Snow Bond

by Ross Richdale

  "Got a tray out the back of the tractor that I'll tie them onto," he said. "Excuse Sam. He got a bit wet in the snow."

  "No problem," Aza laughed. "We are soaked anyway." She gave the dog a lift over her legs and grinned at Sofia who patted him.

  Tyler returned and shut the door and glanced at her in the interior mirror. "Got to go another kilo down the road, I'm afraid. Got a contract to keep an eye out over this stretch of highway down to the bottom fork. Then we'll turn and head home."

  "And where's that?" Sofia asked.

  "East Ridge, right at the top..." He chatted away as he roared the tractor forward.

  The tractor's wheels flung snow off sideways as the wipers scrapped across the windscreen. Aza could see little outside but noticed that Tyler seemed completely unperturbed as he held the steering wheel with one hand and reached for a bag in a door pocket.

  "Have a chocolate," he said as he held the bag out. "Had a thermos of coffee too but I'm afraid I drank it all just before I saw you. Not to worry, we'll be back home in a jiff. Renee, that's my partner, will have some hot soup ready."

  "Sorry to be a nuisance," Aza said.

  "You aren't. We like the company. He glanced at her. City folk from Christchurch are you?"

  "No, Auckland," Sofia said. "We came down here for a skiing holiday."

  "Yeah, there'll be plenty of snow after this storm. Locals reckon it's the biggest fall in years."

  He stopped chatting and changed gears, the tractor slowed and Aza saw a yellow road sign at a fork where a small side road was almost invisible beneath the snow. After backing he was about to roar off when Aza glanced out the side windows.

  "Tyler stop!" she gasped. "Isn't that someone down the road waving at us?"

  "There is," Tyler said as he braked. "Thanks. I was concentrating on staying on the road and almost missed him." He grinned. "Could be a her, of course."

  He reversed around again and headed the hundred metres or so to where a guy stood beside a motorbike lying in the snow. The man waited while the tractor stopped before he stepped forward and grinned.

  "Snow got too deep for the bike," he said in quite an educated voice. "Skidded off the road and couldn't get it started again. A bit of help would be appreciated."

  Aza, Sofia and Sam followed Tyler out onto the ground and across to the motorbike. There was more than just engine trouble for Aza saw that the front wheel was crumpled against the frame and the tyre was flat. Also the guy limped as he walked beside them.

  "So you crashed off the road?" she asked and nodded at the wheel.

  "My own fault," he replied. "Missed the side of the road and hit a rock beneath the snow. Luckily the snow cushioned my fall."

  Aza stared at his left leg where his bodysuit was torn and blood seeped from a leg wound. "It's more than that," she said. "That's a nasty gash you have."

  The guy grinned. "Cut it on the rock I guess." He held out his hand. "I'm Ian Rogers. Thanks for stopping."

  Aza introduced herself as well as the other two and gave a brief description of their own accident.

  "Luckily Tyler came along in the tractor," Sofia added.

  "Part of the job," Tyler said. "The contractor hires me to keep an eye on this part of the highway." He grinned and glanced at Ian. "Luckily Aza here saw you. I was turning back and never saw you waving. We'll get your bike on the back tray. Might be a bit crowded in the cab but if you don't mind holding Sam, I'm sure the girls can squeeze across."

  They all helped to get the bike onto the tray where Tyler appeared quite an expert at using stretch ties to secure the motorbike and all the bags on the box-like tray. He mentioned that he often carried stranded sheep in it as he unrolled a canvas sheet to anchor everything down. "There's a lull in the snow, but we'd better head home. By the look of those distant clouds I'd say we're going to have another big drop before the day's over."

  CHAPTER 2

  As night fell over the snowbound land, East Ridge was an oasis of light with those inside bathed, warm and in Ian's case with his leg gash clean and covered with a plaster. The old house had six bedrooms, four of which had been added almost as an afterthought to form a northern wing. Renee and Tyler had considered making them into self-contained motel units but at the moment they were in their original 1960s style with each one having an outside door that opened to a veranda that Tyler used to store firewood under, while across the interior corridor was a bathroom, laundry and a couple of storerooms.

  Aza and Sofia had chosen to share one bedroom while Ian selected a bedroom at the far end but at the moment they were all in the spacious lounge adjacent to the kitchen. Tyler had lit the fire that blazed away and the television was switched to a news channel that had an extensive coverage of the snowstorm. These showed earnest reporters talking to the screen, views of stranded vehicles and farmers rescuing animals across most of the South Island.

  "So we aren't the only ones?" Renee said as she brought in tray of steaming coffee and plate of muffins that she sat on a low table in the centre of the room. "Help yourselves and don't hold back. We have plenty of supplies as well as your groceries, Aza and Sofia."

  As one does when meeting strangers, she had summed up the visitors. Aza and Sofia were probably in their twenties and from what they had told her, were friends from high school days who flatted together. Sofia worked in the head office of an importing firm in Auckland while Aza was a lecturer and biologist at Auckland University with a PhD degree. She was obviously a highly qualified person who appeared modest about her achievements but had mentioned that her special interest was studying genetics.

  Ian would be closer to Tyler's and her own age that was the early thirties. He hadn't said a lot about himself except that he too was heading to the ski fields before his accident and Renee didn't wish to pry. From his appearance with modern clothes and mannerisms he also appeared to be an educated person, perhaps a professional of some sort.

  "If any of you are tired after your ordeals today, we will not be offended if you wish to have an early night," Tyler said after the television news finished. "There's also the other television in the kitchen if any of you have a favourite program that you'd like to watch. We have satellite television but are too far out for to make streaming services a viable choice." He grinned. "One of the disadvantages of living in the sticks."

  "But none of the pressures of city life?" Aza whispered.

  "We still have them but the priorities are different, I guess," Renee replied. "Things taken for granted in the city can be quite a hassle out here."

  Tyler chuckled. "Like when the septic tank froze and we had to rely on an ancient long drop that is still in an outhouse behind the woodshed."

  "Long drop!" Sofia queried. "What's that?"

  "Basically a hole in the ground with a toilet seat above it in a tiny shed," Tyler said with a laugh. "Don't worry, after last winter we installed a new septic tank and plumbing to service the house and a couple of the closest ones that we own. Took us a while to persuade the bank manager that they were essential to have."

  "District Council wouldn't help," Renee added. "Said it was private property and didn't concern them."

  "Interesting," Ian said. "But aren't the village and the cul-de-sac they're built around, under their jurisdiction?"

  "That's what we argued but got nowhere," she said. "Why; are you a lawyer?"

  "Sort of," Ian muttered but added no more.

  Renee caught Tyler's raised eyebrows and changed the topic. After a couple of pleasant hours, the three visitors all retired to their bedrooms, as did Tyler and herself. Apricot ambled in to jump up on a cushion she slept on overnight while outside, the snow continued to fall silently down.

  RENEE AWOKE TO HEAR Tyler snoring beside her. This was not unusual and having him there was reassuring. She glanced around and saw nothing for it was completely dark, not even the WiFi green flickered in standby mode. She reached for the switch of a bedside lamp. It was set to dim and never awoke Tyler when he was in
a deep sleep.

  "Damn," she muttered for the light never came on. She stepped out of bed, found her dressing gown and fiddled around in the bedside drawer where she found a torch. It was a tiny one but gave out a strong white light that she shone around but only saw a blinking Apricot staring at her.

  She patted the cat and walked out with the intention of visiting the bathroom a few metres away. She turned the switch on for the hall light but as expected, nothing came on. She sighed for there was a power cut. Last winter it had also happened and they were without electricity for several hours. With the snowstorm, she wouldn’t be surprised if the present one was longer. Locals had told her that several years earlier the district had had no electricity for a week. Apparently, snow on the wires brought them down and needed crews to come out to repair them.

  She decided to head for the kitchen where they had several kerosene lamps, more torches and several boxes of old-fashioned candles that were kept for such an occasion. When she opened the door into the kitchen she jerked back in surprise.

  Someone was there for she could see the silhouette of a person standing beside the partly opened curtains in the glow from the pot-bellied stove embers. She relaxed as she stepped closer for she recognised Aza.

  "Hello," she said. "It's Renee. I'm afraid we've got a power cut."

  Aza also looked relieved but quite serious when caught in the torch beam. "Oh hi Renee," she whispered. "I'm sorry if I awoke you. I couldn't sleep so came out here to get a drink of water and like you, found the power was off." Her expression changed to a faint smile. "I'll head back to my room."

  Something about her mannerism made Renee curious. "It's okay; on cold nights I often get up to stoke the pot-bellied stove. It's part of a central heating system with hot pipes going through most of the house. It really needs upgrading but in situations like this the heat pumps they have in the city aren't practical. We'll probably install an LPG system." She chuckled. "How about I pop the kettle on the stove and we have a cup of coffee?"

  "I'd like that," Aza said.

  Renee found one of the kerosene lamps that she lit and placed on the sink before filling an old-fashioned wood-range kettle and placing it on the stove. She added a couple of logs and watched as the glowing embers burst into flame before shutting the fire door.

  "It's so peaceful here," Aza whispered after sitting down at the table. "We could be a million kilometres from home. I noticed that the snow is still falling."

  Renee laughed. "Yes. I doubt if anyone will be going very far in the morning. The highway could be blocked for several days."

  "That long?" Aza said but didn't seem to mind.

  "Be worse at the ski fields. You should hear some of the stories the locals tell us. You know 'Back in my grandad's day there were no mod cons and they... etcetera, etcetera'. They'll ramble on for hours if you let them."

  Aza nodded but after accepting the coffee and a biscuit Renee produced, lapsed into silence as she stared at the glowing stove.

  Renee frowned. "Is something wrong, Aza?" she asked.

  Aza flashed her an alarmed glance and immediately hid it with a slight smile. "Oh it's nothing. I just have these silly dreams."

  "They aren't silly. You know they're horrible nightmares..." interrupted a voice.

  Renee swung around and found Sofia standing there in her pyjamas. She was looking at Aza with her hands on her hips and chin out in an almost deviant way. "Why don't you tell Renee everything?" She turned to face her. "Aza's had a bit of a hard time lately. That's one reason we decided to come on this skiing holiday. We though a change is what we both needed." She reached for an empty mug on the shelf. "Can I have a coffee, too?"

  "Sure," Renee replied. She waited but noticed both the young women's expressions. Aza appeared momentarily annoyed but again seemed to try to hide her feelings as she glanced down into her coffee mug. Sofia still seemed determined but also looked empathetic when she held the biscuit package out to her friend.

  "Go on," Sofia coached. "I know I promised not to tell anybody but Renee knows none of them. I'm sure she doesn't mind being a sounding board."

  "Of course I don't," Renee replied. "If you'd like to talk about what happened I'm here to listen. If not, that's fine too but sometimes a problem shared helps. I promise that anything you tell me will go no further unless you wish it so. I'll not even tell Tyler."

  Aza nodded and glanced at her. "It's nothing really."

  "Nothing!" Sofia retorted. "It's everything, Aza. Your career, your dignity; everything! If you tell Renee I'm sure she'll agree with me." She reached across and grabbed her friend's hand. "Just tell her what you told me, that's all I ask."

  "We've got one of those campfire toasters. What say I make a couple of toasted sandwiches for each of us?" Renee grinned. "How about a wine, each? We've nothing exotic, I'm afraid but some of the Canterbury wines we've purchased are quite tasty."

  Aza grinned. "Thank you," she said. "I'd like both of your suggestions."

  A few minutes later, the toasted sandwiches were cooked and a bottle of wine uncorked. Renee pulled a couch closer to the pot-bellied stove, lit a second lamp and invited the pair to sit and relax.

  "Now Aza," she said. "Just tell me whatever you wish!'

  Aza sipped her wine, took a bite from her toasted sandwich and looked her in the eye. "I'll start at the beginning, I guess," she said and began an account of what had happened to her.

  AFTER THREE YEARS OF intensive post-graduate study, all that Aza needed to complete her PhD was a thesis that was based on her research on identifying and isolating a patient's genetic profile. One example she used in her research was an asthma inhaler that worked extremely well with some patients, poorly with others and not at all with around ten percent. This was because of the patent's genes. Rather than just go by trial and error she developed a system where a general practitioner could test a patient's urine sample to ascertain whether the inhaler was suitable for the patient or not. She extended this to more serious diseases and discovered that some cancer drugs were highly successful for most patients but actually fatal for a small minority. For this reason, two valuable drugs had been withdrawn from sale in most western countries. The test she developed could read the genetic profiles of patients and warn of the ones where use of the drug concerned could be disadvantageous or even fatal.

  Her research was revolutionary and different from that in dozens of research facilities throughout the world that tended to rely on blood testing for defective genes. If her theories and research were used it would be a major break through in gene theory and one that could be picked up by a major drug company in America or Western Europe.

  Her main worry was however, a personal rather than academic or even procedural nature. The person concerned was Professor Joseph Hardy who really had the final say in the evaluation of her thesis and practical work. In her opinion and one that was shared by most of the postgraduate students, he was an arrogant aloof man in his late fifties who only party hid his discrimination against females at this high level as well as those who came from non-academic families. Aza failed on both counts.

  The result of Aza's thesis was due to be released at any time so there was now nothing to do except await the outcome. Even after all her years of study Aza was still nervous about the final result but attempted to hide it.

  It was actually Sofia who had found out something even more serious about the professor during routine research when she was helping Aza, something she often did.

  "Did you do anything else with your thesis besides submit it to the university?" Sofia asked on that Sunday evening.

  "Kept a printed out copy for myself as well as having it all online. As you know, my work on the university site has a high security firewall and can be only accessed by myself and top academic staff."

  "Including Tyrant Joe?" Sofia said using the professor's nickname that compared him with the Russian dictator of days gone by.

  Aza nodded.

  "So he has full
access to your thesis?"

  "The final version, yes but all my notes, draft copies and such like are password protected on my webpage."

  "Including those diagrams you spent hours producing and rejected most of them in your final version as being too simplistic?"

  Aza stared at her friend. "Why all the questions, Sofia?"

  Sofia grimaced. "Because your professor got access to your diagrams and also plagiarised large sections of your thesis in a paper written up in The Journal of Genetic Research and Practices."

  Aza knew this was a prestigious academic journal produced by a top drug company in Germany with the English edition sponsored by several top universities in United States and United Kingdom. It still produced a monthly print edition but the online version had articles with greater content and came out with weekly updates.

  "What?" she gasped and rushed across to stare at the computer screen that Sofia had swung around for her to inspect.

  The heading, Urine Testing may Supersede Blood Tests in Gene Profiling was followed by an introduction that stated that Professor Joseph Hardy from New Zealand's Auckland University had successfully tested this new procedure.

  Aza read further but found no mention what-so-ever of her own name. The following article was in her opinion, directly lifted from her thesis with most of the text written with her own words.

  "Oh damn!" she gasped as she scrolled down to see two of her diagrams reproduced. She zoomed into them and spied her name and date woven in the edge of each diagram. This was something Sofia had actually suggested when Aza drew the diagrams. She remembered laughing about who would want to copy them anyway but did incorporate them in almost microscopic writing that nobody except the most observant reader would notice even in the zoomed in version.

  Even more damning, though was that one of the diagrams was one that she had left out of her final thesis. Tyrant Joe would have had to access her personal web site to find it!