After the Flood. Kassandra montag
seemed to read my thoughts. “You two won’t make it long. We’re still several miles from the coast. This isn’t well-traveled territory; someone else won’t come along.”
I glanced back at the ship. I remembered talking with my mother up in the attic, sitting on the top step, as Grandfather had fitted Bird’s joints. We talked about the latest reports we’d heard, how far the water had come, what buildings in town to avoid. Jacob was gone, meeting up with some of his new friends I didn’t know. Row carried a pail of water past us and set it next to the others, clustered around the perimeter of the attic. The city water had been shut off the week before and we were collecting rainwater in all our buckets and bowls. Row knelt in front of the bucket and leaned forward, grinning into her reflection.
“Hi,” she said to herself and giggled.
Grandfather had smiled at her and patted the side of Bird. “She’ll be a good boat to start out in,” he’d said.
I was surprised when he said this—I never imagined we’d leave Bird, not after it’d taken so much work to build. I was so young, I wasn’t accustomed to loss and impermanence the way Grandfather was. I hadn’t known how to expect it or accept it.
My heartbeat quickened and I tried to breathe deeply. No choice but to move forward, I told myself.
“Hand me the fishing wire,” I said. I pulled my torso up on the raft and treaded water. I pierced the fishing wire through the fabric, tying it around the oar to make a flag.
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