Deep Freeze

THE TIP OF THE ICEBERGI feel waves of grogginess flow over me. 1 am waking. I suspect, from a deep sleep. With my eyes closed, in this state of semi-consciousness, I try to recall the time which has passed. I remember the sense of melting into a pool. Sensation ended abruptly with a light going out and darkness falling over my mind.

Then there is a dream. And I seek in the dream to find an answer. I dream of the Arctic. I am lying on an iceberg, arms and legs buried in snow. In the distance is a great white polar bear. The bear is coming towards me. slowly at first, then more quickly; finally he is running. Soon he is standing over me, his mouth wide open and his hot breath panting in my face. At that instant l feel fear and a terrible numbness from the cold and the lurching sense that I am asleep and dreaming and must awaken.

But in a moment the bear has disappeared. I am still lying on the iceberg, and the iceberg is sailing down a steaming jungle river, melting away into the mud. Again l feel fear. I am afraid that the floating iceberg will disintegrate and 1 will be left unprotected, to be eaten by the crocodiles approaching from either shore. Their teeth glisten in the moonlight.

Just as the iceberg starts breaking into small pieces, I hear a motor and the sound of voices, and I know that 1 am waking from a very deep sleep indeed.