Thursday 13th April: 1723: 3:30pm
We are here. I carefully let go of the wheel. I'm hoping that the wind isn't strong enough to blow the wheel and drive the ship into the ice.
Hurriedly, we got on our warm, thick coats and pants and thick walking boots on to keep us warm. We tied all our stuff onto a sleigh and dragged it out of the ship and placed it gently on the soft, fluffy, white snow. We all got off the ship and stepped in the snow. It was cold. Very cold. It was as if I stepped into a freezing cold shower. Actually, scrap that, it was if I have shrunk and stepped inside the freezer or the fridge.
Quietly, we walked through the heavy snow. As we got further away from the water the wind got heavier and I was for certain that the wind was now against us then with us. We already planned to set up camp at 5:00 PM.
We had 1 hour and 30 minutes to find camp. It was harder now to tell the time since it was dark a lot. Did you know that apparently, Antarctica has 6 whole months of darkness and that usually lasts till September, Well that's what a scientist said and to be honest, I think it's true. It's very dark.
Suddenly, I noticed that the direction we was headed in there was a stream of water. We walked towards it to see if there was a way around the stream and luckily there was like an icy bridge going across it. It looked as if the snow was on our side...or was it?
I looked down at the water, it was clear. It wasn't that deep but it sure was dangerous. Even though if someone fell in it they probably won't drown, but it doesn't mean it won't kill someone. It's cold enough.
I called the others over and waited for them to come. I gotta admit I was the one who was ahead of everyone. But I guess it's normal for the captain to be in front.
Finally everyone came, I told them all the plan to get the sleigh across without making it fall. Me and Robert will carry the sleigh across and then we'll wait for each other. Sounds simple, right? Well I was wrong, because when we all got across the icy bridge, there was obviously one person who is the clumsiest out of us all. And that was Jeremy. Yes the same guy who drank sea water instead of going to get some fresh water from the chef. We did try to get him to stay in the ship with the chef to let him get better but he insisted. He gets quite stubborn sometimes. As you might have guessed.
Jeremy fell straight into the freezing cold water. We all gasped hoping he was all right, but he was shivering really badly. I stepped towards him and reached out my and helped him out. When he got out he was shivering badly and it seemed as if his face was turning into ice because he was that cold. We offered to rest here but he insisted he was fine and we should just carry on.
So we carried on but that was the wrong decision Since as we was started walking and everything was going well, Jeremy fell. Yes he fell. I rushed towards him and tried to help him up, but his legs was stiff. He looked iller than ever. I didn't know what to do.
I offered to camp here but he said weakly, "J-Just leave me. I-I'll just slow you down. B-but can you d-do s-something for me?" I nodded and said, "anything, what is it?" Jeremy said again but this time even more weaker, "J-just tell my f-family I'll miss them and m-make sure t-they" He paused and weakly continued, "T-they d-don't forget m-me." I started to get upset and this would probably be the first time I've cried in public. I kneeled down next to him and cried out, "please don't give up. Please."
I was crying badly. Even though we was just crew members we was more than that we was family. All of us was, a big family. He looked up and smiled weakly and said, "don't worry about me. I will always be with you, in your heart. Guiding you all the way." He paused and continued, "at least I won't be suffering anymore." He smiled and leaned his head up and closed his eyes and died. That was the most saddest part of our adventure, losing someone. But I knew we had to keep going and there will probably be more deaths along the way.
I wiped my eyes and stood up and turned around and walked sadly to the crew. We was all saddened by this event. Who knew one death could have a huge impact on a load of people. But I was certain that I'll go back home and do what he asked me to do. I know it's going to be hard but I will do his wish.
Suddenly, Robert came up to me and quietly called out, "we need to find camp. The wind is getting heavier and soon it'll be To late." So we walked forward. The snow was getting steeper, which made the journey take much more longer and harder. We knew that not all of us will make it back home. We all knew that.
Robert was right though, the wind is getting heavier and colder and we all knew that more snow would be on its way. So we had to move fast. This wasn't a place to play around in. It's not like them casual winter days in Winter where there was snow, the snow then is nothing compared to this. This is real. We could die. I know next time I see someone complaining about the coldness in winter I'll remind them of this place and remind them how Antarctica seems as if it hasn't got any other seasons except from Winter. But with that being said about the snow coming we continued going forward.