Mara rowed out, unlocked the heavy door with Pete's key, and climbed to the lamp room. Inside she found stacks of letters, all addressed to the town, never sent. The last keeper had written to them every single year, telling them he was fine and still keeping the light. No one had ever come to read them.

The key didn't fit. Someone had changed the lock. Mara pressed her ear to the door and heard slow footsteps climbing the stairs inside. She banged hard and called out. The door swung open, and there stood a young woman with a lamp. 'You found me,' she said. 'I'm the keeper's granddaughter. I changed the lock so the town would leave the light alone.'