Ice Read Online Free PDF Page B

minutes, they were rumbling down the runway en route to their unknown destination.
     
    ***
     
    The bitter Arctic wind blew ferociously across the snowy tundra as the dropping pressure forced masses of air to swirl and push through the darkened winter skies. A sliver of sunlight still visible on the icy horizon faded behind the gusts and eddies that whipped snow into the air as the storm began to build. Squinting against the flurry of ice in the air, a polar bear made a mournful sound as she called to her cubs, and two white-coated bodies lifted their noses toward Heaven. Mirroring their mother, they sniffed. Too young to know the scent, two pairs of dark eyes looked back at their tense mother. Her snout in the air, she continued to sniff. She knew the scent. It was the scent of danger.
    The mammals of the Arctic Circle weren’t the only warm-blooded creatures paying attention to the danger looming in the Northern Hemisphere. Meteorologists, climatologists and atmospheric scientists from all over the world were on the phone, on the fax and on their computers. Debating, assuming, postulating, predicting and at times guessing, they bantered back and forth as data from satellites filled their computer screens with images curious and possibly deadly.
    They knew that problems would be born from what lurked high above the clouds. A few fenders would no doubt be bent, and some would lose a day at work for traveling would be precarious, but if their predictions were correct, a small part of the world would simply stop. There would be no venturing out the morning after to stock up on forgotten supplies, and mountains would not be visited by skiers with smiling faces and knit caps. People would be far too busy doing other things, like staying alive. The average neighborhood roof isn’t built to withstand the weight of the snow the blizzard could bring, and homes not having a set of stairs leading up to their front door, would be lost behind dunes of white, several feet tall. Parked cars would be consumed, fire hydrants would be buried, and electricity and cable would be iffy at best.
    Of course, there was still time for things to change. Upper troughs and ever-changing winds could easily alter courses, but warnings were issued, nonetheless. As always, some took heed, running to their favorite market to fill their cart with the essentials, topping off their gas tanks and making sure they had plenty of videos to watch, while others scoffed and turned their backs. They had enough to last a day or even two. They were fools.
    There had been another storm that some had labeled perfect, but this one…this one was more than perfect. If the pieces of the puzzle slipped into place as many believed they would, this storm wouldn’t be perfect. It would be God.
     
    ***
     
    Shortly after takeoff, Jane walked down the aisle. Stopping near Maggie, she offered a soft smile as she asked, “Would you like a drink, Detective Inspector?”
    On duty, and her throat now sore and scratchy, Maggie quietly replied, “Just water please.”
    “And how about you, Alex?” Jane asked, grinning at the smiling officer to her right.
    Noticing how Campbell looked up when the question had been asked, Alex said, “I know you can’t tell us where we’re going, but can you at least tell us how much time we have before we land?”
    “Oh, several hours, I’m afraid.”
    Without missing a beat, Alex said, “I’ll take a scotch.”
    Seeing Campbell’s expression change from one of interest to one of contempt, Alex quickly added, “On second thought, make it a double.”
    “Double it is,” Jane said with a wink.
    “Oh, before you go. Can you give me a hand with this entertainment unit? It doesn’t seem to be working,” Alex said, pointing to the small digital screen to her right.
    Frowning, Jane said, “That’s because it’s turned off. We’re not allowed to tell you where you’re going, and those units have destination and directional settings.