'GANS ON ICE

by Lucille D'ecoupage

"God Damn it to Hell how can this be!?"

They now stood in the quarterdeck of the ship, still dressed in their snow covered garb. Farthing ranted like a madman, "How in the name of Christ Almighty does he manage to take my crew without my even knowing!"

"He, Sir?" said Caudal as he struggled with a flint in order to re-light the fire.

"That bloody whaler, that's who!"

"But he is still with us..."

"What?" Farthing was incredulous. He searched the room with his eyes even though Larsfeldt stood before him, although behind the Doctor. "God deliver us, where is he..."

"I am right here Captain."

The Whaler stepped out from behind Dickinson. It seemed as though he and the Captain had been re-united after a long absence. Farthing grasped him by the shoulders, "But, I did not see you earlier..."

"I vas reliefing meinself Sir."

"Well thank God for that!" Farthing shook him, "Thank God for that..."

The men gathered around the chart table, still wearing their heavy gear while the small fireplace sputtered to life. A pot of snow had been placed on top, ready to be melted. There were many questions to be answered. The Whaler seemed particularly dejected. "Ze men I had taken wif me are behind ze desertion... They became convinced on our journey zey could make it south to James Bay. Zey acted quite quickly. Ve had been back only one evening."

"And the hunters?"

"Zey are quite innocent Sir. I had convinced zem a great ship had come from ze sky over the range to ze east. Zey had come three days out of their migration. Zey had no choice but to return to ze hunt."

Farthing sat with his head in his hands. He was weak with hunger, his eysight failing - he could not focus on the chart before him. He could not reason why...

"And no one thought to wake me."

"You were among the thpirit-th, Thir." sputtered Tarbin.

Farthing raised his head, "Drugged?"

"I think not." Doctor Dickinson advanced. He gave Farthing a short Phrenocological exam and found no evidence of toxins in his cranium.

"And what of the launch?"

Caudal spoke next. He had made a quick inventory of the ship. "They have taken anything and everything of value. Particularly food. They've left us only canned meats, which taste of tin. The silverware is gone. Trade goods... china, crystal. They've also taken the ship's piano Sir."

"My God." groaned Farthing once again. "What's to become of us."