Kirby - The Arctic Code

For Jaime, who brought such light and
warmth into my world

E LEANOR STEPPED UP TO THE EDGE, FRAMED BY THE OPENING in the cinder-block wall, and looked down over the construction site. An icy, brutal wind whipped and slashed the plastic sheeting at her feet, which stretched downward from her at an angle, two stories to the ground, forming a transparent slope.

I really dont think you should do this, Ellie.

Eleanor looked over her shoulder, back to where Claire and Jenna huddled together, teeth chattering amid the buildings bare bones. Her friends had left their outer coats at home, and their inner coats werent strong enough to stop the cold up here. But Eleanor had warned them about the temperature.

This is probably the last sub day well have this spring, she said. Subzero days were common enough in other parts of the southern United States, but they might only get a dozen each year in Phoenix. And, Eleanor continued, Mr. Goering announced theyre going to finish this construction next week. The plastic tent was only there temporarily to protect the fresh masonry. Plus, its a Sunday and theres no one working here. This is the only shot we have.

The only shot you have. Claire shook her head, the little pom-poms on her knitted cap batting at each other. I was never doing this.

Eleanor cocked her head to the side with a crooked smile. Right. Youll just stand there and watch me do it.

Thats right. Jenna nodded in mock condescension.

Eleanor shook her head. Whatever, you guys. Just bring me that fan, okay?

The two girls groaned, clapped their gloved hands to warm their fingers, and reached for the industrial fan Eleanor had borrowed from the schools custodian. While they dragged it up to the ledge, Eleanor crossed the cement floor, threading the buildings metal and wooden framing, to the fire hose. No one had bothered to lock the glass case yet, since this new wing the city was adding onto their school wouldnt have students for several weeks.

But the hose had water, and the fan had power. That was all she needed.

Eleanor wrenched the hoses nozzle out of its cradle and walked backward away from the wall, tugging the coiled hose free. It was heavier than shed expected it to be, and she heaved and panted as she dragged the nozzle to the ledge, where the frigid wind nipped at the insides of her lungs.

Seriously, Ellie. Claires glance flicked to the steep drop-off. Its too high, this is crazy.

Just watch. Eleanor pointed. Jenna, go over there, and when I say, you turn on the water.

Jenna rolled her eyes. Ellie

Just do it, okay?

Jenna sighed and stomped over to the fire-hose valve.

Eleanor smiled and flicked on the fan. Construction dust and debris stirred on the floor around them as the blast and roar picked up. Eleanor put her hand in front of the fan, spreading her fingers wide, testing its force. The air pushed hard, making it difficultto keep her hand there. This was going to work.

She picked up the nozzle and shoved it tight against the back of the fan, right where it sucked the air in. Then she looked at Jenna.

Now! Eleanor shouted over the storm sound of the fan.

Jenna cranked the valve, and Eleanor watched a traveling bulge as the hose expanded like a digesting snake. She braced herself as a moment later the water reached the nozzle and hissed into the spinning blades.

On the other side, the fan shot a ragged mist into the air, and with the temperature waiting below zero, the water droplets froze into little crystals, instantly.

Snow.

It fell onto the plastic sheet below, some of it sticking, some sliding downward, until a trail of white ran from their high perch almost to the ground below. Eleanor kept her makeshift snow machine churning until the fan sputtered, coughed, and gagged to a stop, its blades and insides encrusted with ice.

Thats enough! Eleanor called to Jenna.

Her friend turned the fire-hose valve, and the water from the nozzle dribbled off.

Eleanor dragged the hose out of the way, and then she moved the fan. Jenna walked over to stand by Claire, and the two of them had gone from looking worried and annoyed to looking scared.

Okay, it worked, Claire said. Youre a genius. Can we go now?

Not until I ride down my hill. Eleanor marched over to where shed leaned a sled against the wall. She didnt want to let her friends see, but her hands were shaking. Her rapid heartbeat had begun to steal the edges of her breath.

Ellie, Jenna said, you cant do this. Youre gonna kill yourself.

No, Im not. Eleanor propped the sled in front of her, right at the ledge. Theres snow down there for a bit of cushion. Thatll help. And then the angle of the plastic at the bottom will just shoot me out across the ground. She used her flattened hand to demonstrate the motion. Ill come to a gradual stop.

You mean a sudden stop! Jenna said.

Guys, its sledding. People do this all the time. Just... not in Phoenix.

The wind had turned more aggressive, somehow. Like it was taunting Eleanor. Daring her to follow through with her plan. But now that she stood here at the edge, ready to do it, she could also hear her mother asking just what exactly she was thinking. Her mom would go ballistic over the sled part, of course. But she would probably smile wryly over the snow machine.

Dont do it, Claire said.

I have to. Eleanor backed up and let the sled fall flat to the ground.

Youre a freak! Jenna said.

It wasnt the first time Eleanor had heard that. She had plenty of friends, but she had a reputation for being... different. Even though shed long since accepted that she was different, it still hurt to have someone call her a freak to her face.

No doubt this stunt would be all over the school before they were even back from break, but that wasnt why Eleanor was up there, sitting down on a sled, scooting right up to the ledge. She didnt care what people would say about this afterward. It was about what Eleanor said to herself, right now. How she felt about herself in this moment. It was about the drive inside her, almost an itch. There was only one way to scratch it, and this was the part of Eleanor no one understood. Not even her mom.

The sled scraped across the cement floor as Eleanor jostled into position, its nose now jutting out into space.

Jenna clutched her stomach. Oh my God, Im gonna hurl.

Go do it over there, Eleanor said. She reached forward with both hands and grabbed the ledge of the building to either side. All she had to do was heave herself forward, and shed launch over the edge and down the plastic slope. She took a deep breath.

Please, Ellie. Claires voice broke. Dont

STOP! a male voice shouted. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Eleanor whipped a look back. Mr. Goering, the principal, rushed toward them through the building with a couple of cops trailing behind him. Eleanor only had a moment before they reached her and she lost her chance.

Dont even think about it, Miss Perry! Mr. Goering shouted, red-faced. If youre still alive at the bottom, Ill expel you!

That caused Eleanor to hesitate. Kids in Phoenix sat on long waiting lists to get into public schools. With the refugees pouring into the city every week, there just wasnt enough room for all of them. If Eleanor got expelled, she wouldnt get back in, and there was no way they could afford private school. Her mom would be devastated.

That moment of hesitation was all Mr. Goering needed. In the next instant, Eleanor felt his big hands on her shoulders, pulling her away from the ledge.