At that moment, inside the Nordic Research Station, the three women sat around the tea table by the window, all of them staring outside.
Maria had prepared the tea, but none of them—not even her—felt like drinking it.
Charlie had been missing for several days, and no one knew his condition. Maria had considered calling him through the satellite phone, but the risk of exposing his location held her back. All she could do was wait.
Charlie had gone deep into Antarctica alone, leaving Zeba and Tara worried as well. Still, like Maria, they kept their concern under control, showing little on the surface.
Just then, Maria’s phone screen lit up with a news alert.
The station’s Starlink receiver ran nonstop, giving them internet as fast as any modern city. Her phone received countless notifications every day. To avoid disturbing the others while they cultivated, she kept it on silent with vibrations turned off.
The sudden flash caught her attention.
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