But Luke had never joined in the joking. On that September morning I understood his seriousness, that what we were trying to save was holy, for I was not just in the presence of something sacred and eternal but for a few seconds inside it. “Spots of time” was the phrase Wordsworth used for such moments, but the poet’s words were no better than mine because what I felt was beyond any words that had ever been used before. You needed a new language, as members of the church I’d grown up in sometimes did when they’d been possessed by the Holy Ghost and spoken in tongues. They had writhed in the pews and aisles, their bodies contorted as though each word had to be wrenched physically free from its place in the heart. But even in those moments no one knew what they were saying, not even themselves.

We paddled on downstream. The sky widened blue above the gorge, the sun warming the river enough that light hatches of dun-colored caddis flies dimpled some pools.

“So how long will you be in Florida?” I asked.

“Probably until the rafting season starts back up.”

“I didn’t know you’d be gone that long,” I said, and must have sounded wistful because Luke laughed.

“You sound like you’re going to miss me, Maggie.”

“I will,” I said.

“Well, you’ll have plenty of time to be around me next summer. I talked to Earl Wilkinson, and he said it’s okay if you work with us as a photographer come May. You won’t get rich, but you’ll make as much as you would potting plants. That is, if you want the job.”

“Yes,” I said. “I want it.”

“Good,” Luke said. “I’ll tell him.”

We didn’t speak again until we came to where Lindsey Creek entered the Tamassee. As we got out of the canoe, I lifted Luke’s dry pack from the bow and brought it with us.

WALTER PHILLIPS STEPPED TO THE PODIUM AT SEVEN SHARP. HE introduced Luckadoo and set the ground rules: five minutes a person, and anyone who caused a disturbance would not only be thrown out but also arrested.

Kowalsky again spoke first, covering much the same terrain as at the first meeting, and just as abrasively, before introducing the man in the suit as his congressman. The congressman shook Kowalsky’s hand and then spoke briefly, his main point being that he represented not just himself and the Kowalsky family but all of the people of Minnesota in urging that the dam be allowed. After the congressman finished, Senator Jenkins’s aide expressed the senator’s sympathy for the Kowalskys as well as his full support in helping recover their daughter’s body. The governor’s representative echoed their sentiments. Brennon spoke as well, emphasizing the minimal environmental impact.