Page 38 of Leveling

Chapter 25

Beckett woke with a start. He was on a cot. In a white-painted cinderblock room. A window. A door. It was hot with just a bit of a breeze. He jumped out of bed to look out when the door opened behind him.

“Stanford, you’re awake.”

Beckett didn’t recognize the man. He wore a lab coat—a doctor?

“Good, we need the room. I’m sending you to speak with Dr. Thomas.” The man turned abruptly and walked out the door.

Beckett ran his hands over his head and glanced around the room. His possessions were piled on the chair in the corner. He picked the bundle up as the man returned, said, “Now,” and left again.

Beckett followed him to the hall.

A woman with a tight helmet of red hair, also wearing a lab coat, stood waiting, a clipboard pressed to her front in folded arms.

Beckett stood awkwardly holding the bundle—a comic book, a quilt, a pair of shoes.

The woman held him in a stern gaze.

Beckett figured he just had to get through this. Figure out what to do next.What was Anna doing? Where was she going?

The woman asked, “Why don’t you tell me why you’re here?”

Beckett gulped. “I’m not sure why I’m here.”

She stared at him longer.

He added, “I’m not even sure wherehereis.”

“You’re back at base, but because you were belligerent on a helicopter ride, yesterday, you’ve been ordered under watch until we decide what to do with you. The captain called you combative and obstinate and wanted you arrested.”

She narrowed her eyes and looked at him for so long that Beckett wondered if he had missed a question. He couldn’t think of what to say, but, “Oh, yeah.”

Was everything Anna told him a lie? From the moment he met her until she paddled away?

An image slammed into his mind—Anna, paddling away. “I love you Beckett,” and paddling. Away. He clenched his eyes tight.

The woman sighed. She tapped her clipboard. Then checked her watch. “I’ve already spent too much time dealing with your case. You seem fine. Your battalion is at the front, filling sandbags. Next shuttle leaves in...” She checked her watch again. “Three hours, your things are at the front desk.”

“Wait—” Beckett’s sluggish brain had believed this conversation would last longer, but this was it, over, and he hadn’t said anything of importance. “I was under the impression I would be able to pick where I would be stationed. I was going to ask to be transferred.”

“I’ve recommended against your arrest and a court-marshal, Stanford, I think you should quit while you’re ahead.”

“I wanted to go to the settlements—”

She squinted her eyes. “Why on earth? You’re young, strong, we need you on the front lines. We’re entering storm season.” She flipped pages on her clipboard. “In the past you’ve been a volunteer, I’m sure you understand the gravity of...”

Beckett clenched his eyes, that image of Anna,I love you, Beckett, What had she meant? Where was she going?

When he opened his eyes, the woman still watched him, eyes squinted. She sighed again.

She scanned a page. “It says here you have an uncle who passed away while you were on the Outpost—”

“Uncle Johnny?”

“You hadn’t heard? Oh well—my deepest condolences. I’ll give you a five day leave to return to your hometown, of...” Her finger trailed down a form, “Charlesville. Rest, get your mind straight, then meet your battalion in Jameston on the twenty-third.”

“Oh, okay, poor Uncle Johnny. Okay, the twenty—um.”

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