The Pillar of Light

The narrative unfolds around a remote lighthouse and the community that serves and depends on it. Fog, signals and a devastating hurricane provide the backdrop for voyages, routine watches and sudden emergencies; interpersonal tensions and loyalties among a young woman, an experienced fisherman and other island residents are gradually revealed through small domestic episodes, confidences and an explanatory conversation. Interludes of local custom, preparations for danger, and the literal endurance of a house perched on a reef tie together themes of steadfastness, duty and the sea's persistent threat.