Zev’s sockets softened. “I see how you watch them, long for them. Sometimes it looks like you might wade in and walk along the bottom until you rust solid.”

“Zev, you have to undo what ever you did. I can’t discuss this, my minds blank. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

For the next hour, Ora watched her husband dismantle the charger and solder a chip into place. She felt violated, but couldn’t understand what he wanted until she was back to normal.

An hour later, her own thoughts rained like good news memories. They were both out on the tower, leaning against the salty air.

Zev spoke first. “When we voluntired as Life Guards in this lighthouse, I was very excited. But I knew a day would come when I would find you staring, unblinkingly tracking the Nuke ships on the red horizon.”

“I miss the dirty electricity” Ora wept. “One day I heard one of the ships, we share a similar thread. At first I thought I was dreaming, but then I awoke to salt.”

“What can I do for you, Wife?”