Set the Stars Alight

by Amanda Dykes

“So,” he said, “riddlers we shall become. Something to set our hands to. I shall give you two clues, and you shall find a story. And along the way, we will dig for light. Continue to tell the stories of this world’s wonders. I think we could all use a bit of that, don’t you? Some reminding of what the Maker of such a world can do?” He looked so fragilely hopeful then, all Lucy could do was nod, though she still did not understand. “Good,” he said, ruffling her hair. “I think it’s our duty to keep the stories, to pass them on. It is our duty—and our honor. In a world as dark as ours, we—that is, people—forget how to see the light. So we remind them by telling the truth, fighting the dark, paying attention . . . setting the stars alight. There are things shining brightly all along, if we will notice.” “You make it sound as if we’re in a battle, Dad.” He folded his fingers around her small hand. “So we are, my girl. So we are. But it is a battle that can be won by holding fast to hope . . . and light. We’ll keep telling the stories, finding the clues. Gather them up, Lucy and Dash. Taking note of the good, the true, the just, the miracles hidden at every turn is like . . . a deliberate act of defiance against the darkness. Build a . . . ” He paused, searching for a word and not finding it. “Your mother was always the one with the words. Gather the stories into a . . .” “Compendium?” Dash offered, pushing his glasses up as if unsure whether he should speak into this moment. “Y...