Хребти божевілля
II
Hehadtoweightdownthecornersofthetentclothwithheavyblocksofsnowtoholditinplaceamidsttherisinggale,forthetitanmountainsseemedabouttodeliversomegravelysevereblasts. Earlyapprehensionsaboutsuddenantarcticwindswererevived,andunderAtwood’ssupervisionprecautionsweretakentobankthetents,newdogcorral,andcrudeaeroplaneshelterswithsnowonthemountainwardside. Theselattershelters,begunwithhardsnowblocksduringoddmoments,werebynomeansashighastheyshouldhavebeen;andLakefinallydetachedallhandsfromothertaskstoworkonthem.
ItwasafterfourwhenLakeatlastpreparedtosignoffandadvisedusalltosharetherestperiodhisoutfitwouldtakewhentheshelterwallswerealittlehigher. HeheldsomefriendlychatwithPabodieovertheether,andrepeatedhispraiseofthereallymarvelousdrillsthathadhelpedhimmakehisdiscovery. Atwoodalsosentgreetingsandpraises. IgaveLakeawarmwordofcongratulations,owningupthathewasrightaboutthewesterntrip,andweallagreedtogetintouchbywirelessatteninthemorning. Ifthegalewasthenover,Lakewouldsendaplaneforthepartyatmybase. JustbeforeretiringIdispatchedafinalmessagetotheArkhamwithinstructionsabouttoningdowntheday’snewsfortheoutsideworld,sincethefulldetailsseemedradicalenoughtorouseawaveofincredulityuntilfurthersubstantiated.
