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The wave created by the calving was heading straight towards the kayaks, threatening to swamp them. Olivia could imagine the frantic shouting, the instructions to try to turn the boats in the direction of the wave, Liam coming into his element, taking charge and making sure everyone was safe.
Olivia held her breath as the first kayak rode the swelland none of them appeared to capsize. Beside her, Cutler blew out his cheeks and held his wife, who he was propping up, her knees gone weak. All the kayakers had raised their paddles, signalling that they were OK. They all then seemed to slap them together in a paddle high five. They looked like they were laughing. Having fun. Olivia smiled.
‘What the hell was that idiot Kiwi doing steering them so close to the glacier again? Doesn’t he know we’re trying toavoiddisaster for the rest of this trip?’
‘It’s always about the scandal to you! The cost to the business, your deal – what about my boys?’ Ingrid let out a stream of curses in German.
Olivia took the binoculars back from Cutler, who hurried back down the hill, chasing his wife. Her hands were gesticulating wildly – presumably still furious.
But now that the wreckage from the glacier had cleared, the sea calming again, she thought she spotted something odd. One of the kayaks appeared to have been separated from the group, slipping off behind one of the icebergs. It was just a flash of orange, but she was sure that was the case.
She pointed the binoculars at Liam, but his focus was on returning the group to the boat, his back to the rogue kayak.
She followed the movement all the way to a small alcove, hidden from view from the ship – and from most of the shoreline. Only from this vantage point, high above the harbour, could Olivia see the tip of a yacht.
The kayaker was heading to a different boat. To theClarissa II.
A horn sounded, letting the passengers on shoreknow that their time was up. She needed to get back to the ship. She was the only one left high up on the hill. Even Elisabet had gone, presumably distracted by the commotion with the Hugheses. She felt a sudden chill, as the threat and terror of being left behind took root. She had nothing but the clothes on her back – not even a granola bar in her pocket. That was stupid. Everything she had been told about this trip so far was that while itlookedlike a luxury cruise, this was actually an expedition. They were in dangerous, unpredictable terrain.
If she got into serious trouble – if she had an injury while out on the ice, if she got lost or missed the deadline and they left without her …
She would be on her own.
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She slid her way down the hill, and when she found it tricky to stay on her feet, she dropped to her bum. There was a channel through the snow she used as a glissade, dragging her hands to maintain control as she gained in speed.
The Zodiac was full, and the professor was staring at his watch. She raced to the boat, her boots splashing in the water.
Dr Vance looked up, his mouth set in a grimace. ‘Olivia, you just made it.’ He reached down to grab his clipboard, putting a tick next to her name.
She leaned down on her knees, struggling to catch her breath. ‘You need to call for help.’
‘What?’
‘I was watching the kayaks returning to the ship and I saw one of them get separated from the others.’
The professor frowned. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Positive.’ She held the binoculars up from around her neck.
‘I’m sure you’re mistaken …’
‘What if it’s our boys?’ Ingrid said, standing up abruptly in the Zodiac and making the sides wobble. The other passengers gripped the safety ropes tightly.
The professor nodded, rubbing at his chin. ‘All right. Let me radio the ship.’
Olivia breathed a sigh of relief, glad she was being taken seriously, and clambered aboard the Zodiac.
She settled down on to the seat, arranging her life jacket around her neck. She kept her eyes trained on the professor as he listened to his radio. He smiled at her. There was a patronizing edge to it. ‘No need for anyone to worry – all the passenger kayaks have been accounted for. You may have seen one of the crew doing a recce.’
He turned away to start the engine, and Olivia frowned. She stared out across the icy ocean towards the cove where she saw the kayak disappear. There was no sign of anything amiss – noClarissa II, no rogue kayak, nothing but ice and water and …
There was a gasp from next to her, as a fin breached the water not far from the Zodiac. It was timed with the professor getting the small motorized boat moving, so he steered it towards the whale. All around her, people were snapping photos, their long lenses leaning out over the side.
But she couldn’t bring herself to feel excited. She was a bundle of nerves. She didn’t want to return to the ship. She felt safer on the peninsula.
Beside her, Cutler gave her shoulder a nudge. ‘What’s wrong? Not interested in the wildlife any more?’