She really had become famous over the summer and everyone wanted to pat her and take a photograph.
‘No pats or pictures without a donation!’ Chills said when people came up. ‘It’s good practice — in case you’ve forgotten how to use money.’
There was a bit of grumbling, as no one could remember where they’d put their cash, but after dinner people went back to quarters and found their hidden-away wallets. Stay posed for photographs with just about every single person on station, and coin after coin clanked down through her head, along with folded-up notes. By the time dinner was over, she was so heavy that Chills grunted when he picked her up.
Everyone went to the bar to celebrate the end of the summer season. Stay sat up on the bar and earnt even more donations when people came for a drink. Everyone patted her when they walked past and she enjoyed being the centre of attention.
‘Sure you don’t want to leave her down here?’ Jackie asked. ‘It doesn’t seem fair to lose the huskies and Stay all at the same time.’
‘I need to take her home,’ Chills said. ‘She belongs in Hobart. Sorry about that. The huskies will be good company for her on the ship.’
Stay felt her heart sink. She had forgotten that the huskies were going back to Hobart too. Of course they’d be on the Aurora Australis with her. Cocoa might be her friend now, but she knew that Blackie still hated her. It wouldn’t be easy, sharing a ship with them.
‘Bedtime,’ Chills said, interrupting her thoughts. ‘There’ll be a big rush to get on the ship tomorrow and I’ve still got some packing to do. Come on, Stay. We’re sleeping in one of the old dongas tonight. It’ll be fun.’
He lifted her off the bar and carried her with both arms. Lots of hands reached out to pat her head as he walked through the crowd and Stay realised she would miss the expeditioners. They were unusual people, but very interesting. A big, strange, friendly family.
Chills and Stay stepped outside. It was dark and very cold. The sun had started setting again late in January and now the nights were almost a normal length, about nine hours. Stay had loved the long, lingering sunsets and sunrises, when the sky turned all different shades. She knew that by the end of May the sun would go down and not be seen again for six weeks.
Overhead Stay could see the Milky Way stretching across the sky. During summer she hadn’t seen the stars much and she’d almost forgotten them. They looked very bright and close and, as they stood there, she saw a shooting star fall.
‘Make a wish, Stay!’ Chills said.
Before Stay could make her wish, a wave of green light suddenly swept across the sky, dimming the stars behind it. She’d never seen anything like it and she gazed in wonder.
‘The southern lights!’ Chills said. ‘Isn’t that beautiful? Lucky winterers get to see them all the time.’
Stay remembered the Boss telling her about the aurora australis and she was glad to have seen it herself. The two of them watched the green, glowing light in the sky, until finally Chills shivered. ‘Come on, girl. Let’s have that money out of you, and get packed up.’
Chills staggered along the road, skidding on the ice but managing to stay on his feet. He reached the line of old accommodation huts, where he had a bunk to sleep for his last night on station, and went inside.
It didn’t take long for him to finish his packing and he turned Stay upside down to empty out the money into a sack and put it carefully in his bag. He took out one coin and slipped it back into her when he turned her up the right way.
‘I’ll get the Boss to put your money in the safe when we board the ship,’ he said. ‘I hope he’s forgiven me for dognapping you, Stay.’
Stay hoped so too. She watched Chills get into bed, turn off the lamp and pull up the covers close to his chin. She could feel that he was sad.
‘I wish I could have said goodbye to Kaboom,’ he murmured. ‘It would have been great to see Davis Station again too. I don’t know when I’ll get back down to Antarctica. I guess no one really knows. You only get your job for a year.’ He rolled over and punched his pillow. ‘Antarctica gets inside you, Stay. Once you’ve been down here, you always want to come back.’
He fell silent and a few minutes later Stay heard a quiet snore.
It was her last night on Antarctica. Although she’d been there for the whole summer, Stay felt like she’d only had a taste of Antarctic life. There were so many more places to explore and adventures to be had. She thought of Kaboom, who was staying down for winter and would get to see falling stars and the aurora australis nearly every day. She’d be there when the sea froze over and she could walk across the sea ice to the islands, or go exploring on the quad bikes or in a Hägg.
I’ll miss you, Kaboom, Stay thought. Then she mentally shook herself. It was no good thinking about Kaboom. It was time for Stay to go back to Hobart and sit outside a supermarket again. It would be very dull compared to Antarctica, but on those long lonely nights she could relive all her Antarctic adventures. If she saw Jet again, she’d have so much to tell him.
Stay realised she’d forgotten to make a wish on the falling star. She didn’t know what she wanted to wish for. I’ll save it up for when I really need it, she thought.
Chapter 36
You again! Blackie snarled at Stay.
They were standing by the harbour, waiting for their turn on the barge that would take them out to the Aurora Australis, which was anchored just offshore. Windy and Baldy, with several other helpers, were holding on to the huskies to stop them fighting. Stay sat on top of Chills’s bag, watching the barge push its way through the drifting ice towards the shore.
Stay sighed to herself. There was nothing she could do to make Blackie like her, so she decided to not even try.
Cocoa looked in her direction. Hello, Stay. Haven’t the puppies grown? They’ve been running with the sledge for the last two weeks. They’re nearly ready to start working.
Stay looked at the pups. Like the penguin chicks, they’d grown very fast and were catching up with the adult huskies. They had thick coats of fur and friendly brown eyes. It looked as though they took after their mother in temperament.
They look wonderful, she said to Cocoa.
But the dogs were all uneasy, Stay realised. She, at least, knew what to expect from their voyage. Now the dogs knew she’d been telling them the truth about leaving Antarctica, but they had no idea what the rest of the world was like. They were nervous and snappy.
It’ll be fun, she thought to all of them. You’ll see trees and grass, and feel the rain. You can dig holes in the dirt. Everything smells amazing.
None of the dogs knew what she was talking about, she realised. None of them had ever seen trees or grass, and it never rained in Antarctica. They’d find out for themselves soon enough, just as she had discovered snow and ice and blizzards.
The barge reached the loading dock and there was a rush of activity as everyone helped hand down the luggage. A crane lifted big baskets of cargo across to the barge, which sank lower and lower into the water.
‘That’s enough!’ the barge skipper called. ‘I’ll be back soon for the next load. Get the dogs ready.’
As the barge pushed off, Stay heard the distant sound of the helicopter coming in to land. She wondered where Nuts had been. Perhaps helping to load cargo onto the ship.
There were plenty of other things to take her attention. The Boss and all the crew were over there on the ship. She wondered if the Boss had forgiven her for staying in Antarctica. She hoped he’d allow her on the Bridge again, and that he’d tell her more stories of sailing the world’s oceans. She could watch out for whales and albatrosses from up there, and she’d be safe from Blackie. He wouldn’t be allowed on the Bridge, Stay was pretty certain. The huskies were never allowed inside.
Stay heard footsteps running down the road towards the dock. From the corner of her eye she saw someone run up behind Chills and put big gloved hands over his eyes.
‘Who’s that?’ Chills said.
It was Kaboom, Stay realised with a thrill.
‘How did you get here?’ Chills asked, turning around with a big grin on his face.
‘Friends in high places,’ Kaboom said. ‘Nuts flew one of the Squirrels over for RTA. I got a lift with him. I had to come and say goodbye to Stay.’
‘Oh, righteo,’ Chills said, and his grin disappeared. ‘There she is.’
Kaboom came over to Stay and crouched down beside her. She patted Stay on the head and then gave her a hug. She put her face up close.
‘Do you really want to go home?’ she whispered in Stay’s ear. ‘Or do you want to stay here in Antarctica?’
Chapter 37
Stay felt a pang of excitement. What did Kaboom mean? Was she about to be dognapped?
Kaboom gave her another hug and whispered again. ‘If you want to stay, let me know. And then keep very, very quiet, no matter what happens.’
She stood up again and patted Stay on the head. ‘You’re the most famous Antarctic dog of all now,’ she said loudly. ‘We’ll miss you.’ She turned back to Chills and Beakie. ‘How was your time on Beche?’
Stay was too churned up to listen to their replies. Like Chills, she had to go back to the real world. She had responsibilities, and a job to do. She belonged to the Royal Guide Dogs and she should be sitting outside the supermarket where Carol had put her, collecting money.
She remembered all the months she had spent outside shops in Hobart as a collection dog. It had been cold and lonely. Nothing much changed around her and she didn’t move from place to place. Adults mostly ignored her, though children usually stopped to say hello and give her a pat. It was a noble life, but not very exciting.
If she stayed in Antarctica, Chills would go back without her. She might never see him again! But if I go back to being a collection dog, I won’t be with Chills anyway, she thought. I’ll be alone, out on the streets.
Stay felt like her head was spinning. She loved Chills and wanted to stay with him. She was loyal to the Guide Dogs and wanted to do her job well. And she loved Antarctica too!
She loved it even more than Chills and the Royal Guide Dogs, she realised. It was big and frightening and wild, but every day in Antarctica was an adventure. The people were like no other people she’d ever met, and there were amazing animals like penguins and seals and skuas and snow petrels.
If she stayed with Kaboom, she’d become a winterer. She’d see the aurora in the sky. She’d see the sun set and not rise for six weeks. She’d see snow and ice and icebergs and go on jollies across the sea ice to new places.
She’d be the only dog in Antarctica.
Stay looked over at the huskies. The barge was on its way back and they knew they were being loaded onto it. They looked miserable. They didn’t want to leave. They were scared of what might be ahead.
Stay had an idea. It was time to use her wish, the one she’d saved from the falling star.
Chapter 38
Stay sent her wish out as hard as she could: I WANT TO STAY.
Kaboom took a step closer to Chills. ‘Actually, I also came to say goodbye to you. I’ll miss you.’
A little smile spread over Chills’s face. ‘I’ll miss you too. Hope I can see you when you get back.’
‘That’d be cool,’ Kaboom said. She put her arms around him and gave him a big hug. They held on to each other for so long that people started cheering.
Suddenly Stay felt a hand on her back. Nuts was crouching behind the boxes with a big mailbag. While everyone was clapping and watching Kaboom and Chills, Nuts grabbed Stay and slid her into the bag so fast that nobody saw.
As he started carrying the bag away, Stay heard a growl. No human had seen Nuts take her, but Blackie, with his sharp eyes, had noticed the dognapping. If he started barking now, she’d be found and she’d have to go back on the ship.
Blackie? She sent a thought towards him. If you get scared on the ship —
I’m not scared! he growled.
Of course not. What I meant was — if Chills gets scared, can you keep him company?
Blackie paused. Stay could tell that Nuts was making good progress carrying her. She only needed another minute or two and he’d be away from the dock and able to hide her somewhere.
Blackie, Chills is really sad about leaving. He needs a friend. He needs you.
It was true, and Stay felt a pain in her chest. It was so hard to leave Chills that she nearly couldn’t do it. But Chills and Blackie could be friends. They could look after each other.
Blackie gave a little whine. All right. I’ll look after him.
Stay heard the sound of a door opening. She was being carried inside a building. Nuts seemed to be climbing and then she felt herself being shoved into a small space.
Nuts gave a giggle. ‘They’ll never find you here, Stay. Don’t worry, we’ll be back real soon. Just as soon as the ship casts off.’
Chapter 39
Stay looked down through the window of the Twin Otter. She was strapped into the front seat and wearing headphones. Beside her, Nuts was piloting. Kaboom was in the back.
Below on the ocean, the Aurora Australis was steaming away from the station, smoke rising from its stack.
Chills had started searching for Stay when he realised she was missing, and it was the hardest thing Stay had ever done to stay quiet when she heard him calling her name. You won’t be with Chills anyway, she’d kept telling herself, not once you get back to Hobart.
He hadn’t called her for long. The ship was ready to leave and it wouldn’t wait for anything. Chills and the huskies had gone across on the final barge trip and been loaded, along with the last of the cargo.
Nuts and Kaboom had rescued Stay from her hiding place in the roof cavity of the old aircraft hangar near the loading area. They smuggled her to the Hägg before anyone from Mawson could find her, and set off for the summer airstrip. The Squirrels were both going back on the ship, so they were using the Twin Otter to return to Davis.
After the little plane had taken off, Nuts made a low sweep over the station so that the Mawson winterers could see Stay in the front seat. They all waved and cheered.
‘Well, the Mawsonites are pretty happy that you’re staying,’ Nuts said. He lifted the Twin Otter in the air and turned it in the direction of the ship. ‘Think Chills will ever forgive you?’ he asked Kaboom.
‘I don’t know,’ Kaboom said. ‘It was a mean trick.’
Stay could hear Kaboom’s unspoken thoughts above the hissing in the headphones. It wasn’t just a trick. I really did want to say goodbye to him.
I know, Stay thought back.
I know you do, Kaboom thought.
Stay could hear her thoughts even more clearly than she could hear Chills’s. Kaboom was going to be a great friend.
‘OK, we’re heading down,’ Nuts said. Stay remembered how much she loved flying as Nuts put the plane into a close turn around the ship.
They were at eye level with the Bridge and Stay could see everyone was gathered there for their departure. Someone pointed at the plane and everyone turned. Nuts gave a cheeky wave at the Boss.
The radio crackled and the Boss’s voice came into the headphones. ‘I see you have a fugitive on board, Nuts.’
‘That’s right, Captain,’ Nuts said. ‘Stay didn’t want to RTA.’
‘Lucky the money she’s raised is going to RTA,’ the Boss said. ‘Otherwise you’d be in big trouble.’
They were almost past the Bridge and Stay couldn’t see Chills among the faces looking out the window. What had happened to him?
‘There he is,’ Kaboom said, pointing.
Chills was standing on the helideck at the back of the ship, holding Blackie. As the plane circled, he looked up. Stay felt that pain in her chest again when she saw the expression on his face.
‘Oh, Chills, I’m sorry,’ Kaboom said, though there was no way Chills could hear her.
I’m sorry, Stay thought. I’ll miss you. We bo
th will.
‘I feel so mean,’ Kaboom said. ‘Let’s get out of here.’
Nuts turned the plane and as they passed the ship for the final time, Stay saw Chills give a little smile and a wave.
You belong in Antarctica, Stay, she heard him think. Bye.
Blackie barked in their direction and then pressed closer to Chills as the plane started heading inland, back in the direction of Davis.
They’ll be all right, Stay thought to Kaboom as the ship disappeared behind them. She thought that her friend might have had a little tear on her cheek. Stay would have had her own tears too, if she could cry.
‘Have you given Stay her passport yet?’ Nuts asked.
‘Oh, no, I forgot!’ Kaboom said, and wiped her eyes. ‘Here, Stay. Now that you’re an official Antarctican, you need a passport. With a stamp for everywhere that you visit. I’ve put the Mawson Station stamp in it already.’
She reached over the seat and fastened a small blue book on a chain to Stay’s leg.
‘Now everyone will know what adventures you’ve been on,’ she said. ‘You’ve only just begun exploring Antarctica. You’ll see incredible stars and the southern lights. You’ll get snotsicles when it’s really cold and your snot freezes. We’ll go out to the field huts and the Prince Charles Mountains. You might go on a traverse to Law Dome — that’s a long way away on the plateau. In spring we’ll visit the Chinese Station and drop by to see the Russians. You might even get to McMurdo one day. Everyone wants to meet the last dog in Antarctica.’
Stay felt herself smiling. Not a smile that anyone could see, but a great big smile right inside her, a smile that didn’t go away as the Twin Otter flew over the snow and ice and she saw mountains and glaciers rising up in front of them.
She was a real Antarctican now. She was staying.
After you’ve read this book …
Stay:The Last Dog in Antarctica Page 12