Colder Than Ice (26 page)

Allison
nodded.

Michela
searched Allison’s face. “What did you mean when you said you almost lost
me?”

Allison,
not really knowing what she meant, turned away in pretence of getting more
clothes for Michela. She handed Michela her vest.

“What
would we have done if we’d lost our team leader? We certainly couldn’t do
without you, that’s for sure,” Allison replied, a heavy emphasis on the
word “we.” She rose and went to the stove. “I don’t know about
you, but I’m starving.”

After
breakfast Allison stood and took their plates to the sink. “I suppose with
Ewan gone that means we’ll be ending the dig early.”

Michela
shook her head. “I don’t see it that way at all and I’m sure Ewan wouldn’t
have wanted that. Understandably there’ll be reports to be written and people
who’ll be called into account, but I think we should continue the dig.”

Allison
placed a dried coffee cup on a wall rack. “When you say people will be
called into account, you mean Rick, don’t you?”

Michela
nodded. “Yes, except I don’t think he can be held to blame. Ewan made his
own decision, no matter how much he was coerced into it. But I do intend to see
if I can remove Rick from the expedition site. He’s a disruptive influence and
I really can’t guarantee his safety once Rob finds out about his friend’s
death. I know that’ll affect your dig, but I really can’t have it any other
way.”

Allison
rubbed Michela’s forearm in reassurance. “I understand what you mean.
Maybe it’s the best thing for all of us.”

Both
took the time to record their memory of the failed rescue attempt, in case they
were required to produce evidence. In their search for paper Allison also found
a deck of cards and they almost wore the deck out exhausting all the games they
knew.

When
the day came to an end, Allison prepared tea, and they retired once again to
the warmth of their two-person sleeping bag.

MICHELA
COULD NEVER be certain whether it was the storm that had awoken her in the
small hours of the morning or some other innate sense. Despite the reason, she
was comfortably spooned against Allison, the warmth of Allison’s body coursing
through her. As she again settled into sleep, she snuggled closer, barely aware
that her hand caressed the underside of Allison’s breast.
Her breast?
As
if hit with cold water, Michela was completely awake, her body wired in
response to the intimacy of her touch. Her breathing picked up at the
undeniable warmth between her legs. Paralyzed at Allison’s reaction should she
be caught in such a position, Michela fought her own battle between logic and
libido.

She’s
straight, you know that. Now behave yourself and find a way to get out of this,
or at least a way to remove your hand.
She
gulped, warring with a desire to leave her hand exactly where it was. Despite
the sound of the wind pounding against the building, she was painfully aware of
the beating of her heart as it roared in her ears. She felt Allison tremble and
then shift.

“Are
you okay?” Michela worked to tamp down the almost uncontrollable urges of
her own body.

Allison
was agonizingly aware of Michela’s hand and missed Michela’s words. She twisted
her upper body and head, and found herself dangerously close to Michela’s lips.
Michela’s rapid breath caressed her face. “It’s okay, I’m a little cold,
that’s all,” she said in a breathless voice.

For
what seemed like an eternity but was, in reality, no more than a few seconds,
Michela fought to focus on the unsexiest images she could conjure. With
concerted effort, she finally managed to get her oversexed imagination under
control.

Allison
turned away, and Michela pulled her to her, using the action to remove her
hand. “Sorry, I didn’t realize.”

Allison
nodded and snuggled her backside into the Michela’s groin. Michela sucked in her
breath.
This is going to be a long night.

ALLISON
POURED A packet of food into a pan of boiling water, the latest of several
chores she had done that morning to avoid being near Michela. In turn, Michela
seemed to be deliberately preoccupied with small chores of her own. She turned
and found Michela leaning against the table and looking at her.

“Allison,
about last night.”

Allison
turned back to the stove.
Please don’t go there. I don’t think I could right
now.
“I don’t know what you mean.”

Allison
glanced back as Michela walked toward her and stopped a few feet away.

“I
think you do, I think we both do,” Michela replied quietly. “I think
we need to talk about it.”

“I
don’t think I can,” Allison whispered, focusing on the food in the pot of
water.

“We
both know something happened last night, something neither of us planned.
Despite this, it did happen and it can’t be taken back. I just want to
reinforce what I said before. I’d never seek to do something that would drive a
wedge between our friendship. Despite our disagreements, I do regard you as a
friend. I’d hate to think that’s changed.”

Allison
turned, sensing only sincerity in Michela’s words. “No, it hasn’t. I
wouldn’t want that either.” She stepped to within arm’s length of Michela.
“Michela…” Their radio burst to life.

“Michela,
Allison, this is Sarah, do you read, over?”

Breaking
free of Allison’s hypnotic gaze, Michela picked up the radio. “This is
Michela. It’s good to be back in communications range.”

“For
a small storm, it packed a punch.”

“It
certainly did. So it’s finished where you are?”

“Yes,
the winds have died down to their normal state. I’m guessing that it should end
your way very shortly. Do you remember the directions I gave you when you were
on the glacier?”

“Roger.
We’ll follow those once the storm breaks. We’ll let you know before we leave
the hut. Is everything okay at the site?”

“Yes,
no damage here at all, with the exception of snow filling the trenches around
the hut. That should be able to be removed in no time.”

“We
better let you get to it then. Can you radio the station and let them know
we’ve used fuel, water, and food in the hut? Oh, and can you ask them about the
feasibility of removing Rick from the team site.”

“Roger,
will do. We hope to see you soon.”

“Same
here. This is Michela, out.”

WITHIN
THE HOUR the storm had abated and, after a rudimentary check of the snow
mobile, they were on their way. Their journey across the top part of the
glacier was as uneventful as Sarah had predicted—the ice a lot more stable than
what they’d traversed three days before. They made good time and were back at
Finlayson Base within three hours.

Sarah,
wearing a smile of relief, walked toward them. “The things you see when
you don’t have a gun. It certainly is great to see you two.”

Michela
gave Sarah a quick hug and retrieved her pack from Allison. “It’s great to
see you, too. I’d like to call a team meeting but first I think Alli and I need
a fresh change of clothes.”

Sarah
squeezed Alli’s shoulder and walked between the two to their hut. “I
managed to speak with the guy who’s second in command at Wills Station. It
seems Maddi’s out at one of the remote sites. Anyway, he says they can’t fly in
and pick up Rick because one of their long range helos is down.”

Michela
nodded. “Unless there’s two, they don’t fly, right?”

“Yep.
Aside from that, he said he was pretty reluctant to have Rick at the station as
there’s really nowhere he could be contained. He suggested it’d be better if we
keep him out here.”

Michela
shook her head. “That’s the last thing I want to do. Did you tell the
others about Ewan? How did Rob react?”

Sarah
shrugged. “Rob was pretty calm all things considered. Rick seemed to take
the news the worst.”

“Serves
the bastard right,” Allison said. “If he hadn’t goaded Ewan in the
first place, then none of this would have happened.” She opened the door
of the apple and walked inside.

Michela
turned to Sarah. “She’s a bit angry about the whole thing. Could you get
the rest of the team together? We should be no more than about ten
minutes.”

“Sure.
Are you okay?”

“I
will be after a good night’s sleep and a large scotch.” Michela watched
Sarah cross the snow before going inside.

They
silently changed. Allison shrugged into her jacket and went to the door.

“Alli?”
Allison turned around. “I thought I’d let you know that there are enough
beds now, if you wanted to go and stay in the hut with Rob and Sarah.”

Allison
searched Michela’s face. “Do you want me to?” she asked quietly.

“No,
no I don’t,” Michela answered softly. Allison nodded and closed the door
behind her.

The
remaining three team members were in the mess when Michela arrived, and after a
cup of coffee and the abbreviated version of events, she got down to business.
“We’re all adults here, so I’m going to get straight to the point. What happened
the other day shouldn’t have and I’m as much to blame as anyone else.” She
held her temper as a smug look crossed Rick’s features. “It’s for that
reason, I’m going to implement the following rule. No one, I mean no one,
leaves the confines of this camp without discussing it with me first.”

Allison
jumped out of her chair. “You’ve got to be joking. Just because idiot
features over there stuffs it up, doesn’t mean everyone should pay.”

“I’m
sorry, Alli, but it does. I don’t intend to lose anyone else and if that means
I have to hide the batteries for the ski-demons and the sno-trak, then that’s
what I’ll do.” Allison stomped out the door before Michela barely finished
her sentence. “This is a non-negotiable issue people.” She stood and
hurried after Allison.

She
entered their hut and slammed the door. “What is it with you? Why the hell
must you walk out of every damn meeting I hold?”

Allison
wheeled. “Why must you treat us all like children? It’s Rick that’s at
fault here. Why do we all have to suffer?”

Michela
battled to control the level of her voice, remembering the last time they
argued in a confined space at Wills Station. “Because I’m the team leader
and I say that’s the way it’s going to be.” Allison took a step toward the
door.

Michela
grabbed Allison’s hand and pulled her to her with more force than she’d
intended. Allison’s hands pressed against Michela’s chest.

“Why
is it that you’re always walking out on me?” Michela asked, her breathing
ragged, her body painfully aware of Allison’s closeness.

Allison
could feel Michela’s breasts through the layers of clothing. “Why do you
have to always treat me like a child?” Passion blazed in her eyes.

Michela
brushed an errant hair away from Allison’s cheek and ran her fingers through
the back of Allison’s hair. “And why do you have to be so damned
frustrating,” she whispered as she lowered her lips to Allison’s waiting
mouth.

They
broke away at a knock at the door.

“What?”
Michela called in frustration.

“Maddi’s
returned to Wills Station and she’s on the radio. She wants a debrief from you.
Do you want to speak with her now?” Sarah asked through the closed door.

Allison
stepped away from Michela, putting distance between them. “Best you go.
After all, you wouldn’t want to keep Maddi waiting.”

Michela
blinked, torn between reporting in and finishing what they’d started. She
stepped toward Allison, who turned her back. “I’m on my way,” she
replied and left the hut.

My
Darling Charlotte,

We
are woefully behind time. At least two weeks ago we were ready for me to lead
another, more organized expedition onto the Antarctic plateau. To our dismay
the weather closed in, making any movement beyond the confines of the immediate
base almost impossible.

Walking
in this weather is to risk life itself, with my men bent over, headfirst into
the wind as they endeavor to feed the dogs who so stoically brave the
horrendous cold, just the other morning it was my turn to feed these animals
and I felt my leg collapse from underneath me. The doctor says it is a serious
tear of the muscles surrounding the ankle and that I must keep my weight off
it. Sometimes I feel so helpless out here.

Yesterday
the weather finally broke, allowing us to get our second expedition under way.
They will spend the next twenty days pushing up onto the plateau, forging a
path for our next journey to Antarctica. Alas, with my ankle in such a state, I
will not lead them
—
that I leave up
to my second in command. They will take the rest of the dogs and enough rations
to see them through their journey. Two others and myself will remain behind,
keeping an eye on our base and eagerly awaiting their return. I cannot wait to
hear of their adventure! All my love,

ERF