Wren found the first shell three miles from the water. It sat in the middle of the road, white as a tooth.
They put it in their coat pocket. The radio was in the other one. It had been silent for nine days.
Wren
Still here.
I don’t know who that’s for anymore.
Their shoes made a small, ugly sound on the salt. Wren kept walking so there would be something to hear.
Iris
You’re a little early.
Wren stopped. They took the radio out carefully, as if a sudden movement might frighten the voice away.
Wren
For what?
Iris
The tide.
Sorry. That was funnier when there was a tide.
Wren
Who is this?
Iris
Iris. The weather station used to send through this channel. Where are you?
Wren
On the road.
It doesn’t seem to go anywhere now.
For the first time in nine days,
Wren stopped listening to their own footsteps.
Iris
Can you see the building with one window?
Wren
All the buildings have one window from here.
Iris
Fair point. The crooked one, then. Follow the road to that.
Wren looked up. Far across the basin, something caught the light.
Wren
Will you still be there?
Iris
I’m making tea. I’m very difficult to move when I’m making tea.