The Blue Ice

His mate crossed the room to my rucksack and took out my pistol. Then he searched Jill's pack. Finally he came behind each of us and ran his hands over our clothing. Then he took the gun across to Lovaas. He broke it open. 'So,' he said. 'You have not fired any shot. But perhaps your friend, fired a shot, eh?'

I ignored the question and gazed at the window. Then suddenly my nerves stiffened the tired muscles of my body. The snow was being pushed away from the window. A hand was rubbing the glass clear from the outside. Then a face looked in through the cleared patch. Farnell? I couldn't be certain. I just made out the shape of the nose and mouth and two eyes looked for a second into mine.

'Well? What happened to Gaarder?' Lovaas demanded.

I turned away from the window. If it was Farnell, then I must warn him. He couldn't have seen Lovaas from where he was looking in. But if I kept talking he'd know someone else was in the hut. 'Was this fellow, Gaarder, with you when you started out?' I asked.

'Of course,' Lovaas answered. 'There were three of us left Aurland. You knew that, Mr Gansert. What happened at Osterbo?'

'What should have happened?' I asked.

'I'm asking you what did happen?', 'And I am asking you what you expected to happen, Captain Lovaas,' I countered. 'You left him behind, I suppose. Was he meant to kill us?'

'I am not a fool. It would do no good to kill you. I have not yet discovered how much you know.'

I sensed the draught of the outer door opening. I must keep talking. 'Then why did you leave him behind. Captain Lovaas?'

'How do you know I leave him behind?'

'I am going on what you have told me, Captain Lovaas,' I answered in a strong voice.

'I tell you nothing,' he answered sharply. Then his brows dragged down over his eyes. 'Why do you talk so loud, eh? And why is it Kaptein Lovaas this and Kaptein Lovaas that? What are you up to, Mr Gansert?'

'Ah — so it is you, Mr Gansert?'

The voice came from behind me. But it was not the voice I had expected. I swung round. Dahler was standing in the doorway. His small figure was covered in snow. His features were grey, the line about the mouth deeply etched. And he was smiling that crooked enigmatic smile of his. 'Jorgensen has not arrived, eh?'

'Jorgensen?'

'Yes. He has not arrived?'

'No,' I said.

'Good. I am glad. I followed him up from the hotel. Then I lose him in the snowstorm. He will arrive soon, I think.' He lowered his rucksack on to the table and went over to the fire, rubbing his withered hand. 'So, you have arrived, eh?' was his greeting to Lovaas.

'Ja. I have arrived and I have lost one of my men.'

'How did you lose him? There has been trouble, eh?' He glanced quickly from Lovaas to me. 'Who has been hurt?'

I did not reply.

'Where is Sunde?' he asked. 'Did he not go with you Mr Gansert?'

'He is at Steinbergdalen,' I replied.

'So.' He looked up at Lovaas, cocking his head on one side like a curious raven. 'Where's Farnell?'

'I do not know,' Lovaas replied in a surly voice. It was clear he did not like Dahler. But faced by the cripple his bluster left him. It was as though he were afraid of the man.

'I do not know!' Dahler mimicked. 'Well, you should discover what has happened. Jorgensen will be here soon. Then there will be trouble. He is not a forgiving man, Kaptein Lovaas. You may have got in his way. And the police are with him.'

'The police?' Lovaas growled. 'Coming up here?'

'No. They are down at the hotel. But Mr Jorgensen has told them to stand by to make other arrests than the man known at the moment as Schreuder.'

Lovaas hesitated. Then abruptly he moved away from the fire. 'Kom, Halvorsen. Vi ma ga.'

Dahler caught at his arm with his sound hand. The withered claw remained held over the red-hot top of the stove. 'A moment, Kaptein Lovaas,' he said. 'You go too fast. Jorgensen has said nothing to the police — not yet.' Dahler's small, black eyes were watching the whaler's face.

'What are you suggesting?' Lovaas asked. His voice sounded nervous — ill-at-ease.

'I am suggesting nothing,' Dahler replied slowly. 'If you had caught Farnell — then it would be different. Then you would be safe. You were always too hasty, you know Kaptein. You must always rush things. You should have kept within the law. Or if you wished to go outside it — then you should do so with success, eh? If you had obtained what Mr Jorgensen, and Mr Gansert here, want from Farnell — then you would be justified. Without that — ' He hesitated. Then he said quietly, 'But it is a long way from here to the hotel, where the police are. And there is a snowstorm.' He paused significantly, watching Lovaas like a cat.