Hannah Ross: The Last Outpost: An Antarctic Dystopia

“That was different. Harry was talking of selling the house, taking all our savings and putting them in a piece of land in the middle of nowhere. You lose nothing. If you don’t like it, you can always come back next year.”

“Actually, they are trying to talk me into a five-year contract,” Scott admitted. “I didn’t mention this to Brianna just yet, though. I could, of course, break out of the contract at any time — I would lose some benefits, but that’s about all. Still… it’s the edge of the world. I can’t expect Brianna to share my dream of climbing Mount Erebus, or of discovering new forms of life indigenous to Antarctica. She just wants a quiet life. I can understand that.”

Laura mumbled something indistinctly disapproving, but Scott rather thought he could discern the word selfish . He decided to let it drop, though.

“She also kind of thinks I’m a doomsday lunatic,” he added, “now that I’ve hinted McMurdo might be a safe retreat from all that’s going on in the world.”

“Oh, I don’t know, Buck,” Laura said. “I’d rather not watch the news these days, with the world in such turmoil. It gives me heart palpitations. But if the worst comes to worst, you are welcome to come to our neck of the woods. I think we’re far enough from everything to be pretty safe.”

As she spoke, Scott heard something distinctly resembling a rockslide in the background. “Is everything alright?” he asked, concerned.

“Oh, sure. It’s just Ruthie’s toy cart.” Scott now heard the voice of a whining child. “Sweetie, I’ve told you a thousand times not to haul this thing up the stairs, didn’t I?” Laura’s voice was muted for a moment as she turned away from the phone. “Is it true, though? Are you thinking a career in Antarctica is the best thing for anyone concerned about their safety these days?”

“It’s not like my primary motive is to go and hide in Antarctica,” Scott said half-apologetically. “It’s… I’ve always wanted to go there.”

“I know, which is why I don’t think you should let this chance pass, now that it’s fallen into your lap. You might regret it for the rest of your life.”

“You’re right,” he sighed. “Well… I suppose I’ll bring this up again once Brianna comes back from work.”

It was now high time to wrap up the conversation, as well as his turkey sandwich, and head to work. The class passed uneventfully, and though Scott didn’t have much to keep him on campus for the rest of the afternoon, he went into the little office he shared with Harvey Moore, another junior lecturer on Environmental Science. There he spent a quiet hour perusing some documents, filing student reports and surreptitiously watching a couple of YouTube videos of Antarctica.

Harvey walked in around three and headed straight for the coffee machine. “Haven’t had a quiet minute since morning,” he complained. “Only just had lunch at the cafeteria. Crappy cardboard pizza. So, how’s it going, Snowman? Are you packing your fur cap and mittens yet?”

Scott smiled. “Nothing is decided yet, Harvey. I’m still… going back and forth on this.”

Harvey, however, was not so easily fooled. “Mm-hmm. I hear ya. Must be tough to persuade Mrs. Buck.”

Moore, a confirmed bachelor, had dinner at the Buckleys’ once. Brianna had tried to set him up with a divorced friend of hers, and Harvey was still sore over that.

“We’re discussing this,” Scott said curtly.

Harvey looked incredulous. “Seriously, Buck, opportunities are wasted on you. I would have given anything to go to Antarctica as part of a research station’s team. Well, I guess that’s the downside of being married,” he concluded cheerfully, sipping his espresso.

Scott, realizing peace and quiet are at an end, stood up and started packing his briefcase. “I think I’ll head home,” he said. He thought he’d swing by the store on his way and surprise Brianna with a nice filet mignon. He enjoyed cooking from time to time.

“See you tomorrow, Buck. Let me know if I can expect to have the office to myself anytime soon, eh?”

Scott knew Brianna would likely go to the gym after work, which left him plenty of time to pick up the steaks and a nice bottle of wine. At home, he heated a non-stick pan and pulled out some cubes of crushed garlic out of the freezer to prepare the garlic butter. When Brianna walked in around six, wearing a workout suit and carrying her gym bag, the kitchen smelled delicious and the table was set, complete with a peach satin tablecloth and burning candles.

“Wow, honey, this is wonderful!” she smiled, kissing her husband. “I was planning on throwing together a cold pasta salad, but this is way better. Mmm… are those green beans in garlic sauce?”

“You’ve got it. Let me just get the French bread,” Scott replied, removing the strings of his apron.

“No, don’t be in a rush. I’ll go upstairs and take a quick shower and change. It will take me about fifteen minutes.”

When Brianna came down, she looked splendid in a tight knit black dress. She put on a touch of fresh lipstick, and gave off a faint smell of lavender and almonds, her favorite shower gel. Scott pulled out a chair for her and slid a steak on each of their plates. He added roast potatoes and green beans on the side, put the salad bowl in the middle of the table, and opened the bottle of red wine he had bough. They clinked glasses and, for a few minutes, enjoyed their dinner in silence.

“This is delicious,” Brianna said, putting a bit of steak in her mouth. “Really, honey, this is such a nice surprise. I didn’t know you would have time to cook tonight.”

“Neither did I. I thought I’d stay on campus a bit longer and do some paperwork, but then Harvey Moore came in, and with him in the office there’s no chance to work in peace, you know.”

“I think they’ll give you your own office once you get your Ph.D.,” Brianna said brightly, forking up some salad.

“Brianna… I’ve been thinking,” Scott said, taking her hand, “about what we’ve talked of earlier.”

She looked alarmed. “Not the position in Antarctica?”

“Yes, honey, the position at McMurdo. It’s simply too good to pass. As a scientist, I can’t possibly let this opportunity slip away. When would I ever have the chance to overwinter in Antarctica again?”

Brianna looked as if she didn’t find the prospect so very appealing. “Scott, I’m not going,” she said curtly.

“I understand, and I can’t blame you. But… I’m still going to sign the contract.”

It took a few seconds for his words to sink in. “Are you trying to blackmail me?” Brianna crossed her arms.

“No, I’m not. Listen, Brianna, McMurdo is the largest research station in Antarctica, and it has received a considerable increase in budget over the past few years. It’s almost like a small town. There’s a large library, a gym, a community club, even a greenhouse for growing fresh vegetables year-round. It might not be as bad as you think.”

She bit her lip. “And what if it is?” she challenged.

“Then we can go back, even if it means I break the contract and make a whole lot of people mad. But if you really have so many qualms about this, I could go alone first, check the place out, send you a video tour. You’ll have plenty of time to join me before the winter… or to put a veto on the whole thing.”

Brianna took a breath, as if preparing to plunge into deep water. “You won’t be happy unless you do this, will you?”

Scott shook his head.

“Alright, then… when do they want you to start?”

Scott made his way down the airplane stairway, stiff-necked and stiff-legged. He was overjoyed to step upon the ground again after a twelve-hour flight to Buenos Aires. Those were some of the longest twelve hours of his life. He had three lousy meals provided by the aircraft company — which he regretted eating as the plane got caught in a particularly turbulent air pocket — started and finished a trashy novel he had bought at the airport, drank two cups of coffee and one cup of tea, and attempted to sleep in an awkward position, being squeezed between the seats in front and the ones at the back, unable to stretch his legs. He must have dozed in the end, though, because the landing took him by surprise.