The Querulous Effect (9 page)

Tim, who had spent much time on the flight to Greenland swotting up on igloos, turf huts and sealskin tents, was very surprised on reaching the Inuit leader's house. Contrary to all his hopes and expectations, he found it was a solid wooden house of a modern design just like the other brightly coloured houses they had seen from the air. On entering he was equally surprised and disappointed to find it was rather like his own home with the same sort of furniture and even a television. Later he was to learn that this far south, the weather was too warm for building igloos and that they were only used in winter in the north as temporary shelters. Also the sealskin huts were only used on long hunting expeditions and nowadays even those traditional hunters' dwellings were being replaced by modern Arctic tents.

However some of the old ways lingered on. As the leader, whose name they learned was Kakrayok, indicated to the Prof and the children to take seats round a large dining table, they were joined by three of the leader's trusted companions. One was a small, stocky man, dressed in traditional sealskin and fur clothing, who looked most ancient and was introduced as the ‘angakok' or shaman – the wise man of the village. He was treated with deference by all his fellows and, as the Prof began his explanation of the reason for their visit, the leader periodically spoke in low tones to the shaman, outlining what the visitors were saying. The shaman nodded occasionally to show he understood and, although he said nothing, it became clear that it was he who would ultimately decide how much information and help would be offered.

The Prof repeated his explanation that he and his young assistants were on a scientific expedition and were looking for a research station or factory which they believed might be in this area. He mentioned that the large patch of pink liquid they had spotted from the air some miles away might be associated with the factory they were seeking. Finally, going further with his explanation than he had originally intended, he said that he suspected that there may have been some problems near this very area. He added that if there had been some sort of spillage or leakage from a factory or processing plant, then he and his team might well be able to offer help.

As he made this point two of the villagers looked at each other and made as if to speak but the shaman and the leader stared hard at them and they apparently thought better of it and said nothing. From their reaction, however, the Prof sensed that there was more information to be learned. Pressing on and dropping his earlier caution entirely, he asked directly if they knew of any such factory. There was an awkward silence as everyone around the table looked at everyone else but just as the atmosphere became more tense, the silence was broken by the rattle of crockery. With a heave and a grunt the leader's wife bumped through the doorway and plonked a tray of mugs of tea and the Prof's biscuits on the table.

There was a general sense of relief as the mugs were handed round and biscuits offered, together with strips of dried seal meat. One of the men encouraged Tim to try the seal meat and Jay felt he should support his friend and took one too. It was very hard and leathery but they smiled in thanks as politely as they could as they sucked away and tried to digest the unusual taste. Ella declined with an equally polite smile and chose a biscuit instead. Sharing the tea eased the tension round the table and as they sipped, the shaman, broke his silence. He engaged Kakrayok and his companions in earnest conversation, looking hard as he did so at Jay, Tim and Ella. Kakrayok then spoke to the children.

“This gentleman is called ‘Atka,' which means ‘guardian spirit.' We value his judgement in any matter which involves the well-being of our village and in particular what the future may hold for us. He asks if the three of you agree with what your older scientist colleague has told us and, if so, whether you really think that such a small group as yourselves could help us if there were problems of the type your companion described.”

It seemed very strange to be asked to confirm that the Professor was telling the truth and it took the children by surprise. But Jay did not hesitate. He spoke up straight away. “Oh yes,” he said, “we have been searching just as the Professor said. We've got lots of equipment and I'm sure the Professor could solve any problem.”

Tim and Ella nodded in agreement. As Jay's swift and positive answer was relayed in a hushed tone to Atka he smiled for the first time and seemed satisfied by the children's response. He then had another quiet conversation with his companions. There were nods of agreement and then Kakrayok turned to address the Prof again.

“The children's trust in your mission has given us reassurance and although we feel there is something that you are still, perhaps, not telling us, we also have not told you all we know. Atka agrees that you should now know that what you seek is close by – or at least it was until some months ago.”

Kakrayok explained that there had indeed been a small factory, built close to a glacier which ran into the far end of the next bay up the coast. It was built on that site to be close to the sea but also with ready access to a supply of fresh water drawn from ice melts from the nearby glacier. Local people had helped with the building and had been employed to supply samples of fish and all sorts of sea life once it was operational. It had been good work and a very welcome source of income. But it did not last long. As the summer progressed, the ice melt was much greater than had ever been experienced in those parts before.

“Perhaps it was global warming,” Kakrayok continued, “who knows? Anyway, the glacier became more unstable. Cracks appeared in the factory walls. One of the storage tanks started leaning over. Some big boss from the factory company headquarters flew in by helicopter. He looked at the damage and got very cross.”

Kakrayok turned to one of his friends who was nodding vigorously. “You were working there that day, Ukaleq, tell them what happened.”

Ukaleq took up the story. He explained that the “big boss – Chisholm P. something or other,” had lost his temper. He had told the men in charge that he had already wasted lots of money on this “hare-brained scheme” and that he was not going to waste any more. There was a scientist there who protested strongly but it was no good. The boss just sacked the scientist and everyone else on the spot and closed the factory there and then.

Ukaleq shrugged in exasperation and Kakrayok completed the unhappy story.

“That was it,” he said. “The factory closed, we got no more work and everybody left.”

“Well, not everyb…” Ukaleq started to say but Kakrayok interrupted.

“Everybody left,” he emphasised, “and a good thing for them they did. Three weeks later there was a huge melt at the end of the glacier. The factory foundations gave way and it plunged into the sea. Some of the storage tanks went with it – that's the pink liquid you saw in the water I suppose.”

The Prof took a deep breath and sat back in his chair looking glum.

“This is a terrible story. Worse than I thought. We've come all this way and it sounds as if all is lost. That must surely have been Chisholm P. Blusterton himself, head of Blusterton International. And one of our friends, the scientist you mentioned,” (and here he looked hard at the children so they knew it was Cosmo he was thinking of), “has been sacked and gone off. By now he could be absolutely anywhere. I might be able to clear up a few patches of the pink stuff but I need to talk to him urgently if I am to do anything useful and prevent further problems in the future.”

He sank even lower into his chair and was obviously deep in thought. It seemed as if, for the first time in the children's experience, the Prof really did not know what to do or what to say. Kakrayok and his companions looked at him quizzically and everyone in the room was silent.

It may have been silent in the room but outside there was a great hullabaloo. Chip, already most offended by being excluded from the company inside, had decided that he had waited quite long enough and had started barking furiously. This, in turn, had set all the sled dogs off howling even more.

The Prof, startled out of his deep thoughts, looked up at the children.

“You had better go and rescue Chip,” he said. “I need time to think and I need to see if there is any more information I can learn from our hosts to help us decide what to do and whether it is worth continuing our search.”

He looked at his watch and added, “There's only an hour before we have to leave, so I suggest you take Chip for a walk to calm him down before we get on board again. But don't be long; the McDoons are concerned about the weather this evening and we mustn't delay the take-off.”

“Understood!” said Tim and the three children made for the door.

By the time Jay, Tim and Ella got outside to see Chip there was a terrible commotion. Chip was still barking furiously, accompanied by the howling of every sled dog in the settlement. A group of children with broad smiles on their faces were standing in a semi-circle around Chip, fascinated by his antics.

“It's alright, Chip, we're here now,” said Ella as she bent down and untied him. “We'll take you a short walk and then get back to the plane.”

Off they set with Chip pulling at the lead. He clearly intended putting plenty of distance between himself and the sled dogs. They were followed by a procession of the Inuit children who were all chatting away together and seemed very friendly. Some of the older ones could speak some English, having learned it in school, and they asked Jay and Tim questions about where they had come from and how long they would be staying. Tim explained in his most serious voice that they were scientists and that unfortunately they could only stay for another hour or so as they were on an important mission.

Meanwhile Ella and Chip sped ahead, followed by the group, passing the brightly painted wooden houses and on up the slope above the village. As they gained height, they stopped to look back across the roof tops to the mouth of the bay, where the flying boat lay at anchor, gently bobbing up and down on the swell. In the distance the horizon was less clear than earlier in the afternoon. It was difficult to make out where the soft grey of the ocean ended and the grey haze of the sky began. The weather did seem to be changing and Tim remembered that the McDoon's had been very clear about the need not to delay.

“We better be getting back,” he said and reluctantly they turned to make the short walk back down the hill. Most reluctant of all was Chip. He sensed that the freedom he was experiencing in the snow was soon to be replaced by boring confinement in the cabin of the flying boat. Suddenly he made a dash for freedom, tugging Ella over on the slippery slope as he pulled at the lead. As she toppled over and sprawled in the snow, the lead jerked out of her hand and Chip dashed off up the slope. Tim, Jay and the whole group of children chased after him. Chip thought this just added to the excitement and so he ran ahead even faster.

Up the hill they went, running towards the long, low corrugated iron building which stood at the top of the hill. As they got near the building, the Inuit children stopped, indicating that they were not allowed to go any closer. As the group came to a halt, so did Chip, looking back at them and wondering why this chase, which had been so much fun, had suddenly ended.

“Well, we've got to get Chip,” said Ella who had caught up with them and she called out to Chip to come. But he just sat down on the snow and looked back down on them.

“Come on, then,” shouted Jay and he charged off up the hill. As soon as Jay set off, Chip, thinking the chase was on again, dashed away once more.

“Oh, look at that!” Ella exclaimed in total frustration. “Come on Tim, we must get him,” she shouted as she set off with Tim following close behind.

With Jay well in the lead, the three of them scrambled up the slope towards the low building. Like many of the houses in the village, the base of the building was lifted up a few feet from the ground on strong supports, rather like short stilts, which kept it clear of the frozen ground. Unfortunately for the children, this narrow space seemed to Chip to be the perfect spot to turn the chase into a game of hide and seek. As Jay reached the top of the hill he caught sight of Chip's tail disappearing under the building. Tim and Ella arrived just in time to see Chip's head pop out again mischievously before disappearing once more under the building.

The children went up to the building and bent down calling to Chip to come out but without success. They were not sure if anyone lived in the building – it looked old and battered and the corrugated iron was going rusty. Tim thought they should, nevertheless, check before they pursued Chip any more. It was not exactly like asking if you could get your ball back from a neighbour but it would, he felt, be the right thing to do. They knocked on the door but there was no answer. Ella said she was sure she had heard some movement from inside but after knocking again there was no response.

“We could look in through a window,” said Jay and, following that suggestion, the two boys heaved an old oil drum to a position under a small window and Jay clambered up and stared in.

“It's pretty dark in there,” he said. “Looks a bit like the inside of a sort of green-house with plants and stuff.” He pressed his face closer to the window trying to make out more detail in the gloom. Suddenly he let out a mighty yell and toppled back as, without any warning, a face suddenly appeared at the window, staring back at him. Over went the oil drum as Jay fell back onto Tim, who yelled out too. As they fell into the snow, Chip, shot out from under the building, dashing round and barking madly to add to the general confusion.

“Come on, let's get out of here,” shouted Jay, whose heart was thumping away in his chest. Ella managed to grab Chip as Tim, recovering from the shock of Jay landing on top of him, struggled to his feet. They were just about to follow Jay when the door of the building opened and a tall, thin figure emerged. Tim and Ella froze on the spot, uncertain whether to run for it or explain themselves. Jay, who was already fifty yards ahead looked back and stopped too, unwilling to abandon his friends at this crucial moment.

The tall figure, silhouetted against the dim light inside the doorway, looked hard at them. Then the silence was broken.

“Ella? Chip? Surely not?” The figure took a step towards them. “Good heavens it is you. Ella and Tim! It's me, Cosmo. Cosmo Querulous.”

The children stared as the figure came forward from the doorway. As he emerged into the full light they realised that it certainly was Cosmo. He looked even thinner than normal and his face had a purpley-green hue but it was definitely him.

Ella spoke up. “We've all been searching for you – for ages!” she exclaimed.

“All?” queried Cosmo. “Just who is here and how did you find me?”

It was Tim's turn to answer. “Well, apart from us, there is our friend Jay, who is standing over there wondering what's happening and then, of course, there's the Professor. We came in that flying boat down in the bay.”

“The Prof here? So it was you in the flying boat. I thought it must be some of the Blusterton's lot coming after me.”

Tim signalled to Jay that all was well and Jay came up as hasty introductions were made. “Shall I run down and fetch the Prof?” he asked.

“I don't think there's time,” said Tim and as he spoke, as if to confirm his thoughts, they heard the great engines of the flying boat roar into life in the bay below.

“I'd better come down with you,” said Cosmo. “It will save time and I suppose I've got to face up to the Prof sometime. I'll get a coat and be with you very shortly.”

He disappeared inside for a few minutes then reappeared in a heavy fur coat and pulled the door firmly shut and locked it securely.

“I'm really glad to see you,” Cosmo said as they walked down the hill. “I've made some new friends here, especially the shaman, Atka, but it's good to see old friends. All the same, I'm not so sure that the Prof will be so pleased to see me. We parted on bad terms and it looks like I've caused him even more trouble now.”

“Actually,” said Tim, “I think he will be very glad to see you. He's come a long way to find you and he is desperate to talk to you. And anyway, he's not such a bad old chap you know!”

“Hm, we'll see about that,” replied Cosmo, looking very reflective.

As they continued down the slope, the group of children who had been watching from a distance, parted to let them through. They stared open-mouthed at the tall figure with the strange coloured face, whom they had heard about but had never seen at close quarters before. Then the whole procession dropped down to the settlement and arrived at the leader's house.

“Well, here goes!” muttered Cosmo apprehensively and he knocked on the door.