The display screen in the cabin showed the real-time external temperature. Before sunrise, it had dropped to a shocking minus fifty-five degrees Celsius.
After the sun rose, the temperature would rise by about ten degrees.
However, compared to this extreme cold, the outside environment was calm, with almost no wind or waves, and no snowstorms. There was only the sound of ice cracking during breaking and the low-frequency hum of the engines.
After another sunrise, the ice-covered Antarctic continent became visible through the window. The captain announced over the broadcast that in a few hours, the ship would dock at the edge of the continent and everyone should prepare to disembark.
Since the journey was nearing its end, Charlie wade woke Grace Lowes and Song Rife, who had been in seclusion.
The two returned to their rooms to pack their luggage simply and waited for docking.
At that moment, Lin Wan’er noticed with delight many groups of penguins marching in formation across the frozen sea towards the continent.
She pointed at the dense black dots on the ice and said excitedly, “Young Master, look quickly. They are emperor penguins.”
Charlie wade looked out and was surprised to see these penguins migrating from the frozen sea towards the Antarctic interior.
He asked in puzzlement, “The interior of Antarctica is the coldest now. Why are these penguins heading deeper in?”
Lin Wan’er smiled and said, “Emperor penguins are just like that. Other penguins head north in winter, but they return in winter to breed deep in the Antarctic continent.”
Charlie wade recalled something and said, “I think I saw on television before that emperor penguins gather in thousands or tens of thousands to withstand wind and snow. The scene is quite spectacular.”
“Yes,” Lin Wan’er said. “Their habit is to breed during the coldest time, gathering in large groups to incubate eggs and raise chicks. These may be the only animals we can see in the Antarctic interior this winter.”
Antarctica’s winter is the harshest environment on Earth. Very few animals overwinter here, and emperor penguins are among them.
Since the sea near the continent was freezing at a rate of several kilometres per day, a thick ice layer several metres deep had formed. At this point, the scientific research ship did not need a dock. When the ice thickness exceeded the icebreaker’s limit, the ship simply slowed and stopped.
Several people waiting one kilometre away saw the ship stop and signal, then immediately drove several ice tractors slowly towards the ship.
Each tractor towed a trailer, some cargo compartments for goods, others passenger cabins.
Soon after, Captain John Thorensen came to tell Charlie wade, “Mr Wade, you and the three ladies can prepare to disembark. The station staff will first transfer the four of you over. Your luggage and supplies can go with the vehicles. If anything is too large or heavy, you can leave it with us. We will later use cranes and loaders to transfer the ship’s supplies and equipment to the trucks.”
Charlie wade nodded and asked, “Captain Thorensen, when do you plan to return?”
John Thorensen checked the time and said, “The station is more than a hundred kilometres from here. Travelling by snow vehicle will take at least four hours. We need to wait for the staff to transport all the cargo, arrange the station work, and return. Then we will head back to Ushuaia together. From now until departure, it will probably take about four days.”
Charlie wade nodded slightly. In four days, probably very few people would remain on the Antarctic continent, making it even more convenient for cultivation.
