Keen as she was to know what was going on, Jonas’s side of the conversation was no use to her at all as it was in Icelandic, but she could tell from his face that the weather forecast was not what he wanted to hear.
He finished the call, laid the phone on his lap and then pulled back onto the road. Rachel was looking at him, waiting for him to tell her what was going on but he kept looking forward, fixed on the road ahead.
“So, is the Northern Lights trip off then?” she asked when it was clear that he wasn’t going to explain the phone call.
“Yes, the forecast is not good, there is a snowstorm passing over so we won’t be able to get back to Reykjavik tonight.”
18
“WHAT DO YOU mean? We’re in the middle of nowhere, how did you not know about a massive snowstorm?”
Rachel couldn’t believe that they were going to be stranded in theactualmiddle ofactuallynowhere. In the freezing cold.
“Rachel, the weather is very changeable in Iceland. At this time of year, it can be unpredictable. It isn’t dangerous, it’s just that we can’t use the mountain road until the storm passes and there is no other way back but I have arranged the use of a cabin for the night. I have asked for a message to be left at your hotel as well, just in case.”
He sounded so calm and hadn’t looked over at her at all, he just scrutinised the road ahead as the snow became heavier.
“I haven’t got anything with me and we’re in the middle of nowhere!”
“Look,” he said firmly, “there is no need to panic. Olafur’s on the other end of the emergency satellite phone and his cousin has a summer cabin near here. I have directions and we can use it for the night. We will be safe.” He took his hand off the steering wheel, found her hand and squeezed it. “Please, don’t worry,” he glanced briefly at her, his eyes imploring her to trust him, “I’ll look after you.”
Jonas turned off the road onto a smaller track. There were no signposts but it was the first turning they had seen for miles so maybe it was the right way. As they drove further along, the shapes of buildings, all in darkness, loomed out of the thickening snowfall. On this less travelled road, the jeep was starting to struggle, the wheels were spinning and all they could see in the headlights was horizontal snow, so Jonas suggested that as they were so close, they should walk the last part.
They did their coats up, pulled on their hats and gloves and prepared to enter the blizzard. Rachel jumped down into the snow which was easily a foot deep already. Jonas came round to her, took her hand and led the way, battling into the wind, barely able to see where they were heading, towards the cluster of cabins. He made her wait while he checked each in turn until he found the one that belonged to Olafur’s family, then he waved her over, “Rachel, it’s here!”
By the time Rachel had got inside and taken her boots off, Jonas was already busy lighting the wood-burning stove. It was freezing but it was more than preferable to being outside in the wind and snow. The cabin was quite bijou with a comfortable looking sofa covered with throws and cushions which faced the fire. To the right, separated from the lounge by a breakfast bar was a tiny kitchen right next to French windows where the snow accumulation was deep against the glass.
Jonas soon had the fire roaring using logs from a pile which was artfully stacked at the side of the fireplace. The only other light came from a few candles that he’d lit on the breakfast bar. It was very atmospheric, and although it was a bit frightening to be stranded like this, Rachel couldn’t help thinking that it was just another authentic taste of Iceland that she was getting to experience and now that they were safe and almost warm, she was feeling pretty relaxed about the whole thing.
She curled up in the corner of the sofa with a throw over her watching the fire blaze. Jonas had found a kettle and was boiling it up on the stove. He sat down in the opposite corner of the sofa and tucked his legs underneath him, watching the fire as well.
“Are you warm enough?”
“Yes, it’s really cosy. It’s a lovely cabin.” She was nervous. It was undeniably romantic in this cabin, she still had a fair amount of red wine in her system and looking at Jonas in the candlelight, having heroically and calmly saved them from the storm, she had reason to be nervous.
“I think it might be best if we both sleep in here on the sofa bed to keep warm, the bedroom will be freezing. I’ll find some more blankets and pillows in a minute.”
Rachel didn’t say anything, surmising that it was probably the most sensible thing to do given that she definitely didn’t want to move away from the fire and she couldn’t expect Jonas to either. Besides, as it was far too cold to think about undressing, they’d have their clothes on, so what was the harm.
Jonas got up and took the kettle into the kitchen with him, returning a minute later with steaming mugs of something similar to Horlicks. He put some more logs on the fire and they sat in comfortable silence again for a few minutes on the sofa, sipping their drinks and staring into the fire.
“Has this ever happened to you before?” she asked.
“Once, about six years ago. It was on the way back from a day excursion to a glacier, the one we went to actually. I was leading a group of eight and the weather turned before we could get to the main road. Because we were in a minibus it was worse to drive even with snow tyres so I knew I wouldn’t get very far. We were lucky; there was a decent hostel in a town nearby and we just about made it there.”
The firelight flickered on his face as he spoke.
“What would have happened if we didn't have this cabin tonight?”
“I would have driven back to the restaurant. I expect the coach party are still there, they wouldn’t have set out in this blizzard. It could have been a good night.” He turned to her and smiled.
“It was an amazing place. I’ve never been anywhere like it before. I’m sorry not to have seen the Northern Lights tonight but the restaurant and all the other things I’ve done today have been brilliant.”
“I’m glad you had a good day. You’ve seen a bit of the real Iceland tonight though. Not many tourists get that chance.”
“The other day felt like the real Iceland too when I nearly fell off that glacier. Hopefully, not many tourists get that bit either.”
“No, you are right,” Jonas grinned, “you seem to be having quite a unique experience.”
