There were many rumors in the week that followed the departure of the sub fleet. Sarah did her best to occupy herself with mundane tasks to keep herself from thinking on them. She cleaned the quarters father and her shared from top to bottom and Zenith was with her to help. Beamer would come over too, for Founder's Day was always followed by seven days of light work, little schooling, and many more speeches.

Since Undersea was at war speeches and news were delivered over loudspeaker nightly. There were many such loudspeakers in Undersea; on every street and square every so many intervals, all tied back to the Central Agency of Information. It was said that from there a line ran directly to Sir LaRosa's office in the Lab; the very headquarters of his governance.

And every evening during the war it would be his voice that spoke. Indeed, there was seldom any news detailing the fate of the men that fought, only assurances that they fought bravely and well. Then Sir LaRosa would launch anew into his visions, his reasoning, and the rights of Undersea to rule the tides. He expounded much upon their accomplishments and inventions and the rights those things gave the people who wielded them. Even through the loudspeakers he could be heard the pounding of his fists on his desk. To Sarah he always sounded in those moments like a child in some fit of anger. A child who had been told 'no' and yet now, by virtue of his rage, deemed it justifiable to contrive destruction.

Where was the check or recourse in Undersea for such behavior? Especially when it seemed to many he led well. Just listen to his passion! And always he ended his speech with "For the good of the city". When that card was played most people swelled with pride and thought their leader of them and for them, and deep in their hearts stirred the desire to do his pleasure. Sarah always thought "For the good of LaRosa" would have been a more accurate way for him to end the speeches.

So what was it that drove Sir LaRosa, what caused the hearts of the people to harken to him? "We all worship something," thought Sarah after one of his speeches and she pondered what grandma had said long ago about ideas and the fruit that certain ones bore. Sarah shuttered and wondered about the fruits that were to come. In her soul she was weary of it all: her anxieties, father's abscence, the war, and for Sarah sleep came as a welcome respite: until the day before the war ended when Sarah first had the dream.

To call it a dream would not be wholly true, for dreams are pleasant and oft forgotten, one blending into another until the night is passed and one awakes refreashed. It was a dream of the frightening sort, a terror as real in the mind as anything awful in the waking world, and being asleep Sarah was none the wiser in its experience. Yet when she woke she could have sworn it was happening, had happened, or would happen. She did not know its meaning, whether as metephor, something else entirely, or nothing at all, and any guesses she hid deep within herself.

The frightening dream had left Sarah feeling unrefreshed the next day and as she set about the small tasks of life pondering visions of the night, Zenith slipped quietly into the flat.

"There is to be a special announcement today, before noon," Zenith said and then seeing Sarah in a state of blue vexation stopped short of saying anything more.

"I-I had a dream," began Sarah in the silence that followed, "no, I will say no more about it just yet."

"About your father?"

Sarah wrinkled her brow and shook her head, "I don't rightly know," she said, "but you say there is to be an announcement today?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Yes, I heard it from the loudspeakers on the way over," replied Zenith, "and I knew I should hurry to be with you. I got the sense it shall be something worth hearing for a change. Something final about the war."

Sarah closed her eyes and dared not think on what that might be. She felt Zenith squeeze her hand.

"Come," said Sarah, "I've started sea brew in the kettle." (Sea brew was a tea-like drink made from the roots of a certain ochre colored plant growing on the slopes of their underwater mountain. "Sargozo tea" it was called in more formal settings. It was a recent discovery and especially popular in the morning.) Sarah laid out a few kelp biscuits to go with it.

As they sat in the silence of the morning, dreading to think to far forward, in bounded Beamer and he plunked himself down at the table all abuzz with speculation, helping himself to brew and biscuits.

"An announcement!" he exclaimed for the fifth time, dunking his biscuit in the orange colored tea, "Mmf," he said as he popped it into his mouth, "thumptings..." and then the syllables were hard to make out: "Umphfosur-inowidt!"

"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to talk with your mouth full?" laughed Sarah.

With a wolfish grin Beamer took another buiscuit, "my mom says a lot of things. Dad too!"

Sarah looked at the empty place at the table were father sat and became silent.

"Oh Beamer," said Zenith, "can't you see that Sarah is worried about her father? I deem we shall soon find out..."

"Oh it will be good news!" exclaimed Beamer, "Mawdeep never saw it coming!"

"So they say," sighed Sarah.

Beamer stopped and to everyone's astonishment, set down the biscuit that was halfway to his mouth and reached over and patted Sarah's hand. "Whatever happens," he said seriously, "you have a friend in me!"

"Why Beamer!" said Sarah with a broad smile, "thank you for your kind words!"

Beamer shrugged his shoulders and crammed the biscuit into his mouth, "Ith trwoo!"

Zenith held up her hand for quiet trying to focus on some sound far off. "I hear something in the street, the special announcement must be about to start."

They moved out into the street. "The Hymn of Undersea" was playing over the loudspeakers and many joined in singing. When the music stopped a voice was heard.

"My dear friends," began Sir LaRosa in the casual tone he used to begin his speeches, "I will not keep you long, but joy has reached my ears and I can not keep it to myself! I will say much more later but I hope tomorrow at this time you will join me in welcoming at the harbor THE VICTORIOUS FORCES OF UNDERSEA!" A roar went up from the street, and indeed the city. Chants of "for the good of the city!" resounded as people danced with shouts of "Hurrah! Hurrah!"

"See I told you!" yelled Beamer jumping up and down in excitement, "Hurrah! Hurrah!"

Sarah and Zenith held each other and wept.

"This most holy war, this most humble endeavor," went on Sir LaRosa over the din, "has not come without sacrifice! One sub did not make it back..."

The people in the streets quieted to listen. Sarah held her breath.

"I will speak now the names of those sailors, those soldiers of the future, who endeavored to bring peace and prosperity to this very city..."

It was a while before Sir LaRosa finally got to the roll of names. Sarah hung onto every one as each name and rank were uttered in order of importance, captain to boilerman. Father had explained to Sarah his role on the subs back when he had been transfered. It had been better pay and safer work and Father had been happy for it. "There are six boilermen to every sub," he had said, and even now Sir LaRosa was naming them. Sarah was counting them in her head. "One, two, three, four, five," no father yet. But at five Sir LaRosa stopped, and after a pause cleared his thoat.

"Remember the dead, for Undersea does not forget her fallen! Their sacrifice..." but Sarah did not hear the rest, for in her heart she thought she knew, though it was ever a pleading question of uncertainty in her mind. She sank to the street, unable to keep her feet as the people of Undersea cheered the fallen and their sacred memory. Beamer stopped and looked at Sarah, at first confused, then with a tinge of worry. Zenith was already at her side. They both helped her from the street and into the flat and as Sarah shook in her seat at the table Beamer draped a blanket over her and Zenith made more sea brew.

"What's wrong Sarah?" asked Beamer as he and Zenith traded looks. "Your father returns a hero!"

For a while they could get nothing from her. Zenith put her arm around Sarah while Beamer went and got grandma's old book and set it before her. With her hands wrapped around a warm mug Sarah began to speak as one whose thought is far away. She spoke about father and his job and the number of boilermen on a sub, and how in her heart a foreboding stood unquenchable as if placed there from beyond.

"But we can't know for certain," said Beamer, "perhaps it was an oversite, perhaps the sub went to war not fully crewed?"

"Sir LaRosa does not make oversites, certainly not when it comes to war, when much is at stake," said Sarah softly, staring as if though the very walls of the flat.

"Maybe Beamer's right," said Zenith, "you are worried, but for nothing perhaps? His name was not called."

"I hope you're right," said Sarah weakly, then took a sip. "I guess we will know for sure tomorrow, when the subs come in." She looked at grandma's book.

"Maybe you could read us a story from that book?" said Beamer.

"Yes," said Zenith, "let's hear something from it, if ever there was a need for hope now would be it. I feel I can only say so much before words fall flat, but this book always has a nice way of putting things."

"Not just a nice way of putting things," said Sarah opening its pages, "I believe them to be true."

"Oh how I wish!" said Zenith sadly, "But how could it be? There has been so much suffering in the world. You know it better then I!"

Sarah's friends stayed awhile and Sarah was heartened. When they left they promised they would all meet by the harbor tomorrow and wait for the subs.

- - -

The crowds came out early but Sarah could not sleep and so beat them there. She found a spot by the Pool, near the place were the sub crews would disembark, and waited. There was some activity around her as preparations were made for the fleet's return; the blue flag of Undersea with its white starfish emblem was hung everywhere, in particular on all lampposts lining the harbor. The green banners of the Mariner Patrol were also displayed, and organizers hurried to and fro setting up a large platform overlooking the Pool close to where Sarah was. In the light of the lamps of Undersea, which were not yet turned to day brightness, Sarah sat looking out upon the surface of the water wandering what was to come. "Tomorrow worries about itself, so don't help it!" she could almost hear grandma say as she often would, and a great many things passed through her head as she sat, waited, and prayed. And so it was that Zenith and Beamer found her as the crowds grew, and they brought some food and drink with them and Sarah was not a little bit refreshed. The people of the city buzzed with anticipation and it grew as the hours then minutes passed on toward noon.

Before noon the dignitaries arrived, mounting to the platform in the moments before mid day. Great cheers from the crowd went up as they took the stage and one by one, from least to greatest, those great ones of Undersea claimed their seats. And still there were three seats empty; foremost and in the place of most honor. Right at 12 o'clock Sir LaRosa and his family arrived and a fanfare of sea pipes and conches were sounded. The crowd, wild with delerium, sang the Hymn of Undersea with a deep conviction that echoed through the vaulted halls and thoroughfares of the city.

As his family took their seats Sir LaRosa paused on the top step of the platform. He turned to the crowd bedecked in the fine tapestry of his office. A smile and wave from the leader of Undersea brought fresh shouts and renewed singing. Loud cheers and hurrahs went up from the people for many minutes afterword.

It was just about more then Sarah could handle as she waited, clinging to the hope her father would return. The festivities would have continued but for Sir LaRosa standing with his hands spread in a calming gesture. A great conch blast was sounded, like the horn of a mighty ship, and with a dramatic gesture Sir LaRosa, glittering in his decorated dress jacket, pointed to the center of the Pool.

All turned to look at the middle of the harbor, for everyone in their frivolity had oriented themselves to the stage. A great hush decended, like a blanketing fog that rolls in from the sea. Necks craned to see the first ripple.

Mere moments ticked by. Sarah's heart was in her throat even as she felt Zenith's calming hand in hers and Beamer's arm around her shoulder. She looked about the harbor. There suddenly from the calm surface of the Pool arose a great geyser of green and white foam and in the heart of this disturbance the silhouette of a conning tower shot into view. The harbor surface soon came alive with the shapes of cigar-like submarines rocketing into sight here then there, blowing many blasts from their horns as the people of the city roared back with loud voices of their own. The din of many voices, both mechanical and human, crescendoed into euphoria and words lost their shape and sound in the great cacophony of the moment. And very great it was, for many minutes passed before words could be heard again.

From the top hatch in the conning tower of each sub appeared the captains of their ships, and as they blew their horns they saluted the platform where Sir LaRosa stood. Sir LaRosa saluted back. The Mariner Patrol kept the people from rushing the quays as each sub docked (minus one) and their tie lines made secure. Hatches opened and from them in orderly lines marched the sailors of the fleet in crisp battle dress. Onto the docks these soldiers of fortune strode, and when all emerged they halted. Snapping smartly to face the platform in a unified motion they shouted with one voice: "Hail!" The crews saluted Sir LaRosa and held the gesture. A band began the Hymn of Undersea.

"For the good of the city! For the good of the city!" screamed everyone.

Sarah did not scream, and from her well picked vantage point she could see the faces of the sailors. Her eyes sped over the rows of men seeking out the one she loved, but she found him not. Though tears Sarah gazed again at each face as the men stood at attention, listening to words now spoken by Sir LaRosa. All ears hung on them but Sarah headed them not. There were cheers and cries of jubilance and more chants but in Sarah's head was but one question, raw and desperate. She looked to the stage where she was sure now stood the only person in Undersea who could answer it.

The sailors where dismissed and marched on to nearby barracks where soon they would be allowed to return to their families. A day of celebration was declared and the people cheered. Still Sarah looked to the stage, hoping beyond hope to catch Sir LaRosa's eye to receive some token that either confirmed or denied what she already knew in her heart.

There he stood on the platform above waving to the people. He scanned the crowed: was he looking for someone? Yet still Sir LaRosa waved and smiled in the glow of the moment. Next to Sarah Beamer, finally caught up in the emotion of it all, jumped up and shouted waving furiously a small flag of Undersea someone had handed him. And Sir LaRosa espied Beamer as he glanced out and from there his smiling gaze wandered upon Sarah. His smile froze.

Sarah's eye's locked with his and as they did Sir LaRosa did not turn but held still. The look in that moment felt as heavy as a lifetime and his piercing eyes glowed triumph. A smile returned to his mouth as he glanced away to the crowd and waved. His eyes returned to Sarah and writ upon his face was the answer to the pleading query in Sarah's mind. The smile on his lips seemed grim, as if satisfied with a result that had cost him much, and in response to that only question Sarah had his head shook in firm answer.

"No."

Sir LaRosa left the platform soon after, much to soon for the jubilant crowds. Sarah closed her eyes. Bitterness was a choice. And there in that moment, as in others passed and others to come, Sarah knew the truth. Not truth or facts about the circumstance she happened to be in, though those were obvious enough, but the truth that there was a difference indeed between feeling peace and having it. "It is better to have it-oh help!" she said, not feeling it. And when she could not make herself feel it it found her. There in the seething jubilance of Undersea.