Dan Simmons - 'The Terror', something I just don't get about the end. WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILER

[judgelionelnutmeg]

Has anyone read 'The Terror'? It's a great read for those that haven't and like historical 'horror' stories. Here's a link to it on Amazon if you're interested www.amazon.co.uk/Terror-Dan-Simmons/dp/0553818201/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444992346&sr=8-1&keywords=the+terror

Anyway - for those that have read it do you remember right at the end where the main protagonist and his wife I think go back to one of the ships trapped in the ice and find a mummified body with 'vampire' teeth? What is that body? Why is it there? Is it meant it be one of the crewmen?

There is no explanation given at the time of who, what, why so wonder if there was something earlier in the book that I might have missed which would explain it.

Hope someone can help - it's been bugging me for ages!

It is a great book. I thought the teeth thing was maybe just a sign of having died from starvation and dehydation, I think the gums draw back from th teeth? I did wonder about that myself.

I think go back to one of the ships trapped in the ice and find a mummified body with 'vampire' teeth? What is that body? Why is it there? Is it meant it be one of the crewmen?

I know this is a very old thread but I've just read this so not sure if the OP is still around. I'd thought maybe it was supposed to be Hickey in some form or another - possibly in some sort of supernatural dead form.