Twenty-Two
____________
Ice Times
Current Svalbard Super Y-MAX Perimeter Temperature: -1 Celsius / 30
Fahrenheit
“Stone… Purdue,” hailed
Correctional Officer Thelma Krims, interrupting the two youths’ curiosity as
they gazed through the security glass window down at what they considered
to be a freak show, “I’ll give you a brief rundown on these seven new
arrivals."
The boys wondered why the C/O
would do this, especially since they were inmates themselves, but they made no
protest.
The C/O announced, “I have a bit
of a surprise for you two. As you know, the other free-staff construction crew
workers departed last week and that we retained your services until today.
It could be as long as a month or two before the Australian Outback Super-Max
will commence secured area construction where you two can work, so,” she
took a long pause before continuing, “Warden Sundar Khan has arranged for you
two to stay here and perform various duties, including basic maintenance
and cleaning, throughout the facility during this waiting period. That is,
of course, if it is alright with the two of you. We can—"
“No, it’s great,” Renie blurted
out before Officer Krims could finish her statement.
“I be a might pleased to do just
that, Miss Krims,” Cornell agreed.
Officer Krims explained the
details of their work assignments before informing the two teens about the
criminals who stood chained to the wall on the other side of the
observation glass before them.
“Lester Pinman, teen serial
killer, 17 years old. He systematically hunted down key leaders of terrorist
cells across the United States and killed them. He’s here for those crimes
and for protective placement. He’s considered the unsung hero of America’s
anti-terror subculture; Ingeborg Eiebu, Norway’s serial killer and
cannibal. She makes all the other notorious Norwegian killers look like members
of a Scandinavian gospel choir, 17 years old. Her father worked in a
crematorium somewhere around Sandefjord, Norway. He helped his daughter to
dispose of her victims’ leftover body parts and bones until an internal
audit revealed the father-daughter duet of burning love; Dimče Mitreski,
Republic of Macedonia’s infamous mass murderer, 16 years old. His father and
grandfather both spent their lives in the industry of human trafficking; Ángel
Cataño Valdez, South American Drug Lord’s 17 year old son who tortured and
killed hundreds in and around Peru; Tetsuya Takahashi, Japanese sarin gas
killer. This 15 year old used the deadly nerve agent to kill over 30,000
spectators at the Tokyo Dome sports arena last year. Because the dome was
air supported, the officials hesitated and did not safely remove the air
containing the sarin gas in time to save everyone; Laurent Thibault, 16
year old French teen political rebel responsible for seven governmental
assassinations. His father made a living as a mime; Kpojito M'Bandi,
African Female, 18 years old. She is the individual responsible for purposely
spreading the Ebola virus throughout South America and China.”
Renwick Stone and Cornell Purdue
looked at each other and felt almost as though their own crimes were nothing in
comparison to these criminal teens that stood before them.
“When you compare yourself to
others it shows you are without understanding,” Renie commented.
“Yep, buddy,” Cornell confirmed,
“I was just thinkin’ about that same Bible verse. We all gots to stand alone
before God on judgment day and answer for our own selves, not nobody
else.”
Officer Krims smiled and said,
“Now for you two’s cell move. You sure can’t be expected to live with the rest
of these teens now that we are filling this place to capacity.”
“Where—"
“Just follow me,” the C/O
interrupted.
Renie and Cornell walked along
the corridors and up to the second floor conference area with C/O Krims. Their
curiosity peaked when she opened the door to the largest of the prison’s
conference rooms.
“Here you are. This room, as you
both know, has its own bathroom, two guest bedrooms, shower facilities, as well
as a kitchen and a large screen TV.”
Cornell, added, “And an intercom
system.”
“That’s correct, Cornell. You
should know… you installed it.”
The three laughed.
“So, boys,” Miss Krims
continued, “you’ll both have your own personal bedroom, no more sharing a cell
and sleeping in a bunk.”
Renie questioned C/O Krims about
the furnishings, “Where did all this come from?”
“Officer Volchesky arranged for
some items to be brought here from Pyramiden, that Russian settlement he always
talks about that’s being developed for tourists. He also managed to
acquire a number of books from the library there, but they are all in Russian.”
“I don’t read no Russian, Miss
Krims,” Cornell commented.
“And I don’t want to,” Renie
smirked.
“I’ll have your personal items
sent up so you two can get settled. Tomorrow you will meet with the maintenance
free staff man, Godfrey Laroux, he’s a new hire,” the C/O instructed the
youths.
“Sounds good.”
“Oh,” the C/O remembered an
important topic of special interest to the boys, “you two will be able to
continue with those live church show things you both enjoy. I think it
comes through just the same as before on this TV.”
“The Cyrene meetings!” Renie’s
excitement peaked.
“That’s the name I was trying to
think of,” the C/O confirmed. “Chanel six on Saturday mornings.”
Cornell affirmed, “That be the
one.”
Once C/O Krims left, the boys
looked around their large room that featured a large thick window with a view
of the icy terrain. There was something peaceful about watching billows of
powdery snow blow across the barren landscape.
Renie informed Cornell that he
had prayed to stay and work at this facility instead of having to return to
their desert Y-MAX prison between construction projects.
Cornell said he had done the
same. “Where two or more agree,” Cornell affirmed, “and, of course, if it’s
God’s will, can’t forget that one.”
“I could get used to livin’ like
this,” Cornell smiled, as he gazed out of the window.
Renie took a long deep breath, “This
will be our refuge of solace after workin’ hard all day.”
“I bet we’ll be doin’ some
evening and night shifts too. What you think, Ren?”
“Most likely, I guess.”
“This just seems…,” Renie was
lost for words.
Cornell knew his friend’s
thoughts, “Too good to be true.”
Renie sat on the sofa and
commented, “I can hardly wait until the Cyrene Youth Center’s broadcast
Saturday morning.”
“Yeah, I hear ya. We got to
remember to set our alarms like always.”
Renie agreed, “The time
difference between here and the center should stay the same until their clocks
change over there again.”
“I always be forgettin’ which
way to change the clock,” Cornell lamented.
“In spring we spring forward and
in fall we fall backward, that makes it simple to remember.”
“Thanks, Ren, I’ll try to
remember it this time.”
“But on this side of the globe
they sometimes change their clocks on a different week. But that ain’t nothin’
for us to worry about in here, seein’ that the prison never adjusts their
time one way or the other.”
“Oh, man, now that be gettin’
complicated,” Cornell shook his head.
“Ain’t no thing. Nice times in
ice times.”
“You be makin’ me feel cold,
buddy.”
Renie smiled.
Next Chapter: Northern Light
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