“Yeah, well, us guys have never been too good on the listening part.”
“I think he wanted to die. I think a lot of people—right after it happened—couldn’t handle what they knew the world would become.”
“You seem like you’re doing all right.”
She took another piece. A rook. “I’m about five minutes away from throwing myself over the side of that railing. Headfirst, because I know that, from this height, my neck will break on impact.”
Eugenia didn’t mean it. She couldn’t have. But it felt like exactly what should have been said. And maybe even what she should have done. But she never would. Too stubborn and with too many scores to settle first.
“Did you hear my news?” Brooke was nothing but grins as she rushed up and threw her arms around a startled, unexpecting Eugenia. “Tomorrow, I get to disembark. Early, thanks to you.”
“Oh! Wow.” Were her eyes stinging again? “That’s wonderful. Really? Congratulations. I’ll be there to cheer you on.”
“I’m going to go south. Just like you suggested, so the winter’s aren't so cold.”
Well, that was how geography typically worked, but the distance she’d have to walk to reach it would take months. “Stay away from City. Or outposts with weapons. Small farming communities always need an extra pair of hands. Do you have a compass? A map?”
But Brooke wasn’t listening, already moving to the next girl to rejoice in her freedom.
“Don’t trust anyone!” Eugenia shouted over the party’s din. “Don’t stop to help anyone! Never stop!”
“You’re going to get in trouble if you keep that up. He’s already looking,” her chess partner warned. Gesturing to her cheek, to her bruise, he whispered, “And I’d rather not see you with another one of these.”
“You're right.” And he was. Utterly correct across the board. “What do I know? I’m just whoring myself out on a boat. Clearly, I have no idea what the fuck I’m talking about.”
“Would you like a drink? On the house.”
“Yes. And if you’re willing to give me two, I’ll let you win this game.” On the edge of hysterics, not even sure what was making her hyperventilate, she wiped at her cheek. It was wet. “You can brag to all the guys how you beat me.”
“In that case, I’ll give you three. But no one else gets to win for at least a month.”
“It’s a deal.”
That was the game on the ship after all. Deals, tickets, pretty Korean-American girls who got to leave and who should not go south… or north… or east… or west. Because the entire world was a fucking nightmare, and she only had one thing to trade.
Three beers did help. And her chess partner beat her in a show that drew a crowd to cheer for his victory.
When she went to the captain’s room for the third night, he was waiting. Tub full in his massive bathroom. A clean set of pajamas—his pajamas—waiting. A fluffy towel too, shampoo, conditioner for curly hair. A bar of hand-milled soap from a fancy pre-bombs boutique.
And zero conversation.
Though he did watch her bathe. Not that she so much as noticed he was in the room.
He didn’t gain her attention until he took her to bed, pulling her close—arm and leg draped over her body. Which was utterly against the rules, as she was covered from throat to ankles.
Held a little too tightly, she slept with him. Woke with him. Dressed with him.
And even stood next to him when Brooke disembarked. Something special in the woman’s pack Eugenia had asked for in the awkward morning hours.
“When you found my pack. Did you keep the map inside?”
“Yes.”
“I want to give it to Brooke.” She failed to add why. There isn’t much drinkable water around here, and if Brooke didn’t know where to find it, she’d die all the sooner.
The captain had granted her request. No tickets required.
A map that had cost Eugenia an astounding amount of trade. A map where the ship floated on a dirty lake in no man’s land.