An Inch Of Infinity (Short Version)

CHAPTER 68- Moving on

Coral remembers her brush with death, when the monitor flatlined. When she was dead.

"The monitor beeped, but it was like, really long, and I lost consciousness. I had a dream and I was back in the block and it was the day we met, I was just about to introduce myself when everything else disappeared. Then I was under water. Above me was the surface and it was so bright. I couldn't breathe underwater, and the surface was really far away. I started to swim towards it, but then you and Emma appeared on the ocean floor. I knew I had to choose, between you or the light, the surface. If I didn't go to the surface, I was going to drown,but if I didn't save you guys you would drown. I was sorta torn because you guys might not even make it -no offence- but I knew where to go, and I swam towards you guys, and as soon as I touched Emma's shoulder my body shook, and when I hugged you, I was awake. It was weird, like, almost real. I guess that's the purpose of calling realistic dreams, well, realistic dreams." she shrugs and continues to tell me some of her other dreams, but all I could think, is that she almost went into the light. I almost lost her.

I give her a hug and she hugs me back. I'm so glad she is OK. Coral resumes talking until we reach her room. I say goodbye and go to my room. I toss and turn all night. Relieved that Coral and everyone else was alright, but horribly shaken that they just as easily might not have been.

When I wake up, it's like nothing had even happened. We had enough cure, and treated everyone so everyone was fine again. Even the Keeper was chained and walked with shackles at his ankles, carrying huge logs and rocks to and from buildings we haven't completed. We are heading for Australia next week, and leaving anyone who wants to stay. I can't wait, but I feel a bit attached to the island. We have had a lot of fun and memorable times here but, we have to move sometime. We fixed up the boats and are cutting down almost all of the sick old trees in the forest and planting new ones. We also planted fast growing trees that grow about a foot each week. We made two fishing boats, one to stay, one to come with the rest of us.

We are practically ready, so really we are just waiting for the day to come. The days slowly pass by.

As we prepare for departure, we finish all the buildings,we pass out every blanket, shoe, shirt, and pillow. We prepare defenses for the island in case the Royals do come. Then again, we know that won't happen. They just would send the Keepers to do their dirty work. Emma planted the last of her seeds and uprooted her thriving apple sapling to put in her room. She says it might have apples on it in a year or two, thanks to our nutrient filled super soil, which is making plants grow up to ten times as fast. It's already almost two feet tall.

Since about three hundred people are staying, whether they have to, like the Keeper and the manics in the asylum, or they want to stay, we have a lot of room left. Nearly a hundred open rooms. Emma is getting a new room, with a giant window almost three feet larger than most, and is a rectangle instead of a circle. This way she can grow more plants from more space and sunlight. We will have a room dedicated to being a bookstore.

We knocked down a wall, and connected two rooms. We then lined the room with shelves from floor to ceiling. Each book is wrapped in a watertight bag with plenty of air room, so if the boat were to sink the books would float to the surface, at least in theory. We don't know if the pressurized windows actually work, but the idea is all windows will burst if they go ten feet below the surface and hopefully some of the books will find their way out through the window.

I will share my new room with Coral and Faith. Although It's the same size room and I will have to move my stuff, I welcome the change. Zoey is a great person, but she's always in the captain's cabin discussing with the other navigators, and honestly, I often forget about her because she is so shy and quiet, and is never around. Emily is OK but I am honestly excited to not have to worry about wrappers and junk lying around the room.