Summary

Chapter 1. “Portrait of a Sandal” Kerewin Holmes is a lonely hermit who lives in a lighthouse on the edge of a beach. On her way home one day, she comes across a child’s broken sandal. While she is searching for a book in her library, she is shocked to see a small boy standing in her windowsill. At first she is harsh with him, wanting to know why he has broken into her home and finds that the boy is mute and that the sandal is his. She then finds a pendant which lists the boy’s name and address. After lunch, Kerewin tries to have the operator call the number that is listed on the pendant, but the operator tells her no one is home. The operator also tells Kerewin Simon has a habit of wandering from home and stealing. Kerewin half-heartedly disregards...