Read Online The Arctic Code by Matthew J. Kirby - Free Book Online Page B

hours? She hadn’t realized she was so exhausted. But her level of stress and fear over the last day had been intense.
    The plane lumbered along and eventually settled to a stop with a giant sigh. Eleanor decided it would probably be better to stay out of sight at first. She climbed back up the webbing to her previous perch and settled in to wait.
    Before long, the door to the cargo hold opened up, and first light, then wind, and finally snow poured in. The cold hit Eleanor’s face like an unexpected slap, and she realized instantly that this was Alaska.
    â€œYour stuff is there,” she heard Luke say. His voice had a metallic, muffled quality. “Behind all the G.E.T. cargo.”
    â€œYou’re running shipments for the G.E.T.?” It was a woman’s voice, also metallic and muffled.
    â€œDon’t have much of a choice, according to the law. They even ordered me to skip your delivery, so if anyone asks, this is all for ‘humanitarian purposes.’ Article something or other from the International Conservation of Energy Treaty.”
    Eleanor thought back to the earlier conversation she’d overheard. If she understood Luke correctly, they weren’t in Barrow yet. He’d stopped in Fairbanks after all. Her cheeks and nose were already starting tohurt from the cold, and each breath stabbed the inside of her chest with an icicle.
    â€œWell, I appreciate you violating a UN treaty,” the woman said.
    â€œAnything for you, doll.”
    Eleanor could hear them getting closer.
    â€œAny trouble, otherwise?” the woman asked.
    â€œNope. But I have to hustle the rest of this to Barrow before the storm hits.”
    â€œForecast is saying it’s going to be a bruiser.” She paused. “What’s that?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThat pack.”
    Oh no. Eleanor closed her eyes. Her pack. She had left it on the floor. Luke knew she was here.
    He raised his voice. “Come on out, kid!”
    â€œKid?” the woman asked.
    Eleanor sighed, rose to her hands and knees, and peered over the top of her crate tower. She saw now why their voices had sounded odd. They were both wearing masks—full plates of plastic and metal, with dark lenses over the eyes and a breathing apparatus over the mouth—which was what Eleanor wished she was wearing with each moment her skin was exposed to the Alaskan cold blowing into the cargo bay.
    â€œGet over here,” Luke said. “Now.”
    Eleanor scrambled down the webbing, nervousness making her feel especially clumsy. But what could Luke do at this point? It wasn’t like he could just leave her there in Fairbanks, and with his deadline, he wouldn’t be turning back to Phoenix, either. He’d be mad, for sure, but she would get to Barrow, which was all that mattered.
    Luke folded his arms, and with his mask, he looked a bit more threatening than before. “What do you think you’re doing, kid?”
    She folded her arms, too. “My name isn’t kid . It’s Eleanor.”
    â€œI don’t care,” Luke said. “You shouldn’t be here.”
    â€œOh, Luke, go easy on her,” the woman said. “It looks like she had a long flight. Eleanor, I’m Betty.”
    â€œNice to meet you.” Eleanor turned to Luke. “I didn’t mean any harm. Your plane was the only way.”
    â€œThe only way to what?” Betty asked.
    â€œThe only way to get to Barrow.”
    â€œBarrow?” Eleanor could imagine the shock on Betty’s face behind her mask. “Why on earth would you want to go—”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter,” Luke said. “Betty, your drilling cores are stacked over there. Be careful—they’re heavy.”
    Betty snorted. “Always a gentleman.”
    â€œYou know me.”
    A moment passed, and when it became clear Luke didn’t intend to help, Betty went to the crates he’d indicated. She lifted one,