Mark struggled to climb onto a large floating iceberg from the icy sea water. The biting cold made his whole body tremble uncontrollably. He wrapped his tattered life jacket tightly, and his teeth chattered with a "click" sound. All around him was a vast expanse of white ice sea, with no plane wreckage and no footprints from the way back, as if he was the only one left in the world.
He fumbled out a small metal thermos from his almost frozen pocket, unscrewed the lid, and there was still the residual warmth of the coffee that his wife had prepared for him before he left. He sipped it in small sips, and the bitter taste brought a hint of warm comfort.
In the distance, a black mountain peak stood out against the gray sky. A black cave entrance was vaguely visible at the foot of the mountain, which might serve as a temporary shelter.
"We must try!" Mark gritted his teeth, and a trace of determination flashed in his eyes. He took a deep breath, jumped into the cold sea again, and swam hard towards the mountain peak.
The cold sea water stung his skin like a needle, but he didn't dare to stop. He knew that if he stopped, he would not be able to swim anymore. After swimming for a long time, he finally reached the foot of the mountain. He climbed up the shore with his hands and feet, and staggered to the ice cave. The entrance of the cave was not big, just enough for one person to pass through. He took a deep breath and got in.
The ice cave was dark and quiet, with only the sound of wind pouring in from the entrance, making a whimpering sound. Mark fumbled to light the lighter, and the faint flame illuminated the scene in the cave. This is a naturally formed ice cave, and the cave wall is as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the light of the lighter.
Deep in the ice cave, Mark accidentally found a well-preserved biological skeleton. The skeleton is huge and strange in shape, similar to the shape of the huge footprints he had seen on the snow before. "What...what kind of creature is this?" He was filled with shock and curiosity. With trembling hands, he approached the skeleton and observed it carefully. The skeleton's bone structure is different from any creature he knows. There are two sharp horns on the huge skull, and the ribs are as thick as steel.
Just as Mark was concentrating on observing the skeleton, a low roar suddenly came from the cave entrance. This roar was different from any animal call he had ever heard, with an ancient and savage atmosphere. Mark turned his head sharply, and the lighter almost fell from his hand.
He realized that it was no longer safe here and he had to leave immediately. He carefully exited the ice cave and returned to the ice and snow. The wind and snow whistled over his head, making a sharp whimper, as if mocking his insignificance and helplessness.
He found a snow cave blown out by the wind, and used his frozen hands to dig out the snow with great effort, then curled up to avoid the wind and snow to conserve his energy. He wrapped his thin clothes tightly, closed his eyes, and tried to draw a little warmth from his fatigue. The wind and snow whistled over his head, making a sharp whimper, as if mocking his insignificance and helplessness.
A few hours later, the wind and snow gradually subsided, and the sky gradually brightened. Mark crawled out of the snow cave, and his frozen limbs almost lost consciousness. He shook his arms and stamped his feet, trying to regain some consciousness.
He identified the direction and continued to move eastward. The east was the area where human activities were most likely to exist in his memory. He dragged his heavy feet and moved forward step by step, like a traveler lost in the desert, struggling to find an oasis of life.
After walking for a long time, he found a faint light flickering in the distance, as if it was a bright light in the darkness, igniting the hope in his heart. He immediately quickened his pace and ran towards the light. As the distance got closer, the light became clearer and clearer, and finally, he found that it was an abandoned scientific research station.
The metal exterior walls of the scientific research station were covered with thick snow, and some windows had been broken, revealing the dark interior. The door was closed, and a rusty lock was hung on it.
Mark used the crowbar he found to pry open the door lock. He pushed open the door, and a musty smell hit him. The interior of the scientific research station was in a mess, with tables and chairs overturned, and various documents and equipment scattered on the ground.
He searched the station and found some canned food and warm clothes. Although the food was expired, it could at least replenish some energy. He couldn't wait to open a can and ate it voraciously.
In the corner of the station, he found a backup generator and some diesel. He checked the generator and found that it was still usable. He poured the diesel into the generator and started it.
With the roar of the generator, the lights of the station came on again, dispelling the darkness and bringing Mark a glimmer of warmth and hope. The indoor temperature gradually rose and the cold gradually faded.
Mark changed into the warm clothes he found and felt much more comfortable. He walked to the window and looked at the snowflakes still falling outside the window, and his heart was full of emotion. He had struggled in this icy and snowy land for so long and finally found a place to stay temporarily.
He walked to the radio equipment and tried to contact the outside world, but the radio equipment had been damaged and could not be used. He sighed, knowing that he had to continue to find a way to leave this frozen hell. He picked up the map and studied it carefully, looking for a possible escape route.
"There must be a way." Mark whispered to himself, his eyes flashing with determination. He picked up the pen on the table and drew a circle on the map. That was his next goal. He closed the map and turned to walk out the door.
He pushed open the door and stepped into the snow again.