The Subnevians

Chapter 1: Howard Enters Subnevia

September 28th, over South America
My name is Howard J. Castle. I am going to Antartica to study an anomaly: albinism in chinstrap penguins. I've always enjoyed Anomaly Zoology, just like my father, who gave me this journal, similar to the one he used during his research trips in Africa. I remember listening to bedtime stories of building a bridge over a river, only to use it once. Right now, I am on a plane to the southern tip of South America. It's quiet, almost peaceful with the calm drone of the propeller and the sound of the wind whipping outside my window. When I land, I will get on board the S.S. Scott enroute to the Ross Ice Shelf and head to a research station near the Chinstrap nesting grounds. That is all I can think to write about.        
                            
September 29th, On the SS Scott
I woke up this morning on a stiff, hard mattress, an unpleasant situation even before you take into account that I'm on a rocking, nausea-inducing boat. I looked over the side and saw the ship breaking through the ice, just under her name, and I'm reminded of the man she was named for. Captain Robert Falcon Scott was an early 20th century Antarctic explorer who made it to the South Pole, but his ship, the Terra Nova, was frozen, so some of his men went for help on an iceberg. According to a telegram, Scott died in a rudimentary hut with 4 of his men. However, while the bodies of the men were found, his wasn't found, ever! Most likely, he died first and was eaten by his men. Some say he, alone, survived and managed to live before dying himself, and his body was most likely further inland, or sunk in the ocean, or a great many other things.

September 31th, Chinstrap Nesting Grounds
The ice is hard as I watch the penguins. The cold bites at my skin as I write this. Boy, how nice it must be to be a penguin, with all those feathers to keep warm. Despite the fact it's the end of September, it's currently summer in Antartica, but still very cold. Thanks to the Earth's tilt, it is sunny 24 hours a day, which makes it harder to sleep at the research station. According to my watch, it's 11:00 at night. Only time I've stayed up this late was when I was studying for my finals in my senior year. I've been watching for the past six hours. Even most of the penguins are sleeping. Maybe it's time for me to do the same. I'll take a short nap and write more later.

A little later...

September 31st, Chinstrap Nesting Grounds

After six hours, I think I've found what I'm looking for! I think I see a vague outline of a penguin! It's walking toward the nesting grounds, so once it gets there, it will be exposed on the black stone, so I'll finally be able to get a picture! I'm so excited! Wait. It just disappeared! It just sank beneath the snow! I'm going over to investigate.

Who knows when, who knows where
Normally, I put up the date and my location, but the trouble is, I've no idea where I am and day it is. I woke up in some ice cave. But the cave is rather well lit, and the insulating properties of the snow is making me sweat through my undershirt. It became very comfortable once I took my jacket off, so now it feels more like home in the deep southern spring! Hold on, I'm starting to hear footsteps. I'll write more if I'm still alive later.