The professor’s mind ticked over like a grandfather clock, methodically touching on all the data available to him, his legs moving like dual pendulums sending him further down the mountain through ice and snow.
A little over 15 miles to base camp, five hours left of daylight, the sun was blanketed by a heavy cloud... again! And would probably stay that way until tomorrow. Three bars of chocolate to keep energy up and reduce use of precious body fat.
He wouldn’t rest as night fell, too great a chance of never waking. He would continue through and surely reach camp by midday tomorrow, by then the good ol’ rescue team would be out looking for all three of them, now that they were well past their due time. And even before that he would be far enough from the mineral rich soil and rocks to get a clear signal with his two-way radio.
Alex and Rick would be fine, he had stayed longer than he wanted to yesterday burning the last hours of daylight and constructing the ice cave to make sure they would be safe and warm. No sense in worrying anymore, it was up to them to stay alive and vigilant. They weren’t just any students, these were his two best with minds great enough to be akin to his own.
He reached around to his front pocket and patted the flare gun, good, if he heard the chopper, which they would no doubt send out tomorrow morning when there was better visibility, he would use it. The breast pocket was where his chocolate bars sat; less a chocolate bar and more a soft glucose-cocoa mix that didn’t require a lot of heat to melt in his mouth. Regular chocolate would be like sucking on a rock.
He unzipped his pocket and reached in to grab the first bar. Lunchtime at last, he smiled, ice cracked in his beard.
The smile turned to a frown. He patted his other pockets, frantically clenching each fabric space around his large jacket and insulated pants.
‘You stupid asshole!’
The professor stomped his feet like a delinquent and bellowed out a second time, voice echoing off the sheer faces less than a mile away, still obscured by cloud.
He wasn’t sure if he was yelling at himself or the circumstance he found himself in. He would be okay. He might get sick or take somewhat longer to recover after this was all over, but he would be okay. Hungry and tired, but okay.
How could this have happened?
He felt a rumble and patted his belly.
‘Easy, fella.’
But that wasn’t it. His stomach wasn’t grumbling at lack of food, vibrations were coming from under his feet.
‘Oh no. Don’t.’
The sound of rushing snow reached his ears. It wouldn’t be long before it was upon him.
Mat Clarke - Australia
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