‘What’s on offer?’
‘Most of the crew drink beer but most of that’s brewed here at the station over summer so it may not be to your liking. Other than that, there’s whatever we’ve shipped in. There’s an allowance of two drinks per day, for all sorts of reasons, but you’re welcome to one of Dr John’s red wines or one of my Tassie beers.’
‘Thanks, but I think I’ll stick with something soft.’ She wasn’t a big drinker and while she wouldn’t have minded a glass of something to relax her she thought it was more important to stay sober and focussed until she felt more at ease. She was already aware that people were looking at her with interest. She hadn’t expected to be the object of dozens of pairs of eyes all at once as she came under the scrutiny of the entire crowd. She knew the number of people on base shrank over winter but there were still far more people here than she had anticipated. ‘I thought most people went home for winter?’
Gabe nodded. ‘They do, but there are still thirty people here for now. Another twelve will be heading home when the supply ship makes its last journey before the winter season. They’ve got some final packing up to do in preparation for winter and then they’ll head off,’ he explained.
Sophie knew the supply ship, the Explorer Australis, was due to dock at Carey in six or seven weeks’ time after visiting the other two Australian Antarctic stations. The original plan had been for Dr John to be on board, in which case she would depart then. Until then, apparently, she would be responsible for the thirty expeditioners who remained on the base.
Gabe poured her a drink and then called the room to attention. ‘Everyone, I’d like you all to welcome, Sophie Thompson, our new doc.’
His introduction was followed by a chorus of ‘G’day, Doc,’ and Sophie suspected that from now on she was going to be known simply as ‘Doc’. She didn’t mind the idea—she was sure that being known as ‘Doc’ was preferable to being known as Danny’s widow.
‘You’ll gradually meet everyone but for now let me introduce you to Finn,’ Gabe said, as a tall, thin man approached the bar. ‘Finn is our watercraft operator and along with me and Alex he’s the third member of your medical support crew.’
Finn shook her hand. ‘We’re the important ones, Gabe, Alex and me,’ he said, his greeting accompanied by a wide smile. ‘We’re the ones you need to know.’
He took her under his wing and proceeded to introduce her to more of the crew throughout dinner. Sophie knew it would take a few days before she would be able to put all the names and faces and their job roles together, but luckily no one seemed to expect too much of her in the way of conversation. She ate quietly, happy to watch the interaction between the expeditioners and get a feeling for the different personalities and listen to their stories. She was surprised to find that the majority of them had family at home. She hadn’t realised so many would be in that situation and she wondered why they would choose to stay for months at a time if that was the case. But it seemed that many had been bitten by the Antarctic bug.
By the time dinner, a three-course affair that was apparently the norm, was finished and their dishes had been returned to the kitchen for the slushies to clean up, Sophie was exhausted. There had been a lot to absorb in the short time since she’d arrived and her eyelids were drooping as everyone made their way back to the bar. She listened to the plans being made around her—some of the guys decided to have a jam session, others were going to watch a movie—but Sophie just wanted to put her head down.
As soon as she thought it was polite to do so, she excused herself and went in search of her bed. Not that she expected to sleep well but it would be wise, she thought, to at least lie down. She hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since Danny had died and she suspected that her insomnia would be compounded by her new surroundings and a different bed.
Back in her donga she was glad she’d had the foresight to make her bed. She changed into pyjamas and unpacked a soft cashmere blanket that she had carried in her hand luggage. The blanket had once been on the bed she’d shared with Danny and she liked to think it still smelt like him. She knew that was fanciful thinking but it was something that gave her some comfort. But the blanket was as much a practical item as a comforting one. It had seemed to Sophie that she felt the cold more now that she had no one to share her bed.
She wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and climbed under the covers. She laid her head on her pillow as she thought about Danny.
She knew this experience would have been right up his alley. He had been an adrenalin junkie—not a risk-taker, any risks he’d taken had been calculated ones—and she knew he would have jumped at a chance to explore Antarctica. The company he and Luke had founded ran adventure tours all around Tasmania, offering everything from white-water rafting on the Franklin River, mountain biking down Mt Wellington, cycling the east coast, hiking on Cradle Mountain, rock-climbing and abseiling to kayaking. His job had taken him away from home, away from her, a lot but they had been planning on reorganising things to allow them to spend more time together as they’d hoped to start a family, but now it was just her and she had to make new plans. Solo plans. And today she had taken the first step on her new path.
‘Doc?’
A voice disturbed Sophie and she rolled over, still half-asleep.
‘Are you awake?’
‘Hmm?’
‘Doc.’ The voice was a little louder this time. A little more insistent. ‘You need to get up. There’s been an accident.’
An accident? Danny?
Sophie’s eyes flew open. There was a man standing beside her bed but he wasn’t fair and clean-shaven, like Danny. He was tall and dark and bearded. He looked familiar but it still took her a moment to work out who it was.
‘Gabe?’
What was he doing in her room?
There could only be one reason. She sat up.
‘What is it?’
Date: March 8th
Temperature: -10°C
Hours of sunlight: 13.8
‘WHAT’S HAPPENED?’ SOPHIE asked, as she swung her legs out of bed. Gabe was standing right beside her and she tried to ignore the little frisson of excitement as she focussed on what he was saying rather than how close he stood.
‘The Russians have lost a helicopter. We’re sending out S&R and I need you to come with us.’
She mustn’t be properly awake. It sounded as though he’d said ‘Russians’.
‘Russians? What Russians?’
‘There’s a Russian station not far from here. One of their helicopters has gone missing.’
‘And you want me to go out on a search and rescue?’
He was nodding. ‘Time is critical. I need you with me out in the field. We don’t know what the situation is so we need to cover all contingencies—which means sending you out. I’ll meet you in the medical centre. Get dressed, you’ll need all your ECW gear and don’t forget your goggles and gloves.’
She was wide awake now but she didn’t bother asking how you lost a helicopter. Whatever had happened couldn’t be good and the only thing that mattered to her was what would be left for her to deal with. But she hadn’t expected to have to deal with a crisis somewhere out on the ice, not on her first proper day on the job.
She got dressed in a hurry. The Antarctic motto of ‘Hurry up and wait’ didn’t seem to apply to this station, she thought as she pulled on underwear, long thermals, socks, a shirt, pants and a fleece. She had her wedding