The Cold Tin Soldier

I don't know why I remember standing watch on such a blistering cold day. Standing watch and protecting our post and the people within was an important and common duty, but for some reason one day stands alone. 

One night I was unexpectedly woken by a tap on my shoulder. Expecting to be able to sleep throughout the night, I was frustrated and over-exhausted. Due to my misfortune the man who was supposed to stand the night watch was ill and in bed, but to complain would accomplish nothing. Taking a quick shower, I rushed to get my rifle and was off. 

Finally being outdoors I truly realized my misfortune, there was a mix of sleet and snow pouring down from the sky and a hurricane strength wind blowing in every direction. I had to yell over the howling wind to tell the other watch that I was there to relieve him multiple times as if the words froze in midair and crashed to the ground and pierced the unfortunate earth. For the life of me I could not get my message across to his deaf ears. After what seemed forever the watch stander dumbly got the message and walked slowly to the warmth of the indoors as if he was a tin soldier marching and fighting an unachievable battle against the cold. 

After what already felt like hours of relieving the old watch stander, my time began. Usually the most complicating part of standing watch is staying alert enough to notice any changes past the post, this time was different. Fighting a dreadfully cold chill somehow naturally made me more alert and yet I could not see into the blackness. It was as if I was a driving a car into the dark on cruise control and with no headlights. Roving the outside seemed never-ending and meekly bearable. Once I felt as if I could no longer take another step and continued to look for more nothingness in the polar conditions with my rifle frozen to my coat I saw movement behind me. 

I Turned around and saw another soldier walking towards me and could barely perceive his mouth making movements and his hands making gestures. However, past the still strong blowing wind I could not hear what he had to say for the life of me and could not conceive what his flailing arms were demonstrating. After a long moment I finally realized that I was being relieved. This poor guy probably thought that I was deaf and dumb. After my realization of freedom from the cold took hold, I too became the tin soldier marching towards the warmth of indoors. Slowly battling the elements, with frozen joints, I was making it. With every bone in my weak and frozen body pushing I came within grasp. 

Reaching towards the door and pulling it open the heat hit me. I was hoping for the warmth to surround me and comfort me like the sun does to a basking snake. Rather than the pleasurable feeling of life regained, it shot me full of needles and my bones and joints began to pop and crack. After finally returning my rifle, the last of my energy escaped and I nearly could not make it into the spot that my arduous task originated, under my blankets. The Cold Tin Soldier became another as I gave into fatigue and rested my eyes.