Page 78 of The Island

The man on the roof of the barn did not look particularly concerned. He must have figured it would be a miracle if anyone had survived the day on the island in hundred-degree heat without water.

Heather backed away from the spotlight beams and gave the farm a wide berth. If she could help it, she wouldn’t go anywhere near there.

Far too dangerous.

But she had a plan B.

She turned south and kept going until she hit the road.

She listened for the ATV, and when she didn’t hear anything, she headed east again.

Her mouth was so dry, it was as if her tongue were made of sandpaper.

Her brain was operating in slow motion.

East.

Across this tundra.

Across this nothingness.

Over this land without a Dreaming.

The road was warm.

The night was warm. The sea breeze had decided not to come.

Little animals were scuffling about in the undergrowth. She fantasized about catching one and sticking her knife into its belly and drinking its blood.

What she wouldn’t give for a glass of water. Didn’t have to be cold water. Muddy ditchwater would do. Anything. She looked at the sky. Was there any chance of a rain cloud?

No. She could see in every direction all the way into space. There was nothing between her and the vacuum.

She marched on.

On.

She was so light now, she could feel the stars tugging her. The other worlds. The other civilizations.

How easy it was to drift upward.

You just let yourself go.

Go.

Up, up she went on a thermal until she could see all of the island. All of the bay. All of the state of Victoria. The rest of the great sleeping continent.

Higher. Deeper.

Now she could see all of Australia and New Zealand.

That looming presence in the south was Antarctica. So close to all that frozen water.

Farther up she went until she could see all of the Earth spinning on its axis through the darkness. Goose Island had its share of crackpots. She knew at least two people who were flat-earthers. If she ever came back, she would tell them that they were mistaken. She had seen the round Earth rotating herself.

If she ever came back.

So lonely out here.