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Glaciology
- Southern Illinois University Press
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29 Glaciology 1 John called and we met by the turtle fountain, dropped into woods and ran rapidly the leaf-deckled path. Since we had been together in the womb it was not always necessary to speak to know the other’s thoughts. We ran for an hour and broke from shade at the railroad tracks, crossed and entered Blue Dog. Hungry, John ordered the thick, Bible-black bread, open-faced, egg on top, over easy. I had the same. All right John I said where have you been all these years. Well he said as a glaciologist I have to be where the glaciers are. One project can last years and run right into the next, if the glacier cooperates. Last Fall out at Siple Dome we measured the temperature of the ice stream by inserting thermistor strings into the boreholes and letting them freeze in. Then waited. We were after the deuterium content. But equilibration takes time. Waiting is everything, don’t you think? No I said, not everything, and ordered more coffee. Well said John you should perhaps spend some time in the cryosphere yourself so you know what the fuck you’re talking about. John I said you’re the glaciologist, chill. I thought then that we may fight, that I would have to kill John, or he would kill me. Then the waitress came by and I knew by the way he talked to her he had heard my thoughts, and we paid and left. 30 2 I know nations must pretend to be people I know people can’t be squeezed into happy alliance All earthly ice is hexagonal, the six-sided snowflake I know every time I solve the earth I leave my mind Ice rivers flow slower at the bottom and edges Faster and heavier in the center Comes unbelief, after unbelief, decadence Near the melting point, the surface contains many dangling broken bonds Which promote the existence of a liquid-like layer I know this, knowing little And the low friction of many materials on ice: useful for Jurgen’s sled And skiing, and skating Sintering of snow I leave my mind [54.160.133.33] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 18:20 GMT) 31 3 John I’m sorry your father died, and the other one died, the one you called father. Men are just fire. Someone left the light of intelligence on all night. It’s not bright enough to threaten sleep. John I’m sorry the earth melts away. 32 4 The next day we met again and played pool in the afternoon. The high ceilings and air conditioning and white walls made the place breathe around the green felt the balls like atoms clicked and we drank beer with submerged shots of Bushmills, we smoked cheroots with white plastic holders. Mario came in wanting to challenge anyone to trick-shot Horse, and John said sure, though I sent hard thoughts to him which he somehow ignored. John lost but everything was good humored and we kept drinking. John I asked him later when we were sitting alone do you imagine a definable point to it all, do you see anything outside the books we have read and discussed, digested and excreted? Why are you being such a woman, John said and we laughed and left that place for the Quonset Hut, which at the time was still serving ice cream. After pistachio cones John looked out over the city conveniently spread before us. You know I lost everything in that game of Horse. What do you mean everything. He said, Everything. Does that include Cindy I asked. Yes, Cindy. 33 5 Ice stream C is flowing East to West. The surface velocity near our boreholes was measured along two profiles using repeat GPS positioning. In stage 3 hypothermia, major organs fail. Clinical death occurs. Because of decreased cellular activity, brain death takes longer. [54.160.133.33] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 18:20 GMT) 34 6 Then he came over to help me build a bridge or stairway over or down the drop-off leading to the creek and the ridge back up. The slope was sheer, and filled in with junk cement and rock, meant as a stay against erosion. But how to sink supports deep enough, and angled in such jumble. I said John come inside, let’s think about this. We took drinks to the upper room and laid the plans on the...