Luna wandered toward the kitchen and Beckett exhaled his breath.
They carried their sandwiches to a table and sat down. Luna peeled up the top bread and investigated her sandwich’s layers. “You’re a mayo on both top and bottom kind of guy, I see, very interesting. I would have pegged you for a top layer only.” She took a big bite.
He watched her chew. Then took a big bite of his own sandwich and ate without response. Finally he said, “I don’t know, you aren’t what I expected.”
She smiled widely. “Everyone says that.” But in truth they didn’t, nobody ever said that. Luna was a Nomad, just like every other Nomad. She traveled in a group and everyone knew her, had always known her. She was always just what everyone expected.
“You haven’t told me your name.”
“Oh me? I’m Anna Barlow. At your service,” said Luna.
“Like the actress, huh? Okay, nice to meet you.”
Beckett rubbed his hands on a napkin and tossed it to the table. He strode to a large trunk, opened it, and pulled out a large ruck sack. “I have these. One for each of you.” Luna walked to his side and watched him unzip the top of the sack. He pulled out some packages. “These are rations, food, enough for a week if you’re careful...How fast do you paddle?”
Luna said, “As fast as a dolphin dives on an off day.”
“I mean, if you’re paddling, in a day, how far can you go?”
“I can go as far as I need to go. If I’m singing I can go farther. I’m not sure I get what you’re asking.”
“In my training I was told that the Nomads would be able to get to the next Outpost east in a few days. The Mainland a few days after that. But you’d have to go fast, okay? Fast.”
“Of course. Due Haste. East. Okay fast. You’re being serious again, I didn’t want to mention it, but Sam, the guy that lived here before you, was pretty lighthearted. I’m not sure he’d approve of your hospitality. Of course it’s been a few years.”
“I didn’t know him.” Beckett’s brow knit, but he carried on with his instructions. “This is a water desalinization kit and a jug. It’s heavy. Do you think you can pull this too? Will it slow you down?”
Luna looked at the half-empty trunk, “Which families have you given packs to?”
“About three weeks ago I gave out ten to the, um...” He pulled a notebook out of the trunk. “The Lacertilias.”
Luna said, “I’ve met them.”
“A month before that, um, close to twenty, that was a big group. The Coleopteras.”
Luna leaned over his shoulder, reading down the family names. Recognizing some, searching them all.
“Have you met any Saturniidaes?”
He handed her the notebook. “If they’re not on the list, then no. Do you want me to add your name, what was it, Barton?”
Luna handed it back to him. “Barlow,” she said, “One. For now.”
Beckett checked the time on his watch, so Luna looked up at the sky. “Looks like 3:45.”
He said, “15:54. I need to check the water level for the record. Will you be okay up here—I mean, I’ll be right back.”
“I’d like to come, I need to check on my board.”
