Hamlin’s brain finally felt like it was marginally functional. Or at least he had what seemed to be a cognitive thought.
“Let me ask you something. I should have thought about it long before I came here. Is it typically dangerous down here? Or is this an aberration? Has Antarctica traditionally been a safe place for explorers and researchers?”
“No,” she said. “Unfortunately, Antarctica has been a very treacherous place. Many deaths have occurred here. There have been fatalities caused by almost anything you can imagine—fires, explosions, poisonings, animal attacks, exposure…”
“What a minute. You just said animal attacks. I understood that there weren’t any large animals living here in Antarctica.”
“That is not entirely true. Not if you count what is in the water and under the ice. A research diver was attacked by a leopard seal. It killed her before the other divers could rescue her.”
“That’s terrible! So how many people have died down here…or do you know?”
“I have heard that it is over two hundred and sixty, but I’m not certain of the exact number.”
“Two hundred and sixty! What in God’s name has been happening down here?”
She shrugged. “I suspect many of those were the first explorers from years ago. They had little resources and marginal knowledge of what to expect. They probably died from the cold.”
Hamlin shook his head. “I shouldn’t have asked.” He took another small sip of tea.
“Perhaps not.” She looked around at nothing in particular. She started to rub his leg. “You know we have probably at least two hours with nothing to do but sit and stare at the ceiling.”
“I know. I’m not exactly looking forward to it.”
“You were about to do laundry when this all started.”
“Hey, if there’s a connection, I’ll never do laundry again, believe me.”
“You were also about to do me, if I remember correctly.”
“I remember something along that line,” Hamlin said.
“I am confident that I know a way to make the next two hours go by much more pleasantly than just sitting here.”
“Lena, I do believe I am about to set a precedent and say no thanks.”
She lowered her voice. There was a hum of conversation in the room, and nobody seemed to be paying any particular attention to them. “Are you sure? I know what you like.”
Hamlin shook his head and took another sip. “I have no clue how what has just happened here could possibly put you in a place where you’re turned on, but it isn’t having that effect on me. The only thing I feel like doing in bed is sleeping. Now that sounds like a good way to pass the next couple of hours away.”
“Excellent. Then we can cuddle and sleep. I promise to behave.”
Hamlin decided not to feel guilty about this encounter regardless of how it turned out. He needed something therapeutic, a badly needed pleasant reprieve from the horrors of the past two days. Falling asleep in her arms sounded pleasant and relaxing. Maybe her presence would keep him from fixating on death and disease.
“As long as you promise to behave.” He stood up and she followed suit. He slipped his arm around her shoulder and started walking.
“Of course,” she purred as she crossed the fingers on her hand that was hidden behind her back. “Don’t worry. Russians are very trustworthy people.”
CHAPTER NINE
In the end, she was unable to deliver on her promise. As things unfolded, Hamlin decided that he didn’t mind so much after all. How she had learned the things she knew about human sexuality, in a very ‘hands on’ practical sense, was a mystery to Hamlin. As he lay under his comforter, feeling completely drained in both a physical and emotional sense, it occurred to him that he could have easily lain there and slept for the next two days.
“Darling,” he said, “As much as I don’t want to, I’m afraid I must disengage myself from the adult theme park that is your body. I need a shower. I’m quite sure I smell like you. Or at least certain parts of you.”
Her head lay on his chest and her hand on his stomach. “This is not a complaint, I hope. Your seasonal pass might have to be revoked.”
“Not at all. I plan to visit often. I think there are still one or two rides I haven’t tried out yet.”
“Or perhaps just a nice lunch. We do offer things to eat.”
“You are incorrigible.” As he struggled to get untangled, he grabbed a handful of her well tousled hair, held her head steady, and kissed her on the forehead. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
She smiled and lay back down in his bed. “Don’t worry. I’ll let myself out. Unless you want some help washing your back?”
He chose not to respond directly. “Do remember to throw something on before you go strolling back through the mess hall.” He closed the door behind himself as he exited the room.
He ran the shower long and hot. By the time he was finished and dressed, he felt relatively human again. It was time to rejoin the others. He just made it in time.
Sokolov was preparing to address the group.
“Very well, then. I believe we are all present and accounted for. First of all, I wish to thank those of you who prepared Doctor Kuvayev. You did an excellent and professional job under the most difficult of circumstances. I appreciate it, the rest of the crew appreciates it, and I’m positive his family and friends back home will greatly appreciate it as well.
“Now we have but one more rather miserable task ahead of us. I need volunteers to move our friend to safekeeping in the outer equipment room. We will lay him temporarily to rest beside Pechkin. Keep in mind that Kuvayev is a big man. His weight will be awkward to manage in the snow. I would like to have four at minimum; perhaps six would be even better. What do you think?”
Everyone in the room tried to volunteer. Sokolov had to choose who to use. Hamlin was thrilled to be one of the six.
“I can see no point in prolonging this. Let’s get dressed for outside and move our friend. He cannot stay amongst us any longer.”
They were able to wheel Kuvayev on the gurney right out to the door. Considering how big he was, having his body lifted as high as it was made it much easier to get a good hold and lift him to carrying height. Sokolov was right, Hamlin quickly decided. Even with six people, the deceased doctor was heavy and awkward to hold. This was going to be a long walk.
The weather had done them a favor. There was no wind as they moved off the landing and out into the snow. Their feet crunched loudly and their breath formed vapor that looked like exhaust coming out of some big diesel powered machine. There was no talking.
Sokolov walked in front, encouraging them and giving instructions to make minor changes in their direction. Hamlin found himself thinking about the university. That led to a quick recap of his previous life and how unbelievable it was that he now made up part of a funeral procession at the very bottom of the world. How had things changed so dramatically and abruptly? Regardless, this was his new reality, at least for now. So the question became, what would he do and what would his life consist of once he returned home? He had a lot of things to work out. Maybe he should start looking for some answers.
The shed was finally approaching. Hamlin felt like his arms were going to fall off. Sokolov stopped walking and held up his hand for them to do the same.
“Hey,” Hamlin said, “I don’t want to complain, but I don’t think I can hold him much longer.”
Sokolov didn’t respond, but continued to look at the shed. Hamlin followed his example. He didn’t notice it at first, but as his eyes cleared away the blurriness from the extreme cold air, he couldn’t help but see. The door to the shed was hanging open.