Week 9--Peter--Character Conflict

Above Russell Bay, the sky lay - a vast blue dome .   On the horizon, menacing clouds were gathering .  To the west, the icy cliffs of Cape Wilson ran like a gleaming white crocodile out into the sombre blue waters where icebergs in the distance drifted like fantastic cathedrals .  On the other side of the bay, grey craggy mountains stood monolithic, covered with carpets of snow .  SS RADEX EXPLORER stood at anchor a mile offshore . 

Near the pebbled beach the long, timbered roof of the HF depot was just visible above the drifts of snow .  The high wire fence that lay around ripped open with gaping holes .   The once neatly ordered crates and barrels were cast around in wild confusion .   Lying on a scrambled array of metal pipes, a polar bear lay motionless,  blood seeping out of its stomach and staining the snow a ruby red .   Another lay crumpled by the small generator house and Arctic fox hung on the fence like washing blowing in the pitiless wind.

Inside the depot, Construction Engineer Gerald F Haldane sat in his office in despair, one hand supporting his chin, the other close to a mobile phone, frozen by indecision .  Shouts and bangs broke into his reverie .  Haldane listened for a moment, got up angrily and wrenched open the door.

“What the hell is going on here!”

Two burly operatives in oilskin coats and snow-bespattered hoods were struggling with a teenage boy, who was kicking and shoving and trying in vain to break free.

“Sorry, Gerry found this kid tampering with the generator plant.”

“Let me go .   Let me go .  You’ve no right to hold me here.”

Haldane eyed the boy .  A man quick to judgement he was at the end of his tether .  “Tie him up and put him in the storeroom”, he almost snarled .  Ned, trussed up like a dead turkey, was thrown onto floor and, as the door banged behind him, was engulfed in gloom.

Back in his office, Gerry Haldane finally, almost with relief, seized the phone.

“Good morning, boss.  We’ve found a kid .  In the generator room.”  Haldane paused .  His voice full of surprise when he continued. “Part of the attack on the depot?  I don’t think so, boss .  No, it was about a dozen bears and foxes .  No people involved at all, as far as we could see .  Beretti was on duty, yes .  Knocked unconscious .  Hasn’t come too, yet .   They tried to batter their way into the operations room but we shot two of them .  No, we didn’t frighten them off .  No, there was a long, low whistle and they all suddenly retreated .  The place is in chaos .  Yes, boss .  I’ll get Denton and Reeves to bring him out immediately .  Yes, sir.”  

Fifteen minutes later Ned found himself being marched out across the jetty and, handcuffed, sat in the stern of a small motorboat, which began to chug its way slowing across the bay .  An icy breeze blew against his face as the prow of the boat cut its way through bits of brash ice that floated about like confetti .  As he looked around he could see a flock of black and white petrels bobbing on the water not far away.

There were shouts from SS RADEX EXPLORER and a metal ladder was lowered down the bulwark as they approached the vessel .   Ned was led up onto the main deck by Denton .  Two sailors grabbed his shoulders and he was marched across the deck to the foc’sle.

The warm cabin he entered was like a small laboratory .   Long tables ran down the centre, crowded  with bottles in wooden supports, test tubes, flickering meters  and computers .  Several men in white coats were studying graphs, photographs and charts.

Bob Newington’s office was in a small attached room .   A short, stocky, balding man with a broad bespectacled face, he sat importantly behind a neat desk. .  “Take the handcuffs off him Bailey” he ordered “and leave us.”

Bailey blew hard with surprise and rolled his eyes but did as he was told .   

Seated, rubbing his wrists, Ned stared about him .   The walls were covered with charts.

“Now, young man,” said Newington in a low, determined voice .  “What is this all about?”

Ned remained silent, turned his head to one side sullenly and stared blankly at the wall..

There was silence for a moment but Newington, quite unperturbed, continued “Well, let me tell you why we are here.”  Ned looked across at him, almost impertinently, as good as to say ‘Don’t bother .  I know the answer.”

Bob Newington almost read his mind .  “You’re quite wrong,” he said calmly .  “This is a scientific survey on behalf of the Arctic Exploration Association .   Our task is to measure the age of the ice on this island and study the geology .  Furthermore  we have been instructed by the Government of Finland to examine the dormant volcano Mt . Houdenc.

Ned was listening intently now .   “You are not exploring for oil?”  The note of surprise in his voice did not go undetected by the boss, who shook his head emphatically .      

“Not at all .  Our presence here is entirely for scientific purposes, and when we have completed all our tests and gathered the data we seek, we shall leave .  Now are you ready to answer this question ?  How and why are you here?”

Still wary, Ned raised his head. “You won’t believe my answer to your first question”, he said, shaking his head.

“Try me.”

“I was on a pier in Northern Ireland .  A girl called Maisie took a photograph and moments later I found myself here on Bering’s Island.”

Newington scrutinized Ned for a moment, trying to control the anger that was surging up within him .  His diplomatic tone was now abandoned.. “Don’t be funny with me son”, he rasped in a low menacing tone.

“See, I told you  that you wouldn’t believe me.”  Ned was almost jeering.

“Of course, I don’t.” Newington said angrily .  “You’ll be telling me next that you organized the polar bear attack on our depot.”

“Yes, I did – with the help of Nochoska.”

“Nochoska!”

“My polar bear friend.”

Bob Newington was livid .  His patience exhausted .   “Bailey, Timson!” He roared .  The two burly sailors burst in and grabbed Ned.  “Get this lunatic out of here and lock him up in the spare cabin.”

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