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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Where exactly are
we? Dr. Ferguson said we are in a pocket dimension,” Jonathan asked. “What
exactly does that mean?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Means we are in a closed world,” the
leopard Helle explained. “Everything curves back in upon itself.” He pointed a
point at the door that lead outside. “Go out that door and walk in a straight
line away from the lodge and eventually you will wind up back at the lodge.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Confusing,” Jonathan said and laughed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Not really,” the leopard countered. “Means
it’s hard to get lost.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Unless you want to be lost,” the leopardess
added. “We had a hunter came six months ago and walked out into the wilderness.
Haven’t seen her since.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“She dead?” He asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“No. We spent two days tracking her down
thinking she needed help,” the leopard commented.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The leopardess gave a growl of laughter.
“She has resigned from civilization and is happy living as a hunter-gatherer in
the ice age.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Is she still human?” He asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Yes,” the leopard responded and paused.
“Well. At least physically. I mean you have to wonder about a person who
deliberately abandons everything to literally live in a cave.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Like a Hermit,” Jonathan added.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Jonathan shook his head. “Sounds like a
pretty hard lifestyle. A short one too. I mean what happens is she gets hurt?
She can’t just call 9/11.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“We’ve explained that to her several times
but she is adamant. She doesn’t want any contact with other people,” the female
feline responded and shook her head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Some people just want to be alone.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I have to ask,” Jonathan started. “Why an
animal? I mean you’re not even humanoid.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The group was silent for a moment. “It’s so
exhilarating being this way.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“We’ve been studying animals all our lives,”
the lioness explained. “Since high school but only now are we really starting
to understand them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“We’ve learned so much,”</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“It’s so different!”</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“It just feels right.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“And we haven’t totally given up,” the
leopardess. “Like that hunter. We’re just selective of what we want.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The leopard nodded in agreement. “We are
happy here with our mix of nature and technology.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“And for us it wasn’t that big a change,”
the lion explained. “We are biologists and we were already spending eight or
nine months a year out in the wilderness. Now we’re better adapted.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Jonathan looked around. “All I see here are
predators. Any prey species?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“We have a few,” the lioness responded. “We
have some Przewalski’s horses and some reindeer and Giant Elk.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“No one tried out a Mammoth?”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Jonathan asked.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Not yet,” came the response. “It’s a big
change.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“REALLY big change.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Ah!” The leopard said. “The other side of
the food chain has arrived!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The horse that clomped into the room was
stocky in build and shorter than horses he had seen before. He was some five
feet at the shoulders and some 6 feet from nose to tail. His coat was a light,
dusty tannish color with a black mane and tail. Jonathan recognized the breed
immediately. This was no domesticated stock of horse but a Przewalski’s Horse.
A very endangered breed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“This is Cezary Bielicki from the university
of Bialystok. He works with a herd of real Przewalski’s horses in Poland,” the
lion added. “He’s getting to know what it’s like on the other side of working
with horses.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Indeed,” the stallion responded in a very
accented voice. “I have already learned so much.” The stallion bobbed his head.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Not sure of what the formal greeting was
when meeting a stallion; he bowed. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“How do you keep from getting eaten by
mistake?” He asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The stallion turned his head and lightly
nibbled his right shoulder. There was a large blue stripe that went up his
shoulder, across and down the left side. “That’s my safety stripe. Means I’m
off the menu.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“At least to the intelligent hunters like
us,” the lioness commented.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“He’s on his own for the others,” the lion
added.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Jonathan nodded his head. “What’s it like
being at the bottom of the food chain?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Hard,” the equine responded. “Means never
letting down my guard. But being able to gallop free and wild is amazing! And
once I go back to Poland I’ll be closer to the herd I cared for there before.
I’ll understand them better.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“So all of this was created by one person?”
Jonathan wolf asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Geimhreadh is his name,” Helle responded.<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">
<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“What is he? I’ve gotten several
explanations but to be honest it was all confusing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“He is a Nature spirit,” the mage explained.
“that’s not exactly a complete description but good enough I suppose. Such
creatures have their powers tied to a specific place or group of plants and
animals. His powers are specifically tied to the Pleistocene era,” the mage
explained.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“So he got power from the Ice age?” The wolf
reporter asked. “What happened when the ice age ended?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“He went dormant,” the mage explained. “Some
of the ice age plants and animals survived but most went extinct. The ones that
survived allowed him to survive but not enough to let him wake up.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“So what woke him up? A 10,000-year alarm
clock?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The mage laughed. “The people at ABERA did
with their attempts to bring back the Ice age species. With each successful
birth of an ice age species <a name="_Hlk52321739">Geimhreadh</a> gained a
little bit more power.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">A blonde-haired gentleman came over to
them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“This is Jean Jacobson, facilities manager
here,” the lion explained.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“He runs the joint,” the lioness added.
“Without him everything would fall apart.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Welcome!” Jean said and smiled. “Let’s get
you to your room so you can place your stuff.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;tab-stops:right 6.5in"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He led them to a corridor and he stopped at
the second door down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“We’re a bit short on rooms so I hope you
all don’t mind sharing,” Jean said as he opened the door. “Bathroom is at the
end of the hall.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Their room was fairly decent sized if sparsely
furnished. Bunk beds lined two walls and a small desk sat near the window.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“This is pretty nice,” she said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“The floors are wood and not mud and the
roof doesn’t leak!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“It HAS a roof!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“And we don’t have to share it with any
livestock.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The man looked at them a moment. “Are you
joking?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Allen shook his head. “No. We’ve been all
over the world and stayed in some rough places over the years.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The man laughed and pointed to the window.
“Don’t be fooled. Out there it’s the ice age and VERY dangerous.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Jonathan face grew serious. “We understand
how dangerous things can get and came equipped. Arctic clothing and extreme
cold weather tents and heaters.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“So I see,” Jean commented laconically.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The new arrivals had placed all their gear
in the middle of the floor and it was filled with an amazing amount of gear
including tents, sleeping bags, cold weather gear along with the expected camera
gear. All specially winterized and waterproofed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Dinner is at eight tonight,” Jean
commented.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Dinner?” Barbara asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“You know – food. Eat.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Is it formal? I forgot my tux,” Jonathan
commented.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Casual,” Jean answered deadpan. “But humans
have to wear clothes.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></div>
</div>