Page 44 of Leveling

“Your sign says you’re the Port Authority, I figured you’d be an authority on things that float in and out of this port.”

She raised her eyebrows and released her full terrifying glare.

He wasn’t getting anywhere with this woman and she was his only hope, the gatekeeper for the whole entire ocean. Beckett said, “Um,” and dropped to his knees.

She looked shocked.

“I’m begging you. I need a boat to carry me west, it’s a matter of survival, someone is going to die, seriously, do you have any ideas, any help,anythingthat you can do?”

Her eyes grew large, she looked around the room for help. “Oh, well, you might...” She leafed through a pile of papers on her desk and pulled a flier from the middle. “This is a research vessel, they’re leaving tomorrow morning, they might give you a ride for a fee.”

Beckett stood, dusted off his knees. “Thank you thank you, that is...” He studied the flier as he walked out of the Port Authority to the street.

Join the crewof the

Sea Vessel: Northern Ocean H2OPE

August 18 - September 2

Research, protection, organizing

for a healthier ocean.

The contact wasCaptain Aria Cook

Beckett stood in front of the Port Authority, back to the water, and called the listed number.

A woman answered, “Captain Aria here.”

“Hi, my name is Beckett Stanford. I need passage west, um west north.” Crap. He should have thought through what he planned to say. He sounded like an idiot. “On your boat, and I’m wondering what I can do to make that happen.”

Aria said, “Passage? We’re not going anywhere, out and around and back. Sorry, you must have me confused—”

She hung up the phone.

Double crap.

Beckett dialed the number again and because the water felt close, like too close, lapping his feet close, walked up Pier Avenue toward his cycle.

Captain Aria answered, “Yes?”

“Look, I know you’re not landing anywhere. I need to go out and around, I’m with the army, I’m supposed to contact Nomads, it’s a mission.”

“The army? Why not the Navy, they have their own boats?”

“Why do the services do anything, nothing makes sense, am I right? I just follow orders, and my orders were to secure a boat, go out to sea, and help Nomads who need help.”

“We need extra hands on our pollution research, we have five, need six. We’re repopulating fish habitats. Are you even interested in ocean biology?”

Beckett lied, “I’m passionate about ocean biology, fish, and um, their plight.”

“Uh huh, sure. Can you dive?”

Beckett paused. “No.”

Captain Aria sighed. “Fine, we’ll use you topside. We’re on dock 49. See you at 5:00 sharp.” She hung up.

Beckett checked his phone for a hostel and located one with an open bed. He found a long term parking lot for his bike and then another pizza joint for dinner. He had missed pizza and figured that was one meal that boats probably couldn’t provide. Then he checked into the hostel. He dropped his things onto the end of his bunk, climbed in, and fell asleep.

---