In the Arctic Read Online Free Page B

Archibald’s thoughts were drawn back to the wolves around Camp Bear Claw. He remembered the story of how Champ had been attacked by a pack of wild wolves, and how a group of hunters would have left the mangled dog to die if Mr. McClusky hadn’t come to the rescue. Then thinking of Ghost Rider, the white wolf that had been with them when they’d finally destroyed the devil cat, he said, “Yeah, it would be really neat if we saw some wolves while we’re up there.”
    “But only from the air,” Jockabeb replied with a smile on his face.
    As Jockabeb read on, he was particularly interested in the indigenous populations who had inhabited the Arctic down through the ages. When he learned that the present day inhabitants, the Inuit, were descendants of the Thule people, he looked up and said, “Well, I guess I know where Thule Air Base got its name.”
    Both the boys had finished reading their briefing papers by the time the plane started its descent into Langley Air Force Base. The landing was much smoother than the takeoff had been. Fifteen minutes after touchdown, the two brothers were escorted to the barracks where they’d spend the night.
    Before saying good night, Quade issued orders for the following morning. “In your room you’ll each find a large duffel bag containing toiletries, clothing, and other supplies you’ll need for the trip. We knew your height and weight, so everything will fit. Make sure you set the alarm clock. I want you dressed and ready to go when I show up at zero six hundred, and that’s six o’clock in the morning for you civilians.
    “There’ll be a continental breakfast in the briefing room. After you meet the other members assigned to the ETF, you’ll get a classified briefing on the mission. By noon you should be back in the air heading for Thule. Oh, I forgot to mention that the shower room and head are just down the hall. If either of you have questions, let me hear them now.”
    “Only one,” Jockabeb said, almost too embarrassed to ask. “What did you mean when you said there was a head down the hall?”
    “It’s a toilet, airhead,” Archibald blurted out before Quade could say a word. “Haven’t you heard Dad use that term before?”
    “No, I haven’t,” Jockabeb answered defensively. “Okay, so now I know. Anyway, that’s the only question I had.”
    Quade’s final bit of advice before he turned on his heels and marched down the deserted hallway was, “Get some sleep. You’ll need it where you’re headed.”
    When Archibald set the alarm clock for five o’clock, he turned to his brother and mimicked Special Agent Quade’s voice, saying, “I set the alarm for zero five hundred, and that’s five o’clock in the morning, you dumb civilian, you!”
    “Yes, sir,” Jockabeb barked back, saluting and clicking his heels together. “And if you have to use the head in the middle of the night, be quiet. Remember, I need to get some sleep because I’ll need it where I’m headed.”
Operation Deep Freeze
    Within a minute of the alarm going off the next morning, the boys were out of bed and headed down the hall to take their showers. Both of them were taken aback when they walked into the shower room and saw Meatloaf standing at the sink brushing his teeth.
    Wearing only a towel that barely fit around his bulging midriff, Meatloaf looked like a beached whale with enough blubber to supply an Inuit village for a good long while. When he saw the reflection of their faces in the mirror, he turned and bellowed out, “Well, well, you two topsiders don’t look any worse for wear.”
    After shaking hands, the one-armed man patted Archibald’s shoulder and said words that were music to the teenager’s ears. “You know, I didn’t want to have anything to do with this PSA deal, but Willow talked me into it. She said I owed it to her because it was her arrows that saved me from being the Ratweil’s third victim that night.
    “If you ask me, Willow’s got a thing for