Polar Meltdown Read Online Free PDF Page B

about some provisions? I’m hungry.”
    â€œYou’re always hungry,” laughed Zoe, wriggling round to put her hand into her brother’s backpack. “If you get your elbow out of my stomach, I might be able to reach the food.”
    â€œNot easy!” Ben shifted painfully. “Now I’m sitting on the RAT’s motor.”
    The children soon had their high-energy fruit bars unwrapped. They sat and munched in silence. Outside it was as dark as night now, and the snow was piling up at the hole’s entrance. Strange noises rose up above the whine of the wind.
    â€œThat’s the ice floe creaking,” said Zoe. “It moves all the time and this storm’s making it worse.” She scooped some snow into her glove and sucked at it. “No shortage of drink here.”

    Ben yawned and rubbed his eyes. “I’m going to get a bit of sleep,” he told Zoe. “Jet lag. Wake me up when the storm’s over.”
    Zoe nodded. Ben always suffered more than she did from the time changes when they went on their missions. She knew she wouldn’t sleep anyway. Her mind was too busy picturing the shivering bear cubs alone in their den. She wondered how they’d ever get to them in time. Any tracks the mother polar bear or fisherman had left would be covered in fresh snow. So would the den…
    Zoe’s breathing was quickening and her thoughts were suddenly tumbling about.
    She had a weird feeling of confusion. She turned to Ben and was horrified to see that his lips were blue – and yet when she touched his skin it was warm. What was happening?
    She shook her brother hard. She was relieved to see he was breathing, but he wouldn’t stir. Her muddled brain tried to work out what was going on. She had to get a grip on herself, but she felt so light-headed! She took a handful of snow and rubbed it in her face to wake herself up.
    She flashed the torch around. Where was the entrance to their shelter? It had vanished. Was she having a nightmare? No, that was silly, she was awake.
    And now the tiny bit of Zoe’s brain that was still working had the answer. The storm had sealed them in. They were trapped in a tomb of snow. If the hole had gone, then no air was getting in. They were being starved of oxygen. That explained why she felt so strange. And that was why Ben wouldn’t wake up.
    Zoe knew that if she didn’t do something straight away they were going to die! But all she wanted to do was close her eyes and sleep.
    â€œStay awake!” she muttered to herself, pinching her cheeks hard, hoping the pain would keep her focused.
    She started to scrape at the covered entrance, but the snow was thick and she could feel her strength draining away. She was gasping now from lack of air as she clawed desperately for a way out.
    Then, just when she thought she couldn’t dig any more, the snow fell away and her gloved hand broke through the wall. With the last of her strength, Zoe heaved herself up to the small gap and took great welcome gulps of freezing air. She felt her brain slowly come back to life. She twisted round to Ben.

    He was pale and still. Zoe’s heart almost stopped. Was she too late?

CHAPTER
EIGHT
    â€œWake up, Ben!” Zoe tugged at her brother’s jacket and managed to haul him towards the small blast of fresh, freezing air. His head lolled forwards and he didn’t stir.
    â€œBen!” sobbed Zoe in desperation. She rubbed hard on his back. Then she shook him. But nothing was working.
    Desperately she took a handful of snow and shoved it into his face.
    Ben gave a faint groan and his eyelids fluttered. “Gerroff!” he mumbled.
    Zoe didn’t think she’d ever been happier! She got another handful of snow.
    â€œCold!” muttered Ben, trying to turn his head away.
    â€œBreathe deeply,” insisted Zoe, slapping his cheeks. “You lost consciousness.”
    Gradually, Ben came round. To Zoe’s