Explorers of the New Century by Magnus Mills

Author:Magnus Mills
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: For the Benefit of Mr. Kite
Published: 2004-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Five

“Sorry to interrupt the work, Mr Johns, but I think we may have a problem.”

“Really, Scagg? Well, please come in and tell me about it.”

“Do you want me to make myself scarce?” Chase enquired.

“No, no,” said Scagg. “It doesn’t concern any of the men.”

“What is it then?” asked Johns.

“I thought you should know that one of the mules is dawdling, deliberately it seems, and that this is having a discouraging effect on the others. I’ve had it under observation all day, and several times I’ve noticed it dragging the pace. Moreover, it comes to a complete halt at every opportunity. If we allow it to carry on in this way, our progress will be seriously disrupted.”

“You’re quite right,” said Johns. “Oddly enough, Chase and I were just discussing our position, and we were wondering why we’d hardly got anywhere since yesterday. So it’s the mules to blame, is it?”

“One of them, sir.”

“One is enough.”

“So with your permission I’d like to administer some discipline. A night under the hood should teach it a lesson it won’t forget.”

“Have we brought a hood with us?”

“I took the liberty, yes.”

“Very well, Scagg. See to it, will you? And at the same time I suggest you treat all the other mules to a stick of barley sugar apiece. Then hopefully they’ll see both sides of the coin.”

“Right you are, sir.”

After Scagg had departed, Johns turned to Chase and shook his head. “Oh dear,” he murmured. “The order for punishment is always the hardest to give.”

“So I imagine,” said Chase.

“That’s why we’ve resorted to this so-called ‘modern’ remedy of the hood. I’m told on good authority that it works and, frankly, anything more severe would serve no useful purpose in such a harsh climate: indeed it may even be counter-productive. Still, Chase, only time will tell. Now, where were we?”

“Discussing the wind, Mr Johns.”

“Ah, yes, the interminable wind. What’s your analysis?”

“I’m afraid it bears very little moisture.”

“No likelihood of rain then?”

“Not for a while.”

“That is disappointing news,” said Johns. “The last thing I want to do is impose water rationing; yet there appears little chance of locating any other source while we’re on this scree. I had been assuming it would eventually ease out on to some verdant plain, criss-crossed by streams and rivers, but now I’m beginning to think that was just wishful thinking on my behalf.”

“Oh, I’m sure there’s a flat plain ahead,” replied Chase. “The way the wind sweeps unimpeded towards us has convinced me of that fact. Besides, we’re almost down to sea level again.”

“Well, it’s been such a struggle one would hardly believe we’d been descending for six days in a row. Listen to that gale, pounding the very walls of the tent as if it wants to tear them asunder. Will there be no relief?”

“I don’t know, sir,” said Chase.

The flame guttered in the lantern as a fierce gust whirled through the encampment, striking one tent after another. Chase gathered up his charts and tables, and waited while Johns completed the latest entry in his journal.

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