string, was a human body. It looked like that of a man, but it was hard to tell for sure, because it had no head.
Six
“H OW IS THE patient, Kiera?”
Doctor Lister limped into the treatment room. His leg had, for the most part, healed since being burnt by toxic ash, but there was permanent damage to the muscle. He knew it would never fully recover.
“Still unconscious. He started to come round. He was delirious, trying to talk, but he made no sense. Here, look at this.” Kiera held out a clump of brown curly hair in her hand. “I was sponging him down, trying to get his temperature down, and his hair just came away like that.”
“This is a most intriguing case. I have begun the analysis of his blood, and have ruled out most common viral infections. It is starting to look more like a tropical disease of sorts, but that does not make any sense in the Arctic Circle.”
“Could he have picked it up before we got here? We don’t know when he came aboard. He could have been here since we were in the Caribbean?”
“Possibly. A more worrying prospect is that he somehow picked this up from a crew member who became infected in the Caribbean. However, we must remain calm and rational. We will know more when the computer has run more tests on the sample. It is rather unfortunate that we do not have access to Surgeon Lieutenant Vardy’s equipment on the Ambush . He has an excellent little compact laboratory that would speed up the process.”
“The daughter’s still outside, Doctor. It’s getting late, and Barry has already had to go. He found her some games and puzzles, but she needs to have some dinner and find somewhere to sleep.”
“What do you suggest?”
“David will be on duty in half an hour. I’d like to take care of Erica if that’s okay? At least take her to the restaurant and then maybe she can bunk down with me?”
“Yes, of course. I will remain here until David arrives. Keep an eye on her though; we still do not know if we are dealing with something contagious. If she starts to show any symptoms, bring her back here immediately. And keep her out of the restaurant, just in case. I will call Claude and get him to send rations directly to your cabin.”
• • •
It took some time to convince Erica to leave the medical centre; she wanted to stay close to her father. Kiera was finally able to persuade her with the promise of some chocolate. It would mean giving up her personal stash, a stash that could never be replenished, but if it meant keeping the girl safe then it was worth it.
On the way out they passed Martin and another man she didn’t know. A tall blond man with piercing blue eyes. They were pushing a wheelchair. The very short person sitting in it was entirely covered in thick sheets, something that didn’t escape Erica’s attention.
“Is that a dead person?” she asked, tugging at Kiera’s hand and pointing at the passing chair.
“No, don’t be silly, it’s probably just somebody who’s very cold.”
“Why don’t they wear a coat and hat? When I’m cold I wear a coat and hat. Putting sheets over your head is silly, you can’t see where you’re going!”
“I expect Doctor Lister will suggest that to them, it’s a very good idea. Come on, dinner’s waiting in my cabin.”
“And chocolate?”
“Yes, and chocolate.”
The little girl walked alongside the nurse, her head bowed low. For a long time she didn’t speak, but as they approached the cabin, and idea seemed to hit her.
“Can I stay with Mrs Wernström tonight? I mean, you’re very nice, but Mrs Wernström is my friend and I haven’t seen her for ages. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind looking after me.”
“Is Mrs Wernström a friend of your dad’s?”
“No, silly! She’s my friend. And Andrea’s. I would have stayed with Andrea, but her mummy says she worked very hard to keep her cabin and she doesn’t want other people staying there.”
“What does Andrea’s mummy do?” Kiera would
Six
“H OW IS THE patient, Kiera?”
Doctor Lister limped into the treatment room. His leg had, for the most part, healed since being burnt by toxic ash, but there was permanent damage to the muscle. He knew it would never fully recover.
“Still unconscious. He started to come round. He was delirious, trying to talk, but he made no sense. Here, look at this.” Kiera held out a clump of brown curly hair in her hand. “I was sponging him down, trying to get his temperature down, and his hair just came away like that.”
“This is a most intriguing case. I have begun the analysis of his blood, and have ruled out most common viral infections. It is starting to look more like a tropical disease of sorts, but that does not make any sense in the Arctic Circle.”
“Could he have picked it up before we got here? We don’t know when he came aboard. He could have been here since we were in the Caribbean?”
“Possibly. A more worrying prospect is that he somehow picked this up from a crew member who became infected in the Caribbean. However, we must remain calm and rational. We will know more when the computer has run more tests on the sample. It is rather unfortunate that we do not have access to Surgeon Lieutenant Vardy’s equipment on the Ambush . He has an excellent little compact laboratory that would speed up the process.”
“The daughter’s still outside, Doctor. It’s getting late, and Barry has already had to go. He found her some games and puzzles, but she needs to have some dinner and find somewhere to sleep.”
“What do you suggest?”
“David will be on duty in half an hour. I’d like to take care of Erica if that’s okay? At least take her to the restaurant and then maybe she can bunk down with me?”
“Yes, of course. I will remain here until David arrives. Keep an eye on her though; we still do not know if we are dealing with something contagious. If she starts to show any symptoms, bring her back here immediately. And keep her out of the restaurant, just in case. I will call Claude and get him to send rations directly to your cabin.”
• • •
It took some time to convince Erica to leave the medical centre; she wanted to stay close to her father. Kiera was finally able to persuade her with the promise of some chocolate. It would mean giving up her personal stash, a stash that could never be replenished, but if it meant keeping the girl safe then it was worth it.
On the way out they passed Martin and another man she didn’t know. A tall blond man with piercing blue eyes. They were pushing a wheelchair. The very short person sitting in it was entirely covered in thick sheets, something that didn’t escape Erica’s attention.
“Is that a dead person?” she asked, tugging at Kiera’s hand and pointing at the passing chair.
“No, don’t be silly, it’s probably just somebody who’s very cold.”
“Why don’t they wear a coat and hat? When I’m cold I wear a coat and hat. Putting sheets over your head is silly, you can’t see where you’re going!”
“I expect Doctor Lister will suggest that to them, it’s a very good idea. Come on, dinner’s waiting in my cabin.”
“And chocolate?”
“Yes, and chocolate.”
The little girl walked alongside the nurse, her head bowed low. For a long time she didn’t speak, but as they approached the cabin, and idea seemed to hit her.
“Can I stay with Mrs Wernström tonight? I mean, you’re very nice, but Mrs Wernström is my friend and I haven’t seen her for ages. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind looking after me.”
“Is Mrs Wernström a friend of your dad’s?”
“No, silly! She’s my friend. And Andrea’s. I would have stayed with Andrea, but her mummy says she worked very hard to keep her cabin and she doesn’t want other people staying there.”
“What does Andrea’s mummy do?” Kiera would
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