Chapter 7

He burrowed into the snow in a hollow just off the dim trace they’d been following and wrapped his sleeping bag around himself. He didn’t figure he needed to set up the tent, at least not yet. There was not much wind, and although he knew it was below zero, his insulated parka and overalls seemed adequate.

He dozed a bit but never fell deeply asleep, fearful if he did, he might not wake up and wanted to be sure he saw and heard Hoolihan when he came back. Only he didn’tcome back. Two hours became three, then four. The wind began to pick up, and as the meager daylight came, the sky grew increasingly dark to the north, with clouds covering more and more of the pale clear blue.

Finally, he dug out his cell phone, not sure it would work, but it was his only link to the rest of humanity. He’d noted the numbers used by the race officials and dialed them, one after another. After long moments, someone picked up.