横浜市鶴見区に密着した地域型のスワンアカデミー英会話教室。未就園児から大人まで、3人までのグループレッスン、個人レッスン、セミプライベートレッスン、オンラインレッスン

They were still in their fourth week of travel. It felt as if they’d been out there forever, the frozen landscape around them seemingly endless, stretched into eternity. The party had stopped briefly so Mason and Dunn could check their position, hoping the numbers might make everyone feel like they were accomplishing something where they were. Still, after their figures, the numbers didn’t show much, they would need to push even harder. “Christ!” said Mason in disgust, “we’ve only gone 15 miles in two days.” “I know Captain, but at least we’re moving in the right direction. You got to remember sir this ain’t the North woods we’re going through.” “Yeah, I know Isaac but 15 miles is shit, all the sweat were losing here I figure it’s gotta be more than that.” Dunn rubbed his nose with the back of his mitten, “Still, it’s better than fourteen,” he said with some common sense logic. Mason spit a glob of phlegm into the snow. “Yeah, well maybe we can make up some extra miles today. Man, am I tired.” He said wearily. “I’d forgotten how hard this place could be.” He looked at the second mate and grinned, “And I used to think pulling an oar with a whale behind was hard.” Dunn coughed and nodded. “Captain, pulling an oar with a whale behind ya is hard,” he said, “this is just a different kinda hard, that’s all.” Mason looked at his second mate with some concern. “You alright?” “What, this cough? It ain’t nothing. Figure I picked up a cold afore we left New Bedford.” “You sure?” asked Mason. Dunn nodded, “Yeah, when I was with the Inuit before I was never sick. Hell, Captain I figure I’ll be over this in a couple a days. It ain’t nothing.” “Yeah, well, if ya feel worse you let me know, ok?” “Yeah, Captain,” he sniffed, “no problem. Besides I got an incentive at the next depot.” “And what might that be, Isaac?” The second mate smiled, “Two good bottles of whiskey.” “Two?” asked Mason. “Don’t ya think that’s a bit extravagant?” Dunn shrugged, “Well ya know Captain, it’s a long trip!” Mason smiled. “That’ll be all good an’ well. Lord knows, I could use a belt, how’s the rest of the supplies holding out?” Dunn shook his head “No problems, Captain. We got more than enough, trust me, we ain’t gonna starve out ‘ere.” “How are the dogs?” “I always look at ‘em after we make camp. The Eskimo dogs is good and I brought enough dog booties for the ones with soft feet,” said Dunn. “We’ve been pretty fortunate so far.” Mason understood. On the return trip it would be necessary to shoot some of the animals for food as needed but to lose any of them now would pose problems for the sledging party and a logistical nightmare. If they left any frozen dog carcasses behind, it was doubtful they would be where they were left on the return trip. Bears and seals get hungry too. “Well, Isaac let’s keep things running as smoothly as we can, there are enough problems out here as is.” “Yes, sir,” said Dunn turning to see Hollister approaching them. “Captain, Isaac, how do things look?” “Well,” said Mason, “as Mr. Dunn has commented, we are moving in the right direction.” Hollister grunted, “Well, that’s good news at least.” “Sorry, you don’t have more to write about, Jack,” said Mason. Hollister waved the comment away, “Not a problem Captain, that’s where imagination comes in handy.” “Still,” said Dunn, “I be thinking you must really be stretching it, Jack. I mean your descriptions of darkness and snow will only go so far with your readers, I’m guessing.” Hollister laughed. “Well, the dogs make for some pretty interesting copy Isaac.” “Yeah,” said the second mate, “I can imagine.” Goodman came up to the three men. “Captain, everything is ready to go on your say so, sir.” Mason nodded, “Thank you Goodman, we’ll be leaving in ten minutes.” “Yes, sir,” said the dog driver turning away. “Oh…and Goodman,” said Mason. “We’ll put Michaels up front awhile, let him give his dogs a good run.” Goodman cocked his head to the side. “Ya think that’s wise Captain, I mean Mike, he ain’t got much experience up here’s ya know.” Mason controlled his irritation with the dog driver who was making a habit of questioning Mason’s decisions. “None of us have much experience Goodman, Michaels has the lead until we camp.” “Yes, sir, I’m just…” “Michaels has the lead Goodman,” said Mason in a tone that was without a doubt, final. “Yes, sir,” said Goodman. He knew better than to argue with Mason, but he was content to know that he had gotten under the Captain’s skin a little. He walked over to inform Michaels of the Captain’s decision and give him a chance to air his grievances to a sympathetic ear. Damn him! Thought Mason, if he’d known Goodman was going to be such a problem, he would have left the son of a bitch back on the ship. Well, they were all in this together, whether they liked it or not, still he was going to have to deal with Goodman before things got worse. Dunn disliked seeing Mason put in such a position. “Excuse me sir,” he said and left Mason and Hollister to follow the landsman. “Goodman!” he said, the dog driver continued walking. “Goodman!” Dunn said in a louder voice, “Stop right where you are!” The man stopped and with bored resignation, turned to face the mate who was none too happy. “What do you want?” he asked as if he was being bothered. Dunn stepped up. “Listen you arrogant little shit. When the captain tells you to do something you do it, understand?” “Yeah, yeah, yeah, listen to the captain.” Dunn grabbed him by the front of his parka. “There is a lot at stake here, you fuck! So get your act together!” Goodman twisted away from Dunn and nodded, “Yeah, ok,” he sneered, “Mr. Dunn!” he turned and walked to his sled. Christ! thought Dunn, they should’ve left the son of a bitch back at the ship. Goodman walked up to Michaels, “Captain says you’re gonna take the lead.” Michaels smiled. “That’s great!” said the younger driver. “Give my dogs a good run.” “Yeah, whatever. Just be mindful of what you’re doing Mike, this ain’t no forest trail.” “Is something the matter Goodman?” asked Michaels, noticing the hardness of his companion’s voice. The angry driver spat into the snow. “Ahh, fucking Mason and Dunn, they think they know every fuckin’ thing!” “I don’t know Goodman, they don’t seem like such bad guys.” “They’re assholes,” said Goodman. Ten minutes later the sleds were on the way, moving fast across the cold alien landscape. They were able to make good time for they were fortunate that the ice the dogs scrambled over, pulling their heavy loads, was relatively smooth and it wasn’t long before Michaels had a good lead on the party. He moved farther ahead, enjoying the speed and open expanse before him. This was living, at least he thought so. He was still thinking that when a loud crack, a noise not unlike that of a rifle shot, sounded out. Michaels being occupied with his thoughts and speed and because of the dark as well, did not notice that the ice farther ahead of him began to crack open. The frozen platform which supported him and the others was splitting rapidly. When Michaels finally did see the oncoming disaster, he attempted to check the dogs and skirt the open ice. The dogs, in their fan arrangement, moved their mass to the right, causing Michaels and the sled to veer hard to the left, breaking into an area of thin ice and into the frigid waters below. “Help me!” screamed the young man, “oh Jesus, help me!” The dogs struggled on the slick ice to keep from being pulled under by the weighted sled. The party, seeing the disaster ahead, cracked their whips to get to the unfortunate man as quick as they could. “Mike, hold on we’re coming!” shouted Goodman. The sleds reaching a safe and stable distance, we’re stopped and turned over on their sides. Goodman grabbing some coiled rope, trudged over to the edge of the broken ice. “Mike!” he shouted, “hang on!” Michaels struggled, his eyes showing primitive animal fear as he pawed at the ice, his clothes soaked with sea water making him sink faster as he struggled. “Help me!” he cried. “Oh Christ Jesus, help me please!” Mason and Dunn made it to where Goodman was laying flat on the reaching out with hands shed of mittens but anyone could see it was a useless gesture. The heavy sled pushed the driver deeper and deeper into the water and within minutes the man ceased struggling and slipped under the cold dark waters. Peter rushed to the tagline the dogs were attached to and quickly and quickly sliced it releasing the animals from the same fate that had befallen their unfortunate master. With Wacha’s help he was able to control them. All watched as the sled vanished into the abyss, gone forever. “What the fuck did you do?!” screamed Goodman. “You fuckin’ savage, you killed him!” Peter breathing heavily, shook his head. “No, he was dead already. There was nothing we could do.” “Bullshit!” yelled Goodman pulling out his knife. “You killed him!” Mason and Dunn stood up. One man was gone, they didn’t need to lose anymore. “Goodman,” said Mason. “Put the knife down, he’s right, he couldn’t be saved.” “Convenient, captain!” sneered Goodman, “but you’re the one that sent him ahead. This is just as much your fault as that murdering Eskimo!” Dunn stepped forward. “Goodman, listen, he’s dead. There was nothing we could do to save him, there was nothing we could do about it. If Peter hadn’t cut the dogs loose, we would of lost them too.” Goodman shook his head. “Michaels is dead and you’re all responsible, all of you!” he began to back toward his sled where his rifle was. “Maybe it’s time to even the score!” he was so preoccupied with Mason, Dunn and Peter that he didn’t hear Hollister behind him until it was too late. A quick knock on the back of the head put the belligerent man down like a sack of potatoes. “Thanks Jack,” said Mason, leaning down to check Goodman. “He’ll be alright captain,” said the newspaperman. “Something I learned from the bully boys on the south side.” “Damn good thing,” said the captain. “Dunn, what have we lost?” The second mate wiped his brow. “I’d have to check the inventory but right off the top of my head I’d have to say one sleeping bag, one rifle, a quarter of our medical supplies, half of our provisions and some of the dog food.” Hollister, though somewhat taken back by the men’s casual attitude to the death of the driver, looked at Dunn. “Half our provisions?” “Yeah, well,” said Dunn, “The other sleds is carrying the dog food, tents and ammunition plus all the other shit we got.” “Christ! I knew it! We’re gonna starve out here,” said Hollister. “Relax, Jack” said Mason. “If anything we can eat some of the dog food, we got enough to get to the next depot, we’ll be ok.” He looked at the dark swirling water that had taken Michaels and his sled. “Damned sorry about the kid. Goodman was right, I should’ve had someone else take the lead, I should have done it.” Dunn shook his head, doubt and lack of confidence were a bad things in this place, it was one of the things that got you killed. “It wouldn’t have made any difference captain. If the ice wants ya its gonna get ya.” “That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think Isaac?” said Hollister. Dunn looked at the newsman. “This is a harsh and unforgiving place Jack, it would be a mistake to forget that.” Mason looked around and sighed. “Let’s get to some safer ground, we’ll make camp and take stock of what we got. Get some rest.” “And figure out our next move?” asked Hollister. Mason shook his head. “That part’s easy. We move on.” The men nodded and without another word, walked back to their sleds.