The world's most hostile environment just became even deadlier...Brutal, unforgiving, and breathtaking--for American biologist Kathy McNeely, much of Antarctica's lure lies in its dangerous beauty. Part of an international research team sent to study the long-term effects of an oil spill on the ecology, Kathy's focus is on the penguin population. As she uncovers a mysterious new threat to the birds, a sudden blizzard drives more than snow to her team's remote field camp.Archaeologist-turned-adventurer Brian Hurley isn't the kind of man to stay in one place very long. But the fierce whiteout conditions force him to postpone training for his record-breaking sledge run to the South Pole. He's not the only one stranded at the scientists' camp--a pair of cagey energy contractors and a dogged L.A. journalist also wait for the severe weather to pass.As the storm rages on, a dangerous and potentially deadly spate of accidents plagues the Ice. Missing supplies, damaged equipment, and communication errors--too many to be coincidence--spur rumors of sabotage. Someone is conducting unsanctioned research in protected areas, and they've discovered something so valuable, they will do anything keep it secret.