The Last Outpost

by Hannah Ross

  "I will be reporting this the first chance I have, Mr. Buckley," she declared. "By bringing these men here, you have broken the secrecy clause of your contract, and the Antarctic Research Program..."

  Scott drew himself up to his full height and met her eye. "With all due respect, Ms. Ellis," he said, "a man's life takes precedence over any secrecy clause or government policy. Now, if you excuse me, I have things to do."

  And, having said that, he spun on his heel and followed Dr. Hope through the glass doors of the closed ward.

  Chapter 22

  Scott, Jerry, Zoe and Petri sat in the greenhouse for a long time that night, getting tipsy on Bloody Marys and hot lemonade spiked with Jerry's clandestinely made liquor. Scott had to talk more than he had ever done in his lifetime. Every time he took a sip of his drink, he assuaged his guilt by mentally declaring he must do something to keep his throat from getting dry. Jerry, meanwhile, was busy topping off everyone's glasses. From time to time, he applied a pack of ice to his black and swollen eye.

  "It's just damn incredible," he kept saying, "that our government has kept something like this under wraps so long."

  "Well, now they won't be able to do this anymore," Petri said. He was on his third spiked lemonade, his words were coming out slurred, and his Finnish accent was stronger than ever. "It's... the sensation of the century," he concluded, evidently proud of himself for his choice of expression.

  "And you didn't breathe a word, Buck," Zoe said accusingly.

  "There was the secrecy clause," Scott said. "Still is... I don't know what they are going to do to me, but I don't care anymore. They won't be able to keep their status quo. And frankly, I doubt they will care very much. Once the communication lines become steady again, I'm pretty sure the United States will have more pressing business than Antarctica."

  "One thing is certain," Petri said, "no matter what, I'm not going home. Not a chance. Not if they try to strap me down to an airplane seat and fly me away. I'm going to stay right here and look for more traces of those sea dragons. You'll never convince me there was only one, Scott."

  Jerry and Zoe, who hadn't seen the frozen monster, put down their glasses and listened more intently. "A pity you didn't have a camera," Zoe remarked. She pulled a sheet of paper towards her. Petri, who was a talented sketcher, had made a drawing of the beast for them.

  "If you're right, Pete, and there are more of those creatures lurking around," Scott said, "I'm not very enthusiastic to meet them. Just imagine a flock of those swooping down on McMurdo..."

  "Stop it!" Zoe said, covering her ears. "I think we've been through enough these past twenty-four hours, thank you very much. I don't want to think about monsters. It will be hard enough to explain the disappearance of Nash once we need to make our reports."

  "I'm going to tell the truth," Scott said, "though I imagine there will be many who don't believe me."

  "You have witnesses," Petri said. "You know... this Nash was an unsavory type, but I still feel sorry for him. That encounter with the ice beast, it was... brutal."

  "Don't pity Nash," Jerry said. "Apparently, he had been planning to take over the station for a while. He had some far-fetched plans about setting up a military dictatorship here. A raving lunatic if ever I've met one," he said, and downed the rest of his drink.

  Scott visited Ne Tarveg in the hospital the next day. The young Anai man, attended by Dr. Hope, several nurses, and his father, was now out of danger and rapidly regaining his strength. Dr. Hope declared that in a few days he would probably be well enough to endure a helicopter flight back to the valley of the Anai. The return flight would bring Corby and the other criminals back to McMurdo, where they would be confined in closed quarters to await the end of the war, the resumption of communications, and a trial that would determine their fate. They would face serious charges, and any career they might have had in the Antarctic Program would come to a rapid and shameful end.

  Ne Riorag, now that his son's life was out of danger, was gaining great curiosity about his surroundings, and made short detours to observe the buildings and workings of the station, the inhabitants of which surreptitiously craned their necks and turned their heads to get a glimpse of him. "Fascinating," he told Scott, once they both occupied chairs next to Ne Tarveg's bed. "It was worthwhile to live this long, if only to see such things. The men from beyond the sea are very clever."

  "It will be far easier for the Anai to visit here now, I think," Scott said, "if they want to, of course. How are you feeling, Ne Tarveg?"

  Ne Tarveg was propped up against a few cushions. He looked alert, but not by any means cheerful. "I am well," he said. "As well as can be. You saved my life, Scott, you and this foreign healer. I owe you an apology. You are a friend... and a worthy man. You deserve Tahan," Ne Tarveg added, turning to face the wall rather than Scott.

  "This isn't, um, something I've had on my mind," Scott said. "I have a wife beyond the sea, Ne Tarveg." He decided this was not the best time to mention his long estrangement from Brianna, nor the divorce process that was supposed to be under way. Still, he couldn't stop his heart from beating violently and irregularly, far more than he thought reasonable.

  Scott was to join Ne Tarveg and Ne Riorag on their helicopter flight back to the valley, and assist two officers in bringing in the prisoners. The night before the flight was scheduled to take place, however, something happened to nearly make him cancel his participation.

  For the first time in many weeks, the satellites appeared to be functioning properly, and an unexpected beep from his open laptop indicated an incoming internet call from his sister. In his eagerness to answer, Scott nearly toppled down from his bed, laptop and all.

  "Laura?" he almost shouted. "Laura, is that you? Can you hear me?"

  "I'm here, Scott," she said, and her familiar voice was like music to his ears after such a long silence from home. "God, it's so good to hear you!"

  "And you, too," Scott said. The web cam was unavailable, but even just hearing Laura's voice was miraculous. "How are you all? How are things back home?"

  "Better now. I think the worst of this blasted war is finally over. But..." she hesitated, and Scott felt a premonition.

  "Harry?" he said quickly. "Is it Harry?"

  "No, no, Harry is fine – I just heard from him yesterday, his deployment is coming to an end and he hopes to be home in another week or two. The kids are fine, too. But, Scott... I don't suppose you've heard of the bombings at Madison?"

  "Madison?" he repeated automatically. "Why would they bomb Madison? There are larger towns..."

  "You had better say, there were larger towns," Laura said. "The United States will never be what they were, Scott. And... in Madison... many people were hurt. Including Mom and Dad," she blurted out.

  An icy shaft sank deep into Scott's heart. "No," he said in a hoarse whisper, "no."

  On the other side of the globe, he heard his sister's voice, stifled with tears. "A neighbor of theirs told me all about it. It happened instantly. They didn't suffer. Just a week before that, I managed to get in touch with them, and tried to convince them to come and stay with us at the farm. Mom laughed. She said Madison was their home, and nothing would happen to them, and they would be perfectly safe there..." she blew her nose loudly. "I should have tried harder to convince them," she added in a faltering voice.

  "It was not your fault, Laura. Once Mom had her mind set on something, nobody could convince her otherwise. You know that."

  There was silence, yet the connection was uninterrupted.

  "Laura?" Scott said with a fresh jolt of dread. "Do you have anything else to tell me?"

  "Scott," her voice sounded weak, as if she barely willed herself to go on, "I hate to break it to you like this, but I don't know when we're going to have the chance to talk again, let alone see each other. Many houses in Madison were ruined by the bombings, you know. Yours was one of them."

  "Oh," Scott said, feeling unexpected relief. "Well, it's just a house, I don't re
ally –"

  "Brianna was inside."

  "Brianna – no. No."

  "I'm sorry, Scott, I'm so sorry. Those bombings were brutal... it took them five days to recover all the bodies. Once she was identified, the rescuers let her parents know, and they carried her home to the West Coast to bury her."

  Scott felt a stab of irrational, disproportional anger. "They had no right. Not without consulting me. I am... I was her husband."

  "I spoke to them, tried to tell them as much. But there was no getting hold of you, you know, and... and they knew that things have been... rocky between you guys lately, so..."

  "They knew Brianna had filed for divorce."

  "Yes," Laura admitted after a pause, "they did."

  "Thank you for telling me, Laura. I guess I will... I will go and think about all this for a while."

  "Hang on, Scott. I... I plan to visit Mom and Dad's grave the first chance I get. Do you want me to bring something in your name?"

  Scott thought about this for a moment. "Daisies," he finally said, willing his voice not to break. "If you can get them. Mom loved them. I'll... I'll talk to you later, Laura. Soon, I hope. Take care of yourself and the kids. And... say hello to Harry from me when he's home. Tell him I'm very, very happy he made it back safe and sound."

  After that, Scott sat for a long time with his head in his hands. So many things were over for so many people. Mom and Dad. I will never see them again. And Brianna... somehow, something deep within him had still hoped all this time. While the divorce papers were unsigned, all could yet turn out well. It is over. All over. The life he had built for himself at Madison vanished in one deathly wave of the bombs.

  Had he taken the next day off, nobody would have wondered, but something prompted Scott to remain silent about the conversation with his sister, and join the helicopter crew the following day as planned.

  Ne Tarveg flat out refused to be carried down the trail into the valley, but allowed Scott and his father to support him while they descended. Once they approached the village, they were engulfed by an excited crowd of people that came forward to greet them. What with his wound, and his heroic fight against Victor Nash, and his encounter with the frozen beast, Ne Tarveg was enjoying more popularity than he had in a lifetime, and was led away to his home by a circle of fervent admirers, who wanted to hear his story over and over again. Omrek and Manari greeted Scott with the warmth of relations, and little Egan kept passing from the arms of his uncle to Scott's. Then, the young couple stepped aside to allow Scott to speak with Tahan, and the two of them walked away in the direction of her house, her little boy between them, pulling each of them along by the hand.

  "Careful, Egan," his mother chided, "or we will all slip. I am glad, so glad Ne Tarveg appears nearly recovered," she added. "Otherwise... it would have been a terrible blow for his father."

  "He was in very skilled hands."

  "Yes. So I imagine. Come in, Scott, and have something to eat and drink," she drew the entrance flap aside. The stone house was warm and cozy as usual, the little cooking fire burning at the center. "How are things at the village?" Scott asked. "Did you have any trouble with the prisoners?"

  "No, they have been quiet enough. All is well. Manari was shaken for a couple of days, but she is fine now."

  "And the... beast from the ice? Have you seen any sign of it?"

  Tahan shook her head. "No. Nothing. As far as we know, it had gone out to the open sea. I can only hope we never see it again. Do you want me to reheat some stew?"

  "No, thank you," Scott said, sinking down upon the grass mat and closing his eyes. Suddenly, he felt very, very weary. "Just... a drink, if you will."

  Her eyes, light and soft and penetrating, were fixed upon him. Tahan was not fooled. "What happened?" she asked quietly.

  "I... I received news from home. From beyond the sea. You remember I told you about the war? It was... a deathly war. My parents, they are... they are gone. And my wife. I mean, I’m not sure she was still my wife, but you know... only death is final."

  Tahan bit her lip and nodded. "I grieve for you," she said. She wanted to say something else, but instead she came closer and sat next to him and wrapped her arms around him, and for a few moments, he allowed the tears to stream freely as his cheek rested against her shoulder. Egan, wide-eyed, watched them without really understanding.

  "My sister is fine, and her husband, and their little children," Scott added in a choked voice. "This is something to be thankful for."

  "There is always something to be thankful for," Tahan whispered in his ear. Then she got up, offered him her hand, and pulled him up to his feet with easy strength. "Come, Scott. I know what will do you good right now. Let us go to the Cave of Spirits."

  Chapter 23

  Over the next weeks, the internet connection had stabilized somewhat, and Scott was able to talk to his sister a few more times. These conversations made him realize how fortunate he was to have at least some remaining relatives in the United States. Many states have been subject to utter devastation, and the government was desperately trying to regroup. The Antarctic Program headquarters weren't answering calls or emails, and it didn't look as if anyone particularly cared for McMurdo right now.

  New Zealand was better off. Remote and untouched by war, the impact it suffered was mostly economical, and its infrastructure was intact. Scott now kept in regular touch with the New Zealand representatives, who commended him for his management of the station during this difficult winter, promised that airplanes and ships would reach Ross Island shortly after the first sunrise of the next season, and put his mind at ease as to supplies. The two-minute shower rule was still in order, but the cooks at the galley were allowed more leeway with food, and meals had become more satisfactory.

  One evening after work, Scott made his way to the greenhouse for his now customary drink with Jerry, but stopped at the door. Unexpectedly, the door was locked, and the voices he heard indicated that both Jerry and Zoe were inside, and most likely wouldn't appreciate being disturbed. Grinning from ear to ear and shaking his head, Scott turned quietly away and walked to the bar, where he spent the evening with Petri Karhu and Stanley the pilot.

  He looked at the bottom of his glass of weak whiskey and water – very little whiskey with a lot of water – and fleetingly wished he could drown himself at its bottom. Poor Brianna. I wonder what her last thought was as the heap of rubble and glass that had been our house collapsed on top of her. Did she regret not coming to McMurdo after all?

  "Hey, Buck," Stanley touched his shoulder, "what's the matter? You look all phased out."

  Scott called for another weak drink. "I'm fine," he said. "I'll be fine," he amended.

  He had hoped to be able to go to the Anai valley for the celebration of the first sunrise, but was too busy welcoming the delegation of scientists, officials and government workers that had arrived on the first flight from New Zealand. Fifty or so of the summer workers that have been stranded at McMurdo since before darkness fell would join them on the flight back. Scott gave the kiwis a thorough tour of the station and, as he has long been in the mood to wipe his bottom with his contract's secrecy clause, gave them access to the Anai records, which left them speechless.

  "It's a hoax," one of the officials, Dan Braam, kept saying, shaking his bald head. "It must be a hoax, or... if it isn't, it's the greatest government conspiracy I have ever encountered."

  "It is not a hoax," Scott said. "If the weather is fine, we can fly to AN-85 even tomorrow, and you will see with your own eyes."

  The jaws of the New Zealanders nearly hit the ground when they finally made their way to the Anai valley, saw the settlement and the crowd of strange-looking people advancing from it, and heard Scott's interpreting.

  "Amazing," Dan Braam couldn't stop repeating. "Amazing. Amazing. If the world weren’t in such a big mess after this war, the United States government would be facing some extremely harsh scrutiny from the international community. It appears the rights
of these indigenous people have been trampled under the boot of greedy government agendas far too long. This injustice will be rectified. They will receive an internationally recognized right to their lands, and access to as much civilization as they can wish... though nobody will foist it on them, to be sure. And this can be published! It will be a sensation!" Braam's eyes sparkled with excitement.

  Scott left the New Zealand men to walk around and admire, and took his steps to the house of Tahan. She was alone in the little field, sowing the strange grain the Anai grew. Upon seeing Scott, she straightened up and smiled.

  "We had hoped to see you for the first sunrise," she said. "There is very little sun yet, but soon there will be plenty."

  "I'm sorry I couldn't come. I will tell you about it now... where is Egan?" he asked.

  "Omrek took him for a visit. Egan just loves going to the new house. I just hope he won't get jealous once Omrek and Manari have children of their own," Tahan shook her head.

  They came inside and, like so many times before, sat on the grass mats before the cooking fire. "Tahan," Scott said, "you might have glimpsed the new men I brought to the valley. These men come from beyond the sea, and they are friends, to us and to you. They will make sure the whole world knows the valley and bay and the lands around are yours, and no evil men like Nash will ever come to bother the Anai again. The Great War is over, and I hope the world will find its footing once again."

  She nodded but, to his surprise, a frown of concern appeared between her brows. "Then those who couldn't leave before the dark season will be able to leave now?" Scott had told her of their predicament before.

  "Yes."

  She looked straight at him. "Are you going to leave, Scott?"

  He returned her gaze, shifted closer, and took her hand in his. This was the moment of truth, and his heart was hammering. "Tahan," he said, "I will never leave, unless you want me to."

  She held his gaze and smiled upon him, and that smile was like the first dawn after the long, dark winter. Her beautiful eyes were luminous with promise, and hope, and new life. With a contented sigh, she rested her head on his shoulder and, on impulse, Scott leaned in and kissed her. She looked up at some surprise – the Anai were not accustomed to kissing on the mouth – but certainly with no displeasure.