EDEN by Dean Crawford Page A

off and the base itself was enshrouded in total darkness. Only a tiny building near the edge of the base showed any signs of life, a single window illuminated from inside that he glimpsed as they walked. The remainder of the base was so inky black that if he hadn’t known it was there he would never have seen it.
    The base consisted of a series of large hangar like buildings, surrounded by accommodation blocks all served by eight large fuel silos beside the airfield road on the far side of the base.
    Bradley strode alongside the nearest of the hangars as Jake, Cody and Sauri joined him.
    Cody looked at the large buildings, most of the accommodation blocks prefabricated out of aluminium and standing on legs that elevated them above the ice. The larger service hangars stood on the ice itself.
    ‘How come this place is so big?’ he asked Bradley. ‘I thought it was just a listening post?’
    ‘It is,’ Bradley replied. ‘But normally there are about seventy people based here on rotation, plus vehicles to haul goods, refuelling bowsers, am-tracks, snow clearers, you name it. We need enough gear to keep the place running through the winter for long periods when supply flights can’t get through.’
    Jake walked alongside Bradley as they strode between the huge buildings.
    ‘What about ships?’ he asked. ‘Can’t they run stuff through?’
    Bradley shook his head.
    ‘Not in the winter. The Lincoln Sea is covered in ice thick enough to stop any vessel, although in summer it’s navigable. Most captains don’t venture up here though as the ocean’s still full of icebergs. One wrong move and wham !’
    Bradley punched a gloved fist into a palm with a thump that echoed between the buildings. He reached out to doors as they passed them, yanking on them to no avail.
    ‘Everything’s locked up,’ he said as they searched the complex.
    ‘Why would they do this?’ Cody asked. ‘Surely they must intend to come back at some point?’
    ‘You’d think so,’ Bradley muttered. ‘Not like my unit to abandon their own, especially not in a hell hole like this.’
    ‘There was a light on in one of the buildings,’ Cody said. ‘I saw it on the way in.’
    ‘Motion sensor,’ Bradley replied. ‘Probably a fox set it off.’
    ‘Looked like it was an interior light,’ Cody insisted.
    ‘Where?’
    Cody led them in a direction he felt was about right for where he saw the light. They walked out of the complex of large buildings and found a series of smaller blocks, one of which glowed from within.
    ‘I’ll be damned,’ Bradley said with a bright smile that glowed in the starlight.
    Bradley jogged across the ice as Jake, Cody and Sauri followed. He reached the door to the small block and burst in, a bright rectangle of light spilling out into the eternal darkness. Cody climbed the block steps and walked inside to see Bradley holding a piece of paper, his eyes scanning from left to right and his features collapsing as he did so.
    ‘What is it?’ Jake asked.
    Bradley dropped the piece of paper. Cody could see it contained a hand-written note.
    ‘We’re screwed, is what it is,’ Bradley uttered.
    Cody looked down at the paper as Jake read from it out loud.
    ‘Brad, Sauri. Evacuation order given at one hour notice. No details. Forced to pull out regardless of situation. All personnel accounted for except yourselves and the American team. Asked for time to find you. Denied. Advised that the scientists would need protecting until our return. No date given for this. Sit tight buddy, whatever the hell’s happened I’m sure we’ll be back before long. Keys on the table for Polaris Hall to let us know you’re okay. Light left on so you’d find them. Probably get my ass kicked for it but hell, I don’t like seeing men get left behind. Best of luck, Tyrone and the guys.’
    Cody looked at the keys Bradley held. The soldier hefted them thoughtfully for a moment and then shrugged as though he wasn’t bothered.
    ‘Let’s go