Summary

After the plane departs, Farley takes stock. His gear is more than he can move off the frozen lake on his own. His instructions are to establish a permanent base and, by utilizing waterways, to make a survey of the area. This is impossible. So, he sets up the portable radio as per the enclosed instructions to seek consultation with Ottawa, but the only person he is able to contact is a radio operator in Peru who agrees to relay a message to Ottawa for him. Farley keeps it to a ten word minimum as instructed, only months later learning of the crisis it caused. This is only partially because the message identifies him as Varley Monfat. It was a problem because it appeared to be in code. It is sent to External Affairs and then to...