IT WAS THE END of a long day, and Polly felt exhausted. The ship rolled in the impossibly vast sea. To calm herself, she clutched the sides of the deck chair and stared at the moons. The natural moon was pearl-colored. The second moon, which had been installed by advertisers years ago, was light green and shone with the Gap company logo.
Andrew plopped down in the deck chair next to her. He noticed the book in her lap. “Maybe you could write a book about polar exploration.”
“Someone already did.” Polly held up her book so he could read the title: The Worst Journey in the World. “Apsley Cherry-Garrard, one of Scott’s men, wrote this in 1922.”
“Our trip’s not that bad so far, is it?”
Polly snorted. Hadn’t he noticed the huge waves? The bottomless sea? But then again, the ocean was the least of their problems. “Do you think we’re going to make it?” she asked.
“Yes.” Andrew’s voice sounded more confident than he felt.
“The camera crew is our only hope,” Polly said.
“Why?”
“I can’t believe that adults would watch us die.”
“Kids starve all the time.”
“I know, but no one has to watch them.”
Andrew looked around the deck for the cameras. “Do you feel better or worse knowing someone is watching us?”
“It makes me feel better to think that God is watching, or my father in heaven, but it makes me feel worse to think that millions of people are watching”—Polly struggled to find the words—“our tragedy.”
“I used to be one of those people,” Andrew said. “I used to sit on my couch night and day and watch.”
“Me, too. We all did. It’s not like we had a choice.”
“No. I mean, I used to like watching more than being a part of anything.”
“And that’s not true anymore?” Polly asked.
“Well, there’s no TV here. I don’t have anything to watch.”
“I guess you’re right. When I’ve finished my books, then I won’t have anything to read.”
“I hope we make it,” Andrew said.
“We will,” Polly promised, although she didn’t quite believe it.
Billy and Robert appeared. Billy was holding a notepad.
“Have you checked the lifeboats for paddles?” Robert asked Billy.
“No,” Billy said. He helped Robert turn a lifeboat over. Two paddles were hooked to the side.
Robert picked up each one and examined it. “They’re in good shape.”
Billy put a check on the inventory list.
Polly watched Billy and Robert pass by.
They’re very diligent, Polly thought. I just wish they were nicer. “Andrew,” she said slowly when she was sure that the two other boys couldn’t hear her, “I’ve enjoyed talking to you.”
“Have you talked to any of the others?” Polly adjusted the blanket on her shoulders.
“Like this?”
She nodded.
“No.”
“Billy’s mean and Robert’s bossy,” she said.
“They’re okay.” Robert and Billy were like all the boys he had ever known.
“Grace is nice. She just seems so removed.”
“I know what you mean,” Andrew said.
“Thanks for listening,” Polly said.
“Sure.”
She stared again at the ocean.
“It’s a nice night,” he said quietly.
For some reason, the big waves didn’t seem quite as frightening as before. “It is,” she agreed.