[ Later, Hickey will remember how readily Angelo springs to action when given direction. I'd be a fool to trust you, he said, and yet he willingly puts his life in Hickey's hands. Isn't that something?
By the time they meet again, Hickey has ripped the chimney off the stove and stuffed the pieces of it inside, wedging it in with the powder keg to block off the vent. It's hardly ideal, but it'll have to do. He eyeballs a length of fuse, deciding where to cut for the proper timing. Should he ever see Andrew again, he'll have to thank her for providing him with a point of reference.
At the other end of the floe, a scream is cut off with a sickening crunch. That's Daly gone, then. ]
Careful.
[ He holds up a hand at Angelo's approach. Goodsir's little science experiment has been extinguished, but opening the stove released the remaining fumes inside. This faint haze isn't as caustic as the first, but the burning in his throat on each inhale tells him it's still dangerous.
He takes the flask—leave it to Armitage to make sure his personal store of gunpowder stayed full, dutiful little marine that he was—and drains its contents into the keg.
Another volley of gunfire rings out and Hickey glances up. Tozer has his group spread into a staggered line, already retreating toward the boat as they each reload. The Tuunbaq bellows and abandons Daly's body to rush its attackers. They're out of time.
Hickey is about to order Angelo to cripple Des Voeux with a gunshot, leave him to the beast so the rest of them have a chance to run—but as the Tuunbaq gallops, the ice quakes again. The floe splits violently, a channel of seawater carving a jagged divide between the two halves. The creature stumbles as it nearly careens into the water.
Hickey reaches for Angelo's arm to keep them both steady as the ice pitches again. This won't stop the bear, but it's bought an opening for the firing line to make their escape.
An escape isn't good enough, though. The Tuunbaq will catch up easily, capsize their boat, tear them all to pieces if they don't drown in the frigid water first. ]
You and the others get to the boat. Be ready to leave as soon as I join you.
[ He works the fuse into the powder keg as he speaks, and the rest of the canister and Armitage's flask join collection of soon-to-be shrapnel inside the stove.
Then, he grabs Angelo by the wrist and presses the cigarette case into his hand. Hickey knows he doesn't need to articulate how crucial it is that Angelo keep the thing safe, but he spares a moment to lock eyes with him anyway. Make sure we have a later. ]
no subject
By the time they meet again, Hickey has ripped the chimney off the stove and stuffed the pieces of it inside, wedging it in with the powder keg to block off the vent. It's hardly ideal, but it'll have to do. He eyeballs a length of fuse, deciding where to cut for the proper timing. Should he ever see Andrew again, he'll have to thank her for providing him with a point of reference.
At the other end of the floe, a scream is cut off with a sickening crunch. That's Daly gone, then. ]
Careful.
[ He holds up a hand at Angelo's approach. Goodsir's little science experiment has been extinguished, but opening the stove released the remaining fumes inside. This faint haze isn't as caustic as the first, but the burning in his throat on each inhale tells him it's still dangerous.
He takes the flask—leave it to Armitage to make sure his personal store of gunpowder stayed full, dutiful little marine that he was—and drains its contents into the keg.
Another volley of gunfire rings out and Hickey glances up. Tozer has his group spread into a staggered line, already retreating toward the boat as they each reload. The Tuunbaq bellows and abandons Daly's body to rush its attackers. They're out of time.
Hickey is about to order Angelo to cripple Des Voeux with a gunshot, leave him to the beast so the rest of them have a chance to run—but as the Tuunbaq gallops, the ice quakes again. The floe splits violently, a channel of seawater carving a jagged divide between the two halves. The creature stumbles as it nearly careens into the water.
Hickey reaches for Angelo's arm to keep them both steady as the ice pitches again. This won't stop the bear, but it's bought an opening for the firing line to make their escape.
An escape isn't good enough, though. The Tuunbaq will catch up easily, capsize their boat, tear them all to pieces if they don't drown in the frigid water first. ]
You and the others get to the boat. Be ready to leave as soon as I join you.
[ He works the fuse into the powder keg as he speaks, and the rest of the canister and Armitage's flask join collection of soon-to-be shrapnel inside the stove.
Then, he grabs Angelo by the wrist and presses the cigarette case into his hand. Hickey knows he doesn't need to articulate how crucial it is that Angelo keep the thing safe, but he spares a moment to lock eyes with him anyway. Make sure we have a later. ]