Marlowe, now an involuntary oven-on-legs, strolled the streets of Melbourne. Pedestrians gave him a wide berth, knowing a misplaced elbow could mean first-degree burns. Birds overhead, spotting a potential roosting spot, thought better of it upon nearing. Winter or summer, Marlowe now always shone with a sunny disposition. Quite literally.
Amidst his blazing trail, he recalled the name of a peculiar physician: Dr. Icarus Ignite. Now, what’s in a name, you wonder?
The entrance to Dr. Ignite’s clinic resembled less of a door and more of an ‘avoid-if-you’re-remotely-normal’ airlock. The waiting room, armed with cooling fans that could put wind turbines to shame, greeted Marlowe with a gusty embrace. The receptionist, typing behind a protective barrier, handed Marlowe a number. “You’re next, Mr. Mismatch,” she said, voice muffled behind protective gear.
Upon entering the consultation chamber, Marlowe blinked at the spectacle. Walls gleamed with some heat-reflective material. The room’s centrepiece? A chair resembling a throne from a sci-fi movie, rigged with tubes spritzing a cooling mist. Marlowe eyed it, hoping he wouldn’t create a mini lake.
As he took his seat, in came Dr. Ignite, looking more like an astronaut prepping for a lunar landing. The good doctor, echoing through his suit’s intercom, greeted Marlowe warmly (no pun intended).
After a series of ‘heated’ tests—consisting of Marlowe warming thermometers by merely clutching them—Dr. Ignite revealed the comical diagnosis: “Hyperthermic Haphazardous Heat-Hugger’s Hiccup.”
Rubbing his temples, Marlowe sighed, “So, doc, where to from here?”
Dr. Ignite, mulling over it, offered, “Have you thought to book an air conditioning service near Moorabbin? They have some advanced cooling systems that might help.”
Marlowe nodded, taking mental notes. But Dr. Ignite wasn’t done. “Alternatively,” he added after a brief pause, “there’s a renowned air conditioning service close to Brighton. They might be able to craft a customised solution.”
Eager to resolve his latest conundrum, Marlowe set forth, turning every step into a heated adventure in Melbourne.