Trial by Ice by Casey Calouette Read Free Book Online

which method of cooking a chicken delivered the greatest flavor. Eduardo was giving a very robust defense on the virtues of roasting. The crisp light hit him. He caught his breath and slid the facemask up. The dim warmth was totally wiped away and his mittens stiffened.
    He stuffed his hands under his arms and shuffled to the tent with the wounded. The air inside was slightly warmer than outside. Only the thermal creaking of the fins made any noise. Only four of the wounded remained. Eduardo’s companion, the unconscious blonde, and two unconscious men. Vito sat near the heater fins and waved him over.
    “Vito,” said William as he squatted near the fins.
    “Did you eat?” Vito offered half a ration bar.
    “I dined already, but thanks.”
    Vito nodded.
    “How was the night?”
    “Two died.”
    “Two? Everyone off the patches?”
    “Von Hess is on one, but he’ll be off by the end of the day.”
    “Who?”
    “The strider jockey,” Vito pointed to Eduardo's friend.
    “We’re going tomorrow, Vito. What do you need to move the wounded?”
    “Besides a vehicle? Sleds maybe, but William, they’ll freeze to death.”
    “Talk to Eduardo, see if he and Grue can come up with something with the reactor.”
    Vito nodded slowly, and spat into the snow. “Where are we headed?”
    “South, Eduardo found water.”
    “Water? That seems a bit unusual.”
    “Warmer currents from the south, maybe?” William shrugged.
    “And when we get there?”
    “Ahh, well, I’m still working on that one.”
    William walked back into the cold air outside, but this time had his face-mask up and ready. Men were moving about and collecting wreckage. A single sled was already wedged into a rock. It looked to be an outer casing of aluminum with electrical wire as a lanyard. He followed a fresh group heading out and helped to scour for more debris.
     
    * * *
     
    Berry huddled under his sleeping bag and snatched glances to the pile of ration cases stacked on the edge of the room. The tent was too tight, the quarters too close, he’d need another way.
    “Grue,” Berry whispered.
    The man raised his eyes from the floor. “What?”
    “Are you in?” It was the first question Berry had posed in a long time without already knowing the answer.
    Grue returned his gaze to the floor and nodded.
    “I’m going for a walk.” Berry nudged Nur and sat up stiffly. The wounds felt aged, rough, but getting better. He dropped the sleeping bag and ruffled his jacket. He’d be due outside for his next shift shortly. Might as well meet them outside, he thought.
    The chill was shocking in its intensity. He tightened his jacket and stumbled along the edge of the tent. There wasn’t a person in sight. He slid his way up towards the tent with the wounded and stood listening to the wind.
    Below him sat the barely visible tip of the stake attached to a tightened loop of coated wire. He squatted down next to the wall as if huddling from the cold and worked to remove it from the stake.
    “Why don’t you come inside?” Vito asked from around the corner.
    Berry froze. The loop was still locked into the stake in front of him. “Your stake worked loose.”
    “Oh?” Vito walked closer and squatted down. “Hmm, I’m going to check the rest.”
    Berry nodded and walked towards the other tent.
    “Thank you!” Vito called.
    Berry waved and found another stake to wiggle and work on in silence.
     
    * * *
     
    The day went on like those before with wind punishing those outdoors while those inside listened to the incessant howls in dread of when they would have to go back out. The slabs of aluminum, once covers to the dropcap supplies, now made an ideal sledge. Each had gussets on the lid that acted as slight skis helping them track straight. The only downfall was they required weight at all times. When empty they flipped and acted as a giant sail.
    A slight break in the clouds and wind hit about mid afternoon and the work hastened even quicker. Supplies were