Trial by Ice Read Online Free PDF Page B

a comm station going and radio the civilians for help. Ain’t enough here to storm a donut stand,” Berry said with a flick of his wrist. He waited. The silence of the moment grew uncomfortable. Did he hear him? He rubbed his gloves together and looked away from the Marine.
    “Rescue,” Sebastien stated as if it was the first time he’d said the words.
    “Lay down the arms, get taken in, they’d get a dandy ransom I’m sure.” Berry smiled. Was he getting anywhere? Damned hard man to read.
    “Corporal, follow your chain of command. If you have a suggestion, pass it along to Sergeant Crow.” The tone finalized the conversation.
    “But sir, you could take the initiative, save these men,” Berry pleaded.
    “Carry on with your duties, Corporal, your shift to go outside will be here soon.”
    Berry stood slowly and looked down to Sebastien. The eyes that looked back up at him were as cold as the rocks outside. He thought better of continuing the conversation. Can’t squeeze water from a rock, he thought.
     
    * * *
     
    William walked back out into the white bright air outside. He saw blue sky for the first time. It was whipped by low flying clouds. The gripping wind tossed another blast. He braced himself against the side of the tent and waited for it to relent. Vito emerged and the two shambled to the tent filled with wounded.
    He watched the wounded sleep the fitful nanite induced sleep. Vito walked around and checked each one with a careful finger on the neck.
    “How long ‘til they become hypothermic?” William asked.
    “They won’t, not as long as the patches are on,” Vito replied, checking the pulse of the blonde.
    “What?”
    “Nanites generate heat. As they work and repair they each give off a tiny bit of energy. Add that up and you get a net heating effect. Too many nanites and they can cook altogether, though they normally self-regulate.”
    “What about on us?”
    “No work, no heat. They may make a bit of energy, but not as much as the seriously wounded. That’s how I decided on who to cut off.” Vito stood stiffly in the crisp air. “Simple thermodynamics.”
    William nodded and watched down the line. He squatted onto his haunches and removed his gloves. He touched his dry hands onto his cheeks, they were cold, rough, and raspy. His hands grew cold quickly. He touched his fingertips onto the ankle of a man in front of him. It was warm even through his clothing.
    These were his charge. The ones who couldn’t defend themselves. He could leave them to freeze easy enough and he knew it. No one would chastise him for saving what he could. Already it was a daunting task just to survive, but to survive and to move… He stood, put his gloves back on and walked out into the cold.
    He found Grue in the tent, covered in a mound of sleeping bags like a hibernating bear. Corporal Berry sat nearby. This was going to be an uncomfortable conversation.
    “Grue, wake up,” William said as he slid down and sat in front of him. He pulled a free sleeping bag over him and tried to stay warm. He was still thirsty.
    “Go away,” Grue said quietly.
    “Can we strip the reactor out of that capsule?” William asked.
    “No.”
    “Is there any power source that we can take out?”
    “No.”
    “No there isn’t or no you won’t? I’m not going to let these men die because you decided to.”
    Grue raised his eyes and the anger was evident across his face. “No, as in they aren’t designed to come out, No as in there isn’t any other power supplies.”
    “Is there anything that had a portable reactor?”
    Grue looked at the floor in silence.
    “Grue?”
    “Striders,” Grue said with his eyes closed. “We had one capsule with striders, find them and I’ll get you some power. Now leave me alone.”
    “Striders,” William whispered.
    “Not afraid of robots—eh, Captain?” Berry said coldly.
    “Corporal, I’d appreciate some respect, I need everyone working on moving us forward,” William