Page 48 of Leveling

Chapter 32

Once aboard, Rebecca passed Beckett off to a young man named Jeffrey with a “Show him to his quarters, and Beckett, I’ll see you back up here when you stow your things.”

Jeffrey was fresh-faced and wiry. He looked to be about eighteen years old at the most, but in the I-Can’t-Believe-You’re-Eighteen way. Though it was difficult to see his face; he kept bobbing his head nervously, looking at anything but Beckett.

He led Beckett through the deck to a doorway, down tight steps to a hallway with bunks on both sides. “This will be yours. Bathroom is at the end to the left. You can use this drawer.” He gestured toward it while ducking his head. If Beckett hadn’t watched his hands, he would have missed where it was. Jeffrey said, “We’ll do our morning meeting in ten,” and left.

Beckett stowed his things, then threw his pack onto the end of his bed, giving the mattress a small pat. Yikes, it was thinner than it looked.

A few minutes later Beckett stood on the top deck surrounded by eight other people. An older woman, with a regal nose and grey strands through her dark hair, stood at the head of the circle. Jeffrey whispered, “That’s Captain Aria. She’s very—”

Captain Aria interrupted, “Setting sail in five. Welcome aboard everyone. We have a lot of research this trip, I’ll expect everyone to pitch in, butts in the water, except...”

She looked questioningly at Beckett, who said, “Um?”

She said, “Your name, I’ve forgotten.”

He said, “Beckett Stanford.”

“If Rebecca asks, all butts in the water, except Stanford, who doesn’t dive. If Stanford is in the water, throw him a life preserver.” Everyone in the circle chuckled heartily. Captain Aria smirked at Beckett. Then asked, “Dan, have you got some good meals planned for us?”

A man who looked to be in his thirties, handsome, dark hair and a square jaw, said, “The usual, mostly burnt, sometimes raw. Your favorites.”

“I’ll come back down at lunch.” She and two men left for the bridge.

Rebecca said, “Okay, everyone, you’ve met Beckett. He’s Army, along for the ride. Why did you say you were along for the ride?”

“I’m supposed to be looking for Nomads, telling them to head to the mainland.”

“Right. Okay, whenever you aren’t doingthatimportant work you’ll be on deck with me.”

“Sure, whatever, whenever.”

“This is Sarah, she’s my research partner.” She gestured toward a lithe pale woman who was standing beside Dan, the cook. Leaning against him, head occasionally on his shoulder. “This is Dr. Mags, she’ll act as medic if you need it, but prefers animals.”

Dr. Mags was short and wide and her hair was clipped close to her head. She nodded her head in greeting.

“That’s Dan, he’s the cook. Navy. You two should have fun with each other.” Dan cocked an eyebrow at Beckett, his arm draped around Sarah’s shoulders. “And you’ve met Jeffrey already.”

Jeffrey said a shy, “Yep,” and looked away.

The ship lurched. Rebecca grabbed the shoulder of Dr. Mags as she stumbled. “We’re off! I’ll need to get my sea legs back, you got sea legs, Beckett?”

“Um, sure.”

Rebecca snickered at Dan and everyone went in different directions.

Beckett asked Sarah as she walked by, “Where should I be?”

“Wherever, you can watch from the railings over there.”

Beckett couldn’t imagine a worse place to stand, on an edge, watching the boat slide away from shore. So far he had only looked at the floor, the decking, the doors leading to the bunks. He left for the interior of the ship, hopefully some place without windows.

The door he entered was at the top of a flight of stairs. He descended into a tight room with three booth tables on the left and a counter with a microwave, coffee pot, a small sink, and a flat screen TV on the wall. Beckett slid into the closest booth as the boat rocked back and forth. He wondered if the coffeepot was full and if he could pour himself some.

Soon the other researchers clamored down the stairs. Jeffrey slid into the booth beside Beckett, and Dan, Sarah, Dr. Mags, and Rebecca sat in the next booth.

Dan asked, “Need coffee?”

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