Chapter 50

After ogling their new fashions for some time, the girls carted them off to their wardrobe. Each selecting a dynamite outfit for that evening.

Cindy headed off to finish the kitchen cleanup. Theresa and Sheila assisted John with setting up the hydroponics tanks.

“John?” Sheila said, as they worked.

“Yes, love?” he replied, trying to fathom somebody’s idea of instructions.

“How come you don’t have an intercom system set up here?” she asked.

John looked up, puzzled.

“It never occurred to me.” he replied.

“It’s just that the place is so large, you could use one ... It’s almost large enough for its own phone system.” Sheila said.

John sighed a bit: “That’s one of the reasons that I chose to live out here, to get away from phones.”

“When there’s somebody on the other end you don’t wish to talk to, I agree. But an internal phone system would always have a loved one on the other end. I was just thinking of saving steps.” She said.

“Wouldn’t hurt sometimes.” Theresa pitched in.

“I’ll think about it.” John mumbled.

“You surprise me, John. With as much understanding of technology as you have, I thought you’d be into the latest gear.” Sheila said.

John was silent for a time as he worked.

“Well, I try to branch out a bit. A long time ago a friend made a comment to me that made a lasting impression. He said: ‘When you know electronics, that’s all you know.’ At the time I didn’t understand what he meant. I do now. Anyway, since then I’ve always tried to be more than just my profession.” John said.

Sheila put her arms around him, stopping his work.

“I think you are much more than that. Way more.” she said.

“I try.” John said, “I try.”

“I do believe you’ve got another fan.” Theresa mused.

Cindy joined them. John put her in charge of the setup and then kissed each of them in turn, choosing randomly based on whomever was closest. He told them he was going to go catch up on some stuff in the Com room.

“Have fun.” Cindy said, trying to figure out the instructions he had handed her.

A short time later Sheila wandered into the Com room. John was peering at a satellite photo. He looked up as she came in.

“I kind of felt like a fifth wheel.” she said.

“Hm ... Ah, how anxious are you to get back?” John asked.

“Not very anxious at all ... I just need to finish up some things.” she replied.

“Let me rephrase then; How critical is it that you get back?” he asked.

“Not really critical at all. Just the sooner I go back, the sooner I can come to stay. Why?” Sheila asked.

“Because, dear heart, there’s one shebang, doozie of a storm heading our way. Your options are to fly out sooner, like as fast as I can get the helicopter here, or stay for several days.” John replied.

“And which would you like me to do?” Sheila asked, sheepishly.

John looked at her a moment before he realized she was serious.

“That’s the silliest damn question I’ve ever heard on this planet.” John said.

“So which is it?” she demanded.

“One ... If I had no interest in you, I would still like you to stay. Because I wouldn’t want you flying in weather like you would encounter. Second, and more importantly; I love you. I don’t want you to go at all. I just understand your need to fulfill obligations.” John said, dragging her onto his lap.

“Well, since you put it that way ... I’d love to stay.” Sheila said, melting into a deep kiss with him.

After a time he scooted her out of his lap. He called the helicopter service to cancel the next days flight. They had been about to call him. They got the weather report too. Next Sheila called and canceled her reservations for the flight back to San Francisco. She told her agent she’d let them know when she needed a flight.

“That’s better. Now I have you all to myself ... for several days at least.” John said.

Sheila climbed back into his lap.

“Now where were we?” she asked.

He wasn’t opposed to a prelude for that evening.

Later John went topside to check that things were secure. Sheila went to help Theresa with lunch.

“Everything’s secure.” John stated, sitting down with the others.

“Wished I knew how you arranged these things.” Theresa mused.

“What things?” John asked, helping himself to a sandwich.

“Convenient storms that arrive just in time to insure you more time to recuperate.” she chuckled.

“Oh ... I don’t think I’ll need that much time.” John mused, looking at Sheila.

She nodded absently.

“You didn’t?” Cindy asked, looking back and forth between them.

“No, we didn’t.” Sheila replied, “But he’s halfway back already.”

“You must have given him some outstanding inspiration.” Cindy mused.

“I think that’s a fair estimate.” John replied.

Later that day the storm struck. The front came in with high winds, sleet turned quickly to snow. By dusk it was a blizzard.

They were just about to start dinner when an alarm sounded in the silo.

“What the hell?” Cindy asked.

John looked puzzled.

“That’s the road alarm.” he said, heading for the Com room.

He called up the computer display and sought out the offending sensor.

The girls came and looked over his shoulder.

“What is it?” Cindy asked.

“I don’t know. But there’s a hunk of metal suddenly sitting on the road about four miles away. Just over the ridge.” John said.

“It must be a false alarm. Wouldn’t it have tripped before that?” Cindy asked.

“I don’t know why it didn’t, but it’s real enough. It’s sitting almost on top of one, and the adjacent ones on either side show the proper variances from norm.” he said.

“So what do you think it is?” Theresa asked.

“I don’t know ... but I think I’d better go find out.” he replied.

“But it’s a damn blizzard out there!” Cindy stated.

“Which is precisely why I have to go out. If that’s somebody stuck out there, they could freeze to death.” he said.

“But what if you freeze finding out?” Theresa asked.

“Not likely. I’ll take my cellular. If I get in trouble, you two can come get me.” he replied.

“Who do you think it is?” Sheila asked.

“I haven’t the foggiest idea. But they came cross country. That’s the only explanation for them not tripping the road sensors earlier.” John said.

“Couldn’t it be a piece of metal blown on the road by the storm?” Cindy asked.

“Nope, too damn big. Put some coffee on, I think I’m gonna need it.” John said.

“Want some company?” Sheila asked.

“No. No need risking anybody else unless we have to.” John said, heading for the entrance.

“Thought you said it wasn’t a risk.” Theresa called after him.

He ignored the statement.

He suited up, Cindy brought him a sweater to wear under the snowmobile suit. Just in case he stuffed the pockets full of disposable hand warmer packs. He started two and stuffed them in pockets on either side. He got his snow boots on and Cindy zippered his cellular into one of his pockets after checking the battery.

“You ought to put some stronger radios on the snowmobiles.” she told him.

“20/20 hindsight. I probably will in the future.” John shrugged.

“Don’t stay out any longer than you have to.” Theresa told him.

He accepted a quick kiss from each before he lowered his visor and cracked the hatch.

Outside the weather was bitter. There was at least a twenty-five mile an hour wind blowing huge, heavy flakes of snow down in diagonal sheets. John made his way to the storage shed and got out one of the snowmobiles. Checking the tank. He topped it off and then headed out. The gate was reluctant to open. He had to climb off the machine and add his muscles along with the electric’s to wrestle it open.

He headed down the road. A small compass on the dash and the dips on either side of the road the only things keeping him on track. It didn’t take him too long to reach the ridge, wiping the snow from his visor constantly. Just over the other side of the ridge he found his answer.

There was a snowmobile with a twisted up ski on it. It had dug into the bank where the road was elevated a bit from the country side. Next to the snowmobile was a fiberglass toboggan set up as a wind break.

Four shapes tried to huddle together in the leeward side of it. The snowmobile was idling, supplying a scant amount of heat. One of the shapes looked up as John pulled along side.

He lifted his visor and climbed off, already reaching for his cell phone.

“Oh, thank god! I thought we were dead!” a female voice shouted at him through the storm.

John surveyed them. One woman about mid twenties, and three younger ones ... teens. They all wore ... whatever they were, they were woefully inadequate.

The girls seemed to be on the edge of sleep. A bad sign. John checked on their necks for pulses. Faint. Skin way too damn cold. Even under the clothing. The one who had talked, hugged him. Shivering with the cold. Her fingers in her armpits up to that moment, and soon afterwards.

“Let’s get you out of this!” John yelled to her. He guided her back into the shelter and pulled out the phone.

“Hello, John? I can barely hear you.” Cindy answered.

“Cindy, just listen. You and Theresa suit up as fast as possible and get out here. Bring as many coats and blankets as you can find. Hand the phone to Sheila while you do it.” John said.

“You found people?” Cindy asked.

“Four, frozen stiff. Now move it. Put Sheila on.” John said.

A moment later Sheila’s voice came on.

John shouted out for her to run some cooler water into the hot tub.

“Get it down to about eighty to eighty-five.” he shouted.

“Wouldn’t it be better hotter?” she asked.

“No, chill blains. It’ll be hard enough to take eighty. Please, just do it. And get together more blankets and the med kit from just inside the Com room.” he shouted.

“Will do. Cindy want’s to know how she and Theresa can find you.” Sheila asked.

“Have them follow my tracks. They shouldn’t be too far covered yet. But tell them to hurry. These folks won’t last long the way they are.” John said.

“I will... (John says to follow his tracks, and hurry!)” John heard.

“Tell them to check their gas tanks!” John shouted.

“(Don’t forget to check the tanks!) Okay John. I’ll do as you say. Do you want me to hang on?” Sheila asked.

“No ... I’d better do what I can to get these folks warmed up!” John said.

The line went dead. Sheila not knowing if John had simply hung up. She hung up her end and set about her tasks.

First she ran to the kitchen and poured a thermos full of coffee. Then ran to the entrance to find Cindy and Theresa suiting up, a pile of coats and blankets with them. She pulled on her own coat and some boots and hauled some of the stuff out to the shed. She checked the tanks and got the two machines started and moved out for the girls. They came along carrying their loads. Sheila found some cargo nets and helped them tie them down.

A short hug later they roared out into the storm.

Sheila lost sight of them almost before the gate. She headed back inside to fulfill her duties.

John pulled the two hand warmers out of his pockets and stuffed them into the clothing of the girls. Their hands grasping at them. He pulled out the others and ripped them open. Shaking them to get them started. They wouldn’t be warm for a few minutes. He gave two to the older woman and then stuffed the rest into anyplace they would fit.