Chapter Twelve: Unexpected Danger
"You look worried," Dr. Carlton commented, as she skillfully piloted her sleek private helicopter over the snowy wastes of Greenland.
"Huh?" Charity Bentham sat up straight in her seat. She hadn't been worrying, really. Watching the whirling snow, she'd simply found herself dreaming of arctic adventures, and wondering drowsily how anyone could survive in such a savage environment. "Dr. Beddington can do anything," the loyal Beta Minus declared, praying she could find her old boss in time.
"We'll find some answers at the research station on Disko Island," Dr. Carlton said, reassuring the nervous redhead with a cool nod. "There's no use in worrying about your clever friend until we land. In the meantime, try to relax. Why not take a gram of soma?"
"Thanks." Charity was really very grateful to the Center Director. Dr. Carlton's ice-blue eyes and perfect high cheekbones were a bit intimidating, but Charity gladly took the offered soma and lay back in her seat with a sigh. It was foolish to be frightened by the sexy older woman. After all, Margaret Carlton was an Alpha. In fact she was an Alpha Plus! So it was natural for a Beta Minus like Charity to listen to her suggestions. Listen and obey . . .
BUMP! BUMP! BUMP! BUMP!
"Huh? What's that?" Charity sat up at once. A hard series of jolts had awakened her from a deep sleep. There was nothing outside the window but pitch black night.
"Nothing to worry about," Dr. Margaret Carlton said tersely, piloting the craft with a look of grim, tight-lipped determination. The helicopter seemed to be shaking, sinking lower and lower.
"Nothing to worry about!" Charity squeaked. She felt almost dizzy with fear. "But it looks – it looks like we're about to crash!"
"Not if I can help it," the Center Director replied. Charity was amazed. How could anyone be so calm in such terrifying circumstances? Even as the rotors thudded more and more violently, making the engine shudder, raven-haired Dr. Carlton continued to work the controls with cool and precise deliberation.
"Oh, Ford help us! Ford help us, Ford help us . . ." Charity couldn't stop shuddering with every jolt. She was blubbering uncontrollably by the time the helicopter hit the ground, in a rough but controlled landing on what seemed to be a surface of hard-packed snow.
"Well, here we are." Dr. Carlton sounded calm and cheerful. It was almost as though she enjoyed the unexpected danger!
"What happened? Was it an engine problem, or a mechanical failure?" Still trembling and weak in the knees, Charity followed Dr. Carlton out of the helicopter. There were heavy, dark shapes in parkas running towards them, reassuring male figures who offered warm blankets and hot drinks as they ushered the shivering travelers towards a dark underground entrance way.
"Hey, hey, it's okay little girl. Drink this, it's going to be okay . . ."
"Dr. Carlton?" Charity was coughing and sputtering from the hot drink and twisting her head this way and that. She couldn't quite see who Margaret was talking to, but she caught a few words of the low-voiced conversation in the dim shadows of the cavern.
"No, quite certain . . . not sabotage . . . incredible strength . . . a heavy object thrown by hand . . . yes, I said thrown!"
Charity shuddered, and quickly drank the rest of her hot drink.