Polar Quest

“I don’t know. This continent has a lot of history to it. Who knows, maybe some early tribe of humans made their way down here at some point. They could have dropped it and then we find it thousands of years later.”

“So you’re not into aliens.”

Dave smiled. “If I see something conclusive, then sure, I might change my mind. Until that happens, though, I’ll be a bit skeptical about its origins.”

“Is that a view shared by your uncle?” Annja leaned back, trying to stretch. Her ribs felt tender but pretty good.

“I don’t know, Annja. I’m not privy to a lot of what they talk about. I get my orders, and do what I’m asked to do. They deposit money into my bank account. That’s how our relationship works.”

“But Zach seems to trust you.”

“Yeah, well, he’s got no reason not to trust me. I wouldn’t do anything that would hurt the guy. He’s a good apple.”

Annja let the conversation stall for the moment. She yawned and fought to keep her eyes open. The sleep last night hadn’t revived her as much as she’d hoped it would. Plus, the injury had given her body more work to do, even if it had been helped by the power of the sword.

A nap would really be great.

“How long until I spell you at the wheel?”

Dave smiled. “You know how to drive one of these things?”

“Nope. But I’m a fast learner.”

“Is that so?”

“Ask Zach.”

Dave smirked. “All right.” He reached forward for the radio handset and keyed it. “Zach, you back there?”

There was a pause and then Annja heard Zach’s voice. “Yeah. What’s up?”

“Annja here says that she’s a quick study on vehicles. Is that true?”

“Why, is she asking to take a turn at the wheel?”

“Something like that, yeah.”

Zach’s laughter floated through the speaker. “I wouldn’t if I were you. There was this one time, in Paris, where she tried to work the controls of this giant wrecking ball and ended up—”

Annja grabbed the handset. “We don’t need to go into details about that just now, Zach. Why don’t you just be a good guy and tell Dave that I am perfectly capable of working the Sno-Cat so he can get some rest when he feels tired?”

Zach paused. “Well, I guess she could relieve you if you explain how those controls work.”

Dave smirked. “That’s quite a vote of confidence you got yourself there.”

“Zach’s always been like that. He’s convinced I can’t drive, either. And that Paris thing was just a big misunderstanding. Really. I’m much more accomplished now on heavy machinery.”

“Really?”

“You bet.”

Dave nodded. “Well, I’m fine right now and we only just started out. I’d like to get us a good hundred miles out before I give much thought to releasing the controls. I’m well used to long hauls like this anyway, so it’s no real big deal.”

Annja sighed. “Fine.”

Zach’s voice came back through the speaker. “Dave?”

Dave took the handset. “Go ahead.”

“You tell anyone else that we were coming out here today?”

“Me? Nope. No need.”

“Annja? How about you?”

Annja frowned. “Just that guy Trevor at my dorm. He seemed to know already, though. He mentioned something about being careful out here and that he’s heard it was a big old environmental disaster area. He told me I should be really careful. He seemed genuine enough.”

Dave keyed the microphone. “Why do you ask? Something wrong back there?”

Zach paused. Then Annja heard his voice again. “I don’t know.”

“Zach?”

“It’s probably nothing,” he said. “I just thought I saw something behind us, that’s all.”

“Behind us? As in what? Another vehicle?” Dave asked.

“Yeah.”

Dave shook his head. “Not very likely. It’s tough going out here, and unless whoever’s driving is experienced, they can easily get lost, even with the GPS system.”

“How so?”

“They have to be able to navigate with it. And the GPS isn’t quite as easy as what you’d find on a car. It’s a bit trickier.”

Annja frowned. “But what if there is someone back there? What would they be doing?”

“I don’t know. Tracking us?” Zach said.

“But why?” Annja turned in her seat and felt a slight twinge in her side. “Ouch.”

“Take it easy,” Dave said. “Don’t damage yourself any more than you already have.”

“Okay.” But Annja turned anyway and peered through the back windshield. She could see the lights from Zach’s Sno-Cat. But nothing behind that.

If there was someone else out there, the snow and ice seemed to have swallowed him completely.

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