Tonya Walter

The Unknown

h . It is hot. I know that’s theunderstatement of the year. My clothes stick to me and hang heavy. Breathing thru this makeshift breathing respirator is suffocating. Despite the difficulty, I dare not take it off. The outside air is a thick coat of sand and dust. It coats my goggles. I try to wipe it off with my gloves but it only makes it worse. My throat is starting to get that scratchy cotton feeling. I look at my watch. We have been up on the surface too long.