By the time Marlowe Mismatch reached the steps of “Frosty Fred’s Freeze Factory”, he felt like a wandering sun. The past few days had transformed the streets of Melbourne into a real-life version of ‘The Floor is Lava’, with Marlowe at the epicentre.
But Frosty Fred’s was no ordinary establishment. Housed in a seemingly chilly bunker-like structure, it was the talk of Bayside, often whispered about but rarely seen up close. It was said that if any of the professional Bayside air conditioning services could help Marlowe, it would be this one.
Fred, an eccentric genius with icicles for a beard and an ever-present cloud of cold air surrounding him, welcomed Marlowe. “Heard you’re hotter than a jalapeño dipped in dragon’s breath,” he exclaimed, shaking Marlowe’s hand with a glove designed to withstand sub-zero temperatures.
Marlowe nodded. “That’s one way to put it.”
Fred’s audacious proposal was something straight out of a mad scientist’s dream journal. “Imagine,” he began, eyes sparkling with mischief, “an air conditioning unit so powerful, so immense, it could turn the Sahara into a ski resort.”
And then, with a dramatic flourish: “But miniaturised! To fit on your back!”
Marlowe blinked. The proposition sounded as outlandish as his recent adventures. But desperate times called for desperate measures, especially when you’re in desperate need of cooling.
Fred continued, “I’ve been working on this prototype for years. The power it possesses is unprecedented. However,” he sighed, “it requires materials that are… difficult to come by.”
The next logical stop for Marlowe, as directed by Fred, was a renowned business offering the best air conditioning service near Hampton. They possessed the expertise to source these rare materials and had previously collaborated with Fred on bizarre projects. Before leaving, Fred handed Marlowe a detailed list, complete with items like ‘Phoenix Feather Filters’ and ‘Dragon-Scale Coolants’.
As Marlowe exited, a chilled breeze caressed his face, a sensation he hadn’t felt in what seemed like an eternity. With newfound hope, Marlowe set out on his next adventure, chasing the promise of a cool reprieve.