Beyond South Pole (ON INDEFINITE HIATUS)

Chapter 10: The South Pole

The next morning was as cold as the night had been. If it had gotten warmer, Jacques could not notice the difference. The only thing that mattered was that he had been cold then, and he was cold now.

He was the only one in the tent when he woke up. Talon and Kekoa were both gone. Jacques didn't feel like relaxing. The cold and the amount of layers made it impossible anyway. He crawled out of the tent and saw Talon and Annalise gathering and packing up supplies. Jacques walked up to them.

"Where is everyone else?" he asked.

"Kamala is keeping Mister Prescott company. The rest are discussing our plan," Talon said.

"Didn't we have one already?"

Talon glanced at Annalise. It was a small gesture, but everything about it made Jacques immediately more worried.

"What?" he asked.

"They are deciding whether someone should stay here with Mister Prescott," Annalise said. "Or if we should wait until he's, you know... dead."

"Wow," Jacques said. It was the only thing he could think of.

He wasn't able to process the thoughts of Mr. Prescott dying. Sure, there had been time to prepare. It had been pretty obvious for a while that Mr. Prescott wouldn't make it. Still grief was a difficult and complex emotion for Jacques to process. He was, however, able to process anger and annoyance. Three members of the team were deciding about this on behalf of everyone else? Sure, they would lead after Mr. Prescott would pass, but was no one else even asked? No one else could say their opinion? And they were deciding about this without Mr. Prescott! Didn't he of all people need to take part in the conversation?

"Where are they?" Jacques asked.

Talon chuckled nervously, like Jacques was asking something stupid. "Why do you want to know?" he asked.

Unlike Talon, Annalise didn't ask questions. She pointed at one of the tents.

"Thanks," Jacques said.

Before he could take one step closer, Talon grabbed his arm to stop him.

"What do you plan to do?" he asked. "Wait, why am I asking? Whatever it is, do not do it, Jacques."

Jacques frowned.

"Let them have the conversation, and - "

Jacques yanked his arm away. He didn't care. He had opinions, and he was more than willing to share them.

He walked to the tent and could hear Talon sighing behind him. Outside Jacques could hear vague sounds of conversation. He couldn't make it out, so he entered. The conversation ceased. Ms. Gunnersen, Colonel Dustin, and Kekoa all looked at him. Kekoa looked confused, while the two others seemed annoyed that Jacques interrupted them.

"What are you doing here?" Ms. Gunnersen asked.

"I have something to say," Jacques said.

The colonel sighed. "Mister Moulin, we don't have time - "

"So you three are making all the plans now? Are you even going to ask the rest of us? And what about Mr. Prescott?" Jacques asked. "How can you think about leaving him behind?"

"We don't have many options, Jacques," Kekoa pointed out and shrugged a little. "I don't like this either, but we can't move him. He's not going to make it if we make him suffer through this climate. It's just going to wear him out even more."

"He's going to be worn out and die anyway!" Jacques reminded them. "Why can't he die after seeing the South Pole?"

"We're not in control of when he dies," the colonel said.