A short story by © Alice White
Arctic survey ship 'Northern Lights' lost power in its forward and aft thrusters. Without propulsion it was in danger of being blocked in by the surrounding pack ice.
Capital Douglas Stewart sat at the table in his cabin which doubled as his office. Sweat trickled from his forehead as he spoke into his fist microphone.
"Mayday, mayday. This is the survey ship Northern Lights. We are dead in the water and require assistance. Please copy!" He released the trigger on the mic and listened to the static over the loud speaker. As he was repeating the distress call, metrologist Alison Dodds stepped in to the cabin. She was carrying a printout of the latest deteriorating weather. The captain looked up to see her shake her head.
Capital Stewart called an emergency meeting of his staff. "Ladies and Gents, with the blizzard outside and the pack ice closing in. It looks like we are unable to be home in time for Christmas. Our hope is that soon as the blizzard stops, a few of us take the SnowCats and head out for the research station at the Pole. Those left behind, fire off one distress flare every hour. All in agreement?" There were a nodding of heads. "Good, now I suggest we all get a good night sleep and see if our situation has improved in the morning."
By morning the blizzard had stopped and as suggested, the SnowCats would venture out to the research station and raise the alarm. Included in the team were the captain and Alison Dodds.
Although it was late morning the north pole was in total darkness and had been since it passed the autumnal equinox in mid-September. Daylight would not appear until mid March.
Three Cats set out and were making good progress when a member of the crew spotted what looked like log cabins appearing in the middle of nowhere. As they got closer, the cabins were arranged to form a square. The Cats pulled up in the middle of the square and looked out their windows.
"This isn't the research station!" Said a crew member trying to find this complex on his GPS.
"Well, let's see if they are occupied. We might not have to go as far as the station. Dodds, you'll be with me." Instructed Captain Stewart.
All three crews went exploring the site. "Hey! Look at this!" First Mate, Dave Roberts said as he opened the door to the first cabin. Inside were long work benches. Upon their surface were wrapping paper and ribbon. There were also shelves full of woodwork tools together with screwdrivers, soldering irons and an array of electrical components.
"If you think that's strange, look through the window of this one!" Said the captain.
They all walked over to the next cabin to see a small candle ablaze in the window of what could only be described as a dormitory. Row upon row of beds could be seen rising and falling with the breathing of its occupants. "It's a huge bedroom with sleeping children!" Said the Medic.
Then spotting one of the sleepers on their back, the First Mate remarked. "How many children do you know to have beards!"
But finally, it was Alison who solved the mystery of the complex. What at first was thought to be four log cabins were in fact three and one stable. Walking over to the long stable, she looked up to see a row of names. She called the captain over to join her.
"It's a joke, right!" He asked.
Alison read the names out loud. "Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and..."
Just then, above them, came the sound of sleigh bells. All the members of the SnowCats looked skywards to see in the dark arctic night, something red and glowing.
romaincrisis
turnnoffyourmind
yousharknotpass
blakekathryn
gummygunk
jimmyeatworldofficial