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Laurie's climb up the hill was exhausting, so she stopped at the base of the lighthouse to rest
a moment before checking for a doorbell or someone to let her in. There was no sign of
either on the ground floor, so she shouted at the tower.
“Hello! Hello up there! Anyone?”
A voice came floating down. “Yes! Come up! The door is open.”
Round and round up the staircase, Laurie huffed and puffed with the unwieldy box, Xor
perched on her shoulder. Finally she reached the lighthouse keeper's room at the top of the
tower, completely out of breath. The lighthouse keeper had his back to her, scanning the ho-
rizon with binoculars.
“Oh, good,” he murmured. “Put it down carefully.”
Laurie heaved the box onto a bench and took a look around. The room had no walls to speak
of; it was made almost entirely of glass. Laurie stood next to the lighthouse keeper to get a
better look out the windows. To one side was the wide blue water. She could barely see a
bump on the horizon—maybe that was Userland. To the other side, all of Abstract Island was
laid out like, well, like a map. On the coast were the port and the
Doppelganger
. Two people
in togas were arguing in front of the Philosopher's Diner. From above, the island looked even
more neat and organized.
“Wow! You can see everything from here!” Laurie exclaimed.
“Yes.” The lighthouse keeper just kept his eyes glued to the scenery outside.
“So . . . that's it?”
“That's it,” said the lighthouse keeper. “Oh, er, thank you.”
* * *
Walking downhill, without the box, was a lot easier than going up.
“What
was
in that box, anyway?” Laurie wondered out loud on her way back to the
Doppel-
ganger
.
Xor poked his head out of her pocket. “My guess is light-bulbs. Something boring,” he
chimed in. “Adults are always making a fuss over boring things.”
* * *
Back at the boat, Winsome was getting ready to sail again.
“Good work, girl. Thanks,” she said as Laurie came aboard.
“You're welcome. He didn't talk much.”
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