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‘Oh, that sounds fun! Can I join?’ Janine sat down opposite Liam.
‘Hmm, last time I looked there was a bit of a waiting list. I’ll see if I can pull some strings.’ He winked at Janine, who blushed. ‘Do either of you have any experience?’
‘Not me,’ said Janine. ‘But I’m a quick learner.’
‘No problem, we can teach you everything you need to know. What about you, Olivia?’ He nudged her shoulder, which made her tense.
‘Dad, seriously, do I have to?’ In a blink, she was back at Loch Lomond, the mist rising on the calm waters. This time, it was a good memory of her father. Even in midsummer, he used to make her dress in a full wetsuit,because the Scottish weather could turn from sunny todreichat any moment. He’d taught her how to roll in the water if anything happened to them, and made her do it every time they went out.
‘No,’ he had laughed. ‘I trust you on the water. I just think there’s no better start to the day than with a good old wet exit.’
‘So you tricked me!’ She’d splashed water at him with her oar.
He was better at it, and soon they were both drenched but laughing their heads off, all their teeth showing. ‘Paddle ready?’ he’d ask, and she’d check herself over before tapping her helmet, giving him the OK. ‘Let’s dive in.’
She didn’t think those skills had left her. Like the other things her dad had taught her – how to tie a bowline, navigate with a compass, start a fire with flint – she felt them in the foundations of her being. She might have tried to bury them under a mountain of maths and statistics, turned away from adventurous activities to keep the promise to her mother, but those skills remained. Part of her DNA.
‘I have a little,’ she replied, realizing she hadn’t answered Liam’s question. ‘But that was before …’ She drifted off, not knowing how to explain how her relationship to the water had changed. ‘I don’t know how I’ll handle a kayak on my own.’
Liam nodded. ‘I’m sure we can refresh any gaps in your knowledge. And you won’t be alone. Most of you will be in double kayaks.’
She took a deep breath. The thought terrified her. But there was more at stake here than her own fear. It washer future. There was her promise to Stefan, to entertain the art clients by going on the excursions. Aaron had told her to enjoy herself. ‘OK, I’ll try it.’
‘Mega. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you. Both of you.’
Olivia grimaced. She wasn’t so certain. She decided to change the subject. ‘So, excursion leader in Antarctica? What a job! Have you been on this ship long?’
‘Since the start of the season, which makes this my fourth cruise? I lose track, honestly. I spent last summer guiding white-water rafting trips down the Salt River in Colorado and then was supposed to start a ski patrol job in Banff when I got the call that this random Antarctica job I applied for had been approved. Never thought I’d be spending my winters on the water too … but down here it’s summer. Reminds me of home.’
‘Wow – so where is home?’
‘New Zealand. Queenstown. Always knew I was going to spend my life searching out rad adventures. This is definitely up there with the most incredible. Every expedition brings its own new challenges. A whole new set of people. A whole new set of weather conditions. And generally a whole lotta new ice.’
‘Sounds interesting!’ said Olivia.
In truth, it sounded inconceivable. The transience of his life was totally antithetical to how she lived. The instability. Never knowing where your next pay cheque was coming from. She couldn’t live like that. After studying maths at uni, she’d chosen the most stable career she could with her degree. Regular pay cheques, regular pay rises. That was the goal.
Liam’s life, chasing the sun – or the snow – soundedidyllic in its own way, but it also meant never feeling secure. Never making ties or building any sort of home. Where did he store all his stuff? She thought of her piles of textbooks, her hundreds of scented candles, her favourite charity shop knick-knacks. Her home was her sanctuary, the place she could shut the rest of the world out. Even her coffee maker she considered to be a prized possession.
Liam wouldn’t be able to keep much more than he could carry on his own back – unless he had family willing to store his belongings. Olivia wasn’t sure that she could live like that. She needed a comfort zone.
‘Have you ever been to New Zealand?’ Liam asked Olivia.
But Olivia’s attention had been caught by something else. A woman in a bright blue crew fleece had entered the dining room, making a beeline for the captain. Her blond hair was tied back in a braid that was fraying at the edges, dishevelled. Straining to hear, Olivia couldn’t make out the words, not exactly. But mostly because the woman was speaking with a very strong Slavic accent.
If anyone knew why the med evac had been called, it would be the doctor who’d been in the other room.
15
She mumbled an explanation to Liam and Janine about needing the toilet before running out of the dining room.
‘Hey, excuse me!’ Olivia called out.
The woman hesitated for a moment – Olivia was sure that she had heard her – just the way that she had tilted her ear in her direction. And in the quickness of her steps as she picked up speed.
‘No, wait, please …’ Olivia followed her down the stairs, speeding up to catch her along the hallway.
The woman stopped at a ‘CREW ONLY’ door and was fumbling around for her pass. It gave Olivia an opportunity. Just enough.