There were no telephones from town to town. Alaska’s natural barriers and vast distances had thus far defied this bridging.

Alaska communications service, then. A.C.S. Baranof Baranof. Paul Barnett. The Lode office. Bridie Ballantyne. Ott Decker. Territorial Police. Judge Gannon … Ross Guildenstern … “He’s a pilot. If he can get hold of a plane. If he’s in. In Baranof, I mean. My little plane won’t do, it won’t carry—no, I won’t fly back without Grampa Czar … if Ross can get a plane …”

His reply came so quickly that they scarcely had had time for more than two or three messages.

LEAVING CAN DO ABOUT HALF HOUR PAUL AND GANNON WITH ME DON’T TRY BE BRAVE WATCH SKY WAIT FOR ME ROSS

Edna Ferber

Ice Palace

Edna Ferber was an American novelist, short story writer, and playwright. Her bestselling novels were especially popular and included the Pulitzer Prize–winning So Big, Show Boat, Giant, and Cimarron. She died in 1968.

Books by Edna Ferber

American Beauty

Cimarron

Come and Get It

Giant

Gigolo

Great Son

Ice Palace

A Kind of Magic

One Basket

A Peculiar Treasure

Saratoga Trunk

Show Boat

So Big