'GANS ON ICE

by Lucille D'ecoupage

It is dark now. The days pass with brief dullness as the sun's rays reflect off the constant cloud cover. Temperatures plummit, exposed skin freezes at the mere suggestion of exposure. Piles of discarded tins litter the floor of the cabin. Non-essential items such as stools and wooden fixtures are now being used as fuel, as the ship's supply of coal has been sullied by damp, frozen into solid non-cumbustability. Terrifying sounds come out of the ice as it strains against itself and threatens to crush the ship.

The remaining crew are huddled together, reeking of dispair.

"Sweet Jesus! Mother of God!" screams Tarbin, writhed in pain. The others hobble to his side as he lays, convulsed in a bunk.

"He's delirious... Enoch, get my bag!" said the Doctor, struggling to get the patient prostrate.

"Where is it?"

"Under my desk!"

"Forgive me!" cried Tarbin, his eyes grey as the sky outside. He shuddered uncontrolably, "What dear heaven have I entered?" Conversely, his speech was clear - free of the impediment which followed his entire life. There was little the Doctor or anyone else could do.

"Easy lad..." said Farthing, holding onto his legs.

"Let me go! You've seen what will happen if you don't hold the reigns like this, hold them like this!"

"Vat is he saying?" asked the Whaler, who tried to wrap another blanket around him.

"Pull with your left! Lead him through the gate! Pull with your left!"

"Hurry!" cried Dickinson over his shoulder to Caudal, who was struggling to locate the Doctor's satchel in the dark. Finally he discovered it, tossed in a corner among the debris and stumbled back to the others.

Dickinson rummaged around 'til he found with his fingers a small vial of gelatinous clear liquid. He tried desperately to warm it with his breath while he prepared an enormous brass-plated hypodermic. Before he could go any further, Tarbin snapped his head back and gasped. He remained rigid for a few seconds and then collapsed heavily.

Silence.

They relaxed their grip and sat by the bunk, stunned by his sudden and violent passing.