Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: OVERSEAS VACATION (08/13/15)
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TITLE: Salzkammergut | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gary Ritter
08/14/15 -
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The light is off. A strange woman stands over me handing me several pills. I don’t want to take them. She insists. After I swallow them she returns to her medicine cart and takes some pills to an old man staring at a TV. What is this place?
Thankfully reality returns. Ted and I get separated from the kids at the airport. We wander around looking for them, ending up on the tarmac outside the terminal building near one of the planes. My daughter certainly isn’t here. We reenter the building, find a staircase, and on the second floor see my daughter through the glass partition in a waiting area. A security guard lets us through. How she and her husband got there is a mystery. They make a fuss about us getting lost, which is ridiculous. They were the ones who separated from us and vanished.
Flickering darkness. It’s strange. These dreams I have about being confined behind a locked door with crazy people all around me are disturbing. I don’t belong in a place like this. Ones of the aides puts a tray on the table. “Come to lunch, honey,” she says. Is she talking to me? I hate being called honey.
Such relief. We’ve made it to the resort. It’s a lovely collection of buildings overlooking a body of water. A tiny village rims one corner of the lake. From where we look down I can’t make out the architectural intricacies, yet I know each house and store have them. This is Europe. Everywhere around us the medieval age jumps out. We passed a sign on the highway coming here that said the town was founded in the 1600s. It’s all quaint and breathtaking at the same time.
“Time for your shower, honey.” There she goes again. What makes her think I can’t shower by myself? I’m perfectly capable. This thing I have to lean on to walk gets in the way, but I can undress and lather up the soap. It’s not like I’m a child.
It’s a brilliant day outside. That contrasts greatly with what we’re soon to experience. The signs on the wall inside warn that if someone is claustrophobic they’re advised to reconsider entering the salt mine. That’s never been a problem for Ted or me. My daughter helps me put on the tan coveralls. They’re large but that allows them to go over our clothes. Once we’ve suited up the tour begins. We enter a long hallway and come upon rail tracks. The guide instructs us to take a seat in one of the open cars behind the engine. It starts with a jerk. We’re on our way down into the bowels of the earth.
I wish these people would leave me alone. A woman can’t even dress herself without someone leering at her in this place. First this person touches me in the shower when I drop the soap, then she thinks I don’t know how to find my underwear drawer. We maneuver through getting my nightclothes on, then she asks if I want a snack before bed. Of course not! I’ve never snacked and aren’t about to begin.
The guide tells us that miners took this wooden slide to quickly move to the lower level. We take burlap bags, sit on them, and whoa! That was fast! We’re part of a small group that eventually gathers on seats that ring a small salt lake. Don’t stand up, we’re warned. Once the guide turns off the lights, we need to stay in place. Anticipation builds as the history is recounted. Men have gotten lost and died down here. Are we ready? The overhead lights are all that stand between us and…oh my! This darkness isn’t just black. It’s stygian. The breathing of those around us grows heavy. The darkness overwhelms and presses in.
I get into bed. Where’s my husband? I can’t recall. What’s his name? I have a husband, don’t I? Shouldn’t we sleep together? “Good night, honey,” the aide says. “Sleep tight.” “But…” I say. The light clicks off.
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