The Thing Revisited
Shaffer said to Davison, "I had better take a look around, the dog's master may be injured and lying some short distance out on the ice."
With only a nod from Davison, Captain Shaffer dropped down onto the ice carefully. The area directly around the Polar Star was treacherous since the ice had just been carved from its natural state by the Star's passage. Although the mere weight of a man often wasn't enough to overturn or upset the massive blocks of ice, it was always best to be careful.
Walking a short distance from Polar Star, Walker scanned the area for any sign of anyone. Thankfully, not much obscured his vision; the artic ice that covered the Antarctic waters was flat except for the occasional snow drift.
"Hello! Can anyone hear me? Do you need help?" Walker called into the distance. Hearing no reply and seeing no sign of human life, Shaffer turned for the Polar Star.
Shaffer surmised that from the deck of the Polar Star, he could gain a greater vantage point to scan for anyone with binoculars. Once on board, he could ask Riles whether he had heard any radio communications on the bridge this morning.
Making his way back to the dumb waiter, Shaffer took a hand from Davison and haled himself back up. Giving the dog a short pat on the head, Shaffer radioed from the small two-way radio attached to the dumb waiter and said "Walker, we're ready to come back up."
With a small lurch, they began their climb back up to the deck of the ship. With a smile, Davison said "Since he doesn't look like he has a master, what should we name um'?"
Shaffer replied "Don't be to quick about that. Let's wait till we hear from Riles whether we had any communications this morning."
With a small dejected frown, Davison turned and looked upward toward the deck. Shaffer could tell from the young man's looks that he hoped that no one had sent any messages to the Polar Star.
With only a nod from Davison, Captain Shaffer dropped down onto the ice carefully. The area directly around the Polar Star was treacherous since the ice had just been carved from its natural state by the Star's passage. Although the mere weight of a man often wasn't enough to overturn or upset the massive blocks of ice, it was always best to be careful.
Walking a short distance from Polar Star, Walker scanned the area for any sign of anyone. Thankfully, not much obscured his vision; the artic ice that covered the Antarctic waters was flat except for the occasional snow drift.
"Hello! Can anyone hear me? Do you need help?" Walker called into the distance. Hearing no reply and seeing no sign of human life, Shaffer turned for the Polar Star.
Shaffer surmised that from the deck of the Polar Star, he could gain a greater vantage point to scan for anyone with binoculars. Once on board, he could ask Riles whether he had heard any radio communications on the bridge this morning.
Making his way back to the dumb waiter, Shaffer took a hand from Davison and haled himself back up. Giving the dog a short pat on the head, Shaffer radioed from the small two-way radio attached to the dumb waiter and said "Walker, we're ready to come back up."
With a small lurch, they began their climb back up to the deck of the ship. With a smile, Davison said "Since he doesn't look like he has a master, what should we name um'?"
Shaffer replied "Don't be to quick about that. Let's wait till we hear from Riles whether we had any communications this morning."
With a small dejected frown, Davison turned and looked upward toward the deck. Shaffer could tell from the young man's looks that he hoped that no one had sent any messages to the Polar Star.