Page 14 of Polar Destiny
"No problem." I'm falling. Except that somehow he's still holding me. I can't believe this. He's sodead.
"If you don't let go of me this very moment..." He drops me the last few inches onto the floor. "Shit! You evil, evilbastard!"
My hand flies to my mouth, and I look around, panicked. Húnn and Ràn stare atme.
"Did shejust...?"
"I think shedid!"
"Maybe there's hope for heryet."
No. I don't swear. I'm not allowed to. Who swears, lies. Who lies will bepunished.
"Say it again, sweetie," Húnnbegs.
"Shit," Iwhisper.
Ràn comes over and pulls my hand away from my face. "Again."
"Shit. Shit, shit, shit. Shit! SHIT!" What started as a whisper ends in a jubilantshout.
Finn grabs me and suddenly I'm in the air again, being whirled around in his arms. So much more fun than being lifted over hishead.
"Shit, shit, shi-iii-iit," we chant. When Finn moves us towards Ràn, I reach out a hand to pull Ràn towards us, but he is too heavy, and with a cheeky grin, he pulls and I'm not letting go, dragging Finn with me until both of us end up lying on top of both of Ràn. I can feel Ràn's chest grumbling in laughter, while Finn continues to chant from aboveme.
"What the fuck is going onhere?"
Oh, oh. Torben isback.
* * *
The guys arein the kitchen, arguing, while I look after the fish sizzling over the fire. Finally, a job I can do despite my injured ankle. I breathe in the buttery aroma of the fish. Hopefully they're done arguing soon so I can get some food. On the other hand, what's stopping me from starting without them? I take a fork and drag one of the smaller pieces onto a plate. Yummy. Delicious.Magnificent.
By the time I've devoured two more pieces, the voices from the kitchen have quieted down. They're no longer arguing, justtalking.
"We need to make plans soon about where to go next," Torben says. "Spring is coming, and I don't want to waste more time on this island. We've not found anything here, and I don't believe we will. As soon as the ice thaws we can swim to the next island on thelist."
"The small one up north?" Húnnasks.
"Aye. It'll mean a few days of swimming to avoid the settled islands, but it's better than stayinghere."
Swimming.They're planning to swim away. I can't swim in freezing water, I'm not a shifter. That means they'll leave without me. Suddenly the fish tastes dry andsad.
I topple the grill and the fish drops into thefire.
It burns, just like the feelings that had just begun to sprout in myheart.
Five
Iwakebecause the ground under me moves. The Wind is howling outside, and an icy draught kisses my cheek. There's a low rumble all around me. I sit up in the darkness. I'm in the attic, lying by myself on the simplemattress.
Something creaks above me. Is someone walking on theroof?
"Hello?"
Only the roaring wind answers. I get up, careful not to put any weight on my ankle, and jump on one leg until I reach the small skylight. I can't see anything; it's covered by a deep layer of snow. The roof groans again, the wood making noises that don't sound very reassuring. Is this placesafe?
The cold draught makes me shiver, and I limp-follow it to the other side of the attic. No wonder it's so cold. A small hole in the roof gives me a view of the snow storm raging outside. Thick snowflakes are catapulted through the air, twisting and turning as they're thrown around by the wind. It's loud out there, much louder than I thought a storm couldbe.
