Chapter 19
McMurdo Station
The skis of the C-130 touched down on the sea ice landing strip and taxied gently to a stop. This was to be the last flight onto the annual sea ice before moving to Willey Field, the sea ice showing signs that it would soon be breaking up. It was not a long flight, but Susan had ample time for reflection, which she used to advantage. The Captain had ordered everyone, at least those associated with her, to break camp and load up after the ‘demonstration’ by the Green Organization, and the spiriting off of Sokolov. She, Jake, Connie, and Walt were joined by the Russians, and Lieutenant Richards. The Captain flew the plane, and his co-pilot, though she hadn’t witnessed the events, had enough sense upon seeing her boss to keep the chit-chat to a minimum. Dr. Atkinson and Director Fredricks came as a matter of course.
It was a somber ensemble that arrived in McMurdo, none more so than Susan, who had spent the time in trying to reconcile her ever resilient sense of the righteousness of her cause, with the damage done to the other object most precious and dear to her heart, scientific cooperation among nations. She concluded that it was her arrogance that was to blame for setting certain events in motion (though not the main one, she reminded herself), and that realization made her humble, an altogether unfamiliar sensation.
Lt. Richards sat by her during the flight, and in the shuttle that took them to the Chalet, but largely kept quiet. When they arrived the Captain spoke to the Director for a moment, telling him that he was going to Mac Center to check in with his people, and to keep everyone together at the Chalet until he returned. The Director repeated the request (which bore the distinct impression of being an order), and they went in. The two senior scientists took the Russians into the Directors office, and Susan was left with her crew. It was not lost on her that the Captain left Lieutenant Richards with her instead of taking him along, and that made her feel even worse.
“Now what?” Walt asked.
Susan didn’t have an answer, but she knew what she expected to happen.
“We get done with whatever it is we’re doing here, and get the hell back to work.”
“All our samples are still in the field,” Connie said, seeing past the optimism. “How will we get them home?”
“We’re going back,” Susan said again, as if it were merely a matter of willing it hard enough.
“I’m hungry,” Jake said, with his usual ability to focus on the most pertinent issue.
The lieutenant actually smiled.
“Jake makes a good point. Life will go on, and we with it.”
“You think so?” Susan asked, not willing to be cajoled into joining the budding hope fest.
“Well, there’s one thing,” Lieutenant Richards pointed out. “Not much chance of anyone digging any oil wells in the near future.”
“Or it goes the other way,” she said, just to stave off any reason to feel better, “and they go full speed ahead, now that there isn’t anything to be gained by being circumspect.”
“Sure,” the Lieutenant said, knowing what she was doing. “That’s still a possibility.”
She admitted to herself that what he said was probably true, but that didn’t mean it was over. This was one battle, not the whole campaign. Her goal was to shut down the possibility that these kinds of battles need ever take place in the future, and that achievement was still a long way off. She got up and walked to the window, just because she was feeling restless, and looked out over the snow pocketed volcanic ash to see a truck coming to a stop. She gasped when she saw who got out.
“Holy crap!” she proclaimed before catching herself, and then silently, but urgently, waved Lieutenant Richards towards the window. She held a finger to her lips while nodding towards Director Fredricks closed door. They all came over to see Sokolov indicate questioningly towards the Chalet and to see the driver nodding positively. He was preparing to walk right in.
“Whoa,” Jake added to the conversation.
“Dude,” Walt said, affirming Jakes comment.
“No way,” Connie said, less as a commentary on the extraordinary turn of events than as a complaint that she was apparently in for more adventure, which she fervently hoped to be done with.
“He can’t come in here,” the Lieutenant said, stating the obvious, but in a voice that indicated he wasn’t ready to voice an alternative.
“Oh no,” Susan said, looking past the truck toward the Navy command building. The Captain had just closed the door behind him and stopped to zip up his coat before heading toward them.
“We have to do something,” the Lieutenant said, looking at Susan. “The Captain will see him any second.”
“I know,” Susan said. “But let me handle it. I’ve gotten you into enough trouble already. You need to stay here.”
“But…” Lieutenant Richards started to say.
“No ‘buts’, Susan told him. “Stay.”
She reached up and kissed his cheek.
Jake shook his head and grimaced.
“Floozy.”
“Quit complaining, I’m taking you with me,” she said, grabbing him by the sleeve.
Sokolov was at the door by the time they came out. She put his arm through his and started to lead him away.
“Oh no,” he said, brought up short by the sight of her. “Not you again! No, you trick me once. No more.”
“It wasn’t a trick. You’re still in danger.”
“More danger from you, I am thinking. I will take chances here.”
She not only didn’t know how to respond, she didn’t have a plan. She looked at Jake for an idea. He accommodated.
“Just look,” he said. “Come over here. Crouch down.”
Jake pointed to the window where the two scientists and the Russians were discussing the situation. Sokolov pulled off his billowing fur hat to be less conspicuous, and peered through the glass as Jake had requested. His eyes went wide and he slipped down and out of sight.
“Do you see now?” Susan asked him.
“Yes. See now,” he replied, the active animation that had carried him through to this point evaporating, the effect of so many changes in fortune taking their toll. “So. It is finished.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Jake said. “But it will be if you don’t move now.”
“Yes, yes, I go. But to where?”
“That’s a pretty good question,” Jake allowed him. “As far as anyone knows, you’re en-route to wherever Frodo and his gang are headed. Now that I think of it, why aren’t you?”
“They are more crazy than you people. Pilot let all off except girls. Then leave.”
“So, the others are here?” Susan asked.
“Two men. They are not liking each the other so much, I think. I do not know what happens with them, but I believe they are not together,” Sokolov said.
“Then no one knows any of you are here,” Susan said. “That’s good, I guess. We just need a place to hide you until we figure something out.”
“Got to be Scott Base,” Jake said.
“I know, but if we disappear, they’ll come looking for us too,” Susan said.
“They will for you,” Jake said, “but no one cares about me. Tell them I went to get something to eat, which I am. It’s just going to be at Scott.”
“What will you do when you get there?” she asked.
“Go to the galley. Food’s better over there anyway.”
“With the Russian?” she clarified.
“Oh, I know a few people over there. People come and go all the time. He’ll be fine.”
She reached up and gave him a kiss on the cheek, just like she did for the Lieutenant.
“Thanks,” she said.
“Hmph,” he said. “You’re always getting me to do things for you with the promise of what’s to come, but it never does. I don’t know why I keep trying.”
“Because you know there never could be anyone but you, and that I just need time to figure that out.”
“Well, alrig
ht. I guess that’s true enough. Okay, we’re going.”
“Go already!” she said, seeing the Captain walking toward them. She slipped back into the Chalet just in time.