Winter was hard on them. Some days the bright blue sky and brilliant sunshine made the
snow glitter like it was encrusted with diamonds. Other days were bitter with swirling
snow or worst yet sleet and O'Neill and Carter dare not venture out of the shelter. There
were days when they didn't shed one article of clothing, not hat or gloves, not parka or
boots, unless the call of nature came and forced the issue. Bathing had become a rare
event and Carter longed for a good long soak. If not to get clean then perhaps to get
warm. O'Neill even dreamed about a steaming shower, of course, it was his dream and
he wasn't alone and there was rather a lot of creative lathering.
During one particularly long stretch of weather induced inactivity O'Neill got out the large tub, probably sent though the gate for laundry, and started melting snow and boiling the water. He also burned more wood than they had rationed but how could he give Carter the present of a hot bath in a freezing room. As the last bucket boiled the tub was cooling rapidly to a comfortable temperature. With a little encouragement O'Neill warmed water to rinse her hair and body. Fresh clean clothing had never more felt like such a luxury. While she was dressing O'Neill stripped down and slipped into the cooling water. Carter, returning the kindness, warmed water to rinse the shivering soapy man.
During one particularly long stretch of weather induced inactivity O'Neill got out the large tub, probably sent though the gate for laundry, and started melting snow and boiling the water. He also burned more wood than they had rationed but how could he give Carter the present of a hot bath in a freezing room. As the last bucket boiled the tub was cooling rapidly to a comfortable temperature. With a little encouragement O'Neill warmed water to rinse her hair and body. Fresh clean clothing had never more felt like such a luxury. While she was dressing O'Neill stripped down and slipped into the cooling water. Carter, returning the kindness, warmed water to rinse the shivering soapy man.
