Snowblower

Have you ever wondered how a self-controlled organization of miscreants clears the snow when the authorities in power refuse to do it?

Apparently the answer is "with a lot of imagination". Apparently every year, right after the first snow, Shevok holds a competition across the compound. The competition is a wrestling match in the snow. The wrestlers fight two at a time, and when they’re done, the next wrestlers set up next to where the first two wrestlers competed and the path begins to form. Of course, it’s a very chilly event, and it’s only somewhat effective at clearing away the snow. That’s why anyone who loses has to actually finish clearning away their ‘wrestling mat’. You might imagine that some people are reluctant to do so, what with being very big and strong, but there are enough other people who make sure they get it done. The winner of the match gets a month’s supply of alcohol from Shevok.

Many of my companions have seen this before, having been here for a few years, but it was new for me and Sir Nuttor. We watched with interest as grown men got frostbite for alcohol. At first I thought it was incredibly silly, but we all have our addictions. I wonder if I’d get frostbite for water. I certainly wouldn’t win a wrestling competition.