[Chapter 3] The Last Elder of History

Chapter 3: The King Tide's Kiss

This is the next installment of a serialized story about an increasingly probable outcome due to looming climate change. The story and every chapter will be available to subscribers. You can get started with a free 30-day trial below:

Without further ado, here is Chapter 3: The King Tide’s Kiss

---

A few evenings later, the air was still thick with the unresolved tension from the council meeting. Hemi sought out Pita again.

Since his impassioned speech, a subtle distance had grown between him and many of the villagers. Conversations became brief, focused only on immediate necessities. Eyes looked away from his when he approached. Talk of Keanu's warning, of the leaning tree, of the freighter still mentioned on the radio… all of that ceased when he drew near. Only Pita still met him for their evening game, a ritual stretching back decades, though even that felt fragile now.

Hemi found him outside his house. The smoky coconut oil lamp cast a familiar flickering glow. They settled onto their mats with the checkerboard between them. The usual comfortable silence felt heavy tonight. Pita began arranging his white coral pieces with his gaze determinedly fixed on the task.

"The frigatebirds were flying high today," Pita remarked, his voice carefully neutral as he moved a piece. "A sign of good weather, perhaps."

Hemi grunted and moved a black stone. Good weather wouldn't stop the tide from creeping closer.

"Mele does well with the water rationing," Pita tried again, moving another piece. "She is learning responsibility."

"She does her duty," Hemi replied curtly, recognizing Pita's efforts to avoid any substantial topic.

Pita was building a shallow wall of words between them, trying to pretend cracks weren't showing in their world or their friendship.