Page 48 of Under Story

Nita snuggles under the blankets, resting her head against a pillow. Laurel scoots down so that their eyes are level. She and Eli have come to a standstill. Maybe Nita will be able to help her to convince him.

“Can we talk about the basin?” Laurel asks. “The area under the Arc?”

Nita’s affect is watchful but calm, as though she expected this. “I think it’s your turn to tell me what’s going on.”

Laurel takes one long breath.

“You know that Eli has been working with ANITA,” she says. “How much do you remember about the physicists’ presentation?”

“I looked Eli up,” says Nita. “I read about the Duoverse.”

Laurel’s surprise is tempered by respect. She can only be frank in return.

“I want to explore the basin,” she says.

Nita closes her eyes briefly. She seems to be steeling herself, though she doesn’t look shocked.

“Eli and I know how to dive,” Laurel pressed.

“It’s not that simple,” says Nita. “You’d need approval, and hours of training; the water is horribly cold…”

Laurel stares at her.

“You’re not planning to get approval,” says Nita slowly.

“No.”

“Why?”

Some McMurdo residents have already fallen asleep. Others giggle, or hush each other. Laurel looks into Nita’s face. She must make the decision to trust her.

“I had a son,” says Laurel. “His name was Silas. He was our child—mine and Eli’s. And when he was eight, he died.”

It’s the first time Laurel has said this to anyone in Antarctica—really, to anyone who didn’t know Silas—and she finds that she must repeat herself, trace the story again.

“He died,” she says. “And it was my fault. I couldn’t work. I wanted to die. But instead, I came here. And then Eli arrived.”

Nita’s gaze doesn’t falter. Laurel lowers her voice.

“It’s not a coincidence, Nita. I believe that it’s not. I think that there’s some kind of portal at Cape Evans. Maybe Silas is in there—through there. Eli isn’t convinced, but I have to find out. And I need help.”

“Laurel, you might not make it.”

“If I didn’t, it would be my fault. You wouldn’t be responsible.”

Nita turns away. “What if I say no?”

“I’ll still try to do it. I’ll find another way.”

Nita is inscrutable. Laurel waits, her heart fluttering.

“I thought you were just a nice girl from Wisconsin,” Nita says.

“I am a nice girl,” says Laurel. “But I also have nothing to lose.”

For another beat, Nita lies still. Then she props herself up on one elbow.

“I’ll help,” she says. “On one condition. Tell me if you make it to the antiuniverse. I want to know.”