The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 173

Everyone turned to look at him.

He pulled a pen from his pocket, drew a sharp line across the map, and spoke with calm authority.

"A hundred and five miles, plus the snowcat's emergency reserve, gets us just over a hundred and twenty miles of range. It won't get us all the way to The White Lake, but it will get us to the edge of the ice shelf. From there, it's a straight shot on foot to the lake. Less than sixty miles."

"On foot?" Diego couldn't believe his ears.

"Trekking sixty miles across the ice in negative forty degrees? Professor, are you out of your mind?"

"I'm perfectly sane." Professor Harrison's voice was steady. "I've been to the Antarctic three times. I know how to survive on this ice. We have tents, sleeping bags, enough fuel to stay warm, and rations. Sixty miles, carrying our own gear. Five days."

"And after five days?" Diego challenged.

"After five days, we reach The White Lake and our own supply outpost. If we're lucky, we might even cross paths with another research team's convoy along the way."

"And if we aren't lucky?"

Before the professor could answer, Josh chimed in softly. "But this is the only option we have left, right?"

He looked up at Professor Harrison, his mentor, his eyes filled with worry but mostly unwavering trust.

Everyone stared at the professor.

Professor Harrison let out a helpless sigh.

"Our emergency comms were destroyed in the avalanche. There's no other way to call for a rescue. For this next stretch, we are completely on our own."

"Alright, I'm with you," Sloane was the first to speak up. "Count me in, Professor."

Seeing her commit, Josh let go of his hesitation and stated firmly, "I'm going too, Professor."

A heavy silence filled the cabin for a few seconds.

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