“It should be easy to arrange. Russ drops by to help us often enough.”

Nimec nodded, pleased. He was still looking at the map.

“I assume the blue pin marks the spot where Scout’s transmissions zilched.”

“Yes,” she said. “It’s at the opposite end of the pass from our recovery team’s camp. A span of twelve miles.”

“How come they didn’t pitch their tents closer to it?”

“The only way into the valleys is by chopper, and landing one in Bull Pass is a dangerous proposition. It’s narrow in places, and winds are fickle. That leaves us having to choose between drop zones at McKelvey to the north and Wright to the south. And the approach from Wright Valley on foot is full of obstacles. There are ridges, hills, all kinds of steep elevations.”

Nimec was silent, thinking. Then he turned from the wall map to look at Megan.

“How soon can you have a helicopter ready so I can check out the area for myself?”

She faced him across the desk, a wan smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

“What’s on your mind?” he said.

“Pete, if anybody else had spoken those words, I’d be positive he was kidding. You arrived less than an hour ago. Get some food into your stomach. Rest up. Then we can start to talk about making plans.”

“I caught a few winks on the plane,” he said.

She pursed her lips. The smile did not quite leave them.

“How about we strike a compromise,” she said. “Grab a bite together in the cafeteria.”

“I’m not hungry—”

“Today’s special is a hot turkey breast sandwich on homemade club. You won’t believe our greenhouse tomatoes. And the coffee. We have a selection of lattes and mochas. Cappuccino too. And espresso. Also four or five blends of ordinary roast if your taste leans toward the pedestrian side.”

He looked at her.

“Lattes in Antarctica,” he said.

She nodded. “This is an UpLink base. Moreover, it’s my base. And despite these ghastly earth-mother clothes, I’m still Megan Breen.”

Nimec suddenly couldn’t help but crack a smile of his own.

“Okay, princess,” he said. “Let’s eat.”

One million miles from Earth

The satellite glided through deep space like a solitary night bird, its keen electronic sensors picking up signs of the coming storm as they were swept toward it on the solar wind.