Into the Cold

When she woke again, Amelia felt a little stronger and slowly tried to move. At her grunt of pain, the man was at her side pushing bundles of something soft and rather smelly behind her back to keep her propped up.

“Here,” he said, “let me help.”

After making sure she was comfortable, Caleb left her side long enough to get her a mug of water.

“You’ve been unconscious off and on for the last few days,” Caleb said, holding the wooden vessel to her lips. “I wasn’t sure if you were going to make it.”

Amelia coughed, the cold water burning its way down her parched throat.

“Where am I? What hospital?” she asked, her voice hoarse.

Caleb chuckled.

“You’re about three-hundred miles from the nearest hospital,” he explained. “I found you half-frozen in one of my satellite camps.”

Sipping a little more, Amelia tried to understand this scruffy, unkempt man sitting on a stool in front of her.

“What?” she asked, trying to wrap her brain around what he was saying.

Taking the cup back and refilling it, Caleb returned.

“I broke my ax a few days ago and couldn’t repair it,” he explained sitting back down on a low stool. “Thankfully I had a spare one up at the camp where I found you. If it hadn’t been for that ax,” he paused pointing to it leaning in the corner, “I wouldn’t have found you for weeks.”

“How did I get there?” Amelia asked, still confused.

“Hell if I know,” Caleb said, shrugging his shoulders, “so let’s start with what I do know. I found you four miles from here. You were pretty banged up, a cut on your head, a dislocated shoulder, and your clothes were torn up and singed pretty bad.”

Looking down, Amelia suddenly realized she was naked except for her underwear under the blanket that was barely covering her breasts. Pushing the cup back into his hand, she pulled it higher, closer to her shoulders.

“You took my clothes off?” she asked, blushing deeply.

“There wasn’t much left to take,” Caleb said, holding up the shredded remains of her snow pants and parka. “It looks like you walked through a meat grinder.”

“Propeller blades,” Amelia said, finally remembering what happened. “I was on my way to… I think it’s called Barrow. I work for a drilling company in Houston doing environmental surveys. I was on my way to do an impact study on a new natural gas drilling site before they started drilling.

“I was in a small four seater prop-plane, and we started to have engine trouble,” she paused, closing her eyes, trying to remember more. “The plane started shaking, and the pilot started yelling, telling me to hang on. I remember a horrible crash and the crunching of metal, then I woke up still strapped in my seat.

“It took forever to unclasp myself,” she continued, her green eyes going unfocused, “when I finally got out, I slipped and rolled… I rolled forever. I got up and… I didn’t know where to go… I started walking, because I didn’t know what else to do. After a while I found a cabin, right there in the middle of nowhere. I guess I crawled in and passed out.”

“Was Dale on the flight with you?” Caleb asked, clasping his hands together in front of him.

“Dale?” Amelia asked, confused at how he could know that name.

“Yeah,” he replied, looking at her concerned. “You called his name several times when you were delirious.”

“No,” she said, sighing, “it was just me and the pilot.”

“Well, that explains how you got here,” Caleb said, nodding. “I guess the biggest question is what to do with you now.”

“What do you mean?” Amelia asked.

“It’s October, we’re at the beginning of winter up here in Alaska,” he explained. “The plane that drops off my supplies won’t be back until mid-July next year, so I can go into town and sell my furs. Which means I need to think of another way to get you out of here.”

“Don’t you have a car or something?” Amelia asked.

“Listen,” Caleb said firmly, but at the same time gently, taking the cup back. “Let me make one thing clear, so we can get past it. You are in the Brook’s Mountain Range of northern Alaska, there are no roads, no cars, no snow machines, nothing. I live alone, eleven and a half months out of the year surviving off the land. If I’m hungry I hunt, if I’m cold I go chop wood, thirsty, I boil snow or lake water… You understand?”

Wide eyed, Amelia nodded noticing for the first time the rough timbered walls around her.

“Okay,” she sighed, “what do we do?”

“First, I think I should introduce myself. My name is Caleb Dulac, and you are?” he said extending his hand.

“Amelia Hamilton,” she replied, awkwardly returning the shake.

“Okay, Amelia,” Caleb said, “The next thing is to figure out what we need to do to survive. I have supplies, but I don’t think it will be enough to support the two of us for the next nine months. I do have some dried moose, elk and bear meat from last year, and a few root vegetables. Of course I have the dry goods and canned stuff I picked up in town, but I haven’t started hunting or trapping yet so there’s no fresh meat.”

“I don’t eat much,” Amelia said, trying to be helpful.

“Eating a lot or not doesn’t matter,” Caleb explained, looking at her seriously. “In the cold, you will need to eat to survive. Your body will use twice as many calories in a day out here than it would in the city just to keep you going.”

“Oh,” Amelia breathed.

“Well,” Caleb said, coming to a decision. “For now we’ll survive on what I have, and maybe when you’re stronger, you can help me do a little fishing.”

“Okay,” Amelia agreed, not sure if there was any real choice.

“Now,” he said as he stood. “Let’s see if we can find some clothes that will work for you.”

As Caleb moved to the other side of the cabin pulling clothing off of pegs, Amelia watched his progress. For such a large, muscular man he moved with surprising grace. When he returned, he put the pile at the foot of her bed.

“This one should work,” he said picking out a rough spun sweater.

“And these,” he continued picking out a well worn pair of thick denim work pants.

Reaching into a bin nearby, he pulled out a thermal long sleeve shirt with several dark spots and holes on it.

“Your boots were thankfully undamaged, but not really meant for being out in the wilderness,” he commented handing her a collection of musty smelling clothes.

“I hadn’t really planned on roughing it when I dressed for the trip,” Amelia explained as he placed her boots on the floor in front of her.

“That’s the problem with people,” he commented, shaking his head. “They don’t think about all of the possible outcomes before coming out here.”

“I hadn’t planned on my plane crashing,” Amelia replied defensively.

“I know,” Caleb said, regretting his words.

“I shouldn’t have said that,” he apologized. “I guess I’m just not used to being socially correct. I usually don’t have to think before I speak out here. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you,” she said accepting the offering, “but what about socks?”

“Yours survived,” Caleb said, taking a small bundle from the nearby table, “I rinsed the blood out for you.”

“Thank you again,” Amanda said gratefully, accepting the roll he held out for her.

“Do you need any help?” Caleb offered.

“No,” she said firmly, thinking she would be able to manage. “Could you just turn around?”