I cupped my palms to the glass as Will thrust both hands forward in parallel, then shot one of them off at an angle and held it there. Doyle looked behind them, flashlight searching the shadows, then reluctantly nodded. Will’s hands went to work again.

“It’s like, if we do this, and put that there, then this will happen,” Daniel said. “Semaphore. Tech talk. Fantastic! They’re working something out down there.”

“More than where to put stuff, I’m guessing.”

Daniel grinned, a real grin, the first one in ages. “Exactly.”

A tumultuous, sodden, green-gray dusk was dropping over the lake. At the far end of the oval, the storm tore whitecaps off the water to hurl along the seating tiers. When the eye passed over, it would be dark, and the stadium would be sunk in night. But I was pretty sure dawn would bring a better day. Rocking madly, the taxi powered up its running lights. The stadium shuddered, a reminder that the storm had punches yet to deliver. Will and Tom were still not yelling at each other.

“I think one of them found a water route to the field—maybe floating the boats in through the vomitories. The back of that first tier must be above water.” Daniel rubbed impatiently at an obscuring layer of condensation. “There’s our sheltered harbor! And if we haul the smaller boats up under there before the eye passes, they won’t crush each other tossing around in the atrium. Dry storage, like a beach with a roof.” He chewed his lip, peering along the darkening tiers. “I wonder if Melville will fit through the voms.”

“Those two . . . of all people . . . working together?” Watching them, I felt the future-possible stretch out before us like a road. A highway, even, paved and marked. “It’s like a miracle.”

“For now, at least. Maybe only so long as it takes Tom to work off his debt to Will for routing the Stormies. But it’s new, and it’s what we’ll need to move forward from here.” A bit of light was back in his eyes. “But it’ll need all the encouragement it can get. Shall we go offer some?”

Out into the storm again, now that I was finally dry and warm? Shouldn’t we be finding a safe crib to crash in while the second half wreaks its havoc? “What about Julian?”

“He’ll be fine. He’ll have a girlfriend by the time we’re done. Maybe two.” Daniel held out a hand. “C’mon. While the eye gives us a break. Let’s go help.”

How could I say no?

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Endless gratitude to all my first readers, busy people so generous with their time and wisdom:

Amy Pratt

Antonia Bryan

Barbara Newman

Brian Brock

Charlotte Walker

Christie Kellogg

Jan Tiura

Jarvis Kellogg

John Kellogg

John O’Connor

Joy Johannessen

Nancy Callahan

Stacy Wakefield Forte

Vicki Davis

William Rossow