The message could not wait.
Before Sunset
Hermes reached the lighthouse steps just as Lyra was lowering the lamp’s heavy cover.
“The builders have found a new route through the harbour,” he called. “They’ll wait until sunset, and if you want them to repair the tower, you must light the lamp.”
Lyra kept both hands on the rope.
“Could you wait?”
Hermes looked towards the sea. The sun was already close to the horizon.
“Only a moment,” she said. “If I let go, this will fall.”
The cover swayed above the lamp. Hermes caught the rope beneath her hands, and together they lowered it onto the stone floor.
“There,” Lyra said. “Now, what did you say?”
Hermes repeated the message.
Lyra listened, then looked through the window towards the harbour.
“A new route, the lamp, and sunset?”
“Yes.”
“You said a few other things between those.”
Three Words Caught
Hermes opened his mouth to repeat the message a third time. Then he noticed that Lyra was still holding the loose end of the rope.
“Perhaps we should tie that first,” he said.
They secured the cover beside the wall. Hermes set his winged staff down and spoke more slowly.
“The builders have found a safe route for their boats. They can bring the materials needed to repair the lighthouse.”
Lyra nodded.
“They’ll wait until sunset. If you want them to come, light the lamp so they can see your answer.”
“That’s better,” she said.
She went to the window and looked down at the lower path. The final flight of steps to the tower had collapsed during the last storm. Broken stones lay across the route.
“Do they know about the stairs?”
“The message didn’t mention them.”
“They’ll have difficulty bringing anything up here.”
Hermes stood beside her. From the window, he could see where the steps ended abruptly against the rocks.
“I can tell them.”
“If I light the lamp, will they come at once?”
“They’ll know you want the tower repaired.”
“But they won’t know the stairs are broken.”
Hermes looked at the sun. There was still time to reach the harbour, though not much.
The Window Below
Lyra went to a chest and drew out a blue cloth.
“I’ll hang this from the lower window,” she said. “It faces the broken steps. When you speak to the builders, tell them to look for it.”
“And the lamp?”
“I’ll light it. They can see that I want them to come, but they should inspect the path before bringing the materials up.”
Hermes nodded. “A light for yes. A blue cloth to show them where the steps have fallen.”
“That’s right.”
He picked up his staff and hurried towards the stairs. At the doorway, he stopped.
“Is it this blue cloth?” he asked.
Lyra held it up.
“There’s another one on the chest.”
“That one is my coat.”
“I thought it might be. I wanted to be certain.”
Together, they climbed to the lamp. Hermes held the cover out of Lyra’s way while she prepared the flame. A warm circle of light appeared behind the glass.
Lyra watched it for a moment to make sure it stayed lit. Then she carried the blue cloth down to the lower window. Hermes waited while she tied it securely to the frame.
The wind caught the loose end and lifted it out over the broken steps.
“Can you see it from the harbour?” she asked.
“Not yet,” Hermes said. “But I know where to tell them to look.”
The Answer He Carried
Hermes descended the remaining stairs and crossed the ruined courtyard. His winged sandals carried him over the uneven stones, and the sea shone between the columns.
At the harbour, the builders were preparing to leave.
“The lamp is lit,” Hermes told them. “Lyra would like the tower repaired.”
One of the builders looked up towards the distant lighthouse.
“And the route?” he asked.
“The boats can use it. But the last flight of steps to the tower has fallen. Lyra has hung a blue cloth from the window above it. Inspect the path before you carry the materials up.”
The builder shaded his eyes. The light was visible against the darkening hillside.
“I can see the lamp,” he said. “Not the cloth.”
“It’s below the lamp. Lyra tied it securely, but you’ll need to come closer.”
The builder called to the others. They agreed to take a small boat first and inspect the landing and the broken stairs before moving the heavier supplies.
“You arrived quickly,” he told Hermes.
“I had a good start.”
“And the message?”
“I delivered it.”
“Was it difficult?”
Hermes thought of Lyra holding the rope, waiting for him to finish, and looking out at the broken path.
“The longest part was making sure I had the answer right.”
The builder smiled. “Was it a long answer?”
“One lamp, one blue cloth, and a missing flight of stairs.”
From the harbour, they watched the lighthouse brighten as the sun slipped lower. Then the first boat set out.
Hermes waited until it had cleared the harbour entrance. Only then did he turn towards the road between the columns, where the evening wind had begun to lift the edge of his cloak.
Livora Gracely ♥
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