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Chapter 51

“Hey Dan, what’s the news?”

Dan stood in the middle of the parking lot, staring back at the camps. “By the time I got back, Luna felt totally better.”

“Really? What did Dr Mags say?”

“She said it was something Luna ate, acted like I was an asshole for worrying about it. You know Dr Mags, all business when you’re sick, but when you’re healthy, she’s the first to tell you to suck it up. Well she told me to tell you that Luna said to suck it up. She’s fine.”

“Man, that is such a relief.”

“Are you with your battalion yet?”

“Still on the bus, though we’re entering the mountains, I might lose service soon. I have two hours left.”

“Why are you going into the mountains? Aren’t you headed to the coast? I thought—”

Beckett ran his hand around his head. “Can you put Luna on the phone? Hold it for her through the fence?”

Dan looked around the parking lot, “Um, I’m not with her right now. I stepped away to make this call, sorry man. I’ll do it in a bit.”

Beckett closed his eyes. “I’m not sure if I can talk much after six, try to call before, okay?”

“Look, it’s no problem I’m walking back right now.” Dan jogged across the parking lot toward the fence, reaching it, and looking at the phone. Beckett wasn’t there.

“Luna, I’m sorry Beckett wanted to talk to you.” He dialed Beckett’s number. The call was answered by a strange beep-beep sound. “Weird. I guess we lost the connection. He said he was going into the mountains. . .”

Chickadee said, “The mountains? There’s no mountains near the coast where he’ll be stationed. . .” Her voice trailed off.

Dan nodded with a glance at Luna. “You know, I probably misheard him. we’ll call back in a few minutes, see if we can’t get him on the phone again.”

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