[Dylflon]

First narration:

Antarctica, Winter, 1982

A lone husky speeds across the snowy ice fields running as if the devil were chasing him. The devil in this case is a Norwegian helicopter occupied by two very upset scientists. This wouldn’t be so bad if one of these men wasn’t operating a high powered hunting rifle complete with scope. Shots ring through the cold arctic air, sending tufts of white upwards as if it was snowing in reverse.

The dog has the advantage today. The gunman only gets off one good shot per pass and this husky is young and quite quick on its feet. The Norwegian gunman attempts to dispatch of the dog by means of grenade but misses his target by at least fifty yards.

At this point, the dog and the Norwegians are playing a game of attrition. The winner will be determined by which runs out of energy first; the dog or the helicopter. The dog could probably keep running for hours as per his training. Helicopters have only so much fuel. Of course, dogs shouldn’t know this.

Soon though, a better alternative presents itself.


The men of American Arctic Research Outpost 31 sit comfortably in their mess hall, playing cards and shooting the shit. Nauls, the young cook and self-claimed soul brother cooks omelets on two different stoves. He moves between the two stoves and the refrigerator on roller skates while dancing to the music blasting from his boom box.

If it weren’t for the music, the men would have heard shots ringing through the air much sooner. It wasn’t until a helicopter had set down right next to their outpost, that they noticed anything was amiss. Some watched scene that would unfold through the window while others instinctively rushed outside to see what all the commotion was about. One of the Norwegian men occupying the intruding helicopter rummaged through a box for more grenades. To the men of Outpost 31, he seemed clearly deranged shouting nothing but gibberish. Though more likely we has speaking Norwegian. The man pulls the pin on a grenade to throw at the husky that has now run into the camp. However, when he extends his arm back, he loses his grip on the explosive, creating unfavorable repercussions for the helicopter and the other Norwegian man inside of it.

The Norwegian gunman continues to shout like a lunatic, and fires two bullets at the dog, one of which strays into the leg of meteorologist George Bennings. The pain is searing and Bennings has no problem making everyone aware of that fact.

Finally, unable to bear no more, Garry (captain and manager of the outpost) decides to take action. From inside the mess hall, Garry upholsters his revolver, smashes a windowpane and fires one shot which finds its way between the eyes of the raving Norwegian.

The husky, now safe from all predators, runs immediately to Clark, the base’s dog handler. Clark tries to soothe the dog, convincing it that everything is alright. Some of the men create a semi-circle around the dead Norwegian body and struggle in vain to piece together the events that just transpired. Others such as helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady instead rush to put out the flaming Norwegian helicopter.

MacReady, taking control of the situation, instructs Clark to put the husky in the dog kennel and organizes a team to bury the dead bodies of the crazed Norwegian men.

That evening the men are ill at ease. Clark didn’t put the dog in the kennels but rather let it wander around the camp in fear that the other dogs would gang up on it. Most of the crew at the arctic research station resign themselves to drinking in their rooms. The mechanics Childs and Palmer smoke weed and watch old game shows on betamax tapes. The rescued husky walks from room to room, observing the occupants of the station.

Tomorrow, MacReady and Doctor Copper will travel to the Nowegian base to find clues about what lead to the deceased scientists erratic behavior.

Though tonight will hold more surprises than any of the men working at this research post could anticipate.




The game has begun.