Inside the station-
Geroge and
Harrison changes subject to the recent red bacteria of the ice core samples of
Price´s.
“Those strands might be exactly what I´ve been waiting on, Dwayne. I´m really excited about this find.”
Harrison flicks through the old report and says,
“Much like this one from ´76, right?” He smiles and puts a hand on the professor´s shoulder. “Better pick this up with Eric, he´d listen better. And understand too. I´m heading out to the garage to see if I can get something done before dark.”
The Canasta players gets cards by the hand of
Xavier who cuts slightly above the target number. Upon receiving the hands,
Janet is graced by two red threes. She puts them on the table and draws two bonus cards, folding a four of clubs.
Robert Bailey comes back out from the radio room beneath the stairs. He exits just as the front door is slammed shut. From the air lock,
Arthur walks out with a busted cheek bone and a cold stare. He has his moon boots on from having walked outside. His clothing is white with frost and powder snow as if he has been crawling in the snow. Blood drips down on his left arm from the gash on his cheek.
“Damn, it´s cold. I fell and hit my head on the handle to the larder. Got a band aid Evans?”
Robert almost takes a step backwards but decides to just stop in his tracks.
Evans leans backwards on his chair and glances at
Arthur.
“What the..?” He topples the chair as he stands up and runs up to the
Arthur Ward.
“Arthur, you´re not in Brighton beach anymore. What were you thinking? Eric, get some warm water and towels! Janet, get my bag!” He gets
Arthur around the back and maneuvers him to the lounge area and lays him down on one of the sofas.
Outside-
Johnny lifts the crate lid and his heart warms at the sight within,
“Bingo!” He reverently takes a bottle and slips it inside the inner pocket of his parka,
“Wouldn’t want you to get too cold now,lovely lady.” he turns and makes his way back to the front of the container, pausing to look at Arthur’s blood splashed on the wall.
“Clumsy beggar, what a dolt!” He turns for one last look around and then switches off the lights.
Johnny closes the door securely behind him as he bends his head into the cold outdoors and stomps back towards the station. He keeps a look out for
Walther on the way.
Checking the surroundings from the shoveled path,
Johnny sees no sign of Walther. Walking up the stairs he turns and gazes at the horizon.
Inside the station-
Arthur passes out as
Evans dresses his wound.
“Wonder why he went outside without his parka?”, he says and finishes the job.
“Janet, can you get me an IV from the med?”
Eric dashes to get the towels. Upon returning, he helps
Evans out with the patch-up job.
Johnny shivers as he gazes at the cold and deadly beauty of the Antarctic. He enters the station, pulls the door behind him, goes through the airlock and shrugs off his outer gear. Leaving the whiskey in his parka for the moment,
Johnny saunters into the lounging area.
Eric arrives with the hot water and towels. Seeing that the gash is bandaged he puts down the items.
“Thanks, start to douse the towels and drape him with them. Just leave a gap over his mouth.” Evans says.
Janet arrives with the IV and a bag of saline.
Evans puts the needle in
Arthur´s arm.
When
Johnny gets his gear off,
Harrison is gearing up.
“Out to the garage. See ya later, dude.”
Xavier nods at
Johnny when he enters.
“Did you see Walther out there? We saw him entering the control tower. What do we have out there?”
At the question,
Robert laughs.
“Only Harrison and Walther know where anything is on base.”
“We should get a gurney and move him up to the infirmary.” Janet offers.
“Sure, get one from upstairs.” says
Evans.
Janet leave the rest of the team to fetch the gurney.
As
Eric puts hot, damp towels on
Arthur´s face
Ward exhales and then breathes in deeply and continuously. Seemingly unconscious and stable.
Janet passes
Johnny as she´s passing the air lock.
“Getting a gurney..”
[And there is where we are when the game starts at 22 September!]
