Chapter 54
The following dayBeckett received a call from Chickadee’s phone, but Luna’s voice greeted him. “I’m out.”
Relief surged through his body. “Oh I’m so glad Luna, I’m so glad. I don’t — I’m speechless.”
“Me too. I’m so happy and grateful and excited and kind of scared. We’re in the truck. Dilly and Chickadee are driving me to your mountain house. Or less driving, more sitting and waiting, traffic is terrible.”
Beckett leaned against the wall. “Tell me where you are. . .”
She conversed off phone for a moment. “We’re nearing the blackened bridge. Dilly said to tell you that the troll still lives under it.”
“Tell Dilly I haven’t ever believed her.”
Luna said, “She stuck out her tongue.”
“Tell Dilly she’s acting like a five-year-old.” He sighed. “I wish I could be there with you.”
“Me too, but you are. I feel you all around me. And I love you so much.”
“Did you get your paddleboard back?”
“I did. It’s strapped in the bed of the truck right now. And our clothes from the ship. Dan and Sarah and Rebecca and Dr Mags, they all say hi by the way, and Dan said for you to do like he does and always check your surroundings in case you spring a leak.”
Beckett chuckled, less because it was funny, more because he was supposed to find it funny.
After all those years of thinking the water was the worst thing he could think of he had finally found something worse. Far worse.
And he had talked to himself beforehand, he was supposed to not let Luna know, to not let on what was happening. He didn’t want to worry her.
He asked, “And the camps will be closed by next month?”
“Most of the Waterfolk are leaving, but some are staying. There’s actually some settlements opening for them, if they want to remain on land. But most of them want to head out on the high seas again.”
Beckett nodded, regretting every moment of edict reading he ever did. Going east never did anyone any good. What was East? Land and more land and what did anyone do with land anymore? Fight over its dwindling size — no, he wouldn’t advise anyone to head east.
Beckett coughed.
Luna asked, “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay. It’s just air quality. Luna I—”
“Yes?”
“I won’t be able to talk for a while. I’ve been in a training camp, and I leave tomorrow. I was told there wouldn’t be phone service, a lot like being on the Outpost.”
Luna said, “Oh.” She watched the trees glide by outside her window as traffic inched forward. “For how long?”
“Maybe months.”
Tears welled in Luna’s eyes. “What about coming home in three months?”
He said, “Thank you for calling it home. That means a lot to me.”
“But will you, come home in three months?”
“I don’t know. It might not be possible.”
“Oh.”
