by Ben Hammott
“If that's his plan, it seems to be working.”
The elevator arrived and they entered.
“Enough about my troubles, you'll be off to Antarctica soon.”
Jane nodded. “Next week.”
Barry noticed her apprehensive expression. “You don't seem very enthusiastic.”
“Oh, I am though, I can't wait to be back on the ice, but…”
Barry realized the reason for her sad demeanour. “Oh, of course, it must be almost five years since…”
“It is,” Jane replied. “I suppose it's about time I got over him and moved on. It's what Kyle would have wanted.”
Barry rested a hand gently on her arm. “You will, when the time is right.”
They stepped out of the elevator onto the fifth floor. Their boss, Jerrod, stood in his office doorway; his eyes searching the rows of desks set out in the room like a vulture seeking a carcass to feed upon. He noticed Barry, scowled, tapped his wristwatch and abruptly turned and entered his office.
“I suppose I had better go and see what the old man wants.”
“Okay, I'll catch up with you later.” Jane watched Barry walk reluctantly toward their boss's office.
“You're looking gorgeous as usual, Jane.”
Jane turned to see Richard standing beside her. The man had the uncanny ability to sneak up on you without making a sound; he would've made an excellent burglar. It was all too obvious the man was undressing her with his eyes. She mentally cringed. “Congratulations on your engagement, Richard.”
Richard smiled. “Thanks. Jerrod was very receptive to the idea when I asked for his permission.”
“Was that before or after you stole Barry's promotion?”
Richard's smile refused to fade at the snide comment. “I stole nothing. The job went to the person most qualified for the position― me. For the reason he failed to secure the promotion you only have to look at the slob. Have you seen Barry's suit today? It's got more wrinkles than a hundred-year-old man and it's stained with coffee. He needs to sort himself out if he wants to rise through the ranks like me.”
“Or just marry the boss's daughter. I hope the poor woman knows what she's letting herself in for.” Jane shook her head and walked away.
Jane had been sitting at her desk for twenty minutes when Barry came over.
“Jane, the boss wants to see you.”
Jane stopped typing and turned to face Barry. “Do you know why?”
Barry nodded. “It's about your trip to the Antarctic next week. I think you might get your chance to explore that ice rift after all. NASA has discovered an anomaly on their latest scan.”
Jane's brow creased. “What sort of anomaly?”
“That's what the old man wanted to see me about. He showed me the scan. The rift is perfectly sharp except in one spot, where it's blurred. At first the NASA technicians thought it was a fault in the equipment, but when the exact same result was reproduced on a second scan, they knew that wasn't the cause.”
“Strange,” said Jane.
“That's what I said. I've no idea what would cause it, but probably the reason lies buried beneath the ice at that particular spot in the side of the rift.”
“And NASA wants the team to check it out while we're there next week.”
“I believe so. I'm sure Jerrod will fill you in on all the details, so you'd better not keep him waiting like I did.”
“Okay, thanks.” Jane stood.
“A word of warning, I think Richard's angling to go on the trip, so watch out.”
“What gives you that idea? He has no reason to go, and he's the last person I want to be stuck in Antarctica with.”
“Jerrod asked me if I thought it would be beneficial to the team if Richard went on the trip to help determine the cause of the anomaly. Naturally I sung your virtues and told him whatever the cause of the glitch turns out to be, your expertise will be invaluable to the team.”
Jane jumped up and gave Barry a hug. “Thanks. I owe you one.”
“You're welcome. Like I told Jerrod, you're far more qualified than Richard, whatever's found.”
Jane smiled. “My mother is more qualified than Richard.” She headed to Jerrod Sandberg's office.
She knocked on the door and entered. Though warned about the man, Jane was still surprised to see Richard sitting there.
Jerrod smiled warmly at her. “Hello, Jane. Please come in.”
She closed the door and sat in the chair placed beside Richard.
“As you may have heard from Barry, NASA has discovered something beside the rift they want the expedition heading out there next week to check out. As a courtesy, because we're sending a team member and they're partly funding the mission, they sent us details of this anomaly to examine beforehand.” He slid an image across the desk.
Jane picked it up and stared at a section of the ice rift taken from an airplane flying over the ice. Her eyes zoomed in on the fuzzy area that so perplexed NASA. She looked up at her boss. “As I've previously mentioned in my reports to you, sir, while our main objective is to carry out tests on the Pine Valley Glacier, I'm positive there's a lot we can learn from the rift. It'll be ideal opportunity to take core samples from deep in the ice easily and without the aid of expensive drilling rigs, and a myriad of other tests. Now this anomaly's been detected, it's even more exciting. Perhaps it's a cavern in the ice sealed off for hundreds or thousands of years, though that alone wouldn't cause NASA's anomaly.”
“A meteorite might?” said Richard.
Jane glanced at Richard. As usual the smug look was plastered across his face. So this is how he was trying to worm his way onto the team. “I very much doubt a meteor is responsible for the anomaly,” she said firmly.
“But you accept it is possible?” pushed Richard.
Jane felt herself backed into a corner. “I suppose anything's possible, however unlikely that is in reality.”
“That's as may be,” said Jerrod, firmly, “but I've made my decision. Richard is going.”
Jane inwardly sighed. Cooped up with Richard for two months would be torture. She avoided looking at Richard because she knew he would be grinning. “Has someone dropped out as I thought the expedition was at full capacity?”
“It is. I believe you've misunderstood me, Jane. Richard will take your place on the team.”
Jane's mouth dropped open in shock. It had been a difficult task to organize everything for the expedition, and it had taken months of planning with the other team members to finalize everything. The Pine Island Glacier was four hundred miles from the nearest ice station, Byrd Station, where a small airstrip had to be first constructed to allow for C130 planes to bring scientists and equipment from the McMurdo ice station one thousand miles away. This equipment then had to be driven four hundred miles over rough terrain pitted with crevasses to the glacier. All of this work could only be carried out during the short Antarctic summer, late October though late January. It had taken two years for the team to plan and establish a small base camp near the rift and now she would never get to see it.
“Are you okay, Jane?” asked Jerrod, when she'd remained silent for a few moments.
“What!” she snapped. “I can't believe you're sending Richard instead of me.”
“It makes perfect sense,” said Richard.
“Not to me it damn well doesn't!”
“I know you were looking forward to the trip, Jane,” said Jerrod, with a slight hint of guilt. “But now this anomaly's been thrust into the equation, we have to cover every eventuality. There's already another glaciologist on the team, but there's no meteorologist. You know how remote the Pine Island Glacier is and how difficult it is to get there, so if it turns out to be a meteorite, Richard will be on hand to examine it.”
Jane felt like someone had just kicked her in the stomach. “There's more chance it will be Santa Claus and his elves responsible for the anomaly than a meteorite.”
“Anyway, the Antarctic is no place for a woman
.”
Jane couldn't believe what the pompous prick had just said. She glared at Richard and imagined her hands ripping his stupid tongue from his stupid mouth. “No place for a woman! The Antarctic is no longer a boy's only club. Women have been going there for years.” Jane seethed with anger.
Sensing the volatile atmosphere, Jerrod abruptly dismissed her. “That's all, Jane.”
In a daze, she stood and exited the office, softly closing the door she wanted to slam shut behind her. She heard Richard laugh. She had no doubts the joke was at her expense. She headed back to her desk.
Barry intercepted her. “How did it go?” He then noticed her despondent expression. “What's wrong?”
“I'm not going to Antarctica. Richard is.”
“What! I don't understand. I told Jerrod you were by far the best candidate.”
“But I'm not marrying the boss's daughter, am I?”
“I'm so sorry, Jane. Richard doesn't deserve to go― you do.”
“It's not your fault, Barry. Richard's convinced Jerrod it's a meteorite causing the anomaly, and as a meteorologist, he should be the one to go.”
“But that's absurd!”
“Of course it's absurd, but Jerrod believes it's feasible, so Richard will be going. I have to go. I'll see you later.”
Barry watched her walk away and turned when Richard exited Jerrod's office. He wore a satisfied smile. Barry's glare followed the man's walk to his office at the end of the room, the office that by rights should have Barry's name on the door. A smile followed the wicked look that appeared on his face. Don't worry, Jane, I'll make sure Richard gets exactly what he deserves.
Antarctica
THREE DAYS LATER, Jane was at her desk when her email alert pinged to inform her she had received a new message. The email was from Barry. She opened it and read the message.
Don't worry, Jane. Cinderella will go to the ball.
Hang up your bikini and pack a bag ready for a very cold climate.
:-) Barry
Jane stood up and peered over the cubicles. Barry looked back at her with a big smile on his face. He winked before sitting down, disappearing from her view.
What are you up to, Barry?
Barry needed perfect timing if his plan was going to work. He glanced at his watch. Luckily, Richard was a creature of habit in some regards. His intake of caffeine at 3PM was one of them. Barry counted down, “five, four, three, two, one.” He stared at Richard's door. A few seconds later he appeared. After Barry's eyes had followed the man over to the coffee machine, he hurried across the room. “Hi, Richard.”
Richard placed a cup in the tray of the coffee dispenser, pressed a button to start the process and glanced at his colleague. “You look happy today.”
“Why wouldn't I be? Tomorrow you leave for Antarctica and for two months I'll be free of you. It's going to be like an extra holiday.”
Richard huffed. “I'll be free of you as well.”
Barry glanced at Richard's cup slowly filling with coffee. “With a bit of luck you'll be eaten by a polar bear.” He flashed Richard a hopeful grin.
“You are such a dumbass, Barry. There aren't any polar bears in the Antarctic.”
The cup was almost full.
Barry made a show of craning his head past Richard and let out a soft whistle. “Wow! Look at the tits on her.”
He knew it would be impossible for Richard to resist looking. The man did not disappoint. His head swivelled so fast it was almost a blur. Barry's hand darting out to tip the contents of the small, glass bottle into Richard's coffee was equally as quick.
“Where?” Richard's eyes desperately searched the room.
Barry slapped him softly on the back. “Too late, she's gone. You were too slow old man.” Whistling a merry tune, Barry walked away.
*****
The following day Jane boarded a British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Christchurch, New Zealand. From there she would catch a military transport plane to Antarctica and then a C-130 would take her a further one thousand miles to the Byrd Ice Station. A small plane would take her on the final four hundred mile leg of her journey to the expedition's Ice Rift base camp on the Pine Valley Glacier ice shelf.
She settled back into the comfortable business class seat Richard had wrangled out of his future father in law. She found it hard to believe that tomorrow she would be in Antarctica. Though she assumed she had Barry to thank for her good fortune and Richard's mysterious attack of gut rot and diarrhoea, she also knew she was the better person for the job, even if the impossible happened and a meteorite was found. There were two geologists on the team far more experienced and capable than Richard, who in her experience, didn't know his arse from his elbow when it came to reading scientific data. How he'd achieved his degree was a mystery to more people than herself.
“Would you like a drink, Miss Harper?” enquired the stewardess, adding a bright smile.
With a fourteen hour flight ahead of her and to celebrate her good fortune, Jane smiled back at the flight attendant. “Yes, I think I will. Vodka and coke with ice, please.”
Four flights, thousands of miles and many hours later, Jane stared out the window of the small aircraft― owned by its pilot, Jack Hawkins― at the huge expanse of ice below.
Max Boyle, the only other passenger, stared at the woman who sat across the aisle. Her long brown hair framed her slightly full, but pretty, face. When he'd received the list of team members, which included photographs of them all, he'd detected sadness in her large, brown eyes. He broke his appreciative gaze and looked out of the window at the white wilderness. “It's an amazing sight.”
“It certainly is,” Jane replied.
“Is this your first time in Antarctica?”
Jane tore her eyes away from the amazing landscape to look at her fellow passenger. Max, forty-four years old, had a full head of dark, slightly unkempt hair and a face bursting with character that reminded her of Walter Matthau with a hint of Anthony Hopkins. “Yes, though I've been to the Arctic a few times.” A stab of sadness entered her heart when Kyle's face appeared in her thoughts. “You've been here before, I believe?”
Max nodded. “This is my second visit. My first was three years ago.”
“What's it like?”
“Cold, damn cold. But as it's the coldest place on Earth, that's to be expected.”
“I needn't have packed my skimpy bikini then?”
Max laughed. “Oh, I don't know, it might come in handy. There’s an Antarctic tradition, a sort of initiation ritual for Newbie's. You have to run out onto the ice, naked, but they might concede and let you wear your bikini― the bottom half, anyway.”
Jane wasn't sure if Max was being serious or pulling her leg. The grin on his face did little to convince her one way or the other.
“It's actually true,” he told her. “It's also a good way of bonding with the rest of the team.”
“I'm all for bonding, but running about in my birthday suit in the freezing cold watched by a group of men is not the bonding I had in mind.”
“Well, give it some thought. I'm certain as soon as they discover you're an Antarctic virgin they'll mention it.”
“Did you do it?”
“Of course. It's not that bad. A quick sprint in the cold and then back in the warm. Actually it's quite refreshing. However, I'm a man and the team was all men.”
“I'm certainly not going to mention this is my first time. Hopefully, no one will ask as we've such a busy schedule.”
Max smiled. “Oh, they will ask, believe me, they will ask.”
Jane looked out of the window. All she saw was ice and snow. It looked very cold. “Did you know that in August two thousand and ten, a NASA satellite recorded the lowest Earth temperature ever recorded in Antarctica? It hit minus ninety-four point seven degrees Centigrade, that's one hundred and thirty-five point eight degrees Fahrenheit. I can't imagine anything so cold.”
“As I said, damn cold, but we shouldn't ex
perience any temperatures that low.”
“The rift is coming into view,” called out the pilot. “I'll fly above it until we reach your base so you can have a good look.”
Jane and Max scanned the ice.
“I see it!” said Jane.
Max unbuckled his seat belt, crossed the aisle to take the seat behind Jane, and gazed out of the window at the approaching rip in the ice.
A few moments later the small craft turned to follow the wide, deep crevasse.
Jane stared into its depths, “The photographs don't do it justice.”
“I agree,” said Max. “At eighteen miles long with an average width of two hundred and sixty feet, it's the largest rift discovered. When it breaks off the ice island will be about twenty-one by twelve miles, big enough to fit Manhattan on, with room to spare.”
They stared in silence at the rift passing below them until the plane changed direction to once again fly above the ice sheet.
“Base camp ahead,” called out the pilot, a few minutes later.
The two passengers caught their first glimpse of their home for the following two months. Positioned about half a mile away from the rift, the small group of buildings was a speck in the white wilderness.
The passengers gazed at the prefabricated cabins, which included living accommodations for ten people, a small sick bay, well equipped laboratories, kitchen, showers, radio room, rest room and storage. Separated from the main building was a workshop, a garage for two Sno-Cats and two Ski-Doos, a generator room and a storage hut. All were heavily insulated against the freezing temperatures. Though Jane had been involved from the planning stages, she still found it incredible the base camp had managed to become a reality in such a remote area of the ice. Trails formed by snow vehicles from the camp led off in different directions. As they flew over the camp, three people wearing red and orange snow-suits paused from their labour to stare up at the approaching aircraft.
The small craft, battered by the constant wind, turned and began its descent. Jane watched the ice grow ever closer and noticed it wasn't as smooth as it seemed from high up. A powerful jolt shot through the plane when the skids connected with the hard packed ice. The plane bounced twice before sliding across the wind-rippled snow that lay atop the thick layer of ice. The vibrations shaking the plane and its passengers decreased when the plane slowed and turned toward the compound and ceased when it came to a gentle halt a few yards away.
