Jackson Piers's Arc

Chapter 2 of 2

The pale egg drifted past the reef, riding a current toward open water. Jackson watched from the shallows. He knew the reef line. Past it, the seabed dropped and the waves ran hard. He could not wade there. If the egg cracked out past the barrier, the hatchling inside would spill into deep water with nothing to shield it. He had minutes, maybe less. He pulled his vest off and dropped it on the wet sand. He swam. Each stroke carried him past the calm water into the swell. The egg bobbed ahead, spinning on the current, always a little farther. His scarred arms burned. He kicked harder. The reef fell away below him, dark and toothed. He reached the egg just as a wave lifted it. He dove under it, cupped it in both hands, and turned it against his chest. Then he swam back, slow now, guarding the shell from every wave. He stumbled onto the sand and stood, dripping, the egg held tight. He carried it up to the medistation, past the tilted palm strung with party lights. The glowing cross sign buzzed above the door. Inside, the white tile floor spread out beneath him, dotted with small green turtles. He set the egg on the examination table. The glass panels caught the light. He wiped his hands, then reached for the shelf of swabs and bandages. From the drawer he took a stethoscope. He pressed the flat end against the shell and held his breath. At first, nothing. He moved the cup lower. Then he heard it. A faint, quick beat, no louder than a moth against glass. Alive. He closed his eyes for a second. The shell was whole. No cracks ran through it. He turned it in his hands and checked every inch. He carried the egg to the hatchery stand. Behind the glass, warm sand waited. He made a hollow with two fingers and settled the egg down into it, deep enough to hold, shallow enough to breathe. He banked the sand around its sides. The warmth would keep the heartbeat going. He watched it a moment, then sealed the glass. He stepped back. The egg sat safe in the sand, out of the water, out of the current.