Survival Page 30

  ‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ he started. ‘I am going to make this announcement as short as I can. For reasons that will soon become apparent. And the first thing to say is that I have recently been in radio contact with Rothera. They called to tell us that last night they had been unable to raise Halley VI. That, you’ll remember, is the British base on the Brunt Ice Shelf, well to the south and east of Rothera. Initially, they weren’t too concerned. They’ve had communication problems in the past. But then they couldn’t raise another base; a Chilean one to the south-east. And then another one, and then yet another. And this was against a background of an unusual air mass moving in a north-western swirl towards them…’

  ‘Jesus!’

  It was an involuntary shout from the middle of the room, and it formed a prelude to a far more chilling revelation from the captain.

  ‘I am very sorry to tell you this…’

  And here it sounded as though he was about to dry up. But then he gathered himself and continued.

  ‘…but while I was speaking to the base commander, I began to hear… well, quite a lot of noise in the background. And then he… well, he just said something like “They’re here”, and “God help you” or “God help us”. I can’t quite remember. And then there was nothing. Other than some more noises in the background. And then… screams and howls…’

  Here he did dry up. Not that anybody likely noticed. Too many of them were clearly processing what this news would mean for their chances of seeing out this day. Alex was no different. His stomach felt completely empty and his mouth as dry as old parchment. He then realised that he had his arm around Debbie’s shoulders, and then that Captain José was speaking again.

  ‘There can be no doubt,’ he announced, ‘that the spores are in the Antarctic, and that they are heading north-west…’

  ‘So why are we slowing?’ shouted a woman from the back of the room. ‘Why aren’t we making… you know, full steam ahead?’

  Captain José responded to this question without hesitation. Because he knew the answer only too well.

  ‘Our reading of the swirling movement of that air mass tells us that it might miss us entirely. And I emphasise “might”. Frankly, it’s just about impossible to tell where it will go. However, we certainly can’t outrun it. No matter how much we “steam ahead”. And there’s as much chance of our running into it if we continue as there is if we drop anchor here and… well, just hope that it passes. But as your captain, I can tell you that I would much rather we were stationary if and when we encounter these spores than our being on the move, when we might quickly find ourselves without anyone on the bridge who can steer this ship or even bring it to a safe stop. Given the nature of the spores, you would be quite justified to argue that whether we are stationary or moving, it would make little difference. But that’s more than no difference. And if we cannot judge whether we will be safe here – or further north – or indeed somewhere further back south, I think it makes no sense to do other than find a good place to moor where we are now, and… await our fate.

  ‘So, ladies and gentlemen, I am now going to ask you all to return to your cabins, close your doors, close your windows – and just wait. And, of course, listen for any tannoy announcements. I know that doesn’t sound like much of a plan. But it’s all we can do. Other than hope and maybe pray that since we’ve got this far, then we’ll be able to get a little further yet. Like to Ushuaia. And sorry, but no questions. There just isn’t time. I want you to move now!’

  His shocked audience had become children again, and without any rebellion, they now began to follow their teacher’s instructions by filing out of the lounge. Not by any means in a panic, but rather slowly, and with faces that betrayed that they were possibly already reconciled to whatever might await them. Alex and Debbie joined the moving throng, and soon found themselves with Elaine and Derek – and Roy. No words were exchanged, and there was no need for words. Instead, transient hugs and a few tears did the job. And it was similar for Stuart and Gill. They had been swept out of reach, but not before their five ‘grandparents’ had made clear their feelings for them with a combination of hopeful smiles and a few more tears. Alex immediately wished they’d all been given just a little more time.

  The ship was now stationary. The crew had performed a slow 180-degree turn to bring it to the edge of the peninsula. And back in their cabin, Alex and Debbie were setting about the task of giving each other some much-needed reassurance. But it was difficult. Especially when they admitted to each other that their immediate priority should be to look out their two doses of death. Dr Kovalenko’s wonder potion had to be put on standby without any delay whatsoever. This they dealt with, and then they embarked, as instructed, on the task of waiting. This was even more difficult than those mutual reassurances, and it required the employment of one Kindle, one book, and the pretence that they could both take in anything of what they were supposedly reading. Alex was doing no more than seeing consecutive lines of words on a page, and then Debbie told him that this was her experience as well, which was when they both turned their attention to the view outside their cabin. From Alex’s not-entirely-reliable observations and calculations, the captain had moored the Sea Sprite somewhere to the north of Danco Island, and this meant it was parked in another ‘area of outstanding natural beauty’. And, unlike a book or a Kindle, the view through the cabin window promised to hold Alex and Debbie’s attention for quite some time. There were numerous icebergs out there. And whilst none of them was the size of South Georgia, they were all more than fascinating and all far more than handsome.

  Nevertheless, time passed rather slowly, and the only ‘thrills’ all afternoon were two tannoy announcements and a delivery. The first announcement was merely to emphasise to the ship’s company the importance of remaining in their cabins, and the second was to advise all passengers of the forthcoming delivery. A knock on their cabin door would herald the arrival of some bottled water and a couple of sandwiches, which, the announcement said, should be gathered up quickly and then the cabin door re-closed as soon as possible. For Alex and Debbie, this happened within only minutes of this second announcement. And only minutes after the admission into their cabin of the sandwiches, they were gone. After that bowl-of-peanuts lunch, they had both become extremely hungry.

  The sandwiches kept the hunger at bay for some time, but by early evening it was forcing its way back in again – for both of them – and that’s why Debbie wondered aloud whether, if the Captain’s Dinner was now highly unlikely to take place, there would be another delivery to their door – of something more substantial than prawn mayonnaise sandwiches. Even though those earlier ones had been delicious. She had done this aloud-wondering from her position on the bed, while at the same time Alex had been looking out of the cabin window. It was then that he put his own wondering into words, and he did this by saying, in a bemused tone of voice, ‘I wonder whether that’s Stuart and Gill.’

  He had caught sight out of the window of the Gūse, the yacht that had been towed at the stern of the Sea Sprite ever since it was first commandeered. Only now it was moving away from the Sea Sprite in a southerly direction, and on its deck were two people, a man and a woman.

  Debbie had now joined Alex at the window, and they both stared intently at the diminutive craft. Against the grandeur all around, and compared to the huge icebergs all around, it looked smaller than ever.

  ‘It is them,’ she announced. ‘I recognise Gill’s jacket. And Stuart’s, for that matter…’

  ‘You’re right,’ confirmed Alex. ‘But where are they going? They can’t be going to Rothera. That’d be suicide…’

  Debbie looked into her husband’s eyes.

  ‘They always wanted to be together. And they’ve had so little time…’

  ‘Yeah, but they didn’t have to do that. It’s just crazy. Anything could happen.’

  ‘I think they know that, Alex. But they�
�ll be together when it does. And I think that’s what they’d want…’

  Alex felt helpless and angry. No matter what his wife might be suggesting, what Stuart and Gill were doing was not right. And they were putting themselves in so much peril. If only they would come to their senses. Before it was too late.

  Captain José must have had similar thoughts, because his voice was now coming through a loudhailer. And whilst Alex and Debbie found it difficult to hear his every word, he was clearly pleading with Stuart and Gill to come back to his vessel. As soon as they possibly could.

  However, that wasn’t going to happen. As the captain was still projecting his voice towards the yacht, Gill fell over and started to writhe around on the deck of the Gūse, whereupon Stuart, without any hesitation whatsoever, scooped her up in his arms and jumped with her into the sea. He then seemed to pull her towards the hull of the yacht, and then beneath it. He could only be trying to make their end as quick as possible, and while he still had Gill in his arms. And soon it looked as though he’d succeeded. As much as Alex and Debbie studied the surface of the sea all around the yacht, they could see no signs of their friends and no signs of life. The spores had done their work. Which meant that the spores had arrived to do their work on the Sea Sprite as well…

  Alex felt his heart pumping, and then he noticed that Debbie was crying. She started to wipe the tears away with her hand, and then, with a big Debbie smile on her face, she addressed her husband.

  ‘Well, we gave them a bloody good run for their money,’ she said. ‘And, you know, I’m not so sure I ever wanted to live in Argentina…’

  Alex smiled at her, and then told her that he pretty much agreed with her on both counts, after which he asked her a question.

  ‘How do you want to play this?’ he asked. ‘I mean, shall we wait a bit, or shall we do it now?’

  ‘Not yet, Alex. This was going to be a special night, remember. And it still should be. Which means, I think, we should get appropriately dressed. I certainly don’t want to step into eternity wearing just an ordinary sweater and an old pair of slacks. And it won’t take us long. I’m sure we’ve got time.’

  ‘Too true,’ confirmed Alex. ‘I mean, we can hardly let humanity down by going out looking like we didn’t care. And we’re certainly not going to get another opportunity to dress up. So, let’s get going…’

  And they did. They got going by sorting out the clothes they wanted to wear, and by Alex commandeering the bathroom for a while before Debbie then took it for her own use. While she was sorting herself out in there, Alex went to the cabin window and looked out to see whether the Gūse was still visible. And whether there was any trace of Stuart and Gill.

  There was nothing. The yacht must have drifted out of sight, and his friends’ bodies must have sunk out of sight. The scene outside the window had reverted to its normal undisturbed, pristine beauty. And this had its inevitable effect; it captivated his attention to the exclusion of everything else. The whites out there seemed whiter than ever; the blues bluer than ever. And the icebergs; they were simply stunning. Indeed, one huge iceberg just two hundred metres from the Sea Sprite was no less than painfully beautiful, and completely mesmerising.

  He could no doubt have stared at the vista without indefinitely, but he knew he had other things to do, and finally he began to turn his attention away from the view through the cabin window. However, just as he did so he observed a little movement in that outside scene, and his attention was captured again. How could it not be? That movement heralded the arrival of whales…

  There were four of them, four humpback whales in a tight group, spoiling the glassy-smooth surface of the channel with their rising, blowing, diving and splashing. Although whether they were feeding, bonding, playing or just relishing their existence, Alex couldn’t tell. But it didn’t matter. They were a joy to behold. And Debbie would no doubt want to behold them as well. He should get her to the window…

  ‘Debbie, there’s some whales out here. Four humpbacks. You should come and see them. They’re really close.’

  Debbie was soon walking towards him from the bathroom – still fiddling with a reluctant earring in her left ear.

  ‘Four of them?’ she inquired.

  ‘Yeah. Just to the left. Over there.’

  She had now joined her husband, and, having secured the reluctant earing into its designated earlobe, she was soon peering through the window to locate the promised four cetaceans.

  ‘Ah yes,’ she exclaimed. ‘Fantastic. And look, did you see that fluke? It was pale underneath…’

  ‘Well, if it wasn’t, you’d be a bit concerned. They are humpbacks, and their flukes are supposed to be pale underneath. Just like we’re supposed to have a crease in our bum.’

  ‘Don’t be vulgar,’ she responded. But her words were delivered with a smile, and she then spoke again.

  ‘Just look at them,’ she said. ‘Aren’t they sublime?’

  ‘Sublime and… happy. At least, they look pretty happy. And I must say, it’s difficult to imagine that they’re not. After all, they’ve got this wonderful place to live in and they’ve got each other as well.’

  Debbie turned from the view of the whales to face her husband.

  ‘Just as we’ve got each other,’ she said. ‘As I’m sure you’ve not forgotten…’

  ‘Sorry,’ responded Alex, ‘it’s just…’

  ‘…time we got ourselves ready,’ interrupted Debbie. ‘And I’m nearly there.’

  ‘So am I,’ declared Alex. ‘I just want to put my boots in the wardrobe and sort out the safe…’

  He knew very well that it was quite bizarre to be concerned about the tidiness of either the cabin or the safe in their present circumstances, but it was just the way he was. And Debbie would understand. She was very much the same, and had already put away all her unwanted clothes. Nevertheless, on this occasion, Alex’s emotions were about to override his natural inclinations, and he decided that his boots and the safe could wait just a while. And this was because he had now registered the wonderful appearance of his wife.

  ‘Debbie,’ he pronounced slowly, ‘you look beautiful.’

  And she did. No longer young, she still retained her essential good looks, and in her brand-new wine-coloured dress and her favourite wine-coloured shoes, she looked absolutely splendid. And so too did her eyes. Their sparkle matched that of the icebergs outside. Although, unlike the icebergs, they radiated warmth.

  She acknowledged Alex’s compliment with a small nod of her head, and then she spoke.

  ‘Thank you. I thought I should make an effort.’

  Alex hesitated, and then he went into the walk-in wardrobe, and was soon back out again, holding in his right hand his bright-blue linen jacket.

  ‘Might not be up to your dress, but I’ve brought it this far, and it hasn’t got that many creases in it. As long as you don’t look at the sleeves…’

  Debbie grinned.

  ‘It’ll do just fine. I mean, just absolutely fine. In fact, I think that together we will be the best-dressed couple aboard. No matter how many creases…’

  ‘Bloody right,’ confirmed her husband. ‘Absolutely bloody right.’ And then he approached her, threw his jacket on the bed and embraced her tightly – and held her in this embrace for quite some time. When he finally released her, he then spoke.

  ‘I love you,’ he said slowly. ‘I always have and I always will. In fact, I may love you more now than I’ve ever loved you before. And if that sounds stupid…’

  ‘It doesn’t,’ interrupted Debbie. ‘Because I feel just the same. I mean, I really do. So… it can’t be stupid, can it?’

  Here she gave her husband a generous smile, and then she closed down this ultimate emotional exchange by reminding Alex of the need to attend to the practical. She had a face to check and he had his boots and the safe to attend to. So, after anoth
er not-quite-so-long embrace, they both got on with their respective duties, until finally they were standing together in the cabin, Debbie in her wine-coloured dress and her wine-coloured shoes, Alex in his bright-blue jacket and a pair of dark-blue trousers. They were now ready to embark on their plans for the evening. And this was just as well. They had already heard some unusual noises that sounded as though they were coming from the bridge, and there now came the distinct sound of screaming from somewhere below.

  Debbie lay on the bed first – on its left-hand side. As she was doing this, Alex collected the two vials, opened them, and then carefully sat on the right-hand side of the bed. He handed one vial to his wife, kissed her, and then lay back himself. Debbie was left-handed and Alex was right-handed. This meant that they could still hold each other’s hands while they used their favoured hands to deal with the poison. It was then only a case of saying, in unison, ‘I love you’, before bringing the vials to their lips and drinking their contents in one quick gulp.

  They were both dead before the vials dropped to the floor, and well before the screams arrived just outside their cabin.

  thirty-eight

  It was the start of a new era, but for all those creatures that now had the planet to themselves, just the start of a new day.

  The four humpback whales were still around. They were just yards from the Sea Sprite, and they were still rising, blowing, diving and splashing. Still doing what whales have done for aeons, but now without the threat of being harpooned, and without the threat of their food source being stolen by a fleet of oversized krill trawlers. They had a golden future to look forward to, as did all their cetacean cousins, and none more so than the champion giant of the seas, the majestic blue whale.

  There were two of these magnificent creatures swimming together to the east of South Georgia; two of the tiny number that remained after a century of hunting that had seen nearly four hundred thousand of their number massacred and then butchered for their flesh. They too now had nothing to fear from their upright mammal cousins, and in all likelihood they would be able to play their own part in restoring their global population to its rightful pre-carnage levels. And in time, even their race memory of grotesque murderous chases, explosive harpoons, cries of pain through the water – and places like Grytviken in South Georgia – would all be expunged. Not for them the grisly prospect of being ‘processed’ to near extinction; but instead just a near-infinite future of feeding, migrating, breeding and, despite being the largest animal in the world, gliding effortlessly through all the world’s oceans and seas.