“Hi,” Luna’s voice emitted from the radio.

“Long day?”

“Yes, but the weather was good, the wind at our backs. We made it to camp and now we’re eating.”

“How many people are there?”

“Over twenty—” Her voice broke and Beckett lost track until, “— not sure yet.”

“I’m sorry I lost you, what aren’t you sure of?”

“Who’s coming to the mainland with me.”

“They might not go? What will they do?”

“Adapt. But don’t worry, I’ll come.”

“But…”

“It’ll be okay Beckett. I’ll see you in two weeks right? That’s what you need to focus on. Where are you headed?”

“North. Away. The opposite direction.” Beckett exhaled a deep breath. “I can’t wait to see you, really see you. The next two weeks are going to be long.”

“Did the doctor look at your hands, are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m okay, the dip this morning didn’t hurt me. At least not physically. My reputation around here may have taken a hit.”

“Speaking of your reputation, everyone here wants to say hello.”

A loud chorus, “Hi, Beckett!” erupted from the speaker.

“Tell them hello, tell them if they go with you to the mainland, we can meet for real.”

Luna giggled. “That might convince Sky. She’s seen enough of you to follow you anywhere. All she talks about is your ass. Right, Sky?”

Sky said, “Were you saying something Luna? I was thinking about Beckett’s ass.”

Beckett groaned.

Luna giggled, “But me most of all. It really was a nice departing gesture. I’ll have motivation on my paddle.”

Beckett chuckled. “Well, if it gets you to paddle faster, I’m glad I exposed myself to everyone today.”

“I’ll paddle fast enough.”

“I’m glad you’re safe. I’m glad I found you. I still can’t believe it.”

“Me neither, but you did, and like you said, it means something all that finding. I have to go, Beckett. We have a lot to talk about the group and I and . . . I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“You’ll leave in the morning? I need your coordinates. Where do you think you’ll end up?”

“I don’t know what time I’ll leave yet, or where I’ll land. It looks like we’ll have rain tonight. We’ll weather it here in camp and then I’ll take off, after it’s over.”

“But we’ll talk tomorrow, right?”

“At sunset, or 7:30 your time.”

“Okay, I love you Luna.”

“I love you too.”

The radio went silent.

Beckett stared at it, still, quiet, dead.

It was great to be able to talk to Luna, to know she was okay. It also sucked, to talk to Luna from this far away.

_________________

The next night at 7:15, Beckett entered the galley, assembled the charts and the radio, and took a deep breath. Before he could begin though, Dan, followed by Sarah, Rebecca, and Jeffrey, clamored down the steps. Dan and Sarah slid into the seat opposite him, Rebecca shoved him with her hip to give her a place to sit beside him. Jeffrey leaned over the back of the adjoining booth.

Beckett said, and hoped it didn’t sound as surly as he thought it did, “I might want to do this alone.”

Rebecca said, “Sure, but this is Luna, paddling on her own, and we’re all going to wait here with you until we know. Then we’ll go.”

Beckett took another big breath and turned the radio on.

He adjusted the dial for their most recent channel and asked, “Luna? Luna Saturniddae?”

Static greeted him. He twisted the dial and repeated, “Luna?”

Emerging from the static, faintly, “Beckett?”

Everyone in the galley cheered and then quieted.

Beckett adjusted the volume, such relief in his heart. “Luna, I’m here, Luna are you good?”

Her faint, barely heard response, “Yeah. I’m good . . . paddled all day with a bright sun overhead . . . . . . have excellent weather until midweek—”

Beckett couldn’t hear the end of the sentence over the cheering and clapping of Dan, Sarah, and Jeffrey. Rebecca hugged him around the shoulders.

Beckett said, “That’s great Luna, really great, I was so — that’s great. The crew here wants to say hello!”

Luna’s voice called, “Hi Beckett’s friends!”

They all joyously yelled hello and goodbye and raucously clambered to the deck leaving Beckett alone.

He said, “First give me your coordinates.”

He marked them on the charts but before he could finish she said, “There’s a good wind behind me. I plan to get to the Central Bank Outpost tomorrow. I have to sleep in the open tonight, but the wind will be calm.”

“Can we talk in the morning? I — today wasn’t easy.”

“Yeah, nine o’clock sharp, we’ll talk, tomorrow.”

“Okay, thanks. Was it hard saying goodbye to Sky?”

“Very hard. They didn’t understand why I was leaving. They tried to talk me out of it, but . . . her family paddled with me for a bit singing a song of goodbye . . .” Luna continued to talk but Beckett could barely hear over the flood of relief. She was alive, in motion, meeting him.

He said, “When we get to shore we’ll get you signed in at the camps and I’ll get you signed out and . . .” His voice trailed off remembering all the things he needed to handle when he returned to shore. There was a lot. He didn’t want to tell Luna about all the things he had left undone.

She said, “I’m thinking about resting at the outer Shield Island for a day or two, if the weather is good. It has amenities and is within a day’s paddle of the port. That way we can arrive at the same time.”

“I’d like that. I’ll go with you to register. That would be good.”

“Here’s what you have to understand, I’ve got this. This isn’t anything to fear, it’s simply something to get through.”

“Yes, but . . .”

“Tell me something cool about your house, Beckett.”

“We have gardens all around, and my Aunt Dilly put up bird houses and feeders everywhere. They’re all painted bright colors; it looks like crazy people live there, but it’s really beautiful.”

“It does sound beautiful; I can’t wait to see it. How will we get to your house from Heighton Port?”

“Um, good question.” Beckett’s fingers were gripping and rubbing on his scalp. “I have my motorcycle, but your paddleboard won’t fit — I’ll figure it out. I could rent a truck or something.”

Luna’s faint faraway voice said, “I need to go. I have farther to paddle and then batten down the hatches, except I don’t own hatches.”

“Goodnight Luna, I miss you.”

“Goodnight Beckett. I miss you too.”