She was thinking about the container-ship fleet on the horizon. The crew out there wouldn't have been exposed to the flu. Too late to get to a ship herself now, but she smiled at the thought that there were people in this reeling world who were safe.
In Emily St. John Mandel's "Station Eleven," the protagonist reflects on the distant container-ship fleet, recognizing that the crew aboard these ships is insulated from the chaos gripping the world. This thought provides her with a sense of reassurance amidst the turmoil of the flu outbreak affecting the rest of society.
Although she realizes it's too late for her to join a ship and escape the crisis, the mere idea that there are individuals who remain unaffected brings her comfort. It highlights a glimmer of hope in a devastated world, emphasizing the theme of survival and the different realities people experience even in dire circumstances.
