Chapter 22

           Thetidewasontherise.IwadedintothewarmbaywaterandclamberedintothePlace.Aslowgroundswellmovedinandoutoftheentrance,flowedthroughmytrousers.Thefatbillfoldinmyhippocketswelledagainstmyhipandthengrewthinnerundermyweightasitwater-soaked.Thesummerseawascrowdedwithlittlejellyfishthesizeofgooseberries,danglingtheirtendrilsandtheirnettlecells.AstheywashedinagainstmylegsandbellyIfeltthemstinglikesmallbitterfires,andtheslowwavebreathedinandoutofthePlace.Therainwasonlyathinmistnowanditaccumulatedallthestarsandtownlampsandspreadthemevenly—adark,pewter-coloredsheen.Icouldseethethirdrock,butfromthePlaceitdidnotlineupwiththepointoverthesunkenkeeloftheBelle-Adair.Astrongerwaveliftedmylegsandmadethemfeelfreeandseparatefromme,andaneagerwindsprangfromnowhereanddrovethemistlikesheep.ThenIcouldseeastar—laterising,toolaterisingovertheedge.Somekindofcraftcamechuggingin,acraftwithsail,bytheslow,solemnsoundofherengine.Isawhermastlightoverthetoothytumbleofthebreakwaterbutherredandgreenwerebelowmyrangeofsight.

           Myskinblazedunderthelancesofthejellyfish.Iheardananchorplunge,andthemastlightwentout.

           Marullo’slightstillburned,andoldCap’n’slightandAuntDeborah’slight.

           Itisn’ttruethatthere’sacommunityoflight,abonfireoftheworld.Everyonecarrieshisown,hislonelyown