WINNER - HT YOUNG WRITER OF THE YEAR 2026
Don’t Linger East of the Edge
By Laif Godson-King, age 16
12th July 2078
Nine months in with no food, swiftly dropping temperatures and empty rifles. White plains stretch out of sight. Sombre mountains crest the skyline. Sharp ragged peaks slash the ice blue ethers. Powerlines hop crookedly into the distance. A broken black road trails beside the river. Snow speckles the glacial winds. Here, it’s so empty you can hear the snow fall, feel the beat of an eagle’s wings, taste the pines from afar. A few wild cattle and pigs inhabit the desolate white wastes. Seen no evidence of continued human presence to Headquarters’ disappointment.
Our ship is frozen in the river. Trying to be positive about situation.
15th July 2078
I see Heinrich through the binoculars. He’s riding the community horse, Spanner, on the ice. Further along, high parallel cliffs draw away in opposite directions, fading into the cold milky abyss.
Three days left of fuel for engine. Savouring the heaters.
16th July 2078
Strong winds tear at the ship. I’m sitting in the bridge. There is so much snow that one cannot see anything from the windows. Heinrich found an old building to the north on his ride yesterday. Says it’s worth checking out.
Two days until fuel runs out. Limited food.
17th July 2078
Blizzard not abated. Wind rising.
18th July 2078
Tried playing I Spy today. Reassessed upon seeing the windows. Still a blank page of white.
Stepped outside earlier. Thermometer reads Minus 3. Refreshing.
Hog completely recycled. Made soup with remains.
19th July 2078
Weather broke today. Great piles of snow gather on the ice and surrounding country. Rode to Heinrich’s building. Old shopping centre. Found some canned goods. Short-lived relief. The generator died at 13:47PM. Our stored water has frozen. Incredibly difficult to melt.
Sealed outside doors.
20th July 2078
The sixteen of us had a council in the mess hall this morning. Lack of food is beginning to seriously worry crew. Suggestions we abandon ship and head inland. Quickly discarded as little is known of the Eastern Frontier. Heinrich pulled out some ancient files. Previous expeditions estimate winter lasts six months.
25th July 2078
Starving. Haven’t been able to leave the ship. Blizzards returned in force. Heinrich disappeared with Spanner three days ago. Less than confident about his survival. Found box of ammunition.
27th July 2078
Blue skies finally returned. Corey is adamant we leave before weather becomes less hospitable. No sign of Heinrich.
28th July 2078
Temperature definitely dropping. Took Corey’s advice. Fully prepared to leave as of dawn. Salvaged the best gear. Searched paper files on Eastern Frontier. Found one intact map. Appreciating modern technology after five hours of sifting. Exhausting stuff. One account from 2030 suggests an abandoned settlement due north.
“To the north from atop these god forsaken ranges, I can see the remnants of a town. To the south a river. To the west open ocean. Helicopter charted for pick up in three days.”
Hopeful.
29th July 2078
We began our hike this morning. Chilling winds coming up from the southwest. I feel uneasy. Read some unsettling accounts late last night.
Since leaving the river, we have travelled almost 16km through sparse windswept pine forest. Large hoof prints have pummelled ground into a brown gooey chowder. Suspect it was bison.
31st July 2078
A large metal carcass rests before me. Perhaps once a helicopter. Blackened human remains inside. Debris scattered for miles. Recent blood stains in snow.
Caught up with herd of bison. Killed 5. Eating well tonight.
1st August 2078
We found Heinrich lying in crimson pool of snow this morning. He said a pack of feral beasts attacked. He died shortly after. More blood led to Spanner. A wreckage of flesh and bones.
5th August 2078
Our camp was attacked the night before last. I will be dead before the day is out. I am not afraid. Regret leaving my daughter alone in a faraway land. I pray no one ever has the misfortune to find this diary, but if you do, if you read this, tell Scarlett Burrough her father never gave up.
Tell her I loved her and missed her every day.
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