But that’s what you’re after, too.
She laughed. At least she could be honest with herself.
After so many years spent trying to please everyone else, at least Julia could please herself.
A cold wind swept the lined hood up against her cheeks. She felt the sting hit the few exposed patches of her skin and smiled. It almost felt like the huge continent was welcoming her.
The prefabricated units that made up the research station seemed so alien here; stark against the backdrop of white snow. And even though the designers had tried to reduce their profile, the rounded half moons arcing up from the ground still seemed almost grotesque.
While the rest of the landscape seemed so virgin.
She turned upon hearing the main entryway open again. She watched a few of the crew come out and begin loading gear onto the two Snowcats. The big transport vehicles had a cruising speed of about twenty miles per hour over the snow and ice. Their thick caterpillar treads could easily carve out a road with little problem. Seating would be cramped given that the vehicles could hold two comfortable and Julia would ask them to double that load.
But what the hell. If they’d wanted creature comforts, they never should have even come here.
The bottom of the world.
It hit her then in a way it hadn’t previously. How bizarre to imagine oneself at the very bottom of the world. Julia grinned. I’m standing upside now, at least in relation to my perspective.
But was there really any true perspective? Gravity made sure no one fell off the planet. But once out into outer space, what was up and what was down? Were those concepts even viable any more?
Nung climbed into the cab of the first Snowcat and turned the engine on. The machine turned over nicely, a deep throaty growl that settled into a smooth purr as the first cloud of exhaust billowed out of its backside and stained the snow behind it sooty gray.
So much for virginity, thought Julia. She walked over and climbed into the cab of the second Snowcat. She pushed the starter button and felt the engine shudder underneath her before smoothing out like Nung’s had.
Julia cranked the heater, although she knew it would take a few minutes before the engine would be warm enough to throw off heat. Still, inside the cab she could at least take her hood off.
Mick opened the door opposite and climbed in. “Good morning.”
She smiled. “Sleep well?”
“Remarkably so, actually. I stayed up a little late watching the storm settle on top of us. I must have fallen asleep in my chair.”
“You slept in the lounge all night?”
Mick shook his head. “Nah. I woke up around four, I think. I stumbled into my sleep chamber and conked out there.”
“Was it still snowing when you went to sleep?”
Mick shrugged. “Don’t know. My eyes were so heavy I couldn’t even see. I think someone else must have been up, though. I thought I heard someone moving around.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, down by the greenhouse.”
“You didn’t check it out?”
Mick looked at her. “I would have, but I was too wasted. My head and back were killing me, those chairs in the lounge aren’t very comfortable.”
Julia nodded. Outside, she watched Kendall climb into Nung’s Snowcat followed by Havel and Darren. That meant Wilkins and Vikorsky would ride with Mick and her.
“It’s going to be cramped in the cab here,” said Mick.
She smiled at him. “I guess so.”
“Will that be a problem?”
Why were his eyes so blue? “Not at all.”
Mick said nothing but just kept smiling. Julia turned away. “What’s taking Wilkins so long? According to Havel, we’re due for another snow storm tonight.”
Mick nodded. “I saw that. You ever heard about this place receiving so much snow?”
“No.”
“Me either.” He cleared his throat. “That strike you as odd?”
“What- the snow?”
“Yeah.”
“Should it?”
“Maybe.”
“You mean given the fact that the former crew has gone missing?”
“I mean that, yeah. Also, last night’s deal with everyone having the same dreams about this place.”
“Got you spooked?”
Mick smirked. “A lot of things spook me, Julia. I’ve seen a lot of shit that would freak most people out.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t give my secrets away that easily.”
“But you do give them away? Eventually?” Julia felt her skin grow warm. Had she blushed when she said that? What was it about him that made her feel this way?
“Not always,” said Mick. “But sometimes.”
Julia started to say something but stopped when she saw Wilkins come running out of the station. “It’s about time.”
Wilkins pulled on the door and opened it. Julia waved him in. “Get in, we’re late.”
He shook his head. “We can’t go!”
“What? Why not?” She frowned. “Where’s Vikorsky?”
“Missing,” said Wilkins. “I’ve looked all over the station for him. He’s gone.”
“Gone? How? That doesn’t make any sense. We saw him last night. Where would he have gone?”
“I don’t know.”
Julia looked at Mick. “You think that’s what you heard last night?”
Mick shrugged. “Could have been. I don’t know.”
“What did you hear?”
Mick looked at Wilkins. “I went to bed late last night. As I was turning in, I thought I heard something down by the greenhouse.”
Wilkins frowned. “You didn’t look into it?”
“He was tired,” said Julia. “Forget about it.”
“Well, whatever he heard, the fact is Vikorsky is gone.”
“No signs at all of where he disappeared to?”
“None,” said Wilkins.
Julia looked out the windshield toward the horizon. They were there. The mountains. She could feel them, unseen over the horizon, pulling her — urging her to drive to them. She felt the pull, the tug, and the stronger yank of whatever secrets they held.
She desperately wanted to drive.
But Viksorksy was gone.
Vanished.
The mountains would have to wait.
“Tell Nung to shut the Cat down.”
Mick looked at her. “We’re not going?”
“We can’t drive off now,” said Julia. “What if Viksorksy is somewhere inside the station? He might be hurt. He might be somewhere we don’t know about. He might need us. Leaving this place for eight hours might even mean his death.”
Mick looked down. “He might already be dead. Did you ever think of that?”
“I’ve considered it,” said Julia. “I don’t want to accept that yet, though.”
“Kendall’s going to have a field day with this one,” said Wilkins.
“Just tell Nung to shut it down. I want everyone inside. We’ll organize a search party and see if we can comb the place over again.”
Wilkins shut the door and hurried to the other Snowcat. Julia watched him pull the door open and begin gesturing with his arms. She could see the disappointment on the faces of the other crewmembers.
Did they feel it, too? Did they feel the inexorable pull coming from the horizon. Did the mountains have some sort of weird control over them?
“Julia?”
Mick’s voice.
Beside her.
Warm.
Soothing.
She turned. His blue eyes bore into her. “Yes?”
“You ready to go inside?”
She nodded. But the only place she wanted to go was to the mountains over the horizon.
4
Julia thanked her guardian angels for including Wilkins on the trip. As soon as they got inside he stood right behind Julia. She could feel his strength and warmth behind her and it lent her the stability she felt she needed.
“Vikorsky’s gone missing. We’re going to find him.”
Kendall’s predictable frown stood out among their faces. “How are you planning on doing that? Remember, the other crew vanished without a trace.”