Flames: Sea Summary & Analysis

Like Levi and Charlotte’s father, Levi has always feared the water. He remembers his father watching him and Charlotte at the beach without even stepping onto the sand; after their father left, Levi felt that the deep fear of the ocean had been transferred to him. Since then, he hasn’t touched saltwater—until now, when he splashes his foot climbing into Karl’s boat three days after the fire.

The morning after the fire, Levi wakes up in his bed with no memory of how he got there. Charlotte tells him the detective carried him to the car—she’s gone home now, but she promised to come back for the money he owes her. Charlotte tells Levi more details: that the storm that put out the fire was the biggest the island has seen in centuries, that the whole island is flooded, and that Levi and Charlotte’s father emerged from the flames briefly. Charlotte is furious and hopes Levi’s burns hurt—Nicola’s injuries are much worse.

Levi’s memories feel like a dream. The clearest thing he remembers is the confidence he felt when he took the pelt from Thurston. Even the memories before that, like when he was planning the coffin, are murky; though he considers himself to be a rational person, he knows his actions then weren’t rational. He regrets behaving so selfishly and erratically. Charlotte leaves him lying in bed. When he gets up, he asks for her forgiveness. She replies, “As long as you forgive me too.”

Levi and Charlotte visit Nicola at the hospital later that day. On their way, they don’t speak except to comment on the storm’s wreckage. The huge scale of destruction impresses Levi. He’s surprised when they get to the hospital and Nicola isn’t wrapped up like a mummy—instead, her burns are dressed in a couple of simple bandages. From the way Charlotte embraces Nicola and whispers furiously to her, Levi begins to understand their close relationship, as do Nicola’s family, who look mildly surprised. Levi introduces himself to them, but they remain more interested in what’s going on between Nicola and Charlotte.

Levi begins to apologize. He rehearsed his speech in his head, but it comes out garbled, and when he sees Charlotte’s confused expression, his speech turns into a sob, which becomes a howl. As he cries, Nicola comes up with an idea. Two days later, Levi sits in Karl’s dinghy as it speeds out into the ocean. Levi doesn’t know what Nicola asked her father to do for him, but he didn’t ask any questions. After a while, Karl switches off the dinghy’s engine and tells Levi to put on a wetsuit. Levi refuses but eventually complies, taking off his clothes to slip into the suit. A flash of resolve urges him into the water.

The water isn’t as cold as Levi expected it to be. Karl points to a patch of water about fifteen meters away and tells Levi to swim to it. When he’s there, Karl tells him to wait. After twenty minutes, Levi asks how long he has to stay there. Karl replies, “As long as it takes.” Levi begins to think he’s there to learn patience. Eventually, he grows exhausted and tells Karl he’s going to drown. Karl gestures behind Levi to where something is moving in the water. Levi turns around, terrified, and sees a seal pup poking its head above the waves.

Karl tells Levi to give the seal his hand. Levi holds his hand out. Just as he loses the ability to keep afloat, the seal rests its face on his hand and looks deep into his eyes. Levi keeps his eyes locked on the seal’s. He feels buoyed by something he can’t identify—something that keeps him afloat for a long time.