A Perfectly Reasonable Shipwreck

Edwin Plover would like a guest.

For twenty-three years he has kept the light on St Bride's Rock with exceptional skill. Ships see it, change course, and take their potential dinner companions elsewhere.

One modest shipwreck should settle matters: carefully arranged, nobody hurt, tea ready on arrival. Edwin submits an application.

The maritime establishment has several improvements to suggest.

Soon his quiet island has an inspector, a naval observer, a public notice, and a captain whose elderly cutter has been offered respectable employment. Edwin finally has company. He also has an event he urgently needs to stop.

When the weather changes, keeping people away becomes the most important work he has ever done.