The Thing Revisited
A cold wind managed to slip through the thick folds of Robinsen's winter jacket as he lowered the last of the snowmobiles to the surface of the thick artic ice of Trepidation Bay. Even with the door shut to the cranes control booth, Robinsen was surprised with the tenacity of the artic wind that seemed to find a crack in any surface.
Getting out of the crane and making his way to the edge Polar Star's railing, Robinsen looked down at the equipment and men below. Even though he couldn't hear their conversation for the distance of persistence of the wind, Davison's body language displayed barely veiled impatience and excited anticipation. Riles merely went through the motions of securing the equipment to the three snowmobiles, while Walker carefully readjusted his clothing to protect against chill and frost bite.
Shaffer joined Robinsen at the railing of the ship, and both men offered the three men below waves in near perfect unison of outstretched, swinging arms. The decision to place Riles in charge of the expedition to Outpost 31 had been a relative easy one, although somewhat calculated. Shaffer had known taking charge of the expedition personally would have further ruffled Riles feathers for his perceived slight for having failed to have been selected as the CO of the Polar Star, and Shaffer's primary concern must also be the proper operation of the ship. Walker had been selected for his expertise and Davison for his boyish enthusiasm for adventure.
Now they would merely wait for their return.
Getting out of the crane and making his way to the edge Polar Star's railing, Robinsen looked down at the equipment and men below. Even though he couldn't hear their conversation for the distance of persistence of the wind, Davison's body language displayed barely veiled impatience and excited anticipation. Riles merely went through the motions of securing the equipment to the three snowmobiles, while Walker carefully readjusted his clothing to protect against chill and frost bite.
Shaffer joined Robinsen at the railing of the ship, and both men offered the three men below waves in near perfect unison of outstretched, swinging arms. The decision to place Riles in charge of the expedition to Outpost 31 had been a relative easy one, although somewhat calculated. Shaffer had known taking charge of the expedition personally would have further ruffled Riles feathers for his perceived slight for having failed to have been selected as the CO of the Polar Star, and Shaffer's primary concern must also be the proper operation of the ship. Walker had been selected for his expertise and Davison for his boyish enthusiasm for adventure.
Now they would merely wait for their return.