Page 125 of Valour

“I cannot wait to see them. I simply cannot wait,” Hester squealed, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

“WINSTON! PEGGY! FRANK!” Hester cawed as they approached the bay, to the three figures waving madly on the beach.

“And then to Elephant Island in three days’ time,” Septimus said, a broad smile on his face. “Now that will be something.”

Hester was still livid that there were no boats available to make the rescue immediately. “I hope they are all still well.”

Elephant Island

“It is hateful, and I HATE IT,” Rufus shouted across the beach, kicking stones everywhere. “If I have to drink one more cup of blubber oil, I will go and drown myself. I’ll do it, don’t try to stop me.”

Charlotte blew air into her cheeks and tried not to laugh. It wasn’t funny, really, but she was a little delirious. “Trust in the captain, Rufus. She’s coming. Coming to get us. Any day now.” She said it as much for herself as for Rufus. “Any day.”

Across the bay, an enormous sheet of ice crumbled from the edge of the glacier with the sound of a gunshot.

25th May 1916, off Elephant Island

Hester stood on the deck of the Southern Sky with Septimus, Peggy, Winston and Frank, her face in her hands. Thick ice lay ahead of them for miles, blocking the way to the island and her crew.

The skipper stood behind her. “We can get no closer, Captain Orn. The pack ice is too dense. The ship will not be able to push through it.”

This surely couldn’t be happening. “We have to. We have to get to them.” She’d tried melting the ice, but her magic only seemed to make it thicker.

“I’m sorry.” He went back to the wheelhouse.

Hester kicked the side of the ship, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I cannot believe this,” she raged. “Look, I can see their shelter. But no people outside of it to even see that we’re here. That we came for them. Surely we can get to them. Somehow.” But she knew it was utterly helpless, utterly hopeless. The ice blocked their way too thoroughly.

“HELLO!” Winston shouted over the ice.

Hester pulled at her hair. “This was the only available ship for weeks. And the weather will only worsen.”

They waited hours, until dense fog rolled in.

No one had appeared.

Septimus took his pistol out and raised it in the air.

He fired a shot.

Elephant Island

“Did you hear that?” Arnold asked, sitting up in his sleeping bag, a flurry of reindeer hairs scattering in the dank air of the hut.

“It’s just the glacier calving,” Charlotte said, snuggling closer into his side. She loved him, but the stench of him had her gagging a little.

30th August 1916, Elephant Island

“Any day now. She’s coming any day.” Charlotte stood sentry on the rocky beach, the washing of grey sea on the shore a constant reminder that it trapped them.

“Some days it’s hard to believe it. Wouldn’t they have been here by now? If all had gone well?” Arnold locked his fingers into hers and pulled her back towards the hut.

Charlotte turned to go with him. She supposed he was right. Maybe they were doomed to starve to death here after all. “Is it foolish? To keep hoping?”

He stared off into the waves for a long time, and then said, “If we are to die here…might we not…you know…” He looked at her longingly.

She had so wanted to wait and be married. Had truly believed that Hester would return. Could not come to terms with the fact that it was all over. A tear ran down her cheek, and she took his face in her hands. “I suppose there’s no harm in it, if no one is coming. Why not enjoy ourselves?”

Arnold’s eyes widened. “Truly?”