Soon Bernice began to cry.
“It’s the pain. They hurt terribly.”
“Just the circulation coming back,” said Ed, but Janet knew from the lines on his forehead that Ed was worried.
“If any of the rest of you feel numb, just call out. We’ve got to keep moving or some of us may suffer some frozen parts before morning,” he warned.
Bernice, in spite of her efforts, couldn’t keep the tears back, but they froze on her cheeks, so bitter was the cold.
Jim Barron opened the door, and a rush of cutting air swept in. Then he was gone into the night and Janet could hear him wielding the shovel outside.
It was five or six minutes before Jim returned and he looked utterly exhausted.
“I’ve never seen such a night,” he mumbled. “I’m afraid the bus driver didn’t get very far.”
“Then we’d better start out after him,” said Ed, getting to his feet.
But Jim’s broad shoulders barred the door.