CHAPTER 2
After breakfast we left for the place where a disturbance under the iceshelf had been reported. Dr. Raymond and Dr. Cross were not only scientists they were also field workers. They responded to disturbances and tried to find out why that might have occured. Being able to watch them at work live was amazing and i was so happy. We left on our sleds, pulled on by dogs, old style I know but it felt good. The alaskan huskies pulled me through the snow at speeds of almost 40 km/hr, as fast as a car. Maybe even faster. The feeling is hard to describe. Each the time the wind whipped onto my face, it shot an icy feeling down my spine making me feel high and excited. A little bit scared , but i still loved it. Just like that i arrived with my tools and my two mentors, a bit before 10 a.m. We set up camp 1/4 km from the site as a safety precaution. Dr. Cross stayed back while Dr. Raymond and I went to have a look. Dr. Cross was going to set up the electronic equipment here to sense the movement of the earth and also he was incharge of lunch. We took the equipment we would need with us on one sled and left the other two at the camp. The warm summer heat was starting to increase but it didn't really make a difference.
I was quite glad for a clear day, making the work easier. I started putting up a temporary tent to keep the equipment sheltered from the heat of the sun and the falling snow, While Dr. Raymond was looking for the coordinates sent by the headquaters in California. After putting up the tent and all the equipemnt was secured inside, i walked off to join Dr. Radymond. He was analysing a huge hole in the ice shelf. A big gigantic black hole.
"Woah.. Doc. That's quite big," I told him while walking up to stand next to him.
"Yeah.. but i think this was due to seismic activity, most likely two plates shifting apart" Dr. Raymond told me, with out looking up.
" hmmm.. but how come , there was no lava, or molten expulsion to close the fissure." I asked him confused and hoping for answers.
"ohh .. it happens occasionally, usually in places like this , I think the volcano is exticnt and the chamber was closed by ice. Empty except for poisonous gas", DR. Raymond answered smiling. But even the smile could not console my scared heart.
I had fear or maybe excitement in the pit of my stomach and every heart beat left a curious feeling in me.
"Go get a light stick from the equipment. let's find out how deep the hole is." Dr. Raymond said. I ran and got the light stick. After pulling it to its full length, I let it drop into the hole while Dr. Raymond recorded the time taken. It reached the bottom with a crash and the light went out.
"Atleast we can be sure of a solid floor." He said calculating the depth." hmm... its about 180 - 230 ft deep. Now let's find out about the conditions in side the hole."
He got more equipments to find the humidity level, oxygen level and levels of other gases in the hole. He sent electronic gadgets down into the hole. " he went over to the screen and watched the levels being shown clearly. After a while he exclaimed loudly.
"hmmm.. that's odd", Dr. Raymond said , staring at the screen.
"What happened?", I asked him getting closer to view the screen.
He looked at me for a second and then looked towards the screen.
" The reading tells me that the air in the hole is perfectly healthy for a human, actually , it has higher concentrations of oxygen in there than out here" he blurted, big eyed and confused." But that's not possible .. well i thought so till now". He looked at me for confirmation.
" Okay.. i have never heard of anything like that to, but does it mean that an animal might live in there", I asked him while trying to study his face.
"That's possible ,but only a thorough look through can determine it." he replied still trying to understand.
He started to get ready to descend into the hole. Dr. Cross contacted us as soon as he was about to go down. Dr. Raymond came over and took the walkie talkie from the counter.
" Stephen, the headquaters have sent me more information. They have detected more disturbances near the area. Have you reached?" Dr. Cross asked.
" We have reached and now I'm descending into the hole for a closer inspection." Dr. Raymond replied so calmly.
"What?... Are You Crazy? It's could be a major fault and doing something as risky as that is damn right stupid" ,Dr. Cross Exclaimed. He voice was wavering and he seemed concerned.
" I was just trying to be accurate", Dr. Raymond replied in the calm and cheery voice he had.
" Well don't . You hear me .. don't", Dr. Cross warned him in a calmer voice. " I suggest you two come back till some heavy equipment had reached here and we can be able to do something."
I left the conversation halfway and came back to the hole. It was so eerie that all of a sudden a big hole appears out of no where. It was a strange happening yet I felt like I have seen it happen before, way before. The place felt familliar, like I had been here before, like I lived here before , if that's even possible.
" Ha.. I guess I can't go down there" Dr. Raymond said in a sarcastic voice. He really wanted to go down.
" I agree with Dr. Cross we don't know anything about it." I replied , trying to console him but he wasn't going to be consoled so easily.
“I guess" He said in a half hearted voice. " Let's get going then. I'll go pack up, If you want you can roam around and see the area, but keep a good distance away from the hole. It might collapse or something...Ok?" He told me. He went off to pack everything up. I knew he was disappointed but it was for his good.
I came over to the edge of the ice shelf. The view was incredible. All white, serene and the snow covered peaks looked like great kings wearing crowns made of white pearls. Shining and looking valiant in any weather. I walked back slowly to the camp. I heard the crunching of snow under my foot as I walked on. But above that I heard my heart beat or was it something else? I wasn't sure and I carried on walking. I saw the camp just ahead. I looked to my right and I saw the strange hole. I stopped. What was that? My mind asked me, but I had no answer. Everything was quite except for my heart beat, then a cracking sound. I turned around. No! Not from behind me, then from where? I look down. Before I could run away the floor beneath my feet gave way and I fell into a dark pit with no end. Well I thought so until I hit rock bottom. It became dark and I was lost in the darkness not sure of anything anymore.
And then it was gone.