Chapter 5
Dakota woke to gray daylight illuminating the dim tent. The colonel was gone. He sat up and realized the air was frigid, his breath forming a white cloud of vapor in front of his face. He grabbed his clothes and dressed under the covers to preserve his warmth.
Stepping out into the icy morning, he saw the colony covered in a thin layer of ice and snow. His shirt did little to protect him from the cold.
Fires burned around the area and the colonists huddled around them and each other for warmth. He paused by each one for a minute to knock the chill of his extremities before heading to the next one. At each stop, he inquired about Colonel Welch.
At the third fire, he received an answer.
“He’s out in the gardens,” a woman said, pointing to the northwest. “They’re trying to save
