Out of the Ice (20 page)

It made me sick; the world of men at Alliance. I left them bonding and went to get food. Travis called me over as I walked past.

‘Keeping your seat warm, Laura,’ he smiled. ‘Who’s your friend?’

‘Professor Rutger Koch has finally arrived.’

‘That so?’ Travis looked crestfallen. He lowered his voice. ‘I guess that means you won’t need me at Fredelighavn any more.’

‘My Station Leader Georgia’s arriving too. So there’ll be a bit of a gang.’ I felt a pang of sadness that Travis probably wouldn’t be coming again.

‘You better get some food before it’s all gone,’ he said. ‘Everyone’s working so hard they’re eating like maniacs.’

I went across and filled my plate with the usual colourless roast and gravy. I sat back with Travis, and Moose joined us. I ate rapidly, hungrily.

‘You know, this is the worst food I’ve had in Antarctica,’ I said as I finished the plate, wiping bread around the gravy.

‘It’s all I’ve known down here,’ laughed Travis. ‘I thought that’s the way it was.’

‘Wish it would stop me eating it,’ said Moose, knocking back a beer. ‘I’ve never been so fat in my life.’

Kate joined us and ploughed into her food like she hadn’t eaten in years. After a few minutes I caught Travis staring at me. I looked at him directly, and barely perceptibly he cocked his head, indicating for me to leave with him. ‘See you back in the room,’ I said to Kate, and bid Moose goodnight. Both were so busy eating and drinking they just mumbled.

In the icy street, a thin blue twilight was starting to fall. Travis walked so close our shoulders were touching.

‘Now Snow’s here a lot will be different. Everyone will be working shifts, the base will run twenty-four hours a day.’

‘Why?’ I said. ‘Why’s it so different?’

‘It’s always been that way since I’ve been here, and word is since before that. And people either don’t know why or won’t say. We just ramp up to full capacity. He usually comes around December when the base would probably be doing that anyway. But this time he’s early.’

‘Travis, do you think he’s got anything to do with the people at Fredelighavn?’ I asked.

‘Anything’s possible down here. You know that. I wouldn’t have thought there’d be a kid’s T-shirt in a bed at Fredelighavn. A modern T-shirt.’

‘That brand’s been around a few years, so it doesn’t actually mean someone was there yesterday. Well, someone that size.’

‘But I know you think there was.’ Travis held my eye.

I shrugged. ‘Nothing’s certain until we sight the person.’

‘Laura, you seemed to almost expect that T-shirt. Like you already thought there was a boy down there. I saw the way you looked at it.’

‘It could be a girl. Why do you say boy?’ I tried to sound casual but I was immediately suspicious.

‘I don’t know.’ He smiled. ‘Just not that many girls down here.’

‘Would you tell me everything you know, Travis?’ I asked him slowly.

He was silent. The snow crunched underfoot. The air was freezing.

‘Does that mean no?’

‘Part of my job is confidential – I had to sign a National Secrets clause. There are certain things I can never tell you. I’d be sent to prison if I did.’

He stopped and looked at me intently. ‘So, no. As much as I’ve got your back, I can’t tell you everything I’ve seen down here.’

Was he trying to tell me something in code?

‘Your Georgia,’ he continued, still watching me carefully, ‘she’s a cop, right?’

‘A detective,’ I replied.

‘Make sure she thinks of everything, like she would in any major investigation.’ Travis leaned close, and for a moment we were both fixed to the ground, like a net had come down and trapped us. His blue eyes shone, he looked vulnerable, and I was reminded of how his father had abandoned him when he was young, like mine. Was that bringing us together? Or was it the bond of Antarctica, a place we both loved so deeply?

‘Come and see me in my room if you need anything,’ he said and strode off, turning at the first street, towards the Mechanics’ Shed.

Travis had definitely been trying to say something but I had no idea what it was. My heart was racing. I needed to walk. At one level the base seemed inviting with so much activity in the streets. Skidoos were still zipping in and out. New faces had arrived, coming in from the field. The adrenalin rush was contagious.

As I walked past the main building I was drawn to the inner part that went down through the ice, glowing a deep blue. Again I found myself wondering: was it possible they’d dug underground channels to Fredelighavn? It
was
at least twenty kilometres away, which was why I’d initially dismissed it, but they’d been down here for years. And the Americans had built tunnels at the South Pole. With sophisticated machinery, perhaps it wasn’t as unlikely as I’d first thought. And if there were tunnels, people could come and go unseen between Alliance and the old whaling station. Instinctively, I still thought the distance was too far. The temperature dropped. I shivered as I stood gazing at the building, wondering how I could get in.

I walked on, doing a lap of the base and taking in the frenetic energy before going back to the warmth of my room. Kate was already in bed, laptop computer propped against her knees, watching her Adélie colony through the camera we’d installed.

‘I want to be rested for my Adélies,’ she said.

‘How are they?’

‘Much better than the ones here.’

I felt a surge of anger, wondering who had put fear into the Fredelighavn penguins, as I stripped off my clothes and changed into my pyjamas. I tried to force myself to fall asleep quickly because I wanted to be fresh for the morning, but thoughts of Travis swept me up. What had he been trying to tell me?

My mind turned to Rutger, who seemed very tight with Connaught very quickly. Could they already know each other? I wasn’t looking forward to working with him at all, and I knew I could never assume Rutger was on my team, which wasn’t a good start.

•  •  •

At breakfast, looking out through the picture windows, we saw Georgia arrive: roaring up to the mess hall on a skidoo, her black hair flying. With dark goggles and a bright red jacket, she looked like a fiery superhero. Mine. She alighted and disappeared from sight.

Kate chuckled. ‘Always one to make an entrance.’

The door opened and Georgia yelled across the room. ‘Here you are! My girls!’ I stood and she flew into my arms. Men at the tables around us stopped eating and stared. Georgia ignored them as she gave me a bone-crushing hug.

‘It’s so good to see you,’ she said, letting go and hugging Kate. ‘You’ve had me worried,’ she added quietly.

‘Where are your things?’ I asked.

‘Travis dropped them off so I could come straight here. I’ll be sleeping in the same building as you. I’m starving.’ She walked off to the servery and Kate and I followed like puppies.

‘What are you doing?’ she said and we laughed.

‘We’ll have more coffee,’ said Kate.

Guy watched us curiously, and I introduced Georgia. He welcomed her and brought out a fresh container of porridge, even ladling it into her bowl.

‘Rutger arrived yesterday,’ I said, and Georgia turned.

‘I had no idea. How is he?’

‘Seems fine.’

‘Why didn’t you text me?’

‘I’m sorry, I assumed you’d know.’

‘Connaught should have said something,’ she muttered. ‘Where is he? And point out Rutger while you’re at it. I’m surprised he didn’t have the courtesy to tell me himself.’

I looked around and couldn’t see them. ‘Not here yet.’

Georgia checked her watch. ‘Eight o’clock. Surely this is breakfast time?’

Back at our table, Georgia took out her phone and sent a text to Rutger. ‘I’ll get him over. Then I’ll outline my strategy.’

‘Are you going to tell Rutger everything?’ I asked, alarmed.

‘Why not?’

I shrugged. ‘I had the sense last night that maybe he and Connaught know each other.’

Kate raised her eyebrows but didn’t say anything.

‘Well, we’re going to need him to help us,’ said Georgia. ‘I’ll go through the protocol with him first. Like you, he reports to the Antarctic Council, not to Connaught. But are you saying we shouldn’t tell him about the boy?’

I nodded. ‘It’s just instinct . . .’

‘Instincts are valuable,’ said Georgia. ‘Okay, we’ll search through Fredelighavn in two teams. I’ll be with you, Laura. Kate, you can be with Professor Koch.’

Kate’s cheeks blazed and suddenly she looked thunderous.

‘What’s wrong?’ said Georgia. ‘Do you hate him that much? He only arrived yesterday.’

‘I want to go back to my penguins. I thought that now you and Rutger had arrived . . .’

Georgia reached over and squeezed Kate’s hand. ‘Sorry, mate, we’re going to need you here a bit longer. And just to bring you up to speed: Connaught’s denied any knowledge of personnel down at the whaling station or anywhere near Placid Bay and Alliance Point. He said he’d never let anyone into an Exclusion Zone.’

‘Except people diving and watching movies,’ I said.

‘Exactly,’ said Georgia.

‘Did you tell him about those things?’ Had I got Travis into trouble? ‘Did you mention names?’

‘No, I didn’t give him any detail other than to say there seemed to be activity down there and people had been sighted. I left it vague. Connaught said he had no idea what I was talking about. Put in an attack on you while he was at it. Said you should have reported it to him.’

‘No I shouldn’t, should I?’

‘No,’ said Georgia firmly. ‘I pointed out you report solely to me.’

‘Which he already knew,’ said Kate.

‘He seems to have it in for you though, Laura,’ said Georgia.

‘For no reason at all,’ I replied.

‘You sure?’ Georgia gave me a piercing look. ‘Seemed personal.’

‘Absolutely not!’ I said loudly, my body flaring with heat. If there was one thing I hated more than anything in the world, it was being accused of something I hadn’t done. Over the years my mother and I had huge fights if she ever did that, and I wasn’t happy to take it from Georgia.

‘Okay, calm down,’ said Georgia. ‘Just had to check. I believe you, for what it’s worth.’ She grinned, her face lighting up, making it impossible for me to stay angry.

‘I’m very glad you’re here,’ I said.

Kate slumped in her chair, chewing her bottom lip. Later, I’d hint to Georgia to let Kate return to her penguins, but now wasn’t the moment.

Suddenly a blast of icy air entered the room as Connaught, Rutger and Snow walked in. Georgia stood. ‘That’s Connaught, isn’t it? I recognise him from Skype but he’s taller and thinner than I expected.’

‘Yeah, that’s him. The big guy’s Snow, and the other one’s Rutger,’ I said.

‘Good-looking bunch. Well, not Connaught but the others.’ Georgia went over to greet them. The conversation seemed convivial, but Connaught’s body language was stiff. Rutger appeared polite but cold, but maybe that’s the way he always was with women.

Snow beamed and wrapped his hand around Georgia’s, then brought his other hand to rest on top. He looked into her eyes, smiling and chatting. Men at surrounding tables watched – as they always did with Snow – and so did I.

‘I can’t believe I have to stay,’ said Kate. ‘And I certainly don’t want to walk around Fredelighavn with Rutger. Can’t you help me?’

‘I’ll try,’ I said. ‘But Georgia seems in a fairly intense mood.’

‘Cops. I never trust them.’

‘I thought you liked Georgia?’ I said, turning to look at Kate.

‘Not now she’s trapped me here. Whoo, they’re coming over.’

Moments later Snow was introducing himself to Kate, sending out his usual charm, chatting casually about her work.

‘I’d really like to get back to my Adélie colony,’ she said pointedly.

‘In good time,’ said Georgia. ‘We’ll be a lot faster now that there’s four of us on the project.’

‘So why did things change?’ said Snow.

Georgia took a step back, surprised. ‘Didn’t Connaught tell you?’

‘We’re a little busy down here,’ snipped Connaught, ‘and the EIA at Fredelighavn has nothing to do with Alliance.’

It was an obvious lie and I could see he immediately regretted it. He would, of course, have told Snow.

‘There are reports of people being in the whaling station,’ said Georgia to Snow. ‘As you know, that’s illegal. I’m here on behalf of the Antarctic Council to supervise a complete search of the area. Professor Connaught’s assured me it’s nothing to do with Alliance personnel. So, our thought at the moment is that there’s been a possible breach of protocol by Argentina or Chile or any other countries that have bases on the Antarctic Peninsula or nearby islands. I’ve checked with the Base Commander at Rothera – it’s no one from there.’ She smiled at Connaught. ‘You Brits seem clean.’ He gave a string-lipped smile in return.

‘With the harbour accessible at this time of year someone could have come in by Zodiac,’ continued Georgia, looking at Snow, appraising him. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll get to the bottom of it. And when I can, I’ll report back to you.’

‘To Connaught,’ said Snow, ‘as Base Commander. It’s an administrative issue. As Chief Scientist it’s not my area, but I appreciate being kept in the loop.’

‘Of course,’ said Georgia. ‘Okay, gang,’ she turned to us. ‘Let’s go and organise our provisions while Rutger has his breakfast.’ She swung back to Connaught. ‘I’m assuming we can have a Hägglunds?’

‘I’m terribly sorry, but no,’ he said, clearing his throat. ‘Full capacity, I’m afraid. I’ve authorised four skidoos.’

‘Great,’ said Georgia, sarcastically, and it was clear that Connaught realised he’d met his match.

Out in the street we walked in thoughtful silence, carrying our supplies to the Mechanics’ Shed. A cold wind was blowing, making the day unpleasant. It was going to be uncomfortable on the skidoos.

‘Change of plan,’ said Georgia. ‘It’s not good weather for travelling, so I think we should camp down there rather than make the trip back tonight.’

‘Please, no,’ said Kate, ‘I couldn’t bear it. That place is scary, Georgia.’

‘Safety in numbers,’ she replied. ‘Where do they keep the tents?’

13