The next week Nate led Arena to the pool where a wave simulator had been stationed in one corner. Arena had used them before, but they didn’t seem as much fun as the ocean. Not only were the mechanics different, but there was something metaphysical about confronting the magnitude of the ocean.
Lorna waited for them, wearing a purple wetsuit. A wetsuit certainly wasn’t necessary for a simulator, but Lorna liked the idea of dressing up for everything. Arena had yet to see her wear the same thing twice and most outfits she wore frequently clashed.
Nate wore army-green board shorts and looked like a model out of a magazine. His easygoing personality and sincerity belied his profession. He also didn’t seem like the type to go against an order, so her curiosity about his assignment to the Misfits grew.
“We should probably have you practice on land before the simulator.” After showing them how to stand and how to turn, she got into the simulator and demonstrated, yelling instructions over the sound of the water.
Nate made his first attempt and fell spectacularly, the board flying into the air and nearly knocking Arena in the head. Lorna jumped out of the way. He landed hard, water kicking up right into his face. Climbing out, he was coughing and laughing at the same time.
“You make it look so easy!” he said. “I didn’t think I would fall off that fast, but I was wrong.”
Lorna tried next and managed to stay up a few seconds before losing her balance and jumping off into the water. She splashed water at them before retrieving the board and trying again. This time she fell immediately. Arena told her that she was too stiff the second time, anticipating the fall. Keeping her legs softer would help her to balance and control the board.
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After a couple of hours, both could stay up for about fifteen seconds. Arena was beginning to think that maybe the simulator wasn’t the most effective replacement for the hoverboards, because it required greater movement with less effort, so she brought that up. Learning would be easier with gentle waves where the rider angled a longer board toward the shore and let the wave carry the board.
“It’s sort of like driving an automatic car,” she explained. “The car has mechanics that use less effort to create the motion. You don’t have to turn the wheel as hard to get a larger effect. It just needs to be smooth. A board in the water is much more challenging to move than a hoverboard. The hoverboard takes mostly gentle movements, but it’s much less likely that you will be tossed if you are going straight. Sharp turns are the most difficult thing on the hoverboards.”
Nate cast a glance at Lorna. “We could make it a competition? Besides, wouldn’t the higher level of difficulty make riding the hoverboards easier in the long run?”
“Perhaps. There aren’t any good surfing beaches around?” Both of them shrugged.
“It’s too cold.” Lorna put up her fists toward Nate. “I accept your challenge!”
The location of the compound was still a mystery to Arena and nobody answered her questions about it. Washington DC or nearby seemed the most likely location.
Dinner that night was some sort of chicken and vegetable dish. Once in a while Arena saw the woman in charge of the eating area, but she kept the room immaculate and well stocked. Often, the other agents who didn’t live at the compound still stayed to eat and Arena got to know some of them better. Bertha turned out to be quite a softy once Arena had spent her evening with her learning about the basic organization of the CIA. She was very direct, but her appearance made her seem more intimidating than she was.