Free Ice Rift by Ben Hammott

of snow and ice carried by the one hundred-mile-per-hour winds arrived at the rift base camp, it first encountered the two Sno-Cats parked by the ice rift. The vehicle Max and Theo had anchored to the ice with strong nylon straps tethered to metal spikes driven deep in the ice slid until halted by the restraints. Though the straps strained with the force they prevented the strong wind from claiming the Sno-Cat.
    The second Sno-Cat Eli had used to bring the supplies from base camp wasn't anchored. The wind took it in its grasp and pushed it along the ice. It skewed on its tracks as the wind sought the greatest area to thrust its strength against, the side of the vehicle, and moved it toward the edge of the rift.
     
     
    Eli cursed his forgetfulness when another strong gust buffeted him, causing him to lose his footing. He reclaimed his grip upon the ice and persevered with the climb; the Sno-Cat was too valuable a resource to lose. When he glanced up to check on his progress, he saw the corner of the vehicle he'd failed to secure appear over the edge. He cursed again. If he hurried he might still save it. While keeping one eye on the Sno-Cat as it started to turn, he increased his efforts. Slowly, more of the Sno-Cat came into view as the wind's relentless pummeling drove it over the edge. Realizing he was too late to save it, Eli climbed down the rope.
    A forceful gust pushed the Sno-Cat over the edge. It toppled and headed straight for Eli. To avoid being crushed, Eli did the only thing he could― he let go of the rope.
     
    Jack battled against the full force of the blizzard that had finally caught up with the plane. Funnelled along the rift, the strong current gripped the airplane and sped it along at an impossible speed that the small engine alone could never hope to achieve. He shot a glance back at his passenger. The man gripped his seat tightly and stared out at the ice wall zooming by. Jack had never seen a look of fear to match the one he witnessed on the man's face. He smiled at his frightened passenger. “Hold on tight, it's about to get bumpy.”
    The man, white as a sheet and shaking, looked at the pilot and then at the ice and snow battering the small craft's windscreen. He was amazed the pilot could see to steer the plane between the two ice walls. He hoped if he died this day, his death would be quick and painless. He shut his eyes.
    Even though Jack knew the rift's tall walls sheltered them from the full strength of the storm, with his visibility rapidly decreasing by the second it was only a matter of time before they crashed. Though with the impossible weather conditions it was difficult to tell with any certainty, he thought they must be near the base camp. Because reaching it was their only chance to live through the blizzard, he had no choice but to brave the storm and hope they survived the landing.
     
     
    When Eli's feet touched the ice shelf, he threw himself to the side and rolled out of the path of the falling vehicle. The Sno-Cat struck the ice he'd just vacated with a loud crunching of metal. Unfortunately, in his panic to avoid one danger Eli headed straight for another. He rolled too far and slid into the rift. He snatched out for one of the ropes trailing over the edge. His fingers brushed one and gripped hold tightly. Hanging from one arm he swung along the side of the ice wall. For a brief instant he thought he heard the sound of an airplane again.
    Carried by its momentum, the Sno-Cat bounced on the ice with a screech of buckling metal and tumbled over the ice shelf.
     
     
    Jack attempted to force the plane out of the rift, but the wind's strong grip refused to set him free. He forced the stick back in an effort to raise the nose of the plane and slowly it began to point skyward. He glimpsed a flash of red out of the left window. Something struck the plane, tilting it at an angle. Both men inside watched the wing torn from the plane scrape along the windows before disappearing from