Writetober Day 8 (Watch)

Day 8

Watch

“This sucks.”  Duncan spoke to the bundled man next to him.

“What did you think we did up here?” 

“I don’t know…anything but just standing here.”  Duncan kicked at a frozen stone that rested in front of him.

The two men were meticulously bundled in layers of warmth.  The only skin that was visible was behind the thick goggles that protected their eyes.  It was the dead of night, and they were tasked with being on watch.

“So, what’s back home for you?”  Duncan flexed his fingers beneath the thermal gloves he wore.

“Jack shit.  I got a kid, but the ex has him.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be, she’s a witch and he’s a little shit.  This is a vacation for me.”

Duncan didn’t know what to say, and even if he did, he probably wouldn’t have said anything.

“Hey, don’t let my sour ass get to ya.  I volunteer for this shit to get away from home.  What do you have back home?”  The man beside Duncan stood with his arms tucked between his armpits.

Duncan had a lot compared to the man he stood on watch with, but wasn’t sure how much to tell.

“You won’t offend me kid.  I’ve seen and been through a lot.”

Duncan found his words strange, but entertained the question.  “I’ve got a baby on the way.”

“A married man!  Hey now, get ready for longer nights than this crap.”  The man chuckled to himself.

“Not married yet, kind of a surprise for both of us…but, I do plan on popping the question when we get back home.”

“Don’t let my life scare ya, if she’s the one you’ll be fine.”  The man clasped his thick hand on Duncan’s shoulder.  “And if she’s not, I know a good lawyer!”  The man let out a belly filled laugh.

“Thanks, I’ll make sure to keep that in mind.”  Duncan rolled his eyes in the dead of night.

He adjusted the sling that his rifle hung from as he peered out into the night.  It was clear and calm, there was no snow on the ground to dampen any sound, thankfully.  Duncan had been told that there was no chance of anything occurring, but he found himself hoping something would.  It had been several hours of nothing since he started watch, and still several more before the sun would rise.

“I got a joke for ya.”  The man broke the silence.

“Let’s hear it.”  Duncan actually found himself interested in what the man was going to say.

“Okay, so the joke is better when everyone is drunk, but whatever.  A priest, a rabbi, and a humpback whale walk into a bar.”

“What?”  Duncan did not expect that opening.

“The bartender asks what they are drinking.  The priest says, ‘I’ll have a bloody mary.’  The rabbi says he wants a manny shevitz.  The humpback whale stares at the bartender.  And I mean he really locks in a long gaze.”  The man stepped closer to Duncan, until the two were nearly goggle to goggle.  “And then he says, Eeeaaaghooooo.”  The man erupted in laughter as he left Duncan staring at him.

The long watch must have gotten to him, because Duncan found himself stretching a smile on his face.  “Not bad, I will definitely have to hear that drunk.”

“It’s even funnier then!”

The two returned to the silence of the night as they peered out into the void that surrounded them.  Duncan’s eyes played with something in the distance, he squinted as he tried to make out what might have caught his attention, it was a quick movement, far quicker than a person could muster.

“This shit does suck.”  The man next to Duncan was oblivious to the minute movement in the distance.  “But I can barely sleep as it is, so I volunteer for this crap any chance I can…could be a little warmer though.”  The man’s breath pushed through his face coverings as it smoked into the air.

“You see that?”  Duncan pointed out into the distance.

“Nope.  Animal?”

“I think so, it moved pretty fast, but I lost it.”  Duncan strained his eyes to see farther.  It was pointless, but he still did it.

“Want me to turn on the torch?”  The man’s hand was grasping his flashlight.

“No, I’d like to keep my night vision.”  

“Close one eye kid, you’ll get it back real fast.”  The man illuminated the darkness before them.

Duncan was barely able to close his eye as he stared at the intruder.

Before the two men, a rabbit was frozen by the beam of light that shined upon it.  Duncan relaxed as he realized how tense he had been.

“Well, that was fun.”  The man turned off his light as the two plunged into the night once more.

“This sucks.”  Duncan released an annoyed sigh.

“That’s watch for ya kid.”  The man laughed to himself once more.