Page 51 of Leveling

Beckett shook his head, “No, um, no I don’t dive, don’t know how.”

Dan said, “Oh that’s right, you’reArmy, yet you’re on aboat.” Dan dropped from the railing to the deck and peeled down his wetsuit. “I’m Navy, see, it makes sense. Don’t you have levees to build or dams to hide behind?”

Rebecca said, “He used to live on that Outpost. Three days ago. He might be Army but he can’t get enough of water.”

Beckett said, “I don’t agree, I think this is plenty of water.”

Dan smirked. Rebecca handed him a bucket, “That’s the last sample we needed, when you’re out of your wetsuit, take this to Sarah.” Then to Beckett she said, “You’re probably a part of the signs on the side then, right?”

Beckett asked, “Signs?”

Rebecca led him to the front of the ship and pointed back at a corner of the Outpost. “The signs.”

The signs. Anna had drawn signs. What did they mean? “Rebecca do you have a piece of paper?”

She ripped a piece of paper from her notebook and gave him a pencil.

He drew the images.

A box with an X in it.

An apple.

A butterfly.

What did that mean?

Those were new. Those were Anna’s drawings. He knew it. They were above the other signs, the ones that Anna mentioned when they met.

After scribbling on the paper he looked up and one thought hit him in his gut, the Outpost was still standing.

Still Standing. The water had risen, but the Outpost was still there.

He didn’t have to leave that day, he could have stayed, with Anna, living on the Outpost. He would have had more time. Could have persuaded her to come home with him. More time.

Rebecca watched over his shoulder, “That means Outpost is empty, I think.”

Beckett’s brow furrowed. She explained, “I watched that documentary.”

Beckett nodded. Of course. “Do you have any idea what this butterfly means?”

“Nope, but it looks more like a moth.”

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