Chapter 1

It all started back in 2024, 

In Antarctica. 

Drill, drill, drill 

Crack, crack. 

James took his headphones off, 

He drilled again, 

Crack! 

James reached down and looked into the ice. 

"Mike, come over here!" James shouted. 

"What is it?" Mike asked.

"Look, the second layer of ice is melting." James pointing.

"We'll need to call this into the US government." Said Mike.

Mike ran back into the house. 

James looked into the leak and saw a hole.

"What's that?" 

He grabbed his torch and put it over the hole. 

Yellow particles flew into the air from the hole and went into his nose. 

Auch! Chou! 

Ring, ring. 

"Yes, this is the American climate research team in Antarctica." Said, Mike

"There's been a leak in the ice and it's started to melt." 

"We will need both of you to return immediately to the climate summit in Greenland." Said the Chief. 

A couple of hours later. 

Whoosh, whoo

Screech! 

(The plane's wheels screeched and then landed.)

"How far is the summit? James asked. 

"Only a quarter of an hour away." Said Mike. 

"Ach chu!" He blew his nose. 

"Are you alright?" Mike asked. 

"Yeah, I'm fine, I think I might have caught a cold."

"Did you talk to the world climate research group yet?" asked James.

"No, but we're not far behind," Mike answered. 

"Well, we need to tell everyone about the ice melting." Said, James. 

"Shush, shush you should not talk about that outside otherwise people might overhear you" Mike answered.

"OK"

Soon they arrived at the meeting place. 

"Mike, they say we can come in now,"  Mike told him.

"It's going to be OK, it's OK," Mike reassured him.

"Yes, it's OK." He turned to James and spoke to him.  "Goodbye James, I will see you at the world summit."

"Goodbye, Mike."

James opened the door and stepped inside.  Everyone stared at him with strange looks on their faces.

"Um, Hi everyone. Are you having a good time? It's very warm today. Thank you."

The crowd looked very intrigued to see what he had to say. 

"Come inside." He opened the door and a few people stepped inside.

James took his seat and sat down. 

"This is...the melting ice. It's not only going to happen in Antarctica." James told them.

People were listening to him.

"Don't worry, we're going to find out how much ice is disappearing." He told them. 

"It's the science project I'm working on and it's the latest news in the world."

The people started to listen. 

They listened to James talking. 

James opened his mouth again and started to speak.

"We are losing an unbelievable amount of ice every day."  He told them. 

"Last week I discovered a hole while drilling in Antarctica."

"The moment I noticed it, warm water had come from the hole and started melting the surrounding ice." Said James nervously.

"I've found only that hole so far."

"The government doesn't want people to know that we're losing the ice." He spoke in panic.

A hush fell over the people.

"It's a devastating situation for our world." He said again.

"Please, don't talk about this outside, it is hazardous."

They listened to him for a while.

"I'm looking forward to going to the world climate summit," James spoke.

A girl, who had been listening to it all this time stood up and spoke.

"I will take a team to Antarctica to investigate more on these leaks of warm water," She said. 

"That would make no sense to do that as if there is warm water there, it would mean the ice might not be safe to walk on." Said Mary.

"We should create a plan and release this news to the world and the government." Said Takashi, The Japanese ambassador to the United States.  

Ach chu! "Whoops, sorry I think I've caught a cold." Said, James. 

James quickly blew his nose and other people started talking. 

"Maybe we should just tell the world governments,” suggested Amelia.

"We should try to stop it ourselves first." Says Takashi.

"But how are we supposed to do that?" Asked James.

"We need to find the source of the leaks." Said Mary.

(Drip, drip) 

James's nose started to bleed.

"Let me get you some tissue." Takashi rushed to James and handed him some tissues.

"Thanks."

"You'll feel better soon." Said Takashi.

James held his handkerchief to his face.

"Thank you."

Takashi walked away and everyone began to talk about their findings.

James fell onto the ground his nose bleeding out at an extraordinary rate.

"Here, let me help you." Takashi came over to him and helped him to his feet.

"Thanks." He was feeling dizzy.

"Are you ok?" Mary ran over to him and checked his forehead.

"I'm fine, thank you." He coughed.

James fell unconscious.

"What happened to him?" Mary looked concerned.

"I believe he has caught a cold." Takashi pointed to the bloody handkerchief.

"He needs immediate medical attention" Mary sighed.

"I'll go and get help." Takashi left the room.

"Ok, Mary could you please stay with him until we get back?" Takashi asked. 

Mary nodded and stood next to James.

Soon Takashi returned with the doctor and everyone gathered around.

"Is he going to be ok?" said someone in the crowd.

"We don't know." The doctor replied.

"Yes, he was doing great but then he had a sudden nosebleed," Mike said.

"I think we should take him to a hospital," Mary suggested.

"Why?" Asked the doctor.

"Because he might have got something else too, like a virus or even a cold," Mary explained.

The doctor agreed and took James to the closest hospital.

Takashi stayed with James all night. 

It was now early morning and James started to wake up. 

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Takashi asked James.

"The doctors said you'll need to be kept in this hospital for a week until you get better. " Takashi told James.

"How long will that be?"

"Ten days."

James felt disappointed but understood why he had to be admitted.

"I promise to visit you daily and keep you company."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." 

Takashi left the room and James grabbed the remote. 

"I wonder what is on TV." He thought to himself.

He decided to watch some news and relax because he was still feeling tired.