Ominous clouds
At the beginning of the story, the authors use imagery in order to emphasize the consequences of climate change:
"Out beyond the thin sliver that remained of the island, iron-dark clouds gathered every morning on the horizon Ominous. An omen, even."
Here, the darkness of the clouds signifies that something is terribly wrong, which is manifesting itself in the environment.
Louse imagery
For "dramatic effect" Ramses "dug into her armpit with her index finger and pulled out a plump louse," which she then "smeared... bloody on the table." This use of gory imagery provokes a sense of disgust and fear in the reader.
Tennessee imagery
Tennessee is described as being "nice these days," as the "rains were good, and kept the lakes full for boating and fishing and swimming." This presents the state as being a good place to live, leading to the suggestion that there will be a "housing boom."
