We sat on the compacted ash that made the edge of the crater, our legs dangling into the huge cavernous hole that opened to the earth’ score.The velvety night wrapped around us as we watched the three vents glowing fiery red in the dark.
Without warning, a rumble came deep from within the crater, building to a crescendo when, with a release of noxious gas, an explosion rent the air and large chunks of molten rock were thrown, landing within metres of where we sat.
As we made our escape Jenny exploded like the volcano, Yasur.
“How dare they put us in such danger letting us sit on the edge like that when it could have just fallen into the crater with that shaking that came just before it exploded,” she said.
“I know Jen but for me it has to be a first – two volcanos and three vents in one night: Yasur and you, and Yasur, you and the whole fish I’m having for dinner.”
Thank you to Denise from Girlie on the Edge for coming up with the prompt word vent and for hosting SSS.
© irene waters 2018
Mt Yasur on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu and Lake Siwi prior to the lakes disappearance.
© irene waters 2018
Mt Yasur from the rim
© irene waters 2018
Mt Tavurvur in Rabaul Papua New Guinea.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
“The velvety night wrapped around us as we watched the three vents glowing fiery red in the dark.”
Wonderful line. Very graphic story. No problem picturing myself, legs dangling 🙂
Cool pictures! And you lived there?
Enjoyable SSS!
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Thanks Denise. Glad you enjoyed it. Yes we lived there – it was our Nightmare in Paradise.
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A creative use of the cue! They were indeed lucky to make it out alive. Though I lived outside the danger zone when Mt. St. Helens erupted in 1980, the evidence of the destruction was still apparent decades later. The visitor’s center gives a somber account of lives lost.
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Yes I remember seeing the newscasts when Mt St Helens erupted. The ash is the killer. I remeber a whole heap of people got caught on the side of it. Mt Yasur is continually letting off and is the worlds most accessibly active volcano with eruptions frequently. You can be unlucky and be hit on the head with a molten rock but while is letting off steam I think it is reasonably unlikely that it will blow its top off. They keep it well monitored.
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Good, enjoyable Six*
*which, by the way, I call, ‘No Fair’ having cool adventures in ‘real’ life.
lol
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Some true life adventures aren’t all they’re cracked up to be even if they are unforgettable. Thanks Clark.
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Good six. The first paragraph really sets the tone, it is foreboding as well as comforting. I like this a lot.
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Glad you enjoyed it.
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Multiple explosions and a great set-up for the final line.
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Thanks Charli. Glad you mentioned the last line.
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