by Damon Knight
“Yes.” Her expression was calm as she looked out over the sprawling city. Jim was getting used to that. “Feeling okay?” he asked.
“Yes, Jim.” And she pressed his arm, gently, as if to reassure him.
Captain Hartman boarded the ramp with a twinge of regret. It was not an experience he wanted to repeat, but, after all, it was something to tell the grandchildren about: a real sea adventure. He and Bliss had exchanged promises to meet. Perhaps they would, someday, and reminisce over their pints like two old seafaring men.
Julie Prescott boarded the ramp with her parents. Stevens was a little ahead of them; they had said their good-byes. Stevens was going to fly to Switzerland; they had arranged to meet in New York in October. “When I come back, you must not mind if I have another name,” he said.
Feeling a little dizzy, she thought of something she had not told Stevens about: the circled date on her calendar, two weeks ago. She had never been this late before. She was still not sure how she felt about that, or about Stevens. Was there anything ahead for them?
Well, she thought, they would all have to wait and see.