condition 1, Patriot Mountains Antarctica

condition 1, Patriot Mountains Antarctica

fiction
edward w pritchard

Condition 1 in the Patriot Mountains of Antarctica; and condition one is the worst of winter. Wind chill greater than minus 100 Fahrenheit, winds greater than 60mph, visibility less than 100 feet. The bitterest cold on earth and the cold was chilling the flame and fires of D'Ashia's torch for Darin.

It all happened at once. D'Ashia blushed at her gullibility and stupidity. Darin picked her up after honors Chemistry, just like usual. Then he announced he was going back with Tisha, his wife. It got worse quickly. Tisha was pregnant. Darin was getting a new job. His parents approved. By the way he would miss D'Ashia. D'Ashia's a good kid. Good bye kiddo.

Mrs. Johnson the science teacher intervened. She was Teacher of the year five times. She pulled some strings. D'Ashia would go to Antarctica as an intern for three months.

Hot, hot, hot. Darin was intense, always close and attentive, connected. D'Ashia just let it happen. They were together, touching, close, reaching, grasping, holding, resting. Their little world disappeared. Then it was like everyone said it always was, like everyone joked about, like in the movies. D'Ashia was a fool. She was alone. He wanted to still be friends. Could she help with baby names. Good bye sunshine. Good bye light. Good bye heat.

D'Ashia recorded wind speed and temperature. It was the intern's job here at the American base in Antarctica. It's a good omen for D'Ashia to arrive on the first day of condition one this year. Everyone will have a barbecue and some will streak without clothes around the base. You can't go outside you know in condition one. Take the temperatures and wind speeds by opening the hatch in the interns room. It's so cold. Boiling water freezes before it hits the ground. Watch. Wind speed 85mph, temperature -70F, visibility zero, don't think of home, visibility zero.

Day two, looks like a three day blow. Lancing went out side, the rope blew down, can't see the Mountains today. Colder and winds stronger. Looks like a three day blow. Foods not so bad, Friday is chili night.

Day three- Darin started his new job today at home. The men at the airport in Santiago, Chile were very handsome. Moon very bright tonight. Storm over. Cold, cold, cold. D'Ashia's a scientist now. Moon very bright tonight over the mountains as viewed from the open hatch in the intern's room. Cold, Cold, Cold.
end