zipsuit. She stops on the dock below the sub and looks up at us.
“I’m staying.”
“What?” I ask.
“I’m staying here.”
“Why?”
“Because someone needs to be here,” she says. “And I’ve thought about it all night. It just doesn’t make any sense for all of us to go, wouldn’t you agree?”
“What do you mean?” I ask, jumping down to the dock and facing her. “We’re all in this together.”
“What if something happens to us out there?” she asks.
“Then it will happen to all of us.”
“Yes,” she says. “But have you thought it through? What will become of Holocene II? With no one left here to call the train up and set them free, won’t they be trapped down there forever? That’s not a very good plan.”
“But Hannah—”
“She’s right,” the professor says. “And not just that, but someone should be here to respond to any queries from them also. I’m sure our delaying their upcoming retirements has put them on edge already. Routine is very important down there, as you well know, Aubrey.”
“Well, what if something happens to you here?” I ask.
Hannah shrugs.
“There’s nothing to worry about here. You’re the ones taking all the risks. The only thing I’ll need to contend with is boredom.”
“But what will you do for two months?”
“I’ve got plenty to keep me busy in my lab,” she says. “And there’s lots to be done yet around here after the flood.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I won’t let you stay.”
“I’m not asking you,” she says. “I’m telling you.”
I look to Jimmy, but his face is expressionless, as if to say this is my decision. The professor frowns, but nods, agreeing with Hannah. I storm to the edge of the dock and look at the dark tunnel leading down the step locks toward the Pacific. How many miles, how many months? Anything could happen.
The professor clears his throat.
“Ahem. We need to get moving now, I already set the locks to lower.”
I turn back to Hannah.
“Fine, but I’m not letting you stay here alone. No way. Someone either stays on with you, or none of us goes at all.”
Hannah drills me with an angry stare, but I stand my ground.
“You need the professor to pilot the sub,” she says. “And there’s no way Jimmy would let you go without him. I know that much. So I guess that leaves Red.”
I look at Red, having entirely forgotten for a minute that he was even there. He raises his hand meekly, almost as if he were asking permission to speak.
“Yes,” I say, “what is it, Red?”
“I just want to say, for the record, that I’ll stay if you need me to, but after last night I’m ready to go.”
I smile, remembering our talk.
“I know you are.”
Several quiet moments pass with only the sound of our breathing audible in the almost absolute silence. A fan turns on in a building somewhere.
I step to Hannah and wrap my arms around her. She leans her head on my shoulder and I smell her wet hair, the scent of shampoo. My guts are knotted up and aching with heartbreak already, but I don’t cry. We stand together hugging for a long time, neither of us moving to pull away. I know when we do it will be time to say goodbye, and I have no idea what to say.
I think about the first time I saw her from the bluff. It was sunny then and she was wearing that white skirt and knocking tennis balls across the net. I remember Jimmy hoisting me up to look over the fence and her standing there with her hands on her hips. She told me Aubrey was a funny name for a boy. Man, it seems like ages ago already. Almost like another life.
“Give us ninety days,” I hear the professor say. “If we’re not back by then, bring up some help from Holocene II and make a plan. I’d suggest any of the managers from the loading bay. They’re practical people.”
Hannah nods, her head still resting on my shoulder.
“Other than that, try to have as little contact as possible with them. They don’t expect to hear much
“I’m staying.”
“What?” I ask.
“I’m staying here.”
“Why?”
“Because someone needs to be here,” she says. “And I’ve thought about it all night. It just doesn’t make any sense for all of us to go, wouldn’t you agree?”
“What do you mean?” I ask, jumping down to the dock and facing her. “We’re all in this together.”
“What if something happens to us out there?” she asks.
“Then it will happen to all of us.”
“Yes,” she says. “But have you thought it through? What will become of Holocene II? With no one left here to call the train up and set them free, won’t they be trapped down there forever? That’s not a very good plan.”
“But Hannah—”
“She’s right,” the professor says. “And not just that, but someone should be here to respond to any queries from them also. I’m sure our delaying their upcoming retirements has put them on edge already. Routine is very important down there, as you well know, Aubrey.”
“Well, what if something happens to you here?” I ask.
Hannah shrugs.
“There’s nothing to worry about here. You’re the ones taking all the risks. The only thing I’ll need to contend with is boredom.”
“But what will you do for two months?”
“I’ve got plenty to keep me busy in my lab,” she says. “And there’s lots to be done yet around here after the flood.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I won’t let you stay.”
“I’m not asking you,” she says. “I’m telling you.”
I look to Jimmy, but his face is expressionless, as if to say this is my decision. The professor frowns, but nods, agreeing with Hannah. I storm to the edge of the dock and look at the dark tunnel leading down the step locks toward the Pacific. How many miles, how many months? Anything could happen.
The professor clears his throat.
“Ahem. We need to get moving now, I already set the locks to lower.”
I turn back to Hannah.
“Fine, but I’m not letting you stay here alone. No way. Someone either stays on with you, or none of us goes at all.”
Hannah drills me with an angry stare, but I stand my ground.
“You need the professor to pilot the sub,” she says. “And there’s no way Jimmy would let you go without him. I know that much. So I guess that leaves Red.”
I look at Red, having entirely forgotten for a minute that he was even there. He raises his hand meekly, almost as if he were asking permission to speak.
“Yes,” I say, “what is it, Red?”
“I just want to say, for the record, that I’ll stay if you need me to, but after last night I’m ready to go.”
I smile, remembering our talk.
“I know you are.”
Several quiet moments pass with only the sound of our breathing audible in the almost absolute silence. A fan turns on in a building somewhere.
I step to Hannah and wrap my arms around her. She leans her head on my shoulder and I smell her wet hair, the scent of shampoo. My guts are knotted up and aching with heartbreak already, but I don’t cry. We stand together hugging for a long time, neither of us moving to pull away. I know when we do it will be time to say goodbye, and I have no idea what to say.
I think about the first time I saw her from the bluff. It was sunny then and she was wearing that white skirt and knocking tennis balls across the net. I remember Jimmy hoisting me up to look over the fence and her standing there with her hands on her hips. She told me Aubrey was a funny name for a boy. Man, it seems like ages ago already. Almost like another life.
“Give us ninety days,” I hear the professor say. “If we’re not back by then, bring up some help from Holocene II and make a plan. I’d suggest any of the managers from the loading bay. They’re practical people.”
Hannah nods, her head still resting on my shoulder.
“Other than that, try to have as little contact as possible with them. They don’t expect to hear much
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