the seabed and with Doug rejuvenated the first day passed quickly. The nymph almost sparkled with energy and several times Jack had to ask him to slow down – the speed of their walking coupled with the rapid pace of the current was making Cali sea sick.
As well as maintaining the bubble tunnel and the air pipe that led to the outside, Doug also produced a greenish light so that the group would not be walking in total darkness. Usually when they stopped to camp, Doug would wait for Loomis to light a small fire then the green light would fade for the day and Doug would not light it again until the next day’s journey began. That evening, however, Jack had to ask Doug to dim the light so that Jack and the others could go to sleep.
The next morning Jack approached Doug. ‘How much longer?’ he asked.
‘The currents are making the travel time significantly less than I at first imagined,’ Doug said.
‘How much less?’ Jack asked more eagerly than he felt. Though the bubble tunnel was cold, damp and claustrophobic at least Jack knew what to expect.
‘I think it will only be another few days,’ Doug said. Jack looked around to see if any of the others were close.
‘Listen Doug, when we get there I want to go alone,’ Jack said. Doug’s face remained unchanged.
‘Why?’ he asked.
‘I don’t want to
put anyone else in danger,’ Jack said.
‘They are already in danger.’
‘Please?’
‘If that is your wish. What can I do?’
‘Let me know when we get there. Not the others. When they’re asleep you can take us up and drop me and the Keeper on the surface,’ Jack said.
‘There is a risk that one or all will wake.’
‘I know. I’ll worry about it if it happens,’ Jack said. Doug nodded.
‘Where exactly in Antarctica do you want to go?’
‘Ross Island.’
‘That’s going to take a little longer,’ Doug said, though he did not question Jack’s choice of destination.
And so it was that they spent another three days travelling in a shrinking bubble on the ocean floor. The strain was showing on Doug’s face again and Jack insisted that they surface in order for Doug to recuperate. It was dark and bitterly cold. The tiny ice shelf they found to rest on was worse than the bubble tunnel and Jack was grateful when Doug surfaced to take them back down after only a day.
If the group expected the bubble to have improved they were disappointed. The cold penetrated even Doug’s robust water shield and everyone soon stopped talking altogether. Jack usually walked with Cali who constantly looked tense; she was becoming slighter and more withdrawn. Jack felt a wave of guilt when he thought of what he was planning to do. Abandoning the others (because that’s what it felt like – abandonment) was not something that he thought either Gordy or Aloysius would approve of. But they weren’t here.
Cali was as scared as he was, more so because she had nothing to fight for. Brayden and Esther were just as uncertain, but although war was terrible, it was not personal. Not until, that is, one of your own didn’t return. And Loomis. Why was Loomis there? Jack still didn’t know.
The others would understand eventually and if Jack survived all the better. If not, then they would have other chances. Maybe one of them, someone who was not a blood relative, would be able to save Sophie. With a lump in his throat he reached over to take Cali’s hand. The friendship bracelet Sophie had given him emerged from the sleeve of Gordy’s thick coat, reproachfully. Jack looked away.
‘Thanks for coming Cali,’ Jack said sincerely. She looked at him from under her thick dark lashes.
‘I wouldn’t have stayed behind,’ Cali said quietly and fell back into silence.
The next two days were the worst yet. No one, least of all Jack, felt like talking. The dark, damp sameness of the bubble tunnel along with the greenish light made Jack think of medieval dungeons. To make matters worse he hadn’t felt clean since they left Five Oakes. Jack thought back and realised he didn’t know how long ago that was. Was it three days or three weeks? It could just as easily be three months, Jack thought. It was all he could do to put one foot in front of the other, though it was he who was now setting the pace.
Once he had made up his mind to leave the others as soon as they reached Ross Island he withdrew from everyone, especially Cali who occasionally looked at him with hurt eyes. Mostly though, she trudged along the ocean floor. The tunnel was normal now, so normal for the walls to open out into the dark blind sea, normal for creatures both beautiful and bizarre to dart past, normal to be covered from head to toe in a thin layer of salty dirt. Doug fell back to walk with Jack towards the end of the second day.
‘We’ll be there in a day, or close enough,’ Doug said to Jack quietly so they could not be overheard. Jack nodded.
‘Don’t tell the others,’ he said. Doug paused.
‘Are you sure this is what you want?’
‘Yes, it is.’
‘You know what my advice would be,’ Doug said softly.
‘I… think so,’ Jack said, though he was not at all sure. Doug was hard to figure out. Like Loomis, Jack trusted Doug initially because he had no choice - Doug had something Jack needed.
‘I would advise that you do not leave the others without giving them a choice,’ Doug said.
‘I can’t,’ Jack said.
‘Including myself,’ Doug continued as if Jack had not spoken.
‘I know what they’d say. All of them would say they wanted to come,’ Jack said his feet beginning to drag and his shoulders slumping.
‘They… we are your friends,’ Doug said.
‘None of them really knew what they were getting into when they agreed to come along,’ Jack said.
‘And you did?’
‘I think …’ Jack began then stopped. There was no point lying. ‘I thought it would be an adventure that would end in me finding my sister.’
‘And you don’t think that anymore?’ Jack shook his head and looked at Doug.
‘But Doug, this is my responsibility. Mine,’ Jack said.
‘We all have a responsibility,’ Doug said.
‘The others would come for me, not Sophie,’ Jack said, finally admitting what was at the heart of the matter. He wouldn’t allow the others to sacrifice themselves for him.
‘And none of them will benefit from her safe return?’
‘It’s not the same.’
‘I cannot speak for them,’ Doug said.
‘No, you can’t,’ Jack replied.
‘I would go because I want to help. It is you who will shape the fate and the future of my people.’ Jack was amazed by Doug’s burst of honesty.
‘You’ve played your part. Very well. I couldn’t have asked for more,’ Jack said embarrassed by Doug’s words. The nymph made him sound like a hero.
‘If you will take me I will come,’ Doug said. Jack felt his heart swell at Doug’s kindness. Of all of the people there though, Doug was the person Jack would be least likely to take. Doug could keep the others safe on the ocean floor. Without Doug they would not last long in the Antarctic. Jack shivered. He probably wouldn’t either, but he didn’t want to think about that.
‘Are all Water Elementals like you?’ Jack asked trying not to think about how he was going to get to Mount Terror and face the Black Prince, alone, across the wastes of Antarctica.
‘What do you mean?’ Doug didn’t sound surprised by the change of subject.
‘So courageous,’ Jack said and he really meant it. Doug had sacrificed a lot to help Jack and his friends and Jack was sure that he didn’t resent it.
Doug thought for a moment. Jack took the opportunity to study Doug for the first time since they had been introduced. He, like Cali, had lost weight. His pale skin looked slightly stretched and shiny over his sharp cheekbones and his deep eyes had great dark circles underneath them. Only his hair remained unchanged, still long and golden and shiny. Doug’s hair reminded Jack powerfully of Sophie and looking at it he could almost hear her voice, could almost remember how she had smiled, could almost – almost – see her. He rubbed the wrist where the friendship band lay small and forlorn.
‘I do not think that I am courageous but then, which of us does but the coward?’ Doug finally said.
‘You aren’t afraid,’ Jack said.
‘Of what?’ Doug said.
‘The Black Prince,’ Jack said.
‘Yes. Aren’t you?’ Doug said turning to Jack and piercing him with his eyes. Jack nodded.
‘One day,’ Doug said. Jack was confused until he remembered why Doug had fallen back to speak with him in the first place.
‘That’ll give me enough time,’ Jack said.
‘For what?’ Doug asked.
‘There are things I have to do. Alone.’ Doug stopped surveying the ocean in front for a moment and looked hard at Jack then nodded.
‘I’ll make sure that we have a good rest tonight. Tomorrow’s march will not be so long,’ Doug said.
‘Good,’ Jack said.
‘I suggest you use the time wisely. Perhaps you may even reconsider taking someone with you,’ Doug said, and Jack knew the nymph was looking at Cali. Jack shook his head vehemently and dropped back.
‘What did he want?’ Cali asked.
‘Just wanted to chat for a bit
,’ Jack lied. He had never been so grateful that she was watching her feet.
The next day felt endless. Jack was already nervous about leaving the ocean and finding the Black Prince by himself. To make matters worse Brayden was cornering him at every opportunity to discuss what they were going to do when they got to Ross Island. In contrast, Loomis hardly spoke. Esther herself had gone from being quiet to being completely silent at all times, not even speaking to Cali. She brought up the rear every day, occasionally shooting a furtive glance at Brayden, mostly looking down at her feet as the miles fell behind them. Jack didn’t think it was possible but she looked more miserable than any of the others, even Cali. The Keeper continued to blend, hardly causing Jack a second thought.
Cali was still withdrawn although she walked with Jack all day, holding his hand. Occasionally they would talk about her family, sometimes his but mostly they walked in silence. When they had been walking for only two hours after lunch Doug announced that they would stop for the night. Jack felt his stomach turn over. This was it.
‘Already?’ Loomis asked. He looked suspicious. Jack, whoinitially thought a short march was a good idea suddenly began to think of it from the point of view of the others, who were used to long, punishing days. It must seem odd. Doug glanced over at Jack, then back at Loomis.
‘I’m very tired,’ Doug said. It was the truth, convenient or not - Doug looked terrible, worse than he had the previous day and Loomis couldn’t argue with him.
Because Jack knew Doug was lying he wondered how the others did not think it was unusual that Doug would use tiredness as an excuse to stop for the day when he had been pushing so hard for so long. After all, the nymph still had to hold the bubble tunnel together and it was only marginally easier at a standstill than moving forward.
Jack thought perhaps a small part of each of them did wonder, but they were too tired to question Doug deeply. They wanted to stop too.
While the others prepared the meal and rested Jack went amongst each of them, making small talk. In truth there were items that his companions had that Jack would need. All the rest of the group needed now was warm clothes. When Doug took them back across the ocean he could provide them with food. Jack went from friend to friend; guiltily stealing dried food from their packs, gloves, a compass. By the time everyone went to bed Jack felt awful – disheartened and greedy.
Elemental: Steele Stolen: Part 1 and 2 Page 15
