December 23, 5:23 PM

-70° 05’ 22.20” S

12° 00’ 0.00” E

Darkwall Station, North Pole

I look at the clock again and the hands seem to be stuck. I glance at the picture on my desk next to my computer, a photo of my family: my two sons, Jack and Antony, and my wife Emma. My chest aches with longing.

My name is Michael Tower, I’m 45 years old, and I’ve been a researcher for just over 20 years. Until ...