Taking the Heat by Paul McDermott

Author:Paul McDermott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing
Published: 2021-08-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

Dave rolled over and managed to open one eye. It felt as if his eyelid was coated with coarse-grained sandpaper scraping the sensitive surface of his cornea. The computer across the room, which Joey had set up for Dave and Brenda to use, emitted another series of beeps. Who the hell would be calling him in the middle of the night? He paused and checked his watch before accepting the voice call, noting the time, 3:17.

“Mmm, yeah? Hello?”

“Dave, it’s Pete. Haven’t you been following the news?”

Dave suddenly found himself on his feet, a jolt of adrenaline scouring the last vestiges of sleep from his system.

“Au contraire, dear bruv. I’ve been worried sick about you since the quake in Christchurch.”

“That’s quakes, Dave. We’ve had another major shock, not counting the aftershocks.”

“All the same, I couldn’t ring to find out how you were coping, but I can give you a quick heads-up, and that’s probably more than I ought to be telling you. We’re under something called Condition Red security restrictions, which is only one step from being on an all-out-war footing. If the CO finds out I’ve spoken to anyone—even you—he’ll have my guts for garters.”

“No worries, bro. He won’t find out anything from me.”

“Anyway, Pete, as long as you’re okay, you can pay me back.”

“How so?”

“We’re isolated, and nobody is allowed in or out. We’re using every scrap of data we can find about the weather and the problems it’s throwing into the mix in your part of the world. Our problem is time lag. Everything we’re getting is a report on something which has already happened. The best we’ve had is an update less than three hours after the event, but it’s usually more like ten to twelve hours before it trickles down to us. You’re fairly high up in the natural sciences arena. Is there anyone you can lean on?”

***

After the call, Dave left Brenda sleeping and headed for the ops room. Joey was still there surrounded by the tools of his trade.

“Don’t you ever take a break?”

“Not until I have another met officer or geologist to relieve me, and he’ll also have to be able to read my scribbles.” Joey grunted, without looking up. “What’s got you out of bed?”

“Pete rang me.” Joey’s head snapped up. “I think you should hear what he has to say.”

Joey’s facial expression was difficult to read, but Dave thought he saw the light of anger die away from his eyes. After a couple of seconds, which seemed to last forever, he nodded and moved aside so Dave could reach the computer and return the call.

“Pete, I’m with Doctor Hart.” Remembering they hadn’t had time for formal introductions the last time Pete had called, Dave added, “Doctor Joey Hart, meteorologist and team leader. He’s also a geologist and has alphabet soup after his name.”

“Doctor Hart of Liverpool Uni? The author of most of the readable books about weather and climate change which have been written in the last twenty years?”

Joey had the grace to flush and offered a tired smile.

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