Kuramochi moved his chin forward to see what the doctor examined on his side, but the movement cost him a suppressed groan.

Tani-sensei flashed him a tanuki smile, still bent on the purplish skin of Kuramochi's ribs.

- "It's really not possible for you to stay steady a minute, isn't it?

- "Sorry…" muttered Kuramochi like a child. " Doc, it's no big deal, I told you. A little diziness, that's it. Let me go back with the others."

The old man stood up. He wiped his glasses on the edge of his white coat then put them back on his nose.

- "No way – not today, at least."

He thought a moment. The bruise had begun to change color, becoming a little yellowish. Whatever was happening inside his patient, it was on the right track to get cured, if only…

- "I'm cold" said Kuramochi who had enough holding up his black pullover. He coughed a little, as to prove it.

- "You don't have to play naughty" scolded the doctor, crossing arms. "Listen to me, please. It's already a miracle you're still alive. Your body managed to fight what was wrong and it's doing its best to put you back on feet. I won't let you waste all this work just because you don't want to wait a little!"

Kuramochi nibbled his lips.

- "I can't keep having the others bear with my carelessness" he said in a low voice.

- "Carelessness?" Repeated Tani-sensei, annoyed. "You saved your companions, did more for this station than all of us together and everybody here knows it! Don't make me laugh." He cleared his throat. "Kuramochi-san. The pain is there to serve as warning signal. If you continue to ignore it, you'll only manage to return to the starting point! If you want to make yourself useful, you have to rest and listen to me."

- "All right" said finally the young man, after a long moment of silence where he had obviously held on responding. "I understand."

The doctor relaxed and put his hand on Kuramochi's shoulder.

- "Good" he said, smiling. That's what I wanted to hear. As for the common room, not this evening. I want you to sleep, and to think of nothing else than getting back your strength. Tomorrow, I'll see if you can work with Hoshino-san, for example. Or Himuro-san, or Yokomine-san. Something that doesn't make you walk. One step at a time, right?"

Kuramochi smiled with contrition.

- "One step at a time" he repeated. "Even half a step is enough."

In the corridor, Inuzuka allowed himself to sink against the wall, under the relieved look of Utsumi and the hermetic expression of Himuro.

Sometimes, even a hero needed to be scolded and corrected.


Utsumi banged his boots against the step, then rolled the opening systeme of the door. Once inside, he leaned the tripod against the wall, removed his mittens and pulled down his hood.

His eyebrows and his beard were covered with a fine film of snow. He brushed them with the backhand of his wrist, collected the device and hurried in the direction of his room, where he suspended his parka on the round hanger next to his desk.

His eyes met the elegante writing of Yokomine's twins names on the opposite wall and he smiled. He shared his room with the radio. He tidied up his notes, looked for his pencil which had slid in the lining of his trousers, then went to the common room.

He understood well before entering that the discussion was stormy.

- "I disagree!" Samejima had just exclaimed, hurling a punch on the table, making jump flatware and glasses which were already set in anticipation of the supper.

- "Ongul Island may not be on the continent, but it's part of our territory and it welcomed us! added Arashiyama, pointing at the map displayed between them.

- "We can't install a lookout on the island, that's not what the government asked us to do!" hissed Himuro who stood in spite of his leg still wrapped in bandages.

- "But we weren't supposed to spend winter over either" intervened Hoshino in a calming voice. "If we ask your superiors, maybe they'll be okay. I for my part think that's a good idea. Shirasaki-han would approve."

- "We don't have half of the necessary equipment! How do you plan to create it? Are you gonna build an igloo?"

Hoshino did not have time to answer that it actually appeared to be an interesting option, first because barks echoed outside and then because everybody ran to the windows.

- "Here they are!" said Utsumi.

- "I can't see… who leads the sled?" Asked Samejima, his nose crushed against the glass.

Arashiyama blew to defrost the window.

- "Inuzuka's leading" said suddenly Himuro. "Kuramochi's sitting".

There was a moment of heavy apprehensive silence. It was the first time Kuramochi resumed to his activities since the accident.

- "Ah!" Samejima exclaimed abruptly. "I get it! One of the dogs is injured, that's why! Who wants to bet it's Anko?"

The tension fell and their laughter resounded nervously.

- "Inuzuka-han still can't manage to keep them still with him on the sled" commented Hoshino indulgently.

Outside, Kuramochi was realeasing the dogs and returning them to the lines. The one who was hurt limped behind him, hanging out his tongue.

- "It's Goro" announced Arashiyama. "Poor old fellow! For once, it's not Anko that ran out of luck. Give back the money, Samejima-san!"

- "What money?" Asked the man with innocence.

There was more laughter. In front of the building, Inuzuka ran after Pesu who seemed to enjoy it thoroughly. Kuramochi spat in the snow, then whistled. Instantly, the dog joined the line and closed his eyes of pleasure, scratched behind the ears by his leader.

Funaki came to them, his toolbox in hand, dressed in blue parka like the two other men. He stopped to pat the dogs, avoiding with caution Fuuren Kuma who gave him a disdainful look and layed down in the snow, enormous mass of black hair on white wallpaper.

- "How was the exploration?" Asked the sailor.

- "Very good", answered Kuramochi. He removed his hat, wiped his sweaty forehead. "The dogs are in good shape. We were able to make the tour Hoshino-san asked for and we got new samples."

- "Kuramochi-san found one of these rocks which disturb compasses!" Added Inuzuka with excitement.

- "Everything fine at the station?"

Funaki's shoulders raised and fell.

- "Samejima-san has decided to build an outpost at Ongul Island, since it's the only access road to the continent, but that doesn't please everybody.

Kuramochi smiled, amused.

- "Himuro, isn't it?"

- "Yep" agreed Funaki with a grin. "What happened to this one?"

Inuzuka approached, with Goro in arms. Kuramochi patted thoughtfully the snout of the sheepish dog.

- "It was very rocky, unusual. I think he sprained himself a toe or something like that. He couldn't put down his paw, eh, chap? Poor fellow… Tani-sensei will probably tell us more."

- "Let's go back inside, Kuramochi-san" said Inusuka.

The young man nodded.

- "I still have some sheet steels to check before supper" said Funaki, indicating the tool box. "I'll catch up later. Yamazato-san prepared some sort of a soup that would tempt you to sell your mother!"

Kuramochi began laughing, then followed the boy inside. Funaki gave a last friendly pat to Pochi. He did two steps in the direction of the wharehouse and stopped.

He knelt down and examined, intrigued, what his eye had caught in the heap of snow accumulated against the building.

Ice chips had already solidified and just a few more snow flakes would be enough to gobble up the pearl which coloured them with red.

But, at the moment, you could see very well what it was.

Blood.