Searching for Stepan

The weather forecast is good tomorrow. Finally the team will most likely fly to Ward Hunt Island. The morale of the team is high. This morning Stepan, the Russian member, went out of the hotel to do some testing and training as well as to take some pictures. However Lucas the hotel manager and Wayne, hearing about it, said, "Did he take a rifle? What about the pepper spray?"

Håvard, the Norwegian member, and I hurriedly rode on snowmobile with rifles, pepper sprays, and satellite phones. We gazed onto rough ices and searched for Stepan. On the way we found a track of ski and followed it. However it ended abruptly. Looking around 360 degrees, but we could not find any trace. Håvard and I looked at each other's face.

However, when we looked closely, the trace of the skis is going back the way it came. Still we could not explain why we did not meet him on the way. We may have missed him behind hills? Rough ices are around us and we thought it was a good condition to test the rifle. Håvard fired first. I fired also but the firing hammer did not move. It was a misfire.

To tell the truth, Håvard, Stepan, and I served with the army of the respective nations and all of us belonged to parachute troop. In addition, we still serve as reserve officers. In the Cold War years Japan considered Russia as a potential enemy. In those days it was unthinkable to act with a Russian reserve officer.

Håvard and I went back to hotel. I am impressed with Håvard's snowmobile skill. On the way back we went back straight to the hotel.

The rife is contained in the yellow case which Håvard made.

When we got back to the hotel, Stepan had already returned and he was having a meal. We were relieved to see me back safely. However my toes looked on the verge of frostbite. Mr. Ohba taught me a proper way to treat it. Now I am sitting on a chair and typing up this journal.

Tomorrow's flight once again cancelled because of low pressure hanging in the area. However we received good news. Kenn Borek Air, the charter company, had become a sponsor for our project. They provide us with a flight between Resolute Bay and Ward Hunt Island. This is a big help. I hope they can also cooperate with us for the transportation of resupply goods.