They reached the Tahatu. The tramp freighter was being unloaded, crates and pallets sitting on the quayside and more items stacked on its main deck. A large and muscular East Asian man carried another box down the gangway. He gave the new arrivals a look of deep suspicion.

‘Hello!’ Eddie called with affected cheer. ‘You the captain?’

The man shook his head. ‘On the bridge,’ he replied. ‘You cops?’

‘No, we’re looking to hire a ship,’ said Nina. ‘We were told the Tahatu might be available?’

He appeared conflicted, putting his cargo down and regarding the trio warily before finally nodding. ‘Okay. I get Captain Nick.’ He waved for them to follow him aboard.

‘Huh,’ said Nina quietly as they reached the deck. ‘They were definitely geared up for anything they might find on the iceberg.’ As well as numerous pallets of food and bottled water, enough to sustain an expedition for weeks, she saw cold-weather clothing and tents, climbing gear, scuba tanks and drysuits.

The crewman led them to the bridge. Its occupant turned to greet them. Nina had expected a grizzled old sea dog to match his vessel, but instead found a handsome and well-built Maori man in his forties, a small tā moko tattoo running down his chin like an ornate blue beard. It was partially obscured by several days’ stubble, though, the captain looking sleep-deprived and harried. ‘Yes?’ he said. ‘Can I help you?’

‘Hi,’ said Nina, extending her hand. ‘Professor Macy Garde, from Columbia University. In New York?’

He shook it, cocking his head quizzically. ‘You’re a long way from home.’

‘I’m a climatologist, I travel a lot. Wherever you go, there’s weather!’ She laughed a little.

He managed a polite chuckle. ‘Nikau Jones – but you can call me Nick. I’m the Tahatu’s captain. Thanks, Yuda.’ He nodded at the crewman, who left the bridge. ‘So what can I do for you?’

‘We’re looking to hire a ship to take us to . . . Campbell Island,’ she said, drawing the name from some obscure corner of her memory. ‘For climate research.’

‘You’d be better off in Christchurch or Dunedin. You’d save a couple of days’ sailing time, and there are people down there set up for going that far south.’

Eddie gestured at the equipment on the deck below. ‘Looks like you’ve got the gear for it.’

A flash of anger in the captain’s eyes. ‘Previous clients. They left it behind; said they didn’t need it any more.’

‘That’s some expensive equipment,’ said Nina. ‘You could probably get a lot of money for it.’

Jones shook his head. ‘I just want it off my ship.’

‘Not the best voyage?’ said Eddie.